Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Nov 1, 2011, 8:50 am
Seems that I got a bit out of order in chronology of my posts.  Here I am telling you about the things that I just finished knitting, but I didn’t tell you WHERE I was knitting them… so, allow me to back track and share last month’s trip to California. We had planned this trip for months –...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 31, 2011, 6:30 am
Many thanks to Potter Craft for sending this copy of the newly released The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes!  The release of the book coincided perfectly with Socktoberfest this year. If you are familiar with Clara’s writing, you know that this book is well-researched and is chocked ful...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 30, 2011, 11:29 am
The allure of Jess Hutchinson’s knit toy designs (Rav link) is that they are simple, yet so cute.  Take Squarey for instance: Two 12 x 12 squares, sewn together with arms and legs, eyes and mouth around a pillow form:  An anthropomorphic pillow doll!  Squarey is a gift for my niece V, who just...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 27, 2011, 2:03 pm
The most exciting thing about my parents’ move to eastern Pennsylvania is that when I visit them, there are so many new places to explore.  Mom told me several times “You are going to love it here!” and when I drove up for a two-day stay last month, she was right!  The historic homes, the ol...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 25, 2011, 6:42 pm
Only one more week in this year’s Socktoberfest!  Do you have some last minute knits that you are working on? Unlike the last two years, I actually was able to finish something – TWO things even! – within the confines of the month of October.  I can barely believe it myself. My Almondine s...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 1, 2011, 8:54 pm
Seven years of Socktoberfest! I can hardly believe that this experiment of a nascent sock knitter has lasted this long and grown into such a fun annual event.  Are you planning to cast on for some socks for Socktoberfest 2011? (thanks to Ravelry user Natasha for the cute 2011 graphic!) I’ve bee...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Sep 21, 2011, 7:57 pm
My book to knit ratio is pretty low… this summer has truly been a summer of reading. I have some more time on my hands (still job searching…) and I am filling my time with job applications as well as frequent trips to the library.  Need to get out and see people – socialize!  Nothing better...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Sep 19, 2011, 9:49 am
Living in this area for 14 years, I have compiled a list of top daytrip destinations.  The #1 seed on that list has always been Charlottesville, Virginia, and more particularly, Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello.  It wasn’t until this last month that I was actually able to get to Charlotte...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Sep 14, 2011, 9:31 pm
Before the earthquake, before the hurricane, and before the deluge that fell upon the mid-Atlantic over the past few weeks, there was a quiet mild weekend that we went for a photo walk… We took the dogs to the reservoir where Kris caught this particularly hilarious gem - a blue heron “relieving...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Aug 18, 2011, 2:57 am
It is too often that we pine for the wonders of far away lands and don’t realize the richness right in front of our eyes!  In my attempt to take advantage of that richness, I instituted a “Cultural Thursday” experiment this summer.  Every Thursday (with only a few exceptions) I travel to Was...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jul 26, 2011, 2:58 pm
Another finished adult-sized garment for the year.  Grand total of 2.  Hmmm, need to up the ante. This cardigan, Jingu from Berroco #308 collection (Ravelry notebook link), was a simple knit with a fun detail:  the drawstring neckline.  This is just the kind of knit I needed to get back into t...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jul 5, 2011, 10:27 am
Roxy Paine “Graft” – National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Sol LeWitt “Four-Sided Pyramid” – National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Blue skies over Washington, DC as Kris and I went to the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival (see photoset) last Friday. En route to the National Mall,...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jun 29, 2011, 11:47 am
While the idea of thick wool fingerless gloves may not be the most appealing in the heat and humidity of a Maryland summer, it is all about thinking ahead!  My sister Maryn is moving from California to Virginia this fall, so this pair of mitts – her early birthday present – are the reminder for...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jun 23, 2011, 7:19 am
Even as the temperatures rise, my knitting has really picked up.  I have some more time on my hands nowadays, and with the news of a new niece on the way, I have become inspired to knit all of the things ever!  My sister and Baby V are in town, and we have spent some good time together.  I starte...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jun 10, 2011, 8:18 am
Slouchy Gauntlets in Dream in Color Classy “Happy Forest” colorway Have you ever had a ball of yarn that is so great, yet, each time you cast on with it, something goes wrong?  That was the case with this yarn.  I bought it nearly 4 years ago in Chicago and I have cast on for projects *at lea...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jun 8, 2011, 2:15 pm
+ + a few other ingredients, leaves you with Asparagus Tarragon “Quiche” (because it is eggless – navy beans and walnuts make the creamy filling along with the veggies!) Care for a slice? This recipe – like so many others that I have shared here – come from my ol’ trusty, Veganomicon...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jun 6, 2011, 3:45 pm
