Anyone else chilly, or is it just me?

Brrrrr. It’s raining out there. And it’s cold. And I have to go outside sometime in the next hour or so to run errands, but I’m trying to postpone it for as long as possible. How are things over where you are? I hope someone out there is sitting on a nice and out of the way beach, in the sun, 80 degree temperatures… of course, if you are, I hope you’re reading this on a smartphone or something, because I’m thinking computers and sand don’t mix. Anyway, if any of you are in a situation anything like I described above, please let me know, it’d be nice to live vicariously through you.

A miracle happened this week. Somehow, with full-time school and two jobs, I’ve managed to get three full days off from all of it. To celebrate, I’m driving back home to visit some friends and my folks. When I come back, I should have a new design for you! The world’s most wonderful hat model (yes, I’m totally sucking up, but Kelle, you’re the best!) is more than willing to get in a photo session this week, so assuming I don’t totally screw up the pictures – again – we’re set! Guess it’s time to create that PDF file…

There’s a sock in progress too. I just need to get my knitting fingers working on that one. And my mother has been pestering me to design a scarf pattern since they’re her new favorite accessory. Busy, busy, busy! Keep checking for updates, they’re definitely coming.

BTW, on a completely different topic. Has anyone seen the Kate Shopping Shawl on ravelry?

This has been on my “must make this” list for months. Yarn was chosen (at least in my head), patterns were looked through, the whole nine yards. Love. It.

They had a rectangular shaped one at TJ Maxx.  :)

Soft, cuddly, $24.99.

Yes, it’s around my neck right now.

Yes, I’m a sellout. But all that stockinette (potentially) and lace weight (definitely)… Not to mention it would’ve cost about 3 times more. Can you blame me?

Don’t worry, I’m hanging my head in shame (which in all honesty isn’t that easy with a huge fuzzy scarf wrapped around it).

Take A Hike – Download Available!!!

Guess what everybody, Take a Hike has passed inspection!

My wonderful test knitters have checked it twice, given me their suggestions and declared it ready for sale. I hope all of you love working on this sock. Don’t know about you, but it might be my favorite so far (apart from the pair on my needles right now, hint, hint. <g>)! As always, if any of you have questions, please feel free to email me from here, or send me a PM on ravelry.

And more good news! Well, at least for me anyway… my new job starts next week! I’m a little nervous, since I’ve been told it’s crazy busy and a wild ride most of the time, but I figure I’ll learn a lot. Not to mention, the hours are great and the location is wonderful. It’s on this historical street in the city – think cobblestone roads and balsamic vinegar/olive oil shops. It’s one of those places you want to walk down just to pick up a happy vibe. Oh, and did I mention it had a yarn store? <giggle>

Will update you all when I know more. Till then, have a good week everyone, and fun knitting! I’m gonna go home and see if I can wake up my design brain, it’s taken a few days off for recharging….

Wanted – Secret Test Knitters

So, I’ve been on a bit of a design frenzy lately, and I’m considering expanding outside my self-publishing zone. You know, magazines and the like. But, I still want to make sure that I’ve gotten my patterns accurately test knitted. That’s what this post is for. Is there anyone out there who’d like to be a tester for me on a pattern that hasn’t yet been put out for the world to see?

I would need someone to finish a project within a month’s time if not less (usually they’re a pair of socks, but I might expand to hats or gloves in the next month or two).

You’d be asked to give suggestions on clarifications of the pattern, note any errors, and give any tips you can think of for making it better.

No pictures can be posted for public consumption, online or anywhere else until either 1 - the pattern is officially published in a magazine or 2 – I give up and self publish. Here’s hoping the result is option 1, not 2…

Please let me know, either in the comment section here, or by PMing me on ravelry (Clotho30). If you’re interested, I’ll send you a picture of the pattern I’ve chosen. Keep in mind, if you’re not really crazy about it, you don’t have to test it. It’s no fun to test something if you don’t love the final result. I’ve got one pattern in creation right now and a few more in my head, so work probably wouldn’t start for a few weeks, but once it does, I may need you for a number of things.  Thanks for your help in advance!

Fall is here – Which means….

Among other things, it’s time to meet Kate.

My Traveler spinning wheel, she’s been in hiding for most of the year. Am I the only one who has a really hard time spinning when it’s warm outside? Now knitting, I can do that pretty much all the time. I especially get the urge when there are other things I know I should be doing – laundry, cleaning, cooking, going to work – but spinning, that’s special. It’s sort of like hot chocolate. Take it out in October, put it away the first day of spring.

