two finishes

  

The knits: Finish #1 , this quite belated xmas gift scarf !  It's riding around as shown in the passenger seat of my car until it is gifted. It's  pretty,  it'll be good company for a couple of days.  The main yarn is Big Birdie from The Lamb & Kid, if you have never knit with this yarn, you might put it on your list to give yourself a treat.

(Admittedly not summer knitting materials except far north or in strong AC...it's a warm and fuzzy alpaca silk blend.The colors though!!) 

I'm on to my next FINISH IT IN '26 (in which I revisit WIPs and either finish or repurpose materials) project, a Piilo sweater started last September.

The reads: Finish #2:  The Women by Kristin Hannah. Her writing swirls you into a story and the characters  in a cinematic way, she nailed the time period perfectly. I suspect there are people who learn history through her novels and that's a good thing! I'd recommend it especially as a vacation read. 

I started Katabasis by RF Kuang, my bookgroup's choice for the month. It is not a genre I enjoy so let me know if you've read it and send a (hopefully) encouraging word!

On my mind:  I'm going to be filmed for KnitStars *in about 6 weeks (early July). I need to prepare on all fronts. From fixing up my shaggy front yard to make a good first impression to breaking down the teaching modules for photographing your knits.  It will be filmed while I am actually photographing knits!  I have always wanted to teach this way. The end product is going to amazing  but between now and July...yikes! 

* I am new to KnitStars both as a customer and as a subject--and I am VERY impressed. One thing I never realized is you can purchase individual classes, after the season has ended for very reasonable prices ($ 67.). If you scroll down on this link you'll see so many good ones. I recommend Dawn Barker Assigned Pooling.  It's a true pleasure.

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I'm trying SO HARD to blog every week using Kat's Unraveled as my prompt. I tried so hard this week that I posted this on Tuesday, a day early . (ugh! long weekend calendar dysfunction!). You can find others blogging with knits and reads at her Unraveled links. 

doing the thing(s) !

 

Another overdue gift almost ready for its giftee!  In January I told myself this year is going to be about doing the things that I have already started or have been meaning to start. Keep the new projects to a minimum. In knitting and everything else.

Loving this scarf  The main color is the delicious Big Birdie yarn , the contrast color is three strands of fingering weight yarns held toge ther, one has some bling in it.  The pattern is my own-ish, inspired by this scarf inspired by Missoni. I added an as-you-go three stitch icord up each long edge, and instead of using self striping yarn I'm using my choices. It's one row repeated forever, the kind of knitting I enjoy when I'm tired or traveling or being social.

I wrote out the pattern in the ravelry project page if you're curious.  You could make a fun super scrappy stash buster.

I'm trying to improve/expand my project bag situation. This one is from BeautifulSyster  I never understood the greatness of this bag style till I visited their booth at Nash Yarn Fest. You can tie it up like a little dumpling and put it in a larger bag, or you can put your arm through the strap, and when open it sits nice and flat and wide open and holds a lot. No zipper, a dealbreaker for me (too many projects or yarns snagged in zippers, no thanks). Plus seaweed fabric print...I mean how could I not? 

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I am trying to get on board , dday-wise, with As Kat Knits Unraveled which is WEdmnesdays...maybe next week! I'm reading The Women by Kristin Hannah. It sucks you in.  

To everything there is a season...

... it's spring, I finished a winter gift knit. (trombone sound here).  

 

Dave's intended gift for last December., Finest Kind, details here.  He loves it. This is his favorite color. In November I tried to hide I was knitting it for him,  believing I'd finish in three busy weeks. Delulu as the youth say! He rarely remarks on whatever project I have going on however around Thanksgiving I had to answer the question "What are you knitting? I really like that color, I could use a new sweater)!

 It is Juniper Moon  Santa Cruz in Cinnamon.   Not going to lie, I bought the yarn because I thought it was from California, (it's not) .I didn't read the label. It's a nice sturdy organic merino, dense and woolly, perfect for a winter sweater for our climate (maybe a little less bright than below) .

