I’m IN

Noveau Intarsia Baby Cap

At least, according to the email I received from Annie Modesitt, I am ‘IN’ her new 1000 Fabulous Hats book! It’s being compiled to be published as we speak. I entered several pillbox style knitted baby/kiddo caps that I”d knitted over the years.

The one here is brand spankin’ new and I designed it ’specially for this. Because I could.

It’s unblocked and a rushed photo session to meed the summer deadline, but it’s still a fine cotton hat.

I’m getting the pattern written up and kinks out of it so you can make it too. It will be my second for sale here and on Ravelry.com so stay tuned. I’m excited!!!

Any suggestions on a pattern price? I was thinking $4 or $5 as a download, but would love to hear some input. Hey, it’s only my second pattern for sale, and other than my own research on other patterns for sale, those of you who may be interested could help me out! Comments welcomed.

~Anne

Out With The Old In With The New

There comes a time when one must regear. The mojo really kicks in and the same old same old is just not good enough. I’ve had it. I mean, The time came! Maybe it was due to daylight savings time and giving me that extra hour? Hmmm. Just thought of that one. . . . but I really think it had more to do with finally getting an exhaust fan installed in our only bathroom.

 Anyway. Non-sequetors aside . . . My master bedroom has needed storage AND completion since we moved in 17.7 years ago. The carpet and paint were new then. They are not now. The arrangement changed once from the bed on one wall to another. This time, I’ve wrapped my head around how it really would work best, and the bed will now be on a different wall altogether.

I guess working, raising kids, tending home and hearth, and working, raising kids, laundry, working, raising kids . . . . . didn’t give me much time to consider the Interior Design of my personal abode. AND this was once my profession!!! A sad state of affairs for one so young. heeeee. Oh, did I mention dimentia from raising kids? . . . .

I’m debating showing you any of the sorted (sordid) mess, but maybe just the great amount of paper recycling I’ve amassed for next Tuesday’s pick up!! Yikes. I feel like the hermit who stacked WSJ’s up to the ceiling in all rooms. Nope, just kid papers, PTA stuff, Church stuff, magazines, and old mail I thought I’d get back to. . . . nothing important. Thus the mega amount of grocery sacks!!

mucho recyclo

The before pics of the room may be forthcoming later — but only after I’ve finished. It’s just too embarassing! The paper goes to the back porch tonight to make room in our kitchen. We’ve gotta eat!

Also (now for the knitting portion), I’ve disembarked (removed from the needles but not yet frogged) one of my knitting projects that had been languishing on an extrodinarily long set of circular needles for an extrodinarily LONG amount of time. It’s in an extra large ziplock now awaiting sentancing.

methinks . . . no more acrylic . . .

I thought I liked the colors. It IS in my personal pattern and has been a necessary project so I can test-fit another size for addendum to my loyal (so far) fans. I just kept getting snagged — on the partial acrylic fiber made-into-chain-stitch yarn doubled-with-a-boucle. . . . it seemed like an adventure I’d wanted to take on. The color IS good and would be a nice casual blue-jean match. The darn thing just wasn’t working for me. It took me 10 months to figure this out! I guess I am a natural fibers snob. Hmmmph

Nibble Nibble

What if, I thought just yesterday, I made it in WOLLEMEISE???? For any of you who have not heard of this covetous fiber, you can just forget I said anything. . . . more for me on the next sneak up! But what a difference!! I’ve whipped through about an inch of over 500 stitches – about 8 rows, just today. I’m in love. I may finish tomorrow! My cat loves it too – the wool fiend, Twister, aptly named for her tail; but l like that her fetish is twists of wool too.

Gettin down wit da wollemeise

I’m using ‘Pillars of Fire’ as my choice of colorway. I had one skein and it will be just enough for my size Large pattern. For those of you wondering out there in ‘When is she ever going to post erratta or addendums’ land, I’ve added 48 MCO (moebius cast on stitches) which means a total of 96 in moebius land. I’ve also been writing on post-its with some minor clarifications and notes. I think the pattern is pretty sound as is, but tweaks will probably be added.

