Who knew it would be sunny, 60 some degrees and completely snow free in Alaska?! I guess if I’d really given it some thought I might have realized that it being September and all the towns we visited being on the coast would add up to a temperate climate that looked a whole lot like the Seattle area. I however, gave it no real consideration and had visions of classic TV and fiction Alaska. Much to my dismay freezing temps, snow everywhere and bears roaming down main street were no where to be found. The wool pants and fleecy gloves I packed were never worn and in fact I had to break out the sunglasses quite a bit. In short, not what I expected weather wise.

People wise my expectations were on the money. Every event I go to I meet fun, kind, inspiring and downright wonderful knitters. I’m beginning to think wool has not only magic powers of warmth and springiness, but the ability to transform normal people into amazing ones.

I had a marvelous time hanging out Sivia Harding (my roomie for the trip), spending more time with the lovely ladies from Serial Knitters, and meeting some new friends (Hi Nanette, Martha, Nan and Caroline!).

I also meet the very lovely and generous Amy O’Neill-Houck in Juneau. She was kind enough to pick Sivia and I up and show us around town. We visited an interesting exhibit of the history of Alaska through it’s hats at the the Alaska State Museum, hiked around the abandoned Treadwell gold mine (all the pics below) and then sent us home with her very own caught and canned salmon.

Besides socializing, eating an obscene amount of food (I miss you breadsticks and chocolate-peanut butter mousse!) and viewing some amazing scenery, there was actually quite a bit of knitting time. Strangely that never seems to happen at knitting events and was a real treat. I finished a pair of mitts and a hat as well as starting a new shawl, a second pair of mitts, and untangling an in progress hat that Moxie had gotten ahold of.

All in all, if you get a chance to cruise to Alaska with a group of fab and fun knitters start packing, you’ll have a great time. And don’t forget your elastic waist pants and lots of yarn.

PS – Yes, I did bring home a ball of Qiveut. Did you really think there was a chance I wouldn’t.

I can’t believe it’s actually time, but it must be because I’m packing for my cruise to Alaska tomorrow. I’m looking forward to meeting all the knitters, hanging with my roomie Sivia, teaching and of course seeing Alaska. Cross your fingers that I don’t break my back with all the luggage, that I see some whales, and that I can keep my right and left hands straight while teaching.

PS - Wireless on the boat is ridiculous, so I won’t be checking in unless we get lucky while on shore. See you in a week! I promise to take lots of pictures.

Hi there. Remember me? It seems I took an unplanned sabbatical in August. Summer does that to me. No routine, no activities, and no alone time, lead to an extreme lack of focus on my part. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the kids and can’t help but be a little sad that it’s over. Mac is starting 5th grade this year and I know I don’t have too many more carefree summers left.

On the other hand I’m pretty darn excited to have a bit time to myself and to get back on a schedule, and I’m downright over the moon about cleaning the house and having it stay that way for more than five seconds.

No matter what I feel about it, summer is over and it’s time to get back to work, school, activities and homework. Before we fold up the beach towels and put away the sunglasses I thought you might like a quick look at what I’ve been doing the last month.

Did you see Judy Becker’s new book Beyond Toes? The vest on the cover is called Djinn and it is my design. As you might imagine I’m pretty excited about it.

Besides that, I’ve been working on some old stuff, just for fun. I finished a Shawl that Jazz in BMFA Twisted, color Blackbird and started a pair of truffle mitts.

And of course I can’t help up tinker with some new stuff too. I finished a cowl in BMFA Luscious Silk, color True Blood Red. I’m almost afraid to tell you all about it because the darn yarn is down right addictive. It feels so good running through your fingers and wearing it around your neck is sinful.  I been wearing it around the house just so I can pet myself. Don’t judge until you feel it yourself.

I’m also working on a super secret shawl for the Twisted Socks are for Suckers club and a new fingerless mitt design that coordinates with Shawl that Jazz.

Besides the knitting there was a trip to Alderbrook resort, a lumpy dog (Moxie had an allergic reaction to a spider bite), a visit to the zoo, two sinus infections and a ridiculous amount of weeding. I hope you all had a fun filled summer too and like me had enough fun that you’re ready from some fall knitting.

Now it’s time to get my Martha on and finish cleaning the house and make some 1st day of school brownies. Happy back to school day!

