Winter: Instagrammed

Most people in Minnesota despise winter.  Understandably so.  It is dark coming and going from work.  It is often under 0 degrees with even a biting windchill.  The roads are never quite all the way plowed.  And it seems to go on forever.  My theory, though, is if you are going to live here you best embrace it or you will drive yourself crazy with cabin fever.  When I ski, I am sometimes cold and tired and I sometimes even think of all the things I could be doing, or better yet knitting, instead of huffing up a hill.  But then I have these moment of pure peace where I am the only person in a vast expanse.  I am a part of nature.  Every time I go out the landscape is different.  Subtle but exciting.  As I settle into a rhythm I begin to enjoy the solitude and my mind clears.  I wish I could share this joy with all those winter haters, but I suppose they will just have to figure it out on their own. Oh and if you ever feel a bit cold read this.  The book peaked my interest from a post on Avalanche looms, and it really makes me feel so grateful to be living in Minneapolis and not Antarctica. 

 

A Rolling Cowl

 I've been going through a period of stash busting lately.  It all started with the pom poms to rid my collection of those pesky little bits of thread.  But then it came on to the bigger stuff.  The half used balls of yarn from many a fair isle hat and even full skeins of yarn bought ages ago and meant for  -ahem-  something.  Sorting through my stash, a beautiful range of grays and blues emerged.  And so emerged this ottoman roll cowl.  A simple knit of jersey purl stripes with the slightest bit of color play.  Everything is grounded in gray-a yarn I had ridiculous amounts of.  The colors are almost exclusively the byproduct of past Birkie Hats- Danielle's,  Katie's,  and Meredith's-to be exact. Like the pom pom garland I like knitting with the yarns that remind me of my wonderful friends. 

Off the Loom: Waves

Sometimes a deadline is exactly what you need to spend countless nights looming.  The pattern/inspiration came from "Color and Texture in Weaving"  by Margo Selby.  This book was my most recent weaving purchase from the WGM.  I fell in love with this "wave" pattern and just in time for a pirate themed wedding off the shore of New Jersey.  I love how the simplicity of a flat gray warp transforms subtly as color is integrated. 

Warped

The warp is plain.  Gray.

 Quick to warp.

 The fun comes in subtle color shifts.

The waves of oceans emerge.

On my needles

It's been a while since I tackled a sweater.  At the WGM silent auction last year, I bid and one a giant skein of gorgeous hand spun wool roving.  With so much yarn interest my chunky sweater didn't need any fancy stitch work.  I envision an easy cardigan with a luscious shawl collar.  So far I am liking the results and I think Boxspring does too.

Our First Tree

It was a balmy fall afternoon.  The perfect weather to cut down our very first Christmas tree at H&Z tree farm.  We spent hours tromping around the property in search of our tree.  There was a variety of firs, but we chose the one that smelled the best, which turned out to be a Fraser Fir.

 Once found, Josh started the initial cut.

 But I got to finish it!  He also humored me with matching hats!

Once home we decorated with  lights, glittered pinecones, candy canes, a pom pom garland and homemade paper ornaments. I set everything up on an automated timer, so I can come home to a lit tree.  The scent fills the room and I like having a touch of Christmas tradition to cheer us through the darkening days.  

Craft Retreat and a Pom Pom Garland

After reorganizing my ever growing stash of stray yarn.  I found the perfect project for all those little bits of thread.  Pom Poms!  A bit mindless and a bit tedious but worthy of the effort. 

 I had plenty of volunteers to mind the collection.

 Some sneaky buggers may have even swiped a few for their own.

60 Poms and 14 yards of twine later and my garland was done.  Each pom pom represents a past knit project or gift. I love having these little reminders strung around my house.