Of Math and Yarn Chicken

I'm at the halfway point of a project and would like to add another repeat.  Time to do some math.

I'm going for it.  My other scale says I have 60 grams left, but even with 58 I feel confident I'm not signing up for a game of yarn chicken.  I'll see how I feel on the other end.  This is where I start knitting faster to see how it all turns out.

On the Couch

Being stuck on the couch has its advantages.  I was out of commission for a couple days last week (summer colds are the worst), but that didn't keep me from plotting and planning.

Next project is lined up and ready to go.  My week is off to a good start.

Yarn Knot and More

I spent part of last weekend tethered to my desk.  It was too hot to dye, so I tackled paperwork and admin tasks instead.  This work is never as much fun as dyeing or knitting, but it has to be done.  Here's the latest.

Signups are open for Yarn Knot.

Our quarterly yarn club is a fun way to sample exclusive colorways and different bases.  There are a couple payment options.  Space is limited. You'll find more information on the Yarn Knot page.

The calendar has been updated, and August is going to be a busy month.

First up is a trunk show at Attic Heirlooms on August 3.  I'll be there all day.  If you're in the area but can't make it to the trunk show, I'll be leaving a pop-up shop at Attic Heirlooms for a couple weeks.  Stop by to see yarn, bundles and samples.

Then on August 10, I'll be at Yarns in the Farms.  In the morning I'll be teaching a Cold Brew Cowl Workshop.  In the afternoon I'll have a trunk show with yarn and samples.  Check the shop website for details.

I have a couple more events lined up for August.  See the right sidebar for updates.  I hope to see some of you on the road.

Off and On

Usually I don't delay with blocking.  After I bind off a project, it goes straight into the water.  This weekend I made an exception.

I finished one project, but it was unbearably hot and steamy - too hot for anything to dry.  Instead of blocking, I cast on something new.  I'll catch up with the blocking when the weather breaks.  In the meantime, I'll knit a few rows and try to keep cool.

Beat the Heat

We're under a heat emergency through the weekend, and I've turned off the dye pots.  It's time to hunker down and keep cool.

There's always plenty to do, and I'll work on some other projects until the heat passes.

This week's color inspiration . . . 

Purple speckles.

Interruption

Sometimes I need a change of pace.  I interrupted my frenzy of fingering weight projects and cast on a project with DK weight.

Bigger yarn, bigger needles . . . this project is flying.  In almost no time, I'm past the halfway point.

I'm planning as I go and might swap out one of the colors - I'll decide in a few rows.  Even if I have to rip out a section, I won't lose hours and hours of knitting.  This project has turned into a productive interruption.

Summer Moments

Summer is a time to slow down and take it easy.  Since I'm not very good at that, my family planned a getaway.  Nothing too 
extreme . . . just a few days.  

When the meals are easy and the internet is spotty, there's plenty of time for knitting, family fun and enjoying each other's company.  We even had time for board games.

Life can be busy and hectic, but it's good for the soul to step back and savor the moments.

Knitter's Dilemma

It's a gray, rainy morning . . . perfect for knitting and drinking coffee.  I'll warn you.  It's not perfect day for taking pictures. 

I'm trying to make sense of a swatch I knit last night, and I thought the light of day would help me make a decision. 

Here's a knitter's dilemma.  I tried two different needle sizes on this swatch, and I can't decide which one to use.  One of these will have to do, but what I'd really like is a needle size in-between the two.

I found this week's color inspiration on a recent museum visit.

High contrast and striking details.

The View from Here

Sample planning in progress.  

Usually I do this at my desk, but sometimes a change of scenery helps. It's nice to spread out too.  

After sleeping on it for a day or two, most of the decisions have been made.  These colors say fall is coming.

The Mystery of It All

I know I use my US 6 needles a lot, and now I have numbers to prove it.  The first clue for the Perfect Blend MKAL dropped this morning, so yesterday I was busy collecting all my supplies.

After I wound the yarn, I went to look for needles.  The pattern calls for size US 6.  Right now I have four active projects on the needles, and three of them are using US 6.  We won't discuss the number of inactive projects that may or may not be using the same size.

I have interchangeable needles and I even have two sets of size 6 tips, but this new project has pushed me to the limit.  Sharing needles across projects usually works, but at some point it becomes a nuisance.  I might be at that point.  It might be time to buy another set of size 6 needle tips.

For today I swiped a set of needles from one of my other projects, and now I have all the necessary ingredients.  I love a good mystery.

Mohair in July

Holiday success.  We had a relaxing day with minimal stress and drama.  I could easily take another day and coast into the weekend, but I need to tackle a couple work things first.

After that I can turn my attention to this.

It's mohair in July when the heat and humidity are enough to put me over the edge, but I can't set this project aside.  I even had to rip back a few mohair rows the other day, but that wasn't enough to dissuade me.  Call me crazy, but I've found my rhythm with this project and I'm going to plow ahead.

This week's color inspiration . . . 

Summertime blues.

Scrambled

I'm in a bit of a scramble.  The holiday tomorrow has interrupted my work flow.  Then this morning I realized I probably should plan a menu, but that involves figuring out how many of my clan are going to be here.  Let's just say there was a lot of texting to sort everything out.

  
For me this holiday is a forced day off, and I intend to make the most of it.  This skein has been sitting on my desk all week, and I should probably do something with it.

I just heard my daughter say potato salad.  Oops.  I forgot about that. Looks like I'm off to get groceries.  If you have plans to celebrate, enjoy the holiday.

Last Call

After going back and forth more than a few times, I've finally settled on my color lineup for the Perfect Blend MKAL.

If you want to get in on the fun and need help with colors, we still have Bundles available.  If you order today (Monday), you'll get it in time for the first clue on July 8.  The holiday this week cuts into our shipping time.  We'll be taking orders after today, but depending on where you live, you might not get it by the 8th.  

Feel free to jump in after the start of the MKAL.  We'll have Bundles available for a little while. 

Now I'm off to do some winding.