Lynn Carson Harris

New Books to Start the New Year

I have to say I am pretty thrilled with the new books I got for Christmas. B got me this fabulous Norwegian knitting book. Luckily it came with an English translation booklet. This morning I started the cover mittens with some baby ull that I had on hand. I love it so far! They will be adult size butI think P is secretly hoping that they will shrink in the blocking. She shouldn't worry too much because I plan on knitting her THIS sweater (in her size) in the near future.

My sister gave me Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics . It has directions for drafting out basic skirt shapes to fit your body and lots of ways to interpret the basic designs. I know I'll be making a few new skirts this spring.

My other sister gave me Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes it is a feast for the needleworker's eyes.

The nursery rhymes are illustrated with incredibly detailed needlework pictures. It is just amazing. Reading the book is a slow process for me because I want to take time to study all of the illustrations.

It is a good feeling to start the new year with lots of inspiration and projects in mind!

Pre-Blog Knitting

I have a couple of pre-blog knitting projects to share with you. Here I am in 2004 modeling my just finished sweater.  The shape of the sweater is from The Complete Book of Raglan Sweaters. I used Elsebeth Lavold's silky wool and needed to adjust the pattern to add more rows between the increase rows at the arms.

The rose design is from Hawaii in Dalegarn booklet 122.

I like the matching design on the sleeve. If I were to knit this now, I would use larger needles. The yarn bloomed a bit with washing and doesn't have the same drape as before washing. Yeah, I know, I should have knit and washed a swatch.

The next sweater is Capri from the Dalegarn booklet 122. It is a simple sleevelss design with a band of colorwork at the bottom.

This sweater is knit with Svale.

Wearing Winter Woolens

The new winter woolens are being worn! P is modeling her new helmet hat. This is the third one I have knit for her. This one is knit with Artyarns Supermerino. I just love this pattern. One of these days I will write out the pattern. Actually, I have my notes in several places somewhere in the house. When I find them I'll get it written up in an adult and child version.

I wear my hat like this all the time. I can't stand for my ears to be cold.

D and B are also enjoying their new socks. Both are knit with Knit Picks stroll sport.

D's, on the left, are knit toe up. B's, on the right, are knit top down.

B is also happy to have a new pair of felted slippers. My next project is to try to make new soles and stitch them to the bottom of an old worn pair of slippers. The tops are always still in good shape when the bottom wears through.

M will be designing a new hat that I will knit for him. He did such a great job designing his last hat that I am eager to see the new plan. He is also designing a colorwork hat for his girlfriend. The design as I currently understand it will stretch my colorwork skills. I'll keep you posted.

A Blur of Family Fun

The weekend was a blur of family fun.

P has been making new paper snowflakes every day.

Our windows are almost covered.

P planned Santa drawing time for us yesterday. She was up before the boys and made a "sample" Santa picture so that we would all know what to do. Still, everyone's picture was different- we had Santa on a flying bicycle, a Santa matryoshka, an up close portrait, Santa feeding his deer, and Santa with a tree surrounded by presents.

Last night we had a long game of 20 questions where all of the objects had to be tree ornaments and then stayed up too late working a jigsaw puzzle.

Sigh.

I love winter break.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Hugs and Kisses

I found this little baby sweater set yesterday while searching in the freezer. (I have it stored in the freezer to keep the moths away.) This was a sweater I made preblog when I was pregnant with P. I took the pictures to update my ravelry project page and I thought I'd share it with you too.

The pattern is Heirloom Aran Baby Set by Lisa Lloyd in the spring 2004 issue of Interweave Knits.  I don't remember the details on the yarn but it is a super soft merino wool.

I even have proof that P wore it! Here she is in November 2005.
What a cute little peanut she was on her vintage pink thrifted blanket.

Beginnings and Endings

I've really been enjoying my knitting lately and have been starting lots of new projects.

The good news is that I've been finishing them at about the same rate.

Basking in the Glow

I am enjoying having everyone at home for winter break. This weekend we enjoyed some fun and games - Pictionary and Twister!  D had an exam this morning and has another tomorrow evening but it is nice that he can be home and go back to school just to take his exams.

Today we will do some baking and playing in the snow. I'll start a fire in the wood stove so that we can warm up and dry off when we come in.

We are hoping for clear skies so that we can see the lunar eclipse tonight.

It will be wonderful for all to be home the evening of the solstice tomorrow. We'll light candles and bask in the glow.

 

 

Thoughtful Sunday

"You won't be thinking of Christmas
when spring finally rolls around
and the sap rises in the trees,
but the syrup you'll have
on your Christmas breakfast
must be made now.
The potatoes and corn for your Christmas feast
must be weeded all summer,
and the apples for your Christmas pies
must be picked in the fall.

You see, to have a Christmas like Helen's,
you'll need to work that land
all year long,
and know that hill farm in all its seasons."

A Christmas Like Helen's, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock  2004.

Peaceful Process

I may have said this before but I love the PROCESS of creating. I (usually) enjoy the making more than the finished object.
I love hand stitching.

Really.

It is FUN for me.
This is not a new project but I remember the peace it brought me when I made it. The boys were young and very active. A kit project like this was just what I needed; it was all ready to go without much planning on my part.

It makes me very happy to see P enjoy hand stitching too.

I