My morning started with a quick trip to buy a few plants for my backyard area, which led to getting very dirty as I planted them, which led to a bath outside for these two. It is hours later and they are still not dry. The bath led to me noticing how dirty my pool enclosed screen was, which led to me cleaning all the screened in areas I could reach. This led to me hosing down all the pavers which were covered in oak tree pollen and little bits of oak tree fluff. It was a real mess my friends. And let me tell you this is not a job if you are afraid of spiders, there must be 27,000 of them out there just waiting to jump in my hair. Two and a half hours after finishing planting I finally came in the house. But with wet boys still outside I took advantage and vacuumed and mopped, dusted and then cleaned a bathroom. See one thing leads to another until you can't stop anymore. By the way now I have that song by the same name rolling around in my head. In case you are too young it is by The Fixx.
And we have a finish!!!!! I popped these buttons on this sweater early this morning before all my chores. I do have my priorities, knitting finishing before work. In the year of 2021, when Joe Biden officially became president, when we reached Mars, when vaccines have become available to many, when Covid 19 might just be starting to get under some sense of control, when all these miracles happened, I knit a sweater. Yes the name of this blog is Mereknits, which is frankly a joke most of the time because Mere rarely knits, but not this month and not this year my friends. In 2021 I finished a sweater and once more fell back in love with the rhythm of knitting needles in my hands.
This is the Harebell sweater by Amy Chrsitoffers. I started this on February 20 and finished sewing on those buttons early this morning. This was a joy to make. The pattern was easily understood. Even though I think I got off my count on the sleeves it looks just fine. It is long enough in the arms, fits across my neck and back, and while I could have made it longer, it will work just fine.
Made with Lion Brand Hand Dyed Silk in the color Jasper. I used size 8 needles for the body, size 8 double pointed for the sleeves to the wrist, and size 6 needles for all the ribbing. About 850 yards of yarn was used for this beauty. As I bought 10 skeins that leaves me about 500 yards of this gorgeous silk yarn to make something else.
Now I will have to de-fluff it before I wear it. And there will be no wearing black or white with it that's for sure. If I have it on I might just have to take a lint roller with me to use through out my day while wearing it, but who cares? I love it, it fits, and it makes my heart so happy. The colors are not showing up right in these photos, but I think the last photo comes close to the beauty of this yarn. I took some in the sun which washed out the colors and some in the shade which made it way too dark.
I love the pattern so much that I already have yarn to make number 2, see one thing leads to another.
And this guy, minus a rough start to his week, did well at school. It is always tough to go back after a time change and spring break. Yesterday after school we made the drive to see my friend Lynda and her friend Susan, who was visiting from North Carolina. As you can see above Susan now might have a new best friend. Little Buddy had a wonderful visit which also included an Easter egg hunt!
So that is it for us, clean dogs and clean lanai, a fairly clean house, a sweet boy and a brand new hand knit sweater. How about you?
Oh, how lovely that sweater finished! I absolutely adore it. You'll get a lot of wear out of it, exceeded only by compliments on it. Just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI well know the One Thing Leads To Another syndrome. I fall into it constantly, especially once a cleaning cloth is in my hand. I call it the Might As Well Just sickness. As in Might As Well Just wipe down the cupboards while I'm at it; then, Might As Well Just wipe down the baseboards, the doorways, the window frames, all the woodwork, and before I know it, I'm doing all the woodwork in the entire house and thinking about walls, too. UGH.
Love that you got some time with your friend and an Easter Egg hunt, too. Sounds like a nice week all around.
Gorgeous job on the cardigan, I am certain it is the same yarn I made a shawl with. Your morning sounds very busy. I have days like that, when one job leads to another to another. All very satisfying when it's done though. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteWow.. a busy and productive day for you! Bravo on the sweater finish, it's magnificent and I hope you wear it a lot and enjoy that wonderful silk feel. I bet your little guy had a ball hunting Easter eggs! We're having a lovely sunny day here. Have a great Sunday. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, your sweater came out so beautifully! How exciting. I love the yarn. I have been cleaning my bathroom today, too. I love bathing in a spotless tub. Happy knitting...
ReplyDeleteI misread that and saw the hairball sweater. . I thought, oh no. That isn't a great title. Harebell is far nicer. I love how happy that Lil B is!!!
ReplyDeleteThe one thing leads to another is so classic. YOU GOT A TON DONE!
I love love love your sweater.
Lil Buddy the charmer!!!! I've been praying of him to find a new friend..
Your day reminds me of the "If you give a mouse a cookie" book! You sure got a lot accomplished. I thought I was doing well to go over and get some packing done in our storage unit with Dennis today. My back told me it was enough.
ReplyDeleteThat sweater is so beautiful Meredith. I love it. I wear lots of cardigans and really like that pattern and the yarn you chose too.
How fun that your friends had an Easter egg hunt for LB. Those are some good friends.
Have a wonderful, relaxing Sunday my friend.
Blessings,
Betsy
I had a hard time getting past the spiders in hair thing but when I got to the sweater is was a WOW moment. I can't believe you finished it so fast. Sweaters take me years. It looks great. I love a comfy cardi-it's just too bad I am terrible at making them. I never can get anything to fit.
ReplyDeleteI love productive days like that -even if they wear you out.
ReplyDeleteThe cardigan is stunning!