Posted I will keep you (channeling Yoda) with my bedroom and IPMW (that’s my pattern for sale up there and the co-actor of this performance) progress. I think they will both snowball and I’ll be into paint buckets and onto new needles by Turkey Day! I’ll probably be into more mischief too. There’s just no telling and one needs to use up ALL the mojo quickly just in case it decides to go to the Caymans without notice.

Now on to dinner and warming up some New England Clam Chowder! Knit on dudes and dudettes and cancel that mojo’s passport!!!  Calling the hubster now for a pick up of my fave libation. . . .

Easy on the eyes & stomach!

~ants(back)inthepantsAnne™

Oh the pretty

KADD strikes again!

ABABA scarf

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/34Me/ababa—scarf

I also think this would be a great yarn for the IPMW (psst. the pattern to the right)! ♥

Time again. . . .

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to sit still and knit. This past month has been all about refocusing and getting back into a groove. Any groove. Knitting is beginning to save me, and focus my thoughts.

The socks I’m finishing were started as a test knit for a friend, Natalia Marek at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/antimony-designs. She calls them Water Rescue Socks.

almost finished!

The yarn is from Mountain Colors Bearfoot and is a lovely multi colored skein. I love the autumn colors it bears. Some, when seen in good light seem to accent and stand out.

I’m planning to finish some WIPs and UFOs while I’m figuring out my next Life step. This is probably a good strategy as it will keep me focused and on task with goals and landmarks as I finish each one. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Neglected Home and Family. Turning Heels and Corners. Reinventing Self Again.

That’s a mouthful, but I never multi task just one thing. I’m bound and determined to finish the Water Rescue Socks that Natalia designed. It’s been over a year since starting and after the first one was done, I let it slide. Just turned the heel and am going to push through. There are other UFOs too that I hope to finish so I can start on a Sweater KAL with some friends this month on ravelry. I may not finish but the hope is there.

Turning heels and turning corners means I’ve resigned from my winery job. Too many hours added up. Not  much done around the homestead either. Hubby now has been employed for a few months, so I can release the angst of taking every available hour given. I just overdid it and should’ve known better but the rose colored glasses wouldn’t let me see. Blinded me actually.

Now back to bifocals when reading charts! and. . . looking for what’s next. Perhaps the circus. heeeee. I’m calling myself (as some have called me in the past) Rennaisance Woman. It’s fitting as I’ve done just about everything under the sun and still plan to continue trying new and wonderful things. Getting the mojo on soon I hope to go out for another adventure. This time – with balance.

Hugs to all and keep knitting!

~antsinthepantsAnne™

Popsicle Toes iz always Froze.

Yes, I wear socks to bed year round. My feets are COLD! Can’t help that. I can wear sandals all day in the summer but bedtime calls for comfort and warmer than body temp. If you have access to some ‘old’ music. Check out Michael Franks : Popsicle Toes. Cute and nice harmonics.

Two completed Summer Sox

Finished are the Cookie A. Summer Sox that were offered as a free pattern. I used a German sock yarn purchased about a decade ago in Michigan – during a ski trip. Finally am using some of my Stash. . . . It’s superwash and multi colored, albeit pastels. Some of you don’t like that, but for me, it suited the pattern name – being cooler colors, and since it was a wool, that cancelled out my concern about knitting wools in the summer! Don’t even ask how this mind works!!! I just knew I’d wear them.

katchen euphoria

Apparently, my cats like them too. Wool fiends. They take them off the bed and drag them around like a mother cat with a kitten by the scruff. Too funny. I find the socks in the living room when I’m home again. . . . not where I left them!

I did not block them but put them on just as soon as the last kitchner was done and ends all woven in. I’ve worn them many times and washed them too in the washing machine (sacriledge!!!) because they were super wash woolens. They are only slightly fuzzier and the pattern still shines through. Just the sock for my feetsies year round under the covers!

Oh, and I WILL wear them around without the cover of sheets. Just look down at my feet someday this Fall or Winter. You’ll see them! I’m happy to show off. They were fun.

Variation of a pattern and the challenges I’ve caused for myself

I told you earlier I had knitter’s ADD (KADD)!

A few weeks ago, I was in Borders just browsing and couldn’t help but look at what was on the knitting mag rack. Knitter’s magazine #95, Summer 09 was shouting out ‘Buy Me! Buy Me!’

