On My Needles


I have many projects to share with you today. First off are my simple socks on the left.  They are for my husband and I'm on the second one.  I knit these socks while watching programs that require little attention to the pattern.  The bright pink project is my Heart Beets Shawl, I cannot knit and watch anything, you see, I had to UNKNIT two rows and that just about did me in.  Learned my lesson, I have the pattern memorized but I have to watch what I'm doing :)  Lastly is the Kelp Cardigan, I could knit on this all day long!  Love the crisp stitches and the easy raglan shaping.  I inserted a simple lace design at each end of the front edges.  Last week I finished the Tea and Jam Shawl.

I continue to read Helen Keller's book The Story of my Life.  I am amazed at her challenges and her triumphs that she faced.  Her story can be interpreted in a series of what she is "missing" but then the way she describes her excursions I wonder if she has experienced life on a deeper level and do we take for granted so many wonderful ordinary events?

What are you knitting and reading?

Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Comments

  1. Tracey ~ CloverJanuary 22, 2014 at 8:12 AM

    I am not a fan of ripping back, I am always worried I will Really mess something up.
    Your Kelp sounds like a joy to knit and I can't wait to see it.
    Hey, are you getting snow? I'm not, but at least we're cold.

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  2. DiannaJanuary 22, 2014 at 8:12 AM

    I like all of the colors...the deep rich blue of the socks for your husband, that luscious pink of the beet red and the muted tone of the kelp cardigan! You are a knitting machine, Karen! I am guessing you probably had some snow. I think ours has finally stopped...now the sub zero temperatures have begun. It was -7 F when I got up at 5:30 this morning! I am enjoying the beauty of the snow...especially on the pines. Have a wonderful day, Karen.

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  3. AnkeJanuary 22, 2014 at 8:36 AM

    Knitting back is the worst! I can feel your pain, as I had to do the same on the shawl I'm knitting. Most of my knitting takes place in the evening, and since I have to look at the chart ALL THE TIME, my shawl is slow going. I just keep telling myself that the end result will be very worth it. :-) Love the beautiful colors of your projects!!

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  4. debby emadianJanuary 22, 2014 at 8:59 AM

    Oh how perfect to have so many projects on the go. They all look gorgeous...Love the colourful needles. I'm still working on socks too. I finished a pair and sent them off with a gift for one of my sisters' birthday. I'm making ones now just using up odds and ends of yarn. I was inspired by a blanket that I saw a picture of Amanda Soule making just using up all her odds and ends.Apparently it's a project that she's had on the go for ages and just picks up and puts down when she has time. Especially on cold days when she snuggle under it while knitting to keep warm. My kind of project. I think I'm going to have some funky socks!
    debx

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  5. CathieJJanuary 22, 2014 at 9:32 AM

    I really have to knit some socks. I love the blue/beige yarn. It is fun to work on complicated projects but they do need your attention. I'm looking forward to seeing that shawl and the sweater.

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 9:45 AM

    I love the yarn for your cardigan, of course. It's not *quite* the same color as my shawl but isn't Tern such a lovely yarn to work with?

    I'm sorry you had to unknit some of your shawl. That would make me cry. (Maybe this is why I don't do many shawls. The stakes get so much higher the farther you get into it, and one mistake really can do you in, can't it?) xo

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  7. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 9:48 AM

    I love all those colors, especially the pop of pink! I have been wanting to work with Quince yarn so I can't wait to see your finished cardigan.

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  8. DonnaJanuary 22, 2014 at 9:57 AM

    Your heart beets shawl is perfect for Valentines Day! I made a mistake like that on my Cedar Leaf Shawlette. It was so frustrating because if I had paid attention to the pattern.... oh well. I can already tell your sweater is going to be super soft with that yarn.

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  9. ZauberflinkJanuary 22, 2014 at 9:57 AM

    All your colours are lovely and I really like your pink needles :-) How good to have different projects for different situations!

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  10. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 9:58 AM

    I am not in favor of ripping back either. But at least I've finally aceepted that sometimes it is necessary. I hope you have smooth knitting from here! It's kinda nice to have different projects for different situations.

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  11. kathy bJanuary 22, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    I love your projects. I need a harder project to focus on…I don't usually have two things going at once, but I'm ready

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  12. Shirley-AnnJanuary 22, 2014 at 11:29 AM

    All those colours together just look delish! It's great to have a couple of projects on the go - especially such different ones. Something for all moods :)

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  13. Lady CordeliaJanuary 22, 2014 at 11:46 AM

    Helen Keller was such an amazing woman. I have a kids level book about her and have read it to the girls many times. Happy Knitting!

