Got You Covered, A Collection from Head to Toe

It seems that the blog may be falling victim to the busy schedule of life but at least the needles aren’t quiet!  There has been lots of knitting in the last six months since I last posted here.

Lately, we’ve been having a discussion in my house about my knitting.  Is it a hobby? Yes and no, I’ve decided and made a distinction for my young people who keep asking.  If I am knitting something from a pattern (not my own and simply to follow) just for fun, I’ll call it a hobby. If it’s designing and knitting up those designs and fulfilling a contract,  I call it work.  That seemed to be a reasonable explanation for all.

FINALLY this last week, one of my big projects has been released and is fresh news.  Thanks to the wonderful people at WEBS, America’s Yarn Store, I was offered an opportunity to be featured in their Emerging Designer series of ebooks.  My collection, Got You Covered, A Collection from Head to Toe, has something for everyone.  My idea was to offer a collection that could be knit as gifts or as satisfying projects as we enter into the cold season here in the northeast.  I chose 3 designs that might suit a variety of needs as we approach the holidays and used 3 different yarn bases to encourage knitters to try more of the great Valley Yarns.

Got You Covered eBook

The Got You Covered hat and mittens, an easy color work set, would make a perfect gift for teachers and friends.

Got You Covered Hat and Mitten set

The Got You Covered Vest provides that extra layer which I always seem to be grabbing for and is long enough to handle today’s form fitting pants and leggings.

Got You Covered Vest model

Got You Covered Vest detail

The Got You Covered Socks are delicate and interesting and perfect for that special gal on your list or even yourself.  The yarn works up into a nice, fine fabric that will be the perfect trouser socks.

Got You Covered Socks

I am so fortunate to call Kathy and Steve friends and be supported by the amazing (and fun) staff at WEBS who make all this work not even seem like work.  Maybe it is just a Hobby but with a capital H!  Whatever it is, take my advice and hop over to the WEBS Holiday Catalog and peruse page 6 and choose your colors for Got You Covered projects!

Photo credits: Valley Yarns

Adventure Du Jour Designs

It’s been in the works for some time now but yesterday Debbi and I finally pressed the send button.  With that, Adventure Du Jour Designs came to life. It’s no secret Debbi and I have been friends for years now and despite the fact the we live on opposite coasts 2,509 miles from kitchen to kitchen, we are in each other’s life daily.  Knitting introduced us and brought us together but we have managed to nurture this friendship to the point where our families “know” each other and we “adventure” together as often as possible.  (Check our social media sites for evidence.) We have both been designing for years (frequently as our family schedules allow!) and always bounce design ideas off each other.  Designing can be hard but it’s easier when you’ve got someone else to consult about all elements of the design process, ie. color, shape, techniques, pattern writing and the list goes on.  We began talking about designing in a collaborative manner about 3 years ago and although we each have individual design businesses, partnership seemed like a natural progression.

Between Friends-Rhinebeck and NYC 2014

Taking off on the theme of friendship and vacations, Adventure Du Jour Designs was born.  Knitting can be a very social sport and one best served up with a friend.  After our recent adventure to Santa Clara working for WEBS at Stitches West, we were more convinced than ever.  Pairs and groups of friends wandered through the booth and left with projects to knit together. We are pleased to offer Between Friends as our first joint pattern and can’t wait to share with you the things to come!!

Between Friends pattern page

Miss Babs Kaweah            Between Friends

Woolfolk Får   Between Friends

Are you ready to start your adventures? Where will they take you today?

Themes

It seems to be a frequent theme these days (years) that time is flying. I remember the first few years of my kids’ lives I marveled at how they were now the markers of time for me. The photos of holidays and family gatherings or just everyday fun remind me of each phase of growing up (and that my long term memory is still firing on all cylinders). I have really enjoyed the recent homework assignments requiring baby/toddler photos that allow us all to have trips down memory lane to quieter times and simple pleasures (like fishing on a dock when you are 3).

Since my last update, there was summer and vacation in Washington, DC and Cape Cod.

There was another knitting design (Strié Pullover) for WEBS and a new logo for my design business. September brought 3 schools and an introduction to high school. The rolling sports seasons are constant but for their ever changing schedules, just when I master a practice schedule routine and carpool, it’s on to the next sport! My annual “stay-cation” with Debbi actually brought 2 weekends away and well needed me-time!

It’s November now and I am planning to be organized for the holidays this year. I was reflecting this week on how important the first holiday of the month is and without it, the following two holidays would be so different. Veteran’s Day. My dad (Left, Navy) had lunch with 2 cousins who served in the Army (center) and Air Force (Right, retired Major General…cool, huh!?). Listening to them talk about their childhoods, college years and service to country I was just amazed. I didn’t know half of what and who they spoke about but knew enough to know I was in the company of special family members who had traveled parallel paths to ensure our country’s freedom.

Happy Veteran’s Day! I hope you have the chance to reflect on the day and what it means to you.

Lastly, inspired by Raveler sfgwife, whose son is serving in the military, I offer everyone  15% off all patterns in my Ravelry store through Veteran’s Day.

