Striped Cardigan

Here is a project that was five months in the making. It started out strong; I had an intense focus on finding the perfect pattern for a striped cardigan. I liked elements of several different designs and ended up making up my own mash-up pattern based on measurements I took of a sweater that I had on the shelf. 

After choosing the yarn and the colors for the imagined perfect sweater, the knitting went along without much of a hitch. But often, even as I was making good progress, I just put it aside. The original drive to make it seemed to peter out. Everything turned out pretty much as I had planned and I didn't have much ripping out to do. So, I should be happy but somehow, it is just one of those projects which is a bit "meh". 

I'll wear it and when I find some different buttons, I'll replace these that are a bit thin and not quite the right shade of blue. I think some metal or pewter buttons with a traditional flair would look better.

Summer Photos

My friend, Sue, retired last year and she said recently that when people ask her what she does all day, she usually sighs and says, "Oh, I just sit and stare out the window."

Another smarty-pants answer is "Whatever I want." 

The days and weeks roll by. Chores, errands, exercise. Social and family stuff. Trips out of town. Anacortes festivals and events. Knitting and reading and wasting time on the computer. This week, it has been dealing with all of the apples and pears from the fruit trees. Apple butter, apple crisp, apple pie and applesauce. We have boxes and boxes of pears to give away. 

The summer started with graduation parties and the end of the back injury rehabilitation program. The regular walking program resumed and I got in some bicycling and hiking. I finally found the oak trees in Oak Harbor.

Hiking in Olympic National Park

Ray with an ice pack
Tapioca pudding
No more wisdom teeth

Skagit County Fair

Tubaluba concert at Seafarer's Park

A visit from a Juneau friend

Camping with the Ski Patrol by the Kettle River

Tribute Socks

Pattern: Tribute

Yarn: Plucky Feet

Color: Peep Toes

Girl on Fire Socks - Pistachio

Pattern:  Girl on Fire

Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight

Pistachio

Windschief Hats

I wanted to make Dave a hat so he chose a pattern and a color from some options I gave him. He only got to pick from some of my favorites so the finished product worked out well for both of us. He wasn't here to model for the pictures but it's a good fit on the real guy. 

The pattern is Windschief and the yarn is Plucky Trusty in a color called Make a Grown Man Cry (yes, really). I weighed the leftovers and realized I had enough to knit another one. 

I'll check with my father-in-law, Bud, to see if he wants it. I went out crabbing with them today in their boat. There were a lot of little ones in the pots and three keepers. It was nice and calm out on the water.

Sail Away Ember Socks

The yarn that arrived for this month's sock club was similar to several Plucky skeins that I already had on hand. Even so, some small excitement gets generated with new stuff. I decided to use an older pattern (so last month!) as the best way to show off the subtle highlights of this chestnut brown ball.

The pattern is Sail Away and the yarn is from Scotland, called Old Maiden Aunt Merino Superwash 4 ply. This color is named Ember.

Sock pictures? I always have sock pictures...

Drunkard's Path Quilt

Here's a project that has existed in the background for more than a year. I cut and made blocks as I accumulated scraps and eventually I made enough for a lap sized quilt. It measures 60" x 75" before washing. There are a lot of pictures. :-)

The backing and binding shot, which shows the hand and machine quilting.