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  14. SarahJanuary 22, 2014 at 12:29 PM

    Your Heart Beets shawl is a gorgeous color, as are your other projects! I love all your knitting, it's always an inspiration to me.
    Helen Keller's life is always really incredible and interesting to me, I should read the book. I appreciate your thoughts on her deeper experience of life and think that is likely.

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  15. Deborah HamiltonJanuary 22, 2014 at 12:38 PM

    I have never seen pink sock needles. What brand are they?

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    Replies
    1. karenJanuary 22, 2014 at 12:42 PM

      They are knitters pride 5 inch double pointed needles.

      Delete
  16. Reinventing MotherJanuary 22, 2014 at 1:34 PM

    Love them all! What a wonderful pink!

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  17. elizabethJanuary 22, 2014 at 3:12 PM

    lovely! I am hoping to learn to do socks soon on DPNs! I also have a hard time with listening to things while doing a more complicated pattern ... love your colour choices!

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  18. UnknownJanuary 22, 2014 at 3:23 PM

    Lovely projects, the pink is gorgeous!

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  19. SueJanuary 22, 2014 at 3:36 PM

    You've got three terrific projects going--I love how the colors are all very different. I bet that keeps things interesting.

    I like your observation about Helen Keller possibly experiencing life on a deeper level. Raymond Carver wrote a short story about a blind man (it's called Cathedrals, I think) which makes just that point.

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  20. JanetJanuary 22, 2014 at 3:42 PM

    Great projects in the works. I'm curious to see the lace design you've added to the cardigan. I love the yarn color.

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  21. Darcel {MahoganyWayMama}January 22, 2014 at 3:44 PM

    That heart beets shawl is gorgeous! Can't wait to see it all finished. I cannot imagine having to unknit two rows with yarn that small. I'm lazy so I would just keep going!

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  22. stephJanuary 22, 2014 at 3:54 PM

    i do love those sock needles!!!! :)

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  23. UnknownJanuary 22, 2014 at 4:59 PM

    I've just finished Dicken's 'Hard Times'. He's wonderful for winter - so resonant of rain and cold. I'm now moving onto Corvus by Esther Woolfson which is a true story of a woman who adopts a magpie and various other birds and lets them live in her house! Also on the go is The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult and I'm re-reading my all time non Austen book - Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. If you haven't read, you must, you must, you must. This is my fourth copy because I keep thrusting it into other people's hands! xxx

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  24. UnknownJanuary 22, 2014 at 5:02 PM

    PS. I can only knit squares (runs and hides) but I do love words!

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  25. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 6:10 PM

    Looks like you've got yourself a nice little pile of WIPs. Can't wait to see how they turn out.

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  26. azwoolgirlJanuary 22, 2014 at 8:08 PM

    Lovely knitting going on! I'm reading The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory and working on three pairs of socks.

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  27. flyingjenJanuary 22, 2014 at 8:29 PM

    My, you have a lot of projects going right now!

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  28. Kim January 22, 2014 at 8:56 PM

    Lovely projects!

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  29. Judy S.January 22, 2014 at 10:00 PM

    Ripping on a shawl is painful, so many stitches! That sure is a pretty color. I just finished reading Clara and Mr. Tiffany, very good.

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  30. sustainablemumJanuary 23, 2014 at 4:51 AM

    What a wonderful tableau of colours.

    How painful to have to rip back rows but at least you realised early on rather than having to rip back more rows :)

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  31. Mama Gone GreenJanuary 23, 2014 at 9:18 AM

    I brought my Northern Loop cowl to knit at pub knitting last week and ended up having to un-knit as well. There are certain patterns that I can't hold a conversation while working on!!

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  32. LisaJanuary 23, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    Hi Karen! That pink just pops of the page...cannot wait to see your shawl once it's finished. I'm working on baby socks and other ufo's that I'm keeping in my big, new project bag. Thanks for the link to the blogger swap -- sounds like fun. :)

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  33. LauraLillyLauraJanuary 23, 2014 at 8:09 PM

    Your Heart Beets Shawl is just gorgeous, I love the color, and Helen Keller sounds like a great read. I will have to try it!

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