Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Yarn Along with a dose of sewing and the August garden

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?


This month of August has bestowed upon North Texas 100+ temps every day.  It is the time of melting here.  You don't venture outside for very long, which makes it hard on the little ones. So I find myself winding yarn and planning future projects all while readying the house for a baby shower this weekend ( more on that later).


I am making swift progress on the Haruni Shawl.  There are a couple of places in the pattern that if you don't read just right you are doomed.  More than once I have had to frog a row or two.  But it has a rhythm to it that is comforting, so I knit on.


This is my first fingering weight shawl and I wasn't prepared for how much it scrunches during the knitting. My oldest daughter assures me the blocking will make the pattern pop out. :)



I have just begun this and am captivated.  First, the setting is the Bay of Fundy where we just returned from and secondly, because my nursing career was centered around Labor and Delivery, I enjoy reading birthing stories.  Also, I love history and this book puts all three together.


I decided today to make use of the quiet and wind up some skeins.  They are all different companies, but all fingering.


The top skein really faded out in the picture, but it is actually next in the queue.  I have had the pattern for  Quill for quite some time.  I had enough fingering cotton to begin it, but really wanted something warmer.  While playing around in the Knit Picks website, I came across Bare Stroll.  This is a dyeable yarn, but I wanted it in its bare state.  The color and the content are perfect for the project.  It arrived today and I wound up one skein so it would be ready to go.

The garden is in full meltdown mode. 



Only the window boxes under the porch roof are surviving the heat.



Or if you hang from a very large tree.


But... wait!  On second look. What did I find?



Of course!  A yellow rose of Texas!  You can't keep some things down!

Thanks again to sweet Ginny for linking us all together.  Wednesday is my favorite day!

14 comments:

  1. Your daughter is right about the blocking. It will bring your shawl to life. Your yarns are beautiful, and so is the yellow rose.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My yellow roses have yet to open up during this heat, the pink ones are still going - it is lovely to see your yellow one blooming.
    I think the shawl looks beautiful and I will be getting that book, I also love birth stories and have assisted at birth on occasion in more of a "doula' capacity but I dearly love taking part in new life being born!

    ReplyDelete
  3. oh, Wanda----I had to laugh at your first gardening photos; I've got the same look in my garden right now!!! (My window boxes are only looking slightly less fried--not nearly as good as yours!) Loving the shawl----and just wait til the magic happens with the blocking!!!! It's going to be beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the key to the window boxes is I didn't plant them. I left them in their little containers so I can take them out and water well. Took years to figure that out! :(

      Delete
  4. Hi! I found you through Ginny. My sister is knitting a Quill right now. I want to make one...just need to finish up too many other things right now. Loved your post. I'll be back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you found me! Would love to see pics of the Quill. Come join us anytime!!!!!

      Delete
  5. Mmm, loving your pictures of that gorgeous yarn. :) And your daughter is right, blocking will work magic!

    ReplyDelete
  6. love your queued up yarn cakes! I've been to the bay of fundy, over 15 years ago?? It was fun then. I'm knitting a shawl that is doomed if I try to watch tv-it's my concentration knitting. Lovely projects!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The blue lace is gorgeous! And so are your other yarns. Your book looks interesting, I'll have to look for it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. the blue yarn is amazing! I'm sure it will look awesome once finished. your book sounds really interesting, I might have to order it online because I'm pretty sure they won't have it in our bookshop - but it sounds exactly like something I'd enjoy reading - thanks for the inspiration :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. The shawl will definitely pop with blocking ... a mini miracle to make your day! and those fingering weight yarns are great ..

    Thanks for queuing my "The Ebbing Tide" shawlette ... I hope you enjoy it.

    Mary G.

    ReplyDelete