Ach. Gott in Himmel!

To PDX peeps:

Mary Scott Huff, a hard-working knit designer, experienced a break in of her car on Thursday and lost a suitcase full of her lovely work. I don't know her at all, but I'm so sad for her, as I'm sure any knitter would be.
Please check her blog post. If by some miracle you happen to see any of these items, please get in touch with her.

It Comes in Threes

Thanks so much for the kind words of support. It means more than I can say.

So much has changed in the last few months. Not just the loss of my dad, of course, though that is a sea change I still haven't fully processed.
But there are three big updates since I last checked in:

1) I sent N & T to Chicago for the summer, because their bio mom has been really sick. They've just returned -- and are huge! Many pounds and (shoe sizes!) have been added thanks to the Grandmas. Shopping for school will be interesting this year.

2) Miss Z will be starting school this fall! We've been home together for 2.5 years, and she's ready for a change. Unbelievably, we all loved the first place we checked out, so we're signing her up!

3) Mama will be going to school, too! I was accepted to Lewis & Clark Law School. I'll be starting in a couple of weeks.

Poking My Head Up

Much like my little babies above, I'm poking my head up to say hi. After a somewhat eventful month -- a car accident (we're all fine), my pop going to the hospital repeatedly (so far he's fine, too), a weird sickness I can't quite shake, homeschooling the kids while they're on spring break -- I'm just trying to take things slow and remember to breathe.

Still missing my knitting (would you believe I haven't even opened my winter knit mags yet?) but unable to concentrate long enough to actually work on something. I need something to jump start my engine. Suggestions for something speedy that I can pick up and put down (other than socks)?

Living Up to One's Potential

On the one hand, I've just spent the last twenty minutes de-spamming my comments, so yes, Dick0369, you really are living up to your moniker.

On the other hand, it actually got me to write a blog post, so hey - silver lining on that there cloud, eh?

If anyone's still out there, hi! I can summarize what's gone on as follows: Xmas holidays, house stuff, toddler birthday/general wrangling, house stuff, kid stuff, house stuff, cold/allergy, kid stuff, house stuff, cold/allergy, kid stuff, bla bla bla --now you're up to date on the last two months. I totally miss knitting -- haven't had enough time to wrap my mind around anything, so there's been precious little of that these days.

Though I did a set of mittens for Twisted that I think turned out nicely.

Where did it go?

My gosh, it's October! I'm still wondering where our summer went, though I suspect that at the time I was obsessively hoping to get the kids back to school. They are busy, busy, busy and it is a *lot* of work to keep them from destroying the house/each other/my sanity. I complained to a friend about the noise level when all three children are home and we decided that it works on the Richter scale. (!) Doesn't help, but it makes me feel better knowing that it's not just me who thinks it.

So: still working on that thing I mentioned last post, but this time when I say soon I really do mean it! Like in the next 24 hours.

In the meantime, I will share with y'all a little bit about the impetus behind Urbanite, my design in the Fall issue of Twist Collective.

(Awe inspiring sketch by Boy-O, mais oui)

My dad is the world's biggest clotheshorse. Seriously: the man must look good at all times.

His basement is like a one guy department store. It's completely amazing.

When we lived in the same city, we were shopping buddies. We often joked that if we had a family motto, it would be "Never pay retail."

Unsurprisingly, with a fellow like Dad for inspiration, the design had to handsome, practical and not too costly to knit. So as I noodled around with a lovely fluffy yarn for a ladies' pullover:

(Harrisville Yarns Orchid with Cashmere)

it occurred to me that this might be a good man's sweater as well. Having borrowed many of my dad's (and these days, my husband's) sweaters over the years, I figured I had a pretty good grasp on what makes a good one: long, lean look, attractive details like saddle shoulders and interesting-to-knit cables that are still understated, and a quiet color that didn't scream "look at me." Luckily for me, Twist's editors agreed.

After conferring with Kate, we decided to make the sweater a crew neck rather than the turtle I'd originally conceived (my husband and pop are both rather warm-blooded, so this made sense to me), and she selected the Soft Brown color in delicious Valley Yarns Amherst. I'd never knitted with this yarn before, but it is lovely. Soft and smooshy (yes, that's a technical term), easy on the hands, yet it shows off complex stitchwork beautifully. I am a big fan of yarns you can knit by touch, and Amherst delivers on that score. It's reasonably priced, too, which rocks my socks.

I can't wait for Urbanite to come back home just so I can wrap myself up in it. Though I may have to fight off the husband -- I think he's got his eye on this one, too.

Why my kid is the Awesome

Scene: our living room. We've just finished singing "Baa Baa Black Sheep." Babe looks over at book with picture of sheep, then at previous page with picture of cat and mouse.

Babe: (pointing @ mouse) Duckie?

Me: No, babe that's a mouse.

Babe: Duckie!

Me: Nah, hon - do we know any songs about a duckie?

Babe: (to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep) Baa baa duckie...

***********

In actual knitting-related news (gasp!), I've just received a review copy for my latest pattern, coming out in the Fall issue of Twist Collective. I'm sooo excited! The layout is gorgeous, the model is perfect, and I'm super thrilled to be a part of this awesome magazine. Yay!

