A Year in Review

 At the beginning of 2019 I made a knitting New Year's resolution. My goal was to spend more time knitting and have at least six new knits by the end of the year.

As we are rapidly approaching 2020 I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on this resolution. Long story short I did reach my goal and so much more. Throughout this year I have pushed myself to do things with knitting that I never really thought about. For one I started this blog. It has pushed me to produce more. I love that it gives me a space to share my projects and what I love to do.

I also created a couple of original designs that I have posted online. Whether or not people ever use them it is nice to know that they are there. This is something that I would not have imagined doing when I first made my 2019 goals. These patterns go hand in hand with the blog. I would have never taken the time to type them up without having a place to put them. However, I wouldn't have made a blog if I hadn't been working on an original idea that I couldn't find elsewhere. Check out my post This Tie had Me in Knots for the pattern that got me started on this blog journey.

To get a better idea of my knitting and what I have done throughout the year I went back and a list of the projects that I have made. With this list I also added a few questions about the projects. With the help of Google Forms I was able to take this information and get some charts that visually show my year.

Throughout this year I have completed nineteen projects. More than doubled my initial goal. Although I did end up unraveling two of them. Sometimes you like the yarn more than the end result. It is also therapeutic to rip out something that just doesn't look right.

Of these nineteen projects, nine of them were gifted. This is a better percentage that I thought it would be. I can be a bit selfish when it comes to my projects.

I have also focused on mostly short term projects. Ones that take a month or less to complete. However, this might not be the most accurate since I am doing this by memory. I only did three projects that took me multiple months to complete.

    

   

I decided that I would be more detailed in my 2020 knitting resolutions. However, I don't want to focus on a number as that is subject to a lot of factors. Instead of six projects I will focus on the following six goals. 

1) I will design and post one original pattern.

2) I will gift at least 50% of what I make.

3) I will work on at least two large projects (sweater, blanket, etc).

4) I will post at least once a month.

5) I will work on a new skill (Brioche, Fair Isle, or Mosaic).

6) I will keep a better track of my knitting as I finish each project.


It will be fun to see the progress that I make throughout this up coming year. This post will help to keep me accountable.   

A Little Christmas Angel

A few weekends ago I was enjoying a lazy morning and was spending this time looking through patterns on Pintrest. I must have been in a Christmas mood because I quickly found myself scrolling through patterns of Christmas decorations and ornaments. When you save something on Pintrest the more it shows you similar items. After a few minutes for cute snowmen patterns, I decided that this would be my next project. Now I just needed to narrow down what seemed to be an endless list of snowmen. Who knew that there were so many knitting patterns for snowmen?

Looking through all of these patterns I stumbled across another pattern. A little angel pattern called "Christmas Cherub". Having just looked at a dozen or more snowmen this pattern stood out to me. It was also from one of my favorite pattern websites DROPS Design®. I had been debating over so many snowmen, but the second I saw this pattern my mind was made up. Without looking up the pattern requirements or even going to the original website I knew what yarn I was going to use.

Back in the summer one of my mom's friends was getting rid of some yarn and ended up giving a lot of it to my mom. Not long after that it became my turn to sort through this stash. As I was looking through all the yarn a few stood out to me. They were begging me to take them home. Two that I happened to pick out of the stash would work great for this angel project. One of these was a Lion Brand® Wool-Ease® in Frost White and the other was a white I Love This Yarn! with a metallic thread woven through it, appropriately named White Sparkle.

One evening after work I started on the project and realized that the Wool-Ease® would be thick enough to be used on its own. It also has some fuzziness that catches the light and allows it to shimmer without any added glitter.

This pattern works up very quickly and by the end of that evening I had a small angel ornament. As I was working on it I starting having vague memories of other Christmas angels. One that stood out to me was made out of a clothespin and was wearing a lacy crocheted purple and white dress.

Decorating a tree was always one of my favorite parts of Christmas. But, it was more than the pretty lights, the decorating, or the finished project. My favorite part was the special ornaments. The one of a kind hand made treasures or the ones that were for a special occasion. The ones that got a place of honor on the tree. I loved the stories behind the different ornaments. This was a gift from so and so. This was made back when you were so old. We got this the year that such as such happened.

This is something that I have continued on my own tree. Sure I mostly have massed produced ornaments. But, each year I try to get a new special ornament. One that evokes a memory and can be placed on a special place on the tree. Like the wedding ornament that my sister gave my husband and I the year we got married.