Love your new cardi. Great job on the lanai (love that word too for some reason) but let's not talk about the spiders!Easter egg hunts already? What a quick year it's been, despite everything else. Have a good week,Mer.xxx
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely photo of Little Buddy and your friend Susan, as for one thing leading to another isn't that always the case, we just keep on going till we are ready to drop, you certainly got through a lot there Meredith you must have been shattered afterwards. Congratulations on the sweater finish I love it, the colours are lovely and it will go with so many things, looking forward to seeing number two and the yarn you have for it. Have a peaceful Sunday. xx
ReplyDeleteYou are making me feel tired, hat a great productive day. I love days like that when everything gets done. The cardigan looks amazing, such a great knit and always a joy when you like the finished product. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI was exhausted after reading your first paragraph. :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely sweater and even lovelier smiles on LB and his new friend . . .
WOW. I want to take whatever vitamins You take!
ReplyDeleteand thousands of SPIDERS? yikes. you lost me there!
but soft damply clean puppies and Happy little Buddy...
it just doesn't get any better!
except maybe for that Gorgeous sweater!
lovingly hand knit by Mere. XO
The colors in the cardigan are yummy. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteWell, I was letting a sweater on the needles languish, but your finish pushes me onward!
ReplyDeleteYou must be the fastest knitter in the world! Good job on the finish!
ReplyDeleteOh yes--isn't this a little like the "If you give a mouse a cookie" syndrome? I know it well.
ReplyDeleteI love your sweater! Happy Spring!
Your cardigan is absolutely beautiful and is now in my queue to make for my daughter. It is good to get jobs done as long as you then sit back and admire them for a while and enjoy the company of friends and family. A perfect combo! Jo x
ReplyDeleteYour cardigan is beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I am in love with those colours. Gosh, you have been busy, all that cleaning. I hope you are taking the rest of the weekend off! Cxx
ReplyDeleteI had a few of those....give the mouse a cookie....kind of days!!! Don't you love all that got done,though?!? Lots of happy things in this post!!! YAY...you!!!!! (Love the sweater!!!...and the clean dogs!)
ReplyDeleteWow! Now that is one stunning sweater. Adore the yarn and the pattern -- the length, the whole thing. Beautiful work, Mere. And what a smile on Little Buddy. I'm glad school went well and a fun day with friends, too!
ReplyDeleteOh, I can relate to the oak pollen and fluff and spiders! Aghhh!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the cleaning but the sweater is an amazing accomplishment--just beautiful! Isn't it a joy to knit again?! You outdid yourself with this one! Yay!
You did quite alot of things outdoors. Spiders are NO fun to be around. I like the color of your sweater!! I am way behind on knitting and getting a quilt that needs to be done asap!! Sigh!! I am doing good and thankful my knee isn't hurting as bad as it was earlier today. I was going to go outdoors with Phil this afternoon but then it poured down rain and a bit breezy and cold. Snow in mountains tonight. BRRRRBRRR. It was 63 degrees Sat and warm on Friday as well. I need to get my potted plants moved closer to my house as they are in lawn. Have a good week!!
ReplyDeleteOh! my Mere hand dyed silk that alone makes your cardigan sound really fabulous and those colours are beyond beautiful! All that cleaning ... you obviously have a bout of spring fever, everything must now look so spruced up even your fur boys LOL! Wonderful to be able to sit back and feel the satisfaction of it all and the cardigan is a plus! Keep well Amanda x
ReplyDeletelovely sweater! It's perfect for this time of year :) I love how many spiders you estimate that you have but you can keep all of them for now - ha ha ha.
ReplyDeleteYou have been busy! I don't know how you keep up but it sure sounds like you had quite a burst of energy! Now that I am retired, I am always finding ways NOT to be busy! :)
ReplyDeleteI am knitting a dish cloth! but the ball of yarn has run out before I got to the end so now I will have to google to find out how to properly add more yarn to my project! I could never complete a beautiful sweater like you have!
Thanks for the post!
Oh Meredith, I love your sweater! The color, the style, everything - and wow you really zipped through it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to sit and relax for a bit tonight, since it sounds like you were on fire cleaning stuff up today.
I had to add Harebell to my Ravelry queue before I could finish reading your post. Your sweater is truly gorgeous. I love worsted-weight cardigans, so I hope to get around to this one at some point.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you and LB had a great trip!
Your sweater is beautiful. Congratulations on knitting it! I'm in awe of anyone who can knit a finished garment. Today's one thing after another involved cleaning my kitchen - using the steam cleaner on the hood fan took hours and I'm ashamed of how greasy it was. That led to scrubbing the stove top, and then the floor. But now it's clean and I'm content.
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem with cleaning...
ReplyDeleteAs soon as one area is cleaned, it shows up the dirt in the other areas! I do remember that song by The Fixx as well - I used to have it on a compact cassette many moons ago.
You are giving me the cleaning bug. It is Easter and I usually like to have a super clean house ready for Easter - 'renewal' and all that - but this year the lead up has been so hectic I am behind schedule and my house is in need of a good spruce up. Do you have any parcels of energy to send my way please? ;-)
Your cardigan is lovely. I'm glad you are finding pleasure in knitting again - absence can truly make the heart grow fonder!
Are you saying that the Lion Hand dyed silk sheds a lot of fibre?
What yarn will you use for the next cardi?
I love the photo with LB - old friends are gold friends! Happy times Meredith. With the vaccine rollouts, there is room for optimism. Take care and have fun. xx