Non-knitting Lace

My knitting time has decreased significantly over the past six weeks or so because I'm no longer spending hours every day with Mom. I'm delighted to report that she is adjusting has adjusted really well to life at her new home, a nearby memory care residence to which my brothers and I moved her. She …

Knits and Votes

As has been my practice the past several years, I spent much of Election Day working at a nearby polling place. Turnout was strong because of the presidential primary -- Massachusetts is one of the Super Tuesday primaries -- and a local ballot referendum. Being a big fan of democracy and the right -- and …

Loving Reminder

I didn't follow through on my Valentine's Day tradition of knitting and giving little hearts. There's been a lot going on. It's not that people in my life aren't in need of reminders of how much they are loved. They most certainly are -- sometimes to the point that it takes my breath away. Frankly, …

WIP Wednesday: Sweater & Sock

The last time I knit a sweater for myself, the process revealed some longstanding and non-rational emotions about body image. All that time alone with needles and yarn can do that to a person! So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it's been nearly two years before I've started another one. But the lovely …

Friends’ Knits

I love when friends send me updates on their knitting projects. Sometimes it might be an emergency (don't laugh. Knitting emergencies are a thing). More often, they'll be looking for a consultation. Sock Knitter Judy, who doesn't yet believe that she's a Fearless Knitter, texted last week with a dilemma. Can you spot it? If …

This Month’s Socks

Despite the title of this post, I'm not aiming for the Sock of the Month club. But regular readers know that I've just about always got a sock on my needles. I started my latest pair -- the first of 2020 -- on January 2 while on the first leg of the return from our …

Well, That Took a While

I must confess that I was a bit stunned to discover that it'd been nearly six whole months since I'd written about a little "stealth project," one that I thought I'd put together quickly on a whim. But there it sat in a bag, completed but not assembled, tormenting reminding me of its presence whenever …

Yet Again

A quick glimpse through my stash might lead you to conclude that I only knit with sock yarn. You'd be wrong but only somewhat. Sock yarn is so easy to buy because I always know what I'll make with it. As opposed to the two skeins of Tosh DK, one orange and one dark grey, …

WIP: Shawl and a Secret

With my latest socks blocking, I've got two WIPs, only one of which I can explain in detail at this point. Several years ago, I swore never to knit mohair again -- too fine and fuzzy for my fingers -- but I was swept away by the Pretty Perfect Square on display during a visit …

Knitting Meditation

I've been meditating pretty regularly for the past six months, and I can honestly say, it's been life altering. I'm quite confident that I'd be a much grumpier and less accepting person without this 10- or 15-minute daily practice. Am I completely mellow all the time? Nope. Do I glide through each day radiating goodness …

The Answer to Everything

Apparently the Hitchhiker scarf got its name from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a book that I may have read at some point but have no recollection of. And I certainly don't recall that, in the book, the number 42 is "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything." What's the …

Here and There

My routine for the past year or so has been pretty, well, routine. Early morning exercise, a few hours of business -- my consulting practice and/or household business -- then off to Mom's for the afternoon, and home again. Weekends are similar -- more Mom time and usually less work time. But over the past …

WIP: Hitchhiker

Having made two pairs of socks with the lovely Game of Thrones-inspired yarns from Bumblebee Acres Farms, I was a sucker for a couple more skeins before they discontinued sales. One here in Brienne of Tarth: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwFh2Tdp06L/? Although I don't know the characters, I was pretty sure that the beautiful blues, cream, and slight silvery …

Never Gets Old

I generally find Facebook's "memories" kind of creepy, in part because, well, Facebook is kind of creepy. But also because they remind me how poor my recall of time is. Take yesterday, when I found myself thinking, "that was 9 years ago?!" when I saw this blast from the past: The magic of blocking was …

Dyeing to Try This

My three and a half days at the Strung Along Retreat in beautiful Washington state seems like eons ago even though it was only last month. I'd best share some memories before they fade completely. Imagine a gorgeous resort inn on an ocean bay, surrounded by hills and parkland and furnished with lovely rooms, each …

Spruce Up the Neighborhood

The yarnbombed sign pole on our corner has been looking kind of ragged after two years exposed to the New England elements. As I cut it down, the underside was revealed, showing how much the colors had faded. Compare the bright orange and its outward-facing pale version near the top of this photo. A few …

Lining for a Knit Baby Sweater?

Melissa, a regular reader of this little blog, has a question for fellow Fearless Knitters. She's just finished all the pieces for a blue cardigan sweater for her one-year old granddaughter. Because it's the third sweater she's knit for this precious human and because she's an adventuresome knitter (among other qualities), she'd like to try …

A Bit of a Reputation

At dinner last month, someone asked each of us to name three things (not people) we couldn't live without -- not literally, of course, but those things that ground our daily life. Mine were getting outside every morning by myself, reading in bed each night, and knitting. That last item comes as no surprise to …

Friday Flight

I'm downright giddy as I get ready to board a flight to Seattle for a knitting retreat. Sister-friend Cathie (she of the knitting cruises -- yes, it's a thing) is coming down from Vancouver. The Strung Along Retreat will include about 35 other knitters, gathered for three days of knitting, dyeing, and cooking -- and, …

The Little Things

The little things in life are so often the big things. I've been reminding myself of this over the past nine or ten months as I spend hours every day with Mom. It's not rocket science nor is it a new insight. It's just good to pause in the moment and realize. Untangling a poorly …