As I was finishing up this angel I decided that although it was a great little angel, that could be in a place of honor on any tree, it could still be better. Anyone who knows me or has read any of my other blog posts knows that I cannot knit a pattern without having a few adjustments. I have to make it my own.

The first adjustment that I made was to the size. This was a cute little angel and there was nothing wrong with the size. However, I decided that it would be even better as tree topper. For the most part it is the same pattern. I just added more stitches, used both the metallic and the wool, and larger set of knitting needles. Although I added more stitches I kept the decreases per row the same and did more pattern repeats.

I also changed the way that I did the angel's head. The way that the pattern works the head leaves it looking a bit more oval, but that could also be because it is hanging. This looks fine for an ornament, but I wanted the tree topper to have a more rounded head. I did this by doing less decrease rows. I did two rows of decreases and then threaded the yarn through the remaining stitches.

I also rethought the way that I stuffed the head. I wanted it to be round, so I made a ball out of yarn and then put it into the angel's head. I also realized that I needed to make adjustments to the wings, so that they were proportionate to this larger angel. The only difference in the number of stitches and how many stitches were knitted each row. I may have also knitted a few more rows to help it fit on the back of this new angel.

All in all I love the way that this tree topper turned out. It looks a lot better than the dollar store star I have been putting on the tree the last few years. I am sure that this is one of those tree decorations that I will bring out year after year. Its place of honor will be the top of my tree for many years to come. 

Vintage Knitting

Recently I stumbled across a collection of knitting patterns from the 1940s. Seeing this collection got me searching for even more collections of vintage patterns.

"Mrs. Rosevelt's Mittens"
https://www.allfreeknitting.com

"Victory Jumper"
https://www.vam.ac.uk

Here are a few of the collections that I have found. I highly encourage you to check out these vintage knits whether you knit or not. They are interesting to look at. They give an idea of what people were wearing during different eras, I saw at least one pattern that called for knitting shoulder pads to add to the sweater. Some of the names even invoke the time period such as "Mrs. Rosevelt's Mittens" or "Victory Jumper".   

Patterns from the 1940s

Patterns from the 1950s


Patterns from the 1930s-1970s

Apparently a lot of these patterns have entered the public domain and are now uploaded to be used by anyone who dares to try. Some of these have been typed up and other are digitized straight from the original book or magazine. 

Now this is not the first time that I have looked at vintage knits. I just find them fascinating, they give a little bit of glimpse into the past. Back in college I found a knitting pattern for lace stockings. I had never seen anything like them and I had already made socks using modern patterns. I was excited to try something new (at least new to me).

I quickly found out that sizing can be an issue with vintage knits. Even feet and calves where smaller back in the day. To get around this issue was a lot of trial and error. I had to repeatedly try on the stockings while working on them.

I highly recommend trying on vintage projects while working on them to make sure that the adjustments are working correctly. I find that the best way to try on a project is to put the live stitches on a long scrap of yarn. Doing this gives the stitches the ability to move and hang like they would off the needle. I always use this technique when making dresses or tops in the round. It allows me to see the fit without being concerned about dropping stitches. You can also use this vintage knit sizing tool to see how the vintage sizes compare to today's sizing before you start knitting.

Having found these vintage patterns, I decided that I would try to do another vintage knit. Going into this process I knew that sizing would most likely be an issue. With this in mind I looked for patterns that wouldn't need any adjustments. So I settled on this "Little Scarf" pattern.

Reading the pattern I realized that I would still need to make changes. The pattern calls for a decorative crochet edge done with tinsel and little purls. Do I have purls? Do I even know where to get tinsel? Do I own a tiny crochet hook? Since I answered no to all of these I knew that I had to come up with a different plan.

I decided that I would keep the decorative picot, but would do it with yarn and knitting needles instead. I had never done a picot bind off. However, YouTube videos quickly gave me the confidence to believe I could do this. Now just to pick a color for the edge. To do this I made a Facebook poll asking my followers to choose between red and grey.

I had assumed that this would be my only adjustment. I was wrong. One thing about vintage knits is that they had be a bit vague. For example instead of explaining the technique they want you to use to increase stitches they might just have increase one stitch. Sometimes it takes a bit of work to see what technique would lay correctly and look the best.

