Aloha, Folks!
First, a little back story. I just returned from Maui with my two daughters. This was a dream on my bucket list. I had gone to Maui twice before, over forty years ago, and determined to return to the ocean, whales, and tropical memories.
When I returned from the above trip, I called my now-husband up and asked him out. We’ve been together ever since!
The girls and I did it all: whale cruise, snorkeling (I watched!), a luau, swimming in the ocean. All in all, we saw at least three dozen humpback whales!! Laura captured this iconic image:
I worked on a small project on the trip — a Sophie Scarf. Yes. Onto the bandwagon!! Sometimes I knit something because the design bugs me and I want to fix it. I think that was part of my motivation. Another was knitting with cashmere! The original Sophie has these little squared off ends and i-cord along both edges. I thought it would be an improvement to have the i-cord “make the corners,” so to speak:
I started with a provisional cast on and then worked each end along the sides. I used Pascuali Cashmere 6/28 held with Shibui Silk Cloud. The fabric is lovely!
On the trip, Jena was shopping for a friend who is expecting. I offered to make a baby hat for her to take along as a shower gift. Per Jena, the hat HAD to be a bear cub hat. Okay. No problem! How hard could it be to find brown, washable yarn? Harder than expected! I ended up buying my yarn at Micheal’s. There. I said it. My secret is out! The shopping part was complicated by the fact that, upon arrival in the Twin Cities, both Jena and I tested positive for COVID. Yep. Finally got me. The good news is, my case is mild, and Micheal’s has curbside pick up!
The pattern is Bear Ears Beanie Hat. It is free if you scroll down on the pattern page, and it comes in sizes from infant to adult. I used Loops and Threads Impeccable Tweed, color Chocolate, which is the same yarn used in the pattern. I have enough left over to knit a second hat, so if the hat doesn’t fit next winter, I can make another.
Now that I’m back, I’m following the March knitting goal of my Thursday knitting group: finish languishing UFOs!! I started a Hitofude for Laura months ago, and have also been working on a sweater for me forever. The buttonbands were all that’s left on my Lunenburg Cardigan — hope to get THAT into the bath today!
Nobody reads blogs anymore, but we’ll keep on posting!
I still read your blog! All the way across the pond in the UK. What I love most is your adaptations / improvements to patterns and I have followed your example on many of them – altering the shoulders on my my Big Love cardigan (and others), getting to grips with ladder-back jacquard for my swallow sweater to name just two.
I thank you – I have learned much from you or because of you. Please don’t stop !
Comment by Deborah — March 15, 2023 @ 7:15 am
I read blogs 🙂
<3 you, glad you enjoyed your trip, hope the Covid is better soon!
Comment by Leah — March 15, 2023 @ 8:43 am
I love reading your blog! Don’t stop blogging please.
Comment by Lois — March 15, 2023 @ 9:26 am
Even we don’t write, we read and love your blog. Hope you « carry on ». Merci pour ce partage.
Comment by Gisèle — March 15, 2023 @ 2:22 pm
I read your blog. It is filled with tips and great tips. I enjoy it! Keep it up.
Comment by Sharon — March 15, 2023 @ 2:58 pm
I love your blog posts please don’t stop. I am not good at writing so I never reply on blogs.
Comment by Linda — March 15, 2023 @ 9:15 pm
I appreciate that you two keep posting the blog. Instagram is nice, but usually the posts are so brief. Thank you!
Comment by Robin — March 16, 2023 @ 1:03 am
I too keep checking in on the blog …
Such a charming hat – love the ears.
Thanks for the pattern tip.
Spring is coming – but when? Still big snowbanks in Toronto these days.
Comment by Lisa RR — March 17, 2023 @ 7:10 am
Count me among the readers of your blog! The explanations of your improvements to patterns, perfect finishing details, photos, and the projects themselves are inspirational. Every new blog post is a gift to us knitters.
Comment by Laurie Gibson — March 17, 2023 @ 9:22 am
I love your blog and always read your postings. Please don’t stop! I’m always inspired by your quality knitting and have learned a lot from your mods.
Comment by Anne — March 17, 2023 @ 12:56 pm
I still read! Usually do not comment. I thoroughly enjoy seeing what you two knit, So inspiring. Really hope you continue posting. I also bought yarn at Micheal’s this week, yarn for MIL.
Comment by Cathy L — March 17, 2023 @ 1:49 pm
I read your blog religiously. Please don’t stop.
Comment by Diane — March 17, 2023 @ 4:46 pm
Susan and Surly,
I still read your blog!! While I know that I do not comment much, I assure you that I check a couple times per week to see if you have posted. AND you two are one of my shortcuts on my Google page!
Millie
Comment by Millie — March 17, 2023 @ 7:45 pm
Count me among everyone else who’s still following along here (I don’t do Insta). I appreciate the effort you both put in to substantive posts.
Sorry about Covid, here’s hoping you and your daughter bounce back quickly.
That’s a very cute hat (aren’t all baby hats cute?), I’m sure the mom will love it.
Comment by Anne C. — March 18, 2023 @ 1:36 pm
I read blogs. And I love yours!
Comment by Gail Snowden — March 19, 2023 @ 8:06 pm
Please continue your blog! It’s a source of inspiration. Thanks.
Comment by Karen — March 21, 2023 @ 11:24 am
I love reading blogs!
Comment by Patt — March 21, 2023 @ 2:47 pm
I love reading your blog! Please don’t stop!
Comment by Shelley Smith — March 22, 2023 @ 10:08 pm
Thank goodness for the blogs that still function. They are the most interesting things out there!
Comment by Betty Eliassen — March 23, 2023 @ 5:41 pm
I am also still reading!!! I don’t check as often as I used to before children, but then again, I don’t do anything as often as I did before children!!! Thank you for keeping this going, I have learned so much from both of you!
Comment by Natalie — March 24, 2023 @ 6:15 am
Also, I absolutely love the photo from your first trip to Maui! You look so happy and elegant.
ETA by Susan: And YOUNG!
Comment by Natalie — March 24, 2023 @ 6:17 am
I read your blog! I’m not on social media much (I use Ravelry for patterns and projects but am not in groups), so I’m not much for posting or commenting, but I do love reading. Also, have loved your classes and would take more if you were teaching. I dream of a real sweater class – with seams!
Comment by Cynthia Johnson — April 18, 2023 @ 4:36 am
I love your blog!
Comment by Augusta — May 7, 2023 @ 3:19 pm
I read blogs! My excuse for being way behind on your blog is that bloglovin doesn’t work anymore. I have to find all the blogs I subscribed to.
Comment by Deb — July 1, 2023 @ 9:07 am