Project Spectrum’s focus shifts to GREEN this June – and what a perfect time to do so.  Over the weekend, I went through some of my photographs from last year’s trip to Alaska.  We took over 1500 photographs while we were there, but only uploaded a handful to Flickr… Alaska offered some am...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 31, 2011, 8:02 pm
My friend Em said that this Albers cowl is “how Lolly got her groove back”… and she is right.  Not that I totally lost it, but my knitting production has been a little slow.  This project’s simplicity, modern design elements, and history was the perfect match for my desire to stash bust so...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 30, 2011, 1:05 pm
It is easy to get caught up and stressed about all the planning and logistics, but at the heart of it, weddings can be quite fun.  Kris’s younger brother David got married this past weekend, and it was a joyous event.  It is not every day that I get to see my husband all dressed up in a tuxedo, ...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 25, 2011, 8:28 pm
Kris and I are big fans of Indian food.  We frequent our local restaurants, and even our local markets in order to find the ingredients to re-create many of our favorite dishes at home. Indian food is all about the spices, relying heavily on the rich aromatic (and red, orange and yellow!) spices fo...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 24, 2011, 9:46 pm
Apple Pepper Relish 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon agave nectar 1 tart apple, peeled, cored, and diced 2 tablespoons red pepper, finely chopped 2 tablespoons shallot, finely chopped 2 tablespoons minced parsley Salt and pepper to taste Spri...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 23, 2011, 7:54 pm
SCARLET Quinoa Salad Ingredients 1 cup Red Quinoa, washed and drained 1 1/2 cups water or soup stock 1/3 cup diced beets 2 Tablespoons  Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tablespoon Ume Plum Vinegar, or to taste 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest (rind) ...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 22, 2011, 12:33 pm
My trip to Monterey was the perfect tonic for this frazzled spring – it brought renewal, relaxation, and so much joy.  I guess you could say it was about as much joy as a toddler in a field of flowers My sister and brother-in-law were great hosts, and little V needed no warm-up time – she hug...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 10, 2011, 5:00 am
This week, I will be living it up on the Central California Coast …and most importantly, enjoying my time with these loved ones… (my sister and niece, Baby V!) I will be tweeting (surprise!) the trip and the places we go, so if you want to keep up with our adventures, follow me there!
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 9, 2011, 8:07 am
It is easy to take it for granted that one of the premiere North American fiber festivals happens in my “back yard” (well, about 20 minutes away, but same county, nonetheless)… The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is a highlight of my year, and often means the beginning of summer for me.  Thi...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 4, 2011, 12:05 pm
As a “voracious” reader with a background working in bookstores and libraries, I often get the question “So, what do you think about ebooks?” When I say that I love them, I get mixed reactions.  Sometimes relief and justification for their own feelings (do people think that you cannot love ...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 3, 2011, 1:00 pm
After thirteen years living in one state, I guess I can call Maryland my home now.  When I moved here in 1998, we were on a schedule to move every 3-4 years.  Our family of 5 traversed the country – one side to the other and back a few times before we landed in Maryland when I was 17.  I grew u...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - May 2, 2011, 9:53 am
How are YOU kicking off Project Spectrum? I fit in an early morning photo walk – the red highlight being the ornamental Japanese maple in my neighbor’s yard – and then spent most of the day with family.  Later this month, we are celebrating a wedding – Kris’s youngest brother is getting ...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Apr 27, 2011, 9:44 pm
Project Spectrum and social media go hand-in-hand.  It is a perfect match when you consider that a large pillar of Project Spectrum is community-building.  In this online environment, the tools that help build our community are these social media outlets!  Ravelry and Flickr have been big parts o...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Apr 24, 2011, 6:25 pm
Spring and summer knitting often get the short schrift in favor of the warm winter woolies.  The modern yarn landscape offers a vast collection of fibers and luckily, some amazing designs for those knitters who are willing to pick up the needles in the warmer months… My trip to WEBS last month wa...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Apr 19, 2011, 7:00 am
Your encouraging words and support on my last post set me up for a good week.  Many thanks for taking the time to write such thoughtful comments! With the potential of some more free time on my hands (in between job applications and resume re-tooling), my mind started churning – and I came right...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Apr 17, 2011, 7:25 pm
A few weeks ago, I was laid off from my job. Initially, I was very confused and sad.  I liked my job, and I particularly liked the people I worked with. It was a curve ball that I wasn’t ready for (are people ever ready for curve balls?) As the time goes by, however, I have come to terms with it....
