aureliano

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 It's September!  The 12th to be exact!

Just arrived home from a wonderful few days spent with my sisters.  Feeling so very blessed.

I realized I never added my Aureliano (as well as a few other knits) to this space.  

SO looking forward to some cooler days to wear this beauty.  Honestly, it feels like a cloud.  The yarn was a complete dream to work with!

Pattern:  Aureliano by Claudia Quintanilla 

Yarn: ITO Sansei 60% super kid mohair, 40% silk

Needle:  US 4/3.5mm

Mods:  none.

I spoke all about it on Episode 64

a very sweet baby knit

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Lemon yellow. Probably my favorite yellow in all the world. It just screams happy, cheerful, full of life!


I mean lemon adds flavor!   It adds a lovely appearance to any dish or drink.  It just seems to be the perfect companion.   If I were to be a food, I would definitely want to be a lemon!  
As I was searching for a toddler pattern, I found this on Etsy.  Something classic.  Perfect for a 2 year old! 
I made the size 3-4 year hoping she will be able to wear it for a couple of years.  
Knitting sleeves two at a time in order to keep them even was very helpful.  A little bit of yarn management but well worth it!  

The yarn was in my stash from a knit crate I received years ago.  I had two skeins.  584 yards in total.  Not enough for an adult sweater but perfect for a childs sweater.  Or so I thought!  I ended up playing a bit of yarn chicken however, was able to finish with a few yards to spare!  
Choosing buttons is always something I like to do.  And made even more fun with the challenge of using what I have.

I ended up narrowing it down to a few and asking advice on Instagram.  Mismatched flowers won the vote!    And added so much LIFE to this sweater!  

The sweater is blocked.  The name tag and buttons are sewn in place.    I can't wait to wrap and gift this!

Pattern:  Sirdar 
Yarn:  Knitcrate Vidalana Lofti DK  584 yards in Daffodil  
Needles:  US 6/ 4mm 
Size:  3-4 year
Mods: none 

hello august!

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I literally used to blame being so busy on my kids. And their schedules that kept me on my toes.  However, life has shifted and I feel that I am busier than ever.  Or certainly as busy as I was when they were young!  

I started the Freestyle Shirt on May 25.  I finished it on June 26.  It is August 4 (my eleven year wedding anniversary!) and I am just posting this!  Holy cow!
 
I can honestly say that I will only knit with black yarn during the summer months.  When the light is bright and long.  And, preferably when I am outside!  
I had been wanting to knit this sweater since last summer when it was released.  So grateful I finally did!
The neck detail is my favorite.  It reminds me of the raw edge of a sweatshirt neckband.

Pattern:  Freestyle Shirt
Yarn:  Onling no. 21  Holding two strands together.  12 balls black.
Needles:  US 5/3.75 mm
Size:  Small  (124 st cast on)
Mods:  Long sleeve instead of short!  The fabric is a bit heavy to be a short sleeve.  So, I made it long sleeve!  And I do believe it was a wise decision.  It's like a sweatshirt and I have been wearing it so much!  I LOVE it!


the colors of tahoe

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We spent the last part of June on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.  June just happens to be one of my favorite times there.  The air is crisp in the mornings and the evenings.  The afternoons are warm but not too warm.  The colors are vibrant.  And, the crowds are low! 
I finished my Free Style Tee (photos coming soon!) and Easy Ruffle Socks while there.  The hat I packed was my Oslo hat.  I thought it would be perfect for early morning hikes and swims.  (The water is 57°, too cold for me to swim for exercise but still cold enough for cold plunging. )

I waited until the last morning to snap some photos and was so very grateful that Liesl agreed to wake at 7am to be my model.  
Pattern:  Ultra Easy Ruffle Socks by Easy as Knit
Yarn: Artisan Yarns Sockpaca Fingering Weight held double (wool, alpaca, nylon)
Needle: US5/ 3.75mm
Size: M  Cast on 40 sts
Mods:  none
Pattern:  Oslo Hat
Yarn:  Rico Socks neon, color 005 held with Rico Essentials, color 062
Needle:  Us 3/3.5mm
Size: Cast on 108st 
Mods: none
I did not plan to match the colors of Tahoe.  But was so pleased while looking at my camera roll and noticing the colors of my knits matched the scenery.  

one of those days

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This was one of those summer evenings that will always hold a special spot in my heart.  

