With fair week last week, not a lot was done around here that didn't have to do with the fair. Besides it being a busy week for us normally, we had very few volunteers at our neighborhood booth, so it was basically our family and another family working the booth with a few other people coming in to help when they could. It was exhausting. I'm just recovering from it, actually.

The project bag would have been finished, except I found a dropped stitch more than 16 rounds down, and it was just too tight to drop down and put it back in place. So, I had to frog a little, and now I'm almost back to where I was before.

Though I haven't finished the coffee cozy for Rich, it is still in my project rotation. I'm hoping to have it finished by next weekend or the week after.

I think I read exactly one page in the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, sadly. We were just running all the time. I have been listening to Hercule Poirot short stories that Rich plays at night, though.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 5:33 PM 0 comments

This is an almost FO. In fact, it is so close, it might be finished by the end of the day today. It was not only supposed to be finished, but I had planned to have the pattern written and at the editor's already, but I think we are about two weeks from that. Alas. However, I am happy with it. It is a fun, little project and I have designed it to be two different sizes. Watch this space for information on the pattern.

We are in the last few days of the Around the World Stitch Along, and because of the turmoil in our lives, I haven't finished knitting my first project, let alone a second. It is a delightful project, and one I still want to complete, so you will see it here. I think it will be perfect for Rich at work.

Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge is nearly finished! I should finish it today or tomorrow, and next week will have a bit of a review for you!

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:07 AM 0 comments

The coffee cozy has been put in a brief time out. I don't have the bandwidth to focus on the stitch pattern somehow. I think I will pull it out again for my sit and stitch. However, I've picked up Keese again, and though I didn't follow my own instructions and had to correct an error, it is pretty close to finished now. The goal is to have it written for two bag sizes and use the reverse colors on the larger size.

I really thought I would be finished with the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge by now, but instead I read Recognizing the Stranger, and finished that. Except for where she kind of has to insert her other political views (which are not surprising to me, but means that a lot of the people who really could use her perspective will have an easy way to dismiss her argument), I really thought the lecture was quite good and framed this argument in a way I had not heard/read before.

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:55 AM 0 comments

I wanted to knit a lot more this weekend than I did. However, Rich wanted to give me a birthday weekend with nobody to carry, as he said. We filled it with excellent food and cooking demonstrations at the Bite of Seattle (two days before the shooting, and we are praying for all the victims), a gorgeous day of dancing salsa and bachata on Alki beach, a phenomenal meal at Driftwood, walking on the beach, quiet conversation, raucous laughter, and lots of rest. It really was what I needed after the past five months we've been enduring. So, I don't really have a progress photo for you.

However, I do have a new pattern for you that is a great quick project for the summer, as a card or framed picture for a special occasion. A beta knitter even made it as a face cloth. Warda is available on PayHip, Ravelry, and will shortly be available on LoveCrafts. As an introductory incentive, there is a coupon code, valid on both PayHip and Ravelry, WardaIntro, for 25% off the price through the end of the day August 5, 2026. Also, for the next couple days, as my 50th birthday gift to you, you can use the code HalfaCentury on both PayHip and Ravelry to receive 50% off of ONE pattern available for individual sale. That coupon is available through the end of the day, July 31, 2026.

Though I only got into the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge for another few pages, I finished Last Wool and Testament!

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Patterns, Romance and Relationship, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 6:27 PM 0 comments

I am basically finished with the base on the coffee cozy, but now I am a little worried I won't have enough yarn to finish it. I might have a UFO that I wanted to frog anyway in this yarn, though. If I can find that, I will be fine.

There should be a lot of knitting time for my birthday, because we are going to get quite a bit of driving when we go dancing. I'm super excited for the dance and the time with Rich in the car while I knit and we talk (and he drives).

Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge is sitting on my nightstand, but I am hoping to get inside it tonight. I'm nearly finished with Last Wool and Testament, which is another happy, little, knitting murder and I'm waiting for the library to bring me Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle. I started reading the series before Rich, and now he is ahead of me in this book because he listens to it and got the audio version quicker than I did the print version.

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Birthday, Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, Romance and Relationship, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:50 PM 0 comments

The base of the Margaret Tie-Top Tea Cosy is nearly finished, and I think once I get past the basic part of this, the rest of the cozy will go relatively quickly. I hope to have it finished by the end of next week. I want to have this ready for Rich to use with his coffee press at work, since he has to leave it so often. It would have been lovely to have it completed today, which is the 32nd anniversary of our first meeting, but alas, it will be my project with me when we get dinner.

