Month: August 2022

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Knit in Public

It’s been a while since I knit in public. I can’t remember the last time and it was something I did on the regular. I would take my knitting and go sit in the cafe at a bookstore or at one of the Paneras. Most of the time I was alone and I would be enjoying the moment and there would always be a few folks who would comment about it. That was the success of the moment, to have someone comment on my knitting or crochet – even when they got the two confused.

Actually, people don’t call knitting crochet but they often call crochet knitting. This tells me knitting is the dominant even though granny squares have recently given crochet an uptick in popularity.

Covid chased us indoors and my knitting group hasn’t seen the sunlight since. I’m thinking it’s time we emerge again. This also comes on the heels of me wanting to create stuff to sell at church. I can create things at home, of course. but knitting in public is great PR for the craft and for the crafter.  It’s also the end of August. I figure we have about 6 more weeks before the too cool to knit outside/outdoors hits. We still knit in public, but we will be indoors in warm spaces. This is not a complaint.

The pastor asked if I were open to starting a craft circle in the church. Not just for the needle arts but a time and space for folks to come in and paint, draw, as well as do needle work. I am open to that. Knitting in the parlor was a very nice experience. Having a regular place for some creative crafting with all different genre sounds empowering and inspiring. It is something to think about.

In the meantime, I have orders to get out and it’s date night and we are doing Famous Dave’s. That means dinner will be two buffalo wings and a rib tip.

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Thank You, Lord

Thank You, Lord is the new digital sticker set now available at Abbey and Lincoln.

It was certainly fun working on them. The design ideas usually came when I was working on something else or during my faith hour. I would pause what I was doing, open Canva and get to designing. I would then use that sticker in my journal. Very nice to use something I’ve created. It took me a while to do that. It’s only been a few years since I started wearing the hats I knit. Don’t know why there was that disconnect between my cold head and the myriad of hats I have stored away.  Might be the business person in me thinking they were better sold.

 

I also started using  these. Let me tell you; these things are great! I had no idea how well those scrubbies worked. They are now a staple in my very own kitchen and I have them in my studio (of course I do) but I mean as a tool! I am in love with this particular one. I used it to clean my Corningware bake dish after I made an egg, sausage and veggie bake. Took just a little over a minute to make that thing look good! 

I don’t know what it says that I get excited about cleaning a dish. I don’t think even my mother ever had that feeling.

There are orders to be filled. I just finished a pair of fingerless mitts. There are knitted sleeves, a snake and a stocking cap waiting to be created and dispatched. So I am on my way!

I do thank the Lord for all he’s done for me and continues to do. May the Lord bless you and keep you as well.

 

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Strike While the Needles Are Hot

 

I think I want to strike while the needles are hot! (or the hooks, the hooks can be hot, too.) All that is to say, I am thinking of starting up the in person knitting group again with the idea we would create things to sell at a craft show through the church.

It’s how it all started way back in the day. I started a knitting group with a friend and we knit so much stuff, we had to sell it. It was a big success and then we left the church,. The sale changed and by the time I got back to the church, it was all but over.

But now, with the resurgence of crochet; it seems like a great time to get back in the groove. Might be time for a holiday sale. The vendors keep 80% and the church gets 20%. If we can pair it with a luncheon or bake sale, all the better.

There are things that would sell at craft shows and I think we should make them. I need to feel out some folks at church first before I start trying to pull in knitters, crocheters and other craft folk to join up and be willing to have their stuff sold.

We need to come up with fundraising ideas that don’t take a big hit of the funds before we even start. Methodists like to meet and eat and we also like to create so this seems like something that would be good for us across the entire board.

As I contemplate this and look at the grocery bags in the photos, I realize I miss making them. Some have sold and the pattern is a bestseller. These would be on my list to make for a holiday sales bazaar. This is worth looking into.

 

 

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Things Going On

I have some things going on. Knit things and crochet things. Blanket things, hat things. Gift things and order things. Even a heartbreak. There are things going on.

So, in the lower right is the wedding afghan. Square no. 4. It’s a little cable, a little lace and a little popcorn stitch. It’s going to take a minute because there is a 24 row repeat. I was on row 14 when I messed it up and had to frog back to row 8. It’ll take more than a minute.

In the upper right corner is the blanket for Lucas. I’m glad for the photo because it shows the purple. It doesn’t look purple when I look at it and I’m also loving the gray. He’s off to Loras College and their colors are Loras Gold, Loras Purple and Loras Gray. My colors are gold, purple and medium gray. Sentiment will make up the rest, I hope.

The lower left is another version of my Rasta Slouch – this is black tweed and the upper left is the beginning of a pair of fingerless mints that are part of an order. So, you see – busy.

Even though the wedding afghan and the Lucas Loras afgan will be given away, they will still be in the shop. They will be customizable for whatever color scheme someone needs: weddings, sororities, schools. For anything you wish, really.

There are deadlines on three of these projects so work is going on most of the time. These are the things I love to do. I am digging on the afghans. I will need until October to finish the wedding one. Good thing the wedding is the last week in October. I have about 3 months to get it done. The mittens and the long sleeves I need to knit have to be out in a few weeks and the Lucas blanket has to be done in another week or so.

I’ve been know to fall asleep knitting and can knit with my eyes closed. This skill might come in handy.