Cowl Curling

I've been finding my knitting mojo again which is really nice and relaxing for me.

Another challenge coincides with the Winter Olympics so I listed a cowl and finishing my 10- stitch blanket as my goals. The cowl was finished fairly fast in a couple of days. It's a cowl type that I normally wouldn't consider for myself mostly because of our SoCal weather is not that cold. we usually wear cowls as accessories not practicality. 

My friend Jayna showed me a cowl she bought which is close fitting to her neck yet a lighter yarn with looser stitches to allow air circulation. I searched for something similar in the Ravelry database and found Hallgrimskirkja cowl and paired it with some Noro Taiyo sock yarn. This particular yarn is cotton, wool, silk and nylon blend which will be nice since I didn't want something too scratchy near my neck.

I liked the result so much I casted on for another.

Still half a skein left so I’m casting on for another cowl. #teampuckthis2018 #ravellenics2018

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Feb 12, 2018 at 12:30pm PST

14 inches tall. Light yet soft and snuggly.

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Feb 10, 2018 at 10:14pm PST

I've already used this for our outings to the Redondo Beach pier. It's been very chilly at night and this cowl is perfect, providing the right amount of warmth for me. I also earned a medal in the Cowl Curling category. 

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Feb 10, 2018 at 9:57pm PST

January Hat Trick

January is zipping by but this month is the annual Puck This! hat trick challenge. We knit 3 hats for the month to get our hat trick! No prizes or awards just the great satisfaction of knitting hats! It's always a fun time since I'm introduced to hat patterns that I haven't seen before and there are probably thousands out  there.. or close to it. 

Miki hat is done! #hattrick2018

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Jan 3, 2018 at 10:23pm PST

This is hat 1, the Miki pattern that a fellow raveler introduced to the group. It's a free pattern and it looks great on everyone. I really enjoyed knitting this one and plan on knitting more especially for my male peeps.

Messy Bun hat. That’s 2 down. #puckthishattrick2018

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Jan 11, 2018 at 11:13am PST

Hat number 2...the Messy Bun Hat. My hair is too short for a nice full bun, messy or not. It's a nice coral/hot pink color and is perfect for people with really long hair that want a hat to keep their head warm but don't want the misshapened head look. This is already mailed to my friend in Sacramento. 

Mollie Mae hat. #puckthishattrick2018

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Jan 18, 2018 at 11:01pm PST

Hat number 3 is Mollie Mae. All these patterns are free since I usually can't see myself paying for a hat pattern. 
This is helpful using up those little leftovers that gather so I tried to find a good contrast. I followed the pattern as written and to me, the hat can be a bit longer. That's just my preference...some like their hats snug to the head while others, like me prefer some room in the hat. 

Found a WIP so I had to finish it up. No idea what pattern it is. Not counting it for our hat trick.

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Jan 11, 2018 at 11:47pm PST

And I have an extra hat for the books...a project that was laying around for a year or two so I picked it up and finished it. I forget the pattern right now but it's in my projects so I must've created a project page for it. It's cute, cotton fingering weight yarn held doubled and I'm putting it in the gift pile. 

So that's it! Hats are are a fun and usually quick project to break up some of my other bigger projects and I need the satisfaction of finishing something. They make practical and fun gifts. 

My New Pen

My new fountain pen and I love it!! Very easy to use after a short learning curve but that may just be me and I'm lame. HA. 

I've been looking for any excuse to write a note and mail them to my customers and friends. 

Do you like fountain pens? Give me some recommendations for my next pen!!

Into The Rabbit Hole

My love of pens is deep and goes way back to when I was a kid. A time when I didn't have a computer and penmanship was graded in elementary school. I had the basic Bic and Pilot pens all through college so my experience was limited.

After pharmacy school, I discovered the joy of pen collecting through the different drug reps coning in and handing out pens with their company and/or drug names advertised. More standard pens but I learned quickly that I had my favorites There were the occasional unusual looking pens to stand out from the other companies, pens shaped like syringes that looked cool but didn't necessarily write well. I was constantly using pens to write Rxs and initial off prescriptions and more.

I don't remember when I got my first Montblanc but that was a super special treat and I loved writing with it but also scared of losing it. I've lost track of it and it may be in a box somewhere. I do have another one that I keep in my purse. A couple years ago, Hector and the boys gave me a Pelikan Souveran pen which is stays near my seat on the sofa. Don't want to lose that one!

I have an online skincare business and my pen love has been flaring up since I have the opportunity to write cards and notes to my customers. I get excited to write to my friend Kathy since we spent many years as penpals when she moved to Oregon back in high school.

The other day I was scrolling Ravelry (an online knitting community) and found a thread on fountain pens. Uh-oh, that thread went back 5 years of people raving about fountain pens. Brands and terms wasn't familiar with but that sparked an interest. I found https://edjelley.com/2015/06/03/7-best-beginner-fountain-pens-under-25-dollars/ which will let me try it out without breaking the bank. Thanks Amazon! I now have my Lamy Safari and assorted colors on order. I'm excited to include it to my note writing repertoire.

Slovakian Folklore Hat

Recently, I learned of a friend diagnosed with cancer. It's really serious and she has a difficult time ahead of her. 

During these times, I usually feel helpless when I really do want to help so I knit her a hat. It may not seem much but as I knit every stitch, I think of her and pray that she may strength and hope. 

I chose some stash yarn of a dark green and white to give it that winter/Christmas feeling without being over the top since she is a more neutral color kind of gal. 

I hope she likes it and it fits.

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Dec 2, 2017 at 12:31pm PST

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Dec 2, 2017 at 12:36pm PST

Stuff I did so far today:

• Made soup in the Instant Pot. I had some stewing beef and bone broth defrosting in the fridge over the weekend. I was seriously cold this morning in the house so I threw it all in the IP with some onions, diced tomatoes and frozen peas/carrots. 
• currently working/knitting on a LOSY (left over sock yarn) hat. About halfway done, so maybe done around Wednesday. 

The day is not over so maybe something noteworthy will happen, otherwise it'll spill over to another day.

My current blogging plan is short, little snippets that I can manage daily. I suppose it's more for me as a journal account that I don't mind sharing. 

If you have any suggestions or comments, please do tell. 

Yes, I'm back!

Don't fall over in shock....

A post shared by Debbie T (@moodybq) on Nov 12, 2017 at 9:24pm PST