My rule is to use the simplest first and if it looks good, continue to use it. No reason to make things more complicated than they need to be. But, the adjustments did not stop there. Apparently even necks were smaller back then. Luckily scarfs are one of the easiest projects to try on while knitting.

In the end I was able to finish up the scarf in less than a week. Now I have a cute little scarf that makes me feel like a 1940's flight attendant. I can easily add a bit of class and vintage flare to any outfit.

If interested in trying a vintage pattern I would offer a few pieces of advice:

• start small;
• try on frequently;
• be prepared to make adjustments;
• have fun. 

In the end you will have a unique vintage knit that is guaranteed to impress.    

Little Pumpkin Man

Just a happy little pumpkin. 

Near the beginning of October my manager told our group of four that she wanted to do a pumpkin decorating contest. She mentioned this about a week ahead of time, so we had a bit of time to plan. But, I kept forgetting about it. A few days passed and I still hadn't gotten a pumpkin.

I didn't know what I would do once I did have a pumpkin. I started mentally going through my craft box. What did I have to decorate a pumpkin. I have some teal paint and a lot of wasabi tape. My manager only had one rule. We were allowed to decorate in any way we wanted, but we could not carve or cut into the pumpkin in any way. It just makes a mess and speeds up the decomposing process.

I had my own rule. I was not going to spend any money on this contest, other than the cost of the pumpkin. I have enough art supplies that I figured I could come up with something.

 The Thursday before the pumpkins were expected I had a idea. I could make a pumpkin hat and sit it on a little pumpkin. It would be simple, yet cute. I started searching online and on Pinterest and quickly found a few pumpkin hat patterns. I settled on this pattern for a pumpkin hat from DROPS design®. I still didn't have an actual pumpkin, but I figured I could start on the hat and then use the pattern measurements to find a pumpkin the size of a toddler's head. I found some orange yarn and cast on my hat.

Yes this sketch was on a napkin. 

The next day when I woke up I did a quick sketch of what I wanted the finished pumpkin to look like. I guess it had been in my mind all night as I slept. On my lunch break I got a little pumpkin from a shop near where I work. I don't know how many people bring their own tape measures when looking for pumpkins, but no one seemed to question it.

 I found one close to the size that I needed and took it into the office. I drew a little smile on it and told everyone that my pumpkin was half finished. I knew they would be confused and I thought it would be funny. This was my plan to confuse  the competition.

We were expected to have the finished pumpkins by Monday, so all weekend I knitted like a mad woman. As I was starting on the stem I realized that this pattern did not have the curling vine that I wanted. So I went back to looking for pumpkin patterns. This time I extended it beyond hats. I found this pumpkin decoration at www.allfreeknitting.com and loved the way that the vine twisted on the top. The pattern called for pipe cleaners, which I didn't have. But, I do have paperclips which my husband and I twisted. He had the idea to use more than one to give it a longer vine.

Hanging out with his pumpkin pals. 

Surprisingly I had a bit of time left, so I made a couple leaves using this large leaf pattern that I found on Pinterest. It may have originally been from a site called webmail.meta.ua, but I'm not even sure what language that site is in. Thankfully the whole pattern is on Pinterest, so I was still able to use it. Although it was not planned these leaves curl up and I ended up liking that look. It looks more natural. I don't know about you, but most of the leaves than I've seen are not flat.

I ended up winning the contest, but that was mostly by default. Some people didn't bring a pumpkin in and the only other pumpkin didn't last until Halloween. But, a win is a win no matter how it happens.

My little guy doesn't mind that he won by default. He is just happy that some people thought he was cute. He is still going strong and continues to be a work decoration. Maybe I'll bring him home around Thanksgiving.       

Fall is Here

As fall was approaching I kept noticing patterns for leaves. Some were simple and some were more complex and required charts. Since I was already working on a project I decided to make a Pinterest board just for fall decorations. Otherwise, I would never have been able to find them when I was finally ready to start another project.

A couple of weeks ago I had a long weekend and decided to take advantage of it by starting a new project. I sat down to look through some of the patterns that I had saved. I quickly realized that I would have to pay for some of these patterns, that narrowed down the options for me. At this point I didn't have a firm idea of what I was using these leaves for and I was definitely not paying just to goof off.