Unfortunately, I had to back track a little on Keese, but it should be correct and on its way in a day or so.

I've been able to read a little more lately, and I think I can finish Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge within the week or by next week, at least. I've read two books since last week. First, I finished Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha, which was exactly what I needed, a light, fun, and silly story.

I also read The Jinn Daughter which is a fairy tale told in the style of the traditional hakawati stories. First, the negative, I wish the author had not chosen to use scatalogical language in the story at all. It was one word, repeated only four or five times in the entire book, but it was so out of place with the rest of the story that it drew you as the reader out from being a participant to being an outsider. She could have used the Arabic word, which would have gotten the point across without the vulgarity, as she did with many other words (not vulgar or crass, just words like nahr instead of river and mote instead of death, etc.). It's not even the word itself that bothers me, but its entire lack of necessity. It had no place in the story - it was just sprinkled in for some reason. Now, the wonderful, the author examines the question: What story would your life tell? This is not the same as what is your life story, and she shows this different question throughout the book and causes the reader to ask the question of herself, as well. I love the use of Arabic storytelling. I love her inclusion of Arabic words instead of trying to find a close approximation in English. I love that she eventually includes kan, كان ياما كان (ya ma kan), the once upon a time of all Arab fairy tales; It was, or it wasn't. Ultimately, this is a fairy tale about motherhood. Like all fairy tales, the monsters aren't real, but the fears are. Rania Hanna is a neuroscientist, and her story is intelligently written. I do not know if she plans to write more fiction, but I hope she does.

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:21 AM 0 comments

This design was sparked by some remarks in the SAL last year and inspired by designs I saw while in Saudi Arabia, and I'm hoping to have it ready to release before the SAL is over this year.

I'm also making Rich a little coffee press cozy for his coffee at work. The Margaret Tie-Top Tea Cosy is one of the delightful designs from my fellows designers. I love the construction she uses, and if you know me, you know I am a sucker for interesting construction.

Not much progress in Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, but I am about two thirds of the way through Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha. I did, indeed, finish The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield last week. The author managed to keep most of her modernisms out, which is an improvement, but explained the Bingleys and Netherfield, as though the people reading this book weren't doing so because they already love Jane Austen stories, and then created three new sisters for Mr. Bingley. That is insupportable. The stories are still delightful, so I shake my head and roll my eyes a little at the author's ideas of what needs to be changed/added to these people and places and move along.

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:42 PM 0 comments

The Around the World Stitch Along is here! I am looking over projects to make over the next six weeks. That yarn up there is a pile of possibilities. I'm narrowing down my choices right now.

Do you want to make a cute little greeting card using lace weight yarn? Please e-mail me, and I will send you the information to beta knit this quick design.

Since I'm attacking Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge at the rapid rate of half or one page every few nights, I may finish by the end of the year. However, I finished Salt Houses and found it beautifully written. There is more profanity and vulgarity in the language of the characters than I would like, but it is understandable in most cases. The only sexuality in it is pertinent to the story, and not done pornographically. I started Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha, but The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield arrived for me from the library, so I think I'm hopping to that.

As I said, the Around the World Stitch Along on Ravelry has begun! I have a sale bundle of patterns on both Ravelry and PayHip that are 25% off with the coupon code SAL2026 through the end of the day, PDT, July 7, 2026. Our event goes through August 14, 2026, though, and we have 34 designers, from 16 countries and five continents, thousands of amazing patterns, and loads of crafting fun! This is the first year we have approached equal amounts of knit and crochet patterns, which thrills us.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 1:29 PM 0 comments

I started this sweater at the end of March. I was hoping it would be completed at the end of May, or at least by the end of June. There is most of a sleeve. Life is still a bit hard right now. Even knitting is hard right now. Not because it is actually difficult, but because it is difficult to focus, to sit still and do anything. However, I love this sleeve, and I will love the sweater. Whenever I finish it.

In the meantime, I have basically given up on challenging reading, for much the same reason. So, instead, I read another light, happy, little murder, A Dark and Stormy Knit. I didn't love that I picked the killer in the first third of the book. My next book will either be the next in this series or the next Mrs. Pollifax.

