Ritual Dyes x Jessie Maed Designs Summer Solstice Outline Tee Kit

I bought this kit when it was first released over the summer; and I started working on it immediately but because it's meant to have 6-12" of ease and I made it longer and less cropped than the actual pattern, it took me FOREVER to finish.  I worked on it on and off all summer and fall and now it's (nearly winter and I'm) finally finished.  Jessie Mae Martinson's patterns have received so much positive feedback from other knitters, that I was really anxious to try one out for myself and I was not let down.

                   

One of things that is so magical about knitting (with cotton) is that before the fabric is blocked, it looks like a wrinkly piece of garbage but once it's bathed and dried, it immediately transforms.

 

The photo above (on the left) is pre-bocking.  The photos below are post-blocking.

I knit size 1XL and used size 3 and 4 needles (1 size down from the pattern) and when I was knitting flat, I used size 3 needles because I purl so loosely.

 

The kit comes with 4 hanks of Ritual Dyes Undine in the Summer Peach colorway.  I used less than 3 hanks to knit my top.  So it looks like there's a pair of matching socks on the horizon. 

 

Generally speaking, I'm not really a fan of cotton because I don't like the way it feels in between my fingers while knitting (and/or crocheting) but this yarn is really fluffy and light and I didn't really mind knitting with it at all (especially during the summer).

 

I knit this with the intention that I would be making a large boxy top that I could easily throw over a swim suit, sports bra or tunic and that is exactly what I got with zero mods, pain or sorrow.

It is so exhilarating to drop all of the stitches to create the framed edges around the top!

This pattern was very well written and easy to understand.

 

I am all about the twisted rib on the hem and sleeve cuffs.

 

I've been following the hashtag for this pattern on IG and I also like the look of some of the snugger fitting versions that have been made and I am now inspired to knit one in size M with some variegated SWM sock yarn. I highly recommend this pattern if you're looking for a fun and mindless mobile project.  Unfortunately the kits are already sold out but the pattern is available on Ravelry and Undine yarn can be purchased directly from Ritual Dyes.

All of the Holidaze Knit Toddler Cardigan

Since I'm an atheist, Matt's more agnostic but was raised Catholic and we celebrate X-Mas but Xena goes to a Jewish preschool, I decided to knit Xena a cardigan that is colorful enough to cover all of the holidays.

 

I'm just going to try knitting this pattern for as long as possible because it is so quick and easy.  At this point, I can easily knit one in a week.

 

I used Adriafil Knitcol Color 64/42 (3 balls) for the MC and Color 069/003 (1 ball) as the CC on all of the 1x1 ribbing.

Of course, I've also been knitting plenty of other things that shall be revealed in due time.

Not much else to report at the moment.  I'm truly loving all of this sweater weather!

  

Rhinebeck Recap and Mailbox Loot

Last Wednesday evening, I caught the red eye to Newark. I love travelling alone but now that I have a family, I rarely ever get the opportunity anymore and just being "alone" at the airport, knitting and minding my own business was exhilarating!

 

After I picked up my rental car and picked Amber up in BK, we headed to the exclusive Wool & Folk event in Kingston, NY. 

 It was the debut of this new pre-Rhinebeck fiber/music festival. 
We purchased limited advance tickets but I am unsure of whether or not it was actually sold out in the end.  The event was held in a big pavilion along the Hudson.  There were only a handful of vendors and only 2 completely overwhelmed food trucks but there was a great bar offering lots of local beverages and plenty of fine folk music in the background.

The weather was steamy but it was manageable under the pavilion and once the sun set and a breeze came in off of the river, it was delightful.

I finally had an opportunity to meet Aimee from Paris who is the founder la Bien Aimee and has been a great inspiration to me as a fellow Asian American and successful female entrepreneur.  She was super sweet and kind and simply radiating pure fiber love! ^_^

 

The swag bag and apple cider donut I received were super wonderful.  I bought some groovy yarn too but the actual highlight of attending this event was noticing that one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Ming Tsai, was at the event and that his partner is a knitter!  I've been a fan of his Simply Ming cooking show for ages.  I always thought he would be a cool dude to hang with and now I know just how swell he really is!

 

Although it isn't brand new, I wore my Feel the Bern sweater for the sake of comfort since it's sleeveless.  Also, it may just be in my mind, but I swear that (most) people are nicer to me when I wear this progressive liberal bumpersticker-sweater.

 

Amber and I were so happy to be reunited and trying out a new event!

But we were equally happy to return to our favorite spa hotel and drunkenly dance around a pumpkin filled fountain after a delicious meal at our favorite farm to table restaurant.

 

I highly recommend the pork chop and kale salad at Terrapin!

 

The weather on Friday was even hotter than Thursday.

This is the view of the woods behind our hotel from the back balcony dining area.  It was still under construction when the hotel was first built when I first attended Rhinebeck 3 years ago.

We paid for the earliest admission slot at the Indie Untangled event in Saugerties, NY.  We received a lovely swag bag and I purchased a ton of goodies.

I was most interested in getting to the Three Irish Girls booth while there was still anything left and I managed to buy the kit to knit the Summer Vibes sweater below.

 

We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out some shops and a nice restaurant in Saugerties and finished off yet another glorious day back at our hotel, surrounded by the pleasant company of other knitters and yummy cocktails.

 

I was admittedly still a bit hungover while passing through the gates of the Dutchess County Fairgrounds but all it took was the sight of a few furry friends to give me a new lease of life.

 

Amber's buddy, Susan, generously gifted me a drop spindle and some roving and taught me how to use it and although I was really, REALLY, bad at it, she convinced me to enter the drop spindle spinning contest.  I finished 9th out of 9 entrants; no surprise but lots of fun!

 

The rain that everyone had been dreading all day, didn't come until the very end of the day.  It was perfect timing to wrap things up and have a quiet night enjoying all of the spa amenities and fine refreshments at our hotel.

We only spent a few hours at the fairgrounds on Sunday before heading back to NYC but at least I can say I finished my socks!

 

It was an amazing weekend, the quintessential highlight of my year!  I am already so excited for next year.  Our favorite room at our favorite hotel is booked and all I have to do now is sit back, count the days and plan my new Rhinebeck sweater(s).

Anyway, a few things arrived before and after my trip that I haven't had a chance to write about but really wanted to share.

  

I received the Ritual Dyes Fall Equinox 2021 offering.

Everything about it speaks to me.  That sounds corny but it is true.

I also splurged on a few of the leftovers from Kindred Red's last shop update.  No clue WTF I will do with this yarn but it will not go unnoticed!