My recent trip to Southeast Alaska was a success in many ways.  This is a place I hold dear in my heart, a place that has retained its wonder and beauty for me throughout a lifetime of visits.  I have been fortunate enough to be a regular visitor since I was a child, spending summers on the water and in the woods. Going to such a wild place as a child jump-started my imagination, cemented a love for animals, and ignited my curiosity for nature.  This trip was no exception.

There was plenty of wildlife to keep me entertained when I wasn’t knitting or visiting with family.

The salmon were running, which had all the carnivores riveted, from eagles and fishermen to bears.

As far as knitting goes, I was able to get quite a bit done, both in transit and during my time there.  My sister and her hubby were kind enough to model these pieces:

  • Pattern: My own.  Details at another time…
  • Yarn: Malabrigo worsted weight, 2 strands held together, 1 skein of each color for hat
  • Needles: US size 8 circular
  • Notes: These were done with 2 strands of Malabrigo worsted held together.  I ran out of blue in the blue/pink one, so had to rip back to the ribbing, add a few rows, and readjust to calling it an earwarmer.  People wear these, right?!

My sister was a superstar knitter, finishing a hat and her first ever fingerless glove.  I didn’t get a chance to take a photo, but trust me: they were fantastic.  She is such a different knitter than I was starting out.  She doesn’t want a pattern to follow; instead, she lets the yarn tell her what to do, occasionally asking me “How many more rows should I do?”.  A fiercely independent and fearless knitter that inspires me to no end!

On the plane ride home I completed another neckwarmer.  I still need to block it and sew some buttons on, but here’s a sneak preview:

To my surpise and delight, I found 3 yarn stores during my travels.  More on that later…