'Tis the Season

As Winter Solstice approaches, we are thinking back on an eventful and tumultuous year.

We started with grandsons in the house, who have now moved back to Tucson.  They are sorely missed.  Here's hoping they like the gifts we sent.  Sorry, no socks this year, guys, Mimi was just too busy.

I started school, and it taking a good deal of my time.  I'll be finished with my BSN in September 2012, so the work will be worth it. 

We added Tazhia to our household, who with Pandora makes two members of the four-footed-mafia.  They are running the show, regardless of what we think .  Catnip and gooshy for all.

My mom visited in the spring.  It was a fast visit, but fun.  We had lefse and did the driving tour of North Portland.  Next time, we take our time.  Yes, there will be a next time.  I'm sure of it.

Squirrel Nutz on Ravelry was started.  At present four pattens are available, with several more on the way.  Included in that count is Abundant Sole: Sock Knitting for the Gauge Impaired, due out in ebook and paperback formats in Spring 2012.

And we launched Cognition Pressworks, the publishing company run by my hubs for the self-publishing of both of our projects.  He's writing daily.  It's wonderful to see him so happy and involved.

Here's hoping the best days of last year are the worst days of next year.  Peace, Love, Joy to all.  Enjoy the holiday of your choosing (or not).  We have a carpet picnic planned for Solstice, and I'm working X-mas and New Year's.  Hugs.

What a fun Day!!!

A coworker was nice enough to trade a shift with me so I could be off yesterday. The Bear and I attended a class in silver clay work at Twisted, and had a lot of fun. We also made some pieces to be seen later. Then we went to Guardian and played DCC with James and Kasi. Again, a lot of fun and laughter. Our sleep schedule is all screwed up, but so worth it. One more night of work tonight and then four days off. I've finished my paper for school, and only have two weeks to go, then a two week break before the next class starts. One year to go!!!

Living Outside the Norm

It has come to my attention that I may be living too far outside the norm. I eat a vegetarian diet, spin yarn, write, read actual books, value education for the sake of learning, work at night, don't drink/smoke/party, and I believe that animals have rights. Sorry for being so weird, America.

Sock Shorthand Cards

Get the pdf file for free

New Sock Knitting Tool

What do you get if you take a page of business cards that can be printed at home and a package of business card sized laminates, and MS Word? Sock Shorthand Cards I'll attach a link as soon as I can beat blogspot into submission. Print 'em off, flip the page over, print again - 20 double sided cards for you to write basic sock info for your favorite feet. Laminate them to make them more sturdy. Stick them in you project bags, so you don't have to keep doing the math.

Two Down, Eight to Go

Just finished my second class on my journey to finish my BSN. Cultural Diversity proved to be an interesting class, but I'm glad it's over. Just waiting for my scores on my final and class project. Advanced Composition starts next week. On to writing papers..... in the mean time, I'm knitting like a fiend. New sections of my book are up on Abundant Sole. Enjoy!!

Welcome Lilly

We have a new granddaughter at Chez Squirrel. Her name is Lilly Allison, and she made her grand entrance on Sept 27th. Mom and baby are doing well, and are home. Also getting in on the fun is Dad and big sister Maddie. Here's to hoping for a long beautiful life, full of dreams, success, happiness, and fun!

And on it goes

So fall is getting here, I hope. It's just been too hot lately. I haven't posted since SS11, have I? Well, the second day was a blast, but I was sick as a dog by the time I got home. So sick that I didn't go back on Saturday. Apparently, I'm more allergic to mohair than I remembered.

What have I been up to since then? Well, knitting, of course. And school. I've started back for my BSN. Oh and I've been working on my book. I'd love some feedback. Chapters are being posted periodically at Abundant Sole. Please let me know what you think. Thanks

Sock Summit - Day one

It was a less than normal Thursday as we started Sock Summit. I was fortunate enough to get a slot in Judith Mackenzie's Gentle Art of Spinning Socks. One problem, my drive band had been brutally mauled by a small someone who shall remain nameless. Cute, but nameless. So I decided to take spindles. Well, Judith offered me the use of her wheel. Wow! She worked with us as a group and each of us individually. I made sock yarn!!! We also played with combs, hackles, silk (3 kinds), blends, blending, twist, tension. I'm in love with making sock yarn. And I made some! One problem, I forgot to take pictures. Maybe I'll get that part right today. I'm back for more.

