Fall Knitting

 Pattern:  Baa-ble Hat

Yarns:  Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran in Mustard

 Sublime Yarns Luxurious Aran Tweed in Fauve

Lana Gatto Class in White Cream

Needles: sizes 6 & 7

I'm calling this fall knitting even though our temperature yesterday was 82 degrees. And the leaves on the trees are all still green. The mornings are cooler and maybe we will see a little leaf color soon. It can't stay summer forever. Can it?

Tucked in amid all the cooking, the hosting our visitors last weekend, and before that, the vacation at the beach, there was knitting. Often it's in spurts. A few minutes here and there. And occasionally there is the long stretch, maybe while a football game or a Hallmark movie is on television.

All of those stitches add up, quicker than you might think. And today I'm posting my latest finished projects. Jessica gets the Baable Hat pictured above. (Modeled here by her dad. Can't wait to see it on her.) She had asked for one last year, but there was about a one year delay in getting me to make it. It's too cute. The colorwork pattern wasn't as hard as it looks.

 

Pattern: Rewind Wrap (written for our retreat)

Yarn:  Dream In Color Smooshy, in Callous Pink

Needles:  size 6

One of my fall get-aways was the knitting retreat at the lake, where we learned about beaded knitting. I love learning new things. And knitting is a HUGE craft to explore. So many yarns to choose from, so many design challenges, that I'll never see the end. Really, there is no end. The Rewind Wrap (pictured above, worn two ways) was my first beaded knitting project. One more skill to add to my list. I've made socks. I've tackled lace shawls. I've learned to read charts. I've made baby sweaters. I've done some colorwork. I can knit cables and plackets and buttonholes. I know about left-leaning vs right-leaning decreases. I am learning about the properties of different yarns and the advantages of different needles. 

 Pattern:  Easy Folded Poncho, from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas

Yarn:  Rowan Tweed in Keld colorway

Needles:  size 6

And after all the effort to improve my skill, I'm realizing that it's hard to beat simple. There is an elegance to simple. This new poncho might be my most worn knit this season. And this is something I could have made with my high school knitting skills. When I am asked, almost in disbelief, "You made this?," I try hard not to explain how easy it is, but to just smile and simply answer, "Yes." It is the plainest knitting of all. Less complicated than the dishcloths I make. Don't overlook the simple. Sometimes that is all you need.