Life lately | Coffee & knitting & etsy sneak peek

Lately I've been snuggled up next to our space heater and this sweater (it's my favorite). The temperatures have dipped low, and so my baking and knitting habits are in full force. Last week, I baked a chocolate pecan pie and a regular pecan pie for Thanksgiving at work. They were both delicious and the leftovers are still mocking me sitting in our fridge.

I've been knitting up a storm so I can finally open up that etsy shop I've been talking about forjustaboutever. If you want a different outcome, you have to change your strategy so that's what I'm doing. I'm done just reading about artists and designers and feeling inspired, and I'm jumping in and learning all I can. My plan is to get at least one or two of everything I plan to open with ready to ship before I open up, so I have about a week left to go. If anyone has tips on opening an etsy shop, marketing, shipping, anything, I'm all ears! I've been scouring the etsy seller handbook and getting excited for this new venture. Needless to say, this year, I'm thankful for new beginnings.

Went | Fresh Pond

It's been a jam-packed couple of months. Usually it's summer that is busy, and then fall—Festa, the Big E, my birthday, and suddenly we are in the great lull that takes us into winter and the Holidays. But this year has been different. Between engagement parties, bachelorette parties, and weddings, we are only now finding our slower rhythm that accompanies colder weather. We are making home cooked meals again, finding time for the gym, and going to bed before 11. I am well into my third and fourth knitting projects, and I am sighing the great sigh of Autumn. 

This is all to say that we had a brief lull at the beginning of November. It was the weekend between the bachelorette party and the wedding, and though I had a second bachelorette party that night and Mike had a conference the next day, we spent a quiet Saturday morning wandering around Fresh Pond. I work down the street from this place, and only recently realized how expansive and beautiful it was. We caught it right at its peak, and I'm so grateful we got a glimpse of it before all the leaves are gone. 

Made | Capucine (A Hat, Not a Drink!)

I did it again! I knit an entire hat that fits my gigantic head! I've had this chunky mustard yarn for over a year now; it was one of those yarns I bought because I wanted to curl up next to it, but then I just couldn't find a project that lived up to its snuggliness. I'm glad I waited until I gave knitting a try again because this was worth the wait. This pattern is a mix between a hood and a hat—a hood hat, if you will. Though I'll warn you now that every time I say "hood hat," I think "hood rat." Unfortunate.

I used the Capucine pattern from Ravelry (add me!), and I loved it. I haven't added a pompom or tassels yet, and I'm not sure if I will. Maybe I'll just make a second one to try out those accessories on. 

This little lady knit up pretty fast—all in one Sunday while Mike was at a conference. I watched The Company Men and multiple episodes of How I Met Your Mother. I love how knitting makes me feel productive while I rot my brain with TV. Maybe I should invest in some audiobooks.

And now some strangely lit photos from my living room! 

And then, for some reason, this:

I'm in full-on winter knitting mode, and I have big plans for Christmas presents this year. I highly recommend this pattern if you're looking for something a little different than the usual knit hat. You can't really wear a ponytail or a bun with it, but really, what hat can you successfully wear an updo with? Just put your hair up/arms down when you get there. It's cold; nobody looks good.

The things I learned:

• When you don't have dpns in the right size needles, you can improvise with regular needles. It takes a lot more time and effort, but you can rig up any situation if you're willing enough.
• Knitting needles don't taste that great.
• I'm an awful self-photographer.

But seriously, this was such a simple project that after completing the Vogue trapper hat, this was a piece of cake. What are you knitting up these days?