Easter questions and a free hat pattern

Well, Lent is over and I never had a chance to go to a fish fry. Oh drat! But the Easter bunny surely did come. With questions, that is. Funny how a 10 year old and a 6 year old do not question the actual existence of an Easter bunny, but will of the occasion. Why do we celebrate Easter? Well, darlings, Jesus rose from the dead. But why the bunnies? Well, sweet ones, the over indulgence in all things bunnies and baskets is us celebrating Spring.



Even though Spring seems to have come and gone and now winter is upon us again. Darn you, Minnesota.



But I am mighty glad Easter is over and the candy is all gone. I think I gained 10 pounds.



I guess it hadn't helped that I sat on my bum all day, watching episodes of Mad Men. 3 Seasons in less than 2 weeks. And now I'm on the fourth season. Don Draper, you are a bad, bad man!!! But super duper hot!!! If Betty knit, I would feel like I was her.



Alas, I've come up with a new hat pattern. You can have it for free. I think I need to redeem myself with my bear hat. Can you believe there's been close to 300 downloads and only 5 projects connected with it AND an average of 3 stars? What's the dealio? That really got me down.



Click on either of these photos (above or below) for link to Ravelry.



or click here to download: download now

For the yarn along, ...yes! I am still reading Rules of Civility. I'm getting bored with it. Sorry Vanessa. Mad Men is oh so much more than reading at the moment. Am I bad?

progress: finished.

For some reason, my blog reordered my Knitting Retreat posts. So, if you'd like to read them in order, here are their direct links:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

As for my project I finished while on my retreat (like I had time! It's really a miracle.)....It was the Wise Owl Hat. I linked it up in my ravelry, but here are some photos, too.





When I got home from the retreat, I was in a knitty mood and whipped up a baby bonnet, too. You can find that linked on my ravelry as well. But here are photos, too, since I know you lurve my photos <3





I haven't linked up to the weekly yarn along in a while, so I will today <3 And one thing they'd like you to share, besides what you've been knitting is what you've been reading. Remember I finished Cutting for Stone? And my friend Vanessa made a few reading suggestions after that? Well, I chose Rules of Civility. I must say, it's a quick read, but I am on the edge of my seat, waiting for something totally naughty to happen. I hope I am not disappointed. :D

Felting secrets and snow pictures

Hello there. I have been in a felting groove.

I have a secret to tell you about felting. Maybe you already know? Did you know that when you felt your hand knits, you lose more in length than you do width? A general rule is that you lose 30% in length and 10% in width.

One trick to find out exact percentage:

Knit a 5"L x 5"W swatch (Knit loose). Run through the washing machine (fast speed for lots of agitation). Measure again. Most likely, your felted swatch will now be (or be close to) 3.5"L x 4.5W. Try it sometime. Knowing this, you can design without fear of too much shrinkage!

So, Patons wool was on sale and I started knitting and knitting and then testing gauge and felting, and all that jazz, and what I came up with.....felt phone cozies.



I put those ones (and more) in my little shop. Next up: felt nook/kindle cozies and felt purses. I told you; felting groove.

Good thing. Because we just had a snow storm. Brace yourself for some chill inducing photos:


A covered pine tree.


Charlie hurrying back inside.


Bare trees in the backyard.


Snow clinging to the side of the deck rails.


Ice making its home.


Brrr.


A lonesome, heavy sunflower.


Icicle branch.


Dogs looking at me like I am crazy.

*******************************************

I am still reading Cutting for Stone and will be for some time. The words/message/story is quite profound. Every night, I find a new quote to live by.

"...own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't...Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny."
Cutting for Stone

Have a good day!
XXOO, Gilda