Do-Over

I'm still on my sock knitting kick.  I had started a sock a while ago, but I wasn't happy with the way it was turning out.  I set it aside.  Yesterday I picked it up and assessed the situation.  I could have forged ahead . . . hoping it would all work out by the time I reached the toe.  But deep down I knew that wasn't too likely.  Instead I made the wise choice and ripped it all out.

A fresh start.  There's no shame in ripping.  All it took was a slight adjustment, and I'm happy with the result.

This week's color inspiration . . . 

Bright and bold.

Looking Ahead

While everyone else is on vacation, I have other plans.  Summer is my time to gear up for fall, and I'm in the midst of a busy dyeing run. Here's a sneak peek.

Stay tuned.  I'll be posting updates in the coming weeks . . . new colorways, kits and samples in production for fall.

Schedule Update

It's hard to keep to a schedule during the summer, but the other day I decided it was time to get a handle on my schedule for the fall.  I updated all the details in the right sidebar and on the Events page.  I'm getting a jump on all the activity with a trunk show next month at Yarns In The Farms.  More details to come.

This is what I'm looking at this morning.

Around and around . . . listening to the quiet whir of the winder.

Coping with the Heat

The heat has settled in over New England.  I haven't let the hazy, hot, humid weather interfere with my knitting, but I have made some adjustments.  Instead of working on bigger projects, I've shifted attention to my sock knitting.

Socks are perfect for summertime knitting - small and portable without a lot of fabric to contend with.  I've been eyeing a couple sweater projects, but those will have to wait for a break in the weather.  Since I don't see much relief in the immediate forecast, I'll stick with socks for now.

This week's color inspiration was captured in the magic of early morning light.

A colorful dock.

Knitting and Numbers

My crazy summer routine - or lack thereof - has been a bit scattered. Interruptions.  "Mom, I found a new dresser on Craigslist.  Can we pick it up?  Now?"  Of course.  I'm the one with a truck.

Early morning hours.  "Mom, I have a 6:30 a.m. flight.  You can take me to the airport, right?"  Apparently I operate the Logan Shuttle, on call day or night.

Today is going to be different.   I need a spreadsheet to organize dyeing and fall prep, so I've settled in at my desk with a big cup of coffee.  And my knitting, of course.  

Yesterday's knitting progress was more backward than forward.  It happens.  Sometimes a project doesn't work out quite right, and the only solution is to rip it out.  

For today . . . numbers sprinkled with a few short rows.

Lessons Learned . . . Again

Over the weekend I was reminded of a couple important lessons.  I really need to drink more water when it's hot outside.  Coffee doesn't count as water.  

A new printer will work when it's plugged in properly.  I thought my computer was acting up when it couldn't detect the printer, and I had some choice words for said computer.  It turns out I should have retraced my steps all the way back to connecting the power for the new printer.  My son stepped in and saved me

Highlighter tape is my best friend, especially when I'm trying to focus on row after row of text.  I know this, but I had convinced myself the pattern would make sense after a couple more rows.  It didn't.

There's no need to struggle.  This little roll of tape is all I needed to get on track with the project, and now it does make sense.  This is Lines and Corners in case you're wondering.

Today is another day.  I wonder what I'll learn . . . or relearn.

Finding My Rhythm

I have a new project on the needles, but it's off to a slow start.

I'm still not in the groove of working back and forth with the different knit and purl combinations.  I've had far too many interruptions this week . . . a row here, a half row there.  I'm ready for the weekend and some concentrated knitting time.

This week's color inspiration came out of the oven and was gone in the blink of an eye.

Raspberries and rhubarb.  Even the crust is pretty.

Now or Later

Last night at knit night a couple of us were working on shawls with numerous ends.  The discussion turned to weaving in ends.  Do you weave them in as you go, or do you weave all of them in at the end.  

If you have just a few ends, it's not an issue.  But when you have two dozen or more, it makes you think about the most efficient way to deal with all of them.  I debated this problem last summer when I was working on my Purpleplexy.  In the end I decided to follow the pattern's polite suggestion to weave in the ends as you go.  

