Month: July 2013

Knit, Purl, Knit . . .

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My knitting needles and sock loom have been very busy! In the midst of knitting socks and dishcloths, I managed to finish my first sweater!

When I saw the pattern for the Askew Cardigan in the Spring 2013 edition of Knit Wear magazine, I knew I just had to make that sweater. My longstanding apprehension for knitting sleeves was quickly outweighed by the simple and slightly unorthodox design of the cardigan. I love the off-center opening and 3/4 length sleeves because they give the traditional cardigan a bit of a modern edge. There’s nothing dowdy about it!

I started knitting in early May after an exhaustive search for yarn. I settled on Fibra Natura Oak in Earth, which is super-soft and has a beautiful variegated color scheme. The knitting process started out easy, but once I had to start shaping armholes, I was so thankful for the wisdom of my aunt. She walked me through each step with the patience of a saint!

The buttons came from a button dealer in a small flea market in St. Germain, Wisconsin. I purposely bought old mismatched buttons to give my sweater a little personality.

Without further ado, here is my first sweater:

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Askew Cardigan
Photo and knitting by: c.b.w. 2013

While waiting out the process of wet blocking my sweater, I pulled out my sock loom and knit a pair of spiral stitch socks. These socks are a bit of a miracle because I swear the yarn I used is cursed. Last year, I tried to make a pair of socks with the same skein and it was a disaster. I ended up ripping out a completed sock after realizing it turned out two sizes too small (for reasons I still can’t figure out).  The skein was shoved in my yarn basket and stayed there until last week.

Once again, the yarn put up a fight. On the second sock, I had to rip out sixteen rows after making a bad mistake, (in a brilliant move I inadvertently knit the pattern into the bottom of the foot instead of the top). Still, I ended up winning the war!

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Spiral Stitch Sock
Yarn: Paton’s Kroy Socks – Cyan Stripes

Lastly, I busied myself on a three hour plane ride by knitting up a cute cotton dishcloth. I started making these in early July and I just love them! Not only are they pretty, but they are very sturdy. Most of what I’ve made are gifts, but the one I made on the plane is for me!

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Ridged Furrows Dishcloth
Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream – Countryside

At the moment, I’m knitting another pair of socks.  When those are done, I’ll be combing through my patterns to find my next project!

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c.b.w. 2013

Favorite Thing Friday: The Beehive

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Along Main Street in Danville, Indiana there is a unique place to grab a cup of coffee or a scrumptious piece of bakery. The Beehive is the brainchild of Betsy Bassett, an Indiana resident who had a dream to combine local farm fresh treats with the ambience of a coffee cafe.

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The inspiration for The Beehive.

I stopped by the The Beehive to pick up my usual Cafe Mocha, although I must say I was tempted to try something called a Nutella Latte, (from what I hear this is a huge local favorite!). It only took a few sips to know I had found a really special coffee shop. The Beehive’s Cafe Mocha is a little on the sweet side, but the sweetness is balanced by a subtle earthy flavor. As it cools, the relationship between sweet and bitter only deepens into a beautiful blend.

The cafe itself is warm and cozy.  A fireplace with soft chairs sits at the rear, while cafe tables topped with potted garden plants fill out the front. Nestled into the side wall is a small organic food market that carries national brands along with locally grown produce and dairy products.

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Inside The Beehive – cafe and food market

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Sit by the fire with a cup of coffee at The Beehive!

For those ignoring their diet, The Beehive offers a fantastic array of baked goods. Choosing a snack from the bakery is easier said than done. Everything looks delectable and is baked fresh daily. I finally settled on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar and I was not disappointed! Layers of doughy peanut butter goodness hug chocolate ribbons and chunks with absolute decadence.

If you ever happen to be in Indiana, it’s worth visiting Danville to check out this gem of a cafe!

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See you at The Beehive!

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c.b.w. 2013

Contemplation

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Where to end . . .

1 of 3: Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn
Ai Weiwei 1995

Do we protect the past? Conserve what was in order to understand what is?

Molded by ancient hands, crafted with skill and powered by expression. Painted with both imagination and rules of design. Created with purpose.

Shall it remain in stasis, revered as a portal to a time and place that no longer exists?

A bold act . . .

2 of 3: Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn
Ai Weiwei 1995

Can we let go? Roots reach back and anchor a mindset. This we treasure as lessons learned, but the strings remain attached and grow taut. Are they the warp and weft of a safety net or the threads of a noose?

There is order in boundaries, rules, and ethics. Some mistaken comfort as freedom.

Release the ledger of what has come to pass and leave a blank page of infinite possibilities.

Where to begin . . .

3 of 3: Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn
Ai Weiwei 1995

Fragments mark a fragile break. Tradition, filial piety, and honored antiquity lay shattered at the feet of the living. Dust settles in the breath of the present. Not forgotten, just released.

Courageous or cowardly? Expression or defacement?

Innovative? Tragic?

Do we break what has already been broken, establish anew, or redefine as a whole?

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Words by c.b.w. 2013

Photographs captured at an exhibition entitled, “Ai Weiwei: According to What?”

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c.b.w. 2013