Tag: knitting

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The Anidi Cowl

The Anidi Cowl. A textured cowl from designbcb.The Anidi Cowl is my latest creation! The physical product is available at designbcb and the pattern is ready to go as well.

The pattern in my head was going to be one way and the needles went another way and I just went with it. I love how it turned out and I love the yarn with it. The yarn is Jarbo Cookie from Hobii. I will do a yarn review on it but for right now, look at the color: that rich, neutral and look at the texture from the definition. This was a fun yarn to work with. And I have some of it left. I have two or three skeins of it; different colors. YEAH!

It was a very quick knit and the pattern is beginner friendly.  You can start it in the morning and with some focus have it done that very day.

I am beginning to appreciate my own work in the practical sense. There is an urge to make another one of these to actually wear. I used one of my cowls last winter and it did what it was supposed to do and it also got some compliments. That’s everything I want for my customers: a product that works well and looks good on them while doing it. 

 

 

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The Borg Afghan

The Borg Afghan. That’s what this afghan is becoming. It is part of the Borg collective. I feel I should name it Loctus, Jr or something.

All of a sudden it is September and I have to get a move on with finishing this afghan. Not only do I want this wedding present to be given before the wedding, I also want to offer a custom made afghan in the shop so it needs to be done for that.

There are 20 squares in this afghan and I am just on square 5. 5 of 20. Borg. And I feel an act of science fiction is needed to get this thing across the finish line on time.

This afghan is a mixture of three sources: my own mind, and two sampler afghan patterns: The Caron Sampler afghan and Leisure Arts Sampler Afghans books. See? A collective right there. Melded together to create something new. I am also frogging a WIP afghan to make these squares so assimilation is going on all over the place. There should be a star ship for me to captain.

I have been resisting the urge to buy more yarn. I really don’t need it. If I needed it, there would be no hesitation or pouring over what to buy. I would just go get it. This is a clue to me that it is an emotional purchase. I can probably get the am rush by looking through the domesticated yarn in the closet. There would be some pleasant surprises in there.  I am taking this as a sign of maturity. Let me have my moment.

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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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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.

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The Forest For the Trees

Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. But sometimes, looking at a tree doesn’t let you appreciate the majesty of the entire forest. I think I can explain what I mean. See that? That is a dresser in my craft room. That dresser looks pretty neat. And it is. But it wasn’t always. A few scant hours ago, it was cluttered and dusty. I decided to clean it and dust it as part of Lent.

We usually give up something for Lent like chocolate or coffee. But then, the day after Easter, we have chocolate and coffee. I don’t have coffee; don’t drink it. Haven’t had chocolate in a minute, either. You get the point. We pause something; we don’t actually give it up.

That makes Lent kind of a game. I wonder if God has that kind of humor. We certainly aren’t fooling him. In the past, I didn’t give anything up for Lent. Even if it was a game, it was one I didn’t play. But this year, I want to be more mindful. So I gave up being cluttered and untidy. Not for me. But for Mr. Honey who likes neatness. I am working on a lot of things about myself for myself. This thing I am working on me for him. I didn’t tell him because that would seem braggadocious. I’m just doing it. Starting with the dresser.

In knitting news, look what I’m working on. This is Robin’s poncho and it’s being worked with that big cake of yarn known as the Caron Anniversary Cake. Now, as far as I know, these are all out of stock and they don’t have any new ones coming down the pike. But I have a couple of these to make this poncho because the client wants it big and squishy. There’s 1000+ yards in these balls and I want to use all of it to make it.

I am enjoying it. I will write a review on it just in case it comes back. (hope it comes back with some great colors.) I have a ball – maybe two – of it somewhere in the free range stash. 

This has spoiled me for chunky knits. I will turn to James C Brett and hope the Marble Chunky that I’ve been keeping for pets will suffice.

 

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On Hooks and Needles: The Sparkle Stocking Cap

On hooks and needles: a new stocking cap. Just when I thought there was not going to be a ‘break out’ item selling over the holiday, one of the stocking caps pulled away from the pack. Learning the lesson of listening to what your customers are saying while your customers are not saying anything, I knew I had to expand the stocking cap field.

But I knew I didn’t want just any stocking cap. I decided to do a sparkly one. This is Big Twist Twinkle in the color Mulberry. You can just make out the twinkly bits and it looks much better than the photo shows. The completed photo will be much better.

This will be the first product in my new GoImagine shop. Yes, I decided to give another platform a try and GoImagine says it is the ‘Marketplace that cares.’ You have to be US based and all of their profits go to social causes. Sounded good to me. I don’t remember what it’s like getting a shop off the ground but I am about to find out. 

The hat is a little further along that what’s in that photo and it will be ready in another session or two but it’s not going in the shop until some of its siblings can join. I have many ideas on the spreadsheet and they will come to fruition when the time is right. I am almost done with orders. There are six to go and three of them are going to the same place. Designing and creating can kick into high gear once they’re done. The idea is to make five items (including patterns) and then upload one item a day. Pinterest and Facebook are the social media latforms of choice because the data says that’s where my customers live.

