pixels 'n prose

beginnings

We had a typical Oregon weekend...rain, gray, wind, gray, sun, gray, rain and sun, and more gray.

Inbetween all that rain and gray, a new knitting project was started.

The Breaking Hearts socks by Cristi. I've had this pattern for awhile, and it's currently a nominee for the Q2 KAL on the Socks that Rawk group on Ravelry.

Cristi already started her pair, so I'm just following her lead...and she's following Disco's lead, so I'll blame it on Disco, too! I have it on good authority I'm not breaking any rules..and I seem to be in good company if I am.

Please don't ask about the yarn...It's STR, but the skein lost its label. I think it could be a rare gem....I'm running and ducking for cover!

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six

different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.

~Mark Twain

returning

Spring has returned, indeed. As have the spring rains...and the gray. No complaints...well, not really...the crocuses, the daffodils, the plum trees blossoming...the greening of Oregon is underway, with all its pops of color! 

I can handle a few more raindrops. Just a few.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend! xo

almost forgotten

Look what I've resuscitated!

But look at all the scribbles on the pattern...

Do you think I'll be able to interpret them after all this time and be able to complete the second sock?

Time will tell...perhaps a cup of tea will help!

A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea,

which is one you forget about afterwards.

~A.A. Milne

Squid sock pattern by Nikki Burns in Hazel Knits 'stick o' butter' artisan sock yarn

pixels 'n prose

There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot,

but there are others who,

thanks to their art and intelligence,

transform a yellow spot into the sun.

~Pablo Picasso

welcome spring

Today is the first full day of spring!! A little celebration is in order, don'tcha' think!!

First off...a little spring knitting! 

Party favors...check!

I'm well into the toe of the second Angel sock...it's amazing how much knitting I can get accomplished once a grant is out the door!

I went to the local nursery and picked up a few color spots to plant in the garden. A little too rainy to get them planted...but oh my! How they brighten up the garden just the same!

Back to those party favors...yum. Oatmeal raisin cookies with a kick...you can find the recipe here. I substituted raisins for the chocolate chips as Mr. NK really, really likes oatmeal raisin cookies.

I hope your spring is off to a good start, and your Monday as well!!

Happy, happy Spring!!

Angel socks by me in Malabrigo sock yarn 'Archangel'

equinox

The Vernal equinox is this weekend...on Sunday.

Spring will be here...officially!!

Yay!!

Wishing you all a fabulous spring weekend! xo

socks

patiently

waiting

for their 

knitter to return.

Soon.

Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

pixels 'n prose

kissed by rain

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

 ~Langston Hughes 

Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend! xo

moving forward

A little progress has been made on Charlize.

I'm at the edge....so close...

...yet so far.

We're madly trying to get a grant out the door. Next week will be tough. Bear with me. After that I should be back to a more regular schedule and hopefully some FOs to share!

In the mean time...the crocuses in the front yard are my muse! :)

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time

like dew on the tip of a leaf.

~Rabindranath Tagore 

Charlize pattern by Vanessa Smith in Skein Yarns Top Draw 'Static'

believe it or not...

...we had some sun last week...

...and I had a few minutes to go to the park

and play.

Believe it or not.

Play is the exultation of the possible.

~Martin Buber 

Ms. Wick by Liz Abinante in Hazel Knits 'Gerber'

snowcaps

How quickly the weather changed this week. I think the Pacific NW was the last region to get hit by snow.

The crocus above was a willing model very early yesterday morning...just after sunrise...the sunrise that was hidden by a bank of clouds and snow showers that is. The little pink flowers below I captured on my way home from work...I'd been eyeing them for over a week--and with their little snow hats I just had to stop and shoot!

I hope you all have had a great week and are looking forward to some fun this weekend! xo

time stamp

Can you believe that image was captured just a few days ago!?!

Happy dance!!

a verdant heart

The second sprout sock has sprouted! Oh happy day!



I heart these socks...and look!!! The crocuses have just sprouted, too!

What flower tells you that spring has sprung?

Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt in STR rare gem

toppers

It's been awhile since my last post...I've been deluged at work.



 I started and finished the Christopher hat, but haven't had a chance to photograph it until now. I made it bigger as an 88 stitch hat just didn't seem like it would fit an adult man. Rip. Either did 96 stitches. Rip. A little multiplication told me that 10% negative ease would result in 112 stitches around...it fits although it looks huge...I wish it were a wee snugger on him, but it's done and Mr. NK loves it.

I love the colors...MadTosh Vintage in Baltic and Twig.

Remember the cabled hat...it's finished, too. I seem to be hat challenged regarding size, as this was also to fit an adult man; I knit to gauge and it was quite snug on me. I blocked it pretty aggressively. I dunno...hats and mittens are a challenge to to fit. Sigh.

That's all I've got this Monday.

I hope your week is off to a good start!

raining roses

It will never rain roses;

when we want to have more roses

we must plant more trees.

~George Eliot 

If only it could rain roses....wouldn't that be a sight!?

mini update

I'm glad I had some extra images of the Charlize shawl from last week!

It was rainy, windy, rainy and dark last night...no updated photos for me ~ ugh.

I've knit a few more pattern repeats on this project, finished one sprout sock, and am making good headway on the spring fever socks...all is good...although photoless!!

Happy Tuesday!

love's offering

Love is the only gold.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson 

Happy Valentine's Day!! xo

the intercalating hat

A little more blue to round out the week!
It's been a little crazy here at Chez NK...late nights at work...secret stuff at home...and because I don't have enough projects on the needles already, this hat found its way onto a spare set of circs!!

I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend with only knitting and the remote control to contend with.
We'll see how that works for me!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!! xo

Imagination is the beginning of creation.

You imagine what you desire,

you will what you imagine

and at last you create what you will.

~George Bernard Shaw

Knotty but nice hat by Natalie Larson in MadTosh Vintage 'Baltic'