Tag: yarn along

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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back in the swing of things

MarthaKimball4 Comments

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It’s quiet enough in the house to hear the faint trickling of water in the gutters, snow melting from our rooftop after days of blanketing the ground.  We don’t normally keep snow for a few consecutive days in these North Carolina mountains, but the temps have been low enough, giving us days of sledding and soggy peeled off boots and layers piled by the door.  I haven’t posted yet about Christmas.  I haven’t posted my new year reflections and hopes.  I haven’t been reading much this week.  I had a migraine that’s lasted for about four days.  It seems to be on its way out today, just barely there.  Phoebe has been on an extremely restricted diet as of Sunday, and my days and mental capacity have been filled with getting back into the swing of homeschooling and feeding her.  I’m spending hours in the kitchen every day just trying to keep up and come up with ways to get her to eat.  It’s going better than I expected, but it’s a lot of work, so not much margin left for other things.  I miss this space and blogging and hope to catch up on those posts soon.  Do any of you still care to even see Christmas pictures? 🙂

I have, however, been knitting because I crave knitting for my sanity!  It is so peaceful, so unwinding.  During the snowstorm I cast on a few new items.  What is it about falling snow that makes one want to cast on and knit everything??  I’m trying to force myself to finish Noah’s sweater and stay focused.  All it needs now is the buttonhole placket which I hope to finish tonight, then sewing on buttons.  I have so so loved knitting with Shelter and have so loved this pattern that it is a little bittersweet to be on the last few rows of it.  I plan to knit him a hat with the one leftover skein, as he requested.  I can’t wait to wrap it up and let him open it.  I really want to knit mitts and slippers for each of the kids, too.  And cowls!  And hats!  Before winter is over!  🙂

Linking up with Ginny’s yarn along today to share what I’m currently knitting + reading.

yarn along

MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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I bound off Noah’s sweater last night, after finding I had about 10 too many stitches after raglan decreases and having to rectify that.  The pattern says to block it now and then do the neck ribbing and button placket so I feel liberated to cast on something else in the meantime. 😉

I’m gauge swatching for my next project, a sweater for me!  Isn’t this yarn lovely?  I cannot wait.  Hoping to cast on today!

Not much reading happening this week.  I did however post pictures of phoebe’s finished sweater yesterday on the blog so go check it out.

Linking up with Ginny’s yarn along community today to share what we’re knitting and reading.

yarn along

MarthaKimball5 Comments

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Well, Noah’s birthday came and went and his sweater is still on my needles.  I’m a little disappointed, but it has been a more complicated knit than I anticipated so it’s to be expected.  And I will finish it soon, probably in a couple of weeks once you add in time for blocking and buttons.  But I know he will enjoy it whenever he gets it.  He was much more interested in his other gifts yesterday anyway. 🙂  We wanted to give each child a hand knit sweater and a musical instrument for their birthdays.  He got a small beginners drum set from us and he is so happy.  And he was spoiled rotten by the grandparents, too, so he probably will appreciate the sweater more anyway after the birthday and christmas frenzy is over.

I’m still reading To the Bright Edge of the World, maybe half way through, but not much time for reading the past week or so.  I had a hold request on Letters from Honeyhill: A Woman’s View of Homesteading and it just came into the library so I’m wanting to dig into it but trying to discipline myself to finish what I have going first.

I’m linking up with Ginny of Small Things to share what I’m knitting and reading this week.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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Still reading To the Bright Edge of the World but also daily in this book by Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift, as I have read through it every advent season for the past three years.  Good every time and the Lord always uses it mightily.

Knitting a bright green Christmas surprise hat for Brandon (improvising a pattern).  I promised him a hat a long time ago but have been busy with other projects.  I can only knit on this when he’s not home which leaves very little time for it (since I usually knit in the evenings).  I’m making headway on Noah’s sweater as well, maybe 1/3 of the way through the second sleeve.  Phoebe’s sweater is blocking finally and buttons have arrived for both, so I’m hoping I will finish them both in time for their birthdays (the week of Christmas).  We travel with Phoebe tomorrow afternoon to Winston Salem for her procedure so I should have about 5 hours of car knitting time and I hope to nearly finish Noah’s sweater?  We’ll see.  If you think of it, send prayers our way for our girl, for answers and healing and for courage for us all.

Happy knitting and reading, friends!

xo

I’m joining with Ginny of Small Things for her weekly yarn along link-up.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball10 Comments

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I’m onto sleeves for Noah’s sweater.  I’m so enjoying this knit and can I just say the tubular cast on is brilliant?  But I’m also a little worried these sleeves are looking too big.  It’s weird to do a sweater this way, bottom up and attaching sleeves later and I hope it all comes together well.  I’m starting to think I won’t be done in time for his birthday, which is the 20th.

