Monday Musings

Hello Friends,

So, I am going to try a new Weekly post, Monday Musings. On Monday you can look forward to lessons, tidbits, helpful hints, or a "research gathering" post. This time is more "research gathering" in focus, but I promise you, I'll go more in depth on the topic in a few weeks (once I've compiled the research ;) ) 

This week, I want to know how you feel about schematics. My last post on the review of Sherlock Knits got me thinking about schematics, especially since the ones that I saw in that book were very crisp, clean, uncluttered, but didn't feature a whole lot of measurements. I recently released a new cardigan pattern and putting together the schematics for the pattern was one of the more difficult parts of the whole process, because I was including every measurement that was included in the piece. My schematic definitely looked a lot more cluttered, and I don't think would have worked as a hand drawn piece either (which I am really loving). 

So, I wanted to hear about what you want/like/need/look for in a schematic. I encourage you to look over your knitting patterns and books, and please share what helps you when trying to decide on a size. Do you even use schematics? Or, even better, do you know how to use schematics? What measurements do you absolutely have to have in a schematic. Do you prefer a schematic where there are lots of arrows pointing to where the measurements go, or do you prefer a more "chart style", where each part has a letter, and then you can find a chart of what measurements match that section.

See, there is a lot to think about when considering a schematic. I want to make sure that you are getting the information you need and that your knitting is an enjoyable experience for you, not one that frustrates you. 

And if you are reading this going, what's a schematic? Let me know that as well. I'm planning on putting together a "Learning Schematics" post for an upcoming Monday Musings. 

Talk to you soon,

~Jessica

Friday Finds: Sherlock Knits

Welcome Friends (and Knitters!) ,

I am so pleased to bring you a new (hopefully weekly!) post of Friday Finds (or Friday Favorites on occasion!). This week, I am sharing a new book with you, Sherlock Knits.

I am a HUGE fan of Joanna Johnson. We have all of her Phoebe books (and I even knit a Phoebe Mouse that is well loved around here!), the Freddie Books (the Baby Envelope that I knit for my baby is still one of my favorite baby knits of all times!), and I will definitely make a Freddie if I ever find that thing called "time", Henry, which is my littlest current fave, and of course, her Green Gables Knit is my personal favorite, because, ANNE! I was so excited to see that she was releasing a new book, and even more thrilled when she sent me a review copy in the mail. This one does not disappoint, particularly if you are a fan of Sherlock, and I can imagine you can find something that you like even if you don't particularly care for Sherlock. 

What makes this book even sweeter is the illustrations! Joanna's daughter Laurel did the illustrations for the book and they are amazing! (So much that it makes me wonder if she wants to illustrate other knit books....particularly one that features a mermaid, lol!), Each pattern features a relevant illustration to the element from which the pattern was taken, along with an accompanying quote from a Sherlock book. And don't gloss over the illustrated schematics! They are adorable! I'm trying to decide if I am ok with them not having all the measurements on them, or if I actually prefer this clean, crisp way of doing them, but I do know that I LOVE the way they are drawn, and I'd love to have my schematics look like that. (How about you? How much information do you want on your schematics?) 

There are 10 patterns in this book: A sweater, tea cozy, scarf, shawl, socks, vest, casebook (tablet) cozy, fingerless gloves, hat, and a cowl. Truly something for everyone! I love the Speckled Band Shawl because it mixes speckled yarn with a gradient set, that combination gets me every time!

I also love The Woman, an elegant pair of lacy fingerless mitts and Copper Beaches Cowl. They are both stunning pieces that aren't your average fingerless mitts, or cowl, definitely bringing something new to your knits (and thus making your wardrobe stellar). I had to pull out yarn to make Mary's Socks, though. I, ahem, might have an abundance of sock yarn, and find that socks are rather easy to knit while running errands, or sitting through meetings, so I always have socks. 

If you are a Sherlock fan, or are just looking for a new knitting book, I encourage you to check out Sherlock Knits. It's an absolutely lovely book, the photographs and illustrations are phenomenal and you get an incredible variety of knitting patterns. I'd love to hear what you think about it!

Until next time, 

~Jessica

Yarn Along~ On the Track.....