Where the temperatures are warm and the sun is still sitting high at 6pm.  

Where we ate our favorite take out.  

And, laughed.   
A lot.  


Where we played one of our favorite games.  


These are the type of summer days I never want to end.  And want to hold onto forever.  

On my needles:  Half + Half Triangles Wrap in Linen Quill.  

something new

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I started something new last night.  I took my first ballet class!  I have been wanting to take ballet for years and finally jumped in.  I loved it!  I showed up 30 minutes before the start time.  (I hate to rush. And, I was a little nervous.) While waiting,  I knit a row on my Half + Half Triangles wrap.  
I woke up in the night thinking that I needed to knit a pair of legwarmers.  I had the perfect gradient yarn in my stash.  Pink.  Obvisouly!

 {Waiting for class to start.}

I think I'll use this pattern.   However, I may change my mind after looking at all of these!

cake + socks

cookie of the week

My friend/neighbor and I decided to have a little KAL and knit a pair of the Ultra Easy Ruffle Socks.  A super easy pair of socks to maybe get some sock mojo going over here.  Maybe, maybe not.  The construction of the heel is super simple.  Not a completely defined heel.  It's a perfect pattern for beginner knitters.  I'm using yarn from my stash acquired from one of my past Knitcrates.  
 
I whipped up an Orange Ricotta Cake over the weekend using my sourdough discard.  If you have been visiting this space for a while, you know how much I love to bake.  However, over the years I haven't done much baking because no-one seems to want to eat it.  Including me!  But, doesn't a baked good and knitting just go together?  I think so!  

This cake is a keeper.  And, I plan on making it on repeat this summer!  I left off the glaze topping this time but definitely want to try it the next time.  

my june knit

cookie of the week

I started the FreeStyle Shirt on May 25th, however, I am calling it my June knit. I like to save my black yarn for when the sun is high and the days are bright.  
I'm using Onling No. 21 holding two strands together.  It is a cotton/linen blend and I am hoping will work beautifully for this pattern.  

 I also made a Chocolate Chip cookie that supersedes any I have made in the past.  I know that is a tall order, however, it's true.  I have tried to duplicate the delicious Levain cookies from New York.  This is the closest I have ever gotten.  I followed this recipe.  (I'm going to also jot it down below in case the link one day expires. )

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ cup (112g) unsalted butter, slightly softened

  • 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar

  • ¼ (50g) cup granulated sugar

  • 2 large eggs, cold

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 2½ (300g) cups all-purpose flour, sifted

  • 1½ tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt (or 1 tsp kosher salt)

  • 2 cups (250g) walnuts, roughly chopped
    (if omitting walnuts, you can add roughly 50g extra AP flour)

  • 2 cups (325g) dark chocolate chips


    Measure out 3 oz balls. Refrigerate balls for 30 minutes or longer. Bake at 375˚ for 11-13 minutes.

CMC Sweater

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 I love a quick knit.  And I love a quick knit that fits right into my wardrobe.  As a matter of fact, I'm not sure how I ever lived without a pale pink sweater in my wardrobe!
I spoke all about this on my latest podcast.  

You can find that here.

Pattern:  CMC Sweater
Yarn:  Blue Sky Fibers Extra  5 skeins.  (I think I could have gotten by with 4 skeins.) Color 3513
Needle Size: US 9/5.5 mm
Size: Small
Modifications:  I made the neckline a crew by knitting for 1 inch instead of 4 inches.  I also continued the pattern that runs down the sides so that it also runs down the inside of the sleeve.  

may... now that was quick!

