I know, I know I had promised to take you out into the garden for my next post, but when I was doing my morning blog reading some of my favorite blogs were all posting about wool (Soulemama, Farmmama & Beauty that Moves). Since I had just uploaded some new knitting projects to Ravelry, I thought I’d follow along.
It is now just started to get cold here. We just vacuumed out our ancient gas floor heater of dust and turned it on, the down comforters just got spread onto the beds, and we’ve just started to break out the wool sweaters. This sweater is one I just finished. I was obsessed with knitting it at the very end of my pregnancy right on into my hospital stay, it’s all I did apart from eat and sleep. Luckily it fits great (well, it will fit even better once my body returns to it’s previous state) and wearing it feels like a hug.
The weather does get cold in the winter here in Sonoma, yet it stay warm enough for year round gardening. I’ve always seen that as sort of a curse and blessing at this time of year. On one hand, how lucky we are to head out into the garden at the end of January for some fresh greens. Yet there is a part of me that wishes that we could just cover the garden with mulch, let the snow fall blanket it and stay inside with a fire and a cup of tea and only daydream about next summer’s garden. Typically we strive for a happy medium and plant a humble winter garden, big enough to keep us fed, but small enough not to warrant too much cold weather work.
Last year I learned about Elizabeth Zimmerman and made the boys each a Tomten jacket. I just love how they turned out. If you are new to knitting, this is actually a very easy sweater to begin with, I think anyways.
This is another Elizabeth inspired sweater using Peace Fleece’s Volgasippi, an inspiring yarn and company. I knit this while pregnant and now that I’m not, I see some problems with the fit (I didn’t use a pattern). So I’m debating unraveling the whole thing and starting over. The buttons are from our cherry tree.
I told you I was obsessed with knitting while I was pregnant. This is yet another sweater I made while pregnant. I loved it, but even after my belly went down I knew it was always going to be just a little too tight. Rather than unravel this one, I gifted it to my beautiful and thinner-than-me friend at BellaMadris who is just the right size for it.
Lastly, I am also a big fan of keeping baby’s in hats. I think mainly because my babies have always been nearly if not completely bald and they’ve been so little during their first winters. This little hat was made for a friend, but modeled by our daughter. The advantage to starting babies off in hats is that when they grow bigger and you want them to wear the cute little cadet hats you’ve made for them, they are used to having that warmth on their heads and will wear it. Well, most of the time that is…
Here’s to staying warm!
Wow, you are an amazing knitter! I love all the sweaters and hats. You are so talented!
Isn’t Zimmerman the best! I started spinning in the early 80’s and used her books to inspire my knitting. Your sweaters are beautiful…I’m pulling out the wheel and needles later today…thank you.
Oh lovely lovely! Gorgeous baby hat! My little pumpkin would like one of those (she is here http://elspeth.tumblr.com/post/1448428141/my-little-pumpkins). It’s turned very very cold here in Oxford (UK)
Oh, how lovely! I didn’t know you were a knitter! Such talent!
I truly enjoy reading your blog and seeing the pictures. Thanks so much!
My cousin goes to school up in Sonoma….and that is all I really know about it, except for your pictures. I’m in SoCal, but think NoCal is so pretty. Hoping to move someday to a country place.
Thanks again for all your interesting news!
Sincerely,
Chris
P.S. I’ve just started crocheting hats and scarves for my young grandchildren, and hadn’t thought of what you said about starting them out with hats while they’re young. Great idea!
Sweet post; thanks for sharing.
signed,
a former Sonoma girl who currently gardens, knits and raises sheep in Oregon.
Very nice knitting! This makes me want to knit a hundred more tomtens. You have to love Elizabeth Zimmermann. Her designs are steadfast classic!
I loved seeing your knitting projects! I’ve also made a couple of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s tomten and baby surprise jackets – they look a bit tricky but they’re so easy! I’ve also been thinking of using some of our mesquite prunings for buttons – your cherry buttons are lovely.
Here in Tucson winter is the biggest gardening time and I can’t wait to have homegrown greens for salads and cooking.
Thank you for sharing!
as always my dear friend – you never cease to amaze me with your talents
Truly amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE the knitting you’ve done and I will say again how much I LOVE my new sweater. I have a new favorite outfit that will be my staple – your sweater, a green tie dyed (very muted and subtle tie dye) cord skirt that I finally finishe (I had that thing sitting in my “to do” pile for a few years now) and my faux frye boots – so warm, comfy and hand made 
Thank you again
Great knitting. My mother has knitted since she was 4 in Scotland. My daughter is a whizz. The knitting bug has passed me by. I prefer embroidery and gardening.
I’m still learning from you, but I’m improving myself. I absolutely enjoy reading all that is posted on your site.Keep the tips coming. I liked it!