Yarn Along~ 

I am so thankful for this lovely yarn from The Fiber Seed, and this new design idea that it inspired. It has been the perfect companion to rough school mornings and a nice distraction when things are just going a it crazy. Especially with deadlines and work projects adding up quickly these days, it's comforting to have something to turn to that is soothing, fun, and lovely. I just started the texture portion of the design and I am just in awe over how 2 simple stitches can work together to create something so right and so perfect. I have some new ideas about how I am going  to approach releasing this way, so definitely stay tuned if you are interested! I am still reading The Door in the Wall with my children. We are a little over halfway into it and they all seem to still be enjoying it. It is definitely a great book to read along with your study of The Middle Ages, it's opened up a lot of questions and discussions that just reading out of the History text doesn't seem to bring up. And the characters definitely help bring the History alive for them (and me!). I am enjoying it as well, but not quite as much as I am enjoying reading Poldark! I love watching Poldark on PBS and am even more happy with the books. I haven't had much time to read on this one, but what I have read so far, I have definitely enjoyed. 

I'll be back on Friday to share a new knitting book with you from one of my favorites, so you don't want to miss that! And I'd love to hear about what you are reading and knitting this week.

Be back soon,

~Jessica

Yarn Along~ Doors and Bears, oh My!

~Yarn Along:

It's really Wednesday already? Goodness, that was fast! Of course once we start to settle back into a routine, we get a Holiday and everything shifts again. We'll get there soon, though, right? I finally finished knitting on my new design, yay!, so it's off to a wash and block, an then getting all the parts of the pattern process together to get it released, whew. I'm tired thinking about it all! I took some time this weekend, though, to cast on for my Hundred Acres Wood Shawl. I am knitting it in a lovely gradient set from Wooly Wonka Fibers, and it's my first time knitting with it (and won't be my last!). I'm not quite certain I like the increases along the edge, but we'll see.....it's always interesting to me how other people make choices in their patterns, and it's really hard to turn off my own inclination of how I want things done, or how I design certain elements, but it's always fun to learn, and a challenge to "just keep knitting." 

We started reading "The Door in the Wall" as our scheduled Read Aloud for school. It's a pretty interesting book so far, the chapters aren't overly long, and it fits in very well with what we are learning in History right now. I'm hoping to find some time to pick up a "fluff" book just for me, though, it's been awhile and my brain could use a break! I just need to find a book, and some time, if that's possible! I've got an "in the round" project coming up this week, so that might be a good opportunity for some downtime.......

What are you reading and knitting this week? Don't forget to link up with the Yarn Along if you want to share!

I'll be back soon with one of my new favorite things that I can't wait to share with you (and if you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, make sure you click over there and do that, I've got a special Birthday sale coming up soon and I would hate for you to miss out!)

Happy Knitting,

~Jessica

Yarn Along~ A Time for Reading Aloud

~Yarn Along:

It's Wednesday again! That means time to share my knitting and reading. It seems to be one of those seasons where I'm knitting away at work stuff. I keep promising myself a break, but I haven't quite cashed in on that yet. I'm trying to finish up this new design in Stitch Sprouts Yellowstone yarn. It's a new style of pattern for me, but it's been a lot of fun and combines all the things I love- color and texture! And it is a lot easier than it looks, I promise! (I'm not a complicated, fussy-knitting sort of person, so I'd definitely give you a heads up if that was the case, and you'd most likely never see the knit again as I really just don't have time for that!)

My kids are taking part in the #readaloudrevival 31 Day challenge and so I've been doing a lot of, well, reading aloud, and very little "mommy-time reading!", which is honestly just fine with me! I am so happy to have a pair that really seems to like books, (even though the older one in the pair seems to be enjoying the books because SHE gets to mark the chart when we have finished reading!). We tend to end up reading Poppleton at least once a day (which is why it missed the picture, it is still sitting on the couch!), and we've started reading Pippi Goes on Board because my Pippi Socks and yarn are still a big hit around the house! I'm glad that we are doing this challenge and so thankful for the quiet time that it is making sure that I carve out to be with my littlest littles (and, inevitably, the older ones all gravitate to the reading spot as well, and become engrossed in the story, whether they would admit to it or not!) It think this is a rhythm we are going to continue long after this challenge is over. What about you? Reading or knitting anything good this week? What's on your needles, or what are you wishing was on your needles? I'm starting to plan my upcoming design season and have lots of fun ideas swirling around, especially ways to incorporate new techniques and skills in a smaller, more manageable way!

I'll be back soon, 

Happy Knitting,

~Jessica

Yarn Along~ At least my yarn is pretty!

~Yarn Along: At least my yarn is pretty!

Welcome knitters! I hope that you are all recovering after the Holiday Cheer, however you may choose to celebrate, or that you are finding some time to unwind, knit and spend time with those you love. Traditions and memories are so important to me, and I am so thankful for the down time to really focus on them, and that the calendar makes it happen, whether I'm ready or not! Before I forget, congratulations Pamela on your win of the Malabrigo Mitt set, if you will email me your address and Ravelry name, trustingbirthdoula at gmail dot com, I will get your prize out to! Congrats!!!