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Looking back through the photos on my phone, it seems like this happened a while ago. Yet, May seemed to have flown by.
d

 I mean we had a big graduation, there was Mother's Day, plants were planted, and there was a 10 day power outage.  Yes... 10 days.  I made the most of the time without electricity (or hot water!) however, when the electricity finally came back on, I cried.  Seriously.  
I set up the dining room table like I was hosting craft days.  Only, the only crafter was me!  
I would get up, swim my laps, head to Starbucks for a coffee and hit the craft table.  
If you were a loop and you happened to be in my house, you were becoming a pot holder.  Pronto!  
In the end I made 6 dishcloths (HIGHLY REWARDING!) and eleven (I thought it was one a day... hmmm maybe the power was out for 11 days.  It's all a blur.)  potholders.  

I made the most of my time.  :)

The dish cloth recipe using Crafter's Secret Cotton or Sugar and Cream:

Using a US 6/4mm or US 7/4.5 mm needle (I prefer a US 6 because I light a tighter cloth)
Cast on 3 stitches.
Knit 2, yarn over, knit to end.
Continue until 44 stitches on your needle.
Knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to end.
Repeat until 3 stitches remain.  
Bind off.




on my needles

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How can it possibly be April 25th already!  Can time please slow down?!
We have been busy around here.  Mostly traveling.  Always knitting.  Much to share, however, I am going to start with the present and share what is currently on my needles. It is bringing me much joy.  
Aureliano by Claudia Quintanilla.  
This knit is delicate and delicious.  And requires me to be fully present.  It's a nice change from many of my mindless knits.  

 The weather has begun to change.  Windows are open and fresh air is flowing into the house.  I moved some things around and it is crazy how much small changes can change the energy in a room.  It feels like a fresh space.  

Happy weekend!  

Friday Shrug

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This was such a fun, quick knit!  And... it has color!  
All of a sudden, I am into knitting with color.  I don't know how long it will last, however, I am going to embrace it while I can!  
This pattern has intrigued me for a while.  I found the fade and the marling to be quite addicting.  So much so that I truly had a hard time putting this project down.  It took me 5 days to knit this.  
All of the yarn I used was from my stash.  I have a lot of singles from the KnitCrates I used to receive.  I found this to be the perfect use of them!  You hold two fingering weight yarns together throughout.  
While at my friend Susy's house we started looking at her incredible collection of the feather brooch she sells on her site.  True works of art!  

 We thought this was the perfect addition to the Friday Shrug as well as most of my wardrobe!

Pattern:  Friday Shrug
Yarn:  Fingering weight held double.  
Needle:  US 8/ 5 mm

I talked about this knit here.  

a new year

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 Each year I make a calendar using last years knits.  Each month features the knit I made last year during that time.  It's fun to see them all in a collection.  Creams, browns and grey were predominant.  I may need to add a little color this year!  

Hello Friend!

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 Hello Friends!  WOW!  It's been a minute!

It has been almost a year since I have visited this space.  However, I just blew the dust off and plan on being here a little more this year.  I have missed you!  

The big news last year was that I took a class from Clare at Sister Mountain and I wrote my first true garment pattern!  I have written patterns in the past, but have never graded one for 9 sizes.  It was a bit of a learning curve for me and I couldn't love and be more proud of the work I put into writing this pattern.  
It's called Hello Friend!  

It's basic.  It's simple.  It's for beginners.  It's for advanced.  It's to wear alone.  It's to wear over a blouse, or a t-shirt or a turtleneck.  It's to wear under a sweater.  It's to wear under a blazer.  It's to wear under a jacket.  

If you a new knitter, I have put together a YouTube Tutorial to help you.  And I knit right along with you.
If you are an advanced knitter maybe you will learn a new technique.  Either way I hope you feel as if you are knitting with a friend.

And, if you are still reading this blog, THANK YOU!  I'd like to offer you a pattern at half off.  Please enter the code HELLOFRIEND to download your pattern on Ravelry.    

I hope you are having a lovely start to your year and you have something you love on your needles!

See you soon!  xx, leslie