Designing Isn't All Fun

Any designers out there?  If so you will understand what I am about to write about.  If not perhaps you can apply it to other aspects of life?

So, as you know I design sock patterns for Sockamania.  Each month I create a sock pattern..knit the socks, create the pattern, then publish it for the Sockamania members to knit up the following month.  I usually start with some kind of theme--summer, autumn leaves, winter skies, etc.  This helps me start brain storming what I would like to create.  The color scheme, lace or multi-colored, etc. 

From there I get the yarn, or dye the yarn, and start the sock.  Here is where if something is going to go wrong it does.  I don't get it.  All the planning and brainstorming should result in a sock being created right?  Wrong.  Somehow, at some point, the sock idea falls apart and I find myself knitting a sock that I HATE.  Once I reach that point I think to myself, "If I hate it everyone else will hate it also."  Following that thought I find myself avoiding the project--NOT A GOOD IDEA WHEN YOU HAVE A DEADLINE.

This doesn't happen every month--THANK GOODNESS--but often enough that something needs to be done.  See, this month is less than a week to the end and I haven't even finished the sock for next month.  Not to mention, I haven't even started writing the pattern.  NOT GOOD!  I've been lying to myself that I will do it this weekend, but I know that come this weekend I will find something more fun to do than knit a sock I hate--you know, fun stuff like laundry, vacuuming, dishes, etc. anything that keeps me from having to knit that sock.  I was even toying with the idea of starting over this morning--a desperate idea that I know is impossible.  I am a fast knitter, but knitting is only part of the process.

I don't know what to do.  Finish the hideous sock from hell or see if I can do the entire process on a whole new idea in 6 days.  The whole new idea sounds way more fun........................

Random Thoughts

I spent a fun filled weekend (no really, it was fun!) dying yarn, knitting, watching movies, and making Valentine cards.  I am not usually a home-body, but when I am in the mood to play with my yarn I am all about hanging around the house.  Here's the results:

I got The Daughter's hat finished--oops!  I knew there was something I forgot to take pictures of.  It turned out so cute!!  It was a special request, and when she puts one in I try to fulfill it cuz she is tough to make stuff for.  I swear she doesn't like anything!  I will find 40 things I love and she MIGHT find one.

I love starting projects!  But I love finishing them even more!!  Since I was on a roll I finished the first sock of a new pair for HB, also a special request.  Nothing worth taking a picture of though.  He wants several pairs of plain black crew length socks.  No cables, no designs, nothing fun.  Just boring black.  At least I will get caught up on my books I want to read LOL!!

I almost finished the sweater I started in Florida.  WAIT TIL YOU SEE IT!!!  I made it with some of the Svale (from Dale of Norway) yarn that I sell in my Etsy store.  It is the Jade colored Svale.  Svale is a blend of cotton, silk, and viscose.  It has a very soft hand and the fabric drapes beautifully!  It is a spring/summer sweater pattern that I bought several years ago, but just haven't got around to making it until now.  The color and style will go wonderfully with black, off white, white, or jeans.  Everything from dressy to casual.  I can't wait to finish it!  All that's left are the sleeves and then I have to sew it together. 

Ya, I know.  Another "sewing" project.  I guess it's going to be the year I make projects that need sewn up.  It all started with that afghan.  Now I've made socks (My Victorian Valentine) and a sweater all requiring sewing.  I've got to get it stopped before it gets out of control! (Socks that require some sewing!?  Come on!) 

I have the "Sneek Peek" for Sockamania done so I thought I would put it on here also.  It's the March sock pattern, "Wearin' O the Green".  I got the yarn as a "test yarn" sample from Yarn Addict Anni.  She has a new item she is thinking about putting in her store and asked if I would try it out for her.  Of course, I was happy to help!!  The knitted square didn't look to exciting as it was, but it created some REALLY cute socks!!  I love the color!  (The pattern's not half bad either!)

The afghan is coming along, right on schedule.  I have four squares all done and started a fifth square Saturday.  I would like to have all 24 squares done by the end of October so that I can spend November blocking the squares and sewing them up.  I may even start blocking them now.  If I wanted to I could sew up each block of 4 squares as I finish them.  Which I may do.  One way or the other, I want the afghan done by December 1st so I don't have to rush around at the last minute trying to get the thing together in time to mail it out for Christmas.  It really makes a Knitter feel good to have a Christmas project so well planned out AND be on target for completion in the right amount of time.  Let's see if I can keep it going!

I've been reading all of Elizabeth Zimmermann's books, since I'm making boring socks.  WOW!  She was such an amazing person!  I've mentioned before that I am very fond of history, especially knitting history.  Her life, stories, and patterns are SO wonderful and amazing!  Most of her knitting projects are very provencial, but reading about them and how to put them together makes me want to rush right out and start another afghan--Mystery Blanket from Knitter's Almanac--or the Pi are Squared shawl from Knitting Around.  Heck!  While I'm at it I'll start a couple of pairs of mittens and a Bog Jacket also!!  WooooHOoo!  (I am outta control.  I don't know what knitting bug bit me, but I got it BAD.)  Anyway, I just keep asking myself why I have resisted becoming one of her fans for so long.  I can be so rebellious some times.  (Ok, ok, most of the time.)  I guess it's because EVERYBODY who knits talks E.Z., knits E.Z., and reveres E.Z..  I have never been much on following the crowd, but I should know that knitter's always know a good thing when they see it!  She truly contributed to what knitting is today for all of us!  If you are like I was and have been resisting the E.Z. pull, resist no longer and buy the books!  Buy the workshop CD's!  For crying out loud, I've watched the entire series twice and can't wait to watch it again!

