Finally, Winter!

Cold weather and snow have finally arrived here in the Mid-Atlantic, and even as a self-proclaimed hater of cold temperatures, I’ve got to admit – I’m loving it!

With temperatures generally being in the upper 60’s since October, I was starting to worry that winter had taken the year off, and that the arrival of spring was going to be the most anti-climatic season change to date.  Both the potted dianthus on my front porch and the iris in my garden were blooming on New Year’s Day, for crying out loud.

 

Now, a scant two weeks later, here we have found ourselves -finally! – in winter.  Except what we’re having today is not just winter, but a full on blizzard.  I’m hoping our neighborhood is an example, in miniature, of the whole, and that everyone in the area has similarly found shelter inside and is staying off the roads.

The pantry is stocked, extra water and batteries and candles at the ready, and we are seriously hunkered down.  The heat is turned up (thank you, thank you, blessed heat!), and I’ve dragged every piece of fleece-lined clothing I could find out of the closets (note to self: create a fleece lined skirt).  I’m currently curled up on the couch, with the dog over my feet, working on my third cup of hot cocoa, and watching it snow sideways out the window.  Speaking of hot cocoa, did you know that the word “whiskey” is a long ago Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic word for the same, “uisce beatha”?  (pronounced “ish-key ba-ha”)

To go with my front row seat, I have several projects within easy reach, of course (so I don’t have to disturb the dog – he’s so cozy!).  Today’s picks are a shawlette, two spindle spinning projects, and #1 on the project list – a sweater.  After ripping back an entire sweater sleeve last weekend because Himself decided (after the whole thing was done, of course) that the cuff was too tight, I’m having trouble getting started up again.  But, at least I’ve cast on.

This is the Avast sweater, with some mods on sizing, as well as design, for my no frills boy-O.  It’s a bit of a noteworthy event on my knitter’s timeline: completely without any hints or suggestions on my part, he actually asked me to make him a sweater.  So, I made him choose both the pattern (I set him loose on Ravelry!), and the yarn (we went shopping at the LYS).  And as if that weren’t enough, he bought his own yarn!  Even the shop gals looked a little starry-eyed at that.

A few notes on techniques, for those interested – for this sweater, I’m trying something a friend suggested, scooping the knits (continental style) and flipping the purls (Portuguese style).  So far, I think the fabric is coming out quite nicely.  I also tried a new turning edge for the hem; on the WS: p1, sl1, *k1, sl1* to end, p1; continue in stockinette.  I think it looks neater, less frill-y, and more masculine, than the regular old turning purl row.

In other news on the project-finishing front, I’ve taken photos of the spin-a-long yarn I finished and set last Friday, and expect to finish another spin tonight: the last of the Corgi Hill Farm braid I was gifted for Christmas, on the keepsake spindle it came with.  Truly, Ed Jenkins makes such beautiful spinning tools.

This one was a birthday gift from two of my best friends.   They have heard me clamoring about this particular wood since the first time I spotted it, about four years ago, and they probably decided it was time to shut me up!  I’m kidding; I probably won’t ever stop talking about this amazing wood.  😉  I believe the Jenkins’ got it from one of their neighbor’s storm-toppled apple trees.    You just never know where you’re going to find the most beautiful, useful things.