Window Wednesday

A window into my world:

Happy New Year 2015

As I look back at 2014 and ahead to 2015, there is much to be grateful for and much for which to look forward.

Zelda just jumped up into my lap.  The constant companionship of my kitties is one of my favorite and cherished things.

Sadly in October we said good by to Saucey.  She was the dearest sweetest cat I have ever owned. Her passing left a very big hole in all of our lives.  I will fondly remember her sweet face and the many antics and loving times she bestowed upon me during the 14 years she spent in the family.

Saucey Apr 2000-October 2014

Happily as life does go on; we were blessed by being able to adopt Oscar on Dec 18th.  He immediately showed symptoms of a kitty cold, but has since made a full recovery and is showing signs of having every bit as big of a personality as Saucey did.  He is fitting right in to our household.

Oscar.... future king of the castle?

While I am continuing on with many knitting projects, I think that I would like to make that less a part of my blogging focus and while I may continue to track and mention my projects (and possible new designs) from time to time I think I may need to go in a different direction (as I have been contemplating for a very long time now) on the blog itself.  So bear with me (as they say) while the blog undergoes a few changes.

Some ideas I have been kicking around are:

- a repository for poetry and prose (short story) projects
- comments on books I am reading (when I read them)
- pictures of the cats (of course)
- general observations on life and events

so that's where I'm at.  Looking forward to a fantastic 2015...

Hmmm....

I don't care to write the kind of posts where a blogger gets on and discusses all the reasons for not posting more often, etc, etc. but I am making an exception today because (ahem, cough, cough), I was trying to update my google password (a nightmare in and of itself) and I noticed that the one year anniversary of my last post is coming up this week.  Gulp!

There are MANY reasons of both blame and shame for that situation to have occurred.  I won't even begin to enumerate them.

The biggest and most prevalent of them all is that I simply don't know what to do with this blog anymore. 

It's not really a knitting blog, and I am not the sort of person who just gets on the internet to share intimate or trivial (or both) details of my life in an unending cycle of drivel.  I'm also not made of the stuff that creates profound or meaningful content for a large and devoted, or a small but dedicated group of followers.

What I am in a nutshell is boring.  Bored and boring.  I can't think up content to save my life and I don't really have that much going on in my life to draw from.

It's sort of a shame really.

Excuse me if if this is sounding like too much of a rant.

I wish I could be sparkly and witty and creative and have unending sources of wisdom to share, but the reality is that I don't and I have a terrible camera and little to no photography skills to create stunning pictures of my average knitting projects.  I've designed one more project since the last two I shared and I really don't think that it was all that exciting.

So there it is. If I don't come up with a new idea soon, the only reason that this blog will continue to exist is because I don't have any other way to link my patterns to Ravelry.


Maybe I'll think up something soon....

Meanwhile, you know all those socks I'm always knitting? I started something with the leftovers....
This will be my epic 2014 knitting project:

Sock Yarn Blankie, project name: String of Pearls

There is a Process

2013 has been every bit as challenging as 2012 was so far.  The good news is that I am still knitting, still designing and trying to keep the channels of creation open at every opportunity.

That means that while I am always doing something, there are many things I am also not doing.  So goes the cycle.

Regardless, I am trying to improve and keep at the things I love.

Here is a peek at a couple of designs that I am currently working on:

Thrill Ride Socks

McClean County Socks

The pattern draft is completed and test-knitting is underway for the Thrill Ride socks pattern.  I am doing final edits and will request test knitters for McClean County once the draft is ready.

While I love designing, I do find the "administrative" tasks of creating patterns to be somewhat of a challenge.  I wish there was a way to just think these patterns into existence.  This task is somewhat complicated by my very ancient PC which is desperately in need of replacing and my own personal limitations.  But I digress... I do muddle through the best I can.

I also have a Infinity scarf/cowl pattern that I may or may not get finalized and ready for publication.  I think it is quite pretty, but again, the technical side of creating the pattern is tripping me up at the moment. 

Meanwhile, the cats are keeping a close eye on my every movement...

In the Zone

Although I have a sufficient amount of technological know-how to survive in day-to-day life, there are still a few things I just can’t quite manage to figure out.  Like the vision I have for this blog and bending blogger to my will. 

This blog is sort of in limbo while I figure out exactly how and what I want it to represent. 

