The shortest distance between two points

The return of autumn always means more knitting for me. Knitting is much more bearable during cool weather and the temperature change always makes me start looking for my sweaters.

So, the yarn has been flowing, so to speak.

First, I knit up an early Christmas present (a Lady Londenberry shawlette) out of Cascade Yarns' Venezia Bulky.

Next,  

another Mother Bear for the Mother Bear Project.

Then, a few bike rides later . . .

I finished up my EZ Saddle Shoulder Aran sweater.

Time to enjoy some of our beautiful Minnesota weather!

"Hello from the top of the Highland Park Water Tower!"

Hop, hop, ouch!

I can only hope it is just a coincidence that last weekend was the Minnesota Yarn Shop Hop 2014 -

if you haven't gone to one yet - this year was the biggest ever. 17 yarn shops spread over four days. Great patterns, yarns, door prizes and a final Bonus Prize-

 and this weekend, I am flat in bed with back muscle spasms of some kind. Too much driving really does you in! I ended up power driving from shop to shop just to visit some of the neatest shops in the Twin Cities. I did fall down into the yarn once or twice but it was all Necessary Yarn and patterns so - I don't feel so bad.

The nice staff at A Sheepy Yarn Shoppe helped me find a great cowl pattern (Annabella's Cowl from Churchmouse Yarns) and some Classic Elite Yarns Firefly for a lovely gift cowl. I added in some Kidsilk Haze and it's knitting up for a very drapey look.

And the best part was that a few days later - I won a door prize as well.

A beautiful skein of Kimono by Zitron.  328 yards of 54% Merino and 

46% Silk that has a beautiful sheen.

I can't wait to use it for a cowl as well.

I also bought a skein of the cute Mountain Colors River Wash Sport from Skeins Yarn Shop in Minnetonka. This was the Terry's Azaleas color way they made up just for that shop. And then, I found another skein of Mountain Colors River Twist in the Firehole color way. 

I love Mountain Colors color designs - that is one yarn manufacturer I'd love to tour!

Earlier this month, we were traveling for Spring Break and I had a lot of knitting time in the car.

I tried out a Stephen West design - Windschief - from some leftover Berocco Vintage yarn. It got snapped up by Youngest Child on our first night in the hotel.

Then, another Mother Bear fell off the needles.

Sad to say, I'm still working on the face. 

My third travel project was the body of my Saddle Shoulder Aran Cardigan. I finished up with the body and now I'm moving onto the arms. I'm doing them two at a time and they are creeping along but I'm still enjoying the pattern very much.

Nowadays, I'm working on my cowl, the sweater arms and my Death-by-Hexipuff project. That should keep me until, oh, June. See you then!

Barely knitting or . . . knitting bearly?

Things are moving pretty slowly on the knitting front at Chez Daisy. I did complete one more Mother Bear project.

Meet Petal!

My suggestion? Don't decide to put on a neck bow after you sew on the face. Her's keeps popping up and covering up her face. 

I also finally finished my Botany Shawl. I just wasn't feeling the love for this shawl for a long time.

A bit washed out - really more of a bottle green.

I found it hard to see the pattern appearing so I really just had to take it on faith that I wasn't messing up.

It is so soft - I can't wait for cool weather to wear it about town. I did knit the smaller size and it used up one skein of yarn almost exactly.

I also found out that I was a winner on the 2 Knit Lit Chicks' Mother Bear KAL/CAL. I won this cute little project bag which winged all the way from Frenny in England and her "It's Sew in the Bag" Etsy shop.

That's me - Sassy and Classic!

It's called the Sassy Classic and it has a cute little tab to help keep it organized in my larger knitting bag. Perfect for mittens or socks! I recommend that you check her shop out!

My next step is to jump back into knitting my "first" sweater for 2013 - only it looks like it will be my only sweater. Time to buckle down, ladies, and get something done.

The Bears have Arrived!

My first three Mother Bear Project bears. 

  

"The Mother Bear Project provides comfort and hope to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of a hand-knit or crocheted bear." 

That's how their website describes these lovely comforting little bears. I've made three in the last couple of weeks because they are entirely addicting. My copy of the Mother Bear pattern came from my copy of "Knitting for Peace" but you can also get the pattern here. I can't wait to drop them off!  

The most recent bear is named Paul. 

I forgot to mention two great fiber gifts I picked up on vacation this summer.

Harmony, PA, is a tiny little village built by the Harmony Society in 1804. It's in western Pennsylvania near where my family lives. The Harmonists were a millennial pietist group that lasted in Pennyslvania for about ten years before they moved elsewhere. As a result, there are lots of beautiful German style stone buildings in Harmony. In recent years, this has become a bit of a hippie hangout - a little like Yellow Springs, Ohio, in fact - and one great store there is Darn Yarn Needles & Thread.

The perfect name - Pumpkin!

I've had some Unplanned Peacock Studio yarn before and I was so please to find this lovely autumnal skein.

Since spinning is like enjoying your yarn twice, I also picked up some fiber.

The "Woodland" colorway

This is the softest Bluefaced Leicester top from Wild Hare Fiber Studio. The green/gray color reminded me of the deep shadows of late summer.

I'd love to get back to Harmony this fall. And it looks like they have a Christmas Market as well - hmm.  Sounds like a flying family visit this winter!

I am also thinking ahead to winter and making some skirts. This collection of scraps is the same pattern as my Little Bits quilt but once it's all sewn together, I am going to use it in a skirt. 

Mmm, autumn!

Two bears, one shawl and 1119 miles

Hello earthling

It's "back to school" time of year and that means the annual drive to Annapolis, MD to drop Youngest Daughter off at school. 

I pulled out a bag of leftover Lion Brand Wool Ease and set to work. 1037 miles later - I had two little bears.

Oliver - Mother Bear Project Bear #1.

Clara - Mother Bear Project Bear #2.

Smile!

Boy, were these addictive! And I was pleasantly surprised how easy the pattern went. I adapted the pattern from "Knitting for Peace" into an in-the-round version and then went a step further and made it a la Magic Loop.

After I finished two, I pulled out my Botany Shawl and went to town on that as well. I have about two more rows to go before binding off, blocking and  - photos! I guess there is something to traveling long, long distances in search of an education!

Along the way, we stopped off to tour the Gettysburg Battlefield. Very interesting - but also very sobering as well.

Monument to the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment