Time Management…or Making Time for Knitting…

…perhaps when I’m not talking to others. I should be taking a quiz, or beginning dinner right about now. I’m in college. I often need to be doing something else. So, how do I do it? I have to make a choice.

My nieces and nephews pretending to be camera shy;-).

I have to choose to make time to knit. I know I’m going to play on facebook, or quilt, or knit, and sometimes, I’m going to have to take a walk, and spend some actual time with my boyfriend and talking to him, not just shushing him while I concentrate on sudoku games. And some weeks, the fourth of July holiday is thrown in and you visit with your family for a bit.

Drama Llama Lizzie, hiding from her own Drama…

Somedays, adding in work, that is a lot to juggle. I spent most of my breaks studying for a quiz today, and I need to take that quiz tonight, but I got in one row of knitting while I watched a little tv and chatted with dear James. I did also tink back four rows, maybe five from last week, and went a little farther than I planned to, but all is working out now, so far. I have some wonky thread to work with for a bit. But it should knit up fine.

Sock progress with pre-curled yarn for stitches…

I’ve been told some won’t use this wonky yarn, but I need to, as there will be pieces left when I’m done with these socks. I’m also told you can soak the yarn, but these were knit and purl stitches before, I think they’re just pre-formed. I’ll have more issues with the tangling of yarn, than I likely will with the curvy, sporty yarn. They’ll come, just slowly for the next few weeks.

They’re still pretending to ignore me…had I said cheeseburger, they would have run for dinner…

Until Next Time,

Happy Knitting

How Much Can I Get Done? or Have a Nice Day! ;-)

I’m sitting here tonight thinking on the knitting I haven’t gotten to yet this week, and wondering just how much progress I can make on my sock before I need to write up and publish my blog. Maeve chooses this moment to take advantage of my open lap and hops in for a snuggle. Maeve loves snuggles. Briannag has been bugging from the couch for snuggles every time I cursed the book quiz I need to finish before the regularly scheduled class time next week.

The current amount of progress….this is just a sock to be, the cuteness is below;-)

It has been a week of ups and downs, the ups were not always enough to compensate the downs, but only if I dwell on each day separately. I do not have class so early next Wednesday that I need to change my sleep schedule from overnights to days; however, we also miss out on a review, and the instructor is providing a book based exam. I have cursed anything book based in the entire class. It’s often confusing at best. However, I’m focusing more on the ups, and listening to Bon Jovi’s song “Have a Nice Day” as I contemplate my week.

The biggest up was dinner with my oldest niece at Bob Evans-nothing fancy, but she’d never been there. Part of our goal is to go places she’s never been. We’re considering finding the best burger served at each place we dine at and are keeping a commemorative journal of our dinners. She even told me she wants to be a food critic when she grows up, amongst her twelve other jobs she may or may not be able to accomplish via freelance work. It was a great dinner. (Phones were not present at this event, except to make a quick note to pick up a journal, which we did). Photos were not taken either.

In the meantime, how far do you think I can get? I promise to get photos too.

Scamp’s immediate nosedive into the knitting bag…

Now, I retrieved my knitting bag from its home in the chair, where it is tied shut to keep curious kittens out of it. This is a requirement, as you’ll notice Scamp immediately made a nose-dive into the bag when I set it on the edge of the couch and placed my pillow in its proper back-supporting position.

Once I snapped the photograph and shooed Scamp out of the knitting bag, I began cursing at the sixteen dropped stitches I needed to pick up. Diligently, and patiently, I slipped them back on the needle one at a time. I resisted the urge to overwork the knitting using two needles. Some days, I feel I’ve become quite good at returning stitches to their rightful needles so that I may continue my work.

Putzer inspecting the sock

     Squib not letting Putzer hog the sock to himself

Then I set about the business of knitting, and does long fibrous strands moving across needles create an interesting diversion for the most discernible curious creature. The couch suddenly became full of furry felines, wondering if mom would let them play with some of the yarn she only gets out on those special days.