Meanwhile, I have been busy knitting, designing, knitting, organizing test knitting, doing some random writing and knitting.  I wish my life was more interesting sometimes, but basically it is not. 

Because of my less than reportable life, I have also been suffering from a serious case of poor-poor-pitiful-me.  That is soon to be remedied with a visit to Florida.  I find there is nothing quite as soothing and restorative for me than to sit on a beach and watch the waves go in and out. (hopefully I will return full of fresh energy and inspiration)

So while I wait for my test knitters to knit,  and draft the final version of the patterns, I’ll continue working on my personal sock club challenges, my sock knitters’ anonymous challenges and other random projects from my queue.  Maybe someday I will even post a picture or two somewhere besides Ravelry.  In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this shot that I captured of the Great Sunnypatch Standoff of 2012. 

Even if you saw it first, I want it

Happy Knitting,

Nana

What's up Wednesday

Just a short post to say that I put two sock patterns out for test knitting today, hopefully I will be able to release them into the wild very soon:

Danger Zone Socks

Danger Zone Heel

Charming Twist Socks

Charmed to meet you

Thoughts from the Archives

I found this list while I was going through some papers and things.  I didn't make note of the original author, but I think it is pretty interesting.   I think a few of these have eluded the members of our current society... maybe we need to reinstate them.

Rules for living

• Never be idle
• Make few promises
• Always speak the truth
• Live within your income
• Never speak evil of anyone
• Keep good company or none
• Live up to your engagements
• Never play games of chance
• Drink no intoxicating drinks
• Good character is above everything else
• Keep your own secrets if you have any
• Never borrow if you can possibly help it
• Do not marry until you are able to support a wife
• When you speak to a person, look into his eyes
• Save when you are young to spend when you are old
• Never run into debt unless you see a way out again
• Good company and good conversation are the sinews of virtue
• Your character cannot be essentially injured except for your own acts
• If anyone speaks evil of you let your life be so that no one believes him
• When you retire at night, think over what you have done during the day
• If your hands cannot be employfully used, attend to the culture of your mind
• Read the above carefully and thoughtfully at least once a week

I only have one to add.... 

Knit (or create) a little every day 

Happy Knitting

Nana

PS

Zelda says, 

Reach out and text someone you love....

 

Holding Steady

I am still here. I have been reading and knitting and trying to get my craft room into some state of usefulness.  The writing has somehow been eluding me.  I have been doing some, but what I have been doing is at a more “personal” stage and nothing I care to share.  I have also been experiencing some physical and emotional highs and lows which make it a challenge for me to challenge myself.  For the most part I am doing what I can and just trying to meet the small goals I set for myself on a daily basis.  I know the few readers I do have visit me mostly for knitting content or to see what the kitties have been up to lately.  In the interest of keeping my readers on board, I will try to share a little of both today.

Right now I have six projects on the needles.  Three pairs of socks, one pair of mittens started and now left over from the winter that never really materialized here in the Midwest, a vest which was a planned project and a shawl which is a treat. 

My photos as usual are dubious, but here are a couple of “in progress” shots that I can share. 

Hearts and Flowers socks pattern by Wendy Johnson

Some stripeys just for me

May Mystery Socks from SKA pattern Chiendent by RoseHiver

I did recently finish a pair of socks that I am extremely proud of.  As I am of the team they represent:

I call these "Hunt for (another) Red October" Go Cards!

And as for the kitties, they are excelling at a cycle of eat-sleep-poop-bug mama-eat-sleep again. All the recent pictures of the kitties are on my phone, so I'll have to share those another time, meanwhile, here's what they have been doing.

Zelda has laid claim to the spot I normally sit in whenever I’m not.  I’m trying to convince her to use the cat bed which she used to sleep in almost constantly but she hasn’t wanted anything to do with since we moved to IA.  She slept in it for about 20 minutes the other day and then as soon as I got up took over my seat on the couch, le sigh.

Saucey is a royal grouch.  She has gotten a smidge below her target weight and we are trying everything to get her back up to normal.  The vet of course offered the option of repeating the expensive tests we had done last fall which showed everything to be normal.  Her diabetes remains in remission and I don’t want to mess that up.  The best advice the vet has is to give her more carbs.  Okay….

We live quite the exciting life here at Chez Nana, but I will try to keep up in the future. 

