Summer Blues

Published on by kountingsheep

Today’s temperature reached 115 degrees where I live, and by any standards, that’s just plain HOT. Just because I live in Arizona doesn’t mean I actually like the heat here. In fact, quite the contrary. I would rather live in a colder climate, as evidenced by my obsession with knits and crochets, but we don’t always get to choose where we live, do we?
I could tell I was getting a really bad case of the summer blues when I started the month of June knitting these items:
A lace beret and matching fingerless mitt set. Not really a necessity for June, but I couldn’t resist making these cute patterns. I needed reassurance that yes, the cold will come back in a few months, and then I’ll be able to wear stuff like this.

Pattern: Looking Glass Lace Beret
from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2009
Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 8 ply in navy and light blue;
Lion Brand Wool in Dark Teal
Needles: US Size 3

Pattern: Susie’s Reading Mitts

Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 8 ply in navy, light blue and teal
Needles: US Size 4

My favorite part is the picot edgings on both ends of these mitts. It made a simple pattern more interesting and feminine just by adding this simple detail. And because of the lace pattern being focused only at the top and bottom, it allowed me to take a risk on using different colors. I only had a small amount of each color, enough all together for a pair, but not enough of one color alone to finish. I love when risks pay off!

As a break from the heat, I’ll be going to San Diego this weekend for a little vacation and to attend a conference that my church is involved with. I’m looking forward to the highs only reaching about 70 degrees. It was weird to pack jeans and sweatshirts today in preparation for my trip. And to think that it might actually be too cold to swim in the ocean while I’m there.
If you don’t hear from me ever again, you’ll know where I am.