The Happy Knitter

Taking time to smell the roses and enjoy the stitches!

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NY State Sheep & Wool Festival 2024

NY State Sheep & Wool Festival 2024

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How to Knit Short Rows Part 1 - Wrap & Turn

How to Knit Short Rows Part 1 – Wrap & Turn

This post is the first half of a two-part tutorial on how to work short rows in knitting. While it is written specifically as support for my face mask pattern (you can grab a copy for yourself here if you would like), this knowledge can be easily integrated for use in other projects as well.

You can watch a video version of this tutorial here. https://youtu.be/PdqACC1eJ58

Now, Short Rows…

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Hand Knit Face Mask Pattern

I’m excited today to share with you all my new pattern for: a hand knit face mask!

Since I feel strongly that an effective face mask design needs to fit comfortably on most face types/sizes, “stretchy” and “adaptable” are important key concepts embodying this project. To this end, and for utmost comfort and wash-ability, I recommend using cotton yarn. You’ll need one skein (100 yards/91…

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At Switzer Lake

The other afternoon, I felt it would be really great to spend some time out in Nature. Sunny agreed. Being out in Nature is one of her favorite things too, so she’s always down with that idea. 😀

Since our move to the city, we don’t get out to The Forest as much as we’d like. In fact, we both miss The Forest quite a lot. So we go whenever we can.

This time, we decided to go to Switzer Lake.…

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Labor Day Sale!

Labor Day Sale! 15% off all patterns!

Hi Everyone! I don’t know about you, but I can hardly believe that its Labor Day weekend already! Summer has flown by so incredibly fast! And now we have the arrival of the cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage of Fall to anticipate…! Personally, I can’t wait for pumpkin EVERYTHING! 😀 So…

To celebrate, I’m giving 15% off ALL my patterns, through Monday!

Just go to my Ravelry store, and

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Cozy Evening In

I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather these last few days and so am enjoying a nice cozy evening in: Knitting, watching Netflix, and listening to Sunny snoring! (Her snores are truly the coziest, most soothing sound of well-being I think I’ve ever heard! 😴💗🐶💗😆💗) I also love the way she tucks her back feet under her front armpits to keep them warm while she’s sleeping – so brilliant!

Making…

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First Snow!

First Snow! It's the first snow of the Season here in the Shenandoah Valley, AND Sunny's first snow as well!

Today is our first real snow of the Season here in the Shenandoah Valley! (True, we had an ice storm a few weeks ago, but that just isn’t quite the same. 😉 )

    And it’s Sunny’s first snow too!

At first, she took after Joe very strongly, and was not at all impressed by snow; she just wanted to explore…

  https://videopress.com/embed/MH9CMw9w?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

So we did. We…

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Headbands!

I love warm headbands.

I love hats too, but headbands are uniquely suited for Fall! I mean, they…

Keep your ears nice and toasty,…

Prevent over-heating by allowing excess body heat to vent,…

Don’t interfere with “up” hair styles,…

And they’re just plain fun! (Not to mention stylish!)

If you follow me on social media, you’ve probably seen this photoof a hat pattern I’m working on called “Desert…

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A Sweater for Claire!

I’m working on a Fall sweater for my niece, Claire!

The pattern is Stripey Duffle Coat, by Kate Oates of Tot Toppers.

I’m knitting the size 2T and desperately trying to finish ASAP because I want her to be able to wear it this Fall before she outgrows it! 😂

The yarn is Berroco Vintage Chunky in colors #6101 (white) and #6145 (black); and I LOVE it! SO soft and squishy and warm! 😄

I discovered…

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Grateful

Today I’m enduring another migraine, but I’m grateful for the peace & quiet of my home,…

…for Sunny, always my faithful companion and loving friend,…

…and for my knitting with all of its therapeutic and meditative qualities that help to take my mind off of pain. 💗

What are you especially grateful for today?

~Happy Knitting!

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Vacation Knitting

All about vacation knitting!

How many projects does a knitter need to bring on vacation???

That’s a very good question. [I suspect the answer may be different for every knitter, and every vacation! 😉] This time around, I packed four projects that have been in progress for some time in the hopes that I’d finish or come close to finishing one or more of them… 🤞🏻😆

Project #1: Fox Cub Sweater Set Hat & Booties

I finished the…

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Beach Knitting

I’m working the second little bootie in the Fox Cub Set I’m knitting for Hubby’s cousin’s soon-to-be-arriving baby boy. I think these booties make great beach knitting because they’re small and uncomplicated while also not boring! 😉 You can check out my project page on Ravelry here, and see a previous post where I began the Fox Cub Sweater Set here!

One of the things I enjoy most about beach…

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To the Beach!

I’m at the Beach, Folks! 😄

It’s not exactly where I was expecting to be this week, but I’m happy to be here!

This is my sister-in-law Annelies, nieces Adriana and Vera, and brother Joel

My brother and his family very kindly invited me to join them for a week at Fenwick Island, DE. I wasn’t sure at first whether I’d be able or even if I wanted to go (given that Hubby could not join due to work,…

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Group Knit Blanket for Carrie

Group Knit Blanket for Carrie

A week or so ago, I read this post by Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner of Mason Dixon Knitting about how we can work together and knit blankets for individuals who are dealing with personal loss/tragedy. It really struck a deep cord with me.

So… I signed up to lead a Team Blanket Knit for a wonderful lady who could really use some warm, wooly love right about now!

I was absolutely stunned by the…

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Knit & Chew!

Our morning Knit & Chew (usually out on the back deck) has become something of a ritual for Sunny and I. In fact, Sunny can get quite bossy about it if she thinks I’m taking too long making the coffee… 😂☕️

Knit & Chew: The unreasonably early morning version (indoors because it’s so early there’s not enough light outside yet for knitting)…

Would you believe me if I told you that getting up so…

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Happy Mail Day!

Look what arrived (in the middle of a torrential downpour no less!) today!

My yarn order from The Loopy Ewe!

Yarn always makes my day better, but a delivery from The Loopy Ewe makes me especially happy!

(They are super excellent and super quick, by the way; which is always good, particularly where yarn is involved! For example: I placed this order on Tuesday, and it arrived on Friday of the…

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Perfect Morning!

Enjoying some sunshine at last!

Sunny & I enjoyed a perfect morning today!

For me, that meant coffee & knitting out on the back deck (with Sunny nearby, of course 😉)!

For Sunny, that meant a new beef chew & lying in soft, shady grass!

It’s such a relief to have some sunshine at last! And today was perfect – brilliant blue sky, warm sunshine but not too hot, a lovely breeze… listening to the music of the stream and the birds,…

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