We just call her Moxie, but this last weekend a whole lot of other folks were introduced to her full name, Taji’s Chock Full O’ Moxie. Look out AKC, Moxie had her very first dog show and she liked it.

It’s downright astonishing how Katie can take my goofy, cuddly, muffin of a dog and turn her into an smooth, elegant, stunner. I honestly didn’t think she could do it. I should know better by now (Moxie is our third Taji dog), Katie is an unstoppable force. Everywhere she goes she leaves beautiful, and most importantly healthy and well mannered dogs in her wake.

I know some of you are thinking that dogs shows and breeders are evil and that we should have gotten a puppy from the shelter. I don’t disagree that getting a puppy from a shelter or rescue is a great thing. I do however strongly disagree about breeders and dog shows being bad.

Here’s the thing, Katie has been breeding dogs for something close to 20 years. She never breeds more dogs than she has qualified homes for and not a single dog has ever ended up in a shelter. If there’s a problem, any problem, for the life of the dog Katie takes them back. She keeps them and cares for them until she’s found another suitable family. It doesn’t happen a lot because Katie won’t place a dog with a family without a lot of research, but life is unpredictable and things don’t always work out, but Katie always takes care of her dogs. If there were only breeders like Katie we wouldn’t have any shelters.

(this is M’bali and Max, Moxie’s mostly litter mate)

What’s even better than that is how a good breeder works to improve the health and temperament of their breed. Kona was a stunning example of Katie’s success. Sixteen and half years old and never a chronic health problem. Accidents and vaccines are the only reason he every went to the vet. A long active life (he was still jumping up on the bed until the last few months) and a huge savings on vet bills.

The show thing can seem like a silly beauty contest for dogs and in some small ways it is, but the primary function is finding the best examples of a breed. Form and beauty is just the best way to judge the health and function of a dog in a short time. No system is perfect and I will admit to finding a bunch of grownups running around a wet field in suits and skirts a bit funny, but I admire their goals and the effort they put into it. Plus who am I to make fun of someone else’s odd hobby. I sat ringside and knit and no one made fun of me.

(the dog in the front is Moxie’s brother Dante, Moxie is second)

By the end of the weekend Moxie won her first winner’s bitch and now has 4 points and a major to her credit. It doesn’t matter to us if she’s a champion or not, but we are proud to be a small part of helping Katie work toward healthy, happy, and yes pretty basenjis. Congrats Katie and thanks for trusting us with such a wonderful and loving girl.

Plus it’s Tuesday and she’s still sleepy so how can we not like that.

I’m not sure what happened to the last four days. All I can say is Sock Summit is like a Mack truck full of fun and after having a head on collision with it five days in a row I needed a little recovery time. Plus my husband, kids, dog and house (the dust bunny were attempting a coup) were desperate for a little attention and my butt was in need of a little personal time with the couch. I’m happy to say we’re all recovering nicely and I think I’ve finally got enough brain power to try and put some my Sock Summit experience into words.

Notice how I said “words”? I took my camera, made sure it was charged, and even brought an extra card for all the pictures I was going to take. Then, I took three. Which was really only two, since number two and three are pretty much the same. I took them all on set up day.

Here we have Tina giving me the, “Really, pictures? Kinda busy getting ready here.” look.

Second we have the Blue Moon booth before setup. So, how did I get these two very mediocre photos and nothing else?

Well, after unloading all the yarn we had to wait 10-15 minutes before we could get to the racks. Woo hoo! I’ll get a drink and grab a few shots (the photo kind, I wasn’t quite ready for the booze kind yet). I think that was just about the last 10-15 mins of downtime I had until Sunday night.

I could prattle on for pages about all the events, my classes, my crazy schedule and the wonderful people I saw, but that probably wouldn’t be the best use of time for me or for you. So I will point you to the lovely Clara Parks (nice to finally meet you in person!) and her Sock Summit post for a awesome summary of the event and then I give you …

My Top Ten Sock Summit Moments

1) Having my name called with all the truly amazing teachers at the opening dinner. Mind blowing and terrifying, but boy, did it make me feel cool.

2) Having one of my students come to the booth to tell me my class “changed her knitting life”. Awesome.

3) Meeting and hanging out with all the teachers at the teacher dinner. What’s better than being in a room full of super stars that share your love? Not much.

