Unwinding

Yesterday was my first full day of summer vacation -- and I spent most of the day doing creative stuff and listening to NPR, except for an hour visit from my friend Debbie. I still can't drive, so I'm always happy when someone stops by!

I started out the day by doing this Zentangle. I can't explain how much I love this Zentangle stuff. It is relaxing and meditative, as it is supposed to be. But it is also a great artistic tool. I've explored pattern and texture and shading and tones -- and probably other things that I've picked up subconsciously.

As nice as yesterday was, I really need to get going on how to get sales on my Etsy site. I am awful at self-promotion, so this is quite a challenge for me!

Wednesday WIP

I am just in love with the Garland Shawl, which I'm knitting as part of a KAL. The construction is so clever. The shawl is knit from end to end, with three sections that run the full length: an i-cord edging, a garter stitch section, and the leafy garland border. This isn't the best picture because I had to use a flash. I'll get a better one when it stops raining here!

Today we had the Farewell Celebration for our 8th-graders. I'm tired, but in a good way. This was a great group of kids -- really, the best ever -- and I am sad that my time with them has come to an end. My broken leg kept me from participating in the more crowded events of the day, but I made sure I could participate in the ceremony and the reception for the parents. Teaching can be so hard; many days leave me feeling like I'm not helping anyone. But to receive so many hugs and thank-you's makes it all seem worthwhile.

Ready, Set, Swift!

My main goal for this evening is to swift (is that a verb?) this skein of yarn:

My Spring Green skein from Knitted Wit arrived Saturday, just in time for the Monday cast-on for KAL of Michelle's Garland Shawl. Michelle designed the Zen Rain Shawlette, which is one of my most-worn shawlettes. It's pretty and versatile and just plain easy to wear.

Garland looks like it has all of those same qualities -- plus, it has an intriguing architecture: You knit it from end to end, the long way. It also incorporates beads -- something I've wanted to add to my knitting for a while. There are two versions of the shawl; I'm going for wide and shallow.

I ordered this colorway of Lorajean's Cashy Lite (80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon, 495 yards). It's my first taste of Knitted Wit yarn and I have to tell you that it is smooshy!

It's not too late to join us. Believe it or not, this is the first KAL I've ever done. Michelle writes great patterns. Dive into your stash or hit the yarn store tomorrow -- and cast on with me!

FO: Late But Still Finished

I finished this Rikke hat ages ago, but didn't get around to taking photos for a quite a while. This whole broken leg thing has slowed me down,

I love this pattern. It's a free pattern from Happy Knits and you can find it here. The pattern calls for Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK. Its simplicity makes it perfect for showing off a beautiful yarn -- and I have maintained my love of MadTosh over the years.

I love the way the hat slouches. I made one as a gift, but this one's for me.

Knitting On The Cover

The theme of the June issue of Smithsonian Magazine is food, but the cover featured knitted, not real, morsels.

It's nice to come across knitting in unexpected places, don't you think?

And by the way, there are some good articles inside!

Still Zentangling

I haven't written about Zentangling for a while, and I think this is a good time for it. I am slowly working my way through One Zentangle a Day, and it is helping me in two ways. First, it is expanding my repertoire of patterns and ways to use patterns.

Equally important, it really does have a Zen effect on me. There have been lots of stressful days with my broken leg, and Zentangling has always helped calm me. I'm not very good at traditional meditation, but I drawing in this structured way is calming.

And I am going to need some Zen to get through the last two weeks of school. Working my full schedule with a broken leg has been more tiring than I expected, but I'm determined to stick it out!

Back to Embroidery

Last summer I was on an embroidery tear. I just couldn't stop! Some of you may remember that I started buying denim clothing at thrift shops. The used quality of the clothes freed me up to play around and make mistakes.

 Recently, I pulled out a Tencel jacket that I'd picked up at Goodwill and decided to incorporate more beads on this garment.

I really like the way it's turning out. However, I slipped it on and learned the hard way that Tencel is not as strong as denim: I'm worried that the embroidered parts are too heavy! I think I'll finish with just thread and see if I have to take out some of the beads.

WIP Wednesday

I learned a lot this past weekend: Traveling in a wheelchair is much harder than it looks! I'm glad I flew out to Washington, D.C., because seeing my niece's Bat Mitzvah was pure joy.

So what did I learn? First and foremost, just because a place meets the requirements of the law, doesn't mean it is easy to get around in a wheelchair. Case in point: the Metro. I love the Metro; who doesn't? Technically, it is handicapped accessible. However, you could spend much of your life looking for the necessary elevators.

Second lesson: When you are in a wheelchair, people simply don't see you. I don't know if it's because you are lower in space than they are or that wheelchairs make people uncomfortable. At any rate, I am determined to be more considerate to people in wheelchairs.

As a special ed teacher, I certainly have read about what life is like for people in wheelchairs. It sure is different, though, to live it.

On the upside, my family was wonderful in pushing me around and making it possible for me to be there at all. My brothers, my daughter, my son, my cousins. They were all incredibly patient and considerate. I am very lucky!

And the sock in the photo? It was my traveling project: Froot Loop, a top-down sock available for free from Knitty. I highly recommend this pattern. It's easy to memorize, but clever enough not to be boring. The yarn is something unlabeled from my stash. I'm pretty sure it is Dream in Color Baby. It's supposed to be a lace-weight, but is working well for the socks. If they come out small, I'll gift them to a smaller person!

Taking the Week Off

Just popping in to say 'hi' and that I'm still here. It's been a busy week at work and I'll be flying -- broken leg and all -- to the East Coast for my niece's Bat Mitzvah this weekend.

Happy knitting!

When Knitting is Practical

Well, my first original design is on the foot:

The pinks actually look better in real life. This is definitely more attractive that pulling on a sock and rolling it back. There is a problem: It doesn't stay on very well, so I'm going to have to figure out a way to fix that.

The photo above is not the greatest photo because I took it with my new iPhone. I never had any interest in paying for a smart phone until I broke my leg. Having this little gadget that allows me to check my email and look things up on the Web and maintain a calendar without calling out "Keith, can you get my (fill in the blank)?" has been a sanity-saver. Also the sound quality on phone calls is much better, which is important to because I do have a hearing loss. I have to say that I am in love with my phone!

As someone said to me yesterday: "Welcome to 2013." I'm glad to be here; too bad it took a broken leg to get this far!"