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The Cascade Cowl

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One of my goals this year was to publish at least one free knitting pattern. Honestly, my hope had been more but with full time work and no child care for more than six months, some of my goals for the year had to get cut down. I guess if this year is good for anything, it’s teaching us to revise, pivot, and let go.

But today, October 1st, I’m launching this pattern for free and there are still 14 weeks left in the year – yes, I counted today to check. So there is the possibility of another free pattern release before the end of the year. Unlikely but, if I can pull it out over Christmas break, we shall call it good!

I am always and forever trying to use up yarn in my stash. While my stash isn’t something I panic about – I love yarn and I will get to a lot of it eventually – I do love when I can use some of it up. Hopefully you will be able to do the same! This is also very affordable and accessible worsted weight yarn which was a part of my goal for creating a free pattern.

Before I launch into the details, I want to mention that this post is brought to you by CMS Supply Co – my candle company. So if you love to be cozy by the candle light with knitting in your hands, I have you covered. Ads for other peoples things aren’t quite my jam, but I am going to tell you to take a peek at that shop tab to see what’s in stock!

Description

This infinity cowl is knit in the round using light worsted weight yarn. You can certainly substitute with another yarn – like DK weight – but it may impact your gauge and therefore the sizing of your cowl and potentially the yardage required.

Size

14.5 inches/37 mm height

26.5 inches/67 mm width

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn – approximately 275 yards total

This cowl was made using 1.25 skeins of Cascades 220 superwash wool

Suggested Needles

Size 8/5.0 mm circular needles (or size needed to get gauge)

Notions

Daring Needle, Scissors, Stich marker(s) as desired

Gauge

18 sts = 4inches/10 mm

Pattern Notes

The Cascade cowl is a really simple, easy to memorize knitting pattern. Cast on 120 stitches. Join in the round being careful not to twist your stitches. Place a marker to denote the beginning of the round.

Section 1: Ribbing

Round 1: *Knit 2, purl 2 – repeat from * to end of the round

Repeat round 1 twelve times.

Section 2: Cascades

Round 1: *Knit 3, purl 2 – repeat from * to end of the round

Round 2: Repeat round 1

Round 3: *Knit 2, purl 2, knit 1 – repeat from * to end of the round

Round 4: Repeat round 3

Round 5: *Knit 1, purl 2, knit 2 – repeat from * to end of the round

Round 6: Repeat round 5

Round 7: *Purl 2, knit 3 – repeat from * to end of the round

Round 8: Repeat round 7

Round 9: *Purl 1, knit 3, purl 1 – repeat from * to end of the round

Round 10: Repeat round 9

Section 3: Ribbing

Repeat Section 1

Bind off in pattern. Cut yarn and weave in ends. Block your work.

If you decide to make this cowl, I would love to see your finished cowl! Please use #cmsknits on Instagram to share your work!

Easy DIY Halloween Garland

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Fall is a magical time of year. Winter has lovely white snow, spring makes promises of good weather to come, summer has the heat and the pool, and then fall has all the holiday magic. Plus our household celebrates three out of four birthdays over the course of the fall and who doesn’t love cake?

During the past few years, I have slowly added fun bits of fall and Halloween decor to our home. Which makes this little Halloween garland a perfection addition. The tassels are a really easy DIY and I will certainly be making garlands like this in other colors for the coming holidays.

This is a short 4 minute video of how to make the tassels. I found a couple of little tricks that make the process much easier and wanted to share!

For this DIY project, I used the following items:

-Yarn – The black and grey/white marled yarn can be found here

-Scissors

-A hardcover book if you use the tutorial I posted on youtube

-And wooden beads if desired

I think my next one will have to involve purple, black, and orange for a fun twist on Halloween colors. If you make the garland, or at least plan to make one, I would love to hear what colors you are using!

One Little Word

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Every year – well, nearly every year – we head to the mountains of Virginia for a little getaway. We stay in a garden style hotel where our space is nothing more than tiny. A bedroom, oversized bathroom, plus a living room/eating nook/kitchen. I would estimate the square footage at about 500. Maybe.

And yet, would you believe me if I told you that I look forward to being in this tiny space every year?

We are careful with what we pack. Just the necessary clothes, a few games, and knitting for me. We hit the pool, roam around the local college, and cook all our meals in a postage stamp of a kitchen. In fact, the kitchen has no oven but we manage to make it work.

And I love it.