Yay! (and Darn!)

So I'm totally excited: I've just had a piece accepted for publication, which of course is the "Yay!" part of the title. 

But that means there's even less knitting I can show you right now, so "Darn!"

Designering stinks in that way.  

I can tell you I'm very excited about this piece. It's the sort of sweater I love and want to wear all the time, and I hope you will feel the same way when it hits the streets this fall.

Still swatching

In a time-honored blogging technique, I'm distracting from a lack of crafty progress with cute kid pictures: 

They are adorable, aren't they?

Haven't fallen off the planet, just busy swatching, celebrating -- Mr. T is 8 now! -- and doing daily playgroups with the babe. It all takes a good deal more time than I bargained for -- I'm making no progress at all on my latest sweater. No regrets, but I think all of my projects will have to be vests in oreder to complete NaKniSweMoDo. 

For the moment, however, I'm home alone for the first time in ages: Boy-O's run off with the kids and allowed me to sleep in. 

It's a very weird feeling, just me and the dogs, looking at each other as if to say "I dunno. What do you want to do?" I can't speak for the dogs, but I plan to enjoy an unhurried shower and then unparalleled excitement of eating something without my little companion stealing from my plate!

Heady times. ;-P

Break

I've been taking a wee break this week, celebrating my birthday (Boy-O took me to Le Hana -- it was *so* delicious), knitting submission swatches I can't show you, and spending some fun time with the kids (the children's museum, the mounted police, library story time). It's been a pretty good week. As always, there's never enough time in the day, but I see myself accomplishing a good bit with the knitting and that's always heartening. (Just don't ask about housework!)

My NaKniSweMoDo project is languishing due to the above swatches, so no pics -- but really, how exciting is a big blob of blue ribbing, anyway? It doesn't look like an anemone anymore, so that's a start, right? I'm fairly confident about getting it done in the next two weeks -- less if DH & I get some new Netflix.

25 Things

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

Ah, well. This is a meme I thought I'd successfully dodged. But turns out, my dear Boy-O has got the bug. So here it is:

1. I hate, hate, hate, snow/cold/winter with a flaming purple passion. This is one of the big reasons I live in Oregon: snow is rare enough that it is an "event" here.
2. I love knitting giant warm, wooly, cable-y things -- the more complex the better.
3. Ironically, all my published pieces thus far are very simple.
4. I just don't 'get' the sock knitting craze -- it bores me to tears.
5. Despite this,  I love sock yarn.
6.  I'm addicted to word games. I joined Facebook not to keep up with my friends, but to feed the addiction.
7. I was thisclose to attending Kendall Culinary College. 
8. I swore never to dress my kid in pink, b/c I didn't want to give in to gender stereotyping.
9. These days, approximately 85% of the clothes I buy for Z are pink or have pink accents.
10. The sound of Z's singing makes my heart tingle.
11. I think my husband is smarter than me -- and I'm happy about it.
12. I worry that my daughter will someday bring home that boy -- you know, the sort I dated before I met her dad.  
13. I love being near the water, but I can't swim.
14. I detest camping, but love hiking.
15. I secretly wish naked were an option.
16. I have unrealistic expectations about my knitting speed, despite 23 years of experience.
17. If I weren't a knitter, I would totally be a house blogger. 
18. Every summer, I taste melons to see if I still dislike them. 
19. I hate being in the outside lanes on bridges.
20. Driving terrifies me.
21. I'm a perfectionist and a procrastinator. This often leads to comedy.
22. Despite vivid recollections of pregnancy and birth, I would totally do it again.
23. I hate going to sleep. It always seems to interfere with all the stuff I want to do.
24. My poor dogs are still not over being displaced by the children.  
25. I think my kid is the best thing that ever happened in the history of the world -- and that I am a genius for marrying her dad.

Anyone else? Let me know if you do it.

At Long (Long) Last

Dudes: 'member this teaser of a post from back in September? (It feels so long ago that I'd nearly forgotten about it). But finally, the new issue of KnitScene has hit the stands and you can see the cuteness that is the Triple Slip Vest! 

(Photo shamelessly stolen from Knitscene's web site. All their rights reserved, etc., etc. Go see the bonus photos there.)

I love this vest. As always, I try to design the things I would like to wear. And for me, that means casual, yet feminine pieces you can easily integrate into your wardrobe.

I very much hope y'all like it as well. I can't wait to see it in the wild.

(Next time, I'll show you the original submitted sketch -- v. different from what you're seeing here. But I love this version, too.)

(S)watch(wo)men

Prepping submissions for my favorite mags.  

During this process, I talk to myself quite a bit, planning how a design would fit, working through how it should be knit, refining the details, etc. 

Of course, it doesn't always pan out. 

Day 1: I've been thinking about a particular sweater. It's a style I love, and I own several versions thereof. Decide to swatch for one.

Days 2-3: Let the idea percolate for a few days. Knit other swatches, cart baby around to all her activities, think occasionally about how much better life would be with this garment in wardrobe.

