Another week has passed with a blink of an eye, or with very tired eyes as mine feel right now. I hate to admit it but I think I am getting too old to keep up this pace with work, and of course Christmas to get ready for. I. Am. Tired! Okay enough moaning. I do have a finish and I actually have a name for it. The Kaleidoscope Cowl was inspired by the Rhinebeck Scarf, designed by Carolyn Bloom. I made all the circles I could with this beautiful yarn from Cephalopod, using Carolyn's pattern. The yarn is Bugga! in the colorway Sochi Pride, to honor the Olympics. It was a gift to me and I have been saving it for the perfect project. I think I found it with this cowl.
I made 42 circles and lined them all up to see what I could make. I tried a scarf and did not like the look of it, and did not have enough circles for a shawl, so I decided on a cowl instead. I looked and looked in my stash for a border color and could not find one that went well, so off I went to the yarn store last Saturday. I found this beautiful Queensland Collection United yarn in the color Acunite. I think it is a wonderful contrast to the colorful circles I was so excited about this cowl I made two of them. One is for a gift. One cowl has 20 squares and the other has 22. I used a size I hook, which is pretty big for this sport weight yarn, to make the cowl drape better. I altered the pattern and made a different border because I felt a simple border around each circle would work better for me. After the squares were joined as I went along, I made a simple dc border on both sides to finish them both off. Total yardage used was 675 yards. And I have another gift to give a dear friend, hooray! I am planning on making another cowl and fine tuning the pattern a bit. I love both of these but think I can do better.
A few more Santa's to show you. The last on is one of my very favorites. He is a fabric doll and sits on my Dad's old tricycle. I am not sure who painted this bike red but it is just perfect. It has metal wheels and a wooden seat and handles. It is tiny. My Dad must have been a baby when he was on it. The tricycle sits on my mantle year round, it is one of my dearest possessions.
Hope you have all had a great week. I hope to catch up with you soon. If you are in California I am so sorry you are dealing yet again with horrible fires. Stay safe!
25 comments:
Mere, I don't know how you do all you do with a family and demanding job. Love the cowl, you really do lovely work. The Santa's are sweet but the last one on the tricycle is extra special. I love things like this, passed down through families. Hugs!
Treasured. Love the cowls. Delicious.
Joy
The cowl is fabulous!!!
Santa is quite spectacular. It so nice to have doodads around that mean so much.
So sorry to hear you are frazzled. I remember the feeling all too well of trying to juggle it all during the holidays when I worked. It's tough.
Bravo on your cowl.. love the colors in the center circles! I wish you could cut back on working but I know you have a kids in college.. still.. wish you could. You are very lucky that your Dad would give you a Santa each year, what a fantastic gift. Mine sent me a $10 bill in a card. :-) I am sending you an hour to yourself.. LOL. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
The cowl is stunning, Meredith. I can imagine it going with any of the more darker and muted colors I wear in the fall and winter.
I get you on the tiredness, and I don't expend myself as much as you, that's for sure. I have a physical next week and when the doc orders my blood work, I'm going to be sure she checks my vitamin levels, and if I have signs of that virus I had last fall/winter much like mono.
I love your Santa collection, and that tricycle of your fathers childhood is an amazing gift.
Happy Holidays, my friend!
Jane
Such a pretty cowl, the colours are wonderful and I think you've chosen the perfect colour for a contrast. I like all your Santas, Little Buddy must be getting very excited about Christmas now.
Wow! you nailed that. The linking yarn is perfect with the coloured yarn. Snow day here today - the girls are excited and I have spent an hour getting them to school walking all the way about a mile and a half! Jo x
The cowl turned our beautifully-I know what you mean about doing a project again just because you feel there is more in you to finesse it!
Does Lil' Buddy mess with your decorations? They are so pretty, it made me wonder if he is tempted! lol
Mere
THe cowl really turned out perfect. Great move to alter your plan. I love a cowl more than a scarf for this particular project. The gold/yellow is the perfect accent.
