This post is brought to you by lack of sleep

It's finals again so you know what that means.  No sleep.  Staying up later than necessary and getting up earlier than necessary because Alex gets the roosters up.  Surfing the web when I should be researching for a paper.  And blogging. 

So what's new around here?  Nothing really.  I'm knitting more projects that I can count.  I've got a few designs kicking around too.  I've got several repair projects (including the one where the woman complained about the finished results for a sweater that was literally missing an elbow, and the one where the lady had to come get it and take it to be cleaned because it was infested with moth eggs).  I've got research to do for my hubby's side project.  And I've got family holiday knitting.

My boys traditionally (for the last 2 years, lol) get a pair of knit socks for Christmas.  This year I've got other guys who need to get in on the act and I don't have a lot of time.  I started a pair with Berroco Sox in a blue faux fair-isle pattern that's boring me to tears.  Dante selected the skein in the summer, and then Aaron said he liked it so I started knitting the sock.  Turns out that neither of them actually love the resulting sock (and I don't either) so on Wednesday night I broke down and bought a skein of Mountain Colors Crazyfoot in Harmony Starlight...cause it GORGEOUS!  I decided to use that for Aaron's socks and knit the Sox for Dante, but when I showed the Crazyfoot to Dante to see what he thought, he really liked it too.  So now I think I've got to drop another 23 bucks and get a skein for Dante too!  I tell ya...every time I try to knit from my stash, it doesn't work out.  Why do I even HAVE a stash!?

Now, in other knitting news, I'm finishing the first of the Takoma sleeves today and feeling pretty good about the progress on my sweater.  One more to go and I'll get to cut the steeks!  Also, I'm not sure if I'm going to get around to knitting the sweater for Alex's little girlfriend.  It's just too much work this close to Christmas. 


And finally, I'm having the usual issues with Dante's school and the teacher's lack of understanding regarding how to help students with ADHD to be successful in class.  His grades are terrible this quarter and when I spoke to some of the teachers, they acted like they didn't understand why he couldn't just write down his homework like other students because "it's listed on the board for the whole week" or "I tell them to exchange emails with other students so they can check their assignments" or "all my freshmen email me to ask questions if they need to".  Did anyone remind him of that?...cause the other schools didn't bother to teach him any problem solving or study skills or time-management.  Would it kill you to say "homework is on the board...write it down" or "a major assignment is due on Tuesday...remember to get it done"?  So what's a mom left to do when it's clear that her child's school (which...I kid you not...looks like a prison on the inside) can't handle his education?  The school that's failed to meet statewide standards for the last 3 years in a row?  Well, I'll tell you.  If his grades don't improve this next quarter, then I'll be picking up some financial aid forms from the local private school, and contacting some homeschooling companies to consider the options.  His school isn't going to get any better, and I'm not going to let this stand, so I'll have to let you know when I know what my options are and what my next move is gonna be.  Meanwhile, I'll be over here doing my final projects and knitting socks.

Breaking blog silence

How many pictures does it take to get one that looks good?!

I'm so darn tired!  This is nothing new, you say...and you're correct.  I've worked extra shifts in the last week, finished a test-knit, and repaired two garments for customers.  I've had my hands full in class every week for the last month.  I've been trying to wrangle my grocery budget and cook something warm for my guys to eat every night (because my plans for left-overs keep getting upset by the appetites of two growing boys).  Finals are fast approaching.  I have three more repair jobs to do.  I have a pattern in the midst of being test-knit, and another being totally overhauled (more on that in a minute).  I have holiday knits to try to squeeze in, and my 5-year old has asked me to knit a sweater for his girlfriend (yes, you read that right...) who he loves.  I'm gonna have to watch this one like a hawk when he gets older, lol.

