Final ZK Thoughts & more

I was really hoping for a bonus post, but it was not in the cards 🙄, so here's the final wrap up of all the ZK fun. First, the all-important stash enhancement reveal...

Everything marked with a chicken 🐔 was purchased. The rest were from the goodie bags, or they were Prizes! Like this lovely Handspun from 716 Knit, which is a where those pretty minis came from, too! 

On my first trip into the market, a half-hour early (as a prize), these fun things jumped into my arms, begging to come home with me: 

Soap and solid lotion from Tuft Woolens, a sparkly skein of the June colorway from Leading Men Fiber Arts (also a prize, my  "heart's desire," thanks Megan and Amy!), and two knitting kits from Mochimochi Land! Bonus: Anna signed the puppy kit, and I am still over the moon! And (apparently) incorrigible! 🤣

I held onto all of that for some time before heading back for more Leading Men yarn to go with the sparkle, which the internet says should be delivered any day now (there was not enough of the dark blue "It's Cold Outside!" on the rack in the showstopper base, so they're shipping it, Yay!). 

Eventually, I even went in for a third purchase as well, which included a neat, fabric square that snaps at the corners to form a handy tray to hold whatever fun things you can find, and some earrings (not shown, can't remember seller)...great stuff!

Oh! And did I show you all the goodies from that goodie bag? Not to mention the sturdy, canvas bag itself, there was a 16-18oz mug from Deneen Pottery, a skein from one of the dyers (mine is from Queen City Yarns), patches and stickers and needle minders (oh, my!), and the annual Panne"koupons" from Hollandberry Pannekoeken! 

Now that I'm home, I've officially finished the traveling socks, 

and I've nearly finished a cowl kit that traveled to Minnesota with me, "just in case" I needed another project...

...which I did not need, lol...because I was having so much fun with the knitters! After all, there were three, count 'em, three Pams at ZK! That's a photo op if ever there was one! 

Also pictured are Kat and Pretty, Leah and Pretty, and an officially official Mochimochi Land Gnome, knit by Anna herself! What could be more fun than having this guy come home with me? 

Not much is more fun than that, unless we're talking grandkids and trips to the zoo, 

or coffee in a new, giant mug with a new, tiny gnome!

So, yeah. I'm still flying high on the fun I had as I slip back into the routines of home. All is well, and I'm sure we'll still have some excitement on our horizons. After all, Cedar Point is still in my backyard, a mere 45 minutes away. I hear that Siren's Curse opened yesterday, and that certainly sounds super fun! 

I hope your summer has already given you some funtimes, too, and that your heart's desire isn't too far away. 

Thanks for stopping by and Knit in Good Health! 

Falling into September

Helloooo, September! When did you get here? Oh. Seven days ago, that's right. I don't know how you surprise me every stinkin' year! I mean, one minute I'm looking for small things to knit

and visiting THE amusement park...because, yanno, summer!

60-seconds later (or so it seemed, at least), I'm finishing the first of the fall, birthday sweaters! (October's is just half-a-sleeve from finished, by the way!)

The shawl that was stifling in my lap last week 

is suddenly welcome in my wardrobe...

Still needs blocked, but looking good!

...and late-summer walks in the park

have given way to that familiar itch to change up kitchen decor! 

Since I'm refreshing the kitchen, it's as good a time as any to add a new family photo over the sofa, too...and there we have it! 

Fall and all of the changes it tends to bring are here. Surprise! I may just have to bake cookies today to celebrate! 

How are you marking the passage of time and seasons in your neck o' th' woods? Are you planning any fun knits, or other crafts? I know you're busy, but I'd love to hear about it in the comments! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

A better look at that pic over the couch! 

And all the grandkids!

Uncharted

The Swiftie socks are done, and I have traded them for some far less complicated, uncharted knitting!

These lines are not blurred, and my charts are all finished. Yay!

Hmmm, our coffee table used to be empty...but somewhere between the crocheted pony-bead lizard and super capes, I seem to have lost control. Even the pig looks a little judge-y in that last shot! But, after all that charting (starting with pen and graph paper, ending in computer spreadsheets and docs with all the words) I am glad to be moving ahead to simple stripes and squish in my knitting. 

The pattern is not "out there" yet, but I hope to get everything uploaded this week. It will look a little like this when it is available...watch Ravelry if you're interested. 

And if you're not interested...here's a fun, new book I bought this week! 

A children's book by knitting designer Anna Hrachovec, this one is every bit as fun as the cover suggests! Even if you don't knit, the photography and text are super fun, and most everyone knows at least one kid who likes fun. Right? (You can find it HERE, and also on Amazon...)

There, I've finished socks, bought books and started stripes. Drop me a comment and let me know what you're up to this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Oh! And New Glasses! Yay!

A Slog, a Sock and a Story

Welcome to my week. This one's been a bit of a slog, and I'm feeling less "on top of the world" and more "flattened beneath a steamroller" than usual. I'm sure you've had that kind of a week at some point. 

I've been making mistakes, at home and in my knitting, and feeling a bit under the weather, yes...very sloggy indeed. The week started well, coming on the heels of a Knitters' Weekend near the lake,  with all the food (maybe I'm sloggy from being too full? nahhhh...)

All the friends and fun I could hope for...

Oh, and the knitting! Sock knitting (heck! all knitting) is blissful on a knitters' weekend! 

Then there's Monday. Monday, Monday...which leads to Tuesday...which is good. By Tuesday, I really needed a dose of silly to lift my spirits. These brothers and their parents are good at that! 

By the way, take some time with that photo...it tells a story. It's a funny story to many, but notsomuch to the biggest brother! But he got through it, soooo, whew! 

Then we were on to the rest of the week, which was no more cooperative than Monday. But today is Saturday, and I'm taking it easy... because sometimes I've just got to stop and breathe...in through the nose, out through the mouth...that's better. Maybe some knitting, too.

Yes, I'm looking forward to a better week ahead! I'm not sure what your week was like, but here's hoping that the next seven days bring you more laughter than pain. If that's not how it lines up for you, remember you're not alone. We've all been there. And if you need a bright spot to help get you through, here are some neutral, knitted gnomes getting ready for the brighter days of summer. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Gnitting Gneutral Gnomes

As summer began to give way to fall, it all started very innocently.

"Let's knit a gnome," we thought to ourselves, using the imperial "we" in our heads. (We know, weird. What can we say?) "Let's make him gneutral, and let's give him a little whimsey!" So, we did.

And when he was done, he looked lonely, so we started another.

Which really confused Gnome #1.

When we finished Gnome #2, we started to realize that she had a BIG personality!

Aaaaand she could knit!

"So it is gnitting!," said Pretty, "though we spell it with a 'k'...," and we wondered what she could possibly be making.

Perhaps another gnome?

Hmmm, perhaps...

Indeed it was another gnome! Gnome #3!!!

Who turned out to be really fun,

and a swell friend, which is good to have as the days get shorter and the nights get colder. 

All in all, we all get along, and we are very happy! We are also thinking about accessorizing for the holidays, so stay tuned! There's lots of color out in the world right now, and we are looking forward to pumpkin spicing up our lives a little bit very soon!

What are you looking forward to this fall? I'm looking forward to pulling out my sweaters and scarves and gloves, oh my!...and also the knitting!

Thanks for stopping by and Knit in Good Health!