Hello! I wish I could be more cheery on this last day of the year, but waking up to the news of the fires in Colorado plus the test result I got this morning was all a bit disappointing.
This could have all been avoided if I’d just said no to end-of-year gatherings. As an introvert, I would have been delighted to stay home. So, I am now stuck in my room for the next week, hoping to keep the rest of our household virus-free.
On the positive side of things, I am pretty good at finding ways to keep busy when I am by myself. I can blog, work on knitting projects, learn something on SkillShare, do some sudoku, try to draw or sew something, do some needlepoint, watch a movie, or read. Maybe this won’t be so terrible. At least, so far, I am not feeling too bad.
Before realizing I had been blessed with this stupid virus, I started working on the Bedford Sweater, a pattern I found on the Brooklyn Tweed website. I loved the skill level description for this pattern: “Adventurous Beginner.” I don’t consider myself a beginner, but adventurous, sure!
I bought the yarn I’m using back in September of 2018 (I only know this because the receipt was still in the bag), and I am excited to see it become something wearable after all these years. All I need now is to cross my fingers and hope I took the proper measurements, picked the correct size, and have enough yarn — nothing big.
After about 40 rounds, I still haven’t figured out how to knit this without looking at the pattern notes, which drives me a bit nuts, but I am sure I will get there. One thing that makes you less of a beginner in knitting is the ability to read your work, but counting crossed stitches and lace is still a bit challenging for me.
I’ve learned to look up patterns I am interested in knitting on Ravelry before I start on a project. Not only can I see what the finished sweater looks like in different colors and sizes, but I can also learn which yarns have worked as replacements for other knitters.
When I looked up this pattern on Ravelry, I noticed some people had trouble with the instructions. Even if the sweater is knit in the round, you must mark the beginning and middle points because you need to work each half as if it were a separate piece. Once you realize the stitches worked at the beginning of each “side” make up the seams, it all makes sense, but I understand if what I just said sounds like gibberish. I thought I would mention this if you are someone who has stumbled upon this post as you searched the web for this pattern.
little things to brighten up my day
When I was picking up new #7 needles to work on this sweater, I got these gorgeous stitch markers by Cocoknits. I’ve been on the edge of buying them for months; I love all the colors. The set was not super cheap, but I figured it was close to Christmas and they would last forever. They are made of nylon-coated steel and cling to magnets, so if you already have one of their nifty “Makers Keep” wristbands, you’ll love them even more. And if you have an iWatch AND their wristband, well, you’ll just look like Wonder Woman. You can even add a wrap if you’re into that! 😉
Well, perhaps the fact that I’m sick is a good thing. I won’t have to worry about getting this in 2022. It’s also good that my kids and husband seem to be fine, and that my friend’s house survived the fires in Colorado. And, honestly, I don’t feel too bad, even if I do feel a bit drowsy as I write this.
In 2022 I would like to focus on positive and pretty things, like these prints by Society of Wanderers. Aren’t they beautiful? Maybe I could decorate our house to feel more like a cabin. That sounds so nice. I could sit by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate wrapped in a cozy blanket and maybe fall asleep. Later, I’d wake up, and two years of living through a pandemic would all be a bad dream. (I really shouldn’t get near a keyboard when I’m in a bad mood.) No, these prints are so pretty. I love the colors! Inspiration for future projects, perhaps? Yes!
I didn’t plan for the women on my board to have these sad/thoughtful expressions on their faces – it just happened. But they fit my mood quite well. I cannot believe I got sick. I’ve been so good! (Sorry, my mind keeps wandering.) I was fully vaccinated and boosted. I feel like I lost at a great game of chess.
Joan Didion passed away last week. Apparently, I might be the only person on the planet who didn’t know much about her. So, I watched the Netflix documentary, The Center Will Not Hold, I read a few of her essays, and now I am listening to The Year of Magical Thinking. Soon I’ll be a Didion expert! I like the book so far (except for a few things I didn’t need to know in such detail). This may not be the best thing to listen to right now; it’s so sad.
I’ve also been reading David Sedaris’ book, Me Talk Pretty One Day. This is one of his older books from 2000. He makes me laugh – well, sometimes.
When I got there, two people were wearing masks.
Christmas 2021
“They are only being extra careful,” she said.
My mask was in the car. I could have gone out to get it.
But I didn’t.
Cute Hat: Free Pattern
Before I go, I want to share this free hat pattern by Ysolda Teague. It’s a nice introduction to the brioche stitch. You can download a PDF of the pattern on her website; it’s a small project that only requires one skein. I might make this one.
And just like that, it’s the new year. Happy New Year!!!!
Please let this one be better. 🙏