We are already chatting in the Around the World Stitch Along group on Ravelry and the participating designer list will be published next week! I hope you can join us.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:29 PM 2 comments

I'm past the decorative part of the sleeve on my vintage inspired top. There are only about three inches before shaping the sleeve cap. It's taken far too long to do far too little, but progress is progress. This week was at least as busy as last week, because our granddaughters' aunt and uncle are expecting a baby, and we are helping them. We're still trucking along in our challenges and doing the next right thing. We are in prayer for a lot of people right now and can use a lot of prayer.

Beacuse life got busier again these past couple weeks, I've read about a page in the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge, and that is it. That is not exactly true, but it's been a page here and there in everything.

I am working behind the scenes on the Around the World Stitch Along, and we kick things off in less than two weeks! I hope you are able to join in the fun with us.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:45 PM 0 comments

Life has gotten a lot harder for us recently. There is progress being made, but it is gut wrenching and slow and we're all feeling it now. So, I've blocked Warda, tried to start a new one and ran out of yarn. I still haven't woven in the ends on Nisseet. Though I really wanted to have Warda ready for publication a month ago, I think it needs to wait until my mind is in a place that I can handle it. I wanted to have it ready for this year's Around the World Stitch Along, and it will be, but not in time for the first week of it.

Speaking of which, there is still a little time to sign up for the Stitch Along as a participating designer. There is one day left for sign ups, so go on Ravelry to check out the main group and find the planning group or contact an admin. You can also check out our Instagram account for more information. We are especially looking for crochet designers. The crafters will have their chance in a couple weeks, but I will say that we are starting the conversation run up to cast on day.

We've had a lot of sleepless nights. However, that means I got to read more in Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge than I have been. I also finished The Girls of Good Fortune. I really enjoyed the book. Having grown up in Oregon, and knowing the places she referred to in the book made it even better. There were three things I wish she hadn't done, however. If you have paid attention to my criticisms of writers here, you will know that I abhor modernisms in historical books. The author used the words verbiage and impactful (and don't get me started on impactful as a word, anyway). In the 1880s. She also used the word racist, which nobody used then. Even when people were describing what we call racism, they called it racialism and being a racialist. Of course, there had to be modern social politics in there, as well. It wasn't even a natural part of the story, just there to have it. It's like there is someone at modern publishing houses is counting how much of modern morality is in the books before they can be published. However, it is a well written story. She researched the events well, and wove them together with the fictional characters beautifully. I will read more of her books.

I was too late to link to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Family, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:29 AM 0 comments

The knitting on the first tree garland is complete, but I still need to block and string them for a garland. I probably won't put it all together until I am finished with the second set of trees, because I am not sure if I want two separate color schemes or to alternate the trees on each garland.

I've also finished a scrappy crocheted basket that will be a gift, as well. Even though I should be working on one of three or four designs right now, I have taken a break and I'm working a bit more on the baptismal gown, which is so close to being finished. I kind of want to get enough progress made that it can be my weekend project again, and still finish it within the month or so.

The gown pattern is beautiful, but aside from my needing to adjust it for the gauge of the yarn I wanted to use (which is on me), it is a pattern that I wish were more elegantly designed. There is a lot about it that I would have designed differently. I should write up my notes on that. I would have made the cable patterns to be divisible into each other, for one. As it is, the smaller cable is a six round repeat. The main cable motif is 16 rounds. So, it takes three full repetitions of the center cable before you are back to the beginning of the smaller one. This could have been avoided by making the smaller cable either a four or eight round repeat. The pattern has you divide for the back in a manner which means that your cable patterns aren't aligned, so I did that entirely in a different manner. At least I caught that soon enough to change it. Also, it has you make the divide much sooner than I think is necessary, which I didn't catch soon enough to alter. However, now I am nearly to the all stockinette portion, which ought to go more quickly, then the cabled sleeves, which aren't too long.

We are moseying through Emma and I have actually finished two books in the interim: Everthing Sad Is Untrue (A True Story) and Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food. Rich is still reading the former, so we can have a chance to discuss it a little with each other. I really enjoyed the latter, though not all the recipes were things which would delight me. I do adore food writing, though, and she tells her story well. Some of her discussions of her ex-husband and current husband in comparison are a bit too precious, and annoyed me on a few levels. And I really like Michael Ruhlman. Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages is back on my nightstand and I am reading a bit more now. Also, I finally bought a copy of You Are Peter, which I got a few pages into before Rich started reading it. Since I have plenty of other books in my stack, I am going to get back to it when he is finished.

