I've just endured the longest, most miserable winter of my life. I didn't fully understand that weather could leave you feeling incredibly drained and uninspired. Depressed, really.
I used to think that any temperature below freezing would essentially feel the same.
{snicker}
I can now attest that -25° F (before the wind chill) does not, in fact, feel like 25° F. And... walking through deep snow is more of a workout than jogging on a beach. And... going weeks without sunshine does affect your emotional well-being. Phew!
We've had 40° temps and sunshine for a few days now and I feel reenergized. It's simply amazing.
So, now that I'm feeling more like myself, I have a lot of catching up to do.
Most of my creative energy over the past months has been channeled into knitting - primarily because you can do that one the couch, in your fleece pajamas, wrapped up in a blanket! I have to say, I've become pretty darn comfortable with it.
So, here's a quick overview of a few of my favorite creations. Get ready for photo overload...
Chunky wool poncho
I absolutely love this piece. I would wear it all of the time if I could. Every time I've worn it out, ladies stop to ask me where I bought it. I've actually made two of these. With practice, the second actually turned out better than the first. I doubled the amount of fringe and it looked so polished!
This pattern came from a book. If you'd like to make one similar, here are a few free patterns:
The Simplest Sweater
I chose this pattern for the promise in its name. It was my first attempt at a top-down sweater. I am pleased to report it was incredibly simple! I've been lax with my photography, but a friend snapped this quick pic for me.
Colorwork Cowl
Three cheers for my first colorwork project! For this cowl, I used a pattern from The Purl Bee. Truth be told, I really prefer the colorways that they recommend. But, I wanted to use the yarn that I had on hand. I made many, many, many mistakes along the way. Fortunately, the folds disguise most of them!
Honeycomb Brioche Sweater
I could not love this sweater more. I typically gravitate towards free patterns, but I actually bought this one. I found this yarn on Little Knits, one of my favorite yarn sites. Retail, this yarn would have cost more than $200. I only paid $40!
This is just a sampling from the past few months. As you can see, I've been very busy (and cooped up indoors!).
Next update... sewing!
Next update... sewing!
