First Sweater

About a month ago I began my first sweater - ever.  I've crocheted for a long time, but have never made a sweater.   It's not ready to show but I can give you a sneak peek.

The pattern is called Nimbus and can be found here.  The sweater is cute with short sleeves and cropped, but I prefer my sweaters with long sleeves, so I'm tweaking the pattern a little.  I have finished the back and sleeves and have the right front well underway.  That leaves the left front and collar.  I hope to have it finished in a couple of weeks.

I can't wait to see how it turns out.  Fingers crossed.

In Search of a New Banner

Wandering around the garden in search for a new banner image I took about a gazillion pics.

The blueberries won partially because the photo turned out well, which is always a suprise to me.  But also because you can almost taste them.  And I must say, blueberries straight from the bush (no pesticides here) are to die for.  Seemed like the perfect summer photo.

These didn't make the cut, but were wonderful nonetheless. 

Hardy fushia.  These look like delicate little ballerina skirts to me.

Astillbe

Scarlet Runner Bean

For the life of me I can't recall the name of this plant.  I can tell you it gets quite tall - at over 5 feet.  Likes shade.  Has purplish-black leaves.  The name will come to me at some inconvenient time.  Like 2 a.m.

Angel's Fishing Rod.  This plant grows from corms.  Much of the year it looks like grass but mid-summer sends out long stems with a long row of flowers and bows like a fishing rod.

I don't recall the name of this one either.  I planted this one in the spring to replace a Nandina that went belly up in our sudden cold snap last November.  I like that the bees enjoy it.

Phygelius, a hummingbird favorite.

Mexican Daisy.  Aren't they sweet?  This would have made a cute banner, too.

And lastly , lavendar.  I should harvest this to make popurri and lavendar wands.  I love to run my hands on this as I walk by.  It smells so good.  In another couple of days, this will be covered with bumblebees.

Summer - at last

While the rest of the country has been wallowing in extreme heat and high humidity it has been cool and cloudy in Seattle.  Overcast most days with highs only in the upper-60's or low-70's. 

According to a local weatherperson, up until yesterday we had only had 78 minutes of summer.  Summer was described as a temperature of 80 degreees or higher.  So, an hour and 18  minutes of summer.  

Friday afternoon and Saturday were gorgeous.  Not summer by the definition above, but the sun was out.  Not a cloud in the sky and it was in the mid-70's.  I think the sun helps make it feel like summer even if it's not 80 degrees.

View from the front door.

Sunbathing.

Snoozing in an un-made bed.  I'll get right on that... not.

Lace Edge Crochet Scarf - Finished!

I know I blogged about this some time ago.  Just can't seem to remember when...

oh, June I guess.  Well that makes sense because I think I finished it at the end of June. 

Forgive me, my brain has turned to mush attempting to rollover an employer sponsored retirement program into an IRA.  But that's a sad story for another day.  I'm in the biz and had to call for help.  Super embarrassing.

Then there was another conversation about replacing the front door which at 70+ years of sun, rain, and no overhang to protect is started to show it's age.  Which hinges should we use? Interlocking weather stripping? Double dead bolts?  Replacing the threshold?  Having the hardword floor people make some touch ups?  Good lord!  We've covered these points 10 times.  Just get on with it all ready.

The Sweetie wants me to call the the Kidlet - who's home for the summer but seems to be MIA today - and ask him if he is going to the Sounders Friendly Game against Manchester United tomorrow (soccer).   My solution will be to tape a note and ticket to the bathroom mirror and call it good.  We've talked about this 10 times too.

So I am in rare snarly, snarky form.  Perfect for showing you the pics of my most recently finished project. 

I thought I would show you how it might be worn.  I have a motorcycle inspired jacket in gray wool.  With some dark jeans, high heeled booties, the scarf would soften the look a little.  Doesn't everyone hang outfits in the garden and take pictures?  The neighbors are going to have me committed.

This is the soft wool side.

