Blogs

As I look back on this blog, it's pretty clear that I've been ignoring it lately. I apologize!

It has been a busy year, with the successful launch of our Pad Abort 1 test vehicle, my finally ending all the business travel, a short time of being unemployed, and now the start of a new business.

I found some BuffBoo on sale at my LYS, and picked up a couple of skeins. I planned to use it as a practice for the qiviut I purchased this past summer, but I actually found I liked the sheen of the buffboo in this pattern more than the qiviut. Guess I still need to keep looking for that perfect qiviut pattern. The pattern as written works for one skein, but I used a part of a second to get mine to be the length I wanted.

Materials
1 skein Buffalo Gold Buffboo #13, laceweight, 300 yds (part of a second skein is optional)
US 4 16” circular needle
Cable needle
Stitch marker
Yarn needle for weaving ends

Finished Dimensions
Approx 24” circumference and 14” long (blocked)

It has been a long time coming (since Thanksgiving, as I recall), but today I updated the website to include the free pattern library. As always, my patterns come with a full license to make these items and sell them. After all, I know how hard it is to make ends meet as a knitter - who needs pricey license fees?

Please stop by and check out the patterns. I enjoy your feedback!

I did it. Today, I purchased a new day planner. I do this every year. It seems like the opening of a new book is appropriate for the opening of a new year. I wander the aisles of the office supply store looking for that one book that will best suit my needs and my taste. I never really seem to find the perfect planner.

Usually by March, I have given up my plans to document my days because my days become too full of the things I am living to take the time to write them out and plan the next. Perhaps that is my problem?

Anyway, I thought I'd share my planner journey with you. I embark on this journey knowing full well my previous failures, and for some reason, believe that this year will be, and perhaps must be different.

I started this scarf right around Thanksgiving. My plan was to finish it in time for my daughter's birthday, but I didn't quite make it. Finally wove in the last end on 12/21. It probably should be blocked, but my daughter is too excited to wear it...

Anyway, this is based on the Falling Flowers pattern by Anne Kingstone. I did a yarn substitution to Trendsetter's Merino VI superwash, so I never was able to get the gauge and have a soft knit. To compensate, I changed the flower pattern so that it was a single column of flowers rather than the double column in the original pattern. It turned out to be a bit over 4" wide, which is perfect for my little girl. I think my scarf is a bit less smooth in the motifs as a result of the larger gauge, but my daughter likes it just fine.

As my way of saying thank you, I am now offering all my patterns for free. I have been very busy with my job lately - with much travel, I haven't been able to be as attentive as I would like. So, now you can enjoy my entire pattern library for free.

Right now, the patterns are available only in my Ravelry store. I am working on some pages to link to the patterns from my site for those who are not Ravelry members.

Enjoy!

I had planned to go to a yoga class this morning, but was thwarted. I arrived at the studio only to find it was closed for a gathering downtown. I was disappointed, so to ease my disappointment, I decided to go yarn shopping. I found yarn for three projects that I have in my queue. See what you think:

I bought this Malabrigo for my Stitch Diva Endless Knitted Cardi Shawl. The main color is handpainted in shades of brown, orange, and gold, and the contrast color is a solid gold shade. I think it will be stunning.

The next yarn is a few skeins of Brown Sheep's Lanaloft. I've never knit with this before, so it will be an adventure. I bought it for the Sweater Babe's Little Lace Vest. The colors don't show up as well in the photo, but it's a teal, purple, and brown handpaint.

I've been reacquainted with an online Bible study by Beth Moore about the fruits of the spirit. I enrolled a few years ago, but a thought about it crossed through my mind today, and I wanted to share it with you. Find out more at the link below.

I just finished up a swatch of the "Seahorse" stitch pattern found at Knitting Fool. It is a combination lace and cable design that has captivated my imagination. What to do with it? Should I make it a scarf or shawl in laceweight yarn, or maybe make it a pair of socks? The pattern is an 8 stitch repeat, so it could be any number of items. Maybe all of them. What do you think?

Today, I went to the farmer's market and picked up a few things. Twelve quarts of green beans (in my pressure canner now), a couple pounds of fresh cashew butter, some steaks, and of course, some yarn. I found two skeins of Weatherd T Ranch yarn. I got a couple of skeins (250 yd ea) of laceweight alpaca in a natural color. I am not sure what I'll do with it, but I have tucked it away safely in my stash room for the moment when inspiration strikes. I'm currently working on another Flapotis for my sister's birthday. It's in Touch Me in a deep purple. I can hardly wait for it to be felted!