Keeping the hands busy

Yes, it has been a shamefully long time since I last blogged. Life here on the farm just requires way more time than we ever seem to have. The brutal winter didn’t help much, as we shifted between trying to prevent ice damage and frozen pipes, and endless hours of snow shoveling. (Worst of all: where to put all that white stuff??)

Thankfully we believe the winter is over and gone, and we are appreciating somewhat warmer days and (for now, at least) rain instead of snow. I was, however, able to use some of those no-electricity days and too-tired-to-work evenings to keep up with some knitting projects.

Naturally I started about ten new ones, too, so I’m just now (and very slowly) finishing them off one by one. Here are a few of the off-the-needles-at-last efforts. (Click on photo to enlarge, and to find out what these are.)

Ten-stitch baby blankets, using Frankie Brown’s pattern (Ravelry).

Scarf/shawl: Elaborated Print O’ the Wave pattern by Eunny Jang, from her Craftsy class “Lace Knitting: Basics and Beyond”. Yarn is Interlacements Irish Jig [African Violets].

Lace shawl: Fiori Autunnali, by Romi Hill

Detail of Fiori Autunnali

Second Fiori Autunnali in turquoise heather alpaca, before blocking. Looks pretty ridiculous at this stage! (And no, this is not finished; I’m including partly so you can see the difference between the finished ecru shawl and one in progress, and partly because at the rate I’m going this may never come off the needles.)

A small blocked swatch of the turquoise shawl, with several “test” beads. I settled on the dark, metallic blue.

I usually have several hats and socks going at the same time as more intricate projects—gives my hands a rest.

Second 10-stitch done.

TEAny Hats

These are #16 – 21. Who, me addicted?

Seamen’s Church Institute is sponsoring a knitting project called “Teany Hats”. In conjunction with several Starbucks outlets in New Jersey, they are launching a program to inform customers about the importance and conditions of seamen. As an inveterate knitter, I just have to participate. I think there’s a crochet version, too … so all you yarnies out there, check this out. [These use about ten yards of a light worsted weight yarn—worthy stash-buster and easy-to-carry along handwork!]

Not just quilting

Confession: wintertime hasn’t just been about quilting this year. I’ve also delved a bit deeper into knitting projects (and yes, you’ll probably see a lot of this stuff on our new online store … when I get it set up, that is!).

I’ve never tried lace knitting before, so I took a Craftsy class (“Knit This” with Laura Nelkin, another New Yorker), and I really am pleased with the first project. This is a shawl called “Skywalker” that Laura designed. I call it “Lady Skywalker” — such lovely light pink yarn, I couldn’t resist.