spring lines

Although it has been very quiet at the blog a lot of knitting has been going on. Would you believe that I have completed three sweaters over the winter months...well I have. It started out as a new year's resolution back in January to work on only one thing at a time and to finish each one. Turns out that I like that process as I like being in the zone.

So this is the latest jumper just off the needles. Spring Lines.  it has pockets and stripes.

I was invited to do a testknit for Rililie last month. Mine is in spring colours all merino wools garnered from the stash. Working from stash was my other resolution. This pullover is hip to wear and the stripes knit in the blink of an eye. This pullover is lightly fitted as an a-line pullover and is worked top down in one piece. Did I mention the pockets?  The pattern is well written and clear, and it has tons of how-to links for the special techniques like short rows and colour changes.

signs of spring this week

Rililie's sweater came out in the deep freeze of Feburary when my world outside was white and windy and daylight was scarce. It was a burst of colour ready to brighten up any mood, indeed the original is saturated with bright vibrant reds and oranges and pinks.

If you're in need of a great audio book, for company when knitting, have a listen to the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I especially love this story of a long and deep journey of a gentle soul. Written by Rachel Joyce.

Spring Lines found here on ravelry

just add blooms

my buddy Peter the gardener has an uncanny eye for designing gardens in

public spaces. He placed these first crocus blooms just off the shortcut to the main street, the one that appears after the last of the snow melts. 

first blooms

the snows have finally melted around the front gardens and so I took a little walk. five little crocuses --these are always the first to bloom and they are such a glorious sight. not far, are also the first tulip shoots nestled in a bed of thyme and sedum. could the deer be far away. and there are lots of daffodils ready to make a break into the spring too. lots of birds around, i saw several robins, a cardinal high in a tree singing sweetly and two flocks of canada geese returning for the summer.