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Patterns, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:01 AM 0 comments

Well, I should be finishing up one of two designs I put on the backburner, but I started this little, scrappy tree garland instead. It will be a great decoration come winter. My plan is to make another set in different tones and alternate the two, and make them gifts. Notice that the tree trunks are made with the leftovers from the adult sample of Jamal.

However, I did get Jamal published, and I have a great discount if you want to try it. Jamal is now available on Ravelry and on PayHip (it will be on LoveCrafts shortly).

Through September 1, 2024, there is a tiered coupon code: Use JamalIntro on PayHip or Ravelry for the first 10 purchases and receive 75% off, the next 10 purchases will be 50% off, and all purchases after that are 25% off. There are still some of those discounts available! (And if you are paying attention, there are really double available, because of being on both those sales platforms).

The kids and I began reading Emma this past week, and I am reading a little in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages. On a recommendation from a young woman at church, I also began the delightful autobiographical novel Everthing Sad Is Untrue (A True Story). It has so much I relate to in it, and much to make one both laugh and cry. It is light reading, as it is aimed at young adults and kids, but it is good reading.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Faith and Morality, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Patterns, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:46 PM 0 comments

I am actually nearly finished with this second pair of Jamal mitts, in the Bactrian variation. The pattern should be ready for publication in a couple days, and I will have a great coupon code for everyone. (See the link to subscribe to my newsletter below, if you don't already, for the earliest access to coupons and sales).

Besides this, I have started a crocheted scrap yarn basket to use up some bits and bobs of DK and worsted (mostly) yarns that I have had hanging around here for a while. My destash plans are continuing apace. I have only bought about a quarter of what I have used or destashed so far this year, and don't expect to be buying a whole lot of yarn this year.

I finished Knitmare on Beech Street. It was a fun read, and not too Encylopedia Brown in its solution. However, I am a little frustrated with the author. She actually did this in the previous book, but was evidently not satisfied with that and had to mention it briefly again in this book. She proclaimed the "facts" that "everyone knows" about how Easter/Pascha is really a pagan celebration. This is utter nonsense.

The entire theory was created by a 19th century occultist (much like the claims that the feast of the Nativity was a co-opting or secret celebration of Pagan feasts/deities), who made it up whole cloth, and was utterly debunked. However, the accusation lingers, because of angry secularists and the anti-Catholic Protestants who will make partnership with them to get a jab at Catholics. Serious historians, even non-Christians, even non-theists, even non-religious ones, all know this is ridiculous. One does not have to believe that Jesus is God, or that He was raised from the dead, to know that the celebration of the Paschal feast is historic, Christian, and has nothing to do with Germanic or Ango-Saxon/Celtic mythology. For one, it was celebrated long before Christians had contact with those people groups. For another, the whole Easter=Eostre garbage is bizarre, as that is only the word in Germanic languages (German, English, and I think one Nordic language, perhaps, as well), and that "pagan" word was simply the word for the month and season in which the feast normally fell. It is the word for Spring. We don't even know that the word refers to a pagan deity. That is speculation. However, even if it did, that doesn't mean that is what is really being celebrated (or co-opted) by Christians, any more than celebrating the Fourth of July is really a tribute to the Pagan Roman Caesar Julius. There used to be a wonderful website online, footnoted, that gave historic and religious reasons for Christian celebration of the Paschal feast, but it went away. A blog that catalogues most of the rebuttals (from a pagan, no less) can be found on the wayback machine here - be sure to check the links at the bottom of that post for even more information debunking this modern mythology, but I haven't been able to get the footnoted one since the internet ate it (there is one for Christmas that was put out by an honest atheist, which also disappeared, but was preserved by an Orthodox blogger, who added his own devotional text after all the facts and footnotes). However, note that the word Pascha (which is the word, in various languages, in nearly every culture and language for the feast) is derived from Passover. Because Christ OUR Passover is sacrificed for us. Italian, Spanish, French, Romanian, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, ALL languages except for English and German (and maybe that one Nordic language) call this feast Passover. And the eggs? They came from the Passover Seder. The dyeing of the eggs began because of a miracle of Saint Mary Magdalene and initially (and still in much of the world) was not pastel spring colors, but was blood red, because of the blood of Christ. There were also iconic depictions and other decorations (like Pysanky) which developed. The pastel spring colors also come from later tradition that is just fun, and I believe in the 20th century.

