Gansey Sweater finish

The sweater is finished except for weaving in the ends and blocking.  The fit is snug, more snug than I thought it would be I want to use the word snugger but it doesn't sound right in my head like funner which is common usage now.  The yarn is also a little itchy in the arms and neck because it fits so snug.  The garter stitch band at the bottom flips up every time I sit so I have to flip it down when I stand.  The yarn is 100% peruvian wool from Cascade yarn 220 sport.  The pattern was in Beth Brown-Reinsel's book knitting ganseys. The book and instructions were very good I'm just not sure I like it or if I should rip and start again with something a little roomier and then I probably don't have enough yarn.
Things I learned since starting this sweater:

• Yarn is easier to pack and move than fabric and books
• no matter how much I sort and toss I still have too much stuff  but its really good stuff!!!
• I can adjust if I want too  I don't always want too.
• I learned how to knit a sleeve gusset and a neck gusset 
• and a saddle shoulder even though this sweater did not have a saddle shoulder
• It’s easier to knit sleeves that match if I don’t knit a bunch of other stuff between finishing the first sleeve and starting the second. And there was Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years in-between.
• according to the insurance ad on TV the average person moves 11 times in a lifetime, I've moved 12 and thats not counting all the college moves.  I'm above average!
• I like knitting top down sweaters more than bottom up because I can try it on and make adjustments.

The rest of the Christmas decorations come down today.  --Ann--

New Year Resolutions or To Do List

A day to myself what fun to catch up on reading blogs and updating mine.  I hope I didn't offend anyone by deleting their blog from my sidebar but if you haven't posted in over a year...................      I also added some new blogs.  One check off the to do list for 2019.
I have been reading lots of lists on social media of resolutions or goals or good intentions whatever you chose to call them:
-A common one is to break a bad habit.  I don't have any bad habits no really I don't smoke or drink in excess or bite my nails.  I'm sure I have annoying habits but they annoy others not me.  If they annoyed me or were bad for my health I wouldn't do them.  I read a really good book about habits a couple years ago by Charles Duhigg.  He looks at why it is a habit and specific things to change the habits.
-Another frequent resolution is to learn a new skill.  I have lots of skills and each one involves  a bunch of crap as in creative resources and products.  I don't need another stash of crap in my life so no new skills here.
-Visit a new place....thats on schedule for later this winter.
-Try a new food  looking forward to that, what new flavor of ice cream is out there?
-Taking a risk is another common resolution.  I do that every time it snows here with the way some people drive or can't put the cell phone down while they drive they should resolve to be safe.
My to do list for 2019 which is so much less serious and more forgiving and flexible than easily forgotten and rigid resolutions

1. Finish and old project or two or three
2. Work from the stash  fabric and yarn
3. Use less disposable stuff
4. Use the good dishes
5. Eat more vegetables 
6. Eat less sugar less and refined grains
7. Drink more water especially before meals
8. Be grateful
9. Be kind
10. Say a prayer

Best wishes for 2019 and may all your lists be doable --Ann--

Clean Slate and New Year

Clean slate / design wall is up and in need of something.
These snowy windy and now very cold days I have spent time in my new sewing room, I'm still getting organized but I need to start something new.  But so many decisions, which pile of fabrics to use?  what pattern to sew?  There was a book laying on the shelf with some fabrics in the pages this little scrap quilt will be easy and fun...........then I start going through some bags of scraps for the 4 patches and I come across a couple other projects.............and I'm kinda like the little mouse that has a cookie and one thing leads to another so this is what I am working on...........the snowball blocks were done all I had to do was to finish the double 4 patches.

 Border or no border? it might be just the right size for my patio table that sits in front of the big window in the office / library / study because it has 2 walls of shelves.  More decisions to make.
Happy New Year  --Ann--

Reading list #5 2018

1.  The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd for book club it was as good the second time
2. Nowhere to Run by C.J. Box  book #10 of the series 
3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold very good book, one of those books you really should 
4. read before watching the movie. I probably won’t watch the movie.
5. An Island Villa by Lily Graham about finding ancestors and family secrets
6. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman about competition, rivalry, growing up, loyalty, small towns, leaving home, parenting, family, etc..etc...oh and hockey in Beartown.
7. Murder in Aix by Susan Kiernan Lewis it was a free book takes place in southern France
8. Informing the News by Thomas E. Patterson non fiction published in 2013 for book club very interesting on how journalism has changed over the decades from long descriptions in the newspaper to radio to television to cable to tweets and blogs. 
9. From a Paris Balcony by Ella Cary the same character from her pervious book about finding  her family history and love.
10. Denim and Diamonds by Debbie McComber 
11. Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgen 
12. The Chilbury Ladies Chior by Jennifer Ryan set near Dover England during WWII how the women are managing with the men off to war.
13. Cold Wind by C.J. Box book #11
14. Home going by Yaa Gyasi for book club starts on the gold coast of Africa one sister is sold to slavers the other sister marries a British officer and stays in Africa.  The story goes back and forth through 8 generations of the descendants of the two sisters.
15. Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia Macneal fiction WW II England 
16. Force of Nature  by C.J. Box book # 12 more murder and mayhem in Wyoming 
17. Mistletoe at Moonglow by Deborah Garner as sweet and sappy as a hallmark movie and short
18. The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber more Christmas fluff
19. Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan the story is set at Christmas time but the story could have happened anytime of the year the story line was kinda sad.
20. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

On one of the snowy days I treated myself to watching the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas about Charles Dickens writing the story A Christmas Carol then I read the book just for fun now I should watch the movie again.  Dan Stevens is in it from the early seasons of Downton Abbey and Christopher Plummer.
Starting a new list with the Happy New Year.  --Ann--

Snow Day

 Fresh snow here! and I did what any sensible person should do stay home and knit or read or quilt and drink coffee so I finished these socks of scrap yarn.  --Ann--

td da da done

 Usually I put the baby quilts in the mail and let the post man deliver them but these special friends were home to visit great grandma with the new baby, 3 months old, and I got to give them the quilt and hold the baby.  He is a doll.  --Ann--

kids and quilts

 My kids and second son's fiancé got Christmas quilts for Christmas.  You can just see second son's knee.  I really should be more like my mother and pose people for photos but I remember rolling my eyes so often when she would but those are good photos.
A Merry Christmas was had by all.  --Ann--