And just in case my hug does not keep me warm...

I have completed my arm warmers!



They are made from the very luscious Henry's Attic Inca Cotton in the Desert Colorway.



I decided that wrist warmers would just not do it for me. So I continued up to my upper arm.



Man, these are warm and toasty. And I think they are gorgeous, if I do say so myself. See for yourself. Here they are, laying on my very beautiful, new, kitchen floor, and modeled on my own arms (makes for awkward picture taking, but that's okay):

I'm wearing my hug...

Somebody loves me, yes they do!

Ever since I lost weight, I'm cold all the time. Even in the summer when people are sweltering, I barely break a sweat. Well, this winter has been terrible for me. I waited and waited for the snows to come (I love to look out my bedroom window at the snow covered trees) and now that they have, I can't get warm.

I had a bridal shower to go to last week, in Manhattan, somewhere I rarely go unless I've got tickets to Broadway. After the shower I decided to stop at my sister's and surprise her, see if she were free, and have supper with her.

I did, she was, and supper at the Polish restaurant we chose was absolutely delicious. The only problem was, through the entire time in the restaurant, I was freezing. I kept my coat on over my shoulders and my hands in my pits and still I could not get warm.

On the way back to drop her at her apartment, she says to me: "Do you remember the gray sweater I knit daddy all those years ago?" I sure did. It was the most magnificent cardigan I had ever seen. It was worn by him, with pride, for years. It was well loved. When daddy passed, it went to mommy who continued to wear it with pride. It was still well loved. When mom died and I cleaned out her things, it was gone.

For years I searched everywhere to find a copy of that pattern. I was on a mission to find it so I could make it for myself. It is now many, many, years later and my searching has proved fruitless. I have never been able to find the pattern and, therefore, never able to duplicate the sweater. But I digress.

She went on to say, "Stay right here. I have another one and I'm going to give it to you." She ran upstairs to her apartment and was back moments later, bag in hand. In this bag was an almost identical version of the sweater she'd made my dad all those years ago, but this one is beige. Her best friend George gave her this wool years ago and she created this sweater from it. It's magnigicent. And it's mine.

I photographed it the night I brought it home. I planned to start wearing it immediately, but then the weather warmed up. It was almost spring-like yesterday. So it sat on my couch all day looking lost. This morning, it was supposed to be warm again, but there is a distinct chill in the air and I heard it's going to be 18 degrees tonight by the time I leave my friend's house. I pulled it off the couch and threw it on. I've been wearing it all day and, let me tell you, I feel like I'm wearing a hug. I know that we love each other very much, but I'm wearing her love on my back and it feels so good.

Back of Sweater

I've decided...

that when I really need to think, I knit. Haven't quite figured out why that is, but I know I do my best thinking and figuring things out while I knit. Some of my best advice, to myself and others, comes through knitting times.

I often wonder why, over the years, I give it up for such long stretches of time. My current fascination with it has already lasted longer in this one stretch than it ever has before. I also know that I'm a much more talented knitter and way more creative now than I have ever been in my history.

Lots of things are on my mind right now... how certain friends and family are doing. Wishing I was geographically nearer to some when I feel they need me the most. I find that I knit a lot for others (way, WAY, more than for myself) and it's my way of giving them a hug when I can't physically be there for them.

So, my loves, (you know who you are), if you are reading this (and I know some of you do), please take this post as being directed at you, know that it's coming straight from my heart and understand that this is the hug and the shoulder that you need right now. I'm here for you in whatever capacity I can be. Stay in touch.

I couldn't help myself

so I started a new project last night. I'm so cold I can't stand it. It was in single digits here today for most of the day. I had to start arm warmers for myself. I found a pattern that is exquisite and the perfect yarn jumped right out of one of my boxes, screaming "use me! use me!" so I did.

I'm using a beautiful beigey (is that a word?) white mixture from Henry's Attic. It's a thick and thin and is so amazingly soft and luscious. I can't wait to finish these and start wearing them. I'm about half-way through with the first one and know that I will finish these quickly. Once I'm done, I'll post the pictures. I think the cable gets somewhat lost in it, but I don't care. I think they will be gorgeous.

Also, I saw this outrageously beautiful sweater on a blog the other day and I want to figure out the pattern. Seems the pattern is only available on a certain yarn retailer's site, and only if you buy the yarn from them, so I'm determined to figure out the pattern and then knit it from my stash. I'll post that picture once I figure out how to write the pattern for it.

Seems like this year will be the year of multiple projects for me. I'm jazzed.