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We Got It Good

For the record, for the people who may be reading this in the future. For me, who may be reading this in the future – at the moment, the entire world is facing down a pandemic.

Coronavirus or Covid-19, is sweeping the world causing illness and death. Entire countries are telling citizens to keep six feet apart from each other, only leave the house when necessary. There are no sports, no Disney World, no movies, no casual shopping. USPS is open. Restaurants are carry out, pick up or delivery. Churches – most of them – are holding services online.

But We Got it Good. 

I say this though there is an incredible amount of suffering going on. People are not working which means people are not making money, Which means people cannot put food on their table. Schools are closed. Food banks which normally serve 300 a day, are now having 2000 day show up. The food banks are having financial trouble meeting that need because no one is working to contribute funds to food banks and stores are having to limit groceries for those who can still go because certain items become hoarding targets. Bread, eggs, rice are all a crap shoot.

But we must have it good because we can do this.They suggest we wear masks in public. Some places it is mandatory. And we are worried about catching this disease and passing it on so we wear them. And then drop them on the ground when we leave the store. Litter? Nope. Got to rush home and get inside before something gets infected. Someone else will take care of that.

This isn’t the only place. We humans are leaving these things by the roadside. Because we can’t discard them in the house or even sneak them in a neighbor’s garbage can in the alley.

Because the world is sheltering in place, the environment gets a break from us. Pollution levels in the air have improved, animals are roaming more freely around the national parks and other places because man is not there to observe and interfere. The seas are catching their breath because we are not there to empty it for our food. 

But we’ve found a way to trash it still.

We Got it Good personally. I can sit here and have a rant about what other people are doing. My stocks took a hit but I think the bank account is fine and our fridge has food. I’m thinking about how to rebound my business when this is over and wondering if I should jump on the making masks train. No.

There are lessons. I have to make sure I learn mine.

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Yes and No


Has there been progress made in the move? Yes and No. There’s nothing new in the studio but Mr. Honey and his brother have done the floor in the living room and the hallway. I’ve also done my first product shots at new place.

That’s something like progress. The floor is gorgeous. He and his brother left it covered in sawdust and I got out the vacuum and the Swiffer and it cleaned up great. It’s even more gorgeous than the photo. 

There are boxes in the dining room/kitchen, bedroom and studio but they can’t be unboxed because there’s no place to put the stuff in the boxes and that’s because we haven’t moved the furniture. I didn’t know moving companies were considered essential so I didn’t even think about scheduling them during a Coronavirus pandemic but they are working. Now the floors are done, we can seriously think about doing a shift from living at the house and coming to the condo to living at the condo and going to the house to get it ready to sell.

It’s not quite real yet. I’ve spent time in the studio and even in its present state, I find it comfortable. I like the bathrooms – better than the one in the house. But I still can’t imagine us being here. I think the shift will help with that and get me in the mindset of saying good-bye to the place I’ve lived the in the longest.

In knit news, like I said, I took some photos at new place.

These are not edited but they came out fine. There’s a small patio area – not even big enough to be a patio – can’t set a chair out there though you could get a small gas grill there. But it will work well for taking photos.

Though these have yet to be put up for sale, you can find the available market and beach totes right here at designbcb.

I also completed a hat and a pair of mittens which I will happily share once I get pics of them. 

I also had 3 sales – 2 patterns and 1 order for a hooded scarf. That’s always good news. 

So, not in the condo but getting closer. Decisions made and more packing to do but knitting goes on. Hopefully, there will be more to share next time.

 

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Baby Steps

This is being done in baby steps. Though we do eventually have to move in, and Mr. Honey says we will be in sometime next month, we are still in the baby step phase. I have a feeling once the floor is in the living room, the timeline will be accelerated. 

I moved the yarn from the other wall to where you see it. The closet is almost full with bins and bags but there is room for more and there is more coming. The two stands have functional drawers. I have two pieces of sculpture I imagine on each one. The room isn’t as narrow as the photo makes it seem.

I also originally thought the sofa bed would go along the wall where the yarn is. I really need to measure to see how much space is there.

In knit news, I’ve completed several of the market bags. They’re in the shop. Don’t they look colorful? I don’t know if the coronavirus thing is stopping folks from buying. I sold a couple of patterns. Guess being on quarantine gives you time to do some things. Shopping is one of those things. I’ve been to the store a few times and there have been people out. It’s not as crowded as I’ve seen it.

I’m also working on some cowls and hats. I think it will be fun to join working with the new space. But there is also sadness at leaving the house. I’ve lived in this house longer than I’ve lived anywhere.

The condo is our last place together. There’s so much emotion tied up in all of this. Happiness will be at the end of all of it but getting to that point is not coming as easily as expected.

I need to take some living room photos. The flooring is probably coming in next week. This is a good time to get the flooring done. My brother-in-law will be over and he and Mr. Honey will be doing the work. I still have a cough so I will staying away from there while they are working for my sake as well as theirs. But I want to do a proper before and after so tomorrow will be that day. I would go now but it’s snowing. Don’t feel like going out in that. I’ll get there. You know, baby steps.

