Oh my goodness was I ever excited to receive July's Knitcrate's. Honestly... JOY in a box!
The theme was Modern Primary.
"Explore a fresh look at the familiar rainbow with bold, intense color!  Tangerine, grass green and sunshine yellow play against navy and ultraviolet.  Mix and match this month's pigmented hues with rich neutrals and camel, caramel and stark white for pieces that pop!"
This months sock crate might have been my favorite.  I truly almost squealed when I saw the colorful insert, the bright yarn and the awesome project bag!  A reminder written on my bag on how to do Kitchener stitch?!  Well... that is ALWAYS necessary when I am knitting socks. I don't know why I can't ever remember that stitch!  Two beautiful possible colors to receive of the sock yarn.
Yarn:  Pictured Yarns in Tetra Colorway.  420 yards of 75% super wash 25% nylon.
Pattern:  Summer Rain by Hannah Woodhead
Extra:  Yep.  The most wonderful little project bag.
I really love the yarn + pattern I received with the membership crate.
There were four possible colors and to be quite honest I would have been happy with all of them!
I'm all over the knitting project for this one!  US size 10 needles makes this project a quick one.

Yarn:  Knitologie Bouncy Worsted.  180 yards of 100% super wash merino.  This color way is Dashboard.
Pattern:  As always, a knitting pattern and a crochet pattern.
              Knitting:  Beach Ball Cowl by Virginia Sattler-Reimer
              Crochet:  Yoga Socks by Virginia Sattler-Reimer

If you want to try a knitcrate, your first crate is 20% off when ordering with code FKW20!

Meet Motive.  A new pattern named after my hair salon.  Because my hair stylist, who owns the salon, requested a pair of mitts as long as Toast but with more of a shape of Those Mitts.
Long enough to pull down over your fingers on those super cold days.  And can easily cuffed to free your fingers when you need to use them!
I added a heart to one mitt and like to wear it in the palm of my hand.  But since they are reversible can also be worn on the top of your hand.  Or you can add a heart to both mitts if you like.  Totally up to YOU!
The pattern is intended for a worsted weight yarn on size 6 needles.  I like to use Lion Brand Wool Ease because it can be thrown in the washer and dryer and wears amazingly well.  I also like the price point for a project like this.
The heart motif is written in a chart and row by row in case you don't like to follow charts.

The color combinations are endless!  I can't wait to try more combinations.  And, as my sweet friend Kristyn just mentioned, she is getting an early start on Christmas knitting with these!

What the Fade was one of those projects that pushed me to try something new.  Brioche.  How in the world have I been knitting for 30 years and never tried this stitch?!  I love the texture and the reversed effect.  After I caught on, it became very methodical and relaxing.  But, let me tell you... it took me quite a while to catch on.  So much so, that the first attempt was frogged.  Too many mistakes which I tried to overlook but in the end I just couldn't.   It took me a couple of months to get the motivation to try again.
Just as soon as I was tiring of the Brioche stitch, the pattern introduces mindless garter stitch.  Oh ya. NOW I could travel with my project.  That's what I'm talking bout!
The mindless garter is perfect for the times when your people are all around.  Or those evenings on the patio with a glass of wine.  I love having a project like this.

I'm not sure if I mentioned my whole quarter plan?  I don't think I did here.  (I did on my YouTube channel which I am going to get back into... soon!) So here goes. :)
I decided this year to break my year up into quarters.  January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December.  Each quarter I would be able to start new projects.  One for the head, heart (thank you, Darby), hands and feet.  So, the head would be hats or scarves.  The heart would be sweaters or shawls, the hands would be, well hands/arms.  The feet would be, well, feet/legs!
And... If I finished the project during those 3 months then I would not be able to start something new. I would have to go to my unfinished projects and work on those.  I hope this helps me from starting too many without finishing my other projects first!

SO... yesterday I started my feet project for this quarter.  They will be socks for Libby and I just loved the color.  It's a Knitcrate sock crate :: yarn and pattern from June.  The five o'clock somewhere socks.  AND... I was so excited to pull out my new small project bag for this project.  LOVE it!  Sandy makes these bags and has a shop update monthly.  The bags can be pretty hard to snag but if you happen to be reading this before noon on the 12th, head on over to her site.  She has an update today!

 However, since it had been sitting as stitches it was wavy when I unraveled it.  I didn't think curly tassels would look as nice as straight, but I actually considered that it might be fun.
I hung the tassels on the fence for a nice dry and voila!  Straight yarn tassels.

