Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Letter F...

F is for FUN...like when a Gramma and Pop Pop hop in the car for the day, and they drive all the way to these cheese-monsters!

F is for FALL...like when a tree falls between her house and the playground, and a swordfight breaks out with Pop Pop!

F is for FINALLY...finally Sweet Pea can pull herself up to "cruise" and play!

F is for FUZZY...fuzzy, Pop Pop snuggles...they've all waited so long for this!

F is for FOOT...and for "measuring" your foot on red paper with a red marker so Gramma can knit you new socks!

F is for FACE...cute, little face, reminding us that all the little things really are the BIG things!

F is for FOREVER...forever friends with one of her favorite guys. 

F is for FINISHED...like the little shadow-knit box I finished just before we pulled into their driveway. 

Although I may have finished that box, I did receive a new "assignment" from Peanut before I was even standing fully upright...so be watching for more knitting, friends! I know that you all would expect nothing less. 

Thanks for stopping by to hear about our latest visit with the kids and their girls, and Knit in Good Health! 

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Shadow Dancing

Back in the day, I was a big fan of the Bee Gees and Andy Gibb, and a host of other teen idols of the time. These days, I am a fan of knitting...but still, I like Shadow Dancing. :) I'm also a fan of shadow knitting (aka illusion knitting)!

Shadow knitting is a 3-dimensional technique, and if I turn the block this way,

you can totally see the pattern in the "shadows" of the knitting! Pretty cool, huh? I think so, too. It's so cool, as a matter of fact, that I have not only knit the letter A, but also B, C, D and a partial E!

Thank you to Franklin Habit, for re-introducing me to this technique, and encouraging me to try it again! (As though that blog post was for me, and me alone...lol!) In two days, shadow knitting has gone from I-didn't-have-any-luck-with-that to I-am-obsessed-and-cannot-stop!, so I think I'll spend the rest of my weekend watching my needles dance in the shadows. ;o) 

Have you ever re-visited a technique that had previously kicked you in the knitting fanny? I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

In case you're interested, here's a short video where you can see just how it's done...

Saturday, September 19, 2015

DROPS Sweater of Doom

The morning weather was a little dreary, 
And my eyes were a little bleary...
But I've taken a nap,
And I have cat on my lap,
So it's time to knit something, clearly!

Yes, it's a gray Saturday, and my neighbors (and the cats) have requested that I stop "Singing in the Rain," so here I am. Working on the DROPS Sweater of Doom. The good news is that the sleeves are cinching up those humongous armholes. 

The bad news is that the sweater is still not a perfect fit. 

But (she says in her most optimistic tone), it isn't blocked yet, so there's still a chance! I am holding out hope that a good blocking will make me fall in love again with the DROPS Sweater of Doom. Have you ever knit a sweater like that? Perfect, beautiful sweater (on the model in the pattern), and then...DOOM! Notsomuch as pictured?

I'm going to go find my "Gorgeous" pants. I think I need them today. But maybe I'll wait until the cats move. They look so peaceful... 

I wish you sunshine and rainbows in your knitting, and in everything you do! If these are not part of your actual weather forecast today, I hope that you will find them in your heart. They're there...although they are sometimes difficult to see...but I know you can find them!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

September Sweater Swearing

I am still knitting the DROPS sweater. You know, the one I didn't swatch for...and guess what? Yep. Huge...which is better than tiny, but still...I should start swatching if I ever hope to stop swearing at my knitting.*

Of course, it is a tunic, so over-sized isn't that big a deal, and I think I am going to continue with the sleeves. 

Adding sleeves will make it smaller and better-fitting...right???

Are you laughing at me???

Well, I am adding the sleeves. I am a defiant knitter, and I really dislike swatching. Besides, I need the practice on the sleeves...I'm going to knit them set-in and top-down, seamless. Should be easy, right???

Are you laughing at me again???

Even if you are, that is kindof what I expected, and I'm glad that I made you smile! Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

*Just for the record...all of the swearing has stayed inside my head...so far. This is such an opportunity for me to practice self-control! "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  -Ephesians 4:29

Saturday, September 12, 2015

It is September. I knit Sweater.

It's a lightweight, cotton tunic I wanted to have for the summer, but meh. I'm knitting it now. See?

Yeah, not much to look at yet, and the yarn is hard on my hands (textured cotton, on sale from Pollywogs, circa 2012?), and this is an EVIL DROPS* pattern...but hey! I'm stash-busting!

