American Wool Series

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Fortune's Wheel

Remember how my last post was all about me moving to Austin, TX? Within a few days of writing that post we had a sudden reversal in all of our up-in-the-air plans. Mr. B had an interview on Friday and within hours he received a phone call with a verbal job offer IN SEATTLE. With the three day weekend he's still waiting on the formal paperwork but we're fairly certain that this will all work out in our favor since they want him to start work this week. Excited? You betcha. Relieved? That too. While I'm interested in Austin, the idea of planning a cross-country move right after Little A starts kindergarten (can you believe it?) and after I finally got settled into my newish job was more stressful than anything else. I'm happy to stay in Seattle and be able to plan a move in several years with purpose rather than because we have to. 

But let's talk about knitting!

My knitting group had a stash swap/sale and Jeanne gave me two 50 gram skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in December Ribbon Candy. I cast on for Simple Skyp Socks and enjoy the way the yarn is striping. 

I also have a cardigan on the needles for my podcast's new KAL - Cardi Party KAL - that starts tomorrow! This is the very beginning of Pretty (me) by Nadia Cretin-Lechenne in Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sport. The color is Del Rey and it's a delight to knit. 

Thank you so much for all of the kind words about our almost big move! I have my fingers crossed that everything works out as anticipated and we'll able stay in Seattle for the next few years. Wish us luck!
 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Big Changes Afoot

Let me tell you, the last couple of weeks have been really crazy around here. Not only are we getting Little A ready for kindergarten, but the Mr. got a job that will most likely have us moving to Austin, TX in the next six weeks or so. Flabbergasted? So am I. And freaked out. And kind of excited. And sometimes tearing up at the drop of a hat. Seattle has been my home since late 2001 and so many of my milestones have happened here: moving to a BIG city for the first time, meeting my husband, getting married, having my daughter, graduating from college, and of course, learning to knit and meeting all of my awesome knitting friends!
I'm excited to see what this big, big change brings to our family and to experience what another part of the country is like. So things might be quiet on the blog for a while, or I may write more in expectation of the Big Move, or...I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.

If you have any good tips on moving cross-country I'd love to hear them!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

FO: Zombie Hello Kitty Socks


Pattern: Basic Vanilla Sock on 64sts (outta my noggin')
Yarn: Canon Hand Dyes Charles Self Striping Sock in Zombie Hello Kitty
Needles: US #1 (2.25 mm) Hiya Hiya Sharp Circulars
Mods: I made the leg slightly shorter than my normal six inches. I love the pink flecks in the minty green color!

Monday, August 18, 2014

Saturday, August 16, 2014

FO: Bandwidth

 I continue to be obsessed with using up my partial balls of yarn. This obsession is leading to some pretty kickass finished objects.

Pattern: Bandwidth by Stephen West (from West Knits Book 2)
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in Azul Profundo (the brim) MadTosh Vintage in Tern (the crown)
Needles: US #8 (5mm) 16" Clover Circular Needles
Mods: None. The brim is slightly tight which could be my slightly smaller gauge yarn (Rios is a dk/lt worsted) or that I should have knit a few more rows before sewing it together and picking up stitches for the brim. It's easy to use up partial balls of yarn for this project since the yardage needed for each piece of the hat - the brim and the crown - is listed in the pattern. The brim is knit as a headband piece and shaped with increases and decreases to be wide at the front and narrow in the back. After sewing the brim together you pick up stitches around one edge of the brim and knit the crown up. This is a fun knit!

Monday, August 4, 2014

Music Monday

"It's Different For Girls" by Joe Jackson. I picked up the album I'm the Man (1979) for $4 last week and this song is on constant rotation.