Knitting

I find March to be a very fickle month. In this part of the world, poor thing just can’t make up its mind about the weather. There were consecutive days of blustery wind and pouring rain. Then the sun broke through the clouds, touching everything with the warm glow that can only be seen after a clearing storm. In the meantime, the wildflowers have been taking full advantage of the rain and blossoming everywhere, free and playful in the wind, beckoning me outdoors.

After sunset, as it gets colder, I reach for those knitting needles. I only knit a little everyday, so my projects take awhile to finish. I have made good progress on my husband’s pullover. I restarted those mitts, I like how the current pattern displays this busy variegated yarn.

Yorkshire Sky Yarn | Whims And Fancies

Recently I shopped a little for next winter. Completely swayed by the name Yorkshire Skies, I got this beautiful yarn. It has the shades of soft pastel aqua, with a hint of faded purple and a light steel grey. I already know the set of mitts and hat I will be making with this one.

Madeline Tosh Sample Yarn | Whims And Fancies

I adore these tiny samples of yarn. I got 240 yards total to make a pair of mitts with them. It will be my first multi-yarn knit with the colours of dahlia purple, cardinal red, parchment, light sugar plum and log cabin brown. I wish I had a tiny basket to put these in!

Malabrigo Plomo Yarn | Whims And Fancies

I am venturing into the grown-up knitting world with this one. I got a whole set of plum yarn skeins to make a cable pullover for my husband per his request. I had fun shopping for the yarn and the pattern.

Northern California Wildflowers - Wild Radish, Butterweed, Buttercup, Spring Vetch | Whims And Fancies

1. Pink Wild Radish 2. California butterweed 3. Buttercup 4. Spring Vetch (my favourite)

It is nice to have those warm woollies to don since we have been putting our hiking boots on and heading out right after work. Rain or shine. I am learning to take close-up photos of wildflowers. The afternoons have been extremely windy, making it very hard to get good portraits of the flowers. They are also very small, sometimes no more than a few millimetres. It takes a long time and a lot of patience, along with crouching in odd positions, waiting for the wind to die down a little.

Northern California Wildflower Star Lily, Douglas Iris, Redwood Violet, Wild Radish | Whims And Fancies

1. Star Lily or Death Camas ( beautiful but extremely poisonous )

2. Douglas Iris 3. Redwood Violet 4. White Wild Radish

One of the trails we go to is also a dog park. The dogs see me crouching at their level and they come by to play with me, running around me while trampling the flowers. Their joy is so infectious that I can’t help but laugh out loud and play along with them. Once they move on, I find a different set of flowers and start the process all over again. It is a lot of fun, you have to take my word for it.

Northern California Wildflowers | Whims And Fancies

Walking in the woods

If you don’t see me here too often, you know where I will be, at least as long as the wildflowers are on display!

Wandering Camera

I hope to see a few photos of spring in your part of the world on next month’s Wandering Camera link-up.

Happy Spring,
-Soma

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Harvest Dates Mitts | Whims And Fancies

I have been steadily working on custom patterns this week, so I didn’t have any time to sew. I have also been heading out after work a lot more with my camera. That in turn has resulted in my taking up running again. I used to swim regularly, I miss that since we moved here. Running is a good substitute. In the meantime, my friend Kris got the package that I sent her early this month. She is a wonderful friend and I love knitting for her. I used the Harvest Date pattern again to make a pair of mitts for her. I do love that pattern very much! I thought it was perfect for that October yarn.

Harvest Date Mitts And Doctor Who Fairy Tales | Whims And Fancies

Harvest Date Mitts Again

I also included The Doctor Who – Time Lord Fairy Tales book in the package for her son. It was good timing too, they got a snow storm right around the time she received the package. She was able to wear her mitts and, due to cancelled school, her son was also able to read the book. Lucky boy, I haven’t finished reading my copy of the book yet. I liked this photo Kris took on the snow so much that I stole it from her website.

Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite National Park | Whims And Fancies

I recently heeded the call of the Sierras again; we packed our car on Friday night and headed out for the weekend. I have been going there for ten years and I still always find new places to explore every time I visit. John Muir famously said “The mountains are calling and I must go”. Who am I to disagree with him! These are the Cathedral Rocks rising above the morning clouds.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park | Whims And Fancies

I have never left the Yosemite Valley without taking at least one photo of Half Dome, she’s my souvenir. I find her to be so beautiful.

Holding Hands Drawing | Whims And Fancies

Now back from the Sierras with a refreshed mind, I am ready to get back to work. One of the great things about being a pattern designer is custom pattern requests. I have made quite a few of them until today.

Last year I got a request from a lady who wanted to commemorate her parents’ love for each other. The emails we exchanged touched my heart deeply. She was very moved by this illustration that I made from a photo she had sent me. The quilt she made from this pattern will become a family heirloom. These are the times I am really happy to be a pattern designer.

This week I am working on two patterns that will be used to raise money for a children’s hospital.

Camera And Photography Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

Wandering Camera

Read The Introductory Post

The Wandering Camera Linky Party starts next week. Hope to see you there!

Happy Sewing,
-Soma

Windy March Days

Mail, Mountains And Custom Patterns