 

If I wait until I get a good photo of Dave in it, it could be another 6  months!  We have a Cobblers Kids situation around here. Although we have been together since our 20th birthdays (ie. a good long while)   he is  still not at ease posing for me!  He 'll readily selfie with me so we're good. TBH I probably couldn't share my life with a peacock personality! 

Moss Stitch is not fast knitting for me and this yarn /garment is substantial. I really like the pattern. I pormise it won't take you as long as it did for me, I kept putting it aside!   I may eventually knit one for myself.

Next up...finishing the (belated Xmas gift )scarf for my assistant.

We designed it together thinking I'd finish it in January.  Do you see a theme here?  I am closing in on her birthday mid-May!  It' super luxurious- the purple yarn main color  is Big Birdie from Lamb & Kid  (LOVE this yarn, this winter I lived in a pullover vest type thing I knit in it) . The wavy stripes are three strands of light fingering weight yarn held together, all of them  she acquired during jobs we shot  last year: a sparkly brown.rose gold metallic alpaca from Tennessee,  a hand dyed pink/purple/cranberry  from Texas and a pinkish-purple skein of Baah Yarn.

It will feel good to gift this. The started projects around here can feel like they're yelling for my attention, I may just hit a few more deserving WIPs next.  

What are you up to? 

this, that and the other things!

Winter was a slog and it is still wool wearing weather here, however, whew, spring is BUSTING out action -wise.   So I am jumping in to share-if anyone still reads this ---are you there? Let me know!

 

 

In Deadlined* news first: I am a  KNIT STAR: Season of Genius teacher. I was both surprised and  flattered to be invited. I'll be honest, I've been aware of the series of subscription classes and admired the rosters however I'd never jumped in. 

 I was asked to teach Photography for Makers  in a way that I've always want to: they will film me coming along on a photo shoot or two in real life and have me doing what I do, and teaching in the moment  behind the scerns.  I am 50/50 thrilled and uncomfortable (to be in front of the camera that much). 

What sealed the deal for me were a couple things: 

1) the roster of other teachers blew me away (Debbie Bliss?! Melanie Falick! check out the list- when you sign up you get the whole season, all 10 teachers' courses. 

2) I was able to watch earlier seasons of Knit Stars and I am blown away by the quality of the presentations as well as the content.  

2)because you may wonder: we are paid , and Knit Stars makes  a nice sized donation to the charity of our choice -mine is Planned Parenthood-  and we get a percentage of sales through our affiliate links, forever. And since this is how I make my living---it's a yes!

Details from link above or the one in the sidebar for earlybird sign up (if you do that in early April use the code GENIUS20 for an extra 20$ off) 

Deadline #2   April 17-18th I'm bringing my popup photobooth back to Nash Yarn Fest from Modern Daily Knitting. It was a BLAST last year. Kay and Ann really know how to do up an event. I think it's the live music along with superb organization and thoughtfulness in pulling it all together. It's FUN. If you're going PLEASE stop by and say hi. And if you'd like a photo session, as I say pose alone or pose with your posse, you can sign up in advance or catch me in my corner. 

Here's an article I wrote aboutposing, with more info, on Modern Daily Knitting. 

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In other news: still knitting! Lately, other than hats, I feel like I never finish anything which might have the corollary I always seem to interrupt my bigger projects with quick hats or other smaller immediate gratification impulsey efforts. Case in point I really like stripey hats, this was for a friend I walk with. 

I'm just a few lower sleeve inches away from completing a sweater for Dave, I guarantee it'll suddenly be TOO WARM FOR IT the minute I complete it. 
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what’s happening in your Spring???

* Knit Stars has these Earlybird  sign ups now in the first half of April and then enrollment closes until closer to the release date ( with a price increase) Thus the deadline! 

CHECKING IN!

Ignore the long absence. Sometime last February this blog turned....20?!  Despite pointing my energies at other channels/commitments/activities, I miss blogging.It's good to write a little. I can draw a line from my 2005 awkward hop into the blogging world to truly wonderful present life connections. It's nothing short of amazing. So...here's what I am up to...