Happy Knitting,

Nana

PS I did get to go on an adventure at the end of March... I went out to the Bay Area to see my daughter (s) and squeeze on my grandkids for a couple of days.... see... love them all so much.  (Happy Mothers day!)

 

Down to The Wire

Well, 2011 is winding to a close and I finished my last pair of socks for the year.  Officially, if anyone is counting besides my anal self, I have finished 34 pairs in 2012!  I don't necessarily plan to improve that record next year, but I am full of anticipation about what 2012 will bring and have a couple pair lined up and ready to be cast on.

Meanwhile, I thought I would show off the last two finished.  I finished the Spiral Stashbuster Pair last week.  I neglected to show you what the yarn looked like before I started knitting them in the last "in-progress" post.  It's interesting to see how the individual colors look compared to the blend.  Also, as you might suspect from the date on the photo, this is some of the yarn left over from doing these.  They don't take much of each individual color.

 

Yarn for Scrappy Stripes

 Here is what the finished socks looked like:

Scrappy Stripes

A very fun knit.  This pattern will go into my "go to" binder.  As will the next one I finished.

Pattern: Thumbelina by Lisa Dykstra
Yarn: Paca-peds in Paccacino

Swirls in my Coffee

A very fast and fun knit.  My only complaint would be the "opposite" pooling effect that happened in the foot/gusset of the sock.  Not sure how to avoid this, but I might have to make it my mission to solve this problem since I have more similarly dyed yarn in my stash.  Otherwise, I love them.

Happiest of New Years and Happy Sock Knitting!

Nana

My Blue Period

***Notice: link and photo heavy post; please step away and have a cup of hot cocoa or  eggnog if this will further stress you, otherwise, enjoy!***

It happens.  In your wardrobe; in your décor; in your paintings; and inevitably in your yarn choices; you take a good look one day and realize that you have been making some very monochromatic color choices.  In the case of my knitting, the color is blue.  It seems like I have been only knitting with blue yarn lately.   This is not strictly the case, but blue has definitely been my power color recently. 

I have finished several blue things (in no particular order)

The Brooklyn Tweed Rock Island Shawl in Mountain Colors Winter Lace / Harmony Starlight

Mr. Greenjeans in Gedifra Extra Soft Merino / Navy

A couple of pattern notes on this... sizing runs a tad small due to cables.   I made the sleeves longer and closed the YO's on the raglan shaping.  I know it's hard to tell from the picture, but it really did turn out nicely.

Movember Socks in A Swell Yarn Shop Middy Duet Sock Yarn / Lagoon Splash

Escargot in Dream in Color Classy / Midnight Derby / Visual Purple / Some Summer Sky

This pattern was a delight!  I needed something small and fun to knit after finishing the cardigan and socks and fell in love with this as soon as the Knitty Bis was published.  It fit the bill perfectly and I may have picked up another skein of classy to knit another one that matches the mittens I wear most. 

I may have slipped in a few of other projects in random colors just for fun:

My November PSC Houdini Socks in Madelinetosh Fingering / Sweet Pea

A Christmas Cowl (Chunky Eyelet Cowl by Nancy Wyatt) in Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky / Shiraz

As a general rule, I'm not much of a fan of chunky yarn, but this stuff is like catnip to me.  I just can't stop playing with it and loving on it.  I might have yet another skein tucked away for one more quickie project.  Which leads me to another Misti project I'm quiet proud of:

Jazz Age Scarf-let (my pattern pending testing, etc) in Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky / Magic Flute 

I got an idea for this pattern and puttered around with it until I got it exactly the way my head wanted it.  This is a fun quick knit and I hope to have the pattern out on ravelry very soon.

The long suffering and taking-forever-to-knit Miss Marple Shawl is still on the needles lurking somewhere near the back burner.

I’ve also cast on for my last socks of the year:

My December personal sock club selection was Lizard Ridge Socks in The Alpaca Yarn Co Paca-peds / Paccacino but I didn’t particularly like the way the pattern was knitting up and I think the yarn is a little too soft to give it structure after being blocked.  I frogged those and am now happily knitting Thumbelina with the yarn.

There were several choices for December from SKA, one of them was stashbusters.  The pattern Stash  Buster Spiral Socks has been in my Queue for a while so this seemed like the appropriate option.  I started these using up some of my leftover sock yarn. (Bonus points if you recognize that green).  I have finished the first sock and started the second.  No promises on finishing by the end of the month/year, but they have been pretty quick so far. 