Tricycle Santa is just darling. Everyone has such different decorations with amazing family stories! I love reading about them. Hugs to Lil B
Your cowl is gorgeous with those richly coloured circles hemmed by the gold(?) linking yarn. It's a busy, busy time of year. Take some time for yourself.
I love the circles in the cowl it looks very nice. Rather than the square inner look. Know what you mean about can't keep the pace up.
Wonderful.cowl,congratulations,and,I.appreciate.the.pattern.and.colours,wonderful.gift.and.nice.Santa,greetings.from.ann
So pretty Meredith. The women who receive these as gifts will love them, I'm just sure of it. You need to take some time for yourself. Easier said than done this time of year, but so very, very important. Your Santa's are so sweet and full of love and history. Especially sitting on the bike! How precious for you and your family to have that memory.
Blessings always,
Betsy
So sorry you feel tired, I find if I don't watch my water intake, that's when I get very weary and having set up a "Bullet Journal " this year has helped me to stay organised and not worn out mentally trying to keep up with everything.
The new cowl looks great, that multicoloured yarn is a cheerful,pop of colour for cold weather days. Isn't it lovely to be so happy with something that you want to make it again.
I have just finished knitting "Dissent " a lovely shawl/ scarf by Lisa Mutch , my two shades of blue are gorgeous and my next one will be in Rasberry tones.....it is a very simple,easy pattern and the 4ply sock yarn ( from a local Indy dyer in Brisbane ) make it soft and squishy , a joy to wear ! ......perfect for your mild climate.
Rest up and look after yourself when ever you can.
Such beautiful yarn Meredith, the colours go well together. Take care and I hope you feel rested soon. Cathy x
I just wish I could give you an hour of my time so you can rest for bit. I make sure to take an hour each day to just do what my heart wants to do - even if it means sitting in a pile of dirty laundry. Your cowl is beautiful, the colours work so well together. xxx
That cowl is a delightful piece! And how wonderful to have a piece of your Dad's childhood. I recently went to where I grew up and picked up the tricycle my Grandfather gave me for my birthday when I was very little. Unfortunately, it has been driven over and the front wheel is in bad condition. I have not been able to decide what to do with it. So for now, it will sit in my garden with the damage hidden behind foliage. I just love the memories I have with it, and cannot bear to part with it.
Have a wonderful weekend Meredith,
Andrea
I'm tired too. However, I don't blame age but the missing sun. :-) Christmas can be a bit smaller ... All the best, Regula
Everything Babajeza said!!!Beautiful cowl and love your Santas.Xxx
Do you realize you are evolving into a crochet designer?
I know what you mean about the tiredness. Special ed has become so intense. The kids are the least of it. The meetings and paperwork are killing me! I keep talking about trying to go part-time or find another position, but it's hard to walk away from a full-time pay and benefits, especially since I'm supporting myself and Keith. Yes, I am tired all the time.
LOVE your cowl, Meredith! The colors are wonderful! Whichever of your friends receives it is going to be delighted! blessings ~ tanna
You've finished that cowl quickly! And it is a real beauty! Love it!
Hope you get some rest soon x
Your cowl turned out lovely! I hope you get a chance to get a little rest Mere. Never apologize for a little moan. You're allowed to feel tired and overworked. You're allowed to feel tired even if you're not overworked. It's life it can't always be sunshine and rainbows even if there is nothing, "wrong". Sending my best!
Dear friend, I love the cowl, both the design and the colors go so well together. Your Santas are adorable. My husband use to work with a man whose wife made the old time Santas from scratch. I guess she had many hours in making them and made good money from many happy customers. You are right, there are never enough hours in the day, and sometimes we burn the candle at both ends and in the middle too. Take care of yourself, and slow down. I'm not going to depress people by telling them what all I no longer do since my husband died. My oldest brought me a little Norfolk Island Pine. I guess she couldn't stand the fact that I haven't put up the big tree in 7 years. I will get excited when I spend time with my grandson. He is all about Santa and I am all about him. sorry I have been such a slacker and I promise to go backwards and read your other posts. Blogging takes time too. It's good to know people appreciate the effort. Take care.
Beautiful cowl! And your Santa's are lovely.
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