Wait a Moment

Oh My Gosh, it has been along time since I invested a few moments for my blog! Life has been very busy for the past few weeks with a business trip and the associated catch-up and with house improvements that my husband has hinted at, I have so much to write about and no time!

I will get to it, though I can't promise..not with the other promised- yet still missing- posts hanging over my head.

Though our visit has been short, it is a hello none the less and a commitment to stop by again soon!

Snow Day

Yes, a snow day...it may have been in the mid 30s this past weekend, raining like there was no tomorrow and melting/ condensing about 50% of our accumulation but at about 2:30 yesterday the temperature again dropped below the freezing point and the precipitation turned from clear to white. Because it had not been so warm the snow started sticking almost immediately though we did not have much accumulation the rest of the afternoon and evening. 

When I got up this morning I decided to not look outside and go about the morning ritual as usual though I don't really know why but let me say this, my employer delayed opening for 2 hours because there was so much snow. This is Vermont-they never delay opening a business that isn't a public school. So there I was around lunch time..full of energy looking out of the windows and 18+ inches of snow checking my email and getting work done like a good employee. :(

A desperate thought occurred to me- The driveway and walkway need to be shoveled..maybe I could convince my husband to come out into the white abyss...There is nothing quite like having to do work on a snow day to inspire dreams of shoveling and being pummeled with snowballs. 

It was great, I started out by jumping off the banister of the front steps-it was epic. We threw snow balls, we tackled each other, we attempted trekking into the back yard (we gave up quickly), it was so much fun. 

I can't help wondering what others are doing or did on their last snow day...

Plus I can now say that I did play in the snow at least once this winter, well in the last 2 years... 

My Red Devil Sweater

As my first 2011 project I wanted to make myself a sweater. I picked out two different ones as I couldn't decide and bought all the yarn I needed and got started. I started with this bolero, marked as easy with the Tudor color of Homespun- I have been dreaming of using this yarn since I saw it in the store. Well the pattern stitch coordination seemed a bit too complicated. Also I did not gauge my stitch- I know I am reckless but I didn't have the recommended needle size and this is my first project where is mattered and I didn't know. So I got to the point where you join the front left panel and the front right panel to start working on the rest and lo and behold they are so wrong I can’t even describe it. That got undone quickly.


So I started working on option B, this sweater, in cranberry Wool Ease. I worked with Wool Ease a lot for several Christmas presents and really enjoyed it so I looked for patterns specifically for Wool Ease (again a beginner). I liked the look of the model in the sweater and I thought that I could get around the collar-I am not a fan of clothes touching my neck.

I got through the back panel and it seemed to go smoothly though I didn’t get to finish all of the directions because I had reached the desired length. The front started out just as smooth but at the point where the collar starts we started fighting. I kept managing to find other things to work on and it seemed that my red sweater would stop there. Finally I put on Harry Potter audio book and sequestered myself in the living room and got past my road block. Again though, I didn’t get to finish all of the directions because I had reached the desired length. At that point I was having doubts of the outcome of this project. I had the dread f completing the sweater and never wanting to wear it. It seemed loose and more like a tight net than a nice sweater. This is when it became the red Devil sweater. 

But I fought on. I completed one sleeve in two days and things were good. On to the next sleeve which was harder to get done as I didn’t have a good free weekend. I was knitting away in the car with my mom, a huge knitter, and I am trying to show off (What was I thinking!!) and she confirms all of my red devil sweater doubts with 4 words: “You’re a loose knitter.” I was strong and said that I knew and was compensating. Even as an adult you lie to your mom. 

The worst part was that this was the last piece, after the sleeve I had the collar and sewing left-practically done.

When I got home all of that beautiful cranberry yarn and all of the bits of sweater and several stitch markers all went into a plastic bag under the bed in the guest room, to stay until I could find another pattern to love and be inspired by. 

It is still there by the way 2 months later.