Just passing by

Finished the hempy goodness (both of them)-- they're headed out today.
I'm going to a birthday thing later, in the meantime I've got a submission to finish, some patterns to edit, and a house to clean up.

Emma's totally excited about the first day of school, in fact she just went to practice walking to the bus stop and back (it isn't the first time, either-- she's taking the whole thing VERY seriously.)

Till later!

Edited to add: I'm still in shock over the transformation of the hemp after washing (from twine to nice old linen-y feeling). I'd never used it before, but I think I will again- I'd even wear it!

I'm back!

Hubbo and I went to Put in Bay for a long weekend of camping (and a big volleyball tournament, in which his team finished 3rd- not bad!) We also got completely soaked by Saturday's big storm (at least no trees fell on us or anything-- my grandparents live in Fenton where they had those big tornadoes, but they're fine, luckily.)

Anyway, I've been working on some (secret, sorry) projects for an upcoming book by Shannon Okey, which is called How to Knit in the Woods. For an extra touch of authenticity, I actually knit them in the woods (the interesting smear is one of the projects, not going to give anything away!)

Here's Hubbo setting up the tent in the muddy ground, along with lots of tarps (which prevented even more horrible dampness, luckily):

Anyway, we had a good time, ate tons of really good lobster bisque and messed around in town a lot. Sunday was super gorgeous, which was a nice break from the rain and heat! Now that we're back I'm trying to finish up the last bits of these projects (I also shipped out another one just before we left) and then get on to the last few on my list. Lucky for me Emma goes back to school soon so I can get more done during the day.

Such an odd feeling, but nice

The weird thing is, yesterday was the day I would have gone back to work, as I have for the past 10 years or so, to get ready for the new school year. But instead, I'm home, knitting. Wow. Just. Wow. Hopefully we won't starve or anything because I'm really liking this. Emma says we're a "normal family" now because I've been cooking dinner.

Anyway, as far as not starving is concerned, I got 3 more design gigs in the past few days-- 2 for books and 1 for a yarn company-- 5 projects in all, plus some more that's hazily in the future (still being discussed). I've been furiously knitting a top for a book in Berroco Comfort, which is quite possibly the nicest acrylic ever invented. Coming from a big acrylic-hater, this means something! It's spun like Karabella Aurora 8, so all the little plies does make it a little splitty if you're not careful, but the effect is worth it.

To stay on top of things, I'm putting a temporary moratorium on personal knitting (hey, I let myself finish my Monkey socks!) until I finish 2 more design projects, which should be in a week or so. Then I can have 1 glorious day of knitting for me, I think, before it's on to the next project on the "to do" yarn shelf (that's helping too- just having a spot where all the design project yarn is rather than hunting around for which bin I stuck it in!)

I also made a big list and taped it to the yarn closet door with design due dates and upcoming submission deadlines. When I was working full-time I usually had only 1 design to keep track of at a time (and only submitted things once in a while), but since all summer I've had 6-10 to keep track of at a given time, I had to get organized somehow!

Monkey Socks are done!

 
At last. Finally. I decided to take some time to finish them-- officially, that was yesterday at the park while Emma played. Yarn is Yarn Pirate (Dogwood) and I think they turned out just fine. Once I finish a few other things I just might make another pair.

Patience

Is something I'm not very good at. I've been stalking the mailman for a glimpse of my socks in the Fall issue of Cast On-- today I got a little note letting me know they've been bumped to the Winter issue. That's fine, of course, just means the mailman is in for another stalking in a few months! :) At least my Seasilk concoction is supposed to be in the next Magknits-- that should tide me over. (Note to self: It's absolutely ridiculous how excited you get about seeing your patterns in print. Really, control yourself. It's getting embarrassing.)

My sock pal returned from her trip and got her socks, they fit and everything. She's Meghann of Radiant Twist!

I just might have a date tonight with Hubbo, which would be nice! In the meantime, I'm hashing out the math on a couple of designs I'm doing for upcoming books so I can knit them. I'm not one of those "let's just dive in and figure it out as we go" kind of people-- I like to have all the numbers figured out before I cast on. Maybe that sucks some of the spontaneity and fun out of it, maybe it just makes it so I'm (at least usually) happy with the result without a lot of ripping back and reknitting. Either way.

To Do List

First let me say that the buttonhole directions on these are the best I've ever seen-- not quite the usual one-row buttonhole. They come out really neat and with nice "corners" (can you tell I was knitting buttonholes yesterday?) Anyway, that's yesterday. The 1st sweater for Nashua is boxed and gone, yay! I treated myself to knitting on my Monkey socks the rest of the day, plus I found my enormous binders of crochet patterns that I thought were lost (they were buried in the basement). Just in case I feel like crocheting, you know?

For today:
1. Swatching and sketching for several upcoming deadlines. I have a pile of scribbly notes and messy sketches in my little notebook to translate and match with appropriate yarns. Then lots of breathless waiting, right?
2. Put on the tech editor hat and work on a few patterns for my lovely clients.
3. Laundry (down to emergency levels of clean clothes).
4. Tutor (I'm doing a bit of tutoring now, did you know?)
5. There must be something else, it will come to me.

Totally off-topic, Rosalie has decided it's fun to drag Emma's stuffed animals around the house at night. This morning there was a penguin in the hallway (normally he goes for her stuffed rat, but apparently she took that one to bed last night). He's a little odd, I think.

Finishing

Since Thursday I have been frantically (and exclusively) knitting Sweater #1 for Nashua- it's almost done. Today has been the Great Day of Sewing Up, which is my least favorite part, but it's looking pretty good so at least there's that. We got Season 10 of the Simpsons on DVD, that's been my little companion. Hoping to get the pattern written up tomorrow and the whole deal up and out by Tuesday morning.

Attention lucky ones

If you're going to Stitches Midwest this weekend (I'm talking to you Jae!) I hear the little sweater in Vegas I recently finished for SWTC will be in the fashion show. Enjoy!

A bit under the weather...

I'm feeling less-than-great today, but I did manage to get a bit of knitting done (see the "to do" shelf below):

Believe it or not, I've already knit through 20 balls that were once on the shelf in the last month or so-- not too bad.

Rosalie decided to spend a good chunk of the afternoon rolling around on me, as you can see (Pinecone was sleeping elsewhere):

And my Sockapalooza socks arrived! Yay!

They come from Paige at Modern Yarn. They fit nicely and I LOVE the colors. Thanks Paige!!