WHO! WHO!
The owl sleep sack was finished in record time. A very easy (and fast) knit. Based on a few comments I decided to make it just a little longer which took me into a second skein of yarn.
Cascade 220 Superwash on size 4 needles.
I plan to knit the hat up (soon) but decided to start a little vest with owls along the chest (also using Cascade). That too seems to run on the short side so I will knit it a few inches longer. I've toyed with knitting one of the owls a different color but what I've liked best are the garments with a little light embroidery around just one owl. Stay tuned!
I have quite a bit of the Cascade so I may make another vest sans owls but done in bright stripes. Then again I may break out my crochet hook and make a lot of granny squares. I seem to recall making up several of these back in the 60's using some very heavy cotton. Everything comes around again eventually.
The photo was lifted from Ravelry and I'd love to credit the person who did all the hard work but it escapes me.
While not churning out owl related garments I did a little herbal picking and preserving.
Cilantro. It's been a banner winter for my cilantro which is great because we use A.LOT of it. I ground it up with olive oil and put into little baggies.
The dill took off too. We use a lot less of the dill but it's still good to have. I put the fronds in whole into larger ziplocks with some filtered water.
A photo of some of the pruned plum branches. It's fun to watch nearly bare sticks burst into flower from the warmth of the room. Now if only it doesn't hail or snow or do something nasty so that fruit will set.
A pretty sunset. What else is there to say?
A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT
Bright Star is now finished. As do a lot of my FO's, it stretched a great deal after washing. I popped into the dryer on low and it returned to close to its original size. Still, it's larger than I like so I may experiment with the dryer again. Famous last words? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to keep things from stretching? I knit this on size 4's and it's an Aran weight yarn (Classic Elite Waterlily). It seemed tight enough, the gauge was spot on.
Overall, I am pleased with it. Like all of the things I have knit I'd probably do things a little differently. It seems like it would work better to join the bottom part as you switch to the ribbing. You could do a faux button band or just attach buttons. It's not really a great style for me but it is warm and comfy. I initially had a problem with the collar wanting to flip over but that seems to have settled down.
I'm having a hard time picking up a UFO to work on so I started something very simple, a sleep sack for an infant with adorable little owls along the top. There's a hat too. I don't know anyone who actually
has a baby but a couple of people I know are thinking about it. Heck, I just wanted to knit the owls and do something fast and cute.
Cascade 220 superwash on size 4's from my stash.
THE GARDEN
Very little is happening in the garden right now other than my perching on the orchard ladder in a very unsafe way while I prune the fruit trees. One of the nice side effects of this (no, not a really tired right hand) is that I end up with a lot of flowering branches which make for beautiful arrangements. And no, I don't have a photo to share.
The cats are spending a lot more time inside lounging around. We are due for a little much needed rain tomorrow. I'm ready. Opal things she'll just catch a few more winks.
END OF THE DAY
The view from our bedroom every day around sunset. Hummingbirds sucking down sugar water for what it's worth. It's a long time until daybreak.
