Dreams DO come true

I'm squealing with excitement this morning; I can hardly contain myself.

I just signed a contract with a publisher to get my knitting book published. You know, all those fabulous modern style'd dishcloths I design? Yep, that's what it will be. 

A dream come true. I've been an avid knitter for many years now after leaving a stressful hospice nursing job. Taking it upon myself to learn this craft has been a journey...and a fun journey at that. This excitement for the craft led me into designing. I live for modern designs (though, if you look at my house, it's nothing like modern). I love the clean lines, cool cables, and twists and turns you can only find in a modern design. I also use fun colors to enhance the modern flare.

But, the best part of all was having my major support system in place; my wonderful husband.  Without his constant "push", I would have given up on this dream.

I will keep you all in the loop as this project moves forward.

You, my readers, are the next major support system I couldn't do without...(humbly saying) thanks!

So, as I always say,

Knit On!

Deb

What's New?

...glad you asked! Is there such a thing as having too many projects on individual needles? Whew...I'm glad, because I currently have 6 different projects going. There's always another project I'm SUPER anxious to start.

Hexipuffs for Beekeeper's Quilt

With that said, the most fun project I've recently encountered is the "BeeKeeper's Quilt". No, it's not made with fabric, its made with tiny hexagon shaped knitted puffs that are sewn together to form a "quilt." Quite addicting. The challenge was casting on with 2 needles then working in the round with those same 2 needles. I know, blah...blah...blah...if you're not a knitter, but if you are, well, I'd definitely check it out.

Wanderer Cap

Harriet Hat

Soft as a Cloud (in baby blue color)

My ex-son-in-law has asked me to make him a ski hat...of course, I never turn down an opportunity to make a ski hat. And my granddaughter and her friend need big sister hats (the Harriet Hat) as they will be expecting their new baby brother soon (did I forget to mention, baby got a new hat too?) Soft as a Cloud hat in baby blue. Oh, and an Etsy order arrived needing my attention; a set of dishcloths.

Mercerized cotton dishcloths

 Okay, think I better get to work!

As I always say,

Knit on, my friends.

Deb

Crafts are like...

You know, life is a funny thing sometimes, it brings us down when we least expect it, and it picks us up at just the right time...

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on. ~Robert Frost

Don't you feel that way about your craft? It's a form of relaxation - that when you're feeling stressed, it's a great go-to. If it has stressed you out, it's something we can set down and walk away from.

That's what makes crafting such a fun thing. I also feel the same way about my writing. That's another form of craft that has to be created, right? I have such a great time getting into the heads of my characters, then all of a sudden I'm stuck. I mean really stuck. Like how will the story progress? What is my character thinking? Where are they heading?

Without our craft (and I feel bad for those that don't have one), our lives would be boring. There wouldn't be anything to go-to.

I say, if you're reading this and don't have a craft, find one! It will be there no matter how life treats you.

So, as I always say,

Knit on (or Craft on),

deb

Let's Create

Good Morning!

Nothing like waking up to a bit of snow on the ground, and temperatures so cold, you can see the ground glisten. I love winter, but only when viewed from the inside of my warm house. A place I nest daily to complete new projects, sew a little, read a little, and just be.

Not much on the agenda today, though a peruse through cupcake recipes to find the perfect one for my granddaughter's 5th birthday party. Gosh, creating yet again...how much fun is this?

Jasmine

As far as creating a new project...yes, I have a lace scarf in the "to design" pile. Knit Picks, yet again, will (hopefully) love this new design. Lace is something that make me happy to knit; it's fun, different, yet a challenge.

Ripples and Lace-My design (not newest though)

 Wikipedia says:

"Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was not made until the late 15th and early 16th centuries. A true lace is created when a thread is looped, twisted or braided to other threads independently from a backing fabric."

Have you done lace? It can be as simple as using a worsted weight yarn or you can find the lace weight yarn, which is so very fine to work with, but so very elegant when it's complete.

So, what will you create today? Cupcakes? Knitted project? Maybe you crochet?

Whatever your passion, make today a time for creating...

As always, Knit on...

deb

Knitting is so much fun...

...we made it through the artful yarn's knit-a-long. fun? i think so.

the pattern is no longer free :-( but you can head over to ravelry and get a copy for a mere $3.99. don't forget (or maybe you don't already know), anything knitted with a pink design this month only, gives you a 20% discount. read all about it here.

i'm onto more fun projects and new designs. stay tuned.

have an awesome day, and thanks for knitting along. let's do it again, huh?

as always,

knit on,

deb

Day 5—knit-a-long

Can you believe it? We’re almost done.

This is the day you will walk away with your dishcloth cloth in hand. 

Recap: √Cast On 38 sts. √Knit 3 rows. √Completed 1^st 8 rows of pattern. √Completed 1^st 8 rows 6 times, THEN rows 1-3 ONE more time.

Questions?

Now, we’ll knit the last 3 border rows.

Almost Done…

All we need to do is bind off all 38 sts and weave in the ends.

                                                                      Excellent video

 Time to tuck (weave) those ends in.

Done!

I hope you enjoyed this knit-a-long. 

Happy Knitting!

Day 4—Knit-a-long

You’ve gotten pretty far on your dishcloth.  How do you feel about it so far? Problems? Don’t forget to post them here or on our flickr page. I’m here to help, as well as those more experienced knitters in the group, they’ll chime in too.

Okay, Let’ move on. Full Steam ahead, as I say.

Recap: √Cast On 38 sts. √Knit 3 rows. √Complete 1^st 8 rows of pattern.

Questions?

Today, and for the next few days, I’m going to ask that you complete those 8 rounds 5 more times, for a total of 6. THEN complete rows 1-3 ONE more time. 

Are you using a checking off system?

            *numbering a piece of paper 1-8 and putting a mark by the row complete

            *using your row counter, then keeping track of how many rounds you do

Whichever way works best, is the method for you. Or maybe you’ve created your own. 

Perfect!

I’ve included a video by one of my favorite people (I know, everyone’s my favorite). Just plain fun to listen to. Enjoy!

I will post the final day’s events over the weekend, so when you’re ready, you can finish up.

Next: Knitting last 3 rows, Binding off, weaving in all your ends.