Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit lost as far as what I should be knitting, so I keep plugging away at all these little projects. It’s been too busy for me to do the math preparations for some designs I really want to get out, so in the mean time, I just work off of patterns. You see, Elias still needs me to sit in his room to insure he actually takes a nap, and I need something quiet to do during these times, and I also need something for my hands when the little ones play in the bathtub. I’m not good at just sitting.
So I’m working on a rainbow colored Buttercup Soaker for the new baby due next month! This pattern probably takes longer to make than any other wool soaker patter out there, but it’s just so bulletproof, and I just love how easily they go on and off. I figure taking the time to make one I’d actually use is worth more than 3-4 that I would pick last from the stash.
I was hoping to use up this yarn, (just a cheap 100% wool from somewhere) because it always pools badly, no matter what the project. I figured the linen stitch in this one would prevent that a bit, though it still stubbornly tries in places. Pooling looks cool in the linen stitch, though!
For books, we’re looking at 2 wonderful books just sent to me by an old friend of mine in Norway. She also sent a crazy amount of Norwegian “melkesjokolade” and other goodies for the kids. This isn’t all the chocolate, simply all that’s left.
One book has these vibrant pictures of Norway that our whole family has been enjoying immensely, and the kids are now bugging us constantly about “when can we go to Norway?!?” as if it were just down the road. She also sent a book on London that she bought when she was on vacation there. I was so flattered that when she was on vacation, she thought: “O, I bet Gretchen’s kids would like this book! There’s some great history in it!”
I have amazing friends. Seriously.
For those wanting to get some more knitting and reading inspiration, I strongly recommend you head over to Ginny’s blog for her weekly “Yarn Along” get together. There are so many neat things over there.
Anonymous says
November 7, 2012 at 2:43 pmI made a buttercup soaker for our little one as well. I am not a patient knitter and was fed up with linen stich for a very…long…time(!) after that project. 🙂 It is a really great soaker though and I wanted more. I now cheat and upcycle the linen stitch part from an old sweater, using the shape of the pattern and then pick up stitches to add the ribbing. 🙂 I am excited to put this great pattern to use! 🙂
~Krisha
nook. says
November 7, 2012 at 3:13 pmthat is the most beautiful picture from your porch! how very peaceful! i grew up in farm country (though ours wasn’t really a farm)and that view really brings me back. xoxox also, pooling totally rocks in the linen stitch 😉 xo
Lisa says
November 7, 2012 at 4:39 pmLove the butter cup soaker – it’s super cute, and I really like the yarn you chose. I’m new to knitting, so I’ll have to look up linen stitch.
Lise says
November 7, 2012 at 6:00 pmAs a matter of fact, I think about you almost every day, and I tell my friends about you all the time! So there you go! And i think it’s so cool that you’re homeschooling so I always look for books you might like 🙂
And I finally found my pictures from Hillcrest, (they’ve been “lost” for years!) and I found a picture of you from halloween, you looked… crazy! Do you remember?!
Hey, btw, did any of you try the licorice?!
Julia says
November 7, 2012 at 6:10 pmyou have a wonderful view from your front porch! Good choice picking a long pattern for something actually useful!
Andee says
November 7, 2012 at 7:05 pmI love the buttercup soaker!
house full of jays says
November 7, 2012 at 9:13 pmThat is some front porch photo! Beautiful!
Anonymous says
November 8, 2012 at 3:53 pmI’m a grandma with a 2-year-old grandson “overnight soaker”. A soaker sounds like a good possible solution. I’m dumb about soakers, thus a couple dumb questions. If I used Lion’s fisherman’s wool, how do you launder & dry it between uses? How long does air-drying take, i.e is it dry by the nighttime?
I enjoy your blog, Gretchen!
Elisa says
November 10, 2012 at 7:58 pmWow. What a view!! I could stare at that photo forever. I’ve just cast on 3 projects. Probably too many, but I need to get my tush in gear for a few gifts in time for Christmas. We’ll see if I can swing it!