There's a new Chick in our flock!

We had to bid our farewells to Janna since she retired from the group but it didn't take long to fill the seat. Tina is a friend whom I have known for about a year from my other knitting group, The Delaware Avenue Stitch Angels, . She came to the library group knowing how to crochet but with a desire to learn how to knit and BOY! has she taken off! She already knits TAAT magic loop socks (two at a time) and loves making socks. I mentioned to her that we have a trial period so if a newbie doesn't feel like it's the right fit, they can bow out gracefully. Just about the nicest thing Tina could say was you know when it's the right place to be. She is a positive addition to our flock.

Barbara B baked Sourdough Banana-spinach Chocolate Chip muffins for today's treat. Now before you rush to judgement about the spinach, let me tell you they were delicious and did not taste like spinach. As a matter of fact, I didn't tell my husband until after he ate one and remarked how much he liked it because you know guys. If I told him there was spinach in them, he would have balked.

We have a few FO's. First up is Dorah's own shawl, The Reverb, which she made using mini skeins in her favorite collection of colors.

Nancy made a cute little bunny hat for her granddaughter in time for Easter. 

The Baby Bunny hat is a free pattern.

And Carole finished the confetti colored hat she has been working on these past few weeks. 

Dorah graciously offered to model it for us.

Dorah fell in love with a 500+ skein of DK weight yarn from Miss Babs called Yowza. She needed some advice about what to make with it. Her first choice was the Jariq Shawl but I think the yarn colors have too much movement and will overpower the lace of the pattern so you won't be able to see it. The next step will be to find inspiration by checking out the yarn on Ravelry to see what other knitters have made.

When we have a full house, we're going to have to use ALL the chairs! I love this! Dorah and Jan are anxiously awaiting the opening of their farm shares for the summer months. We talked about the veggies they buy in their weekly boxes and how you don't get a choice unless it's something you really don't like. It's a good way to sample foods you might not have grown up eating. And it forces you to find new recipes to spark up your repertoire.

Dorah's Helix Hat is well into the stripes this week. Those colors look great together.

Jan is much happier with her shawl since she started the Easy Goes It Shawl. Her first choice of patterns did not please her but she is very happy with this new pattern.

Carole's Bias Scarf grows steadily each week but that ball of yarn doesn't look much smaller! LOL!

Barbara B is knitting a Sampler Afghan from Plymouth Yarns. One of the sections of patterns has eyelets which might catch little fingers so she is considering replacing it with a different pattern, perhaps a seed stitch. This will be a baby gift for her friend who will be a first time grandma.

Tina has this gigantic ball of yarn to make the Hoodola. The fuzzy texture looks so luscious! Something tells me she will be able to get more than one project from this one skein of yarn. 😉

Like me, Nancy finds it much easier to be inspired to knit girlie items and has to be very intentional about knitting boys' and men's items. So she is making a basic beanie for this project.

 

Margaret is trying her hand at a two color brioche hat. Somewhere along the line she went off the rails a bit. I helped her tink it back to the last row that had the correct sequence of stitches so she's back on track. But if it gives her any more trouble, it might be time to chuck it. 

You know my motto...if it's not fun, don't do it!

I lost my knitting mojo last week while I was trying to knit a silk/bamboo blend yarn that wouldn't cooperate with me. My personal rule is to give a yarn and pattern 3 tries. If after the 3 tries it still gives me trouble then I know it doesn't want to be that project. I've given this yarn 13 chances, changing needles and patterns, to become something, well beyond my limits, and it has drained my enthusiasm. So the yarn is in time out and I'm using Berroco Comfort in worsted weight to make the Empower People cowl. I might decide to throw in a little lace at the border but there is time to decide.

The weather app says it 52 degrees and no wind, unlike the past few days where I felt like I could take off if I spread my arms. So I think a quick walk around the block before I have to cook dinner is in order. Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!