Elissa Sews Issue No. 6 knitted in hibernation

Two makes - one knitted, one sewn. A few hot-takes, including an election thought and a tiny spatula. And, an unboxing video.

Has a month past? It feels like a very slow, long year. January in New England is dark and grey. And, we have been hit with illness after illness. If one has ever been in hibernation, it has been now; and, I have been in an absolute dormant state.

Backing up, while traveling for the holidays (while also hit by illness) I started two new projects. One knitting and one sewing. Sewing is not easy to travel with unless you bring just a needle and thread for hand-sewing. For the first time, I decided to bring some fabric on my travels to cut if I had the chance. Since, we were bound to our airbnb due to the flu, I did indeed find the time to cut out a pattern.

What a view, eh?

I also brought along some yarn to start a new knitting project. The interesting thing is is that I have already sewn this top and have knitted this sweater. But, both I loved so much that I’ve been wanting to make another. It’s rare I make the same thing twice, so it’s wild that this month I decided to do it with both sewing and knitting.

Because I have been in full-blown hibernation-mode I have already successfully knitted the sweater. This is a super-bulky yarn which knits up MUCH faster than what I usually knit with. I wanted to use this beautiful blue yarn (color: Bluebell) that I found at the Sheep and Wool Festival.

While in Utah I started to knit while we watched the final season of The Crown! Mark snapped this photo of me enjoying the scene where Prince William meets the Middleton’s in their home. Goodness I loved the series. I predict that it will return in 10 years and carry on for the duration of Queen Elizabeth’s life. The end scene had me in tears. I loved the actor that played Prince Harry, I thought he did great. Part of me wishes that Diana and Charles were happy enough to have one more child so Harry wouldn’t feel so much the spare. Also, a note on Carole Middleton: I absolutely don’t believe that she was such a matchmaker as depicted in the series. But, I loved any moment with the Middletons. It also made me think about being a parent and setting up your kids for success in all areas in life, including who they socialize with.

Did you watch The Crown? What did you think about it? I restarted the whole thing starting with Season 1. I know it’s a drama but my appetite for historical fiction is insatiable.

Back to the knitwear.

All finished!! It’s super soft and squishy and I am very happy with the color!!

After focusing on the knitting, I went back to my fabric to work on the sewing. I have been holding onto this insane pink wool crepe fabric for YEARS. It’s one of those fabrics that I wish I had rolls and rolls of just to hoard. It is not finished yet, and that is absolutely fine considering I am still in hibernation mode.

Some hot takes

The New York Times wrote about how knitting for others is an emotional gamble

2024 is an election year. So much yuck. Mark and I have come to the conclusion that 8 years (two 4-year terms) is much too long, and wastefully, the President has to take 1.5 years off of his/her duty to run a campaign. RATHER, we’ve decided that the President should serve only one term but that it last 6 years. Is this radical? Let it simmer. Spread the idea around!

Do you also have glass bottles of face product that is impossible to get every last drop out of? I bought these tiny little spatula’s for glass jars and it has made it much easier to not be wasting all that good stuff!

Lastly, ideas are simmering for my toddler’s bedroom. My youngest turned 2 today and her older sisters wrapped up some of their own toys for her. What a thrill to have her in our family. Many times I feel like she was a bonus baby given to us. Back to ideas….someday I’d like to give her room a textile makeover like I did for my older two. I didn’t use a pattern for their room, but I couldn’t resist this Mario Buatta (the Prince of Chintz!) pattern for Vogue! It has scalloped bedding, “flowers” for the wall anchors, bows, and ruffles. (Desperately want this Mario Buatta book).

Bonus - unboxing video

Trying something out of the ordinary and I recorded myself unboxing this knitting kit from 1990. Which definitely hasn’t been opened since the kit was put together. The video is 4 minutes long - hope that isn’t too long in our scatterbrained world. You can find knitting kits all over the internet and at your local yarn shop. But, the vintage, rare finds are on Etsy and eBay.

Thank you for reading and looking. I’d be happy to create and never show anything to the outside world, but it is pretty nice to share as well.

-Elissa