Blog-lite Collections from the Web

Two articles that popped up recently that you might be interested in on the intersection of mental health and knitting:

The 4 Health Benefits of Knitting


Why Crafting is Good for Mental Health

One of my favorite things....

Removable stitch markers! These little babies are the best most useful ones I've found.  They are from cocoknits and come in a fun little container.  

Pros:

• Light - these are thin but strong metal and slide easily across needles. They don't add weight to my already getting heavy shawl. When I use them to mark rows they don't pull on the stitches.  These don't feel cumbersome and work on my little sock stitches and larger shawls without getting in the way of either.
• Colorful - Always a plus to have pretty decorations. It's also good for marking different stitch patterns or end of round verse repeats.
• Magnetic - I love metal accessories! cocoknits has a great bracelet that utilizes their tool's stickiness.  Also, I have some how-to's in the works for keeping track of all the little do-dads that I find in my couch cushions.  Having metal stitch markers increases how well I can keep track of them.
• Removable - The sharp end on these opens like a safety pin.  This makes it super easy to use these as row counters.  On the shawl below I put one at the beginning of every 12-row repeat.  I used six at a time because I had to repeat the pattern 24-times (Cutting it down into four chunks made it easier to handle mentally).  I was able to detach them easily and keep the extras hanging from the first one waiting to be used.  No hunting around required! Unlike the plastic spiral makers, these don't constantly prick your hands. I'm not sure how anyone uses them, they're painful!  These are sharp enough to pierce yarn or even a project bag to keep a few in waiting, but because they are like safety pins the sharp end is hidden away. 

Not really cons:

• On my set, the paint is chipping off on a few. It looks like the new ones have a double coat of paint, so they may have fixed this problem already.  And this is something that if I really cared I could fix with a coat of colored or clear nail polish.  But I feel like it's worth a mention.
• Cost, these are more expensive then most basic stitch markers.  To me me, this was worth it for the quality, the amount they truly are ingenious little things and supporting a great business. But again it's worth a mention.  I have found because I can keep track of these by either attaching them or sticking them places with a magnet I don't lose them. 

As you can see I'm still working on my sunwalker.  I started this in the fall for the Julie Asselin KAL.  While the end date was last month, I'm making slow and steady progress on it. I'm almost done with the first section and finally made it to ball #2/3.

Happy New Year!

New Years should be on a Friday every year.  It was amazing to have vacation before and after the 1st.  It felt like I started the year off calm and didn't have to rush back to work right after watching the ball drop.  My off time was spent cleaning, organizing and creating a fresh slate in my home.  This may sound like the worst way to spend vacation time but I found to be almost meditative.  I did a bunch of random dusting/cleaning that I don't do that often, like washing the curtains.  I went through my closet and dropped off a bunch at the consignment shop.  Also, I went through my bookshelf and collected a bunch of books that I need to bring to the library to donate.

But something that really made me feel that all the work was worth it was finishing off a bunch of little tasks. Just finishing projects that were half done lifted such a weight off the back of my mind.  I hung shelves in the bathroom that I bought months ago.  I tacked down my sewing table.  I fixed the zippers on my everyday bag so they don't snag my yarn (How-to to come).  A bunch of those little to-dos that you are reminded need to get done every time you walk into a room.  Every time I had to move stuff around the bathroom because I hadn't put up the shelves remind me that I had to-do that wasn't checked off yet.  While that seems small, I think those daily little reminders of unfinished projects is taxing.  Finally checking them off put me at ease.  Now when I walk in the bathroom I see an accomplishment instead of failure.

This year I didn't make any resolutions.  Everything I've read about making habits and resolutions always involve planning for this future time that cannot be controlled.  Making a list of things "I should do....", those promises for the future feel like things to add to my mental baggage/to-do list and most likely ideas that will set me up for failure.  Why should I set myself up? Instead I started the year setting myself up for accomplishments by actively controlling what I can do in the space around me.  It was freeing.

Happy New Year!

You Know You are a Knitter When.....

.....Your cravings take the form of stranded colorwork.

I was/am very sad that I couldn't make it to Rhinebeck this year.  I just hit a point where my energy levels just wouldn't allow it to be and it was a bit hard for me to accept.  But hopefully this will make next year seem so much better.

Because I was sad and tired and worn out... I indulged myself a little.  I have had this strange (for me) craving to work on some stranded colorwork.  I really just wanted to knit with some yarn in each hand and make some beautiful patterns.  I normally get sock cravings, or mindless knit cravings, I don't normally do colorwork and when I do it's more about wanting a specific product.

Hanging out at Sit n Knit on Saturday, I was just overcome by the urge to knit this hat. It's the Baa-ble Hat by Donna Smith designed for the Shetland Wool Week.  Looking around at the shop full of colors I finally decided on Owl by Quince. The wool/alpaca mix keeps it soft and warm while still having that sticky texture to help with stranded knitting.

I think it brought together all I was feeling this weekend.  This hat gave me something to fill the Rhinebeck void, it was designed for a wool week, involved sheep and used some local yarn.  Plus as soon as it's done blocking and I stick a pom pom on it, I'll have something to chase away the sudden cold weather we are getting here.

Temp Based Texture

Since my test knit went so well, I added another deadline based project to my list.

I'm joining the Julie Asselin Fall KAL.  I love her yarns, I made a hat and fingerless mitts combo and my Connectivity gloves that are half done are from her yarns.  The colors have great depth to them.  The slight color changes really compliment the pattern I chose.  I'm making Sunwalker by Melanie Berg from her new collection, "Texture is the new black."

I just cast it on and I'm already loving the fabric it is making.

The play between the cool grays and the warm, soft touch of wool combined with the moss stitch is creating a really wonderful shawl.  I can't wait to finish this! 

The colorway is called "Shining Armour" and it will definitely become my winter armour.

Madame always sounds sexy

My knitting mojo went straight downhill this summer.  The less I knit the worse I felt about it, this continued to snowball a bit (despite the heat).  When I saw a test knit opportunity pop up, I thought maybe this would be good to jump start everything. The lace edging caught my eye, the timing was great, and what better way to get mojo back then knitting something sexy?

Thus began the Madame Leota test knit.

Starting with a large swath of stockinette I began September knitting only one project.  I bought new yarn, Bare Swish from Knit Picks to continue with the clean slate.  Surprisingly, I actually stuck to it.  Within one month of getting the yarn, I have a great and comfy cardigan.

I feel like I got my mojo back and I'm ready to knit some sweaters this fall.

First Tee! - Scout Take 2

I finished my first real garment, hem, binding tape and all!

I bought the fabric a while ago at Joann's. When I first got some sewing done on the project bags and pillow cases I bought a handful of random cottons that were on sale with big plans in mind.  Of course, I didn't do anything with them at first. After finishing the pillow cases using the coffee table I was getting frustrated and put sewing away until I got the craft room in order.

I pulled out all those random cottons, and started with this one. I didn't have enough to do the sleeves in the same fabric, but I think I like the black better than more of the peacocks.  I used binding tape for the neckline and this tutorial from Grainline Studios.

I like the pattern and hope to get a picture at Wednesday night knitting. It's a little on the baggy side so I might try adding bust darts for the next one. I have a few tank patterns I want to try too.  More to come soon!