ANISOS YARN - guest blogger Tracey

My yarn choice for the Anisos wasn't hard
to make. I have been saving two skeins of
The Fibre Company's Meadow in Gentian Violet
because I love this yarn and can't think of a better
person to use it for than my Mama.

I am going to knit the second largest size as I have
1090 yards and I want to use every last gram that
I can.

2016 was the year of socks for Christmas gifts
and I have decided 2017 will be the year of
the Shawl.

9th Annual New Year Knitalong ~ posted by Melissa

It's here! Time to gather supplies and count the minutes...

Kelli and I were together when we chose our pick for this year's knitalong.  It was an instant 'this is the one!' from both of us when we saw Lily Go's design from Wool People 9.

Here is Anisos:

(photos used with permission from Brooklyn Tweed)

This is the perfect choice for a kal - there are five (5!!) different size options, from a small shawlette to a lovely piece large enough to wrap yourself up in.  It has an unusual shape as well, so it's going to be a learning experience for Kelli and I.  There's always something new to learn so that was definitely a selling point for me when deciding on this design.

The pattern is available on Ravelry and also directly from Brooklyn Tweed's website:

(link to purchase Anisos from brooklyntweed.com here)

As far as the business end of the kal:

We cast on New Years Day (not a minute before) but other than that, there are no rules.  There is no deadline, we go at our own pace (this is supposed to be fun!), you may blog with us (details below) or just follow along in the comments section.  We encourage you to tackle new things and are here to help each other along the way if needed. 

I think that's everything.  If you would like to join us January 1st, send me a message on Ravelry (twoknitwit) with your email address and I'll add you to the blog as an author.  You'll have blogging privileges and will be able to post and share pictures as we go.

For newbies that want to blog with us, here is a link to a page that Kelly Lightbeam created for us with exactly what will happen when you send me your email address:

The Ins and Outs of Guest Blogging link

I hope we have a good turnout this year.  The blog has been fairly quiet for the last year but it's starting to come to life again and I'm excited to reconnect with some of our annual knitting friends...and maybe a few new ones!

Finally, just to get this party started - here is my yarn choice for my Anisos.  I'll be making the largest size because, yo that's how I roll ... heheheh : )

I hope everyone is as excited about this as Kelli and I are.

Happy Sunday, all!

~ Melissa

Groovin' - posted by Melissa

Alright, kids. Trying hard to get back with social media and blogging.  You can find me on instagram now - thought it might be a good way to at least do quick posts when I can't find the time to blog.

After spending a good chunk of last week with Kelli and some long lost knitting friends, my creative juices are flowing.  Lots of fun stuff coming up as soon as I finish an enormous wedding gift.

I'm sooooo close!

Anyway - if you're on instagram, come find me, please!

Here's a link - see you soon!

- Melissa

blue mood - Melissa

Hello!

 

I'm soooo close to finishing this enormous undertaking ... my first knitting project in over a year, really, that I will finish in a timely fashion.  I start the lace border tonight and will try to get a few pictures this weekend as it starts coming off the needles.

 

And while that is happening I'll be trying to decide what to knit next. 

It will be blue.

I think... : )

 

 

 











 

psssssssst......... ~ Melissa (!)

.... she's back ....

more later

baby

steps

♥

New Years Eve - posted by Melissa

“The artist is always beginning. Any work of art which is not a beginning, an invention, a discovery is of little worth.” 
― Ezra Pound

Spent part of the day with our knit group & was finally able to give this lovely person her 50th birthday gift.  Recognize???  It's SPIRE!!  My 2014 New Years project is finally done 2 years later and doesn't it look fantastic on Kelli?!

Looking forward to casting on Stonecrop with you all tomorrow!  Have a wonderful evening...the fun begins tomorrow!

Happy New Year!  Melissa

Sunday Funny - posted by Melissa

Welcome November - posted by Melissa

Got in a quick walk at Big Gulch before the next wave of rain hit this morning.

The woods smell so good this time of year.

Fall hikes are the best.

Homemade cheddar cornbread muffins just out of the oven, football on TV (GO HAWKS!) and my Girasole almost done....maybe today if I buckle down!!

Happy autumn, happy Sunday, happy knitting, happy November!

- Melissa

bliss - posted by Melissa

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

- A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

There is nothing quite so lovely as a knitted on edging.

Let's get reacquainted, old friend.

Melissa

Too Sweet ~ from Kelli

Starting Pumpkin Hats!? a post from Kelli

The Autumn season is coming~  my Cinderella pumk'in patch is doing well.  I'll post that later! 

But this time of year I have fun knitting the little treasures. 

This one I'm making for my daughters good friend's new baby boy... 

