Snood ....

Remember the snood I started a couple of weeks ago?

Well ... I've been working on it .... and it's done .... mostly!

I still need to weave the ends together to make it continuous. That can wait ...

I wanted to start a new project and felt because this was colour work, I needed it completely knitted so that my tension would be consistent. When I knit with more than one colour, I keep my tension looser than usual ... otherwise the design looks tight and I don't like that. I also need to think about how I'll go about weaving the two (2) ends together. Any ideas ... techniques?

This was such a fund project to knit. I loved using Jamieson & Smith yarn.

Thank you so much for stopping by my little corner in cyber space! Cheers!

And the beat goes on .....

The other day, I was chatting with my friend Gina. We were talking about the global situation and the need for compassion. Many are experiencing an increase in stress ... these are challenging times ... Covid 19 circumstances, reduced work hours, pay cuts etc ... however, on the surface there appears to be a calmness ...

Gina brought up the analogy of a calm lake. When you look at the surface, it is calm, serene and yet underneath are the currents, the turbulence ... sometimes the chaos surfaces and at other times it just is ... that's how I feel at the moment ... calm on the outside and yet, on the inside I'm affected by the situation.

I am truly grateful that I have a warm home, food, employment, my family and to be surrounded by wonderful friends. I do miss my family terribly ... and so wish I could visit. My parents are aging and I'm not there. I cannot cross the border. My inability to be there for both my parents is the underneath turbulence ... what the others do not see. Time is precious!

On another note, I started a new knitting project. The En Voyage shawl is still in the works ... I just wanted a little bit more of a challenge ... perhaps a good thing! lol

I purchase the kit from The Woolly Thistle, my favourite on line store. The pattern is called Foula Snood by Donna Smith.

It is from the book Shetland Woolweek - annual 2018. Lovely book/magazine ... Lots of wonderful projects!

I'm using Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool from the Shetland Islands. Lovely wool!

I'm truly enjoying these various knitting projects I've been working on. Particularly enjoying learning about the various sheep breeds and the type of fleece they produce. Loving it!

Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy the moment! Cheers!

Self awareness ... Self acceptance ...

How is everyone doing? I do hope that you are finding time to connect with loved ones.

As I mentioned in a prior post, I am using this time to get to know my self better ... becoming more and more comfortable with who I am, working with the areas that need some attention. Self awareness is not always easy ... actually, rarely is it. It's takes patience, gentleness and courage to face ourselves.

You might ask, "why am I bringing this up?"

Well ... A few days ago, I came face to face with my imperfections. Some of you might not know but, I'm a perfectionist! I know, it comes as a total surprise to you! lol ... Not in an obsessive, compulsive sense, but more in a need to continuously improve upon myself; striving to become a better version of myself.

I set high standards for myself and work towards achieving those standards. I don't always succeed, but I learn from them. In my mind, it's really about what you are willing to live with. Can I live with that mistake in that quilt? Sometimes, it's a yes and sometimes it's time to take out the seam ripper!

I started a new knitting project. I needed something mindless, yet beautiful, to keep me occupied. I purchased the kit from my favourite yarn shop in Montreal, (Espace Tricot) on line of course, as the borders are closed. The pattern is called En Voyage by Espace Tricot and can be found on Ravelry ... It's a free pattern.

Photo from Espace Tricot

I began knitting, checking my work as I knitted along, making sure I was doing my cables properly...

It wasn't until I was into my second skein of yarn (that would be over 275 yards) that I noticed a mistake .... in the beginning of my project! I'm missing a cable row, making the V shorter than the others.

Well, as I looked at that mistake I started to tear up .... not from my having noticed my mistake so far up into my work, but from a position of total acceptance ... completely surrendering to my imperfections! It was such a wonderful feeling ... so liberating!

After I finished savouring the moment, I thought about unravelling my work to correct my mistake ... which would not have a been a big deal for me .... but I chose to leave it as is, serving as a joyful reminder of this beautiful moment of total surrounding.

I am now five (5) skeins into the project ... and just loving how it's turning out.

I'm using Scout yarn by Kelbourne in Charcoal Heather. I love that yarn and am planning on knitting another shawl in Navy Heather for someone special! ;)

What have you been up to?

Thank you for stopping my little corner in cyber space! Stay safe and healthy, both emotionally and physically.

Cheers!

Knitting in peacefulness ....

This whole pandemic really has me reflecting on life, the universe and everything else. What is important/meaningful to me?

For one thing, I refuse to look at this as social isolation but more as a quiet, peaceful time. An opportunity to spend time with myself, away from social distractions. It is allowing me to think about my priorities, my life and the next paths I will choose ... What really matters to me? ... my family, friends and hobbies. The rest, is just small stuff!

Sure I miss our weekly get-together at our local coffee shop, what we gals refer to as "Coffee Shoping" ... but this peaceful time only makes me more grateful for the friendships I have cultivated. When the quarantine has been lifted, we will have a wonderful show & tell party! Now there's something to look forward!

In the meantime, I have been knitting. Seems quilting has been put on the side for now. It's easier for me to sit in the living room and pick up the needles than it is to sit at my machine. That's ok ...

I finished this winter hat for my little Pumpkin, who is not so little anymore. 

I used Cuzco Cashmere, by the Plymouth Yarn Company ... 40% Superbaby Alpaca, 40% Mulberry Silk & 20% Cashmere ... As you can imagine, it is super soft. This is a birds eye view! 

Pumpkin wanted a pompom ... so I bought this gorgeous vegan pompon at my favourite brick & mortar yarn shop in Montreal ... Espace Tricot ... Le Pompom

And now, voici le pompom with le hat!

Now my little Pumpkin is all set for the winter! She be stylin' lol

How have you been doing? 

Thank you for stopping my! Wishing you a wonderful day! Cheers!

Show & Tell ...!

Saturday morning, my friend Diane texted me and said:

"Do you feel up to an outdoor chat? I can walk over to your place and talk outside. I have some show and tell."

It was a gorgeous day ... perfect for sitting outside .... I'm game ... So we had a Social Distancing Show & Tell.

I set up two chairs ... 6 feet plus apart, of course ... while she walked over.

We both subscribe to the Primitive Gatherings wool box ... during this isolation, she has been working on the various projects from the boxes we've received.

Check out the cute pincushion.

Hum ... inspiration to get mine done! lol

The last show and tell was the project she's presently working on.

Diane does beautiful work. She is such an inspiration.

I so miss our weekly get-together with our group ... Our Saturday coffee Shoping time! Sigh!

Later that day my friend Gina stopped by to drop off a quilt .... and brought me a sweet care package.

It was wonderful to catch up with friends on quilting, life the universe and everything else. That day was just what I needed !

How have you been maintaining some social time?

I do hope you have found ways to keep in touch with your circle of friends, those you care about. Social distancing does not have to be total social isolation. It's important to connect ...

Keep healthy, both physically & psychologically. Cheers!