Happy Everything!

Happy April!

(aka - Happy Birthday to meeee! Thanks, kids, for the celebration!)

Happy Easter!

(Well, tomorrow, but we're nearly there! I've filled chocolate eggs for the boys...shhhh! And knitted eggs for the office. )

Happy Spring! 

(This is one of my favorite office decorations so far, and it can stay up all month!)

A time of remembrance and renewal, and a celebration of color, which has been reflected in my knitting!

Whatever you are celebrating this spring, I pray that you will be surrounded by hope and joy, and an explosion of color to brighten your world! If you're celebrating the Resurrection with me tomorrow, He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

The Agony of de-feet

Sometimes, when you're working on a project, everything turns out all hunky-dory! Like this "Happy Spring," crochet banner I've started for my office! FYI, I only have N and G left, so it's actually almost done! 

Also almost done is the third pair on a trip of stripey socks, using one of my favorite commercially produced self-striping yarns,  Felici (by Knitpicks.com).

Unfortunately, as you can see, there is something wrong with my second striping skein of pinks...and sometimes this happens with Felici. It usually starts with a knot (which is where the trouble started onion this one), then the yarn changes. 

I've seen Felici shorten stripes, skip a stripe, or even change the order of colors, after a knot...but this is the first time I've used a skein that appears to have been mishandled by the dyers (mechanical or otherwise) after the knot.

I was a little upset when I first noticed the mistake. Truthfully, I'm still in a little agony now, but I'm probably not worked up enough to reach out to Knit Picks about it. I do love it when my handknit socks match perfectly, but I have not stopped loving Felici...and as I said before, knots do happen with this yarn...so I'll probably just finish these socks before moving on to the next pair. These pink stripes are not a gift, and they will still be comfortable and pretty, so no harm, no foul. I've got bigger fish to fry. 

After all, I live in northeast Ohio. Have you seen the news about northeast Ohio lately? This is my favorite of all the info graphics I saw on FB this week...lol! (Not sure who the OP is, but shout out to my buddy Karen for sharing on her profile!)

Yeah, 4 seasons plus a meteor in one week...and I've also heard that Bigfoot may be on the loose, so I'm just gonna stay inside and play with yarn this weekend. I hope you also have solid plans for the weekend. If yes, drop a comment to let me know what they are! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Happy for the Valentines!

I am at a stage in my life where I don't look for Valentines, I make them.

I surround myself mostly with things that bring me joy, sometimes holiday-themed and sometimes not. This year, I am finding Valentine's day joy in getting things back to normal after our big paint job! That means hanging things back on the walls and the curtain rods, now that it's been a couple of weeks,

and even reconfiguring some spaces, like adding a tiny, corner desk to the dining room. 

These are small things, for sure...but along with the colorful knitting,

they make even mundane days feel light and airy in my heart, and help to ac-cen-tuate the positive in my life, which cannot be a bad thing! After all, there are so many places in this world to find offense and negativity. Heck! Sometimes it even seems to seek me out, but ain't nobody got time for that! So I'll keep holding onto the love in my heart for those around me, and I will do my best to live with abiding joy, while I start looking for clover and leprechauns to help me celebrate the next holiday! None in here...yet!

As for Valentines, I have a few that I celebrate with all year long, whether we see each other daily or not. No need for special cards or events over here, because I know that I am loved. There is deep contentment in love that doesn't need to shout, even though it sometimes makes mistakes. 

I hope your life is surrounded by folks who see you, who get you and who love you. If it is not, it might be time to seek some new relationships...or refresh some old ones. Either way, I'm glad you are a part of my world. Happy Valentine's Day to you, my blog family!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

That'll Do, Pig.

We come to you this afternoon from the corner of crochet blanket (now finished) and knitting Christmas socks

to bring you news of the newest, Pretty Knitty FO (thats knitting jargon for "finished object," IYKYK), a hand-knit Mommy Pig.

Mommy Pig has joined the ranks of Gramma's little house pig

and Grady's bedtime, snuggle pig

as the newest member of the Pretty family, so e thought it would be lovely to do a quick pig-interview for today's post, and Mommy Pig agreed. 

Pretty: Good afternoon,  Mommy Pig! How are you today? 

Mommy Pig: Oh, (snort), I'm fine, just fine. 

Pretty: Would you care to tell us how you came to be? 

Mommy Pig: Well, (snort), you know that Pretty Knitty! She likes to knit random animals and toys! I suppose she just decided one day that she needed more (snort), you know, pigs in her life! 

Pretty: I see, I see. Well, I heard that Mommy wanted a pig of her own, after Grady received a pig on his last birthday? 

Mommy Pig: Oh! (Snort), that's right! So Pretty started to knit me (snort)! I sure was a roly, poly thing at the start, you know...

Pretty: Yes, I do seem to remember that! I had to snuggle you up between things to keep you from rolling off tables before you had legs! 

Mommy Pig: Yes, and I was always so cold... that's why I (snort) requested a something to wear!

Pretty: Remember what I gave you to wear? LOL...