And I think I'm going to like it. I really, really do. So. It is September. I knit Sweater. That is all.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

*For my non-knitting friends, and friends who are not familiar with DROPS, these patterns are translated into English from I-don't-even-know-what-language...in fact, patterns are provided in 15 languages! Which is great! Unless something gets lost in translation, which it often does, especially in the case of AT-THE-SAME-TIME instructions (which may or may not be explained that way). The patterns and the resulting knits are almost always amazing, but this is not "mindless" knitting. DROPS knitting is "read the pattern all the way through several times, and take note of every detail, before you even choose a color" knitting. Still, I love the results!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

You Have a Choice

This is a knitting blog. This is not an opinion blog. 

However, I do have opinions, and they show up here from time to time. I’ve been watching the news lately, and I have a few things I’d like to get off my chest. Here, you have a choice: read on, or go knit something fun. Nobody is forcing you to do anything. And, just in case you are not sticking around, I'll leave you with a picture of my cat...I'm glad that you stopped by today.

Everything in life involves choice. Humans are born with the ability to make choices. Some babies choose to cry a lot, others are more laid back, even though most babies have the same basic problems related to being hungry, tired, soiled or otherwise uncomfortable.

As we grow, we still have many of the same problems, and we are always learning from our choices...or we should be. Somewhere along the line, some of us have chosen not to learn from the consequences of our choices, and this is heartbreaking. It is more heartbreaking to see you in the news (or in my news feed) every. single. day. So here is my PSA to you, the serial maker of bad choices:

Some people will always love you, no matter what. Others will never love you, no matter what. You have a choice. You can choose to be miserable, trying to make others love you, often unsuccessfully…or you can choose to focus your time, energy and affection on those who love you unconditionally. Perhaps love isn’t always what you need from everyone.

If you don't like your job, or feel that your personal convictions (religious or otherwise) keep you from doing the job you've been assigned, you have a choice. You can choose to complain to everyone you see and/or refuse to do your job, yet demand that your employer continue your compensation…or you can choose to find another job. Perhaps you should not be paid for not doing your job.

Some people will agree with your opinions (and mine), and others will not. You have a choice. You can choose to debate publicly, returning insult for insult, trying to convince others that you are right (and they are wrong)…or you can choose to live peacefully, respecting that we all have choices and opinions, agreeing to disagree. Perhaps, over time, your peaceful demeanor will win the debate without words.

Finally, if an authority figure asks you to stop what you are doing, even if that activity is apparently (to you) harmless, you have a choice. You can choose to continue, to run away or to challenge the person in authority…or you can choose to stop what you are doing and hear that person out, with respect to the authority they have been given. Even if there isn't a good reason for the request, perhaps it is better to survive the situation rather than to challenge someone with the authority to say, "Stop, or I'll shoot."

When my kids were small, and they were learning how to use their free will to make choices, Sweetie and I would often remind them that most things are simply a matter of choice. Good choices often lead to positive consequences, a clear conscience, and increased joy. Poor choices often lead to negative consequences, a nagging conscience and deflated hope. This is true for all of us, and I implore you, friends, to always do your best to choose wisely.

However, even when your choices leave you deflated (because we all make difficult decisions from time to time), you still have a choice. You can choose to wallow in the depths of depression* and anger…or you can choose to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. (The latter is advice my mother gave me on more than one occasion, usually after some deeply humbling experience.) Perhaps, if you choose to move on and make better choices, your life will reflect that, and you will increase your personal joy!

As for me and my knitting, we will choose joy as often as we can. I hope that you will do the same, and that you will find joy, peace and contentment in this life.

I promise you knitting in the next post, and I thank you for bearing with me and my opinions today. Until I see you again, I hope that you will Knit in Good Health, and make good choices!

*Before anyone reams me for calling out depression, please understand that I know this is a real thing, and that I have fought it. I've been in therapy, and I've been prescribed antidepressants, which I no longer need. I understand that some people cannot just pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start all over again without help...but you still must choose to recognize the depression and get the help you need. There is help out there, but you won't find it unless you look. Start with your local clergy and/or doctor. 

Saturday, September 5, 2015

So. Much. Potential.

I was in the basement yesterday, and I have a lot of yarn. Hmmm, that makes me sound like a yarn hoarder. Let me try to spin it a little differently...

I have a lot of potential! Potential hats...

...or mittens, or scarves, or a sweater, or...or...or...this yarn could be anything!

But this yarn...

This is a summer sweater. Well, a potential summer sweater, that I meant to knit for last summer...or this summer...or next summer...

And, if we're talking about potential, perhaps I should mention the fluff that isn't even yarn yet...the potential yarn, waiting its turn on the spindle? 

On second thought, nevermind. Let's just say that I have a lot of potential. Yeah. A lot of potential!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you will Knit all of your potential in Good Health!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Make a Face...

See the rabbit finger puppet on the right???

He's the reason I don't like to embroider faces. 'Nuff said? I thought so. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!