Catching Up

I seem to have spent the past few weeks chasing my own tail and never quite getting anything accomplished that I wanted to.

After spending most of January designing things that, for one reason or another, just didn't work out the way I wanted them to I took a complete departure from my usual methods and just cast on a few stitches and played with yarn!

(My usual method being to swatch, write and chart, then knit not the other way around.)

It turns out that was exactly what I needed to do!  Several very large "doodles" later my desk was covered in blocked "swatches" and my pattern writing mojo was back!  (In a big way!  I need to get several extra pairs of hands to knit them all up now.)

With that mojo back, I was finally able to sit myself down and plan my design year.  Shawls, mitts, socks, a hat, some little bits and bobs all got put on my calendar and I started writing  up some proposals for submissions.

One of the newsletters that I subscribe to had an ad in it for a free swatch of yarn from a yarn company I had never tried before.  I loved the idea of getting to actually feel some yarn before placing an internet order, so filled out the form to get a swatch. A few days later this was in my mailbox.

It felt lovely all knitted up, but how was it to work with, I wondered.  So after much poking and pulling of stitches trying to find the yarn end, I unravelled that little swatch and wound it into a little ball so I could knit it myself.
It was just as nice to work with as it felt knitted  up...inspiring even!  (You'll hear more about that later this year, promise!)

I think they still have swatches available...run over to Liverpool Yarns and take a peek at what they offer!


The test knit I have running for a loopy cowl is winding down so I put two more shawl test knits up.  Both patterns that were worked out and sample knit by me earlier in 2018...it seems I have quite a back log of completed patterns to get tested and published. (At least one of the back logged patterns was tech edited last April...and will need to be tested relatively soon as I planned on it being my April Fools Day release...I think I have a trend started for "funny" patterns in April.)

Running two or three test knits at a time will probably be the only way I can get through that back log of patterns, so I am always looking for new people who would like to test...if you are interested in test knitting for me, please sign up here. 

And with that...I am off to catch up on the next thing on my needles......if I could stop spreading her out to admire the yarn, I might get through the next chart before I have to start the knitting on a submission piece.

What's on your needles?

~M

Small Words

Usually on Sunday, around these parts I am silent but today...a few small words!

Small words can have powerful impact and meaning.

Words like :

I'm sorry. 

Thank you! 

Let me help.

Maybe if we all spent a little more time remembering those small words and use them, the world might be a better place for us all to live in? *

~M

*Just in case you hadn't heard...the (internet and ig) fiber community have been in an uproar....some good conversations have come out of it...but....an awful lot of hate has also been spread.

Snow was Softly, Silently Falling

The Year That Was and Things to Come

Like many people, at the end of last year I looked back at what I how I had filled 2018.

It was  a year filled with wonderful things and sad events, changes big and small.

Design wise, I published 20 patterns in 2018, including my first graded garment!

The rundown, in case you missed any are:

Techno Punkies

Spring's Around the Corner











 My April Fools Pattern : Truth, Fallacies and Statistics.

Ashes of Roses, which you can get free from Knotions.com

Callie's Braids

 Smocked Leaves, another Free Pattern on Knotions.com

 A Shawl/Scarf in three sizes, Somebody Told Me, again free to you from Knotions.

 Team Knit

 Philadelphus...hey look at that, you can get it for free on Knotions!

And back to Knotions I went with Sweetened Footies.

How the Tiger Got its Stripes

 A Trio of Holiday Patterns

 A Sprinkling of Leaves, from Knotions.

Photo from Edsger Studios for Knotions.

My fundraising pattern for the year...Cradle Song.

Which supports Arion Chamber Music

Pourquoi, exploring shawls and "humps"

Cowl Trick....reversible color changes without the pesky purl bumps in the wrong color!

Once more I went back to Knotions with Schlumbergera

Photo from Edsger Studios.

And my final 2018 pattern...Norma Jeanne

While usually with goal setting the typical answer is do more, I don't see that level of production being sustainable for the long haul, although I have several things ready for test knitting, some ready for editing and two new things on my needles right now!

Family wise it was a very busy year!  Between class and work schedules it felt like we were all coming and going all the time, but we made time to do some fun things together.  (Funnily enough most of them involved fiber arts in one way or another.)

We made our annual trips to the Mid Ohio Fiber Fair and Wool Gathering, and have agreed they both go on the list of things we want to do again this year.

This year will also see growth and change in the family.  Graduations and new job ventures for the kids, of course more knitting and crafting for me!  Who knows, I might even get back into the routine of blogging consistently!

Until next time....Happy Knitting!

~M

Silence...with Minnie Mouse yelling in my ear

And so, that was Christmas

Such a lot of activity, although not much blogging,  in these parts from the end of November to now the end of December!

The Indie Gift Along has become a staple of that whirlwind the past few years, and this year has been no different!

So far, and there are still a few days left to sneak in some extra projects, I have completed 8 projects by other designers for the GAL and snuck in one of my own as part of the After Party Gals Advent Mystery Sock Along.

These were completed before Christmas, and given to the people they were meant for.

Ballan Hat by Tracey Lee.

Oberon Socks by Kate Poe.

Fafnir Hat by Karen Robinson

Bias Drop Scarf by Dragon Wing Arts.

Wedded Bliss Socks by Tanja Leuscher

Two Versions of Focalise by Kirsten McTeer

The Mystery Advent Socks, you can find the clues on Instagram.

And then finally my "I am all through knitting presents and it is only just Christmas Eve project..."

Here We Gnome Again by Sarah Schira.

The discerning among you will notice that the gnome is made from leftover bits from all of the hats, and will be my gift to myself! I didn't have any of the suggested poly pellets to stuff him with, so instead he is stuffed with a combination of wool roving and navy beans.  (I might have to cast on another one using the leftovers from the sock weight projects!)

Now that the Christmas rush is over, it is time for me to organize my projects for next year.    I put my things on hold during the holiday season, so there are lots of test knits to set up, patterns to finalize and photo shoots to get done.

If you are interested in test knitting for me...drop a post here and I can add you to the list!  I'll give you a sneak peak of some of the items that coming up another day!

Until then...I hope you had the Merriest of Christmases and are looking forward to the Happiest of a New Year!

~M

Christmas Adam