Category: things I make

yarn along

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The timber cardigan is something I was hoping to wear throughout this winter but I’ve only been working on it intermittently between other more pressing projects.  It’s the mindless back burner knit that I pick up when I just need something easy and comforting and don’t want to watch a pattern closely.  I’m slowly making headway on it, and I still hope that I’ll finish it in time to wear it this winter, but who knows?  Either way, it’s been a joy to work on and anytime knitting with Brooklyn Tweed yarn is cozy and satisfying.

I’m still reading Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy and enjoying it a lot.  I do have to return it to the library today and I’m not done with it, so I’ll have to take a break and place another hold on it.

Linking up with Nicole’s weekly Crafting On.

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MarthaKimball8 Comments

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I cast on these socks on Christmas day as a little treat to myself (the yarn was a Christmas gift from me Brandon) after a long stretch of gift knitting.  It’s only my second pair of socks for myself that I’ve ever made, and they are going to fit so much better than the first pair I made, which ended up far too big.  So I’m on the foot of the second sock and should be done with these in the next couple of days.  I discovered yesterday, to my dismay, that one of the kids had sat on my knitting bag and my size 1 wooden knitting needles were all in shards inside the stitches.  I thankfully have this one pair of size 1 circulars, but I have always knit socks on DPNs so it’s taken some getting used to.  I’m enjoying it though!  I still have so many upcoming projects on the brain, many little baby things I’m excited to cast on.  I have some yarn leftover from these socks and may knit up a few pairs of baby socks to match for our little girl coming next month.  (Ahh!  Next month!  That sounds so strange and sort of terrifyingly close.)

I’ve also just started reading Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy per Ginny’s book recommendation list, in the spirit of wanting to read more fiction and more classics.  I’m not sure what I think yet, not quite hooked yet but I will keep at it.

I’m so so excited that Ginny has started up this yarn along again!  I’ve missed it and all of you lovely knitters out there!

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yarn along

MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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Who else is still gift knitting?!  I finished Noah’s sweater a couple nights ago, blocked it early yesterday morning and hoping it finishes drying today so I can wrap it up tonight.  (His birthday is tomorrow).  I bought this yarn for Brandon for a beanie (his most preferred knitted item) awhile ago and have been keeping it a secret knit, so I can only work on it during the day when he’s not here.  I typically knit at night after the kids are in bed, so it’s harder to fit in daytime knitting but I’m squeezing in little bits here and there and hope to have this done by Christmas eve!  (I plan to put it in his stocking).  I made two beanies from this pattern before for my sister and brother-in-law, and Brandon really liked the fit of it, and he loves sort of a burnt orange/brown color, so I think this will be a hit.  There are a couple other small knitted items for Phoebe that I want to make, but if it doesn’t happen before Christmas it’s really not a big deal.  I thought she’d enjoy opening a hand knit sweater for her American girl doll, and also we are giving her her first (real) bible for her birthday and I wanted to knit a special bookmark for it.  Also, she’s been asking for a bonnet for a long time and I found a free pattern that I think would work with the yarn I have leftover from her vertebrae cardigan, but again, that doesn’t necessarily have to happen before Christmas.  Phoebe is the most fun to knit for, as she truly appreciates my hand knits about as much as I do!

I’m still reading and enjoying Housewife Theologian (affiliate link).  I don’t anticipate much reading happening this week, as we are entering a busy week of two birthdays and then Christmas.

For whoever else is still trying to wrap up those last hand made gifts, cheers to you and I hope you enjoy every minute of making!  Tis the season.

Linking up with Nicole’s weekly Crafting On.

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MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I did in fact visit my favorite local-ish yarn store last week and picked out yarn for noah’s sweater, and cast on.  I am skeptical that I’ll have this finished in the next week, but I am doing my best!  He asked me yesterday if I’m making him a sweater this year and when I’m going to start on it, so that’s a good sign that it’ll be a worthwhile endeavor.  🙂  I’m knitting the “tot lot #10” sweater, using Shepherd’s wool in I think the Shepherd red color way.  Really liking it so far, just a simple knit.  It’s knit from the bottom up, so I’ve finished the body (up to the yoke) and also the first sleeve and now am onto sleeve number two.

I’ve been reading Housewife Theologian, which is a book I’ve had for a few years now and finally getting around to reading.  I’m enjoying it so far.

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yarn along

MarthaKimballLeave a comment

DSC_0133I finished the Advent mittens for the kids, but decided to give them to them tomorrow for St. Nicholas’ day.  I’ve printed off some coloring sheets and we’ll make some Christmas cookies as we learn about who St. Nicholas was.  I thought it would be fun for them to have a little something to open on that day.

I need to get started on Noah’s birthday sweater, as his bday is quickly approaching, but while I wait to get the yarn I cast on some mellow shorts for baby girl.  I’ve been dying to cast this on and all I want to knit is baby knits!  🙂  But Noah has asked for a red sweater, and he truly enjoys my hand knits so I can’t resist making him something for his birthday.  I just visited my favorite yarn store today to get yarn for him and will hopefully cast on sometime later today/tonight.

Also, the needle case pictured was a birthday gift from Brandon (though I picked it out) from the etsy shop Pea Pod Thread and I love it.  My only complaint is that I can’t really fit my fixed circulars in there, and definitely no DPNS so I still feel like I need another case for organizing those.  My knit picks interchangeable needles are very happy, though, to have a new home, after the plastic case they came in was completely torn.

