This week most of my knitting, what little there has been, has been making progress on Eve's Leaves. I even worked on it at the parent meeting for driver's ed. It needs blocking, and I'm starting on the leaf border. Starry, Starry Night just needs the cloud borders sewn down, I've gotten all the ends woven. That's all I've touched all week, though.

There are five days left on the designer challenge for the end of 2016. Please take a look at the great examples and vote for your favorite. Of course, I would appreciate the vote, but see which one you like best.

In other design news, Amira is at the tech editor's, and I may actually be able to get it released this spring! Ziyad (the design challenge entry) should be with the TE next week, and I'm hoping it will be ready to publish either right before or right after Amira. There are two other designs I have in process, too. One of them probably won't be released until next winter, but the other one is going out as soon as I have it ready.

The weather has been miserably cold and windy and icy and snowy (mostly blowing what was already here into impassable drifts), but that means I've been doing more reading and I'm almost finished with Birds of a Feather. I like these mysteries. They are more thoughtful than the average happy, little murder. Also, though the sleuth has supernatural senses, it is framed more as truly more than natural powers of observation.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Crochet, Design, Family, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

I worked on Eve's Leaves while we were out on our anniversary dinner. I kept waiting for someone to ask me about it. Nobody did!

The 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long has come to a close. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work, and I'm already looking forward to participating in it again at the end of this year. I still have lots of WIPs (shouldn't it be WsIP?) from my run in it, and I am planning on getting them completed over the following few months. I hope to show you more from my Interwoven Mitts, Carlota Cabled Boot Cuffs (once I restart them with enough yarn), these beautiful Pride and Prejudice Mittens that I also have to restart because I was unhappy with the fabric I was getting with my needle size, and an old pattern of mine, Shower's This Weekend Baby Sweater. I'll be reknitting it to get better photography for my pattern, and I'm working on grading it to include more than one size.

I do have an entry in a designer challenge for the end of 2016. There are many great designs there. Please take a look and vote for your favorite. Of course, I would appreciate the vote, but peek and see which one you like.

I did get to pick up Birds of a Feather again, and I'm enjoying it. My goal is to put aside homeschool work and design work, and even fun stuff on the interwebs at night so I can read more and make real breaks in my daily schedule. I'm trying to approach my work, both with the kids and house and with design as a work day with structured hours, rather than being on all the time and burning out so quickly. This week, I'll post my year end review along with my crafting goals for the year. It will also include the list of books I've completed this year. It blows my mind that I only finished a single book in December.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

Nejat's birthdayChristmasbirthdayChristmas starry night afghan is finally complete! I still need to weave in the ends and sew down the borders, but I am counting it as complete. She will be so happy to have it. I have one GAL project I'm working on now, Eve's Leaves. In my effort to work from stash, I am making it out of some teal and cream superwash merino I have left over from Hoar Frost. This is my 20th anniversary present to Rich, which was his favorite of my list of GAL projects. The traditional gift for 20 years is china, and I think we'll be finding a piece or two, but I think this one will be more memorable.

It's the last four days of the 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long but it's not too late to join in the fun with us! It's shawl week on the blog. I think I mentioned that I picked up several. I'm highlighting a few more shawls I fell in love with from GAL designers:


Waverleaf by Faye Kennington
I actually bought this one before the GAL began. The border detail on this makes me so happy, and I even have enough stash yarn to make it already, so it's kitted up and there are great plans for it. Faye's designs tend to go toward either representations of nature or whimsy, and I like the style of both of those paths she takes. Check out her work - there is a stocking in her shop that I really like as well.


Pinola by Sarah Jordan
I've had my eye on this shawl since she first shared it in May. When it came out, I put it in my favorites, but I didn't buy it until the GAL. As I'm still trying to work from stash, and I wanted to make this in green, I dug around, and found a great green to blue yarn that I bought while on the quest for the perfect turquoise. It is waiting patiently to become this lovely creation. Sarah's use of texture and color are just up my alley, and usually have a little fun twist to them.


Sun in Glory by Kate Poe
You may not know this, but I love all things celestial. I love suns, moons, stars, planets, comets, galaxies, you name it. They are also some of the only things I know how to draw. So, when I saw this, I knew it was going in my shopping cart. Kate is not exactly a new to me designer, but she hadn't been on my radar. That is a shame, because her shawls and other designs are truly lovely. I picked up her Titania shawl some years back, as well. She is someone whose work I will be watching.