I hope that helps in your holiday preparations and wish you the best during this month of Thanksgiving.

Rewards

We all do the best we can. Life brings us all challenges and it’s up to us how we handle them. I find that for me it’s all about setting goals and having reasonable expectations to diminish any disappointments. I try to set realistic goals for myself. My life is hectic and my schedule not always predictable, but many moms know that. Still, it is important for me not to completely lose what makes me me while doing for these growing humans.

In the last few years, I have crossed a bridge from knitter to designer. It has been rewarding and stimulating and I know I want to do more and be better at it. I also know that my day job as Queen of the House and Ruler of the Nest is numero uno. I have settled on doing small and well for now. That is why I take immense pride in my sweater design Intemporelle Pullover, designed for WEBS’ 40th Anniversary Celebration.

The sweater fits my style both in terms of fashion and as a knitter. I am pretty sure that there are others for whom it will work as well too. I was thrilled to see Intemporelle featured in the newest Valley Yarns Catalog from WEBS.

I am working to finish the sleeves on mine and can’t wait to wear it!

I may have one more major design in the pipeline and will be happy with  progress on my design goals. …So keep on the lookout for more.

In the meantime, it’s my birthday and I think I will host a pattern sale in honor of the day. Afterall, I can do whatever I want on my birthday! Pop over to Ravelry and grab all patterns at 20% off for the next week. (excludes Intemporelle since it is a WEBS pattern, but you can still get the pattern and yarn here) Use the coupon code BIRTHDAYPARTY.

Eat Cake!!

Possibilities

Spring is full of them.

Awaiting the fullness of spring in every aspect, including the weather!

Are you?

Too Good Not To Share

So while time has been flying by since I last posted nearly a year ago (yikes!) I have been busy.  Between the kids activities ramping up and consequently, increased demand for my taxi skills and my husband’s new job that includes a lot of travel, the blog has fallen off the face of the earth.  The upside is however that the knitting has not! 

Today I am brought back to the blog to share some great news! While there has been knitting over the past year, there has also been some designing.  There was the Hudson Cowl back in the winter

and now the Intemporelle Pullover published by WEBS today! See all the sweater details here.

 

I am so honored to be part of the WEBS 40th Anniversary Celebration and more importantly to call Kathy and Steve my friends.  

Hop on over to WEBS to purchase Intemporelle along with the yarn (only 1 or 2 cones of 2/14 Alpaca/Silk) and you can have a cute new pullover for this wacky spring weather!

I’m off to enjoy the weather and knit a few rows on my very own Intemporelle! 

Thanks for checking in! I promise to update on more of the past year as well! (Especially since the blog software has improved the ease of posting in my absence!)

 

Rhubarb is a Vegetable

I have a new fondness for all things rhubarb and a supplier! (Thanks Marybeth!)

Here is a recipe from Pat for Orange Rhubarb Coffee Cake! Enjoy!

Orange Rhubarb Coffee Cake
1/3 c. butter
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. orange juice
1 egg
1 1/4 c. flour (half whole wheat) 1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
grated peel of 1 orange
2 c cut up rhubarb
Topping: 2 T brown sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon
Oven 350 degrees – grease and flour 9″ square pan
Beat butter and sugar – beat in oj and egg – stir in flour, baking powder, salt. orange peel and rhubarb – mix well – put in pan. combine topping ingredients and sprinkle on top
Back for 35 – 40 minutes

…52 weeks of Happy (9/52)…catch up

Over at little birdie there’s something pretty fun going on; 52 weeks of happy.  (Since my bff is doing it, I am too!)

One post a week of things that make you happy.  So here goes…

1. Sunshine warm enough to sleep in and melt the snow!

2 & 3. Apple pies and colored Easter eggs to celebrate.

 4. A new hat for a certain beautiful girl!

5. Cousins!

What made you happy this week?

…52 weeks of Happy (8/52)…catch up

Over at little birdie there’s something pretty fun going on; 52 weeks of happy.  (Since my bff is doing it, I am too!)

One post a week of things that make you happy.  So here goes…

 

1 &2. New exercise toy and App.  Using Play pedometer and Striiv app for fun with bff.

3. Union College ballpark banner in support of my awesome nephew, a member of the team. #LLOYDSTRONG

 4. Actual yarn from spinning.  Batts from Debbi that I finally spun. Apparently the only photo I have and will need to change that to show its true beauty! Thanks Debbi!

5. Dixie the queen. Chillin’

What made you happy this week?

…52 weeks of Happy (7/52)…catch up

Over at little birdie there’s something pretty fun going on; 52 weeks of happy.  (Since my bff is doing it, I am too!)

One post a week of things that make you happy.  So here goes…

1. Yummy and easy Tortellini Florentine Soup.

2. Fatcatknits sock blank in Cool Madras, separated into colors for a new hat! 

3. Rocketry sweater and hat for a friend’s new grandson.

4. Bonus pair of baby socks found amongst the stash.  I know just the girlie…

What made you happy this week?