Mommy Pig: I do, and it was not as funny as you think...glasses do not warm a Pig, and they gave me a headache! Snort! What is wrong with your eyes anyway? 

Pretty: Hahahahaha! It was funny...and I did start a sweater soon after. 

Mommy Pig: So you did. It's a pretty good sweater, too...(snort) keeps me warm. 

Pretty: I'm glad! And then you went to Mommy's house with a cupcake for her birthday...

...and lived happily ever after!

Mommy Pig: Well, actually (snort), I live in constant fear of a beagle and three small boys. The dog nips, amd the boys always take off my sweater (snort)! So cold... You know, maybe you should knit a pig for each of them, so they won't all be so very focused on me...

Pretty: What's that, Mommy Pig? You seem to be breaking up, and I have a lot of Christmas knitting to get to...

Mommy Pig: I said, (snort), you should knit...

Pretty: Oh? You have to go, too? Well what a shame that our interview couldn't be a bit longer. But I'm so glad we had this time together, and we now return our readers to the regularly scheduled blog post...

My goodness! That reminded me of the times the cats would blog for me...you never could tell what they would say either! That Pig was fun, though, and perhaps there will be more...in the new year...and maybe not. You never can tell with Pretty!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Another Big Finish (or 3)

Least week, we took a break from the big project for a tiny forest of crochet pines. This week, I added a beaded version to the mix. 

Then, I finished the afghan...and it's a big one!

I'm really pleased with how this came out, and I think my Minecraft-loving little buddy will love it as well! But, as you can see from the title, I've finished THREE things this week...may I present the Birthday Pig?!?

Ohhhhh, my gosh! I think I could not love this pig in a green sweater more! The birthday boy felt the same, but declined an official photo...lol. The party was a blast, tho!

What's bringing you joy this week? It may not be knitted pigs 🐖, or crochet afghans and trees, but I hope there's something. Feel free to drop a comment and let me know what your joy-maker is. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Forest? Trees? Christmas???

We interrupt the massive, amd occasionally manic, Minecraft project to bring you the beginning of a tiny, crochet, Christmas tree farm...

A little early? Perhaps. Don't care, lol, and that is all for today. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and crochet) in Good Health! 

It's Killing Me...

It seems like the blog has been been all about the blanket lately, doesn't it? But here we are again, with block 9 complete

and connected

which I did twice, because I put it in the wrong place the first time. I did not take a picture of that, because I was feeling so defeated at that point...this blanket is trying to kill me!!! (Not really. That was a teeny bit dramatic...and I've moved on to block 10 now.)

Part of the reason it's been such a slog this week is that I was part of a big event at work. Three days at the Ross Exposition Center left me utterly exhausted each day. 

The catch up in my office on Thursday and Friday also wiped me out, so my head truly wasn't in the crochet game...but the event was a HUGE success! 

Here's a vid one of the middle schools put together:

If I understand it correctly, there will be annual repeats of this event in perpetuity, or as long as it is an effective way to connect educators, local businesses and students (ie-the workforce of the future) and that is a very good plan! Yes, even if it derails my personal craft pursuits...lol!

Anything exciting going on where you live and work, friends? Drop a comment to let me know about it! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (work, pkay and crochet) in Good Health!

Halfway There, and more...

Ooohhhhh, we're halfway there... (IYKYK)

Halfway, plus one block, not yet attached...

Afghans are long term projects, and I'm making good progress, but this one has been a bit of a slog. Metaphor for life? Maybe...after all, I'm a little past halfway there in this life, too...but it's all good. I've got purpose. 😁

Some blocks are difficult, requiring apologies and multiple repeats of rows...and some blocks are easy, just hit auto pilot and go! The super-fun blocks are the best ones though, and I'm happy to report that we are on one of those now. 

You can never know how long the fun will last, though, so I'm hanging on to enjoy the ride. When we got the next hard time, holding onto the joyful memories will get me through. 

Whichever block of life you're in, I hope you've got some joy in the reserves tank to get you through. May you all keep your peace and love and joy close at hand, friends! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Jello gummies for the
5-year-old's party!

Semi-Secret Stitches

Don't tell the boys, but the birthday-and-holiday crafting has started! They are still little enough that they won't see the blog accidentally, so I can show you that the top row of Minecraft blanket squares is finished, 

and the 1st square of the second row is also done...

which inspired a new project...

Pigs all around! Lol...but seriously, how cute is this worsted-weight Snonk, barely fitting into my knitting bag for work?

Pretty cute, I know! But not as cute as boys hanging out with Pop Pop and staying for a sleepover...

climbing on the playground, 

and flying a kite to get them tired for before bedtime,

and having donuts for breakfast! 

...so cute, right? Right!

It's good when a Pretty Knitty life has cutie-patooti kids in it! Even the mum had started to celebrate this season and all the goodness in it! 

Now it's time for me to get back to it, because Snonk's sweater won't knit itself! Are you doing any secret knitting? Maybe you'd better get back to it, too! 😉

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!