We haven't been doing a lot of reading, but we've been on our annual Christmas movie binge. We've watched several Hanna Barbera cartoons, the Grinch, Charlie Brown, the Muppets' Christmas Carol, and we'll be on to Mr. Bean's Christmas show and It's a Wonderful Life, and the Claymation ones, the stop motion Rudolph, as well as Yogi Bear. It's a fun tradition for the 12 days of Christmas.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Crochet, Family, FOs, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

Just about three quarters of the way through Carlota Cabled Boot Toppers, I found out that I wouldn't have enough yarn. I'm really frustrated about that, but it was my own fault. I had yarn leftover from another project that I wanted to use, and I knew it wouldn't be enough for the whole project, but I had some other yarn that coordinated well with it, and I was going to make the ribbing with that, because the amount I had should have been plenty to make the tops of the cuffs. I am about eight rows short. In the positive column, however, I finished and blocked my spiral hat. It's blocked and ready to send off, and I'll work on getting the pattern written up for this year.

There are 11 more days left in the 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long and there is still time to join in the fun with us! This week, I have three designs to share from fellow designers in the GAL:


Pullman by Christelle Nihoul
I'm always excited about a great pattern for boys and men. This is one of them. It's not knit with too heavy a yarn, and it has subtle details that make it interesting for the knitter, but not too outrageous for a boy or man. It's sized for an eight year old boy up to an extra large man. I could make this for any of my boys or for Rich.


Tiny Buds by Charlotte Walford
Here is a lovely shawl that uses multiple colors. I actually like quite a few of Charlotte's shawl, scarf and cowl designs. There is a tea cozy pattern that I wish I could get a hold of to make. I enjoy her use of both color and texture. Give her work a look.


Aileron by Dieuwke van Mulligen
This is another great shawl. I love the color and lines of it. The shape is nice, I'm partial to crescents and semi-circles, and shows off the simple patterning well. There have been so many shawl patterns I've discovered in the GAL so far that I'm afraid I have bought more than I can reasonably finish in the near future. In fact, next week, I'll have two or three more to show you.

What little reading I have done has been in Birds of a Feather. It's a great story, but I've been too tired to really take a good run at it.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, FOs, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

If you are looking for a menu plan, I just haven't gotten the post complete. We are eating, but between the final weekend of Nutcracker, the excruciatingly cold weather, and Alexander starting work this week, it has been a challenge to sit down and type. I'll try to get it posted before the week is out, just to have a record and help people later on, but it might not be until Friday.




Victoria Station is finished and ready to give this week! Amira was such a trooper to model it in 10 degree weather, with no coat or gloves or hat. We snapped just enough pictures, and ran inside. That is why my other shot is indoors. I've started the Carlota Cabled Boot Toppers, which I'm hoping to have ready to give this week, too. Look at those cables! I tried to fiddle with them to make them better, but I ripped that out and did it exactly as written, because Em's design was really just right as it was. As part of a design challenge, as well as more gift knitting, I started a spiral hat. Actually, it's basically finished, except for the crown decreases, but I'm not happy with the first way I did them, so I'm ripping that out and doing them over. I want to be able to mail this with some other gifts by Monday. This is a busy week for me with regard to knitting.

The 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long is more than halfway through, but there is still time to join. Loads of free pattern codes have been given away and the midpoint physical prizes have been awarded. There are still more, though, so come and have fun with us! This week, I have two designs to share from fellow designers in the GAL that I really think you will enjoy:


Unicorn Hoodie by Emily Ringelman
Rich wants one of these in an adult size. I bought this pattern with the idea to make matching unicorn hoodies for everyone in our family. Only Rich and the little girls are excited about this. Don't you think it would be awesome, though? I'm not sure if I can pull off such a thing, but I definitely want to make one for the littles and for Rich and me. The boys and Amira will have to go without. Amira thinks that her Hunicorn hat is enough.


Ruthie by Jo Torr
This designer is a virtual friend of mine, and she released the pattern during the GAL. It is so much fun, and would be a great way to show off some hand painted yarn or variegated yarn, without all the pooling. And the bobbles are made without purling! When I'm finished with the gift knitting, and get some other projects under my belt, this is definitely going to be knit up here. I can think of a few girls in my house who would love it.