Finding a couple of free patterns that I liked I downloaded one to start. Then I went on a yarn search. I decided that this would be a way for me to use up some of the yarn that I already have. So, this hunt was through my own yarn. I say hunt because my yarn is in several different containers. Some of which have to be dug through and untangled while searching. I found several balls and skeins of yarn
in what I dubbed fall colors.

The first pattern that I downloaded was "Woodland Wreath, Oak" by Frankie Brown. You have to check out Frankie's Knitted Stuff on Ravelry. He has over 500 free downloadable patterns. He has a lot of knitted Christmas ornaments that I am going to have get started on. This pattern also included some adorable little acorns, so of course I was going to have to make those as well.

I had thought to make a long cord and string the leaves along it. It would end up being a fall garland. Maybe I would hand it along the top of a window. But, now I had an acorn. I couldn't picture the little fellow just hanging around with the leaves. Back to square one I was sitting on the floor with my yarn spread out around me. I took a quick break from knitting and just looked around the room thinking of how my little leaf and acorn could be incorporated into a larger project. Some people might call this "day dreaming". I prefer the term "idea gathering". In a couple of minutes I had a new idea when I saw my dinning table.

For a bit of a backstory, I am big on decorating based on the seasons. Nothing big, usually just a centerpiece of fake flowers that I change every few months. Right now I have a vase of orange, red, and yellow flowers and a few small plastic pumpkins.

Throughout most of the year I have a blue and white vase, but I recently changed it out for a clear vase. That change has been bothering me for a bit because I didn't like being able to see the flower stems. At times fake flowers can look almost real, but those stems will always be a dead giveaway.

Now I had an idea that could solve two of my problems. I could use the leaves and acorns I was currently making and also hide the stems of those flowers. I was going to make a vase cozy. Teapots can have them, so why not vases.

I measured the vase and found a neutral color that would allow the leaves to be the stars. I cast on fewer stitches than I thought I would need and started in a knit two purl two ribbed pattern. After the ribbing I added a couple of stitches. I adding the ribbing hoping that this would help to keep it up on the vase. I figured if it works for socks then it could work for a vase cozy.

Once I was done with the cozy itself I was able to go back to the fun part, making the leaves. The leaves allowed me to be creative. Making different color combos and sizes. The pattern includes two different sizes. However, I was able to make more sizes by using different yarn weights and sometimes using two strands at once.

Now it was time to assemble everything. My first step was to stitch up the cozy to be a tube. I folded the rectangle in half inside out and did a quick whip stitch. I don't love how the seam ended up looking. If I were to do this again I might use a different method to stitch it up. One that would produce a smoother seam.

Once I had the tube it was time for me to add the decorations. I decided that I wanted the leaves to look organic. One of the ways that I did this is by having them at different angles and positions around the vase. I also only attached the leaves in two places. This allows them to almost look like they are floating. It gives some depth and looks better than if the leaves were all flat. I made sure that the leaves were all around the vase because I did not want one area to be the focal point. People sit around the table and I want it to look interesting from every angle.

Leaves are falling all around. 

Overall, I think it turned out well for not knowing what I was doing when I first started. I might even be tempted to make more cozies for different seasons. I'm envisioning a winter one. It would be in the same cream color, only I might include some cables. Maybe I should stop calling it a vase cozy and start calling them vase sweaters.

Let me know what you think of my little sweater. Keep experimenting and having joy with yarn.               

This Tie Had Me in Knots

A few months ago I was looking for a knitted tie pattern. I found a few ties that were being sold, but not a pattern. After a while of going down the internet rabbit hole of knitting websites and blogs I finally found a pattern, but I didn't love it. There was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't the image that I had in my head.

However, I went ahead and started on this pattern. I assumed that it would grow on me and maybe it would look better in person than it did online. But, I was wrong. I still didn't like it. This tie pattern was a rectangle and did not look enough like a tie to me. Personally I think that ties should always come to that point at the bottom. Without that point can I even call it a tie? It looks more like a very narrow scarf. As a hand knitted scarf it would have the tendency to look more like a scarf, so I wanted to move away from that.

Snake Tie

I decided at this point that I would use this pattern, but I would make it my own and start it as a point. This was an utter disaster. In the end it looked like neither a tie or a narrow scarf. It most closely resembled a snake or an extremely narrow tube sock. It just ended up being a funny looking puffed up tube that had a pointed end. My husband had pointed out while I was knitting that it needed to be flatter, but I had stubbornly pressed on. 