In short: Ishtar is not pronounced Easter. Constantine did not Christianize the empire, the Edict of Milan simply made it so that being a Christian was no longer a capital offense against the state. Ishtar's symbols did not involve eggs or bunnies. They were the lion, the gate, and the eight pointed star. The reason Christians have eggs at Pascha (as Constantine himself would have called it, being a Greek speaker) or Easter is because of Passover's use of the eggs, and the miracle wrought by St. Mary Magdalene explaining Christ's blood shed for sin and resurrection. The commemoration of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the earliest celebration and feast of Christian history. If Fes-h'a/Fesih’ (Arabic) was about fertility and sex, there would be much less eating and chocolate and much more sex, to be blunt. Ishtar, after all, did have temple prostitution as part of her cult.

All that said, it was a brief mention in this book, though it had more prolonged visibility in the previous one, and I am assuming/hoping it won't come up in later books. In the meantime, I will be returning to Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages for my evening reading.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Crochet, Design, Faith and Morality, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:24 AM 0 comments

My knitting has been going much more slowly lately, between the sheer exhaustion of everything we have done, recovering from illness, and then the exhaustion of grief. This design was supposed to be ready weeks ago; and then even after modifying that schedule, was supposed to be ready this week. Instead, I am hoping to have it out this month. If you are interested in beta knitting it for me, and sharing photos, please contact me. The design has two options, and six sizes. I am only asking for one mitt to be made of any of the sizes, except the two smallest. Ideally, I would like to have a beta knitter for each size in each variation, which right now means ten knitters, as I have knit the adult medium in one variation and am working on the toddler size in the other.

It is also fair week, and though we still entered things into the fair, it was much less than normal. All of my knits and baked goods got blue ribbons, though (look at Nabati there!), and my peach pie received best in class.

Now for our sorrow and the reason for our grief. (Skip to the bottom, if you do not want to read about sorrow).

Our sweet grandson, Emmanuel Nasrullah was delivered stillborn to our second son and his wife early in the morning August 6, on the Feast of the Transfiguration. His name means God abiding (or living) with us (Emmanuel) and the victory of God (Nasrullah).

Having the experience of the corporal act of mercy in burying our loved one was extremely powerful and cathartic. I think we, in the west especially, have denied ourselves this part of grief and healing. Every one of the men, father, grandfathers and brothers, priest and godfathers, dug the grave and almost all of us, men, women, children, buried our sweet babe. Please keep us in your prayers. Especially our son and his wife.

I will be posting at least one more sample to sell on Instagram, if you are interested. I am also selling stash on Instagram and Ravelry (and you are free to make an offer on any stash that isn't marked for sale, but I may not accept it), and some samples on Instagram. Of course, all my patterns are available for sale at these sales platforms: Ravelry Store, PayHip Store, LoveCrafts Store.Thank you.

I'm reading Knitmare on Beech Street, my prayer book and Bible, and that is basically it. It's still a challenge to read anything else.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

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Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 1:56 PM 0 comments

These mitts are finished, though they need to be blocked. I have started a pair of tiny mitts to show the variation. Anyway, here are the just about finished, finished, finished mitts with my lovely camel.

This has still been a hard week. We are getting by, though. If you remember our family in prayer, we would appreciate it.

Again, I'm not normally someone who has a hard sell, but if I had enough sales from any of my sales platforms, we could cover the unexpected expenses of an ambulance, overnight in the ER, plane tickets, and so on. If you have ever considered buying my patterns, please do so now: Ravelry Store, PayHip Store, LoveCrafts Store. I am also selling stash on Instagram and Ravelry (and you are free to make an offer on any stash that isn't marked for sale, but I may not accept it), and some samples on Instagram. Thank you.

I've finished Irish Knit Murder and am having a hard time reading anything but Scripture and the Saints right now.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:56 AM 0 comments

This was supposed to be a post about our trip to London and me knitting my way through England. We took a trip to London, for Rich to work at Farnborough. We were going to be in Chester, and Horley, and tried to visit Buxton in Derbyshire, and I was going to make jokes about not asking if the family were from home at Pemberley and how seabathing at Brighton would set me up forever. That kind of took a backseat, though, because we had a family emergency (everyone is doing as well as can be expected, everyone is alive) and Rich and I left nine days early, having to buy same day, one way tickets on a different airline to get home because our airline with the free changes had no room on any flights for two days. We got the phone call as we were getting ready for the first day of the air show. So, with only one airport tour and one day of meetings, Rich had to leave. We would not have had it any other way, but there is still a bittersweet sadness. We briefly discussed me going home and him staying, but he just couldn't stand smiling and gladhanding when this was all going on at home.

