Tag: the things i make

yarn along

MarthaKimball4 Comments

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Phoebe and I did school yesterday sprawled out on a blanket under a great spreading maple in our backyard.  We began reading The Penderwicks.  I’m not even sure what led me to this book but I remember hearing somewhere along the way recommendations of it.  We’ve been listening to The Little House on the Prairie series on audio books, too, and Phoebe’s been re-inspired to run through the yard with her bonnet strings dangling around her neck like Laura.

I’m still not reading much lately.  Odd for me, I know,  but by the time evening comes and I’m free to read I just don’t have much brain power left.  I’m in need of some light hearted stories, so if you have any book recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

I’ve mainly been working on my waterrock vest for the Appalachian Knits spring KAL that I’m participating in.  The designer of the pattern is my friend from middle + high school days, Jennifer, and she is the one who taught me to knit!  So it’s really fun working on her pattern.  Everything she makes is gorgeous.  I’ve almost finished the body and ready to begin arm hole shaping.  I’m adding another inch or so to the body since this is a cotton/linen blend yarn and I plan to wash/dry it, so I’m adding length to account for shrinkage.  Plus I have a long torso, I think.  Anyway, I’m really enjoying knitting it.  I’ve started some socks for Phoebe too and I plan to knit a couple pairs for each of the kids and eventually a pair for myself too.

Joining with Nicole’s Crafting On, a weekly craft link up, as well as another knitting friend here.

 

yarn along

MarthaKimball6 Comments

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My yarn along posts have been missing lately, due to all the craziness of moving and settling, but also because my beloved Ginny of Small Things has decided to stop hosting the weekly yarn along link-up.  Sob.  I really miss the weekly community and chatter of knitters, many of whom somehow have become friends over the strange world of the internet.  I don’t know exactly what I’ll do in the wake of all of this, whether I’ll still share regularly or not, but somehow the weekly posts helped encourage me to finish projects and to read more, and I miss that.  I’ve been hardly reading at all since moving, I think I just need a good light-hearted book.  Any recommendations?

I’m working on a few projects, mainly a water rock vest that my friend designed (and gifted me the pattern!!  She is the most generous + sweet person).  Knitting it in Knit Picks CotLin yarn, which is new to me and really soft to work with–and inexpensive!  Then I recently cast on a featherweight cardigan for myself.  I bought this yarn awhile ago with Christmas money and it is dreamy in every way.  It’s Madelinetosh Euro Sock in color way Cold Shoulder.  So soft, such a perfect dusty lavender with flecks of mauve.  It’s the most indulgent knitting, and I’m trying not to fly through it as my yarn funds have run out!

By the way, I’ve finished my campside shawl awhile ago and I haven’t even had a chance to block it or weave in ends.  I’ve been wearing it nonstop, unwoven ends a-dangling.  I love it love it love it and think it’s my favorite knit so far.

I’ve been reading/browsing through this design/decorating book, A Touch of Farmhouse Charm with a ton of do-able and cute DIY projects as inspiration for our old/new home. 🙂  It’s a 1950s rancher, but I intend to have a touch of farmhouse charm up in here.

Happy knitting and reading friends, wherever you may be!

Joining with Nicole’s Crafting On and also my new knitterly friend Being Bodecker.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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In the midst of our move at the end of February, Philippa had a high fever.  A few days later, I took her to the doctor who confirmed she had an ear infection and also Flu B.  A few days later, I came down with the flu as well, and spent the weekend in bed.  Everyone else has gone on tamiflu to avoid getting it and so far that has worked.  Thankfully, one of the few things that the flu is good for is giving time for rest.  So I was able to finish a few things!  I finished my lila sweater and love it so so much, can’t wait to share pictures with you.  I haven’t worn it yet because  it seem sacrilegious to dirty it with flu germs somehow, so I’m waiting till I’m all better.  I cast on the Campside shawl by Alicia Plummer and have been literally enjoying every stitch.  I always love knitting with Madelinetosh, maybe my favorite yarn, and this colorway is so bright and happy.