I love it because tidying the space takes all of five minutes. I love it because I am reminded – thoroughly – of how little we need. I love it because less is more and this is proof.

Which all leads me to my one little word. I sometimes choose a word for the year. I’ll write it down and let it guide me in small ways during the year. This year is different.

Instead of selecting a word which ultimately only provides a small amount of guidance in my year, this year I’d like to make it front and center. This is a word that I have already mentioned on Instagram. (In my story highlights, I have a video about 2019 goal setting and my personal goals.) That single word is: contentment.

Over the last few months I have made changes in our home and most importantly to our finances. I started focusing on contentment before I ever realized it was something I was doing. And now I plan to dive more fully into it. I have seen the success of it in my wardrobe and now I’m ready to let it blossom into more parts of my life.

2019 Goal Setting

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Not surprising to anyone who knows me, I set goals for 2019.  I did the pre-work on this in December, I finalized those goals the first week of January, and I’ve been working to implement them since then.  I shared a video of this in my Instagram stories and wanted to share here as well because there were two things that were very valuable during the goal setting process.

First, I used a template from Elise Blaha Cripe (again, see my Instagram stories where I share a look at this template and how I completed it).  The template breaks down your goals into three main categories.  You can certainly adjust the categories but the three worked for me.

Within those categories, I then made a list of the things I wanted to accomplish.  But if I’m being honest, I looked at the list and wondered if it would really get done.  Could it get done.  Some of these items were hangers on from past years, some of these goals were softballs because I wanted easy wins.

And then the book that I was reading – Atomic Habits – hit me with some deep and beautiful knowledge.  James Clear wrote, “true behavior change is identity change” which caused me to have a light bulb moment in my own life.

This was the second valuable tool that helped me in my planning process.  I examined who I wanted to be and where my goals were pointing me.  For example, I don’t want to just improve a few corners of our home, I want to be a homemaker that creates a cozy home devoid of clutter.  I want our home to feel as though it has room to breathe and for the people in it to create.

So I turned my goals from “read 40 books” into “be a reader” with the knowledge that if I make reading part of my daily life, I will read plenty of books this year.  I adjusted a very dollar specific savings goal into be a budgeter.  And I took one very massive goal and made it much more simple: be a writer.

There are so many things we have no control over.  Mostly, this involves an end result.  I can however, control many factors within the process even if I cannot determine the result of my work.  I can read regularly, create and track a budget, and pour the words of my mind onto a screen.  This habit based goals seem much more reasonable and closer to the type of person I wish to be.  These are the goals I’m running towards plus a few more.  This year, I plan to use the blog as a place where I can share the process.

Because this is the year to call my shot and send it.  Set a clear path to know where I want to be and then barrel after it.  I’m nervous, excited, but most of all, ready.  It’s time.

(For the video see my Instagram story about Goal Setting @cadysinks – can’t wait to hear about your progress as well!)

Simple Skincare

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When I was a little girl, I used to sit on the floor and watch my mom put on her make up in the mornings.  I don’t remember what we talked about or any specific details other than the awe and wonder of watching my mom get ready.  This is ironic because neither one of us have elaborate skincare routines or even wear much make up.  Generally, for me at least, simple is better and more easily maintained.

For fun, I wanted to share the products I’m using for my skin here.  So step one – I use a tiny pin drop of Wolfberry eye cream for around my eyes.  This container is going to last a million years because you don’t need much.  It feels like a nice layer of protection on that sensitive skin below my eyes.  I also rub a bit across my eyelashes and upper lids.  Why?  Because I read that eyelashes need to be moisturized if you want them to grow and that is the biggest factor in any eyelash booster.  I’m no scientist but I’ll give that a try.

Step two – a few drops of Jojoba.  I purchased this kind via Amazon if you are curious or having a hard time finding a brand.  I drop the Jojoba directly into the palm of my hand and then add one to two drops of Frankincense.  I rub that in my hands and then rub that across my face.

That’s it.

Seriously.

I read online yesterday a recommendation to use acid on your face.  Honestly, I had to read it twice to fully comprehend.  Maybe that’s your cup of tea and maybe there is a need for that but I can’t say that my preference is to use something that could burn or scar my skin.  Rather, my preference is non-toxic, cruelty free products that I don’t fear using.  Hence, Young Living.  Most likely charcoal soap and the orange blossom moisturizer will be added in to the mix in the future and when that time comes, I’ll be sure to share my thoughts.