Look! Knitting content ahead

I am, as usual, behind in getting projects posted to this blog. I think I have a legitimate excuse for the most part, but on this lazy Sunday morning I’m going to try to get caught up. Virginia, with lots of time to knit (usually watching me sleep in my hospital bed), has finished quite a few projects—lots of socks, some scarves, a couple of sweaters and a blanket or two (some of these are still on the needles).

I won’t post everything in one post, but will start with two of the finished projects.

Glace Bits ‘n’ Bobs
This sweater was improvised by Virginia using some leftover Rowan Cotton Glace. It’s actually been finished for a few weeks, but as anyone who’s tried to take a picture of themselves will understand, had to wait for my arrival back home to make a photographic record of it.

Glace Bits 'n' Bobs

Glace Bits 'n' Bobs

Glace Bits 'n' Bobs

Another perfect summer top… although I’m partial to stripes.

Baby Log Cabin Blanket
Some friends of ours are due any minute to have a baby boy. Virginia knit this log cabin blanket using Fleece Artist Merino 2/6… soft, cuddly and machine-washable.

Baby Log Cabin Blanket

We are looking forward to meeting Baby B!

Caring, Warming Blanket

On Friday we received a very beautiful and generous gift from our friends at The Yarnery in St. Paul. Pooling together talent and stashes many of the employees contributed to this body and heart warming blanket.

Caring Blanket

It did come as a sweet surprise and we are both touched by the time and effort (and organizational prowess) that went in to creating this.

Caring Blanket

Caring Blanket

Thank you so much for this. I have already made good use of it, especially during my naps and rests during the day. I’ve definitely been needing extra covering as my body still seems to have a hard time keeping me feeling warm (even during the past 75º days, but especially now since it’s back in the 40’s). And, since I start my second round of treatment on Monday, I have a strong feeling this will be seeing a lot more use in the coming weeks.

Caring Blanket

It’s hard to pick a favorite square, they all offer interesting color and texture. I do have to say, though, the owls on the corners are a nice touch—like watchful sentries making sure the warmth stays in.

Thank you, again, for putting this together.

Baktus

With 31 days in the hospital you’d think I’d be able to get some scratchcrafty projects started and/or finished. Alas, being under the weather for most of the time, I did not do much. Virginia, on the other hand, had lots of time to knit while she hung out at my bedside. Among the four or five pairs of socks finished, she started and finished this nifty shawl.

Baktus

The pattern is Baktus, a free pattern by Strikkelise.

Baktus

It is knit with a combination of Koigu and Cherry Tree Hill fingering yarn.

Baktus

The socks are viewable by clicking on the Flickr link on the sidebar. I think she worked on some other projects, but I have hard time remembering what all was going on for the two weeks or so that I was feeling the worst. So, there might be some other project posts in the next little while. And, I have to say, it feels good to be able to post something other than life in the hospital, cancer treatments, and such.

Comfrey

Comfrey

Virginia, with the month or so remaining of winter (optimistically speaking), finished another cardigan. This is Comfrey from Rowan’s Purelife – The Organic Wool Collection. She knit this using a yarn from Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool — a fantastic small farm in Montana that raises sheep (to quote from their Web site), “without using chemical fertilizers and herbicides on our fields, and the sheep grow on grass, clover and alfalfa with no antibiotics or hormone supplements. The livestock are fenced out of the creeks to protect both local wildlife habitat and the quality of the sheeps’ drinking water. Our principal protection against native predators are our guard dogs and llamas and our own vigilance; because we have chosen not to use lethal control methods against coyotes, bears, wolves, mountain lions, our ranch is certified as “predator friendly”. It is a choice which, like many of our land management decisions, acknowledges risk in the interest of learning how to coexist with native species while caring for the land.”

Comfrey

Not only that, but they also use both naturally colored wool and natural dyes for their yarns. Their color palette is quite something. I think Virginia had a tough time picking between the colors that they have. But, this is, in my opinion, a very suitable choice for this sweater.

Comfrey

I think she agrees, too.

Springtime Bunnies and Socks

Inspired by the foraging bunnies in our back yard, a sign that Spring is on its way, I decided to show my support for warmer weather by making some little effigies.

Springtime Bunny

Of course, there’s never just one bunny in the yard. So, true to nature, I started putting together a whole warren.

Springtime Bunnies

Although, I have a feeling I did something to anger the weather gods, because I just finished shoveling 8 inches of snow off our sidewalks and driveway this evening. So, looks like we’ll be waiting a little while longer for Spring.

In knitting news, Virginia finished making a pair of socks from the new “Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn” book by Interweave. Our friend Barb (owner of Wild Geese Fibres) designed this particular pattern in the book, and this pair was knit with Koigu.

Sock #36 (52 Sock Challenge)