Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Plugging away

The day to day is keeping me busy- and I don't blog as much as I would like to. I don't think I feel like I have to- I would like to, though. At the end of the day, I'm not really sure why I was so busy, but it always seems like I really was.
Homeschooling definitely takes up time. But it's good time, and I am so very glad I get to do this- to not miss out on any of my kids' learning time. It's so fun to see when they finally get a concept- or figure out just what that great big word really says. I love it. :-)
And cleaning takes up time. Not as much as it should, if I'm honest. My house needs some serious spring cleaning! I managed to get the bedrooms done- but the rest of the house is pleading. Sorry- not right now- I'm knitting!
And that is what is taking up as much of my time right now as I can spare it. I've been frantically working on a new design for a magazine. I've got a deadline, and it is very close. And of course, b/c of that, this has been a harder design than I anticipated. I have frogged, and frogged, and frogged, and..... you get the idea. I do finally feel that I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am very excited about it. I think this design is going to turn out the way I wanted, and that makes me happy b/c they don't always.
And seeing the light at the end of this tunnel has me looking ahead to the next tunnels. I've got a good bit of knitting I've GOT to get done in the next 5 months. I absolutely have to have all my designing that I've agreed to finished before October. I'd prefer before August- so I'm not having to think about it during teaching at the Sock Summit- but I think that's pretty unrealistic. (doesn't mean I'm not going to try though!). Plus the knitting that I want to do that's not required b/c of promising it to someone. Yes, want to do. You know, the knitting that's for me- the knitting that's going to teach me more cool design stuff I can obsess about. I actually bought a couple knitting books this last month- and I'm very excited about some of the patterns (more on that later).
But that's 3 sweaters, 3 socks, and a vest away. Deep breath.

Monday, April 6, 2009

2nd Sock of the Club





Warning! If you are in the Lord of the Rings Sock Club, and have not recieved your April package- this post contains spoilers!!





Here is:




The Prince of the Wood Elves




"The son of Thranduil, king of the Wood Elves in Mirkwood, was Legolas, one of the Nine Walkers of the Fellowship of the Ring. An elf of elves, a prince indeed. An expert marksman and lover of the forest, his sock had to have images of his tools and his home on it in colors that would make one think of the oldest parts of a birch forest."



The leaf cuff folds down over the ribbing, adding a 3-D effect to the top of the sock.

A lace with resemblence to falling leaves goes all the way down one side of the sock.

The heel and toe are done in a loop stitch to add depth and strength to those parts of the sock.







And on the side opposite the leaf lace; a bow and arrow done in lace. It just couldn't be Legolas' sock without a bow and arrow.

I had to do a sock design for Legolas. He is definitely one of my favorite characters. Strong, capable, loyal, but quiet and self-sufficient. (I guess that describes a lot of the supporting cast of the books, doesn't it!?)

Anyway, this sock wasn't hard to design- but it was hard to write the pattern in a clear way that others could duplicate it. The hardest part was getting the cuff to work the way I wanted and be able to explain how I did it. I wound up settling on an easier way to do it than I originally wanted to just b/c it was so hard to explain.

I love the colorway for this sock. I tried to explain what I wanted to Laura, and she was able to get a color that was absolutely perfect. I can't imagine any other color fitting Legolas as well. I love the color she made so much, I fully intend to use it for other projects of mine! Although- not in this club..... ;-)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Finished Object = FO

I have finally completed a knitted article. It has been- what- 6 weeks? I finished one sock. Natually I can't share it with you, as it's for the LotR club. You'll get to see it next year. But the point is, I finished it. I have an FO. For the first time in too long. And now that I have one done- I want to do more.
I've discovered that that is how it works.
When I at last get an FO, I bask in the satisfaction of having completed it- of having something useful where once I just had a ball of yarn. That basking lasts as long as it takes to show everyone in the house how marvelous this new article of clothing is-- and then I am off- planning the next one.
Maybe the next 3 or 5.
See, it's addicting.
One FO is never enough.
(Trust me, it's worse than those Pringles potato chips)