Wednesdays around here are pretty special, and have their own tradition. I have been participating in Ginny Sheller of Small Things Yarn Along for over a year now. As Ginny says: Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading and I love sharing my projects and current reads here. I would love for you to join me every Wednesday to share a single photo of what you are knitting (or crocheting) and reading too! Share your photo on your blog, on Instagram (#yarnalong), or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us!~

Some weeks not much reading gets done (although I find that this has helped me be more diligent and deliberate about my reading!), but knitting always gets done, even if I can't always share it with you. 

This week, I have been knitting on a new shawl design in some lovely KnitCircus Yarn Lavish. It is called Anne with an E, and the colorway is inspired by one of my all-time favorites Anne Shirley, or Anne of Green Gables herself. I have had so much fun creating this design, and it's a lovely reminder of how much I enjoy this type of shawl construction, and design, especially with such a lovely yarn that really gets to shine! 

picked up Teaching from Rest the other day to refresh my routine, and try to find some balance and help into what is proving to be a difficult return to routine around here. I expected a bit of it, but not quite to the extent that it has been around here. This has been a nice, gentle reminder, and I am going to take some time this week to think about the big picture and let go of some of the "for the sake of doing it" things that I had in our schedule. I'm hoping these tweaks are what we need, but if not, we will keep tweaking until we get it right.

I would love if you would share what you are reading and/or knitting this week!

Chat soon~

~Jessica

Knitters Day 10: Fancy Fingerless Mitts and a Marvelous Yarn!

Welcome Knitters!!!

I am in the process of slowly moving myself fully into this space, and I am so excited to invite to you here! I will be journaling (or blogging if you prefer!) in this space, and attempting to keep on top of new pattern releases here so that you get all of the details. 

I hope that you have enjoyed the 12 Days of Knitmas so far. I can't believe we are already at Day 10. I'm very excited about Day 10, it's one of my favorites. 

Fingerless mitts have always been a favorite accessory of mine! I cannot stand having my fingers covered (hello, knitting???? and honestly, living where it is usually some degree of hot, it isn't entirely practical). Amy's Mitts is a very special pattern to me, as it was originally a request from one of my dearest friends and one of the most amazing midwives I've ever had the pleasure of working with. It is also worked up in one of my favorite yarns, the first "real yarn" I ever knit with and have continued to knit with again and again, Malabrigo. If you have never knit with Malabrigo before, you are in for a real treat! It is a fantastic yarn and a lovely company, I have had the pleasure of meeting the people behind Malabrigo quite a few times and they are absolutely wonderful and delightful!

Today's Gift is: 15% off of Amy's Mitts for everyone, with coupon code, Day10, and one lucky knitter will win the pattern and a skein of Malabrigo sock in the Candome colorway so they can knit their own pair (and don't ask how I know this, but 1 skein of Sock should get you three pairs of mitts so you can get started on your gift knitting for next year!). To enter to win, leave a comment on this post. For an extra entry, share this post on social media of your choice (be sure to tag me in some fashion so I don't miss you share!). 

Thank you so much for joining me in this fun! I'll be back soon to share more knitting goodness with you!

Just keep knitting,

~Jessica

Yarn Along~ Wishing it was a vacation.....

I am really wishing for a vacation about now, doesn't that sound nice? Instead I've got quite a pile of knitting to get through and the days to get through it keep shrinking.....slowly, slowly, stitch by stitch it is getting finished! I just really have to stay focused for about 1 more week and then I just might take that vacation! I'm knitting away on a top secret deadline knitting project that I can't share with you, but I'm also trying to finish up the last piece of my Fall Collection, one of which is peeking out in this photo. I picked up the Penguin on Vacation while out shopping the other day. This is the same Penguin from Penguin in Love, one of my littles (and mine!) favorite books- a knitting penguin at that (to which my preschooler likes to point out to me that the penguin is a myth, because penguins really can't knit, to which I admire her ability to listen and follow along with her older siblings school lessons and realize that all those months of listening to Homer and Aesop's Fables at the lunch table really wasn't that bad.....). We are enjoying our new Penguin story just as much as the other one and have read it several times today already, which is about all I can manage with work right now. And oh how I love this YarnPop bag- it has the cutest giraffes, and is a nice roomy knapsack style bag. I absolutely adore this bag, and you would honestly be surprised at the amount of yarn that is in this thing, along with my design notebook. Well, I better run, there is a game of Old MacDonald getting just a bit out of hand.....be back again soon!

Happy Knitting,
~Jessica