Two steps backwards and One step forward ~ guest blogger Steph

Oh man! The easiest thing about the last 4 days has been knitting and even then I have needed to take a bit of a mulligan. First let me start by saying I'm okay, I am on the tail-end of a flu (101.8 anyone?) that knocked me flat on my ass(I hope I can write this, if not feel free to edit away Melissa:).

So I am in catch up mode, I finally picked up knitting last night, my personal theory is that they doctor shouldn't take your temperature, but just ask you if you have lost any desire to knit. I feel like the biggest slacker ever because in between launching my blog (literally a day after) this is what happened to me. I also have had really mixed feelings about posting anything at all, because I didn't want to seek any attention for myself.

In the end I decided that it was best to explain why I had only made it through 2 repeats of Chart B  in my Ashby.... It has been way easier the second time around, but I have noticed one or 2 mistakes that I have made which I am trying to let go.. I think it is a knitter's prerogative right. You take out the ones that drive you up the wall, but leave the ones that at a bit of character.

I can't wait till this is done not because it is time consuming but because I have admired it for a long time.

 So since it is a new day its time to get this thing done:) (Kelli and Mel doesn't this look familiar?).

happy days are here again ~ Melissa

What a great way to start the New Year!  My favorite people are knitting with us and the sun is shining.  A fresh start to the new calendar and I have high hopes for a much better go of it this time 'round.

 

I've completed Chart A on my Girasole!  So deceiving...it's a whopping 10 rounds but it's enough to imagine what the rest of my blanket will look like when I'm finished.  What do you think?

 

 

I chose the Peace Fleece 'lily pad' colorway in hopes that it would compliment the Shelter 'sap' colorway in the Quill blanket I knit for my husband.  So similar!  Now we'll have coordinating throws to snuggle under! ( blogged here / ravelry notes here )

 

 

I love the two together :)

 

I've already enjoyed a few chuckles this morning reading your beginning posts and I'm looking forward to more laughter as the days go by!

 

 

Happy New Year and happy knitting!

(ps ~ everyone remember to tag your Ravelry project page with 2015floodsflock ~ thanks so much!!)

Melissa



woolly babes ~ Melissa

Neoma Jane's little sister will be here anyday and I finished gifts in the nick of time.  Just need to wrap everything tonight and tomorrow they go over the mountains (and through the woods...hehe) to mama.  I blogged about the purple blanket here and the sweater here.  The pink blanket just finished drying this morning from it's blocking bath ( my ravelry notes can be found here ) :

 

There's nothing quite as blissful as knitting things for little ones and I feel so lucky to have two goddaughters to make things for.  And three lovely nieces who appreciate hand knit things as well.  Last year I made them all mittens for Christmas and you could tell they really loved them.

 

I finally made myself a matching pair (I've been busy!) :

 

 

 









 They're Olla Mittens (free on knitty.com) or you can follow the link in my ravelry notes here.  I really love this pattern and the embroidery is super easy since Anna has you knit landmarks for the stitching as well as giving a really great diagram in the pattern (much like a kids 'dot to dot' puzzle ~ just follow the numbers).  Every girl should have a pair of these.

 

Go ahead, make yourself some.  You'll love them!

 

Happy Sunday, everybody!

Melissa

it's done it's done it's done ~ posted by Melissa

the past few months...chaotic



to-do lists...not getting done

not enough stolen moments to take time to pause, breath deeply and smile

 

 

til now...

this makes me smile

 

 

I finally finished f o l k • a r t !!!

 

it's big and warm and a blanket built for two :)

 

 

it could have been larger (note to self : invest in one more box of blocking mats)

but as it is it measures 63 x 63"

 

 

perfect for cuddling with a loved one :)

 

 

I think I may be addicted to the knitted on edge

they go more quickly & are more enjoyable each time I work one

 

and brrrr....

 

it's finished just in time for some icy cold evenings & snuggling ~ hehe

 

 

is it okay that I love Jared Flood as well as my husband?

 

have a great weekend everybody :)

 

~ Melissa

whoops!  I forgot to post links (thanks, Calvin!) ~ here they are if you want them:

Quill - Jared Flood - link to his website pattern page

link to my pattern page on Ravelry with all my notes and yardage requirements

 

 

 

autumn whoooshed in ~ posted by Melissa

My favorite time of year is finally upon us.  Fall blew in with a blustery front this morning that will bring rain later today.  Perfect, since all I want to do is cuddle up under my Quill, knit and watch football:

 

 

I've got 19 rows left of the Old Shale Chart and then it's onto the lace edging.  I can't put this beauty down.  I love the weight of it in my lap and I'm still completely enamored with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.  I'm already scheming about what sweaters I want to make with it! 

 

How's everyone doing on their Rachel's Shawl?  I think we have about 10 people knitting but not everyone is blogging (which is totally okay!!).  I'd love to see more photos ~ the post yesterday by 'the other Melissa' made me grin from ear to ear!  Hand dyed yarn ~ awesome!!  I think Rachel herself is getting ready to cast on and will be doing a post on her blog to get Breast Cancer Awareness Month started with a bang.  I'll post a link when she does (or she may pop on here and post herself ~ wouldn't surprise me ~ she's everywhere :) ~ hehe!)

 

Enjoy the first day of autumn and if you're like me, hopefully you're finding a little time to tuck away for yourself to knit today!

 

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

numbers ~ posted by Melissa

 

My Quill ~ the center square is finally finished!  Stats: 36,856 stitches, 896yds (6.4 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in 'Pumpernickel'), 332.0 grams & 30" x 30".

 

I'm making the larger size even larger by using worsted weight yarn.  Churchmouse Yarns estimated I would need about 30% more yarn than the fingering weight yardage the pattern specifies.  I got 50% more just to be safe.  I'm glad I did.  I'm already sweating that I'll run out.

 

 

 

Five : the number of basins of water it took to soak the excess dye from this 'Long Johns' Brooklyn Tweed Shelter I'm using in my Quill.  I'm so glad I took my own advice and checked for bleeding.  I almost didn't.  I would have had a huge mess since this color sits right next to 'Fossil' in my color scheme, and Fossil is the color of bone.  Yikes.

 

 

The Rachel Shawl.  I have one repeat done so far but we're still getting new people added to our knitalong ~ I'm just going to mosey along through this one and enjoy it.  The pattern has been out for 11 days and although pattern sales have slowed way down, we're making a difference!  If you're curious, here are the numbers:

 

♥ patterns sold : 73

♥ money raised in 11 days : $292.00 (thank you!!)

♥ number of days left to raise money : 47

 

If you're new to the blog and want to know what we're up to, here are some links ~ take a peek!

 

♥ The Cause

♥ The Inspiration

♥ How you can make a difference

 

Thanks so much to everyone that has contributed so far (hopefully you're enjoying the pattern and the knitting as well as knowing that you've helped to do something wonderful!).  I'm still awed by all the touching comments and personal notes I've gotten on Ravelry.  I can't say it enough ~ knitters are an amazing group of people!

 

I hope the weekend finds you all spending time with loved ones and dreaming of autumn knitting :)

~ Melissa