Happy Day, Friends!

I debated on if I wanted to add the tassels to my What the Fade, but my sister convinced me that it would be fun. And if I ever became tired of them, I could just snip them off.  SO... today I will be making three tassels.  Sounds like a fun thing to do on a Summertime Saturday.

Happy Saturday!

It's about 95˚ today and I couldn't be happier. Front porch knitting in the heat? Im in! Especially when I have a new project. Ya, I agree. Working on a large project draped over my legs would not be fun.
I started Oak out of Plain & Simple.  I must tell you that this book is A M A Z I N G!  I truly want to knit each and every pattern. (Thank you, Jane!)  I decided to start with Oak.  But who knows,  I truly might knit each one.  A personal goal like that would be fun!
And, because I don't want to forget and thought maybe I would share... Purple potato salad.

I've been working on healing my eczema from the inside out.  If you have been around this blog for very long, you will remember, I have attempted this in the past.  But never to this degree in regards to determination and willpower.  Working with a naturopath, I have been doing the elimination diet.  I have not omitted night shades or eggs, but pretty much everything else.  Dairy, Gluten, Grains, Legumes, and anything out of a package.  I think it is basically Whole30 with a little wine thrown in for good measure.  (It's summer afterall!)  The ingredients are below.  If you need any help with specific directions, please let me know!

Purple Potato Salad:
1 1b purple boiled potatoes cut into pieces.
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
3 green sliced scallions
1/2 cup fresh chopped, parsley
Salt and Pepper

Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
1 small avocado
juice from 1 lemon
Salt and Pepper
Blend on high in the Vitamix for a thick creamy mixture.

I'll be serving this today!
Happy 4th Ya'all!

1 ridge = 2 rows
1 row = 18 min
1 ridge = 36 min
Left to do:  7 ridges
How I figure I have approximately 4 hours left to knit on my What the Fade.
Which makes me pretty happy because I gave myself a July 1 deadline.
I look forward to casting off all 569 stitches.
Thank goodness for hot Saturdays with nothing planned.

I think I have mentioned before, but I have never been disappointed with a Knitcrate. You remember what it is, right? A yarn subscription service where a surprise box of yarn arrives in your mailbox! You can choose a monthly option or not. It's all up to you.
This months theme is Ice Scream!  Yes.  I sort of let out a little yelp when I opened this box.


The yarn is just soooooo yummy.  And although I am not a huge shawl maker, I thought the knit pattern that came with this months crate had me all... whoa.  That fringe!  I love fringe.
The Membership Crate:
Yarn: 2 skeins of Vidalana.  80% Superwash Merino, 10% Nylon and 10% Cashmere.  That cashmere gives it that super deliciousness.   (There are four different colors.  I just happened to receive Chewy.)

The patterns.  As always, there is both knit pattern and a crochet pattern.

Knit pattern:  Minty Fresh by Taiga Hilliard.  A traditional triangular shawl amped up with a leaf lace motif and fringe.  I love it.

Crochet pattern:  Lemoncello by Kalurah Hudson.  A lightweight poncho that can be worn a multiple of ways.  I really like this, too.  If I was a crocheter I would consider making this.  But knitting is my one true love.

As always, a $63.00 value for $24.99.

If interested in ordering, use the code FKW20 to receive 20% off your first knitcrate!  (Code works on all crates.)

Before our summer schedules become too crazy, we took a quick trip to Florida to visit my sweet mother.
I miss my mom every day.

Yep.  It happened.  Time rolled on like the speed of lightning and my baby graduated from High School.   I started this blog when Andrew went to kindergarten.  It's so hard to believe that just like that, he has now graduated.

I truly encourage anyone who wants to document snippets of everyday life to start a blog.  Although this is and has been mostly a knitting blog, having moments of my everyday life sprinkled into my blog is one of the greatest gifts I have given myself.  I love, love, LOVE looking back on the years and seeing what we were up to during different years.  I usually always pick a year from my archives and look at a particular month.  Always, ALWAYS with a smile.

Andrew will be headed to school in less than two months.  A new chapter will then begin.  I've been having many talks with myself.  Telling myself to embrace this new chapter.  I think it's now beginning to soak in.  I know it will be filled with college visits and care packages and travel. And of course, knitting.

It's gonna be a great new chapter.  Just like the last.

