almost spring, more knitting, good soup & font promos

 

another post following the theme that it is still Winter ish here. I am now going to say it is almost Spring. I just noticed yesterday that there is water right next to our retaining wall. That is serious cause for celebration!!! But there is still an awful lot of frozen lake out there. But it is starting to get that mushy look.

Here is a cute pair of Scrunchy Ombre Arm Warmers. This is also from KnitPicks and uses the same yarn as I used for the Frida Mitts. This is washable wool. And they got even softer after being washed.

I am still making Chicken Gnocchi Soup. This soup you can make last minute and it is very forgiving. I use it as a base soup and then add extra veggies that I have. Sometimes I use a roasted chicken or even canned chicken in a pinch. It is always good. I prefer the Trader Joe's gnocchi as it seem to be a little smaller. This is a make it and eat it soup rather than a simmer all day type of soup.

For the recipe click here.

Tomorrow is April, so if you need any new Kitchen or Food fonts there are 4 on sale 50 off. Links on the right.

fingerless mitts and checked jacket

 

I know, it is Spring. It may be Spring where you live but here it is still on its way. I am still knitting fingerless mitts because I am still wearing them. This darling cabled pair is Frida Fingerless Mitts from Knit Picks. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Tweed Thirst Heather. I can get a pair out of a skein. So a pair for under $4.

This color is the exact shade of blue in my Duluth Trading Companies' Flapjack Flannel Shirt Jac. Also something I am still wearing.

I hope you are closer to Spring than we are.

knitted handwarmers

 

I was knitting a pretty pink sweater and now I am not. I bought soft washable pink Cascade yarn. I've knit the back and the sleeves and now I can tell that the sweater is just going to be wrong, wrong, wrong. The pattern looks square and structured and this yarn is just too soft. Sigh. So it sits. While I think and consult with my knitting group.

But knitting is a form of meditation for me. Especially in Winter when it is cold. So in the mean time I am knitting these little handwarmers from my stash. The really great thing about these is that I am a big sock knitter and always have some left. In fact I have a small wicker hamper full of odd and ends. Plus I like things to me mismatched. So I am just digging in my stash and knitting.

I'd rather have a sweater. But we can't always have what we want.

I was inspired to knit these by this Purl Bee pattern. If you want to do it right buy their lavishly wonderful yarn and make some. Or if you are like me knit up some of that stash while you figure out what to do with all that pink yarn.

knit, crochet and Erika Knight

Back in high school I knit several sweaters but not since. I don't really wear sweaters. But I would like this one. I get bored knitting sweaters. Too many pieces all the same. But this sweater has a different pattern for each piece so I think that will help. Plus I just like the asymmetrical look. I would really like a whole wardrobe filled with this sweater in different colors and weights.

Since I see it as an every day sweater I am knitting it using Cascade 220 Superwash Sport wool. The yarn is discontinued so I really hope I have enough. The pattern is Thames by Erika Knight who I have a huge knitting crush on. If I designed a sweater this is the one I would design. Even more exciting I saw a crochet wrap I wanted. When I decided to hunt the pattern down it is by none other than Erika Knight! That is a lot of fiber excitement.

The only problem is that I don't crochet. Of course the best thing would be if Erika dropped by someday for tea and taught me. Since I doubt that is going to happen (although we have a really nice guest room) I found that she has written many books. So I got two.

These little slippers are rather intriguing.

This one has a crochet necklace made out of linen. Erika added some buttons to hers but I am seeing rhinestones and a couple Bakelite beads on mine.

In order to not lose interest in my sweater each month this Summer I have to finish one piece of the sweater before I can do any other knitting or crocheting. But I cannot wait to dig into my new books!

Thanks Erika!