Days 4-5: Idea comes more into focus: Garment must be really cozy, but not sloppy; yarn choice is critical. Realize there's that one stitch pattern I always mean to use for something and never do. Resolve to swatch ASAP. 

Days 6-7: Visit yarn shop. Look for yarn, but don't find the one you want. Go back to giant monster stash and find suitable sub.

Day 8: Stay up late knitting swatch. Be very pleased: this will make a very nice garment. 

Day 8.5: Re examine swatch. Still pleased, but realize something is not..quite..right. Put away and go to bed. 

Day 9: Wonder why, with dedicated night owls for parents, babe insists on wakng at crack of dawn. Struggle vainly to sleep in. Give up when babe starts growling like the dog.

Day 9.25: Check magazine stash. Realize "new" idea is essentially same as the cover of issue from two years ago. Sigh dramatically. Rip swatch; try again.    

Technology is Teh Suck

Is this thing on?


I'm still here, but my beloved laptop is on the fritz. Der bloggage will be minimal for the next while until I can get her back on her feet.

Baby's soaker is finished photographed, and I'm back on to her cardigan.
Waiting for yarn for a mag project -- I'd hoped to make my original deadline despite this delay, but that's just not gonna happen now. Ugh. Shipping delays are also teh suck.

B-day Redux

Sometimes the good stuff just comes at you all at once.

1) My in-laws are in town. It's always a hoot when they visit. The big kids love them, and even little Z is starting to smile at her Baba and Papa. they are supposed to move out here in a few years, and we can't wait. I want our kids to have as good a relationship with them as I did with my Grandmas.
(Of course, the fact that they're taking the kids to the amusement park today means that our house is oddly quiet for a Saturday. That's nice, too.)

2) I got a copy of the Fall Knitscene -- it's gorgeous! (I'm not just saying that b/c my design's in it. There are several things in there that I want very much!)
And it's bigger! Love that.

3) I just had another piece accepted for publication; woot! (And yeah, I really do still go around the house saying, "Go Cher, it's ya birf-day...")

4) Speaking of birthdays, my MIL brought along my present:

It's a lovely shawl, made with Elann's Seta Lana, and I adore it.
This up close shot shows the texture and the color more accurately:



Baby liked it, too:

Sweet

While cruising the blogs, I discovered that the Knitscene preview is up.
(Thanks, Cirilia, for the heads up.)
Finally, I can stop obsessively checking the web site - and reveal the project I did for them!

Click on the link to see my Twisted Bridges hat and scarf set.
(Digression: isn't the model lovely? When I grow up I want to be that poised.)

Here it is in my rather less serious pose:


This is before blocking and end-weaving-in, so there are some stray strands in the photo. But at long last, this project's out there in the world, and I couldn't be happier. Huzzah!

Getting closer...

I have to squee a little bit: the editor who is publishing the design I worked on this past winter just wrote and asked how I'd like my name to appear in the mag. Whee! It's that much closer to becoming a Real Pattern.
(I know, it's totally dorky, but I am so happy.)

Working on still more proposals; I'm having a blast with all the swatching. It's like doing an audition -- for that moment, at least, it's totally my part. Similarly, while I'm swatching, it's like I've created the most brilliant design ever -- of course they'll love and want it. (Hee.)
After this last batch, it's on to a project for the baby, I think. I need something cute and quick!

Something Else To Get Pissed About

The Orphan Works Bill, which forces artists to register any creation/work of art in order for copyright to take effect, is an insult to creative people in every field. Your copyright should be automatic.

Read more here and here.

Found via Ravelry.

ETA: Here's the link to the Senate page on the actual bill.

Resolution Revolution

2008 resolutions, such as they are, are all about the children.



Get this one reading.



Help this one become a more fluent reader.



Enjoy this one while she's still tiny.

And of course, make time for more knitting!
I've recently been offered a contract for a new design that should be out in Fall '08. (Whee!)
No details yet, but I'm thoroughly excited about this piece.

Happy New Year to you and yours. May the fulfillment of your resolutions be as satisfying as mine promises to be.

Hallo to SweMo

I guess you really have to go live your life in order to blog it, 'cause that's where I've been the past week or two.

Lots of stuff going on, and it will take me a couple of posts to catch up.
First up, a special project from last fall resulted in this:


This project in question is this:



Which contains these:


There would have been a third, but there were extenuating circumstances in the test knitting process.
Still, it is uber cool to see these in print and on actual bodies!

Blog Action Day

I'm late to this party, but hopefully not too much so.

I love the idea of talking about the environment, and what we can do to fix it. But as Terry mentioned, my ability to speak from a place of scientific knowledge is lacking.
What I do best: taking public transit when I can, re-using plastic grocery bags/using cloth bags,
but my number one thing that I do is cleaning house naturally, as I mentioned last week.

My favorite resource in this regard is the book Clean House, Clean Planet.
If you can't get a hold of that, the tools you truly need to get started are simple: Dr. Bronner's soap, baking soda and vinegar. I've found these three things are enough to get out most any dirt we pick up.