Sidetracked Artist

I haven’t posted much so far this year.   We’ve had an eventful few months, but most of our day-to-day activities haven’t been caught on camera.   This not only makes for less interesting blog posts, but I lose track of what I intended to write about.   And, well, I’ve been sort of distracted by some recent events. Everything is OK with us, there’s just been a lot going on, and some of it has been private.   And some of it is not up to me to share; not my story to tell.   Not now, anyway, maybe later. I’ve been reading a great deal this year, mostly because it’s been cold and rainy here these past several months, and I’m more comfortable staying in where it’s warm.   Being out in the cold makes my hands and feet ache.   I used to enjoy cold weather.   I loved downhill skiing, but my body just isn’t up for that sort of thing any more.   Keeping my hands and feet warm has become a daily challenge involving wool socks and slippers indoors a...

It has been said that “time flies”, and that has certainly been the case for me this week. I usually begin each week with a list of what I hope to accomplish. This week’s list includes: knitting Christmas gifts, (Shhh...don't tell!) developing recipes for my other blog, grocery shopping for the week and for Thanksgiving dinner, photo source making a Kindle case to fill an Etsy order, stopping at the feed store for chicken feed, and making covers for the cushions on the hope chest in our living room, something like these. photo source photo source I’ve been tired this week, as usual, and everything has required that I push myself to keep going, to do just one more thing. The alternative would have been accomplishing nothing at all, and that just doesn’t work for me. I have to accomplish something, anything, even small things. I got the groceries with Laura’s help, I started the gift knitting and began the Kindle case. I worked on gluten free recipes, but n...

Fingerless Mittens What you'll need Fingering weight yarn (sock yarn) Size 2 double point (dp) needles, or size needed to achieve gauge Stitch markers Small stitch holders Gauge: 8 stitches per inch 11 rows per inch Instructions Cast on 60 stitches and divide evenly between three needles.   Making sure that cast on row isn’t twisted, place marker and join circular row. Knit 2, Purl 2 around for 22 rows (2 inches). Knit every stitch around for   11 rows (1 inch). Thumb Gusset Increase Row: Knit (K)30, place marker (pm), make one, K6, make 1 (by knitting in the front and back of the next stitch, or use your preferred method for increasing by one stitch), pm, K24 (one increase row completed). {Knit even around for 3 rows.   Complete one increase Row} Repeat 3 more times for a total of 5 increase rows. Knit two rows. Knit 30, then place all stitches except 16 thumb stitches on stitch holders. Thumb K 1, make 1, K2 (5 stitches total on first needle). Using another dp ne...

I'm currently working on fingerless gloves knit with Panda Superwash yarn from Crystal Palace Yarns .  This lovely, soft, yarn is 51% bamboo, 39% superwash wool, and 10% nylon.  This color is called Stonewash.  I'll post the pattern when I'm finished with it. What are you working on? Cindy