I've gotten more reading done this week than last. I started and finished The Fabrics of Fairy Tale. The fairy tales themselves were excellent, but I didn't really like the translations/adaptations done by the author. My impression was that they were great stories that would have been so much better if they were told by another storyteller. I also started Birds of a Feather. I haven't gotten that far in it, because I've been reading it at night when I am just bone tired. So, I think I'm halfway through the first chapter. The first book in the series was interesting, so I'm fairly certain I will enjoy this one, too.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, FOs, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

In case you missed it: Saint Nicholas is released - and you still have time to knit it if you hang stockings for Christmas (or work on the pattern for next Saint Nicholas Day)! In honor of Saint Nicholas, whose feast is today, I have the pattern on sale for 25% off through 12:01 a.m. PST on November 7. That's tonight!

Saint Nicholas brought me a knitting mug filled with fancy chocolates and a reindeer stirring spoon. The kids are pretty convinced that Saint Nicholas loves me best, but hastened to tell me to tell others that this was perfectly alright with them.





As for my knitting, I have finished Desert Pines and I'm nearly finished with Victoria Station. Both are gifts, so I am not going to say too much more about them (I did start another project, too, but I'll have more to say about that next week). Both are patterns I picked up as part of the 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long, too. This is my first year participating, both as a knitter and a designer, and I've already won a pattern in one of the random trivia games! Check it out:


Passerine Stole by Jen Lucas
I'm going to be highlighting a pattern or two by participating designers each week to entice you to join the fun. You have until 11:59 pm EST on December 31 to get in on it! (And you can win prizes, too!) Aside from the gorgeous items you will find in Jen's Ravelry shop (and you did peek at her designs, right?), this week I'm profiling:


First Snow Mittens by Aet Terasmaa
I love all things snowflake, which is odd given my loathing of cold and snowy weather. Maybe not, as I like snow you visit, because it is pretty, and then leave to go to your warm home. So, knitted and crocheted or embroidered snowflakes, as they bring no cold or wet with them, are perfect. Anyway, look at these mittens, and then take a gander at her other patterns. You are sure to find something you like in her shop.

Speaking of patterns, for the past few years I've found Interweave Knits a little less exciting than it used to be for me. There were still great patterns, but the paper of the magazine was thin and tore easily, and a lot of the patterns seemed more simplistic than I used to find in it. The magazine I loved included a range of patterns in different skill levels, with at least a few in each issue that were aspirational, and challenging, or taught a new technique. So, the Interweave Knits Winter 2017 issue is the first one I've bought in a while. I let my subscription lapse, but when I saw the preview of this magazine on Ravelry, I fell in love with several of the patterns. This is much more like the magazine I knew and loved. The paper is improved, though still not the thick glossy paper it used to have. The new editor has been at the helm for a year, I think, and it looks like she's done an excellent job at picking articles, as well as patterns. The holiday issue also looked interesting to me. So, I've been looking over the patterns and reading the articles this week.

Mostly, though, we have been watching this series. I picked up the DVD set from our library. Although we enjoyed some of the "house" series, like Frontier House and Manor House, most of them were like reality shows with people who didn't really want to try to live as the people of those eras actually lived. This series (and there's a Victorian and War Time Farm series, as well a Victorian Pharmacy, and several others) is done by a historian and a couple archaeologists, so they are at least knowledgeable and trying. I caught a food science error in one of the episodes, but it may have just been poor communication. Anyway, everyone in the house is enjoying it, and learning quite a bit.




Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, FOs, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Patterns, St. Nicholas, Yarn Along

Saint Nicholas is here and the Gift-a-Long is here! Hurrah! I am so excited to be involved this year, both as a designer and a knitter. There are 334 other designers from every continent but Antarctica contributing to the sale and the KALs/CALs. I've discovered so many new to me designers and great patterns that may have jumped into my shopping cart. You will see some of their designs in my knitting and featured on the blog over the following five weeks. I have cast on what I'm calling Desert Pines, which is a hat by Miranda Grant, called Coniferae. I'm making it in more neutral colors, and it is to be a gift for someone. Now that I'm finished with Saint Nicholas, I'm allowing myself some time to knit in the GAL for fun.