Back to the drawing board for me and my tie idea. My husband was right I needed a flatter design. But, how to accomplish this was the problem. I didn't want to do it in straight stockinette because then the edges would roll and that would be just as bad as the snake tube.

I wanted the tie to not only look good, but to also be recognizable. I don't often wear ties, so obviously this would be a gift for someone else. There is nothing worse than to gift a handmade item and to have the receiver be confused about what it is or how to use it.

I started brainstorming some ideas, but nothing was working out the way that I was planning. It was then that I took a step back and decided to take a break. Sometimes ideas come to me the quickest when I am not thinking about them.

This is exactly what happened this time. It was during this break that an idea hit me and all the pieces seemed to fall into place. I had made some pot holders a few years ago using a technique called Double Knitting. Basically with this technique you knit both sides the project at the same time. Often with two contrasting colors. In the end both sides are stockinette, but the item lays flat.

As soon as I thought of this technique I realized that I could adapt it to be pointed at the start and widen out to whatever width I wanted (I made my first one a little too wide and have corrected this in the pattern). After several attempts I finally got the look that I was desiring.

One of the best part of using Double Knitting is that I was able to easily add color. All the color changes are done in the middle, so they will never see the light of day. This is how the Reversible Men's Tie pattern was created. Look for this and other patterns on the pattern page of this blog. You can also find this pattern by following this link Reversible Men's Tie.

It works with variegated or striping yarn too.

In this pattern I have included the charts for making the same design. Adding a little bit of color to each side. However, I have also included written instructions without any color changes. This would produce a tie that is solid on either side, but has a border of both colors.

The main reason for including the written instructions is that I hope others adapt it and use what ever design they want. I want these instructions to be used as a blank canvas because that is how I view most patterns. They are a guide and not the law. I like to make my own changes and adapt them whenever I feel like it.

I am excited to finally put this pattern out there for others to see. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. If you try it put a picture in the comments or post to my Facebook page  Joy with Yarn.

Also if you do try this please check your gauge. Don't be like me and end up with a tie that is too thick and unwearable. The knot on one of the ties that I made is just ridiculously large.

Now I'm off to knit some more. I'm thinking that in the future I'll make a tie and sock set. Maybe I'll even see about adding some texture. We shall see. My list of project ideas and things I should make keeps getting longer and longer.                     

Inspiration while Traveling

 As some of you might know, I just recently came back from traveling to Ghana. We went to go spend time with my husbands family. I was a little nervous before our trip. International travel combined with meeting new people and the language barrier. But, It was the best vacation ever. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ghana and cannot wait to go again. 

Photo from Google Maps

One aspect that had me very nervous was the flights. I don't have a fear of flying. I was more worried about security and what I would spend time doing on the flights. People told me to take some books and maybe even my knitting. I went back and forth on packing my knitting.

I have heard stories about it not being allowed on the plane and projects being ripped out by security. I did not want anything to prolong that security line. I had also heard about people dropping a ball of yarn on the plane having it roll away from them. Knowing my luck and my tendencies to drop things this would not work out well for me. I ended up taking my knitting, but I put it in the checked bags. 

When I put the knitting in my checked bag, I decided that instead of physically knitting I would allow myself to be inspired while traveling. Once I made this choice it was easy to see inspiration in every little thing. The two areas that spoke to me the most were colors and shapes.

Getting to and from the airport was a four hour car ride. I spent most of these hours staring out the window. Something that I noticed fairly quickly were the buildings and how they were painted. A lot of the buildings that I could see from the car were painted using great color combinations. Some use more expected pairings such as brown and yellow, dark blue and yellow, or gray and light purple. Then there were others that used more unusual pairings such as sea green with a light pink, light blue with purple, or orange and green. Unfortunately I did not take any pictures that could give a good example of these buildings. 

Three examples of fabrics.  

My color inspiration extends to more than just the buildings. I was also inspired by school uniforms and fabric in general. I found the uniforms to be better than any of the ones we have in America. The shorts or skirts were a solid color typically brown. The tops or dresses were different for each school. I saw pink, yellow, and green; just to name a few. Depending on the grade you might have a pattern or a solid top. I liked this idea and the colors that they used if only because it is different than what I am used to. For the fabric the colors are bright and will have either be patterned or striped. Thankfully I did bring back some fabrics and clothes, so you can have a small idea of what I am talking about. 
 