And that pattern I'm overhauling?  That pattern never had a real sample, which might be one reason why it only ever sold one copy.  I decided that I needed to knit the sample myself, and now that I'm looking back at the pattern, I'm wondering what exactly I was smoking when I wrote this!  It's a mess.  I've changed the format and updated the charts with the fantastic Intwined Pattern Studio software, but I've designed a unisex-sock for men and women, so I'm having to make some serious adjustments to the pattern as I go.  Right now I'm knitting the men's size because The Boy needs a new pair and I need to make a men's pair anyway so I've decided to make these his holiday pair of handknit socks.  I know it sounds terrible, but I have to make him a pair anyway and what the heck am I going to do with these after they're done?  So they go to him and I kill two birds with one stone.  I'm looking forward to finishing this pattern and then I'll relaunch it and do a little advertising to help it along :)

Meanwhile, I finished my Julissa test-knit and I just love this sweater!  I've worn it three times already!  And who knew that 3/4 sleeves would actually be functional in New England.  I loved every minute of this sweater and I finished it in 18 days (which I know because I was totally monogamous to this sweater, lol).  I only added 1/2 inch to the sleeves before starting my decreases and to be honest, that was a total accident because I was happily knitting along and didn't feel like going back to pull it out.  I also waited to start my increases after I'd covered my bust, but other than that I knit the sweater exactly as written.  I only used 3 1/2 skeins of Tonos Worsted to knit the 36.5" size.  And I know that I haven't posted any decent photos yet, but the weather hasn't cooperated so as soon as I can, I'll have the hubby take some.  So, if you're tall or busty or simply looking for a super sexy sweater to knock 'em dead in, then go get the pattern!

Now, back to my Takoma.

I may have bitten off more than I can chew

Alex's mittens knit by his Momma :)

Today I submitted a design proposal for inclusion in the Librarian Knits book.  I can't say much about it, except that it's an honest-to-goodness garment and it's crocheted.  Two things I've never done before.  I've never designed a garment, at least one that'll be written in multiple sizes and was intended to be worn by anyone other than myself.  And I've never designed in crochet before, although I learned to crochet when I was about 10-years old and I've been doing that far longer than I've been knitting.

There were just so many things to be considered with this.  Yarns.  Sizing!  I can't begin to tell you the headache I dealt with just deciding on the measurements, and I can tell you that I'm definitely going to need help from a tech editor to grade this baby.  Sketches.  I'm not the best artist (as I've recently mentioned) and unfortunately, I couldn't simply knit a tiny version of my design and call it a day.  I actually had to sketch the garment and put it on an illustrated lady with a pretty blouse and makeup and pearls.  I had to take photos of the sketch and the of the swatches.  Thankfully, I'd finished the swatches weeks ago.  Then there was the dreaded Schematic.  This time I used Photoshop to make it, and it came out much nicer.  I'm definitely learning my way around these Adobe Illustrator programs :)  Then, I made sure to use a nice, pretty, easy to read font and to check out the PDF before sending it off into the ether.

I've got confirmation that it was received, and now I wait.  So what's the worst thing that could happen, you ask?  Well, maybe they say no (and I'm prepared for that).  I'll sulk for a while, and then go back and look at Jared Flood's Ravelry fav's and find my Quilt and Cable blanket there, and I'll feel better ;)  Or maybe they say yes... then I'd actually have to pull this thing off!  I have no idea if I can make this work within the deadline, but I think I can do it.  I don't know if I can afford to use a tech-editor, but I've got a few good testers on hand and if I do most of the work ahead of time, I can cut down the amount of time they need to put in and that will save me some money.  Or maybe the publisher will have an editor that they use and I won't have to come up with the cash for that...  And what if Interweave accepts my proposal too??  Then I'd have one project/pattern due in February and one in March, and neither would see the light of day until the Fall of 2012.  All that work, and nothing I can blog about for months and months!

So now, we wait.

So much work, so little I can show

 I've been working my little fingers to the bone.  I've pulled extra hours at work.  I've had classes full to capacity for the last few weeks.  I've had school work (which I should be doing right now instead of typing this post).  I've had repair projects, and I've had my Julissa test-knit.