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Apr 9, 2011, 1:17 pm
A return to the elements of knitting – yarn, needles, and elementary garter stitch.  Such satisfaction and joy in simplicity.  I could continue to wax philosophical about it… suffice it to say, this is the perfect kind of knitting for me right now.  It came to me at just the right time. Squa...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Apr 4, 2011, 6:57 pm
I blogged last year about our home renovation projects – we started out with a bamboo wood floor installation, and then did some painting.  It’s been a series of projects throughout the months – just one after another.  This month’s project (and maybe a bit of next month’s too…) is the...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Mar 29, 2011, 5:00 pm
Smiles all around – a product of a day devoted to friends and yarn! Jonvieve + Liz and me @ WEBS Last Friday and Saturday were banner days – days completely devoid of scheduling and meetings, conference calls and general work – it was all about meeting up with good friends, enjoying some yum...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Mar 28, 2011, 3:24 pm
Kris had a conference up in Connecticut and I decided to go along for the ride.  We decided to go the in-land route through Pennsylvania; we stopped by Gettysburg to visit Kris’s brother, went to a fabulous used book store in Harrisburg, went to a hockey game in Wilkes Barre, did some hiking in t...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Mar 20, 2011, 5:33 pm
Embarrassingly, I have to admit that nearly a month has gone by, and I have not yet chosen a winner for the wonderful book that I offered up last post! Without further ado… Emily @ Orchard Chronicles is the lucky winner of the extra copy of Vintage Modern Knits! Many thanks for the comments �...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Feb 22, 2011, 7:44 pm
Guess who got the lucky positiong of “bringing up the rear” for the Vintage Modern Knits blog tour?  I am happy to be included in this group and to have the chance to review and share some of the lovely projects in this new book from Interweave Press. No doubt you are familiar with The Fibre C...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Feb 21, 2011, 6:07 pm
For the 29 days, I have been doing an experiment.  I have cut out all processed sugars from my diet – only “sweets” are fruits, and the occasional drip of agave nectar in my teacup.  I have done the sugar-less thing before, and it feels good to keep that addiction in check. The sugar detox ...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Feb 7, 2011, 7:42 pm
The month of January sped right – Kris and I continue to work on the house (kitchen remodel in the works now… more details to come!) and the knitting has been slow and steady.  I wish I could say that I have been super productive, but truth is, I haven’t.  And I also haven’t been so good a...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Jan 5, 2011, 5:00 am
Wintertime (well, every time, really…) brings the dilemma of whether I snuggle up with a book, or with my knitting.    I try to keep it balanced, but as my knitting production went down in the latter part of the year, my reading increased.  Go figure. My young adult / nonfiction “kick” is...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Dec 31, 2010, 9:31 pm
I have already resolved that in 2011, I am going to 1) take more photographs AND 2) blog more often… so, that means I won’t be such a stranger in my own “house” here at LollyKnitting Around! I hope you had a wonderful December and a great holiday season.  I know it is all very cliche to sa...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Dec 13, 2010, 4:15 pm
Every year (for the last few years at least…) December means that I better have a plan for Kris’s anniversary sweater – and this year is no different. Last year’s effort was the most ambitious yet (the Dale of Norway Liberec pullover on size 1 and 3 needles…) so this year, I decided to ta...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Dec 3, 2010, 5:01 am
Rather than making excuses for over a month of radio silence, I will just say – HEY!  Thanks for the messages and emails.  LollyKnitting Around is not down or on an extended hiatus.  Of course, I have a lot to catch you up on, so, I’ll let the photos – and a few words – tell the story...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 27, 2010, 6:24 pm
Remember that little “Under Construction” .gif that was used on websites back in the mid-90s? I need one of those for the front door of our house! Kris and I are of the “do it yourself” ilk, but I must admit when we started planning some home renovations – new hard wood flooring, specifi...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 20, 2010, 9:45 am
     I decided to go to the New York Sheep and Wool festival a few months ago.  I guess I wanted to see how it compared to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival that is (essentially) in my back yarn.  It’s always something I had wanted to see and do, and this was the first year it worked out...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 12, 2010, 6:42 am
So much potential and beauty *in the skein*.  Why in the world did it have to turn out like this?   This pooling flashing mess of colors is Socks that Rock Lightweight.  I have serious dislike for the yarn’s color patterning (though I still love the colors) but I am tempted to just close my e...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Oct 4, 2010, 11:30 am
Image by Natasha - http://gregbrenchleyfamily.blogspot.com Four days into Socktoberfest, and the spirit is palpable, people!  There are knitters making socks left and right – Ravelry’s Socktoberfest forum is a chatty place, and Twitter is even getting some action with the #Socktoberfest tag!...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Sep 29, 2010, 10:01 pm
In my first year of knitting, way back in 2003-2004, I was intrepid.  I wanted to learn all I could about yarn and stitches… I had a very patient knitting group, all of them much more experienced than I was.  They helped me learn many things – and one of the best things was how to be fearless...
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Lauren Weinhold posted an article on Lolly Knitting Around - Sep 27, 2010, 12:27 am
The summer was pretty quiet on the knitting front.  One hat and two shawlettes over 4 months time.  It’s not terrible, but for me, it’s less than normal.  However, I had a great summer of travel, hiking, reading, gardening, cooking… so, it’s nothing to “sneeze” at. By mid-September, ...
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