 PHOTO BOOTH AT A WOOLEN AFFAIR OCT 16-17TH

 Last March I had a photo booth at Nash Yarn Fest--it was a total blast. When Catherine Clark, who puts on A Woolen Affair, the yarn and music fest the day before  NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck) asked me to bring it to her event, I didn't hesitate .  Maybe I'll see you there? Come say hi ! 

If you want a photo session sign up in advance-- I'll only take a few walkups and I suspect it's going to get crazy (in a good way, chaos plus happy).  I'm planning to be back at Nash Yarn Fest in April 2026, too.

Speaking of Modern Daily Knitting  (Nash Yarn Fest's hostesses with the mostesses), I am thrilled to be teaching a MDK VIRTUAL PHOTO CLASS  for Ann & Kay.  It's rolling around soon- November 7th- and seriously, it is going to be a good one.  Info (and sometimes a large picture of me) at the links.

Of course I am still knitting and making stuff! Above is my so-called Rhinebeck sweater.  As in vaguely aimed at finishing it before next week Friday, accent on vague. This morning I upended a mug of black coffee into my knitting bag .  It's drying from a quick bath rather than being worked on. It's a Piilo sweater, it'll be cropped and not  gathered in at the bottom hem and maybe not fully long sleeved. I'm finding I like stripes a lot this year, what about you? I'm not print person for clothing normally. 

(The yarn is Kelbourne Woolens Scout,  I recommend it) 

 

Still here! Or..somewhere!

I'm still here and this blog is too!

Fast link to places I am teaching photo for makers coming up SOON maybe you'll join me???

Columbus OHIO 4/27/24 and Chicago IL 5/4/24

 

 Here's a little behind the scenes from a Berroco photo shoot we did in late fall.  It's a really wonderful fresh crochet collection, the theme was Summer Festival wear --and it being way beyond the summer festival season IRL, we created this kitschy set .  And yes I want her boots!

 We purposefully lit it to be as bright and pop as the astro turf and fake backdrop. I really love the collection.

Wait till you see the next season of collections  we shot for Berroco that will be out soon for the Fall 24. All shot  on location in amazing places, fab moels and styling and such good designs and yarns.

Some fun trends: more and more good crochet design made with good yarns. And more and more shades of yellow greens! And more attention paid to yarn sources and sustainability.

These three are from a photo shoot for the Hudson Valley Textile Project, showing off member products. 

I'm even finding myself drawn to a bright almost not-quite  yellow green!  What colors are you falling for lately?

Why Not WEDNESDAY!

 Why not post ?Sharing this article from the Wonderful Machine blog

https://wonderfulmachine.com/article/close-knit-gale-zucker-for-berroco-inc/

Last spring I did this colorful crazy maximalist photo shoot as part of the lineup for Berroco, my dear client.   I won't go on and on about the backstory for it because I already did! It's linked in this spotlight.

Here's a photo from my Rhinebeck weekend- it says it all!Accidentally twinning with Beverly Army Williams  

A few more details about this

- I became friends with Beverly through blogging waaaaay back ! We both had very dark brown hair. Since then we've crafted, traveled, worked and taught together.and most years we meet up and do the sheep and wool festivals together. We live on opposite ends of our small state so I love that we have these...threads...to keep us connected.

-The twinning was 100% unintentional. We'd both acquired this gorgeous marled yarn from Starcroft Fiber when helping with a shearing years ago.  Beverly knit her sweater not long after. I knit a sweater that was too large . I frogged it and did nothing till this year, when I knit this Felix , shown here unblocked hot off the needles. I am nothing if not consistently 11th hour!

- NY Sheep and Wool remains the one place you feel thrilled to walk around in almost identical outfits with a friend as a grownup, not a tween!

--Hot tip! Do NOT go through all your stash/WIPs the night before attending a sheep and wool fest because your housemates are doing a "bring yarn to swap " table!  It totally killed my interest in getting the sweater quantity of yarn I thought I was going to shop for. OTOH here are just a few of the minis I brought home to make into stripey hats for my littles, from the swap table.

What are you up to? And what are you reading/ recommend to read?