I do mean full; Zeus takes up nearly half the couch on his own

Then I continued to knit and purl and created uneven eyelets to connect the two socks, and decreased the one extra stitch I’d managed to pick up, likely before I dropped the sixteen cream colored stitches. The extra stitch was on the black yarn side of things.  However, I knit away, and while I hoped to get two inches of progress in, I think I got closer to one and a half. I didn’t measure before I started though, so I can’t be certain. We can only guess if I have room for before and after shots, or if you are so inclined to check last weeks blog. In the meantime, while I won’t be finishing this sock in the next week, I will be diligently continuing to knit it.

Briannag, or Miss Whiny about attention, boycotting the knitting. It takes up too many of mom’s hands…

I’m hoping it provides some sanity in the cursing of the book exam. Its said to be open book, but I have experience with this book, open book is as much of a curse as closed book with poor wording. Alas, I have made progress with the sock, and I had a great time at dinner with my niece. Those will be my focal points this week. After all, once you get past the periscope, its all simply perspective. For the rest of it, I’ll enjoy a glass of wine and take the semi-immortal Bon Jovi words of the world getting in my face to heart and say “Have a nice day!” I sometimes wonder if they substitute other words for nice.

Briannag joining the party after she smells the wine mom poured…

Where Has She Gone? What’s She Been Doing?

Where have I gone? What have I been doing? I admit it, the knitting has suffered a small hiatus. I think I’ve averaged four rows a week out of sheer gumption. So, what has kept me from knitting beyond a new job and a schedule change? A quilted bookwrap I’ve been sewing by hand…

The bookwrap has gone everywhere with me this spring and summer and visited the ball parks, the new job, the short but frequent breaks…you name it, I’ve taken it, except out to dinner. Because, like knitting, sewing and food do not get along. Now to explain a little more about this bookwrap, because no one wants to just hear a simple description of black and white text info. I will include pictures below.

I saw this pattern in a magazine, and I thought it was neat. But I thought the hexagon too simple and I’d promised a friend a hand-made item this year. And well, I’m looking into making quilts for my nieces. I decided I would see how much work this would really take. I requested her favorite color-purple, and she liked octopi…let the adventure begin.

I began to cut and shape and draw the octopus after studying those with top-hats and a monocle. My friend has always enjoyed quirky creations. I began to cut fabric and sandwich layers and decided on a quilting pattern. I began deciding on a wave pattern, since the character was on octopus and the background was a purple batik with bright blues and yellows and pinks running through it. It almost reminds me of the deep ocean where this octopus would likely dwell.

It took a little time to quilt, and I didn’t have to baste much, if any, as the finished quilt was 17”x9”. The project traveled well with a small circular frame in which the waves began to look like octopus arms, and so, I essentially quilted an octopus on this quilt, who was tipping his hat, and reading a book. It felt appropriate.

Once I finished the quilting, I cut out and pressed under the seems of the octopus, and I proceeded to applique him using a whip stitch. It was a first attempt, and I was jumping in both feet first. Later, when I researched sewing the binding, I realized I could have made a blind stitchch work. I considered a ladder stitch, which I often use for closing pillows and blankets, but I went with the whip stitch. We’ll say it looks like his tentacles for the most part.

Now, I have an octopus sewn on, with facial characteristics, tipping his hat–though my niece, Jessica outspokenly states he should be wearing the hat. There is no room for said octopus to wear the hat, but she’s 13, and that’s her only complaint. The octopus is also reading a bright turquoise book with yellow flannel pages. I’m happy with it, though its not total greatness, the recipient shall enjoy it….Now I just have to get it to her before she encounters these pictures on the internet;-)

I am still knitting and will have to keep at this sock. I am one-third of the way done with the first leg and suspect if I devote a little time to this sock each day off, it will progress once again. I’ll take sewing/quilting to work as its easier to accomplish on short breaks and some of my other quilting projects have to stay secret. I may write down my musings and translate them to blog fodder later, after Christmas;-). Scamp will still help me some. She has throughout this process, but I photographed the quilted book wrap at the park today where I held my birthday party.

