Sunshine For The Soul...

Good Morning Everyone!

Isn't it simply amazing what a few days of sunshine can do for the soul, not to mention our gardens? My weeds are thriving lol, no shock there. I've accepted the fact you can't be good at everything, there are only so many hours in the day and my boss makes knitting my priority. So anything else that falls outside of knitting time gets carefully placed into a mental grid of manageable chunks. There's nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed, especially by housework or maybe the daily decision of what to make for dinner. Adulting is hard, I escape when I can...

I am so excited for Clue #1 to arrive in my inbox tomorrow for the Quiltstar Shawl MKAL. I think I have my colors selected, there's a pile, but nothing has been wound up. It's not too late to join, here's the link with all of the details https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quiltstar-shawl-mkal

Each clue is scheduled to drop on Wednesdays, which is perfect timing for Stitch and Bitch, several of you have decided to participate and already join us. I cannot wait to see how this project will take shape, the suspense is killing me. I love nothing more than an interesting construction which this accomplishes. I am always looking to up my skill set and get comfortable with techniques that I used to shy away from. For the longest time I would not knit a project that called for a provisional cast on, silly, right? Now I know 3 different ways to successfully create one, my favorite being with Purl Strings, SOOOO EASY!! A big thank-you to Lucinda for once again providing some inspiration and for introducing me to another designer, Gabrielle Veniza.

This Sunday, June 7th is Julie Asselin's Needle In A Haystack event up in Compton, Quebec. This is year number 3 that we will be caravaning up across the border to experience all the fantastic vendors she brings together. The setting is fantastic, I am hoping that the weather cooperates better than it has in the past. The first year was blistering hot, we were all seeking a sliver of shade and trying not to melt. Last year was a complete 180, holy cow was it blustery cold and rainy, but we managed. If you're dressed for the conditions it doesn't pose a problem, but it sure would be nice to have a 70 degree blue sky day, we shall see. We will be meeting at the shop and plan to depart at 9:00. If you have any questions, please let me know!

I've been cruising along on Elizabeth Smith's Audrey Pullover in Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus, it is beautiful! I seriously thought I would be almost finished with it by the time the MKAL started, serious miscalculation on my part, borderline delusional, I'm ever the optimist. I probably would have been much closer had I not derailed myself with the Dancing Dragonfly Mittens. I never work on just one project, I get bored, it usually takes about three to keep things interesting. This very thought was likely rattling around in my head, I've kept things interesting for sure.

Let me preface my story by saying, I've never knit Latvian mittens, it's not much of a defense, bear with me. I successfully accomplished a two color cast on, 2 Latvian braids that provided a beautiful frame for the cuff colorwork. I'd finished Chart 1 for the cuffs and it was time to move to Chart 3, which is clearly indicated in the pattern. Unfortunately for me, the chart that was next in the pattern was Chart 2 and said Thumb, I READ IT!! I not only read it, I proceeded to work the chart simply because it was next on the page. I did so despite realizing the the row numbers weren't lining up and there were a series of decreases at the top of the chart, CRAZY, I KNOW! Worst of all, I kept looking at the picture and couldn't help but notice that my mitten did not resemble the pattern after that second braid. I KEPT GOING!! It finally occurred to me after I did the first set of decreases (18 rows later) something was seriously wrong. I read it again and the lightbulb went off, Chart 3 is on the next page!!! I painstakingly frogged back to the Latvian braid and all is right in the world. Totally worth it too, these mittens are gorgeous!!! Here's the link, this is the updated version and perhaps is clearer than the version I'm using, take a peek https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dancing-dragonfly-mitten

I'd mentioned knitting Elizabeth Smith's Audrey Pullover, she's also the mastermind behind the Triple Time, which several of us have done. Carla recently shared the link to her newsletter and I can't believe I hadn't subscribed, it is awesome. She has a Friday Night Knit Tips that she sends and it is full of extremely helpful tips along with her most recent patterns. I highly recommend that you add this one to your queue, 100% worth it. Here is the link https://elizabethsmithknits.com/newsletter-signup/ I found a very helpful one regarding jogless stripes which I was planning to implement on my Audrey Pullover. Unfortunately, the beautiful contrast color that Paula gave me to use has magically disappeared, I have no idea where it went. My take on this is, the universe is telling me not to do the optional stripe pattern, ok then...

I think I've gone on long enough, are you still with me??? One more tidbit, Worldwide Knit In Public Day is Saturday, June 13th, we usually meet in Taylor Park by the fountain around 9:00. I will be there and hope to have a nice group join me. We will be meeting tomorrow evening, Wednesday, 6-7:30 for Stitch and Bitch (I've asked the mosquitoes to go away) I hope you can join in the fun. Make it a great day and I'll see you soon!

Katy