The Ashling Tote

I cast on for "The Ashling Tote" last night. I had four skeins of Cascade 220 that were sitting unused in my basket and felt I really needed to find a use for them.

Originally I was going to make the February Lady Sweater, but we were not getting along.

So we frogged the FLS and it has been pretty much bliss every since!

sneaking back in...

The last two weeks have crept by rather silently and slowly. While it was all sunshine a week ago, I was feeling quite grey.

I injured my ankle during "training" at our dojo. Consequently I had to stay off my feet as much as possible for a week and do nothing "active" this week. I spent an afternoon in our local hospital for blood tests and x-rays and found out, thankfully, that they came back with no problems. Seems my injuries just needed time to heal.

Everyone from my physiotherapist, to my coach, to my husband told me that I needed to rest. I was finding that hard to do.

Very hard to do, especially when you have to.

Especially when you want to be active or at least go for a walk in the sunshine. It's not so bad when you want to put your feet up, but hard when most of the day they are up. So after a few days of sulking, I decided I needed a quick project to cast on. After a little browsing I found the Heart on a String hat pattern. A lovely free pattern from Spud and Chloe.

I loved the result. It was knit up over two days (partly watching a swim meet) using Sandnes Garn Smart yarn. Lovely and fast.

celebrate your love affair with knitting

Below, I have included a section from Interweave's Knitting Daily message for today. I thought that all of us who love knitting (and other crafts) might understand....

Celebrate Your Love Affair with Knitting

When most people talk about their Valentine, they're usually talking about a person. Well, one of my Valentines this year is going to be to my knitting! I love it so much, let me count the ways:

1. It fills my life with color

2. It encourages my creativity

3. It keeps my hands busy

4. It introduces me to new people who share my love for the craft

5. It loves to travel

6. It likes the same TV shows that I like

7. It keeps the same schedule as I do; if I want to knit in the middle of the night, it's there for me!

8. It likes to change bags as much as I do!

9. It challenges me

10. It keeps me company, even when I'm cranky

magic yarn ball

I received this exciting little package in the mail. Back in November, Theresa from T does wool decided to have a giving swap. She paired us up with partners and we traded our yarn balls. Little bits of pleasure wrapped hidden inside a beautiful ball of yarn.

I just received mine from Stacey over at Pea Knits. It was a fun package to open after all the anticipation.

I received a wonderful skein of yarn from The Plucky Knitter. I have been eyeing up her stuff for a while. But each time I look in her store, the shelves are always bare.

I also received Thermis (a pattern) for a great neck cowl,

some chocolate (eaten! didn't last past the photos been taken),

ribbons and a yarn wash.

~

I haven't even started to knit with it and am thinking I have been terribly spoiled.

~

I will refrain from peeking inside the ball, until I actually start knitting my cowl.

~

Thank you so much Stacey and Theresa! This was great fun and I am so pleased with my package.