Well, I better quit.  I am sure you all think I am a lunatic by now and there is no sense in making it worse.  I still need to post those Florida pictures....maybe tomorrow.

Misc.

I am having so much fun with my new venture! However, I keep changing my mind about this pattern I am trying to have FINISHED in 9 days. It started out WAY too complicated--not for me because I am just knitting the thing, as I go along, out of my head. I went to put it on paper over the weekend and realized that it was so complicated that I didn't know if I COULD put it on paper. So, last night I started over. Now I have to have at least one sock completed and the pattern for this new sock done and ready to post in 9 days. I am sure I can do it. I figure it takes my about 8 to 10 hours to knit a sock and about 4 to 6 hours to write up the pattern. I have roughly 200 hours to get it done. Oh wait! I have to sleep so......136 hours. Oh ya! I also cook for the Fam. so now I am at about 126. Let's see, work, getting ready for work/bed, cleaning, laundry, church, work--itself......HOLY COW! I think I am down to only about 60 hours. I still have time though..........Right? I better get busy.

I found a great deal on some sock yarn today (while I was pretending that I didn't have anything else better to do but shop for yarn online). I ordered it and can't wait to get it dyed! I will dye all the yarn for my 12 months of patterns first and then do some "seasonal" stuff afterward. I have 14,400 yards coming (LOL! yes for real!) so I should have plenty to play with for awhile. If my new yarn, pattern designing, and regular job don't keep me busy nothing will!

HB's worker's comp. hearing is coming up in two weeks. I am already feeling sick to my stomach. It's like life or death for him, so the whole concept is a little stressful. I just keep worrying that we are going to somehow loose--and then what will we do!? I know one things is for sure, that worthless attorney of his BETTER NOT LET THE OPPOSING COUNSEL WIN!!! or else............or else what, I don't know. I don't ever let myself think any further than "or else" because, well because we better not loose!!! That's all there is too it!

The daughter is all officially 16 years old now. (Nothing like kids growing up to make one feel old. Every time I try being in denial about my age one of the kids remind me of how old THEY are, which means I have to be MY age.) Anyway, she still doesn't get her drivers license though, because we think she needs more practise driving! Besides that, she isn't going to get to drive when the snow starts falling, so she can wait until LATE spring next year. Good thing she agrees with us so there isn't any arguments. She had a really good birthday and got lots of money to waste on breakfast at McDonald's before school and clothes that she will never wear. We put on a really big birthday party for her and her friends out at a lake here, complete with fireworks (of course!). It was fun.

Last night was our first night of "below freezing". The trees had given up on it getting cold, so they have already turned yellow. Last night gave them the reason though. It is mid afternoon and only 50 degrees F in the sun. Yesterday at this time it was 78 degrees. I think Fall is here! I LOVE AUTUMN! It is my most favorite season, and not just because Halloween is my favorite holiday either. I love the smell and the colors and the feel of the air and the color of the sky and the fact that I can start wearing socks and sweaters! and everything else there is about the season.

Well, I probably better quit procrastinating and get busy on this sock pattern. The hours are ticking away!

Playing "Catch-up" on Friday

Halloween has come and gone. We had a lot of fun! We carved pumpkins Tuesday night.
The Daughter had a white pumpkin so she decided to draw on her's instead of carving it.
I love how they look in the dark, all lit up. The white one doesn't exactly show up in the dark though.

As soon as the kids got home from school I took them "Trick-or-Treating" in town. Everyone was dressed up and the costumes were wonderful! Later, we went to a "Trunk-or-Treat" and the kids got more candy. After dinner (not that anyone was hungry after eating a ton of candy) the kids went around our neighborhood to collect more candy than we could possibly eat in a year. All said and done--we have 10 to 15 pounds of candy laying around. What happens if you gain a bunch of weight BEFORE Thankgiving and Christmas dinner? Then what? I guess I will ignore the bathroom scales for the rest of the holiday season and scare myself sometime in January.

This is my newest sock design (for all of the details and to purchase go to my etsy store). I love ski socks and sweaters and mittens and hats! This pair will turn up again at Christmas time as a gift for the Son who loves snowboarding. I know a lot of people are scared of "Fair Isle" knitting but I love it! It takes some time, and practise, to get the stranding just right. How you strand is important on sweaters, but crucial on socks! If you don't strand loose enough the sock won't even fit Barbie doll legs.

At last count THE afghan had 80 sts (rows) left. HoneyBunny says that it is fantastic and amazing and that the Daughter will cherish it forever. (SHE BETTER!!!) I had a very terrifying thought as I was reading my e-mailed Lionbrand newsletter. It said something about a "5 1/2 hour afghan". I honestly, in my insanity, thought, "Hey, 5 1/2 hours? I could make that!" Please! don't let me do it! It's a lie! It will not take only 5 1/2 hours because I will HAVE to make some sort of substitution, then add some sort of different border, maybe a skier motif here and there, etc., etc., and then I will be caught up in another afghan nightmare! Boohoo ;)

One more thing! I got my Ravelry invite!!! Yeah for Ravelry! I am so excited I can't wait to get it all put together. I will be sure to include links, to my pages there, on here. For those of you familiar with Ravelry I am "The Twisted Hare" of course!

HAPPY KNITTING ALWAYS AND FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I forgot to post the Halloween pics of my kids all dressed up! Thanks fiber Chic!

Little Black Ridding Hood.....................................................and Skater Dude (Zombie)