I just love this pattern.  The only change I've made was to lower the placement of the decrease section.  Otherwise I've knit this pattern as written, and it was long enough for my very tall body.  To prove that I've been knitting, and to give you something to look at, I had to take these awful bathroom-mirror shots of me in the sweater :)  Alex tried to help, but I had to delete those photos because they look like a 5-year old took them, lol...cause one did. 

Now, there has been lots of knitting and writing and schematic making and over-night mailing going on around here, and unfortunately I can't show you any of it.  But I can say that I did it again, even though I swore I would never do it again.  What is 'it', you ask?  I submitted another design to Interweave Knits for their 2012 Holiday issue.  I saw the call for submission and figured I'd just take a look to see what they were looking for.  Then I thought, "I have a cute stranded mitten design that I've been kicking around for like...a year.  I'll work up a swatch and send it out". 

Fast forward several weeks, and I realized on Wednesday that the deadline was fast approaching (Monday) and that I still hadn't knit my swatch.  Then I worked all Wed, and Thurs, and part of Friday.  I came home and started swatching on Thursday night and after working on it for a while, I went back to my computer file and realized that the design wasn't what I'd originally planned and I wasn't sure if I liked it as much.  Then I scrolled through some of my older stuff and found three super cute designs for children that I loved and I'd been waiting for the right opportunity to use them.  I took another look at the submission call and realized that this fit another category better than my original idea did, and that I had a stronger submission with this new idea so I changed my mind and started something totally different about 12 hours before I had to hit the post office.

I couldn't decide on which of my three ideas to send them, so I just knit as fast as I possibly could and sent them all.  I'm not the best artist when it comes to sketches, so I decided to skip that step and simply knit my swatch in the shape of the intended garment.  They were mini-versions of what they would eventually be, and I put all the details on (including buttons and embroidery) so they should really impress then they get there.  I also think I wrote a stronger submission proposal and everything was much neater and labeled clearly.  I definitely learned from my first go at this.  One thing I didn't learn last time (but I did this time) is to pay closer attention to those submission dates so I can avoid dropping 18 bucks to overnight something (especially when I don't know if I'll even get in). 

So now my little babies are zipping their way through the mail to the good folks at Interweave Press and I'm going to forget all about them because I know from prior experience that I won't hear a thing about them for months and months :)  Thankfully, I have lots of other ideas to work on and I'll be too busy to think much about them.  And who knows...with three ideas, they're bound to like at least one of them, right?

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween.  I always have.  It was an equal-opportunity holiday.  Halloween fun isn't dependent upon your socio-economic status.  You can be dirt poor and still have a great time, as long as you don't mind a little cold and you're willing to pound the pavement.  My poor mom would be out with us for hours as we walked half way across town and back, getting as much candy as we could possibly carry.  It would be enough to last for a month if we played our cards right.  And on what other night were we allowed to be out way past dark, or be up way past bedtime?

painting pumpkins

And then there were the spooky, kid-friendly, light weight horror movies that I loved so much!  The Ghost and Mister Chicken was a personal favorite, as was the Disney version of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  I watched that every year!  I also learned to love Hammer Productions' Dracula movies with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.  My love of scary movies has mostly passed Dante by, but Alex definitely got that gene, and we've been watching every Halloween episode of every cartoon we can find on Netflix (some of them more than once a day, lol).

Later, after he comes home from school, we'll watch another spooky movie and have a snack, and then get ready to go out Trick or Treating.  I sure hope it warms up a little before then because it's only in the 20's right now.  Dante's already said he's out if it get too cold, but Alex is a die-hard so we'll all have to bundle up and go out there.  I just hope he isn't too exhausted to be able to handle himself, and I don't have to haul him home kicking and screaming like I had to on Sunday at the ward party.

So, with that in mind, I'll leave you with the knowledge that I'm totally wearing my Night of the Living Socks right now, and these awesome pics of Alex as a pirate (comic book style for fun).  I've got homework to do, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow to watch, a sweater to knit, and candy apples to make.  I hope you have a blast!