Memories of Early Quilting

Come see what this block will be….perhaps you’ll want to make your own little charming school of fish.
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Moonriver Shawl…Another method of light getting in

I did it! I finally dropped the few dollars for another set of t-pins (which I promptly dropped in my purse and lost again for a bit). Once I got home and searched the likely and unlikely places I would set a simple package of t-pins, I moved the planters and set up the blocking mats. I simply got three dollar exercise mats from five below which measure about 22×22”. Rarely do I have anything smaller to block…except my leafy washcloths. (Those I can block five or six on one of these mats). The size works, and the porch bench is just big enough for this one. I did not even usurp any of dear James sitting space…this time;-).

Moonriver shawl on blocking mats

But I set up the mats last night after getting home, wet the shawl, and laid it out with t-pins every three inches. I found the stretching interesting, and figured  points may happen, as blocking creates shapes and I was stretching as pointy as I could without being over obvious. It may not be as originally intended, but I like it. In fact, this shawl was likely saved by blocking. It is likely intended for someone with smaller shoulders than I have. Unblocked, I could not wear it and considered handing it off to my youngest niece, but she is beginning to develop the family shoulders as well…though she runs as cold as I do. 

Moonriver Shawl, blocked.

Blocking gave width and definition to this shawl. It allows me to consider it on a slightly breezy summer night…and it did come out lovely if I do say so myself. In the meantime, I’m nearly half way through a second instep repeat on the Elementary Watson socks–which I’m enjoying knitting, even though the pattern is tough to see. So, when I’m too tired to mark and sew, I’m working on a row or two of the Elementary Watson socks on ravelry, and enjoying every minute while listening to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Inspector Jean Guy Beauvoir (Djawn-gee bouvoir) solve A Beautiful Mystery according to Louise Penny’s brilliant prose mixed with Gamaches thoughts and reciting of poetry. I’m enchanted and ready for more. This week, I’m excited to find out which devout monk did the dirty deed of killing the prior. Louise Penny weaves a wonderful tale of Quebecois mystery for the avid reader…and the next book, “How the Light Gets In” (a reference to the Ernest Hemingway quote) is what sucked me into this series in the first place. If you like police procedurals, I think you will enjoy these literary escapes as well.

Wearing the Moonriver Shawl

Until next time, Happy reading and knitting. 

Contest Winner and a little more knitting…

I’ve found a winner and the yarn is on its way. Deep Blue Sea is traveling to British Columbia to meet AJ of Nothing But Knit. Check out what she’s up to here. I can’t wait to see what she makes with this skein of yarn. I hope she loves it.

Deep Blue Sea yarn, willing to make more

In the meantime, I attempted a pattern for hand dyed socks. I don’t even want to re-mention it as the pattern and I could not meet in the middle. I wish I had vetted it, but if you are a more experienced knitter than I am and better at simplistically written knitting patterns…Not specific instructions for the covid vaccine lagging brain… then feel free to look up this blog and try it. I will seek out other patterns in the meantime, and have chosen a cable pattern instead to make my overly variegated socks work… progress has been slow to medium due to covid vaccines and quilt making. More exciting post on quilt making soon to come.

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The latest socks… I will be tough to see the pattern, but I love this colorway.

However, I still love this color way and hope to get some great socks on it. I will not review the pattern in the previous blog here as I feel it’s better to contact the designer who tried, but forgot some key details in the process. I do wish they’d tell what kind of cast on they plan on starting with so I can just scroll on by when I see Judy’s Magic cast on. I’m not good at Magic, which is utterly needed…I’d rather a star toe any day.

Alas, let’s leave this on a more positive note…socks are on the needles, I’ve made it to the instep. I will continue knit while watching tv as I regain mental capacity. One day, I will have a lovely new pair of socks…shall we aim for the warmest day in summer? Then maybe I can sneak in another pair in the fall–if I don’t fall down the shawl rabbit hole.

Someday, I will get this baby blocked for wear.

Speaking of shawls, the t-pins are still in hiding… I shall find them one day, but my find your fade shawl is quite wearable and loved. In the meantime, congratulations to AJ once again, and until next time: Happy Knitting!