Also, you really need to check out the stockings that people have made and are working on right now. Their color choices and their modifications are great! I'm always so pleased to see what people do with my designs, and they did not disappoint me at all (people are still linking up their projects, so it make take some time, but if you search for Saint Nicholas in projects on Ravelry, you should see some). I'm offering it for 25% off through the feast of Saint Nicholas! No coupon required for this, the price will go up to its normal cost at 12:01 a.m. PST on November 7.

If you are not already excited about 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long, or don't know what it is, click that link and check it out. I have eight patterns that will be on sale with the coupon coupon code giftalong2016 through 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30. I hope you join us! There are prizes and games and camaraderie with fellow crafters and conversations with your favorite designers and new designers to meet.



All single patterns I sell are eligible for the KAL, but the bundle of patterns will be offered at 25% off during the sale.
Between knitting furiously, editing patterns, promoting the GAL, shopping and cooking for Thanksgiving, finishing up school with the kids, and getting ready for Nutcracker, I have done just about no reading except through the discussion threads on Ravelry and looking through patterns that are part of the sale.

Take a look at Doireann - Achtung Kurve / Dangerous Bend, by Barbara Lösche. This is such a lovely shawl. I have it in my library and am looking for the right yarn to make it.





Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Design, Family, FOs, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Patterns, St. Nicholas, Yarn Along

I called it Friday night (that photo is my progress from Friday night). I probably could have gotten the pattern for Saint Nicholas released in time to be included in my sale bundle, but it would have meant staying up until around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., so I decided it was better to sleep enough and release it this week as I initially planned. The goal is still to release it Thursday, but I'm having a couple hiccups, so it may be Friday.

However, I am officially participating in the 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long. I have eight patterns that will be on sale with the coupon coupon code found in my bundle description and on the Ravelry group between 5:00 p.m. PST on November 22 and 8:59 p.m. PST on November 30. I hope you join us!



All single patterns I sell are eligible for the KAL, but the bundle will be offered at 25% off during the sale. It's only a week away!
As for books, I read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child this week. I enjoyed the story and the development of characters in it. It was a quick read. I started and finished it in one day.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On and Yarn Fanatic.


The harvest dinner was a great success this year, which pleases us quite a bit. It's always nice to get a good response to our invitations.

I shook things up and roasted squash wedges and made Nantucket cranberry pies. Or rather, Rich did, because I was out all day with two girls who had a Nutcracker rehearsal, knitting and running errands and so on. It was great to see so many neighbors, and to share in the great food. Someone made the best lemon bars, they were a layer of crisp shortbread with tart lemon curd and lemon icing over that. So good!

We are knee deep in Nutcracker rehearsals and preparations. Oh, and Thanksgiving, too. So, it's busy around here. Also, poor Dominic is getting a reprieve from school work, but not for anything fun. He got a scratch on his eye from a flying Pikachu toy, which healed, but developed into iritis, and he looks terrible and is in tons of pain. When I called our doctor, she said to call the eye doctor, as we were fairly certain that it wasn't pink eye, and she wanted to make sure that if there was scarring or infection that his eye sight was preserved. Blessedly, the abrasion had healed and there was no infection, but his iris and cornea are essentially a giant bruise right now. So, he's on anti-inflammatory drops and lots of ibuprofen. We're heading back to the eye doctor later this week to see if enough progress has been made with the medicine and rest.

Today is the fifth anniversary of our losing Rayan. Five years ago, it was a Tuesday also, and we were a week from Thanksgiving. This is always a hard time around our house. Rich and I share the memorial each year, and both of us find ourselves a little more depressed at this time of year. We would be blessed by your prayers.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Leftover Nantucket Cranberry Pie, Buttered Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: White Chicken Chili with Cheese, Salsa, Guacamole and Chips, Roasted Squash
• Monday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Sliced Apples, Coffee
  Dinner: Hamburger Stew, Cornbread
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Cream Cheese Toast with Za'atar and Olive Oil, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Ful, Hot Sauce, Toast, Sliced Apples, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner:
  Macaroni & Cheese, Vegetable Sticks, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Tunisian Shakshouka, Peppers and Onions, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Baked Kofta with Potatoes and Tomatoes, Rice, Harissa
• Friday
  Breakfast: Cereal and Milk, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Black Bean and Butternut Squash Quesadillas, Salad
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Sausage and Cheese, Fruit, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Boys Are Making Dinner

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, GAL2016, Giftalong, Homemaking, Knitting, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen, Yarn Along