So, that is me knitting on the Thames. Two and a half days before we got that call. I was going to have some photos of the fashion and knitting from the Victoria and Albert museum, but that part of my visit was scheduled for Monday, when we left. We did get to go on Saturday and see most of the medieval and renaissance exhibit. One day we will return.

I'm not normally someone who has a hard sell, but if I had enough sales from any of my sales platforms, we could cover the unexpected expenses of an ambulance, overnight in the ER, plane tickets, and so on. If you have ever considered buying my patterns, please do so now: Ravelry Store, PayHip Store, LoveCrafts Store. I am also selling stash on Instagram and Ravelry (and you are free to make an offer on any stash that isn't marked for sale, but I may not accept it), and some samples on Instagram. Thank you.

I've finished Death of a Knit Wit and am still making slow progress in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday and Your One Word

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:02 AM 2 comments

Sometimes progress is ripping something out of a project. That's how it went this week. However, I have one mitt completed the way it ought to be and one back on track now.

We still need to pick a book for reading with the kids. Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages became a bit much for me again this week. It has been a hard week. It feels like a whole week happened in the past three days. So, now I am reading another happy, little murder, and that is about what I can handle some of the time.

Today is actually my birthday, but it is much more subdued than even we normally do things. Rich made me a lovely breakfast, we are getting fish and chips for dinner, and he is taking me to see the new Despicable Me movie. You know what I said up there about how sometimes progress is ripping out? Well, that is what it feels like right now in life. We have had a family emergency come up (everyone is safe, marriage is solid as a rock), and between a cold bug starting and the adrenaline and cortisol that shot through me on Monday, I am well in the depths of sickness. Please pray for our whole family.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Birthday, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:43 AM 0 comments

I have decided how to work the increases and decreases on Jamal. Now I'm happy with them and the pattern is written and about to go to my tech editor. Once I finish this pair (which will mean ripping back on the first mitt), I will start on the variation.

We finished Sense and Sensibility and watched the movie with Emma Thompson. I believe that Elinor is one of the best of Austen's heroines (Fanny in Mansfield Park is the other, in my opinion) with Colonel Brandon being a close second to Mr. Knightley for hero. Don't get me wrong, I adore Elizabeth and have been in love with Mr. Darcy since I was nine years old, but both needed correction and had flaws from the beginning. Knightley and Brandon were truly good men who did not need to be corrected in character in any way, likewise Elinor and Fanny. They made mistakes, but none that showed weakness of person. Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories was returned to the library and is on hold again, and I'm reading more in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages.

The SAL has begun, and the sale is still going through the end of the day on Friday (PDT). My bundle of five patterns can be found on PayHip and Ravelry. If you haven't yet, please consider joining us either in our Ravelry group or on Instagram. We have different ways to participate on both platforms, and prizes for games and finished objects.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:04 AM 0 comments

My two projects right now are still the baptismal gown and the Jamal mitts. I think I have made enough progress on the second mitt to decide what to do with the first one, and I am getting ever nearer to the finish line on the gown. This gown has gone much more slowly than I expected it to, but that is in part because of the delays in the baptism, leading to me adding length to the skirt, and in part beause the skirt is the same circumference as a sweater for me, only longer than I usually make the bodice for my own sweaters.

The kids and I are hoping to be finished with Sense and Sensibility in the next week, but at the same time are enjoying the dénoument. I'm still reading Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories and picked up Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages again, which is good reading for me.

We are just about to start the Around the World Stitch Along sale in preparation for the cast on and kick off of the full event on Tuesday, July 15. My bundle of five patterns (on PayHip and Ravelry) will be on sale for 25% off beginning at 5:00 pm PDT on Friday, July 12, through the end of the day PDT, Friday July 19, 2024, using the coupon code SAL2024. Mine is not the only sale bundle, either. We have 27 designers this year, all with beautiful patterns available to make and each with five patterns for sale. I love this event. It is not too large, and we really get to know the designers and participants. I hope you can join us either in our Ravelry group or on Instagram. We have different ways to participate on both platforms, and prizes for games and finished objects.

Besides that, I have a surprise, one day, sale on my pattern Saint Veronica, both on PayHip and Ravelry. On Saturday, July 13, the Feast of Saint Veronica, for 24 hours (again, PDT), the pattern is 30% off with the coupon code SaintVeronica.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:25 AM 0 comments