Peace

On Monday last week I posted that I would be absent for a while.  A slowly simmering family situation was starting to boil, and I needed to focus my attention.  In this world of numerous responsibilities and countless distractions, we have one rule.  Family first.

Sometimes it's best not to have any warning of the difficult situations that await you.  There are some things in life you can't truly grasp until they actually happen.  The ensuing days included heartache, turmoil, tears and even a few laughs.  I have many friends and family members who rose to the occasion, and I'm forever grateful to my support network.  As my family slowly transitions back to normal routines, we are reminded that life will never be the same, but as a family we are stronger and ready for the challenges ahead.  There is peace.

This is a long holiday weekend for many, and it marks the unofficial end of summer.  This summer has been far from ordinary, and I'm happy to bid it adieu.  To wrap it up on a positive note, I'm squeezing in the August giveaway.  Leave a comment and let us know what you're knitting.  Do you have a special fall project in the works?  Are there any Rhinebeck sweaters among us?  Are you particularly proud of a project you just finished?  The winner, chosen at random, will receive a skein of yarn from Dirty Water DyeWorks - winner's choice. The contest closes on Friday, September 5, 2014.

For my color inspiration this week, I leave you with this.

Charming shades of pink.

Radio Silence

The blog will be quiet for a bit while I deal with a family emergency.

I'll be back soon . . . 

Playing Catch-Up

I don't know how we landed on Friday already, but I'm determined to hit the weekend running.  It's been one of those weeks where nothing went as planned, so I'm going to make up for lost time and get things done.

This was the sight that greeted me this morning.

I had a labeling party last night, and these three skeins didn't get packed away . . . the leftovers.  Friday is off to a bright and cheery start.

My color inspiration this week is a random collection from my counter.

Yellow in different shapes and forms.

Musings on Repetition

Stitch by stitch, row by row.  Knitting is all about repetition.  As knitters, we do the same thing over and over and over.  The constant repetition helps refine our knitting skills, but it's also comfortable and comforting at the same time.

I try not to get set in my ways.  There are several variations on the SSK decrease, and I've had fun comparing the results.  There are numerous ways to cast on and bind off.  It's good to explore the options.

But some things I always do the same way . . . my autopilot knitting. Take one of my current sock projects.  

I'm ready to start the heel flap.  I almost always make a flap with garter edges.  I like the way it looks and fits.  Often I don't even read the pattern instructions for the flap - I rely on my default flap.  

Maybe I'll mix it up a little and try something different with this heel flap.  I still haven't decided.  Some routines are hard to let go of.

Monday Morning Snapshot

It's a happy Monday here.  I've been busy filling wholesale orders, and they're almost ready to ship.  This is one of many baskets.

Skeins waiting for labels.  All I need is another cup of coffee, some music and the tape dispenser.  

You can find a list of stores that carry my yarn here.  The list will be updated when this round of wholesale orders ships.

I Had a Feeling . . .

I had a sneaking suspicion I was going to run out of yarn on Itineris.

And I did.  I don't have enough Dirty Snow.  I hate when this happens, but it's not the end of the world.  I'll come up with a solution, preferably one that doesn't involve cracking open another skein.  According to my calculations, I need just a few yards.

While I pondered the yarn shortage, I did finish a sock.

Almost finished.  All it needs is a quick kitchener . . . and a mate.  I need some sense of project completion, and this is the best I can do at the moment.

Fresh shell peas at the farmers' market are my color inspiration this week.

Speckled pink.

Maybe It's Contagious

The other day I received an email about a yarn emergency.  The gist of it was, "Help! I'm going to run out of yarn."  Every once in a while I get a yarn SOS.  It happens to every knitter.  No matter how many times you crunch the numbers, it's inevitable that occasionally you run out of yarn.  Even if you buy an extra skein or three, there's no guarantee.

So I shouldn't have been surprised when I picked up my Itineris and discovered this.

A few days ago I was sure I had plenty of yarn to finish this project. The ball of Dirty Snow was getting smaller, but I wasn't alarmed. Today, I'm not so sure.  That ball is looking mighty small.  I don't have the heart to calculate how many yards I have left.  Sometimes confronting the cold hard numbers only makes matters worse.

I'm close to the finish line with this project, so I'll know the outcome soon enough.  I'm tempted to knit quickly . . . like that will save me from running out of yarn.  Instead, I'm going to have another cup of coffee and calmly knit on.  Like with a good book, I'm going to savor the ending.

To Start the Week . . .

After a weekend full of activity, Monday morning came around all too quickly.  I'm starting this week on the right foot.  The first thing on my to-do list is to pick the winner of the July giveaway.   

But first a bit of color to brighten your day.

Fiber.  I have some kits under construction, and I've been mixing and matching yarn and fiber . . . so many fun possibilities.

I enjoy reading the comments for the monthly giveaways, and I especially appreciated Dee's comment this time around.  "I really don't change up the seasons.  I just knit."  That's the spirit.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway.  The July winner is Maomama05.  Please drop me a note and we'll work out the details. Stay tuned.  The August giveaway will be running later in the month.

A New Page

Over the last couple weeks, my inbox has been full of fall chatter . . . details about trunk shows, time slots, workshops, festival promotions. Other people are looking ahead to fall, and I need to focus too.  

This morning I realized that it's August.  It has a way of sneaking up on me . . . it happens every year.  To kick off the month, I updated my list of events.  You can see it all in the right sidebar.  But it's not fall just yet, so enjoy the rest of your scheduled summer activities.

Today is the last day for the July giveaway.  There's still time to enter, and you can find the details here.

It's always nice to have fresh flowers around, and it's even more fun when you find a bright spot hiding in the back of the bouquet.

A splash of green and yellow.