If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?

When I saw these lime green Peeps today, I just had to get them for Movita. They were softly chirping her name as I walked down the grocery aisle. As an epicurean delight, they are Gawd-awful (I once saw a photo and recipe for a Peep pie!) but, in Movita's hands, they will become an art form. Movita loves Peeps and Peeps love Movita.

Still making thrifty use of cotton from the yarn drawer.
Pattern: Chinese Waves Dishcloth
Yarn: Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit - double strands

And simple socks in spring colors for a little friend.

Practically Speaking

I've had leftover pure cotton yarns sitting around for a few years now and it is long past time to clear them out of the yarn drawer by finding a good use for them. And there is nothing more practical than the lowly but serviceable dishcloth or washcloth.

Pattern: Chinese Waves Dishcloth

Designer: Margaret K.K. Radcliffe

Yarn: Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted

Needles: Circular 5.0 mm.

Pattern: Grandmother's Favorite

Designer: Traditional Design from Dishcloth Boutique

Yarn: Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit

Needles: Circular 5.0 mm.

Spring Birthdays

Movita and Derek gave me a stamp set on my last birthday which was so lovely that I could only bear to open it this morning - almost a year later! I've enjoyed having it sit, pretty and new, on a dresser in front of an upstairs window. I do believe it using pretty things. My mother was married almost sixty years and there were glasses and dishes in the cupboards that never saw the light of day in all that time. They were being saved "for good". I do, however, like to savor beautiful items for a while before they are used - the gardener's soap in the gorgeous box, Isa's embroidered towels, scalloped flower gift tags from Hadley, a beautiful skein of yarn...

With so many spring birthdays in the family, I unsealed the box today to release the birds!

and organized my workspace

to put together some pretty packages.

Valentine's Day At Movita's House

Movita sent some photos yesterday of her preparations for Valentine's Day.

To view more of her clever creations, drop in on her blog:

http://movitabeaucraft.wordpress.com/

Twisted Stitch Patterns

Pattern: Cornflower Socks

Designer: Karen Scott

Since I wanted to expand my knitting horizons this year, I cast on a sock in a twisted stitch design with lots of cabling to the back and front of the needles. This type of pattern is certainly popular now. Every day on Ravelry there seems to be more and more of them, but they are labor intensive and often not quite as flexible in terms of fit.
This particular pattern was nicely charted and easy to follow and I didn't have any problems with the fit as there is a reasonable amount of flexibility in the design. I think it is a good choice for someone who hasn't knit this type of design before.
And though it is very pretty, and I will enjoy wearing the socks on bright spring mornings with a pair of jeans, I would recommend spacing this type of project with a few easy "vanilla" sock patterns in between!
I cast on the second sock today as soon as the first one was off the needles lest I rationalize my way into having a rest and beginning another project instead!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baboo

Baboo is thirty-three years old today!

The baby who always smiled

Grew into a pleasant young lad

Who moved to France and became a terrific Dad.

We all miss  him and his winsome ways.

Cornflower Socks

Pattern: Cornflower Socks
Designer: Karen Scott
Yarn: Opal Uni Solid 4 ply
Color: 29
Needles: Circular, 2.25 mm

In keeping with the resolution to expand my knitting horizons this year, I have started a new sock pattern instead of falling back on one of my old favorites. Every row of the Cornflower pattern requires the use of a cable needle so it is labor intensive but it is fun to see the design slowly emerge.
I have had this Opal yarn for over a year. I spotted it in a yarn store one day, held it up to a side window, admired it for a while, and resolutely put it back in its wire basket. I just didn't need any more sock yarn. The following week, I went back to the store to get it! I find it hard to resist blue-greens and dark cranberry reds. This color is hard to capture with the camera. It is darker and brighter in "real life" and I really enjoy working with it.

Bear Sightings

This is the time of year when bears are supposed to be snugged deep in their winter dens, hibernating until spring. I don't know what happened this year - global warming perhaps? But when I went outside this afternoon, it seemed, even though there were only two of them, as if there were bears everywhere - bears by the birdbath, bears on snowbanks, even bears on the front steps - Mon Dieu! Though I was very careful around them, I have to say that they appeared to be very gentle and sweet - and exceedingly literate.

Note: The cream hat appears to be made with Louet Gems fingering weight wool while the blue and brown sweater looks like a discontinued Lang yarn called Vera.

Snow Days = Sock Knitting

We've had about 35 cm of snow over the last couple of days. And the forecasters are hinting at another 10-15 cm. on Tuesday. We will soon be hard pressed to find places to put it!

Adirondack Chairs in Snow

Finished: Basic Cabled Socks