MKAL20 - slipstravaganza

featured
Well, well, well. Here we are at the end of November. No, no, no!
Have you ever heard John Mayers song, "Stop This Train"?  Well, that is pretty much how I am feeling.  I cry every time I listen to that song.  
Although, I was always super excited for a new day and a new week during this Mystery Knitalong by Stephen West.  He brought so much joy to this time.  If you haven't ever participated in one of his KAL,  I highly recommend it!
This shawl did not disappoint on the interest, challenge and excitement.  Stephen West puts so much thought into his designs.  His design creativity is truly off the charts.  
There were stitches I have never worked.  There were deadlines I pushed myself to make.  There were rows that seemed to go on F O R E V E R.  There were nights I couldn't put it down and mornings I couldn't wait to get out of bed.  
I love how the combination of my yarns give it the perfect drape.  And, as I have mentioned before, Stephen encourages you to do some stash diving to find your combination.
I have built up quite a stash because of my Knitcrate subscription.  And when I went diving, I was so grateful!  As all of these yarns are from past Knitcrate boxes.  

This knit will truly be one of those knits I will be excited to wear.  One of those knits where the outfit will be planned around.  Or one of those knits I will love to wear regardless of what I am wearing.  And, I'll feel damn proud to be wrapped inside it.  

Well done, Stephen West!

Pattern:  MKAL2020 Slipstravaganza
Needles: US 4
Yarn:  
2 skeins La Brebis Light Alpaca in Ancient Greens.  100% Baby Alpaca (dark green)
1 skein Vidalana Linen Jewel in Oasis  50% Superwash Merino, 30% Linen, 20% silk (mint green)
1 skein URA.YARN sugared Sport in Diamond 70% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon, 10% Stelina
(taupe)
1 skein Knitologie Sparkling Sock in Turquoise 70% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon, 10% Stellina 
(white)

feeling festive

diy
Hiya Friends! So... After my last post, I was thinking more about my Thanksgiving tablescape and exactly how that was going to look this year. We have a new dining room table and I want it to look extra festive this year.  I was inspired by a floral arrangement my mother received using a pumpkin as the vase.  
In my mind I thought, we have a perfect flat pumpkin and I do have a glue gun after all.  (Damn I missed that thing!)
I know, this pumpkin almost doesn't look real.  But it is!  I promise!  I bought a few succulents at HomeDepot and headed to Michaels for the few items I wanted to use to embellish it.  
 I literally glued the moss to the top, placed the living succulents around the stem, and then glued a few other earth toned dry items to the moss.  
I absolutely adore the feathers and thought they were the perfect finishing touch.

You can literally make this in about 20 minutes!  Get busy, friends!

acorns

chalk lots
I can't believe in less than two weeks it will be Thanksgiving Day!  It's so hard to believe.  
In case you need a fun knit to acorn, I mean, adorn your Thanksgiving Day table, I found one!

I was flipping through "50 knitted gifts" and stumbled upon this cute acorn pattern. (SO many cute patterns in this book!)  Like you, I have a lot of odds and ends in my stash so decided to whip a few acorns up.  We will have a table of 9 this year, so nine acorns it is!
If you don't have that book, I found a free pattern here and one on Ravelry for 50 cents here.  
I think they are simple and sweet.  

 Our Graham Cracker Chalkboard Placemats come out every year at this time.  I just love how warm our table feels when they are adorning it.  And they truly are fun for all ages!  If you would like to emulate this festive look, I'm offering my sweet friends 25% off the Graham Cracker Placemats.  Enter code THANKFUL at checkout.  


Better get knitting, friends!  

november 3

birthdays
November 3 was an important day.
I had two VERY important things to do on my list.  

Vote.  Obviously. 
And work on my Flower Power Cardigan that is part of the Knit Collage Fall Knit Along.  It is ADORABLE and so much fun to make.  
It's for my sweet girl.  I wish I would have cast on earlier.  
{Libby is wearing the Be Thankful Cardigan by Lily Kate France.  I talked about this cardigan here. }
Because it could have been Libby's birthday present.  She turned 23 on the 3rd!

Keep those hands busy, friends!