Actually, I’m a little more picky with hot chocolate, that’s more of an October to New Years thing. Come about Jan 4th, I go back to tea as my standby. But anyway…

I got Kate a few years back, and projects are still a work in progress. I have a bit of an obsessive-compulsive, FOs must be perfect mentality (am I the only one?), so the yarn is usually pretty even by the time I’ve finished, but it tends to be a bit over-twisted most of the time. So, it’s not perfect – which is bad – but it’s finished – which is good…

Hopefully I’ll have some pretty FO pictures for you soon. In the meantime, I don’t know about all of you, but I’m going to make some apple cider. It is Autumn after all.  And that reminds me, someone out there, please go on a hayride this month and let me know so I can live vicariously through you – I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks now.

BTW – Take a Hike is scheduled for release at the end of the month. If it goes out any earlier though, I’ll send out a pre-warning here.

Happy knitting everyone!

No worries, I’m still alive!

Although, it was a close one these last few weeks let me tell you. One thing for sure, jobs in food service are tough! 10 hours on your feet, constantly working, no breaks, only eating when you have a free moment… It’s rewarding, but it’s definitely difficult. Kudos to everyone out there who does it.

Incidentally, I’m taking a break from it for a few weeks till I find a new job, since I have a bit of a big mouth and don’t take belittling by those above me well – at least, not over the long term. I wouldn’t suggest everyone take my route of making a smart quip, grabbing your knives and leaving, but it worked for me. On to the next job. Hopefully next run through, my skin will be a bit tougher and the boss will be a bit nicer. Win win!

The good news on the knitting front though, is after that fiasco I felt a strong urge to design that hasn’t hit for a while. When you’re on your feet constantly, at the end of the day you don’t want to think you just want to relax. That’s where this came from in the last few weeks.

Pretty, huh? This is Lady Eleanor, from Scarf Style. I’m a bit late joining the bandwagon on that one, but it’ll be perfect come winter. But as I was saying…

When you decide you want to “take this job and shove it,” figuratively or not, you, if you’re anything like me, need a project that takes a bit more thought. It leaves less time for thinking about stressful things. That’s where this came from. Take a Hike.

PDF is currently in write-up, and this will be available as a test knit in the next few days, once more of the glitches are out.

And sorry I upped and left for weeks on end. Will try not to do it again, but can’t promise anything. I can promise that I’ll always come back though. And I’ll try to come bearing gifts.

It’s Finally Here! – And Back Again

So, guess what’s been posted for download? You got it!
And Back Again

I love the simple clean lines and the natural progression of this pattern, and hope you’ll all enjoy knitting it as much as I did. Warning: It’s addicting and moves fast! If you have any questions about the design, please contact me and let me know. I’ll do what I can to help you.

So, now that my latest sock has been knit, what’s next on the list? Well, I have a half-finished sock that needs some attention and once it’s finished, the pattern itself needs to be written so that it can be sent to my fabulous test knitters. (You folks are amazing!!) Hopefully I’ll have that for you all soon.

Oh, and you know my sad little Ravellenics sweater?

Yeah, it could use some love I think.

I feel sort of bad. For the last week my yarn has been mostly ignored in favor of knives. Yes, we got our knife kits in class today and I think I may be in love. Other people have children to cradle. Give me time… For now though, I’ll be satisfied with cradeling my knives. – Kept safely in their cases, pointy parts covered by plastic, of course, I’m not THAT crazy.

That reminds me. Anyone have a good vinagrette recipe? I could use the practice.

Home Sweet Home.

Finally! The move is over! Well, as long as I ignore those boxes in my living room, and I am.

St. Charles really is a beautiful area. So many things to do, places to see, people to meet… I have plans to do a lot of that, actually, next weekend. This first weekend though, was devoted to pictures and finding out just exactly how to get from point A to point B.

Pretty nice, huh? That nice looking guy up there is Daniel Boone, by the way.

Good news, I can now find my school, my apartment, my bank, the grocery (Shnucks, nicknamed Shmucks by my bother) and the bookstore – free internet, necessary for life. And I’m registered to vote. Have I forgotten anything?

Had orientation for culinary school on Friday morning, and it’s just made me that much more excited! We met all the chef instructors and got a bunch of “suggestions for success” including my two favorites:

Attendance, attendance, attendance (repeated 20 times) and;

Turn off the Food Network, they teach you how to buy mayonnaise, not make it.

I’m not sure I completely agree with that last assessment, but I don’t have cable at the moment, so – DONE! Having an urge to look up how to make mayonnaise now though, since they put the idea in my head.

BTW, while culinary is going to be my primary focus (obviously) the next 9 months, don’t worry at all that I may stop knitting and designing. Updates will still be coming on a regular basis – although not this week, since I have yet to fully unpack the yarn – I know, sacrilege.

However, don’t be surprised if you see some cooking posts on a semi-regular basis as well. I’m thinking maybe Food Fridays? After all, my life will be pretty much revolving around those two things for the forseeable future. Please, let me know your thoughts, I aim to please!

Oh, and There and Back Again will likely be released in the next week or two. By the beginning of September at the latest. Will give you a head’s up here, so keep checking in.