I tend to play it safe when it comes to color. I might have a bright color, but I would pair it with something safer. I would not put two bright colors together. Seeing all of the color combinations and the bright colors inspires me to be more adventurous when it comes to colors. Since coming back I have been looking at a lot of Fair Isle knitting patterns and other ways of incorporating more color. Now I even have a Pinterest board just for color work.

Shapes were another area of inspiration for me. While flying into the Paris airport I noticed the land and all of the different shapes. The fields were not all squares and rectangles that come together at right angles. There was nothing uniform about these shapes. As you can see from this picture, that I attempted to take from the plane, the shapes are all different and join at odd angles. The colors are all fairly similar, so it is the angles and non-uniformity of the shapes that make it interesting.

I imagined this aerial shot as a blanket. It would be monotone, maybe all grays and blues. However, it would be the shapes and the angles that would make it different from other blankets. There would be no set pattern. I would start it off with one shape and then pick up stitches to add a new color that would come at a different angle. This might be a fun idea just to play around with and see what happens.

While in Ghana this balcony caught my eye. I liked the way that the diamonds looked and how it was open and not closed off. I picture this as a lacy scarf or shawl. It would have a row of diamonds going from the bottom to the top. Like the balcony, it would be open. Using a lightweight yarn and having yarn overs throughout the project would give it the same feeling as the balcony.

These are just a few ways that I was getting inspiration for knitting even though I only picked up my actual knitting once or twice during the whole trip. Anything can be an inspiration if you are open to it. Have fun and allow yourself to have some knitting daydreams you never know what new idea they may produce. Inspiration can be found no matter where you are.                         

Something New

Creating an original pattern and sharing it with others is new to me. I have been adapting, changing, and making my own knitting patterns for years. I write ideas in the margins of other patterns and will use sticky notes or a note app on my phone. However, these adaptions or patterns were always just for me. Even when making a pattern I wasn't expecting anyone to look at it.

However, recently I realized that if I was looking for a pattern to make something and didn't find it then maybe others might have this same problem. Maybe others are getting frustrated over not finding exactly what they want. This is actually the reason I started this blog in the first place (that is a story for a different day).

A week to two ago, it happened to me again. I wanted to make a quick knit hat with some chunky yarn that I had. However, I had a very specific idea of what I needed this hat to look like. I wanted this hat for my blog post about The Big Comfy Couch and I wanted to look as much as Loonette as possible. Click here if you missed that post.

I found a few patterns, but they were not exactly what I wanted. They didn't look enough like Loonette's hat. So, I decided that I needed to make my own hat. This was never anything that I was planing to keep or wear more than just for that photo. But I fell in love with it. I loved how the hat looked so much that I had to make a matching scarf.

For once I let the yarn do it's thing when it came to the color. I used Caron® Tea Cakes™ color Oolong and for once in my life I did not try to manipulate it. I didn't worry about the color changes. Even when I was adding a new cake. Usually when joining more yarn I will unravel it to the point where it matches the pattern created with the color work. This time I joined the new cake when it was needed without any thought about the colors. This yarn allows these patterns be knit up quickly and beautifully without any stress.       

Below I have included the instructions for the hat and scarf. This pattern is also available for download or to be saved at this link: Easy Chunky Hat and Infinity Scarf. I hope that it will be the quick and easy hat and scarf set that someone out there is looking for. I enjoyed this quick knit. I was able to finish the set in about a week.

If you are looking for a hat and scarf set that knits up quickly than this pattern is for you.

One of my favorite parts of the set is the doubled over band on the hat. Because it is knitted folded over then it will not roll. I can not stand it when the band on a hat rolls down when I am wearing it. I want the band to cover stay put and do its job which is to keep my ears nice and toasty.

Scarf is wrapped three times. 

I also love the length of the scarf. I made it extra long, so that it can be wrapped around several times. My favorite winter scarfs are always infinity scarfs. Personally I think they are easier to wear and less likely to slip off. Even if I get warm I can just loosen it and keep it still around my neck. I might be known for losing a scarf or two or many many more. But all of those were traditional. Hopefully I can keep track of this one, at least for a winter or two.   

Now all I need is some colder weather to wear my latest creations. Not that I am asking for winter. I'm patient and can wait. Winter can take its time and come when it feels like it.   