I think the stocking cap will be fun. Hopefull, you’ll able to see it in the next post – or the one after that.

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The Resolution Thing

Five years ago, almost five years to the day, Apartment Therapy had an article on resources for people who wanted to start knitting. It’s the resolution thing.

During the Olympics both knitting and crochet got a boost because there were some athletes who knit and crochet while sitting in the stands – and they were males. There were two of them, right?

Knitting is one of those New Year resolution favorites. People say they are going to learn how to knit and makes hats and scarves and all kinds of things for their family, friends and home.

I wonder what the stats are on people who make that resolution, then go through with it and then learn how to make the forementioned hat, scarf or home decor. For as many people knit, there are more that don’t. It still amazes me how I can draw a crowd when knitting in public. People are fascinated by it and express an interest in wanting to do it but they don’t have ‘that kind of time.’ Which is the exact reason I don’t mountain climb. I don’t have that kind of time.

For the life of me, I don’t know what that means. Since it always said with something of a snooty tone and an upturned nose, I take it to mean they have better things to do with their time. There time is valuable. Well, OK. But I am usually in a craft show or around some stores when I knit. And those folks are shopping. I can make some of the stuff they’re shopping for. Which gives me time to watch them do it.

 

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On Hooks and Needles: The Bae Bag

Sometimes when I design something, I get a twofer – an item to sell and a pattern to make it. On hooks and needles this go around is a twofer. The Bae Bag. Both the item and the pattern have been in the shop for a bit and I really don’t know why it’s not selling off the shelves.
It’s a pretty straight forward knit. A feather and fan stitch that can knit up fairly quickly.

If you want to by one ready made go here.  Wanna make it yourself, go here.

The bag is made from cotton – though it can be made of another fiber. It can also be lined and the handles changed to make it more of a purse than a grocery or farmer’s market tote.  I believe I used Big Twist cotton. There’s a review. 

This would also make a nice project bag. It can hold an insane amount of yarn and the pattern or pattern book. It looks smallish but it has a great deal of stretch. An afghan project would fit with no problems. You might want to make sure the needles and hooks are secure. There are openungs in the pattern and a loose hook or needle might be able to slip through.

If you’re looking to make useful gifts or you want a fun easy knit for yourself. The Bae bag is just the thing.

 

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Knit Worthy

Being knit worthy is a thing. It is the cause of the Boyfriend Sweater mythology

Not everyone is and before we make an investment of time and money (some pretty serious money depending on the yarn and some pretty serious time depending on the skill and the pattern) the first assessment we need to make is to know whether the person we are making something for is worth making something for.

I don’t knit socks is because when uses as intended, they quickly wear out. A good hike or a rigorous night on the dance floor and those socks are done.

This is the time of year knitters (crocheters, seamstresses, quilters) love getting out their tools and their fabric and fiber catalogs and get to working on those holiday gifts. Come January, you will find group pages filled with the lament of the makers. They will state how their work went unappreciated.

And there will just as many posts about relatives who appear ten days before Christmas with a photo of some elaborate thing and ask if you could make it for them in a couple of days for the party they are going to. They don’t have a pattern but you can just whip it up, right?

It’s OK to be selective

Knitting or crafting for someone is not a small thing. We craft because we love it. For some of us, like me, knitting is a spiritual gift. It is the process of knitting that brings me joy and peace and the finished object can be a part of that. It’s fine to be selective and give only to those people who will appreciate the time, effort and cost.

My husband, Mr. Honey, appreciates the effort but he hardly wears sweaters so if I made him one, it would find it’s way into his dresser. However, I get a request for a new scarf every few years. I just give him access to what’s on hand, he picks one out and we’re both happy with the results.

Don’t stress the thing that’s supposed to relieve stress. Knit for those who will appreciate it – everyone else can get a get a gift card.

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The Need to Knit – and Blog About It

The need to knit is not stopped by something as inconsequential as a hospital stay. I was in the prep room waiting to be wheeled into surgery. I needed something to do and I had orders. That was valuable knit time. 

I remember when we got our first PC and discovered that thing called the information super highway – or the Internet. There was some contraversy about Al Gore discovering it or some such thing. 

And then there was that thing called a blog. 

My blog was originally called the Knitter’s Restaurant because it was going to serve up all kinds of knitty dishes. It was on Blogger. Then I moved it to WordPress and a web host called Ipage. Moved from them when they started to get a little fishy and have been here with Inmotion for the past few years.

The blog itself has gone through some versions. But I believe we have settled into what feels right – talking about crochet, knitting, yarn, projects and that knit/crochet life.

I don’t think I had my shop when I started the blog. I don’t know which came first; the shop chicken or the blog egg. They are both crossing the road though. I’ve had my Etsy shop for twelve years. I think the shop might have come first. 

There’s a great deal to explore in this life and the stops on this train land in places that are fun, spiritua; and free. Glad and blessed to share it.