MoonRiver Shawl OTN & a Contest

It is off the needles. I should be excited…but now I have to block it and weave in that long tail. I have no idea where the magnet with the ddarning needle is, but I need to do this. Then I have to block it. And the weather is beautiful and the dog wants me to sit outside with her.  I’m concerned she’ll sit on the knitting to be blocked. We need another solution there. 

awaiting blocking…how long till I find the t-pins?

So, why am I not excited? Because this doesn’t look like a shawl for my wide shoulders. It may even be gifted to my youngest niece who just made me cute fingerless mitts (for a small fee). But the shawl, while it has a cool eyelet stitch that looks neat, and was made out of scraps, just looks like a trapezoid I can use as a bodice front. And I was bored through much of the knitting, even the eyelet stitch. I enjoyed the effect. I just find the stitch cumbersome. If you like the stitch, knit it away and wow us all. If you have never tried it, don’t let me stop you. Have fun with your knitting!

She looks a bit better hanging…

Alas, I think the next project is overshadowing the feeling I get when I bind off a project. I am 1) slightly undecided and 2) feeling trepidation at beginning my own pattern I’m just beginning to draft. I’m using yarn I’ve had dyed, and hoping it knits up the way I want. I just need to find the needles to get started…and decide if a wavy rib will work for me… oh, boy. I’m thinking one long circular for this, but dpns may happen and/or I will find a way to do both. I have more yarn to dye. And once the dishes are done, I can start soaking it. 

Once I start knitting, I’m hoping to enjoy this process… and I need to dye a semi matching shirt. I have ideas running through my head now, and wonder if I can or should put that many colors together… Why not… if nothing else, I have a giftable tie-dye shirt, right? Would any of you like to win a free skein of hand-dyed yarn or tie dye shirt? Let me know in the comments.

These mystery socks will be knit from one of these beauties….I’ll show it as I get started. Shall I get some more ready for you?

In the meantime, I need to weave in an end–since I’ve found the magnet with the darning needle and get the blockers and t-pins outside to block this shawl without much cat help. I may have to use my sewing table and cover it, however… this could be its own adventure. Must pick up some woolite or other wool detergent as well. Alas, enough talk. Let’s get some pics up and I’ll reveal that mystery pattern I’m knitting up soon…if I don’t through on a hand-dyed skein and try another new pattern, made for a beloved hobby: “Perfect for hand dyed socks” on ravelry.com. I’ve just purchased this pattern and will let you know how much I like it as I knit it up. For a small fee, someone designed a pattern to help you enjoy the variegation of colors. Brilliant. Now, which one do I start with, and do I have enough needles? Yes, I’m probably working on both, as I love a mindless project for travel. 

For now, look at all the yarn you can find at www.bloomingfabric.com

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So, in the meantime…look at my website, pick your favorite skein, including some of those above and comment below. Please share with your friends! In one week, on March 30th. I will use a random number generator and pick the winner of yarn. I will contact you through email if possible to let you know you’ve won and announce it here (unless you don’t wish to be announced), and message you for the address to ship it to. 

Until next time, Happy knitting!

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Contest info: Would any of you like to win a free skein of hand-dyed yarn or tie dye shirt? Comment on your favorite item on my website, www.bloomingfabric.com in the comments and wait just a week. On March 30th, 2021 I will pick the winner and contact to ship the yarn or tee shirt. Enjoy! 

This was a ‘No Dog’ Home…

Dear Mom,

We talked about this. I believe I said “No dogs!”

Love,

Scamp

Dear Scamp:

I told you the dog would come back some day. I never agreed to no dogs.

Love,

Mom

Dear Mom,

I was pretty clear. No dogs.

Love,

Scamp

Dear Scamp:

Give her a chance. Furball hasn’t even tried to chase you yet.

Love,

Mom

Furball…our latest re-addition

Dear Mom:

She got in my bed, and snuggled with you. Not okay, Mom. Tink doesn’t like her either.

Love,

Scamp

Tink, pretending the dog has not returned

Dear Scamp:

You were on the stuffed animal shelf, sleeping. Furball thought I was lonely. You’ll be fine.

Love,

Mom

Dear Mom:

It’s my new safe place. And you were letting that dog in my room. I’m still not okay.

Love,

Scamp

Dear Scamp:

The inchworm torpedo was not a necessary addition to our sleeping conditions. The dog was entirely asleep when this happened. No more stuffed animal torpedoes aimed at the dog.

Love,

Mom

This poor inchworm bites the dust on a regular basis…both cats share the guilt…

Dear Mom:

It fell, when I stretched. That is my favorite shelf.

Love, Scamp

Dear Scamp: I’m sure it, and any other stuffies you launched, like that little dog I just found under the bed, had some help with their fall…maybe from a good right paw. Let the dog and I sleep.

Love,

Mom

Scamp…expressing her displeasure

Dear Mom:

Not In MY Bed. I said “No Dogs.” This is not the end of this.

Love, Scamp

Furball, caught by surprise from a sound sleep.

Dear Scamp:

Leave the dog alone. Let us sleep. You’ll be fine in the morning.

Love,

Mom.

Mom notes* Dear James has returned from nearly a year away working in Indiana. I held down the fort here, as best I could. Scamp would rather I simply remain her “emotional support human.” I wouldn’t put it past her to have me registered somewhere. Stay tuned for more cat-dog interaction. The dog has been very behaved towards both cats. Tink just doesn’t like anything bigger than her unless she needs human affection. No animals have been harmed, beyond their pride, in this situation…However, my money is on Scamp.

Getting There…

but I keep saying “One more thing…” First, I decided the to sew the elongated collar on. Then I realized I needed some extra room in the sides. These were easy fixes, but that’s a lot of quilted seams. I’ve been watching victorian and historical sewing videos…so finishing seams well is now a must. I decided to bind them rather than flat-fell them by hand… However, the dart seams may be felled.

Tink “helping” me finish the Quilted Serenity Jacket

I used the Serenity pattern byWendy Congdon of Truly Materialistic which can be found here.

Alas, I finished the binding of those seams, and I tweaked the right sleeve a bit so it would fit better (I hope). Though, I had to consider that when I was thinking of flat-felling these seams by hand, it could take me another week or two. This is how I bring in Spring…I work on projects I wish I could be wearing during the cold. When it’s finally done, warm weather begins.

I decided to just utilize some scrap fabric I had and bind these seams by machine once I trimmed them. It would look as good and stay true to quilting. There are a few imperfect parts…but this jacket is certainly getting there. I just have to finish sewing on this binding. What’s stopping me, you ask?

Attached Sleeves of the Quilted Serenity Jacket

Yes, I could just get back to work on it, but my significant other is moving back home after a year in another state, and this room is needed for him. So, my sewing area is moving to the basement, where we will find a way to negotiate space (that he won’t use till summer anyways). Alas, I need to finish packing a sewing shelf so I can haul it downstairs, wrap my niece’s birthday gifts and pack up my beloved sewing table. I also have to finish quilting that fantasy quilt on the frame…(a longer term project for one of my nieces).

Scamp helping to quilt the artful fantasy quilt.

Later this week, I’ll get things all set up in the basement, with only minimal interruption to my sewing. In the mean time, here is the current progress on this jacket…and soon I shall share the finished jacket perhaps with pockets–it needs pockets–and perhaps a Murder Mystery quilt with a guess as to whodunit. Until next time, Happy Quilting (and sewing)!

Hot Off the Needles!

It is done. I just have to weave in the ends and figure out where and how I’m going to block it. I also need to figure out how many more exercise mats I may need to block this. It may get done on my deck, under a sheet.  I don’t want the sun to fade the color, even though I think we have a rainy forecast for the rest of this week. I may not be able to block it until next week, anyways.

Find Your Fade v2 Shawl by Drea Renee Knits

But I’m excited. It is done, just in time for fall weather and cold evenings where I will wish I had a warm wrap, and now I do. Look at this! Look at my shawl! It’s just waiting for a wee-bit of weaving before I decide what to cast on next. It might even do some hiking with me today, before I block it. 