My Big Comfy Chair

"Who made this big mess?" If you are a 90's child like me then you might remember Loonette saying this phrase at the end of every episode of The Big Comfy Couch. Every time she asked it the answer was the same. She was always the one who made that mess.

For those of you who may not be familiar with this show let me give a quick run down. Loonette was a clown with a clown doll named Molly. Loonette and Molly spent most of their time on this huge green floral couch. This couch must have been somewhat magical. It always had what they needed deep within the cushions, but they still thought it was comfortable. Need a tennis racket, tutu, jump rope, or rubber chicken? Chances are the couch would have it.

However, Loonette would never seem to find what she needed on the first try. This would result in Loonette creating a huge mess that she wouldn't remember at the end of the episode. After some prompting she would realize that it was her fault and that she would have to clean it up. Then she would do what she called a "ten second tidy" and run around cleaning. Click on the video above to watch one of her famous fast cleanings. 

 Me and the mess ended up on the floor. 

Recently I have been relating to Loonette. I have a big red chair in my living room. This chair is where I tend to do most of my knitting. It is close to bookshelf where I keep a lot of supplies. Although I didn't plan it, this chair has become my knitting chair. So much so that my husband is shocked when I choose to knit somewhere else.

I also find myself mentally asking "Who made this big mess?". Of course I always know the answer will be me. And I can also figure this out without an nod from an invisible person. I am the one who let my knitting spread to the back of the chair, the arms, under the arms, and on floor in front of the chair. This happens especially when I am working on chart or need to write down corrections. When I am writing a pattern as I am knitting the mess gets even more out of hand. I guess I need more room and just spread out. Then the laziness sets in. Why would I take the time to put everything away nice and neat when I will just need it the next day. Unlike Loonette I can never do a ten second tidy.

This isn't even all the mess. 

I am even starting to look more and more like Loonette. I draw the line at the red nose. If that happens I might have to loose the comfy chair and keep a neat work area. As you can see from the picture I like to keep all of my supplies close at hand. At times that can make my corner of the living room look like an explosion from small yarn store. I have finished projects, yarn, knitting needles, current projects, scissors tapestry needles, a notebook, and more. Everything I need is right there. Occasionally I might even have to pull something out from under the cushions just like Loonette. This happens even more when I am using double pointed needles. I can never knit with them without loosing a needle or stitch marker for at least a minute or so. 

As you might have guessed, I made a hat specifically for this picture. However, it is a new original design that is a great weekend project. It can also be worn with or without those pigtails. I started it on Thursday and was finished before the end of the day on Saturday.

I am hoping to upload the pattern soon. In fact I like it so much that I am working on a matching infinity scarf. Follow this blog and my Facebook page @Joywithyarn1 to be the first to see new posts and patterns.


 

Purple Flounces

Last night I was finishing up a shawl that I was working on. Some of you might recognize the yarn from my post a few weeks ago. I wrote about the problems that I had when starting it. After a few false starts, the pattern worked up fairly quickly and easily. Although the pattern is simple I had to keep reminding myself to count the stitches. There are several increase and decrease rows that give

the shawl it's shape and create those fun flounces. After all the problems that I had at the start I realized that the time it took to count the stitches after one of these rows was worth it. Better to spend a few minutes counting every ten rows or so than to rip out entire sections multiple times.

This is one of the yarns that my friend was kind enough to bring from Turkey. She sent me some pictures and although I had no idea what I was going to do with this yarn, I told her to grab me two skeins. Something about this yarn spoke to me. I think it might be because it is a wool blend. The wool gives it that fuzzy look. It would definitely be a yarn that I would be distracted by in the store. The "ohh fluffy" kind of distraction.

So, I knew this yarn was coming and I didn't know what I would do with it once it got here. I just knew that I didn't want to throw it in the yarn bin. It was too good for that. No one knows when I might get around to touching some of that yarn. Soon after this I had one of those light bulb moments. There was a conversation at church about how people show love differently. That is when it hit me. I show love through knitting. I had never really thought about this, but knitting is one of my love languages.

After coming to this realization I knew this yarn would end up being a gift. Not long after that I had a person in mind and some thoughts about what I wanted to make her. I wanted to do a simple shawl and quickly found Fairy's Shrug on DROPS Design. The pictures showed a shawl with a fuzzy halo effect that I knew this yarn would produce.