My ears are attuned to all things yarny and knitterly. ;D I sat at the back with a coffee shake and browsed from cover to cover but kept coming back to the pink caplet on the front cover. Purchased the mag. Done.

I just HAD to try it. The pattern was wonderful, but PINK? not. I decided to raid my stash and discover if I could use something up. After all, I”ve got to go into the next karmic level to use it all. I found some great variagated wool that I believe Mom gave me, and also some great teal yarn. . . . which turned out to be orlon. Selection made. Done.

The colors worked so well together I couldn’t not use them together to make the guage work. The pattern called for Super Bulky. My challenge had begun. Blending NOT pink yarns of different fibers. Done.

Now, having KADD, there were no longer any circulars available and I didn’t want to drive out just for that. I found my US 13 straights and made a mental note to get something off the needles (yeah right) or purchase what I needed later for the shoulders portion of the pattern. Done.

Not one to follow exactly all of the pattern all of the time, I decided to add another cable. I thought I could use the coverage! I’m not that big, but the length needed to be just a titsch longer. . . Done.

I figured out the charting and got about 12 inches knit. Wow, love how fast a larger needle makes the progress appear! I’ve picked up and set down several times in between other projects. It’s a fun one. I’m not ready to figure out the shoulders. Have to graft the base first whenever I complete it: 44″ circumference may take awhile. But have theorized a potential color/yarn change for the shoulders as well as a split collar I can use a shawl pin on too. Still processing those ideas, so NOT done. . . . yet.

On to ravelry.com to post my project on my personal project pages. What? The pattern was so new, no one had written up a page for reference. I decided to do as requested and quoted the magazine’s descriptions and specifications, but left the photo blank. Afterall, the picture was from the magazine, and mine was not pink! But, Pattern reference: Done.

Just the other day (July 20) I got a message in my ravelry mail that they wanted to use one of my progress pics for the photo on the main pattern page! WHOOT. That’s so cool. I”m hitting landmarks this year. ;D

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hott-pink-shrug

Can you say – crazy? I say designer. But making beauty out of knots has always been fun for me. I’ll keep you posted. My challenges keep me hopping but life could be very vanilla otherwise. ♥ Maybe by sometime in September or October I can repost and officially say: DONE!

Keep on knitting dudes/dudettes.

~antsinthepantsAnne™

Mine Hut er hat drei ecken. … humm along!

Just kidding. An old German song I learned in 2nd grade.  

       

Here are the hats I entered . . . . .  . the pics are not professional and quickly staged, so pardon me for that. The deadline was fast and furious.

 

 

And now, I’ll be singing in German all day too. It’s called guerilla song plants. heeeee. Let me know if you caught it too. . . .

Will Enter Will Hope and May be Published . . . .

Got a personal (well group mail) message from Annie Modesitt because we’re ‘Friends’ on Ravelry.com. She’s modeknit there. She is leading a contest and request for submissions for http://1000fabulousknithats.com/ and is looking for photos of inspired designs, original designs, and pictures of anyone else’s designs that were done well. The deadline is July 1 though. I’m going to re-photo my baby hats but my kids are too big now. If you see a crazed redhead lurking after babies, you’ll know it’s me. heeeeeee! Also working on a new design, so this is my chance for publication in a book! So Cool. You never know when a knitter will make your day. ;D

~antsinthepantsAnne™

Tis Better to Gift than to Receive

mitt malabrigo lime

After lingering on Etsy during these warmer months, I made a well designated decision to gift two pair of fingerless gloves to some lifelong friends. One is my college roommate (not the dorm, but several rentals) and the other is her husband.

Jay

 

 

 

We reconnected with Jay at least when he drove through with his son on the way to a Summer stint with the Student Conservation Corps.

many finger tubes

I wouldn’t knit a boyfriend a sweater unless it was LOVE, but fingerless gloves for a couple of great friends, that’s worth doing. I can always make more, and my selling record has been good – if the item has been seasonal. Working on more for the Fall as well as hopefully getting more off the ground that I’ve planned in other venues. Jay said they would certainly use them.

Hemp Hands

 

It doesn’t matter the hardships now. My sense of giving has not diminished and in many ways that is a gift in itself. ♥

Now, if I could just clone myself!