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Almost There

Almost There. The studio is coming along. My Fire tablet can’t take a good picture or I don’t know how to use the feature to take the best shots.This is the etagere that will hold ten bins of yarn. Right now, it is sitting in the corner by the closet but after putting the table and chairs in place, it is going to move across the room and kitty corner to where it is now.

It is going to be a comfortable room. I enjoyed sitting in it yesterday. The sleeper sofa which may end up on the opposite wall, is 6 ft long. Mr. Honey thinks the wall itself is about 12 feet long but I’m thinking more like 9 or 10. I need to measure to make sure. In my mind’s eye, the sofa is along that wall when you walk in the door looking at this wall here. Can’t really picture it the other way.

The studio is not the only thing that’s almost there. If you recall from the last post, I have 10 projects going. That is now down to 7. There are a few other finishes on the horizon. Just a couple more and there will be enough for the next Look Book. There’s also a free pattern coming, too. Now that the country is on lock down or lock out, my life will not change at all. I will still knit, go over to the condo and work on the business side of life.

But I am of the vulnerable class and I did have a small case of flu last week. It is the first time I’ve been grateful for having the flu shot within the last year.

I’m gonna try and take better pics. I’ll use the phone.Take care of yourselves and each other. See ya soon.

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It’s Ready

It’s Ready. It’s all painted and the yarn has started to move in and I can’t believe this is going on.

As the new space is filling up, the old space is emptying out and both of these yin and yang events are having a way with me. Right now, the thing that is bothering me is all the yarn will still not fit. 
Bins will be out in the open and not on shelves. Oh, the drama.

The big furniture. The sofa sleeper, bookcase and table all have to be brought in at some point.

The flooring for the living room and hall has been chosen. Of course, it’s not in stock and will take 1-2 weeks to get here but that’s not a thing. There’s so much more to do in getting the house ready.

In the meantime, knit wise,There are 10 open projects. The idea was to have a production line but things erupted. Four of them are one session away from being completed.This is my latest completed item. The pattern and the finished item are both available in the shop. This page has yarn reviews.

The etagere will be coming over next. It needs to be taken down. Photos coming, of course.

 

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And So It Begins

The closing is done and we are readying the condo for entry and readying the house for departure. And so it begins. The first room in condo to be tackled is my studio. The room, as the condo, was in pretty good shape when we got it. It’s white and the carpet needs cleaning. I really want all the carpet removed and replaced with laminate but that won’t happen. Carpet will remain the bedrooms and new flooring will be in the living room and hall spaces.

This is what three of the walls looked like after Mr. Honey started prepping the room for painting. I chose a really pale gray for the main color. A dark gray for the contrasting color – it will go on that pillar in the corner and around the inside edges of the window. The curtains are out. Blinds will be there instead. The trim will be a bright white. I am thinking of painting the doors white but haven’t decided yet.

The room is 13×14 and that closet is twice as big as the closet in the house.

The design plan is to use our octagon table as the ‘desk’ over by the window. There will be a two cushion sleeper sofa against the wall by the door. The wall you don’t see. On the wall adjacent to the window will be a stand or a bookcase where the television will be. The room will be used as a guest room when needed.

So, where will all the yarn go? The closet, though bigger, won’t hold all the stash. I have placed some yarn in huge bins that will fit in the closet. i’ll stuff the bags in there, too.  I eliminated about 8 smaller bins. I have a white bookcase, which Mr. Honey insists on calling an etagere, it should be able to hold two of the bigger bins per shelf and there are five shelves. That will leave about 3 rogue bins. I really want a non-cluttered space.

I don’t know how close the real thing will come to the idea in my head. The main thing will be to have a lighter, airier space than the one I have now.

The entire condo is getting a facelift with the paint scheme and new flooring. I’ll keep you posted.

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A Change is Gonna Come

A change is gonna come. We are moving. This time next week, we will have closed on the condo. So, the house looks like disaster. We haven’t put this house on the market yet and it will be weeks before we do. I am trying to be systematic in going about it. 

The first thing I want to do in the condo is put the bathrooms in order. We will be going back and forth and we will need toilet papers, towels, air freshener – All that jazz. 

Mr. Honey will be doing some painting and we may be getting some new flooring before we start to settle in the furniture. The most exciting part will be setting up the new studio.

we were looking for a 3 bedroom but ended up with 2. But the studio will be a combo studio and guest room. Or rather, it could be a guest room. We are getting a sleeper sofa for the living room as well as the studio, so there will be options.

The room is larger than the one I have now but still don’t know if it can hold all that yarn. I am consolidating as much as I can.

I am looking forward to the move but I am also sad. I have spent most of my life in this house. This house is next door to the house Mr. Honey grew up in. We are starting way over.

