March hopped in!

The March wind roars 

Like a lion in the sky,

And makes us shiver

As he passes by.

When winds are soft,

And the days are warm and clear,

Just like a gentle lamb,

Then spring is here.

-Anonymous.

2 shawls // fini!

Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, 

and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either.

::Elizabeth Zimmermann

- - -

Another rainy day here. Birds aren't visible for the most part, as they're keeping dry somewhere nearby; their little chirp song is playing in the wet air. This morning I was happy to see both shawls that I washed & blocked yesterday were ready to come off the blocking pins. They are lovely and I'm so pleased with the end results.

First up is, Highland Peaks Shawl. This was a most enjoyable knit with the yarns I chose, Miss Babs 2ply in colorway Joan of Arc for the body of shawl + Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in colorway Cabbage Rose, to be lush yarns of top quality and both colors married wonderfully. The Miss Babs washed exceptionally well, creating a divine fabric. Hazel Knits for the edging has a different feel somewhat and well, the color is so cheerful and picks up the pink touches in the other yarn. The only problem I had with this pattern was following the chevron rows in the edging. The first one was fine but somewhere along the way in the second repeat, I got distracted or just too fast, missing a row or perhaps duplicating a part of the pattern repeat - whatever it was made the chevrons not as pronounced and 'line up' where they should have. The third repeat of chevrons came back on track but it doesn't have the overall precision as the designer's model for this part of the design. It's fine with me - of course I do wish they did line up but I'm pleased as punch with it anyway - such a gorgeous design by Mina. The format for this pattern was excellent and very easy to follow ... it was clearly user error on my part for the section I mentioned. The shawl is large, measuring so will be a cozy one to wear year round, especially in Spring!

Secondly is, Maya's Shawl.
This design struck me as one I HAD to do from the get-go. It's beautiful lacyness worked on bulkier weight yarn was most appealing to me. The yarn I picked for this project was interesting and turned out fine but not my favorite. Quarry in colorway Sulphur from Brooklyn Tweed - it's a heavier weight from their popular Shelter line. I love the color!!!! It is about the color of cat's eyes, such a muted, relaxing green shade. The leafy lacy edging is quite lush and cascades at a great length down the middle of back. I love how this shawl, another big one measuring, is quite simplistic yet unique to itself. It will most likely be reserved as one of my favorite bedtime shawls - the ones I tend to wrap up in instead of a robe when the nights get chilly.

I'm not the most patient blocker but blocking most knits is quite necessary, especially for shawls. I'm always glad when it's time for them to be un-pinned and moved into the handknit collection to be worn and loved.

Episode 68 // blocking party (AUDIO)

Show Notes:

The artist vocation is to send light into the human heart.

-George Sand.

Where to find me
bzmama on Instagram
tanyamarie on Ravelry
thesamplergirl on Facebook and Twitter
tanya marie on Pinterest
The Sampler Girl Ravelry Group
last video episode on youtube

HAPPENINGS
Wonder exhibit at Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC
Homemade Donuts recipe

OFF THE NEEDLES
Highland Peaks Shawl, design by Mina of Knitting Expat Podcast
Hideaway Nappy Cover
Castlelaw Hat, design by Clare Devine
Cozy Memories Cowl
Maya's Shawl, design by Justyna Lorkowska

ON THE NEEDLES
Paris Toujours, design by Isabell Kraemer
Transatlantic Baby Blanket, design by Emily Play

KAL NEWS
Christmas Eve Cast On Winner announced!
Baby Knits KAL on The Sampler Girl Ravelry Group / through April 30th
French Outlander Shawl KAL on Canada Let's Swap Ravelry Group

LISTENING/READING/WATCHING
Caithness Collective, audio podcast
The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, historical fiction about George Sand / Impromptu movie
Karie Westermann Blog
The Crimson Field, Season 1 on pbs, period drama about WWI set in coastal France in a tented field hospital

