I love the yarn alongs hosted by Ginny over on her blog Small Things. I get to share what I’ve been reading and what I’ve been knitting and connect with the knitting world at the same time. But I think I only ended up participating in 2 of them in 2018. Let’s try for some more this year!
Right now I am knitting a pair of Long Lovely Mitts by Purl Soho using some very fun hand dyed fingering yarn that I picked up on my last trip to TN. Funny story–the Mister and I were talking about hand dying yarn with kool aid and I told him I was just knitting up some gloves with yarn that I had dyed with kool aid. We were examining it, critiquing it, and talking about what we would do differently next time. Oops! I discovered that I didn’t actually dye this yarn! But we love how bright the colors are and were wondering how we got them to be like that. I guess we didn’t! Someone else did!
As for what I’m reading, I’m totally immersing myself into all things soap making. I recently picked that hobby back up and want to learn everything I can. It’s also pasta making month. What is this you might ask? I joined a discussion over on instagram about making a list of things you want to learn and then each month decide what you want to learn and then jump into it. I’ve wanted to learn how to make my own pasta for some time now, I even have a pasta machine that I picked up at a yard sale for $4! So, January is filled with soap making and pasta making. And learning about both. It’s going to be a fun month! What are you currently reading, knitting, and/or learning about?
karen
Purl soho has the nicest patterns, your mitts are quite pretty!!
chickenlibrarian
Thank you! I love this pattern in particular. They do such a nice job spelling everything out so clearly. It’s a really easy pattern that they make much easier with clear instructions! Happy knitting! And thanks for visiting.
Cathy
I like your enthusiasm, and you are exactly right…make a list of things you want to learn and jump right in! I may need to take my own advice here.
Blessings!
chickenlibrarian
I’ve always made a list but never done much with it from there. It all seemed so straight forward and clear after the discussion on instagram…make the list and then pick something each month and then learn, learn, learn. I’m really excited about all the possibilities! Thanks for visiting!!
Rachell
What a great idea! Learning something new and practising it every month sounds like a plan.
chickenlibrarian
it really makes sense but I didn’t actually think of it until the convo over on instagram! Seems so silly to not have thought of it before now. It’s really a game changer. I’ve been thinking about it and will write down my newly updated 2019 goals very soon! Thanks for visiting!
Cheryl | TimeToCraft
Love the idea of learning a new skill each month. Revisiting some of my old skills I haven’t used for a while might be a good idea for me. I’ve made soap, but only as a melt and pour. I’m guessing you are taking it further than that. I make my own pasta when I can. Mainly when my chickens are in full production and I need to do something with all the eggs.
Your mitts are a beautiful blend of colours. I think I’d smile every time I picked them up to knit.
chickenlibrarian
Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment. It seems so simple, really, to take something you want to learn and really invest it for a month, but I didn’t even consider it until the discussion on instagram. It was like a light bulb moment! As for the soap making, yes, it’s from scratch–add the lye, the oils, the water, and then cook it. It’s really more from the ‘knowing what we’re using’ standpoint more than anything. Plus I’m very cheap, or should I say frugal, when it comes to certain things. Like spending money on soap or laundry detergents. But melt and pour certainly has it’s advantages.
I’m currently addicted to making pasta. I find it very fun and the possibilities endless when it comes to recipes and shapes, sizes, etc. Much like pie making. I think that’s why I like making pie so much. There is no end to the possibilities. I guess making by hand is like that though.
Thanks again for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon.
Currently – ChickenLibrarian
[…] it’s a library book and I need to return it soon. You probably remember this book from here. January is soap making month too. But January’s is quickly turning into February without a […]