Not trying to rush summer away! Just so you know. 

It's a great free Pumpkin Hat pattern by Sarah Hood, on Ravelry in all sizes!  

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn. 

I used dk and a size US5 and US6, because I'm knitting it for a newborn. 

 I would recommend decreasing the crown of the hat different. But the leaves do help hide the chopped up looking decrease. 

It is stink'in cute!!!

Look who I found~ from Kelli

 The 11th Annual Stitch n Pitch. Had such a great time!  Even tho the Mariners lost... got to catch up with Steph!!!  Knitted the evening away at the ballpark with friends.  Thanks Andrea, Chris, and Elaine. 

and in other news.... posted by Melissa

Hello!  So this is my other big news....Kelli and I were asked to participate in this exhibit which opened today at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum .  What an honor!  The 'Artist Reception' was tonight although neither of us attended.  Kelli had to work and I went up early to take photos (which are NOT allowed but I was given permission to take some of just my pieces, so here they are!).  The museum is housed in the historic Gaches Mansion (which you can read about on the museum's site that I linked above).  It's a breathtaking place and I'm so proud to have some of my very favorite and treasured items on display there for the next month.

 

If you get a chance, make your way north.  The drive through Skagit Valley during the summer is fertile and green and abundance is everywhere.  Farm stands at almost every turn - much bounty and local produce to be had for all tastes and appetites.  The museum is cheap (I think $7) and there are a few other exhibits there that rival our cherished knitting.

 

Thanks for letting me share...and brag just a little.  Who would have thought...a museum show?!?  Oh. My.

 

Heheheh : )

Melissa

[the pictures aren't stellar - the lighting was dim and the walls were dark so this was the best I could do, darn it !!]



fog ~ Melissa

 

A much needed day off and woke with a headache and the sniffles.  Good excuse to hunker down and do nothing.  Well, nothing but knit and watch the fog over Puget Sound, listen to the ferry bleat it's warning as it travels from Mukilteo to Clinton on Whidbey Island and back again, and warm myself with some good strong coffee.  Not a bad way to start a four day weekend, even if I'm not feeling 100%.

 

 

Progress has been a little slower now that the long holiday break is over and I'm back to work but my Girasole grows a bit more every day...and gets that much harder to photograph.

 

I've got loads of knitting time this weekend so maybe I can get to the edging in the next few days?  We shall see :)

 

I'm not in any hurry.  I've already decided I may make another of these blankets for a gift this year, just to have the opportunity to knit it again.  I'm loving the Peace Fleece and the pattern and especially all the companionship during this knitalong.  It's been so much fun already and we've just barely started!

 

That's it for today.  Don't forget to get any last minute gnome names submitted ~ Kelly will be closing the voting down shortly!

Happy weekend, everyone!

Melissa

old friends ~ Melissa

Guess where I finally got to visit today?

 

 

Even the street signs are charming in this small town.

 

 

If I had a bucket list, I would fill it up with return visits!

my husband thought one stop shopping for 'Liquor, Hay & Feed, and Hardware' was hilarious ~ ...boys :)

 

The minute I stepped in the door it felt like home.  People were nice.  Every. Single. Soul.  I spent as much time chatting as shopping!

Remember my Muker Mitts ?  Tif spied them in my basket and asked if she could photograph them!  See, Tif is an embroiderer and had seen my mittens before but not in person.  We live in such a big yet small crafting community...let's see if you can follow this fun story.  Tolt's proprietress, Anna, had seen my mittens on Ravelry.  Anna is in my 'friends' and unbeknownst to me is the owner of Tolt ~ how did I miss that?  Anyway, she had sent Tif a picture of my mittens when I posted them since Tif is a stitcher and Anna wanted her to see them.  Today while I was chatting with Tif, she looked down into my basket and saw THE mitts!  She was so excited to tell Anna that my 'mitts had visited Tolt' that she asked if she could take a photo to send to Anna since she was not at the shop today.  Of course!!

 

So, there they are!  My proud mittens getting photographed in front of Tolt's famous chalkboard!  So proud :)

 

 (you should check out Tif's blog ~ I've added it to the sidebar ~ she's 'Dottie Angel'...and then once you get there follow her link to her instagram account ~ jawdropping amazing stuff!!)

 

 

I made one slow pass around the store.

 

Looked at and squished everything.  Ahhh.....





 

Checked out every nook and cranny and peeked in every basket.

 

 

And finally took out my shopping list and made some decisions. 

 

And that's all for today ~ you'll have to wait to see what's inside because I'm tired and it's getting too dark to take nice photos.

 

And what came home with me is definitely worthy of nice photos!

 

Melissa