ENDING THOUGHT
Lent
#tanyalenten2016 on Instagram

Episode 61 Forecast: Rain! with lots of knitting planned

SHOW NOTES!
bzmama on Instagram
tanyamarie on Ravelry
The Sampler Girl on Facebook, Twitter and Etsy

OFF THE NEEDLES
Christmas Tree Dishcloth (gift!)
Be Simple Shawl / yarn is Noro Silk Garden colorway #325 and Chopped Ginger Handspun colorway Hot Fuzz

ON THE NEEDLES
test knit shawl design for Holli of The Swift Knits Podcast

RAVELRY NEWS
*2 winners announced in Cardiac Red-Along
*French Outlander Shawl KAL - now through Dec 22
*Out of the Queue with you! KAL - now through November
*Agatha Socks pattern GIVEAWAY ends tomorrow

Rain in the Country, a poem by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Here in the country the cool sweet rain
Falls on the daisies and growing grain,
Shadows the pond with widening rings,
Kisses the lips of the lowland springs,
And fills the valley with mist abrim.

It splashes in shadowy forest nooks,
Dimples the faces of woodland brooks,
Whispers with leaves in untrodden ways,
Dances o'er meadows of lushest green
And scatters the petals where roses lean.

podcast episode 55: True North, in knitting and in life

It is good to have an end to journey towards;

but it is the journey that matters in the end.

-Ursula K. LeGuin

- - -

bzmama on IG

tanyamarie on ravelry 

The Sampler Girl on Facebook & Twitter

SUMMER HAPPENINGS

OFF THE NEEDLES

summer dishcloth, design by sarah stevens

blue shawl aka the sock knitter's shawl, design by kay f. jones

ON THE NEEDLES

yowza weigh it shawl, design by susan b. anderson

ENDING THOUGHT

True North

My Heart, My Love (Mo Chride, Mo Gradh) / a former bookseller's obsession with Outlander

I'm over the moon with Outlander, the book and the series on Starz. If you haven't read it, seen it ... I can't recommend it enough. I worked in a bookstore before kids, before marriage, eons ago now / (actually met my husband there as he was shelving history books and I children's literature) ... this was before Harry Potter was published, before Christian Gray graced the end caps of Target, before the Kindle or Nook, way before selfies or selfie sticks ... it was the year Braveheart hit the big screen. The movie that, hands down, is my husband's favorite film (up there with Rocky) but if I hear the word "Freedom!" yelled one more time, I might bolt. 

Customers flocked to our bookstore to buy travel books, the latest fashion magazines, and were always leaving their coffee cups from the e-bar among the stacks. Whenever it was my shift to be at the register, I never tired of seeing which books were purchased, many ones over and over. As an avid reader, I added many new-to-me authors to my reading list. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander was one of the titles that kept popping up but for whatever reason, I never read it at the time. They were, and are!, long books. Now 20 years later, I see what I was missing. And I think it's one of the best books I've ever read. It's not pinned to a specific genre so chances are, there's something in the story for everyone. 

Inspired by this epic story of Claire and Jamie, I have designed a knitting pattern entitled My Heart, My Love ... in Gaelic is Mo Chride, Mo Gradh. This shawlette design is a free download on Ravelry.com until June 1 after which time it will be a pattern for purchase. I have been overwhelmed with the response to the design already as it has been downloaded many thousands of times which makes me beyond giddy that so many want to knit it and share in the inspiration, as they've shared with me since its release - thank you!

My Heart, My Love (Mo Chride, Mo Gradh)

A simple, classic shawlette comprised of knits, purls and a row of eyelets. Worked in Ginger Twist Studio yarn, colorway Je Suis Prest. 