On the horizon, I have a few more design ideas I’ll be playing with next year.  I have my 2012 personal sock club packaged up and ready to go; and I am slowly refining what’s in my queue to better target projects/patterns/yarn that I have paired and are waiting only to be cast on. 

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and if I don’t post again before then….a splendid 2012!

Happy Knitting,

Nana

PS …. The icing on my “Blue” cake?   I got this for Christmas :)

(Ford Edge / Dark Blue Pearl … or is that Purl?)

[I snatched this picture from the official website for the record. ]

Recently

This came in the mail:

Loft Camper

Loft Snowbound

Dream in Color Smooshy w/cashmere in Butter Peeps

 

Dream In Color Smooshy Cashmere - Black Pearl

     

Mother Nature did this:

First Snow

 And these came off the needles:

Jacobean Socks

Pattern: Jacobean
Yarn: Pediboo
Size 2.25mm dpn

I think the mail carrier won!

Happy Knitting!
Nana

Wednesday, Whatever

1. As a long time Cardinals fan, I’m really excited that my guys once again captured the pennant.   I’m also a little sad that Tony La Russa is hanging up his jersey for good.  I’ve always had a fondness for Tony and I appreciate his good work on and off the field.  We adopted Saucey from ARF, which he founded.  

He will remain a hero to us for a long time. 

2. I’m guessing it will be safe to knit myself a pair of socks inspired by these now. (Skip's socks not his buns)

3. I finished knitting my October personal sock club selection:  

 Pattern:  Menehune Cobblestone

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Indian Corn

Size 2.25mm needles, ML 2AAT

I am so wearing these tomorrow :)

 

4. I’m still knitting a cardigan (but I've switched patterns), the Rock Island Shawl, the Miss Marple Shawl and my October challenge socks.

5. I could have been at the heel turn on sock #2 of said socks last night if I hadn’t needed to rip back 22 rounds because I forgot to pay attention to the chart… ooops!

6. It is raining with the possibility of snow later today, yuck.

7. I plan to cast on my November personal sock club and Mystery socks later today (still mad at that October sock)

8. I’m unofficially playing along with NaNoWriMo which my daughter is officially participating in.  I had an idea, so what the heck.  I used to be a fairly decent writer until I started blogging

9. I bagged up the 2012 personal sock club yarns & patterns… at least I’m ahead on something.

2012 PSC... I may be developing a project bag problem

10. Whatever…. This makes the list 10 items long; so Monk will be happy.

 Happy Knitting! 

Nana

Well, Well, Well

The Cardinals are in World Series!

Despite being distracted by all of the exciting playoff action the past couple of weeks, I've been carrying on with my knitting, just have a look:

The end of several projects…. 

The mystery sock selection for Sept, I was happy to finish these, but am considering frogging the cuff and redoing just plain ribbing of some sort.  They are super floppy and I just don't like that. 

Watercress Socks

This is a little pattern I whipped up for the class I'm teaching at the library.  I needed something simple but with a stitch pattern and a couple of teaching techniques.  The pattern is available here under the "My Designs" tab.

Sumptious Neck Snuggler

Hubby's cousin is having a baby, so he asked if I would knit up a little gift; there's also a hat to match, but the picture isn't good: 

Baby Surprise Jacket

 The long planned and promised dress for my Granddaughter.  This pattern was published in the fall issue of Knitters (last year) and I knew I wanted to make it, it just took a long while for all of the elements (yarn, time, motivation) to come together and git it done, but it is now and on it's way to her with t-shirts and leggings to (more or less) match.  (Whole other rant... Please tell your local retailer that little girls can wear colors other than pink or purple 'k?)

Dress for S

 My September SKA Challenge socks (project named aptly "Falling Behind").  I loved the Mountain Colors Crazyfoot yarn I used for these.  The pattern was okay, but got a little tedious with all of the slipped stitches.

Nornir Socks

Finally, my personal sock club selection for October; the reason all of my knitting felt so slow lately.  The Bayerische socks.  This pattern put me through the wringer... the really sad part is I loved every minute of knitting this.  SHHH... don't tell the Lake County Knitters who really hated it.  Yes it is complex and demanded my full attention, but wow, who can actually hate socks that turn out like this?

Bayerische Socks

I've still got a few things on my needles, but that is (hopefully) another post.

Happy Knitting,

Nana