I finished Braving It, and it was a great read/distraction while being sick.  I enjoy any such story about adventures in Alaska, and this one was interesting because of the father/daughter aspect of the story.  It confirms to me my desire to raise our kids to love and treasure the wilderness and gave some inspiration toward that.

I’m almost done with Long Days of Small Things, also literally enjoying and marking up every page.  It will be one I will return to and treasure.  Such great encouragement for this busy season of motherhood.  I wish I could buy it for every young mom I know.

I’m also reading Is the Bible Good for Women, a timely read it seems with our cultural and political climate, though I think that’s probably always been true.  I’m only a couple of chapters in and curious how it will go.

Joining with Ginny’s weekly yarn along.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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I cast on for the Kingsley hat a few days ago and finished it up last night.  I still need to block it and can’t wait to wear it.  It fits perfectly and it’s the first hat I’ve knitted for myself.  I really enjoyed the pattern and will definitely be knitting it again.  I originally wanted to make the slouchy version of the hat but was using stashed yarn and ran out, but I still really like the way the fitted version fits.  It’s still roomy enough for me, and I may add a pom pom as well.  I’m still knitting on my Lila sweater and just about done with the body.

Still reading The Broken Way.  Struck and sitting with the concept this week (from my reading) that God believes in me.  It sounds cheesy to say, I realize.  But it is gripping.

Joining with Ginny’s weekly yarn along today.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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I set aside my Lila for a week or two because I thought I had knitted an extra 3 inches past the first side shaping.  I was nervous to rip it back and also just frustrated.  So I cast on a hat for Noah with the last skein of the Shelter yarn from his sweater.  (He had asked for a green hat and sweater.)  It was my first time doing cables and it was fun!  I finished that up in a couple of days and then picked back up the Lila and with fresh eyes realized that I had only added about 2.5 inches and I was planning on adding about 2 inches in length anyway.  So I just knitted on.  Why do our brains do this to us?!  I’m so happy to be back knitting it because it is the most relaxing knit.  I’m needing something mindless lately, as life has been so full and overwhelming.  Everyone here (except for Brandon) has been sick with a respiratory virus, and Philippa developed an ear infection to boot.  I am prepping to begin packing up the house for our move.  Etc., etc.

I’m still reading The Broken Way, and probably will be for awhile.  It is so timely.  I’ve been reading Watchman Nee’s old classic The Normal Christian Life as part of my morning study time for the last number of weeks (highly recommend), and it’s amazing how much it reverberates the same message about a cross-shaped life.  The two books seem to be talking back and forth to one another.  Isn’t that just how God works?

Joining with Ginny.  
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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It’s been a week of knitting consternation.  This Lila sweater that I’m knitting for myself is so blissful to work on, I got a bit carried away and knitted three inches past where I was supposed to to begin side shaping.  I’m nervous to rip back for fear I’ll cause more problems, but I can’t keep knitting on it and the whole thing is so frustrating that I’ve just set it aside for other projects.  I cast on for a pair of simple house slippers for phoebe with some leftover yarn and ran out of yarn on the toe of the second slipper.  She didn’t mind me using a different color for the toe, and I didn’t feel like ripping it out.  I cast on for a bulky cowl for myself with some Rowan Biggy Print that someone gave me and about half way through decided I didn’t like the way the yarn and pattern were looking together.  Grr.  Rip rip rip.

I’ve been saving Ann Voskamp’s new release, The Broken Way, for the new year, and I’ve relished diving into it this week.  Her words are resonating deeply, as they usually do, with where I find myself this January.

Bento bag pictured is from StacyZink on Etsy and I love it!

Joining with Ginny.  
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yarn along

MarthaKimball6 Comments

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I cast on for Noah’s birthday sweater on Sunday to have it ready for our long day of driving on Monday, taking Phoebe 2.5 hrs away to Brenner Children’s Hospital to their celiac center.  She has hit a more major setback in her healing and our medical team locally is recommending we go to the experts.  It is good for me to keep my nose in the books and my hands busy with gift knitting.  I learned how to knit about a year ago, and I am pretty sure I have knitted every day since learning in October of 2015.  It has now become so much a part of my evening routine that it’s hard to remember what I did before.  I am so thankful for it.