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But I’m excited. It is done, just in time for fall weather and cold evenings where I will wish I had a warm wrap, and now I do. Look at this! Look at my shawl! It’s just waiting for a wee-bit of weaving before I decide what to cast on next. It might even do some hiking with me today, before I block it. 

I want to show you pictures of it blocked. Then I want to discuss patterns with you. For now, it is done! Check me out;-). 

Myself in my new shawl. Forgive the horrible lighting…this was taken inside at 3AM.

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

My Latest Shawl

I Should Be Finishing…

I should be finishing, and knitting the last two rows of the Andrea Mowry’s Find your Fade shawl. But, I have a decision to make. I think I’ve made it, but I can’t be sure yet, so I’ll just chat with you about it. I finished the requisite number of rows, and somewhere along the line, I likely added stitches on the wrong section, or failed to drop stitches I should drop. Essentially, I’m not a perfect knitter. 

That yellow marker should be right at the edge…would you notice?

On the one hand, let’s say the done hand, I’ve been at this for five months. I have the requisite number of rows. It’s fairly long and likely to be perfect as is. No one will really notice that the spine doesn’t go all the way to the edge. They might even think it’s intentional. 

On the other hand, the keep knitting hand, let’s just say, what’s another week? I could still finish this soon. It’s only about a dozen more rows. It will look great if I make it right. No, I’m not ripping it back…it will still have design variations that I’m fine with. I’ve learned for next time, as there may be a next time. And, I have plenty of yarn left. Also, I could get creative here and set up another design variation. In the interest of keeping with the original…I think I’ll leave the colors as is. 

Scamp votes for snuggling with this shawl now…

But part of me wants to bring the first color in to finish off the last. If I knit this again, I think there will be one more lace section and one more garter stitch section to bring the first color in to join the last. I love the first color, and just didn’t get to use enough of it. The other option is that I knit this again with the first and last color becoming the middle colors, and the colors I have less of becoming the end colors. Even though they would use the same colors, the cool thing would be that I would have two entirely different shawls, with two different looks. We shall see what comes, as I’m still searching out the next pattern to knit…or size three cubics without hitting up a big box store in the cloud.

In the meantime, here is dear Scamp helping me photograph my dilemma. No, she won’t move from the cat hammock/quilt frame until she is sure I’m done here.

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

The Shawl is at Color Seven

It’s getting there…it’s coming along. This Find Your Fade shawl by Andrea MowryDrea Renee Knits has been a joy to knit. I got this pattern from Ravelry.com, see link above. Now, onto the shawl.

I was six rows into section twelve yesterday…today I’m twelve rows in. Only six more rows and then I color change to the last color. The next question is: Which shawl next? Is it for me or a friend? Do I use the same yarns I’ve used here? Should I start a parasol cover? Oh…the options…The other question is: How do I wear this shawl? We’ll see once I get it off the needles. I do have some ideas.

Just starting color seven!

However, I’m also coming up to doctor’s appointments, in which I expect some wait times–though they are getting better since everyone could be spreading issues no one wants. But I need a simpler pattern I can put down easily, and hopefully not mid-row… At 233+ stitches (because I’m terrible at keeping stitch count and do not care for this project), I don’t want to drive around with this mid-row if it so happens… Nor do I wish to sit in the office for ten to fifteen more minutes to finish the row.

Previous Progess

But for the first time in my knitting journey, I’m considering simpler garter stitch and vanilla latte socks a good thing. But, I’ve been dying yarn too. I want to use a skein of the mermaid tails yarn and really show it off… I have no idea what pattern (and no, I’m not likely to do hermione socks on ravelry). I will knit vanilla latte socks if nothing else pops out at me.

Update: I worked on the watermelon dishcloth at the doc’s office where I had a small skin biopsy (not for that problem, a smaller one that affects life, but should stay managable, I hope). I also had some time to knit away on my shawl as my kitties grounded me to the chair after my overnight stay, and I’ve moved onto color seven in the midst of a medium book.