I think June usually kicks my butt every year. That wonderful, crazy transition from a scheduled life to a completely different sort of day. Having all three kids home (YAY!) just makes more of everything. More food, more cooking, more laundry, more waiting, more scheduling, more traveling, more conversations, more errands, just more, more, MORE!
One afternoon we headed out in search of a yarn store.  We found the yarn store but it was closed.  The sign said "Closed for shearing"!  We were pretty bummed as google wasn't showing any other yarn stores in the area.  So we decided to head to wine, I mean lunch and as we parked the car, discovered there was a new yarn store right next to our lunch spot!
Maker + Stitch is a beautiful yarn shop located in Edwards, Colorado.  An absolute full and lovely selection of yarn with two of the sweetest owners you'd ever want to meet.  It had me wishing that this shop was in my neighborhood.

The yarn was dreamy.  Truly light and lofty.
The only thing about this sweater is... I never wear these colors.  I do wish that the purple was navy and then it might fit into my wardrobe better.  When I ordered it, I thought it was navy.  But, the colors made me happy while I knit.
I didn't make a single modification to the overall sizing.  Sleeve length and body length are knit the way the pattern was written.
However, I opted to make the bottom straight around and not longer in the back.
Oh, Hi!  Libby was so opposed to taking this shot.  She said that I looked so uncomfortable and that I would never stand like this.  I told her to take it anyhow.  I want to show the sleeves.
I'll giggle every time I look at this. 😊

Pattern:  Sunset Highway
Yarn: Lizzie-Anne Yarns  (Sold as a sunset highway kit.)
Needle: US 2 for sleeve hem and neck.  US 4 for body and sleeves.
Size: S

I'm getting here a little late to mention knitcrate's May shipment when it's almost June!
"Contemporary" was the theme for this months Knitcrate.

 The back patio is open and if it's not raining THAT is where we will be eating our meals.  I've missed the outside so much this past winter.
Having three helpers once again makes my heart not only full but gives me more time to knit!

The first week of May has already been a doozy.
Thanks to Blair, I was inspired to make a May Day Cone and hang it on my neighbors door.  Daffodils from our yard and a cone made out of the cutest knit wrapping paper, ever.
Andrew had his Senior prom.  (I think I need a case of tissues.) My friend, Judy, leant us a super awesome bow tie.  And thanks to YouTube, I tied my first one.
Charlie graduated from OSU.  I honestly can't believe how quickly time goes.

Hold on mama's.  This ride is F A S T!!!

We are starting May with a drastic change in temperatures. 78˚ and it feels SO good. And a beautiful cloudless, blue sky.  Absolutely perfect.
I mentioned before my new found love for cutout cookies.  And to think when I moved I had every shape and size and I donated them all to the Vietnam Vets.  Maddening.  

I found an awesome recipe with extremely helpful tips.

Happy May!

Hello last day of April. I am amazed and astonished that is the last day of April. Where oh where did you go sweet month? I can't believe it has taken me so long to get to this space and show you April's Knitcrates!
In the Membership Crate:
Yarn:  2 skeins of Audine wool.   230 yarns of 100% Superwash Merino Wool.  This is prickly pear color way.    There are 3 other color ways.  I love the surprise of not knowing what will be in my crate!
Pattern:  As always two patterns.  One knit and one crochet.  The knit pattern is Cloris by Emily Johannes.  A beautiful transitional, textured shawl combining short rows, garter and seed stitch.
This is a retail value of $63.00... all for $24.99.

If interested in ordering, use the code FKW20 to receive 20% off your first crate! (Code works on all crates.)  It really makes for exciting mail days.

I am totally strolling down the Sunset Highway and loving it.  I just love when I am all in on a project.  I wasn't at the beginning because these just don't seem like my colors.  But, I don't know, now that its spring, I am excited to wear something other than black and grey. ;)
I'm in Boulder visiting Libby.  Well, I came to help her pack up a few things (I can't believe she is nearing the end of her sophomore year!) but we haven't really done much of that yet.

I did bind off for the body.  The pattern calls for a stretchy bind off.  I can't believe it, but I have never done a stretchy bind off!  In the past, I would just use a bigger needle size to make it loose.  It was great to learn something new.  I just LOVE that about knitting!  Always new techniques to learn.

Oh my goodness.  I did not intend to take this long of a blog break.

I brought out my camera for the first time since I was on spring break and found this photo which is one of very few that were taken.  Seems like a million years ago.  I'm glad I have it to remind myself that I really did fly all the way to Hawaii and back.

I'll be coming back to this space with some knitting content very soon.  My fingers have been super happy working on my Sunset Highway sweater.  It seems to be the perfect spring time knit even though we are having snow flurries while I type!

Happy Monday!