Lunch was with Emma, she was a kid in a candy shop. After class we hit the market place. She's never been to something like this before. We had a blast. BTW - Gothsocks sold out in less than an hour.

Also, I seem to have caught a cold, it's improving since I got some sleep, but I feel like crap. Two classes today - Morphing Cables and Hizsocks. Lunch with Lorain. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Patience

Taken from Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letter
"To get real results you need to put in the hook hours. In his recent book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell gives what he calls the 10,000 hour rule. It seems it takes that many hours to get good at anything--doctor, lawyer, animator, musical composer. "Success has to do with deliberate practice," says Gladwell, "Practice must be focused, determined, and in an environment where there's feedback." Steve and I agreed that we should never stop honouring those who take the time and trouble to get good at what they do."

It's all about practice, patience and compassion.

Steampunk Journal - Part 1

I'm trying something out for a project I'm working on. I'm doing a Steampunk swap on Ravelry and want to create a Steamed Journal.

Supplies:
Moleskine Journal - blank pages - 8x5inches
acrylic paint
stamp of choice
sandpaper

1) rough up the cover of the journal to allow the paint to stick better and to give the journal a weathered look


2) mix your acrylic paint to the color you desire. use a foam brush to apply the paint to the stamp

3) apply the stamp to the journal. i positioned mine offset
4) let this dry

Flood Gates

Seems I've gotten over my fears about publishing. Designs are flowing out of the ether. I just can't seem to knit them fast enough.

Circumambulate has been a long time in coming. Today was appropriate, all things considered.

Third Sock Syndrome (TSS)

Most sockknitters are familiar with the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome (S3). This occurs when we have been enchanted by a pattern, chosen the perfect yarn, and knit the first sock (with or without notes - your choice). What happens next depends on the knitter. A second sock should be knit for this to be a pair. Now, if you are knitting for someone with only one foot, bravo, you are done. If you don't mind unmatched socks (the thought has occurred to me more than once), good for you. If you are like me and want to wear matching socks because that is how you were raised, then you have a bit of work to do. If you can catch the momentum of the bind off, often times you can get somewhere on that second sock.

Once you start designing socks, it is a bit different story. The first sock is the prototype and hopefully you have taken thorough notes so that a pattern can be written. The second sock is to check the pattern. Voila! You have a pair of socks. If you ever want to wear these precious beauties, you must knit a third sock, as a sample of the work, just in case you need it in the future.

Having recently stepped into the designing arena, I have been beset by TSS. Fortunately, I am designing socks that I want to wear and want to knit. So it's just time consuming. Besides, I'm so short that I can get 3 socks out of a 100g skein of yarn. Good thing I'm not fond of knee highs.

Here's the latest. Solitary (in editing and test knitting).


Soon to be followed by Circumambulation. (in the design stage).

Try again

It's here. No, really. I know it's here.

PSSST...

The new project is up and running. Ready, set, GO!

Going off early...

Yep, published my pattern yesterday. Insomnia is a wonderful tool. Meet Verdant.

This toe up sock has an increase toe, a wedge heel and a garter stitch bind off. It works well in variegated as well as solid colors. One 100 gram skein will make a pair of socks. The pattern can easily be modified for size by changing the gauge.

You can get it here.

Lookit!

My first pattern is fast approaching completion. I’m hoping to publish it on Ravelry in February. In the mean time, meet Verdant.



This is a toe up sock, with a little bit of cabling, and a little bit of lace. It is made for a women’s medium foot at a gauge of 7 stitches to the inch, but is easily resized by using a different gauge.

It is being test knit as I type, and I must say I am happy with the results.

Happy New Year

Sorry it's been so long. Hope this makes you smile as I ponder a way to do all of the things I want to do this year.