This has been more stressful than I expected. I will be happy when we are free to go back and forth and work together to make this our place. But I will miss the privacy of the house. 

Any ideas on how to make a move out and a move in easier? I need all the help I can get. Drop a note in the comments with tips and tricks!

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Not Feather and Fan

I really like the feather and fan stitch. So imagine my surprise when I discovered the stitch I was doing was not the feather and fan stitch.

I think of the feather and fan as a beautiful stitch, full of texture and a great look. When I saw the Ice Yarns Magic Glitz, I knew I would put the two of them together.

I have to say, I’m pleased with the result. I will have a lot to say about the yarn when I do the review. I can give you a heads up…I’m gonna like it. Putting the stitch into a round for a cowl was a nice little challenge and it ended up as an intermediate level pattern. It’s available at designbcb. And at Ravelry.

This won’t be the last time I use the stitch. I already have it in two other Glitz cowls and it is going into a hat and gloves.

So, what’s the difference between shale and fan and feather? Fan and feather uses more stitches and is thicker. Almost everything is the same except it takes more stitches to do the fan and feather than shale stitch.

It will probably look the same to some people but you should be able to detect the difference upon a closer inspection. I do intend on using both together and an afghan is raising its hand to be selected.

Do you have a favorite stitch? I don’t know that I have a favorite but there are some enjoyable stitches out there. With the knowledge I discovered, I now enjoy two where there once was one being called the wrong name.

I’d be interested in knowing your favorite stitches. Leave a comment below and I will check them out. I’m always on the lookout for a good stitch to create something beautiful.

 

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Grocery Shopping in Chicago

Grocery Shopping in Chicago. Market place bag in Purple. Available at designbcb

Grocery Shopping in Chicago. The Market Bag in Renegade

 

 

 

 

 

If you go grocery shopping in Chicago and you don’t bring your own bags, it will cost you $0.07 per bag. Now, that’s not a lot of money, depending on how many bags you will need. Three bags is my goal. A great deal depends on the checker. It can end up being almost a bag for each item.

I started bringing my own handmade bags. This saved money and allowed control over how the bags were filled. I have one firm sided back someone made for me and I have my market bag I knit myself.

I’ve nagged myself to get Farmer Market bags in the shop. It would make sense to have something that would get folks to the shop over the warmer months and also provide a service. I love using my bag so it would make sense that those who are far more eco-friendly than I could use them.

So, here they are. And there’s one in wine that’s complete and one in orange still on the needles. What can I say? They are a pretty quick knit and the pattern was fun to come up.

I’m using two different yarns for these bags. The always reliable, Lily Sugar and Cream and Village Yarn from Herrschners. I will do reviews on each of them at a later date. (You can find my yarn reviews here.)

If you want to purchase the bags ready to ship or made to order, check them out here. Did you get it? Check them out? Anyway…

You can also make them for yourself or for someone else. I have to admit, I think they make a great gift by itself or bundled. Make one and fill it with other eco-friendly items like paper goods, soaps, towels and give them to the student or first time homeowner. Get the pattern.

Fold them up and keep them tucked in your bag or glove box so they’re ready for grocery shopping in Chicago. It shouldn’t cost you extra because you have to make a quick trip for a few things. This way, you’re ready and saving the planet and some coin.

 

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The Claire Cowl – Free Pattern

I admit, I am late to hop on the Outlander train. Hadn’t heard about it; hadn’t seen it. The first thing that brought it to my attention was, of course, The Claire Cowl. Then all the different knit accessories.

Then the controversy. You know. The hullabaloo about whether the knits were authentic for the time. Imagine, there are people debating whether something is authentic in a show where the lead time travels across centuries. Oh, the irony.

In any case, this is a very simple but impacting knit for the beginner who wants to make garter stitch more interesting or the experienced knitter who wants to knock something fabulous out the park in short order.

I didn’t bother looking at the patterns because it is a pretty simple knit up. So I just made my own. It’s right here and you can download it free. Claire Cowl

If you aren’t able to download it. Here are the instructions:

The Claire Cowl

Yarn: Buttercream Luxe Craft Alpaca Solid
2 skeins in Night
Needles: Size 19 straights
Size L crochet hook to join ends

Cowl is worked with two strands of yarn held together

  1. Cast on 18-20 stitches
  2. Knit every row until desired length
  3. Cast off
  4. There are several says to join the ends of the scarf to form a cowl. You can take a tapestry needle and see the ends together.
  5. You can take a size L crochet hook, or whatever size you chose that will hold the yarn, and crochet the ends together through the front loops only.
  6. You can do a version of a 3 needle bind off by not casting off immediately. Instead, put the working needle through the first stitch in the needle and through the first stitch in the other end, knit them together, repeat with the next stitches and then bind off.
  7. After binding off, weave in ends.

It’s just that simple. You can modify it by using a single strand of chunky or super chunky – you will still get a stunning piece when you double it. You can make it longer or wider. Just add stitches and keep knitting.