Now available: Heritage Silk Lace Mittens

As most of you know, I completed another design for Cascade Yarns a few months ago and I've been eagerly stalking their site for it's release.  I'm excited to say that my Heritage Silk Lace Mittens are now available for download on Ravelry, or directly from Cascade's website.  They did another wonderful job with the photos and I'm really excited to finally share the pattern with you!

The mittens are two-layered, with anatomical thumb placement to keep the pretty lace design on the back of your hand (where it belongs).  The inner mitten is worked at a smaller gauge and has ribbing at the cuff, to help keep the wind and cold out.  The pattern suggests that you "pick-up and knit" when starting the outer cuff, but if you would rather use a provisional cast on to do this step, feel free (just remember to do that when you start the inner mitten). 

The outer mitten has a picot edge, a lace cuff, and eyelet holes at the wrist for an optional ribbon if you really want to girl these up.  The lace pattern is worked over a small number of stitches and rows, and was easy to memorize after a little while.  The pattern is written for three sizes, S (7" - 7.5"), M (8" - 8.5"), and L (9" - 9'5") in circumference, and includes written and charted direction for the lace (on the last page, so you don't have to print them if you don't use them).

You can use any colors you like, but the design shows best if you choose yarns with high contrast.  I would also advise that if you substitute yarns, make sure that they are both colorfast as these mittens are attached. 

I used Heritage Silk in 5630 (aqua), and 5618 (winter white), and knit the medium.  It was funny because not only did I have to rip the lace portion at least 4 times on the first mitten (so I can attest to the durability of the Heritage Silk yarn), but I also had to rip back the inner mitten because I started to knit these to fit myself.  I'm 6' tall and I always have to add at least 2 inches to any mitten/glove pattern.  Here I was, happily knitting my mittens when I remembered that the model probably has average size hands (as you can see from the photos, I was correct) and I wouldn't need to knit these quite as long as I normally would, lol.  That was an interesting moment for me :)

Anyway, I'm really pleased with these.  They're my first attempt at designing with lace.  They were tough to figure out (how do I attach these?, how do I get the correct number for 2 mittens at different gauges?, how do I...).  I have to say that it wasn't nearly as difficult to send these off as it was to send away the blanket.  Maybe it's because I don't have any other accessories in that color?  But I'm planning on making another pair for myself, with what's left of my Ruby River to match my beret and scarf this winter.  That is, if I can find the time :)

Night of the Living Sock (just in time for Halloween)

Introducing my latest release for the Super Sock Scarefest:

Night of the Living Sock!

 This is the 6th pattern (and my 2nd contribution) for the 2011 round of Super Sock Scarefest. I was inspired by the classic Night of the Living Dead, and decided to knit a sock that looks like something the fashionable zombie-chick would wear.  It took a while to find the perfect color, but once I located the green (at Fresh Purls) I knew I was ready to go.

The pattern features a faux-tear and several randomly placed runs to add to the look of ”I’ve been chased through the woods by flesh-eating monsters”.  The runs were easy enough to manage and I had a blast knitting them.  The tear was another matter.  I had one in the first sock but it looked more like a giant hole and I hated it so I ripped it back.  While I finished the first sock, I figured out how to make it work and included it in the second sock.  However, it still looked more like a circle and less like a rip in the fabric, so I decided last minute to 'stitch the wound' and I'm pleased with how it turned out.

 The sample was knit to accommodate my size 10 foot.  They only used about half a skein of Dream In Color Smooshy in Scorched Lime, less than one ball of Knit Picks Palette in Bittersweet, about 25 yds of Palette in Fairy Tale, and 5 yds of Cascade Heritage in Cherry.  Not too bad at all!  If you have some left-overs from another sock project, you could easily substitute them for the contrasting stripes and save some cash!  I might end up making another pair, because Dante said he'd like a pair with black and white stripes.  I think that might be cool looking too, so don't be surprised if you see another pair of these real soon!

Be ready for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse!  Get your copy now.