I picked up To The Bright Edge of the World from the library and am falling happily into this adventurous story of a Colonel in 1885 exploring the vast Alaska territory, and his newly pregnant wife who longs to leave behind social restraints and join her husband in the icy mysterious lands rife with wild animals and rumors of wilder natives.

I’m joining up with Ginny at Small Things for her weekly yarn along link up where we share what we’re currently knitting and reading.  Affiliate links included in this post.

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 don’t have a minute to spare but I can’t resist popping in here for a minute to say hello!  I went away for the weekend to a hermitage for some rest + solitude, and I hoped to get more knitting done than I did.  I have finished Philippa’s birthday sweater, and it is blocking now, so it will be done in time for her birthday next week.  I’m debating about casting on a little crown for her, too?  Am I crazy!?

I finished the first sleeve on Phoebe’s birthday sweater, and maybe half way through the second sleeve.  Then the hood, blocking, sewing on buttons and it will be done!  I’m already gauge swatching for Noah’s sweater.  (Both have birthdays the week of Christmas.)  Busy, busy.

I began Hope Heals during my hermitage stay and just read luxuriously for hours on end.  My sister-in-law sent it to me as a gift.  Almost done with it!  Quite the compelling story of a young woman in her late twenties and first years of marriage and motherhood suffering a massive stroke, miraculously surviving, and her journey to recovery.  It’s written by both her and her husband, each telling their parts of the story.  Beautiful and hopeful for me in a season with my own girl and her health issues, our continued battle for answers and hope.  I need to remember that there really is power in hope.

Linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along to share our current knits + reads.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball1 Comment

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I’ve made it to bodice/front panel of Phoebe’s phoebe sweater.  It’s very enjoyable to knit and I just split for sleeves last night, so I’m getting excited to finish it up maybe soon?  Phoebe has figured out it is for her by now, and she is so thrilled, as I’ve “tried it on her” a couple of times to check length.  It will be really hard to not give it to her as soon as I’m done, as she could make use of it right away!  (Her birthday is in December, the week of Christmas, so I’m hoping to tuck it away until then, if I can discipline myself.)  I’m trying to also discipline myself not to cast on for another couple of projects but to stay focused on just this one and force myself to knock out the birthday sweaters.  I ordered yarn for Philippa’s and Noah’s sweater, which arrived this week and eeee!  It’ll be my first foray into Brooklyn Tweed.  Also, I cut 10 inches off of my hair this past week and am loving LOVING short hair.  Phoebe snapped this picture of me knitting from our front stoop yesterday.

Also, I’m almost through with Falling Free by Shannon Martin.  I review a fair amount of new releases and get a bit leery of some, thinking most will be predictable or fall into the “Christianity lite” category.  This book by Shannon Martin has been surprisingly different than I expected (shame on cynical me!).  I’ve had a hard time putting it down.  Her writing is rich, textured, both humorous and gut-wrenching.  Her story is real and surprising, instantly likable and terribly convicting.  She shares about giving up a comfortable and typical American lifestyle to move to a small inner-city home in a rough-ish neighborhood and mediocre school system.  She shares about her and her husband giving up lucrative careers in the political realm to work in the prison system, to adopt children of various races and backgrounds.  Her insights and reflections on money, poverty, community, loving our neighbor–they are like a jolt of electricity to stale American Christianity.  Yet somehow her writing doesn’t feel preachy and guilt-inducing.  Instead it leaves me hungry for Jesus, for the true and real Kingdom of God, for His uncanny ways and unconventional means.  It is good, sound theology incarnated, fleshed out in a beautiful story.  I am trying to linger over her words, but find myself turning page after page devouring this book!  In other words–I highly recommend!

I’m linking up with Ginny today and her lovely wednesday gathering of readers and knitters.

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yarn along

MarthaKimball5 Comments

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I finished my favourite socks and also some commissioned fingerless mittens for my sis-in-law, and I’m attempting to finish the Leksak tunic for Philippa in the next few days.  Last night I finished the body and now am picking up stitches on the front to do the front panel and then sleeves.  I don’t really know if I have enough yarn left, so it’s sort of a gamble but I think I’ll be able to make it work?  We shall see.

I’m also about to finish Crossing the Waters.  I guess it’s a “finishing” sort of week!  I’m in the last couple of chapters and thoroughly have enjoyed this one.  Such a good read snuggled in my bed at night.

Here’s a peek at those other finished knits, though I haven’t properly photographed them yet. 🙂

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I’m linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along today to share what I’m knitting + reading.
Affiliate links included in this post.