Blog Posts

Starting My Berroco Fitzgerald

• William Estep
• Knitting

Here’s a view of the ribbing, center panel and some seed stitch on my Berroco Fitzgerald cardigan. Using Berroco vintage Chunky yarn in the cracked pepper color way. I made a couple of tweaks to the center panel, and am happy with it so far. We’ll see how the sweater comes together. This is my first bottom up sweater, and my first large project done in pieces then assembled. Also, I think the button band and shawl collar will be a fun learning experience. Really looking forward to it!

Knitting a Scottish Tam

• William Estep
• Knitting

A friend of mine ask if I could knit him a Scottish Tam. Seems easy enough, and I’ve never done a felted project, so why not.

I found a decent pattern on Ravelry close to what he was looking for, and knit up a sample.

The sample turned out ok. I need to change a couple of things for fit and size requirements, but otherwise it should work.

To really get the final right, I’ve made up some swatches of the yarn. The color is called Turtle. It’s a nice yellow olive and will look great.

My finished watch cap

• Knitting

I finished my new watch cap! Really happy with how it turned out.

I want to learn more. For my next project, I’m going to give cables a try. I found a recommendation for an easy cabled hat. Will post more as it progresses.

Enjoy!

I miss my old watch cap

• William Estep
• Knitting

I’ve enjoyed knitting off and on for many, many years. The last time I took the hobby seriously was back in 2005. During that time, I knit a really nice watch cap to wear on an Alaska trip. (Unfortunately, the only photo’s I have wearing the old cap are not great.) I wore the watch cap for many years, including the trip from south Florida to north Florida when I purchased my boat…even Florida gets chilly in winter.

Countryside Scarf for Birthday

• William Estep
• Knitting

Now that I’m back into knitting, I made a nice textured scarf for my sister on her birthday this year.

The pattern is the Countryside scarf by La boutique de Jeanne

I’m really happy with how it turned out, but also not inclined to do more scarves. Just never ending rectangle of the same stitch pattern over and over….

I do want to do a shawl soon though. I’ve been collecting nice fingering weight yarns to give the amazing Vertices Unite by Stephen West a try.

Cables! In a Hat!

• William Estep
• Knitting

OMG! New hat done! Using Jason’s Cashmere Hat pattern, I created this nice hat using Patons Classic Wool Worsted in Aran.

Easy first cable pattern, and I really like the results. I already have an idea to do this in a darker color.

Enjoy!

City View

• Photography

Nice blue sky today. Great light for a city view. Enjoy!

Walking more

• William Estep
• Exercise

I’ve been trying to walk more. Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, I’ve gotten even more used to just sitting ‘at home’ in front of a couple of computers for all waking hours.

Fortunately, the neighborhood I’m in has some really good walking areas. There is a great little park nearby, and the wonderful Ortega River Bridge is just down the road. According to my measurements, from my boat to the other side of the Ortega River Bridge and back is just over two miles.

Strides for Pride

• William Estep
• Equality

In 2017, my sister and I participated in the Strides for Pride 5k. We walked and had a good time.

This year, the event is a virtual 5k. I signed up again, and did my 5k today. It was a nice morning and I had a nice walk.

I’m not breaking any records with the pace, but it was a pleasure to participate, and I appreciated the very good excuse to get out and walk. Since I was in no rush, I did stop for a bit and watch a barge go through the Ortega River Bridge.

Daily Reminder

• William Estep
• Wandering

I’ve hung this Calvin and Hobbes comic in my office for more than twenty years. Now that I don’t have an office, it will live on in various electronic forms as a daily reminder to find the joy and the fun in the little things. We are all making it up as we go…might as well dance on the bed!

Enjoy!