I have something new to share today! It’s small, just begun, but it’s new and I’m so happy about that.
This little guy is going to be a hat for my Grandpa. This hat is currently my purse-knitting and the knitting that I work on while walking to and from my shifts at the cafe. Easy peasy ribbing in the round on size US 10 needles.
What are you working on this week?
Part of my 2015 goal to take better care myself includes drinking more water. I, like many folks, am pretty chronically dehydrated and the culprit is that I just don’t like the taste of water.
The subject of water-drinking came up at the cafe the other day and my coworkers and I had the usual conversion:
Those who like and drink water all the time: “How can you not like water?!”
Those who don’t: “I don’t know, it just tastes gross! I drink other things like tea and coffee, does that count?
Those who like and drink water all the time: “No, tea and coffee are diuretics! Those don’t count.”
Those who don’t: a plethora of grumbles and excuses
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So that day one of my coworkers and I decided to be accountabilibuddies and help each other drink more water. I did a bunch of online reading and research and we shared some links, turns out that tea and coffee do count toward water consumption, especially if you’re a regular consumer because your body develops a resistance to the diuretic properties of these drinks.
In my research I also came across a LOAD of articles that talked about the benefits of drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning and so I decided to try it out for myself.
I’ve definitely had to add a tiny bit of honey to the water because, as expected, lemon water by itself is pretty bitter and hard for me to drink straight.
I certainly like to add things to my water – cucumbers, lemon, ginger, fruit and other herbs. I find that the extra flavor really helps me WANT to drink the stuff and it doesn’t hurt that it adds zero calories. I’m still only a few days into the experiment but I have noticed a few things:
Overall, I think it’s a good thing to focus on and I’m going to keep doing my best at it.
Are you a water drinker? Or a wish-I-could-be-a water drinker?
Even though it’s snowing outside today and we’re in the depths of January, the magazines are previewing their spring issues and I can’t help but look ahead! Today we’ll just talk about one of them and why I find it especially appealing.
Interweave Knits Spring Issue looks like it’s going to be a good one. Part of the fun for me, personally, looking through any of Interweave’s products (Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Knit.Purl, etc) is looking at the photos and trying to pick out where they were shot! Living in the same state and having lived all over it (Denver, Lakewood, Golden, Loveland, Fort Collins, etc) means that I’ve been fortunate to visit a lot of different places.
The story including the Timetable Pullover by Andrea Sanchez was shot in the newly-renovated Union Station in downtown Denver – a quick drive or lightrail ride from my house. The setting and this sweater itself are beautiful.
The story including Joan Forgione‘s Beech Leaf Shawl was shot in a pottery studio in Fort Collins called Smokestack Pottery. This little space is so cute and fun to visit – I even have a few bowls made by the artists who work there in my collection!
Seeing these gorgeous knits in settings that I myself have been in multiple times makes me smile. They bring to mind happy memories with great folks.
Are you looking at spring patterns yet or do you prefer to remain in the current season?
February is right around the corner and that means that my KAL starts soon! Will you be participating?
It also means that my 20% off coupon ends soon so don’t forget to snag your favorite patterns before the end of the month.
I look forward to seeing your finished projects, remember to post them in this thread and you’ll be entered to win the awesome prize package!!
This is the thirty-eighth in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it! None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!
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Brew: DirtWolf Double IPA
Brewer: Victory
Malts: Imported two-row malts
Hops: Whole flower Citra, Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic
IBU:
ABV: 8.7%
Flavors: This is my kind of beer – floral and slightly sweet in that way only delicious IPA’s can be. Full flavored with slightly assertive bits that pique your interest.
Knit Pairings: Because this beer is full and ever-so-slightly assertive, I’d pair it with some knitting that is wholesome and comforting if slightly indulgent.
Notes:
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Let me know what you think! Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!
I haven’t had a lot of time to knit lately what with the new year, moving (again), catching a nasty cold and everything else life has thrown at me but I am trying to get a few dedicated minutes where I can.
I finished the first sleeve last week and immediately started the second.
My concern? Unless I packed away another skein of this Mrs. Crosby Plays in Squid Ink, I may run out of it and that would require some creative thinking about the neckline (and that’s assuming I have enough to finish the second sleeve in the first place).
What are you working on this week? Feel free to share links in the comments! I’ll try to get as many as I can 🙂
Recently I was looking through some pictures I’d taken last year and the year before at around the same time of year and I noticed that in previous years, I’d done a lot more cooking and baking than I have this year. This got me thinking – “Why wasn’t I doing that this year? What about the previous years facilitated so much more intensive food-making?”
Of course I came up with a bunch of quick excuse-answers – I had more time back then (fat chance, time is the same); I wasn’t as financially burdened (bullcrap, finances have next to nothing to do with it); I enjoy cooking for other people and lately I’ve been the only person around (a more reasonable answer but still can be fixed rather easily).
Cooking for other people is something that makes me happy, whipping up more than a simple, easy meal provides more satisfaction and, as I’ve mentioned here recently, this year I aim to take better care of myself and that includes my mental state. If it makes me happy, I should do more of it.
The other week I bought a butternut squash, chopped it up, cooked it down, pureed the bits in my wonderful-totally-worth-every-penny food processor, and layered it up with some home-made sauces, easy bake noodles and delivered a lasagna to two very deserving people (three, including myself). 
What things do you find make you happy but are easy to neglect?
When Talitha Kuomi approached me recently about reviewing her new book Artistic Differences I jumped at the opportunity.
This collaboration with Classic Elite Yarns was Tal’s first real chance to express herself more fully and the finished result is packed with beautiful pictures and each pattern knit with two variations! Tal differentiates the two versions of each pattern with a Rocker version (on the right in the picture below) and a Boho version (on the left). I love when books do that – show you different ways to spice up your project and make it unique.
The patterns included run the gamut from sweaters to socks, bags and cowls to hats and mitts. All of the projects would easily translate to real life and I can see many of them working in my own closet! If I had to pick a fave, it’d probably be Terva but Tensity is up there too – I’m a sucker for a good knitted purse.
One of the best things about the sheer functionality of the book and patterns, in my opinion, is that they’ve provided a wide range of sizes for the garments! The Terva alone comes in sizes ranging from a 31″ to 58″ bust. I love when designers and publishers take that into account, don’t you?
Have you seen Artistic Differences yet? What’s your favorite pattern?
Just as Kirsten said on Monday, I’m here to release a new pattern into the world! It seems like it’s been FOR.EV.ER. since I’ve released a self-published pattern and I’m thrilled to be doing it again!!!
The Spring Blossoms Cowl is my interpretation of the Chevron theme we picked to kick off this collaboration. I wanted to really highlight the ziggy-zaggy stitch pattern with some colorful stripes and texture.
It is begun like a triangular shawl and worked back and forth until it is joined in the round and finished like a cowl.
The Himalayan Trail by Bijou Basin is so soft and cushy to work with! It comes in an awesome ranch of colors so I highly recommend making your own combination for your version of the cowl.
Making your own version of the cowl and posting a picture to this thread in my Ravelry Group is a good way to make sure you’re entered for the KAL prize package too!
The pattern is now available on Ravelry, Craftsy and Etsy for $5.00 or you can get your copy now!
Today we’ve got a special post by Kirsten Singer of KleverKnits announcing a very special project!
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