The novel’s characters, Claire and Jamie, possess a love that passes through the centuries; it is their epic story that this design illustrates … 

~smooth stockinette rows symbolizing the rhythmic tune of story, ultimate trust and the softness of a kiss
~textured sections represent the Scottish Highlands, hard fast castle walls, lasting scars, and troubled lines
~garter stitch ebbs as the water carries the couple onward
~and finally, eyelets at the end, like Wedding rings, signify unending devotion

 

The Outlander series costumes by Terry Dresbach are stellar and breathtaking in beauty and design. This is one of my favorite outfits that Claire wears, the simplicity to detail and the color combination ... oh to have a yarn in these colors would be fabulous.

 “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.” 

-Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

gratitude / love your blog

My goodness, we're in the last week of April ~ hard to imagine. Wasn't it just January? This month I've been participating in the thoughtful blog prompts from a playful day's love your blog challenge- the last one is on Gratitude.

- - -

What does it mean?
How can you feel it?
How do you show it?
How do you give it?

Being gracious. Thankful. Truly, truly thankful. Blessed. Knowing that you are loved. Believing that you are worthy.

Putting yourself behind and letting someone else go forward. It's hard to do and see in this world, this big wide world of people. All rushing around to get somewhere, do something, be someone. But it's always so refreshing to encounter a fellow human being putting you first in a line, letting you go before them in traffic, or getting a thank you in a quick smile when words aren't necessary. Helping each other out, strangers or not, is vital.

There's a feeling. Something within that makes you stop a minute, savour the thought, the gift, the token of assistance, trivial or monumental. It makes you grateful. Gives you a warm sense of hope and in turn you want to share it, show others than you care, that you are grateful for them, even people you will never see again. By doing good things for others, this flower of thankfulness blooms on. Opens your eyes to things you might have been closed to before. I think that's a flower that should be in everyone's lifegarden. After all, grace comes in the thanks-giving.

Gardening is an instrument of grace.

-May Sarton.

Beginnings / love your blog

Let's start at the very beginning

A very good place to start

When you read you begin with A B C

When you sing you begin with Do Re Me

-lyrics written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sound of Music  

- - -

Continuing with Kate at aplayfulday's love your blog challenge, this week's prompt is Beginnings. So ... let's begin!

As one who creates things with her hands, I tend to want to start projects more than begin them. Does that make any sense? It is all how you look at it, really. A new pattern calls. A new yarn entices. A new fabric comes in the mail. A new thread wants to be used. A new technique begs to be tried. As my husband likes to remark about my knitting obsession ... "if you give Tanya a ball of yarn, chances are she'll knit something with it" ... and sooner than later!

So it's exciting to start - to get everything you need for a project out on the table (or in your lap) and ... begin! There's a magic to it all since I've never started this exact project before and truly it makes me very happy, the beginning of it! Usually it isn't long before the project has taken great shape and hits the middle of the road and I'm already off thinking of my next start. Startitis, as I've heard it called. That itching to stitch something NEW, that yearning to cast on something NEW and DIFFERENT. To keep plugging along and finish that project I was so giddy at is the rub.

I love to cook and bake so the beginning of a recipe is always really important. Scanning the ingredient list and making sure I have all the items. Several times I have begun and then realize I didn't have baking soda as remembered or misread the amount of brown sugar I needed and came up with 1/2 cup short ... beginning to prepare in cooking, just as in handmade projects, is just as important because you won't get very far if you aren't equipped with everything needed to get that start off to a good one. With reading, I love to begin a new book. The library is my second home. I'm forever borrowing books and the night table holds many titles that pine for my attention. It's such fun to begin that first chapter, get introduced to the characters and be whisked away into the story. 

Beginnings are very special. They are the firsts. Following where they lead is the journey to behold. Let's go!

(Messalina shawl design by Kay Jones)

sunflowers

 

The sockhead hat is coming along splendidly. The yarn, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, is one of Dragonfly Fiber's yummy sock weights and it's so cheerful with every stitch. Love it! It surely ushers in the weekend perfectly here -- enjoy yours and find joy at every turn.

"The sunflower is mine, in a way."

-Vincent Van Gogh