I hadn't given it much thought when I was working on my current project, but after last night's discussion, maybe I should.

I'm halfway through my Ysabel, and there will be twice as many ends to contend with when I'm finished.  I'm going to take out my tapestry needle now.

How about you.  Do you weave in ends as you go or save them all for later?

Belgian Waffle Boomerang

Today calls for a do-over, but I've vowed to keep going.  My computer is being obstinate.  If I see that swirling beach ball one more time, I might lose it.  To add to my tech nightmare, the camera is being temperamental and uncooperative.  The only bright spot was leftover pie for breakfast.

On a positive note, I did finish one project over the weekend.

Belgian Waffle Boomerang.  I don't have a good shot of the whole scarf, but it is shaped like a boomerang.

This pattern is written to include different weights of yarn.  I made it with my current favorite, Bertha Sport.  The color is Pond Scum.

This pattern has great texture and makes a cushy fabric.  It's been my trusty companion . . . my on-the-go project.  Now I feel lost without it. There's only one solution.  I'm off to salvage this day and cast on something new.

Keeping Calm

After the tragedies this week in Louisiana and Minnesota, surely it couldn't get any worse.  This morning I woke up to discover that yes, it could.  The situation is overwhelming.  As a dear friend reminded me, it won't get any better until we're willing to address some really big issues.

So this morning when I reached for a coffee cup, it seemed appropriate that this was the only one in the cupboard.  It's also a reflection on my family's inability to keep up with dirty dishes, but that's a topic for another day.

Today I'm keeping calm . . . and trying to find peace in tumultuous times.

This week's color inspiration is purple, green and white.

Onion bundles.

It's That Time Again . . .

Sign-ups are now open for Yarn Knot 2016 - 2017.  This yarn subscription service includes both yarn and a suggested pattern.

There are a couple changes this time around.  I've gone back to 4 quarterly installments.  To mix things up, one of the installments will not be a fingering weight yarn.  You can pay for all 4 installments at once or make quarterly payments.  You'll save a little bit if you pay for all 4 up front.

I use this opportunity to sample new yarn bases as well as incorporate some of my current bases.  All colorways are exclusive to the club for 12 months.

Looking for a sock club?  Yarn Knot Socks is also open now with shipments starting in December.

Follow the links for more details.  Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

I Should Have Known . . .

The other day I was knitting along on my sock project.  I had the pattern - or what I thought was the pattern - all worked out in my head. As I was working around and around, I had a sneaking suspicion that something was off.  The sock I was knitting didn't look quite like the one pictured in the pattern.  Or maybe it did.  Or maybe it would start to look like the picture if I knit a little bit more.  

That's the conversation I had with myself round after round after round. I could have stopped to consult the pattern and take another look at the picture.  That would have been the logical thing to do.  Instead I kept working until the leg was finished and I was ready to start the heel.

Of course when I finally checked the pattern, I realized I had memorized the wrong sequence of rounds.

The only option was to rip back to the cuff.  I believe in getting right back on the horse that threw me, so I checked and double-checked the pattern to make sure I understood the correct sequence.  Then I sat down and re-knit the leg.  It's always a good feeling when I've knit up all the yarn I had to rip out.

This sock looks a little wonky, but this is how it should be.  In case you're interested, the pattern is Dehnungsfuge.  This sock is a crazy combination of vertical and horizontal ribbing, and working the pattern is a good mental exercise.  

And now I'm off to knit the heel.  I'm going to follow the pattern
closely . . . just in case there are any unexpected twists and turns. 

For the Holiday Weekend

It's a long holiday weekend . . . a bonus holiday weekend if you can claim both the Canadian and the US holidays.  I have a sneaking suspicion that some people have been in holiday mode for several days already.  

I've been dutifully slogging away all week, but this morning I took a short little break to get this up and running.  I justified the time as essential weekend prep.

Apparently the sock I cast on the other day wasn't quite enough.  This new project should get me through the weekend.

This week's color inspiration is a little bit of everything.

Colorful paint splatters.