It has been such a long time, I’m not sure I remember how to do this. I guess I will be learning all over again. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
I haven’t stopped knitting, if that has been your concern. I have been busy with family, work, teaching, and more work. I am still working full time as the manager of a small retail store and along with that have been asked to teach knitting lessons at a semi-local yarn store. As I have always loved sharing knitting knowledge, I gladly took on this challenge. The hard part has been coming up with what to teach and how to present it in a class. During the past year I have taught beginning drop spindles, Intro to colorwork, helical knitting, toe up socks without a pattern, how to weave in ends as well as seaming, and a couple of Christmas stocking classes. It is always fun for me to see when a technique clicks in a students mind. I look forward to teaching many more classes and have lots of ideas running around in my head.
On the family front, we had a two different granddaughters come out to spend a week with us each this summer. The eldest granddaughter and I spent a lot of time walking around DC, Arlington, and Roosevelt Island. I don’t think I had one day under 10,000 steps while she was here. The other granddaughter and I spent time in DC and with grandpa went to Hershey park. Granddaughter 2 spent time at home with me and the sewing machine. She learned how to make a tote bag and scrunchies. She has made a number of scrunchies since her time with us. I sent her home with a small starter sewing machine I picked up from Walmart a few years ago. The sewing machine she had at home has some challenges that she was not happy with and really appreciated getting a machine that she could use easily.
Two weeks ago, we welcomed our 24th grandchild. Of course, I had to do some knitting for him. I completed a blanket that had been on the needles for quite some time. Sorry, no picture of it. I also had to break out the Milo (Ravelry) vest pattern again to make this baby a special vest. I made the 6 month size.
This is probably the fifth time I’ve made this pattern. It is easy to follow and a quick knit. I need to make a few more for the gift box! I have lots of yarn that would work for this in my yarn collection.
I have been teaching a colorwork Christmas Stocking class at the store. I am really enjoying colorwork. With teaching this class and playing with colors, I am finding all kinds of color combinations to put together. Some are traditional and some are not.
I changed the original pattern which is the Falling Snow Stocking (Ravelry) by Jennifer Hoel. I inserted two more Latvian braids and a place to duplicate stitch the name. I also changed out the toe. I am working on writing a new pattern to use for the stocking classes that I will teach next year.
I have the second stocking of this colorway almost completed and have started the next colorway which will not be traditional Christmas colors. I have put together four more colorways. This has now become an obsession, trying out all the color combinations of Berroco Ultra Wool and Ultra Wool Handpaints. I would like to come up with 24 colorways and make some of these to put in the gift box for when the grandkids get married. They will have Christmas Stockings for they and their spouse to have for their first Christmas together and thereafter. Let’s see if I can accomplish that.
Now off to see what else I can knit before I need to head to work.
Until the next time, make it a great knitting day!
Woo Hoo, you have been busy girl! Wish I loved color work, there are so many beautiful things to knit. I have been dealing with my seasonal depression around my son’s birthday (at his death date around Mother’s Day too sigh). With the cooler temps I’m beginning to get my knitting and spinning bug again. I’m trying to decide if I want to spend the money on a Siberian Forest cat for company (because they don’t allow dogs at my apt), theses cats are lower allergy producers and very expensive and with all the things I would need to get for the cat (transportation to get the cat here, cat tree, constant litter and food, vet bills etc) it would be as expensive as the other thing I was debating, a Golding Glory Spinning Wheel (a bit more expensive than the cat until you add in all the extras you need for a cat.). I think I’ll wait bit more, no point stressing over it until I know for sure what I want. sigh, I might just change my mind a bout getting either, so for the time being I will just knit and spin until I know for sure.