One problem that I had with the pattern is that I didn't like how it looked when knitting it. As I was going along I thought the flounces looked uneven. It hung awkwardly on the needles. However, I kept at it. I have knitted long enough to know that sometimes a work in progress looks different than a finished project. If you ever question how a project will look off the needles, then remove the needles.

This can be done in a couple of ways. 1) You can just remove the needles and try to pick up the stitches. This method can result in a lot of frustration and some dropped stitches. 2) You can thread yarn through the live stitches. This technique is also known as a lifeline. When the needles are removed the stitches are held by that scrap yarn. There is less of a chance of loosing the stitches when you have a lifeline. I will also do this when knitting a top-down sweater or dress. Having a lifeline allows me to try on the project and see the fit before I finish.

As I was binding off I realized that the increases and decreases gave the shawl its structure. It began to curve as I was taking it off the needles. This curve was impossible to see when it still being worked. Now I love the way it looks and think the flounces hang beautifully.
                 
Although I had some trouble with this pattern at the start, I think this would be a great beginner knit. The pattern is simple and does not require a chart which can sometimes be intimidating. If you can knit, purl, and count; you should be able to make this pattern. It does have some increases and decreases, so this is best for a beginner who wants to branch out. The online pattern also has some videos that demonstrate the more complex techniques. This makes the pattern even more accessible to anyone willing to try it.
 

Judging a Book by the Cover

The old saying goes that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. For the most part this saying is accurate and I try to live by it. Especially when it comes to people. People are usually more complex and first impressions can be deceiving. People can surprise us in good and bad ways. There is a reason why this expression still exist.

However, is one area of my life that I almost always throw out this saying: BOOKS. If I am looking at a book that I have never heard of before I will judge it by the cover. Now I am not even talking about the back cover where it might have some information. I am talking about the front cover. If a book has a clever title and an interesting design or picture it will most likely be coming home with me. But, only from the library. I am a little more picky when paying for a book. A couple of weeks ago I was at my local branch and took a gamble on a couple of books in a series.

Now I know what you might be thinking. Isn't this "Joy With Yarn"? Shouldn't she be talking about yarn?

But wait, I am talking about yarn. The series is called Tangled Web Mystery. With titles like Yarned and Dangerous and A Knit Before Dying, how could I not be interested? Also look at these covers.

I just had to pick up these books!

They seem like a cozy mystery and just the type of book that I didn't know I was looking for. Sadie Hartwell, the author, also includes a couple original knitting patterns in the back of each book. I thought this was clever and not typical. I've seen recipes in books, but not that many knitting patterns. But be warned the patterns are spoilers. Don't be like me and read them before you finish the book.

You don't have to knit to enjoy this series. The main character, Josie, isn't even a knitter. These books are for anyone that enjoys a mystery with some laughter along the way. Although there are some twists and turns the books are not extremely suspenseful. Josie just seems to keep stumbling over dead bodies. Some might call these books fluff or a guilty pleasure. But for me they are just enjoyable. A place that I don't mind traveling to when I want some adventure, but not too much.

In the first book Yarned and Dangerous Josie reluctantly leaves New York and the fashion designer that she works for to go back to the hometown she was glad to leave after high school. Her uncle was injured in a car accident that killed his wife and her mother begs Josie to go and help out. She has three things that she needs to get done on this trip: 1) do chores for her uncle, 2) close up her aunt's yarn shop, and 3) design a clothing line that might keep her job.

However, there are many more questions that Josie needs to answer. Why does she try so hard to please a boss that she can't stand? How long will it take to close up the shop? Why does the mother of her old high school boyfriend still hate her? Why is there a dead body in the yarn shop? And finally the most important question. Why did she even come back?

Overall the books are just a fun read. I highly recommend them. The characters are interesting. They have twist and turns that will keep you guessing. Josie is easy to relate to. Although she is trying to solve the mystery she doesn't always have the right answer. Sometimes she leads the reader down a rabbit hole because her theory made sense before she voiced it to others. She is the outsider in the town, so almost everyone is a suspect to her.       

I encourage you to read them and to check out Sadie Hartwell's Facebook page. I am already following her, so I will know when the next book comes out. I will let you know if I ever get around to knitting one of the included patterns. A couple of them are on my list, but it is a very long list.