I’ve been really enjoying the first week of Advent readings from this book, Hallelujah, by Cindy Rollins.  Her book, Mere Motherhood, has been one of my very favorites.  This one journeys through the scripture and music of Handel’s Messiah, which we have been doing together in the mornings.  We still spend evenings in Ann Voskamp’s Unwrapping the Greatest Gift while the kids color corresponding ornaments to decorate our little wooden Jesse tree.  I grew up listening to Handel’s Messiah every Christmas and it holds a special place in my heart, so it is exciting to share it with the children, even if it may be a bit over their heads.

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MarthaKimballLeave a comment

DSC_0129I finished Phoebe’s sweater last week, haven’t blocked it yet but will soon.   I’m really happy with it though and think it will fit just right.  I woke up the other morning and my first groggy thoughts were of mittens, wanting to knit mittens for the children as a gift for the first day of Advent.  I started on Sunday and have almost finished Noah’s pair.  I will maybe be able to get these done before Friday?  If not, it’s okay, but they all do need mittens anyway.  I’m using leftover yarn from the first pairs of socks I knit for all the kids.  It’s knit picks wool of the andes.  I’ve been surprised with how well those socks have held up to abuse and machine washing, so I’m hoping these mittens will work well for child’s play also.  I have so many knitting ambitions lately for Christmas or for the new baby, and I’m thankful my knitting mojo is back in full force, but hoping I can keep up!

Phoebe and I started reading Madeline L’Engle’s little book The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas, which my sister-in-law sent us last year.  We’ve been loving it, and I’m planning to do something similar to what the Austin family does in the book for Advent, having one Special Thing to do together each day.  Phoebe and I have been writing down what they did each day of Advent and thinking about our own little list of ideas.  I really wanted to get a tree this past weekend, but we need to clear out some space in our home and organize a few things before we do.  Soon, though, I hope.

What have you been making or reading lately?

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MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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Still working on Phoebe’s leksak.  I had to rip out the front edging part way through, realizing I had picked up the stitches on the wrong side of the fabric.  So I’m just now on the first sleeve.  I’m trying to force myself to work monogomously on this project until done, but I did cast on some Christmas socks for Brandon and trying to work on them secretly during the day if I have chances to knit so they can be a surprise for him.  He’s not a huge sock fan, but I’m hoping if I make a cozy enough pair, he might wear them?

I’ve been eating up this book, The Dirty Life, and loving it so very much.  Highly recommend.  It’s the memoir of a city girl from NY who goes to interview a young farmer and ends up falling in love with him and the farm life.  It’s the story of their adventure together and it’s been very engaging as well as interesting to me, a girl who’s always dreamed a bit about living the farm life.

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MarthaKimball1 Comment

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I’ve finished up the body of phoebe’s sweater, working on the front edging now.  Once that is done, it will be onto sleeves.  I’m surprised with how quickly it has gone!  I haven’t been able to keep it a secret, trying it on her multiple times (it fits so nicely!), and it will be hard to wait till her birthday to give it to her when these chilly and often dreary November days are upon us.

I’m still reading We Took to the Woods, it seems to take me much longer to make it through books these days.  Still, I carry on.  This one, The Secret life of Sarah Hollenbeck, came in the mail last week for me to review.  I’ve read the first few chapters, and it’s okay so far, but the jury is still out on whether or not I will love it.  It’s the story of a woman with a broken marriage who begins writing steamy romance novels, which become wildly popular, and then she comes to know the Lord.  The story then unfolds of how she deals with her past and the binding book contract she has even as she walks into a new future.

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yarn along

MarthaKimball4 Comments

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It’s quite a dreary dark rainy day here, so I had a hard time finding a spot with enough natural light to snap a photo.  Philippa’s sweet little sweater is blocking and I cast on for a leksak tunic for Phoebe a few days ago.  I’m a few inches below the underarm now, so I’m hopeful this will be a fairly quick knit, although a sweater for a seven year old will inevitably take longer.  I’m knitting it with yarn leftover from my Lila sweater, Shepherd’s Wool in color way seabreeze.  I’m knitting her the size 6 because her chest fits those measurements better and I remember this yarn blooming a little bit once blocked.  I seem to always knit their sweaters too big, despite getting gauge when I swatch, so I’m hoping this will actually fit her just right.

I’m still reading We Took to the Woods and enjoying it.  It’s a very peaceful and engaging read for before bed, which seems to be the only time I have lately.

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MarthaKimball4 Comments

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I suppose I’ve decided to make each of the children birthday sweaters again.  I wasn’t sure if I’d have time to squeeze in 3 sweaters before Christmas, but I’m going to give it a shot.  I’m also very tempted to knit baby knits that I have planned, but really I can work on those in January and February before baby comes so I’m trying to hold off.  I’m thankful that each of the sweaters I knit for the children last year still fit and they have been wearing them again in this chilly weather we’ve been having.  Honestly, it brings me joy every time I see them wearing them!  I decided on this little cropped sweater for Philippa with a lace/cable detail on the front.  I’m adding length so that it’s not quite as cropped and I’m knitting long sleeves, after seeing Brienne Moody’s version on instagram.  I’ve made a few mistakes on the lace/cable panel, but I don’t think it’s terribly noticeable and I’m learning that I’m not a perfectionist when knitting.  Good enough is good enough.  🙂  I’m knitting it with Shepherd’s Wool yarn, which is such a nice yarn to work with and fairly inexpensive.

Also, I’ve been reading We Took To the Woods.  It’s a memoir written by Louise Rich who with her husband made a life in the Maine backcountry.  I’m enjoying it so far, her writing is often humorous and full of tales of the adventures that are inevitable in a mainly subsistence lifestyle.

ps.  Happy Halloween!!

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