All done!

Just finished another design for SWTC (well, last night). Emma was more than happy to model it for me! It's in their new Vickie Howell Collection yarn, Vegas -- thick-n-thin and just a little bit sparkly (matching metallic thread). It's Soysilk/wool, and very lightweight and warm. Now to ship it to its new home (Emma won't like that, I'm afraid!)

Now that this one is done, I'm going to work furiously on the 1st of 2 designs for Nashua Handknits, the next thing that's due. I love using their Cilantro yarn (so springy, cottony but not ropey) and try to finish Emma's Katamari (which she's asking me about!!) I've got just enough time to finish everything on my list-- fortunately all the due dates are staggered which makes it easier to prioritize.

Oh- and news! Hubbo's team won the 35-and-over men's division in the Volleygrass volleyball tournament (in Marysville, near Port Huron) last weekend. He even got quoted in the local paper. It was his first time playing in the "older guys" division, but since it went so well I don't think he minds anymore. Yay!

And I thought the blue was pretty!

The UPS man just brought this batch of loveliness for another design for SWTC. It's Yin and Yang (Yang has the sequins, Yin is plain, both are wool/bamboo/silk) that I used for the tunic/hat/bag I did for the TNNA fashion show. I'm a sucker for grey, so I'm not surprised that I like it... what do you think?

On a roll, apparently

I'm just getting ready to go knit with the girls, and who should call but the editor of Creative Knitting? A design I recently submitted for the magazine has been accepted instead for an upcoming book they're putting out. Yay!

Sockapalooza socks, and stuff

I finished my Sockapalooza socks:

When the time is right I'll be packing up these babies with some little goodies and sending them off. Hope she likes them! Just right for summer with the cool Tofutsies yarn.

Remember how I said I got lots of yarn? Yes, new projects to design- see? Nashua Handknits picked another design of mine, plus some more from SWTC to do. I finished the one for the winter issue of Knitter's today, so that will be off tomorrow! (The bag of Phoenix is just for me, not a design).

I also started a couple of new non-design projects, though they'll probably take forever to finish with all the stuff I have to knit. First, a really cozy shawl, very plain and practical (in SWTC Karaoke):


And (yes, in acrylic even!) a Katamari (with magnetic bumps for realistic action) for Emma from her favorite video game. I hardly ever crochet anymore, so it should be fun. I saw a picture of a similar one online but no pattern, so I'm making it up as I go along. There's a paper clip stuck to one of the nubs (from the magnets, of course!) When it's finished there will be a lot more nubs on it.

All done!

Yes, I finished reading book 7. I fell asleep with it on my face last night so I had to finish this morning. I won't say anything in case anyone's still reading.

I did get a LOT of yarn yesterday from the FedEx guy (which was a tease while I was impatiently waiting for my book to arrive) -- more on that later. A few more design projects are in the works!

Just a few more days...

The sorting hat says that I belong in Ravenclaw!

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Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose intelligence is surest."

Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable.
Notable residents include Cho Chang and Padma Patil (objects of Harry and Ron's affections), and Luna Lovegood (daughter of The Quibbler magazine's editor).

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.

Get Sorted Now!

Back from the beach

Hubbo, Emma and I spent a nice long weekend in Ludington (on Lake Michigan) visiting my grandparents, lounging on the beach, etc. Lucky me, they have a really nice (big, well-stocked) yarn shop just a 5 minute walk down the street from my grandparent's house!
In addition to swimming (though it was a bit cool), Emma took in some shuffleboard (see below), mini golf, playing at the playground, and watching the big car ferry go in and out on its way to Wisconsin. I went shopping, though I did control myself.

Just a (seriously clearanced) knitting bag, a cute shawl pin (below), and a copy of the new Knit n' Style with my design. I did fondle yarn for over an hour though!

I did eat a lot of ice cream, and of course got some fudge at Kilwin's.

Of course, I got some knitting in on the drive up and whilst lounging on the beach. I brought along my Sockapalooza socks, and finished one sock and half of the second. Yes, I went with a simple design (my Foot the Bill pattern) and yes, they are just ankle socks, but I figured since they'll be cool and light my pal can actually wear them in August when they arrive. That's okay, right?

Tonight is SnB (yay!) and lots of deadlines are coming up for me. The contracts for Knitter's came while I was gone and I'm hoping I can finish that little project today, then get cracking on the Nashua sweater.

Check it out!

My sweater in the new issue of Knit n' Style. (It's the Retro Wrap Sweater, which I originally did for SWTC). It's in their yarn Inspiration, a Soysilk/alpaca blend.

How unusual...

My house has been clean for a whole week, and I actually cooked dinner more than once (nothing fancy, though). Someone must have replaced me with a more domestically-minded clone. Even the cats look startled! (BTW, it's their birthday today).

Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I've "retired" from teaching. From now on I'm going to be devoting more time to designing and tech editing, with a bit of tutoring and subbing on the side. A huge load of stress has floated away, though I'll have to get a lot better at budgeting (cooking dinner for once should help!)

I'm picture-less today, though I did make some progress on a design in super-sumptuous Tilli Tomas yarn. I got the yarn for the Nashua design too, though I haven't touched it yet (waiting for a question to be answered first about the sizing). The yarn for the Knitter's design is also on its way, so that can get started too, as well as the rest of the yarn I need from SWTC. For a while I was worried about having too much to do at once, but I think right now it's just about what I can handle, especially since I'm home during the day. I'm willing to get help with the knitting (some lovely ladies have volunteered) but I'd rather do it myself if I can. (I should make some progress on my Sockapalooza socks too, but I know I can do a sock in a day if I need to, so I'm not too worried).

Tonight I'm meeting up with some of the girls to knit since I couldn't make our usual Tuesday. Should be fun!

A teensy peek

Saturday I finished this mysterious object, both slated to appear in Magknits sometime soon and to be a birthday gift for my mom. I can't say much, but it is Seasilk, and I made it go a long, long way. More later.