baby elephants are so cute revived

This project, first blogged about here, has been revived.  I worked on it steadily last July and then tucked it away in a drawer when I realized there would be seam "issues" on the size I chose to knit.

To be perfectly honest, this was apparent from before I cast on.  One has but to look at the chart to figure it out.  The vest only truly "works" in one size (large.)

But I remember thinking ... it's just the seams, after all.  I don't have enough yarn for the larger size.  And it will be barely noticeable.   Those sweet elephants kept beckoning ... "we're so cute!"

So I knit up the back and one chart repeat of the front last July with Rowan Purelife Revive.  That's when I realized that the distorted motif at the seams really would noticeable.   Very noticeable.  And the Revive recycled yarn did not lend itself to frogging.  So I stopped working on the vest and tucked it away, not sure what to do.

But those elephants never stopped being cute.   And my choice was to finish it or toss it out.  Eight months later I have a new perspective.  I'm wiser about motifs at seams, using recycled yarn and forging ahead against my better judgment.

So I finished knitting up the front this week.  It will be a happy little vest.

There's still finish work to do.  Double row edging around the armholes and neck and making up the sides.  But it's all worth it.  Lessons are learned.  And the baby elephants really are cute, after all...

a whispering cadence

Spurred on by many knitters on Ravelry, I'm working toward finishing up works-in-progress before beginning new projects.  These socks were begun January 8th of this year.  That's not too awfully long ago, I guess.

The pattern is Cadence Socks by Very Busy Monkey.  It is available as a free download on Ravelry.  Cadence was originally presented as a mystery knit-along with four separate clues and it is still offered in that format.

The yarn is a merino/nylon sock yarn dyed by Beatka at Hedgehog Fibers in her "Whisper" colourway.  She lives in Cork, Ireland and her yarn and fiber are available through her etsy shop.

Other info: 2.25mm dpn's, 340 yards, knit as written (no modifications.)

I love the openwork of the fabric.  At one point there is a jog to the left on one sock and a jog to the right on the other so that the design on the right and left socks complement each other.  I tied one knot in the cast-on of the first sock and two knots in the cast-on of the second to keep them straight.  Just sayin'.

good-bye peach; hello hawthorn

Early Fall snows and gusty winds finally brought an end to our peach tree.  Only the stump in the background remains.

When we went tree shopping, our priority was finding one that could withstand the early Fall and late Spring wet, heavy snows we often have in Northern Colorado.

Family suggested a Hawthorn tree and, after researching, we decided that was just the thing to brighten up the yard.

winter king hawthorn

It arrived this morning!  And we're looking forward to the white blossoms, the redorange Fall color, and the berries that promise to last well into winter.

shallows

I love Bonnie Sennott's designs and was so excited to take this knitting project along while helping out with the arrival of the new baby.  The pattern is Shallows and I knit it as a cowl.

The pattern is easily memorized.  It is a project which you can put down at a moment's notice... then know exactly where you were when you pick it up again.

The Quince tern is a fingering weight American wool with a bit of tussah silk blended in which gives the fabric a nice drape and bit of sheen.  I've noticed some comments about the bits of tuft here and there in the skeins but personally find them quite appealing.

The colourway is "seaweed" and I used 3.5mm circulars.  Bonnie's designs never disappoint!

such joy



So it was an absolutely wonderful three weeks with family!

The little one arrived a few days after her due date which allowed for  extra time with these two pumpkins.  And that was pretty special for grandma.

The night mom and dad went to the hospital, our (almost) two year old grandson was just so excited.  I thought he'd burst what with talking and talking about the new baby being born!

And when she came home she was the most peaceful and relaxed little thing you ever saw.



It's good to be home but it was so very, very good to be there to welcome her!  My stay overlapped a couple of days with their other Nana who is there helping out as I write.

Such joy!

no words

a baby girl

born last night <3

still waiting

Little baby girl or boy is in no hurry to be born.  So while we wait, we've been enjoying  gentle days ... the train and carousel park, the children's museum...



... and lots of storytime on the sofa.  Granma's favorite.