Honeymoon (Part Two) Hat

When we were initially planning our honeymoon, I was quite insistent that we take two weeks and go somewhere. It's been a few years since I have been away for more than a week, and I thought that we were both due for a real escape. A road trip seemed like a good idea. Two weeks, on the road, with no real plans. How blissful. Especially when you're married to a guy who loves to drive, and you don't get motion sickness while knitting in the car.

Win. Win.
Am I right?

Things of course, did not turn out this way. I can't really complain, because a week in St. Lucia certainly wasn't a hardship, but since I was feeling a touch bratty about not getting the two weeks I had begged and pleaded for, I was feeling rather sorry for myself.

Queue- our good friends whose family happen to have a condo on St. Pete's Beach, Florida.

So last week, that's where we went.

It's a trip that I like to think of as 'Honeymoon, Part II'.

Unlike most honeymoons however, we weren't flying solo. We were with a pretty amazing couple who we naturally had a ball with. The boys would talk motorcycles, and us girls would talk knitting, sewing, shopping and dance moves.

Good deal, right?

And through all of this, I found myself with a knitted toque.

Perfect for the +30c weather we enjoying while down there.

The curious thing about knitting in the hot, hot heat however? A usually tight knitter (such as myself) ends up with a nice and relaxed gauge. Perfect for the gorgeous Merino/Alpaca blend that I was working with. Had I thought to bring down more of that yarn with me, I would have gotten started on a MASSIVE scarf out of the stuff.

Absolutely.

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.

 

No word of a lie.

And I want it wrapped around and around and around my body, no matter what the temperature is outside.

My recommendation? Show a little self-love, book a ticket to FLA and cast on some of this yarn- for you.

You deserve it.

It's been a loooong winter.

 

Pattern- Watch Cap by Michele Rose Orne
Yarn- Swan's Island Pure Blends Worsted, 1 skein (we have  HUGE shipment of this stuff expected at the shop any day now!)
Needles- 4.5mm 40cm and 4.5mm DPN (which were splintered and I had to keep filing down with a nail file. BOO!)

So while I feel as though I cannot let the opportunity pass me by to say something along the lines of "So I guess this means that the honeymoon really IS over".

 

The fact of the matter is...

 I have a hunch that this couldn't be further from the truth.

♥

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Baskets

A while back, my mom planted the seed in my head that we needed to do a yellow themed display at the shop in order to reassure people that Spring was most definitely on the docket. While a late Spring may be good for sales in the yarn industry, anyone who doesn't dream of Spring in this country must have some sort of a screw loose. Even if their livelihood does depend on it.

So last weekend (that would be Easter weekend), with Spring on my mind, I wound up a skein of Butterfly Super 10 in the brightest yellow that we had, and I got hooking.

It seemed crazy to start making baskets on Easter weekend... but I never was one to plan too far in advance.

So by the end of the weekend, I had not one, not two, but THREE little baskets in a row.

 

I also had the feeling that I would never be able to fully uncurl my fingers out to high five anyone ever again.

As it turns out, crocheting that yarn on a 3mm hook will do that to a girl. 

Besides, no one wants a basket with 'drape'. Let's leave that to the cowls, shall we? We want a basket that has no problem standing at attention!

Sorry. Fake flowers are sort of against my religion... but this is what our late Spring has brought me to!

The end result however, was most definitely worth it.

One look at those baskets and OH yes, Spring has sprung.

As is often the case with me and crochet, I totally binged on these baskets. One just wasn't enough. I had to keep going and going and going... until I hit a wall. That's how I roll with this craft. I skip out on sleep so that I can finish up just one more inch, or one one more ball of yarn and then BOOF.

I'm over it.

I feel good though. Like my hunger has been satisfied.

That crocheting beast within has been tamed- for the time being. Time for her to kick it into hibernation mode for a while.

I assure you however, that when she's ready for another round, you will hear her roar- loud and clear.

Crocheter's Details

Pattern- Churchmouse Crocheted Baskets
Yarn- Butterfly Super 10. Two skeins of yellow did the whole set, and the contrast colours were just bits and pieces that I found throughout my home. (You heard me- throughout my home).
Hook- 3mm (the pattern calls for 3.5mm, but I found that to be too floppy for this yarn and my tension).

And should you need just one more indication that Spring has sprung, I urge you to look closely at this photo.

Yellow crocus at the shop

So leave that Wiarton Willie alone- will you???

He was just saying what he thought you all wanted to hear.

Murray Had A Little Lamb

Spring has sprung!

And lambing season has begun.

 

Here's a small clip for you to enjoy from our visit with the lambs last week.

Happy Friday!

♥