July 2016 – mimimustknit

July 31, 2016August 1, 2016

Philly Haul!

I went to Philly at the beginning of July. It was a really quick but really fun little roadtrip.

We stayed with a friend in Bethlehem. What a cute town! A lot of history there. I didn’t get a lot of time to visit there but we did get in a late walk around the old part so I could see some of the historic buildings.

We did all the touristy stuff in Philly – the hop-on/hop-off bus (which is a must in my opinion when visiting a new place). You stay on the bus for a complete loop and then on your second go-around, you hop off at the spots you want to see. It’s a great way to get in as much as you can in a short time.

City Hall:

Independence Hall:

The Liberty Bell:

Art Museum (and the Rocky Steps):

The Rocky statue:

LOVE sign:

Eastern State Penitentiary:

West Philly:

And last, but certainly not least, I made it to LOOP! Here’s what I walked out with:

And this only took me about 20 minutes to pick out. I kind of went in there knowing what I wanted. I just didn’t know how much I would actually leave with. I probably ended up with a bit more than I had planned.

When I got home, I put the bag near my yarn closet and kind of forgot about it. When I was putting laundry away today, I glimpsed the bag in the corner and my excitement was renewed.

I had a few orders complete.

(I’ll likely be coming out with a pattern for the hat at some point.)

Then my Philly Hitchhiker.

Some MHK swatches to work on.

Soon, I’ll be all over my Philly Haul! Scarf, mittens, shawl, scarf.

I’m also planning my fall workshops and wondering if I should have two from now on – starting again from complete beginner and another for the girls (and boy) who have been coming since the first workshop last fall. Guess it’s time to consult the old calendar.

July 4, 2016

Leftovers…

Tell me: what do you do with all your leftovers?

I have bins of all these little ends of yarn from all kinds of projects dating back over 10 years. I’ve made a few yoga mat bags with some and a pouch for my clothes pins that I felted and fit around hanger. I still have three large plastic bins full though.

I recently started a blanket with all the leftovers from my workshop projects – Lion Brand Wool East Thick & Quick. I had a large Lululemon tote bag full. I tell you, it definitely didn’t go as far as I thought it would because I’m already out of yarn.

I think I really love this blanket. I was planning to make it for someone but… I’m not so sure anymore.

I am officially on holidays for a week. I’m heading to Philly with my girlfriend. She used to live there so she’s excited to show me around. I’ve never been there so I’m excited to plant my feet somewhere they have never been.

July 2, 2016July 3, 2016

Summer 2016

It’s summer. I love it and all that comes with it – except the grass cutting. Hahahaha.

Summer for me always starts when the spinning guild ladies get together for our annual spinning weekend at White Lake. We rent a bunch of cottages and hang outside, go for walks, eat, drink wine and spin/knit/crochet. It’s really wonderful.

Spinning

It came to me a few weeks ago that I hadn’t received a knitting/crochet order in months. Honestly, I’m thrilled. This means I’ve had more time than usual to work on things I want to work on. This also means that I get to start using up my stash – which is really getting out of hand. (What I should do is have a little sale. I could probably pay for a trip. That is not a joke.)

The workshops are going really well. Oddly, the crochet classes are more popular than the knitting classes. I never would have guessed. I’ve always preferred knitting. But crochet definitely has some perks. I’ll be starting over in the fall with beginner workshops and then some more advanced workshops for the girls who have been coming since the beginning. I’m already planning. 🙂

Did I mention in my previous posts that my friend Bonnie and I are working on our Master Handknitter certification? It’s been very interesting. Trying to get a perfectly even rib really sucks – my ribbing sucks.

I finished my Icelandic sweater and then tackled Still Light and the X-Stitch Shrug. That’s three sweaters so far this year.

I did, however, get a few orders this week after someone posted the Azel Pullover by Velvet Acorn Designs. It’s a super fun and pretty little knit. And I had no projects on the go or waiting in the wings.

These days though, for some reason, I’m feeling really really inspired. My creative juices, bla bla bla. I always want to be making something. I get annoyed when I can’t knit or crochet. Someone will say “can you do that” and the wheels start turning.

I purchased this course from Craftsy: Professional Yarn Dyeing at Home by Sarah Eyre. It’s so fun. I need a crockpot and some acid dyes. Now I want to dye everything.

I’m really frustrated that I don’t have more time. I want time to design and knit. I want time to spin (yarn). I want time to work on my Master certification. I want time to dye yarn. I want time to read books. I want time to do more yoga and to study things related to yoga so I can become a better teacher.

Somehow, my summer schedule is looking pretty ok though. I’m hopeful that there will be more Creative Time in my immediate future. I’m doing a few private lessons this month. How fun. I’m excited. I never thought…

Life is good.