Hello Reader,

What’s Happening?

I hit the road this week on a two-day drive to spend a few days with family. What a blessing to be able to do that when I need to, without worrying about taking paid time off from a 9 to 5 job. I really felt that benefit to owning our own business this week and know it’s one I won’t take for granted!

As I mentioned in the most recent Yarn Shop Hop article, the timing could not have worked out any better had I planned it! While packing for this trip, I found the Heartland Yarn Adventure passport I’d picked up on the last trip to see my family, and it just so happened that I’d be driving through the right territory on the first weekend of the Adventure. You’ve got to make rest stops somewhere along long road trip, so why not stop and make some new friends and find some new treasures?

These are clearly my people! (The Artful Yarn in Chagrin Falls, Ohio)

So is this one, who I got to visit along with the rest of his family on the way back home. He’d be happy to give you a kitten if you stop by.

Although beware of the fierce guard chicken. Actually, she wasn’t at all fierce, but very friendly. I hear reports she’s taken to playing in the wee flock’s water supply and may need swimming lessons. Or water wings?

What am I learning?

Before I loaded up the car, I’d spent some time researching some areas to fill out the Beast to Blanket curriculum I’m working on. I’m so excited to teach it again this Spring, and I’ve already got more ideas to add in than could possibly fit into the ten weeks I have with that group.

One of the fun challenges is to make the class interesting and accessible to a wide range of ages. Younger students, with their shorter attention spans, benefit from more hands-on activities, and I’m finding loads of possibilities for additional things we can build and do together.

I was discussing this with my dental hygienist just the other day as she was talking about trying to figure out a way to use all the t-shirts she’s collected through high school and college. I had just seen a demonstration video of someone using a peg loom for weaving fabric scraps into a rug or blanket, and we decided you could definitely use strips from t-shirts and that method to make a throw rug or a heavy blanket.

Greg and I are going to try out putting a peg loom together. Then I think I’ll try out some other low-tech options for looms. My last class put together drop spindles for spinning wool using dowels and discarded CDs. I love the idea of using cast-offs and easy-to-come-by household items to make tools for classroom projects.

What am I Knitting?

Right before I left town, Greg and I walked over and met the newest resident of the neighborhood. Some near neighbors are enjoying their babymoon with their newborn and graciously allowed me a baby fix.

We brought over a hat for the little one, knit using Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s Unoriginal Hat. I don’t know how many of these I’ve knit over the years, but it’s “at least twelve” as my kids used to say. I used it many times to teach folks how to cable.

I used slightly smaller yarn and slightly smaller needles than the pattern calls for, and as my finished hats from this pattern always seem to be a bit on the small side, that made it turn out just about right for a baby hat. It’s such an elastic stitch pattern that it should work for several years.

What Else?

I finished The Morning and The Evening by Ken Follet and enjoyed it. I’m on to The Pillars of the Earth, and the series proper. My Dad and I have a running beef about whether or not I’m actually learning real history with my historical fiction. Care to weigh in on the debate?

Those of you who have known me a long time know that I have a tense and complicated history with plants. I love them, and we often get along well for short periods of time. However, it’s quite common for us to develop issues in our relationships, and this summer is no exception in the garden. My cherry tomato plant has completely taken over the container where it lives, has grown a bazillion flowers, and while the early tomatoes were normal and delicious, they are now the size of small peas. I have fertilized, pinched off sucker branches, begged, cajoled, etc., to no effect. This is a completely new gardening phenomenon for me and I’d love to hear from an experienced gardener what in the green world is going on here.

What’s Up With Mr. Darcy the Sheep?

My visit wasn’t very long, but we did chat a bit about the length of his wool (very long), the heat of the summer (beastly), and his table manners (need improvement).

What are you working on today?
​

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J

P.S. - When you're ready, here's how I can help you:

1. ​Free Resources: Whether you're just starting or have been at it for decades, you might find just what you need to keep moving forward on your personal knitting journey.
2. ​Free 30-minute Discovery Call: Let's talk about what’s holding you back and where you want to make progress.
3. ​One-on-one Coaching: Get my focused attention to help you better understand and overcome your most frustrating obstacles.

Find this and more of my knitting journal entries at KierstenJ.com.