Anyway, I am knitting the Wyatt sweater for Noah in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.  I have hit the point where the pattern is established and it’s now just about 10 inches of knitting ahead.  I love this yarn.  I still need to finish the hood on Phoebe’s sweater and order buttons for both of them, but I wanted to get going on Noah’s sweater as the pattern is more difficult and his birthday comes a few days sooner than Phoebe’s.

I’m still reading Missional Motherhood and on the last chapter or so of Hope Heals, both so good.  The kids and I are addicted to chapter book read aloud time together.  I love that Noah is joining in on it, and because the kids cheer so when I say it’s time to read, Philippa is getting in on the fun, too.  We usually read all together after lunch and before naps/quiet time, so Philippa lays on me some days and sucks her thumb quietly and listens to the chapter book after we read picture books.  We finished Island of the Blue Dolphins recently  which we all enjoyed, and didn’t realize it is based on a true story.  Phoebe has been playing that she is Karana ever since.  We started My Side of the Mountain, which they are enjoying.  I couldn’t resist also starting Little Women with Phoebe, since it is that time of year when I watch the movie over and over again.  I have never read the book though, as far as I can remember, and it is delicious.  It’s so fun to share these things with my girl!

I’m joining up with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I put all other knitting aside to try to get Philippa’s sweater finished in time for her birthday in a couple of weeks.  We have a lot going on right up until her birthday which is the week of Thanksgiving.  I think I will actually finish in time!  I have really loved this sweet and easy chunky-knit pullover sweater for her, knit in Brooklyn Tweed Quarry.  I think it will be so cozy and sort of wish I could make one for myself.

I’m still reading Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman and enjoying it so far!

I’m linking up with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.  

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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I know I said I wouldn’t cast on anything until I finished birthday sweaters, but Phoebe’s sweater has gotten to such a size as to be difficult to take on-the-go, so I simply *had* to have a smaller project on the needles in the meantime.  I cast on these fingerless mitts on Sunday and have already almost finished the first one.  It is a very therapeutic knit for me, and I have loved the pattern!  I am using some of Ginny’s own indigo-dyed yarn, a merino sport weight, which I bought back in the summer and have been dying to use.  I’m still learning a lot about pairing which yarns with which patterns, and how different fibers behave, so I’m not always confident in my choices.  But this is how one learns, I suppose!  I am so happy to be knitting with Ginny’s yarn at last, it is truly beautiful and I love the subtle variations in color.

I finished Falling Free last night and began Missional Motherhood, which I bought with some birthday money back in June.  I will review Falling Free soon (spoiler alert: go buy it.  LOVE.) but Missional Motherhood is one I am reading just for pleasure, because I will read everything Gloria Furman writes, for all of time.  I’m enjoying it already, only a couple of chapters in.  I feel like I need a “mothering” tune-up of sorts, a refocusing, every few months (at least), as this is my full-time and most important work.  I know I can trust Gloria to offer that.  She is impeccable at bringing heady theology down into the nitty gritty mundane of our everyday lives.

I’m joining up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along today.

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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I cast on Phoebe’s birthday sweater a few days ago.  Appropriately, the pattern is “Phoebe’s sweater” and it’s one she saw and fell in love with awhile ago.  She keeps asking me if I’m knitting it for her and I’m trying to pretend that I’m not, but realistically I will probably need to try it on her throughout, so I’m sure the secret will be out sooner than later.  I am enjoying knitting it so far except that it’s making my wrists ache–maybe because the needles are larger and the yarn is pretty slippery so I’m having to hold it more firmly?  (Also, I finished Philippa’s leksak a few days ago and you can see pictures in my last post.)

I finished Crossing the Waters and definitely would recommend it for someone wanting a fresh look at the Gospels, and a fresh encounter with Jesus.  I’ll post a review soon (behind on those, per usual).  I’ve just begun Shannan Martin’s new memoir Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted about her and her husband’s selling of their farm/dream life and moving into the city to follow God’s call to a “less is more” life.  I’m sure this will be interesting to read/contemplate as B and I look to buy our first home.

I’m linking up today with Ginny’s yarn along today.  
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