I have been knitting lots and lots. A few things are finished, including the sweater I started in October. I love, love, love it! 

I originally wanted to find some vintage buttons, but had to settle for the wooden ones from Jo-ann. I think I'm okay with them, and I've gotten lots of compliments on them when I've worn my sweater. No one mentions the sweater, just that they like the buttons. That's okay, I love my sweater 🙂 How cute is that pocket? 

I was also in the mood for making a little something with some Malabrigo lace, and whipped up a Damson shawlette in pink.

It's so soft and light, and the pattern was nice and easy and quick. I might have even cast on another one with some Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the Tern colorway. It's a nice purple-y charcoal grey.

 

I even took a little break from all that yummy yarn and did a little embroidery. My sister gave me some vintage embroidery patterns a long time ago, and I finally got around to using one. I'm not sure how old they are, but the transfer ironed on perfectly. What kitchen doesn't need some chicken tea towels?  

So now I'm planning some vacation and holiday knitting. I am super, super excited, because I have the whole month of December off, and for part of that time I'm going to South Africa to see my parents! So now I have to figure out what I am going to knit for the hours and hours of flight time I have ahead of me! Oh, and I should have lots of fun photos to share when I get back! 

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It appears that knitting season has begun. After a summer hiatus, I find myself once again trolling Ravelry, plotting and planning, rearranging my queue, and re-visiting started projects that have lost steam. It's not that I don't knit at all during the summer, in fact, I actually managed to finish a couple things. There was the pink lace shawl, and then this past weekend, a little red sweater came off the needles, had a bath, and got some pretty, vintage pearl buttons. I haven't taken the time to take more than an Instagram photo, however. There's no time for photography, I just want to knit right now!

It's actually just a little snug, but should fit nicely when another few pounds are gone. I'm pretty proud of myself for actually finishing a couple projects this summer. I don't feel like I spent hours and hours sitting and knitting, it was really just a matter of doing a row here and there when I had a few spare minutes. Big things can be accomplished one row at a time! 

So, does anyone have any big knitting plans? Once my red sweater was done, I immediately cast on this sweater, using some mystery wool from the first sweater I ever made. It wasn't a successful project, but it was a learning experience, so I don't feel bad about unraveling all my hard work. I think the yarn suits this sweater much better.

It doesn't look like much more than a pile of yarn so far, but I think it's going to be a beautiful sweater. 

I also succumbed to temptation and pre-ordered Coastal Knits. I am a huge fan of cardigans, and I love every one in this collection, but I also really like the Cambrian Cowl and the Rustling Leaves hat. 

And then there are all the socks I want to knit, and I could use a nice slouchy, comfy pullover, and I don't have any lace currently on the needles, so that situation needs to be fixed. I think I better plan on a few knitting weekends for the next couple months! Okay, turning off the computer now, so I can get knitting!

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I finished knitting something.

It's a little shawlette that sits perfectly on my shoulders and looks pretty and keeps me warm. I like it a lot. The pattern is Maia, from 7 Small Shawls, and the yarn is Madelintosh Tosh Merino Light in the Geranium colorway. 

I'm going to finish something else soon, so I started a pair of socks. On size 0 needles. I hope I don't break one. 

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I want to do better with this whole blog thing, so I’m playing around with some ideas and design and improving my photography, and just generally figuring out how to make time to do more here. So please don’t mind random changes in the look of things around here, and I hope I don’t get too rambly with my posts while I figure all this out.

Today I give you some random links:

Why have I never heard of this before? Art Project by Google. High-resolution images of prominent works of art from the best museums in the world. You can even walk around the galleries, Google street-view style. When I lived in Northern Virginia, I spent as many of my days off as possible visiting the museums on the National Mall and all around town. I was pleased to see that one of my favorites, the Freer Gallery, was included! Although the National Gallery is missing, which was another favorite. The Sunday night concerts there were one of my favorite D.C. events.

The Princess from the Land of Porcelain, by James McNeill Whistler, The Freer Gallery

I think I need to start saving up for one of these bags. Is that yellow one not just perfect?

I just got this book (by this blogger/photographer/chef), and I love it. I can’t wait to work on my food styling and photographing. It’s a challenge, since during the week I’m not home during daylight hours long enough to spend any time taking pictures, and I do most of my eating at work. While I enjoy the spontenatity of iphone photography, I’d like to improve my regular photography (not to mention my food-stying skills, which are currently non-existent).

The first words out of my mouth when I saw this were HOLY COW. And then I bought the pattern. Three of my favorite things-quilts, knitting, and bees (or at least honeycomb), all colliding in one, enormous, clever, beautiful project. It may take the rest of my life, but I am going to start making hexipuffs whenever and wherever I can.

Photo by Tiny Owl Knits

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I don't know what my deal is right now, I just haven't been in a blogging mood. I'm sure I will be again soon, I've just been a little busy and doing a lot of writing at work, which makes me not want to write so much when I get home. I have been cooking and knitting and taking some iPhone photos, so I have plenty to blog about. Oh, and getting the garden ready for this summer! I can't wait to plant some stuff and I have bee news too. Tonight, however, all I can really manage is to share a picture of these socks that I finished a while back. They are pretty and pink and very cozy. I like them. 

I'll see you again soon, even if it's for another quick post like this one.

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First, you might enjoy watching this: 

BE LINEN MOVIE from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

 

I might have mentioned before that I really love linen, it is by far my favorite fabric. I would be happy if my entire summer wardrobe was linen. I'd also love to have linen sheets and drapes and furniture. I love the way it drapes and the way it's wrinkly and crisp and smooth. I love the color of natural linen, and I love the way it smells. Is that weird? 

So, Quince and Co. just introduced a linen yarn and some really lovely patterns to go with it, and before I knew it, I had ordered a couple skeins and the pattern for Le Petit Sac. The yarn arrived on Saturday, and it's just as lovely as I imagined. It's very smooth and has a tight twist, so it's not as splity or nubby as other linen yarns I've worked with in the past. It is not the easiest yarn to knit with, since linen has no give at all, but I knew that before I even ordered the yarn. So it's a little bit of a challenge to work with, especially since the pattern is full of twist stitches. But it's small, and I am just moving along slowly and steadily, and I will be done just as soon as I can. 

I know it's just a simple little bag, but I'm pretty sure I will be using it all the time. The fabric is quite sturdy, and while the pattern doesn't call for it, I think I will probably line it (with linen, of course). I love the little loop in the strap right at the base of the bag for holding a single flower (or whatever else you might think of). Sweet little details like that are important, don't you think?

While I was waiting for my yarn to arrive, I happened upon this clever cowl/hat on Ravelry. I love vintage lace just as much as I love linen, so when I saw how the designer had used a pretty scrap of lace to tie up the hat, well, I had to make myself one too. I used a skein of Savannah, by The Fibre Company, which I had in my stash (coincidentally, a blend of merino, linen, cotton and soy!), and it was just the perfect rustic, soft, drapey yarn for a squishy cowl and a slouchy hat.

Cowl:

And hat:

I have more knitting to share, but I just love the soothing colors of this post, so I think I will end here for now. Oh, and I'm also working on the next iPhoneography post, so that should be up later this week! 

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