And the silk side. 

Wrap this bad boy around a couple times and laugh at the cold!  And look hot doing it!  I feel the snarkiness leaving already.

Knit Cap... to go with the scarf

I had a skein of yarn remaining after I finished my first ever knit scarf for the Sweetie.  I thought I would make a quick hat.

This would require that I learn the other stitch in knitting - the purl stitch.  Back to the cyberseams website to watch another video...about a thousand times.   I grabbed some left over yarn and decided to practice.

First ribbing where you alternate knit and purl stitches.  And the stockinette stitch.  Hey, cool.  It doesn't suck.  How cool is that?!

So, on with the project.  The pattern was also found on the cyberspace site  Basic hat.  Perfect for a rookie. I had to use ribbing, the stockinette stitch and figure out decreases.

And the end result... drum roll...

It's time for a  close up.  And if you've been knitting for 10 minutes more than me, you will see a basic flaw.  Which I discovered on another piece.  But that's a blog for another day...

Flaw or not, it's still super duper soft and I am thrilled that I have two stitches in my repertoire.  Whoo Hoo for me!

Finished! My First Knitting Project

I blabbed to everyone that I was learning to knit.  It was going to be a practice piece.  I will swear on a stack of bibles that it is riddled with mistakes.  But I kept slogging along, and it became a little easier each time I picked it up. 

Then before you know it I couldn't put it down.  There was a certain rhythm to it.  And it didn't seem to take a lot of effort to 'make fabric'.  I was working on it in the yarn group on Wednesday's.  Then going to work on the bus.  Then on the bus home from work.  Then instead of reading before going to bed.  On an airplane.  In cars.  Instead of blogging.  It was crazy.

Somewhere along the way, the Sweetie decided he liked it.  He didn't have to.  After all it was a practice piece.  Full of errors.  So a scarf for Sweetie it became.  I didn't finish in time for his birthday, but within a couple of days.

I thought it might go nicely with this knit jacket he already owns.

Eco Duo is an undyed variegated yarn.  The colors are in longer runs than dyed yarns which provided for nice wide stripes fading into one another.

Of course, it is alpaca.  It has a lovely drape.  Perfect for this project.  And super soft.  

I gave it to the Sweetie right after I finished weaving in the ends.  He wore it around the house for about an hour - in June.  Must be true love... or extra points in heaven.

Summer, At Last

I hope you had a fabulous 4th of July holiday.  The weather was very, very nice here, which seldom happens on a holiday weekend.  Sunny and in the uppper70's.

So you might think I have given up on quilting, crochet and knit projects.  Not true.  I have finished three projects recently.  A wool silk scarf with a lace crochet edging.  My very first knit project, which the Sweetie adopted.  Silly, silly man.  It must be true love.  And a knit hat - to go with the scarf.

OK.  I lied.  Quilts are on hold for a little bit unless I get a cold, yucky, rainy day.  It's just too nice to stay inside.

Sunday I also began a knit sweater with Kid Seta (mohair and silk).  It is light as air but a real pain to work with given my lack of experience on knitting needles.  This particular project is going to be slow going.

But much of my time has been devoted to the garden.  As my mother-in-law said this weekend.  It seems like she is always weeding.   Weeds have their seasons too.  As soon as you clear one out, another one takes over. 

Saturday was spent in the front yard.  I think with a couple of small, albeit time consuming tweaks, I am down to just maintenance for the balance of the summer.  That feels pretty good.

This coming weekend will be devoted to the back yard.

Here are some pictures I took last weekend.

Blooms on a potted nine bark.

This spirea is covered in bumble bees.

The neighbor's Portuguese Laurel hanging over our back fence.  This evergreen tree is covered with blooms right now, and fills the air with a sweet scent.  There is a gorgeous specimen at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Garden.

The plant world's version of fireworks.

The bees crawl love this penstemon.  I love that this one has dark purple foliage.

Non-garden project updates next time, I promise.