4) My kids having the chance to spend a whole week with my parents. They made a birdhouse with papa, pickles with nana, floated the river and went camping. I am so lucky to have the time to devote to something I love and know that my kids are not only well taken care of, but having the time of their lives.

5) Seeing people wearing my designs. The first Sock Summit was the first time I saw a knitter in the wild wearing one of my designs. This time I lost track of how many I saw. That, more than anything else, made me feel like maybe I was doing something right. It was like getting a big pat on the back. Makes all those days sitting home by myself wondering if anyone is going to like what I’m doing worth it.

6) Meeting all the students in my classes. Thanks to everyone who signed up. You were awesome!

7) Seeing knitters everywhere. Packed into the convention center, knitting on benches outside, and taking over every restaurant in the area. One muggle man behind me in line at Burgerville asked me, “Um.. What’s going on with all the yarn?”

8) Helping people pick out yarns and colors for patterns in the booth. Especially for Vancouver. I’m now stalking Ravelry to see how all combinations turn out.

9) Getting my teacher swag bag. Holy cow and thank you to all that donated! There was some really awesome stuff in there. I’m especially thrilled with my new Signature Needles and the Stitch Light.

10) Seeing old friends and making new ones. I loved knitting for 10 years before I knew a single other knitter, but it is so very much better is to have smart, funny, wonderful people to share it with.

First thing Monday I’m out the door and heading south. After a quick detour to drop the kids of with my wonderful parents (yes, I am super lucky!), it will finally be time to head to BMFA for Sock Summit. So bring on the crazy fun, crazy excitement, and just plain crazy. It’s going to be quite an adventure!

If you’re going too, drop by the BMFA booth to say hi. When I’m not teaching, I’ll be there doing my best to hold the fort down and enable knitters of all kinds (I’m all about equal opportunity).

I be back with a full report once the fun is over and I’ve had a nap or two. I hope to see you there!

I apologize for being a few days late (let me just say technology can really suck) but now I am quite pleased to say that Marmoreal, the last Sweater for all Seasons pattern, is ready for release. If you’re a member of the club you will find a new download link for the pattern and your new 10% off STR Heavyweight coupon in your email or Ravelry library.

If you’re not a member you can still join and get all 7 patterns and the coupon, or wait until August 15th to purchase the pattern individually.

I’m always extra enamored with recently finished projects and this sweater is no exception. I love the simple silhouette and the extra wide neck. The shape is a change from previous club patterns for those who like a straighter fit and is a breeze to knit since there’s no waist shaping.

 

While the shape is on the tame side, the bright color, cable details, short sleeves and wide neck keep it fun and flirty. No boring sweaters around here!

As usual I did my best to include all the extras for a professional finish. The neck is double thick to lay flat and give you the raised edge detail at the bottom, the sleeves are finished with the same cable that is on the front edges, both the sleeves and the front are clean, flat and even look good on both sides (at must for cardigans in my opinion), and the bottom is hemmed for a crisp clean edge.

 

All put together this sweater is a great addition to a tank top for a trip to the movies or add it over a long sleeve shirt for cooler days

Marmoreal

Materials: Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Heavyweight (100% superwash merino; 7 oz/350 yds) 3 [3, 3, 4, 4, 4] skeins or 850 [950, 1050, 1150, 1250, 1350 ] yds in Boysenberry.
2 US size 5 (3.75 mm) needle, 32 inch or longer circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge for body. Extra needle is needed to pick up stitches.
US size 5 (3.75 mm) needle, 12 inch circular needle or DPNs, or size used to obtain gauge for sleeves
Stitch markers, Waste yarn, Tapestry needle
Hook and eye closures
Gauge:19 sts and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in St st
Size: S [M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Finished Measurements: 35 [39, 42, 47, 50½, 55½] inches (89 [99, 108, 119.5, 128.5, 138.5] cm) at bust
23 [23½, 24, 24½, 25, 25½] inches (58.5 [60, 61, 62, 63.5, 65] cm) length

I hope you all like it! And I hope you’ve enjoyed the club. I know I have!

Kona I hope you're chasing bunnies, napping in the sun, and keeping all the angels on the their toes. You were well loved and will be sorely missed. I was blessed to share your life for 16 years and mine will never be the same without you by my side. Thank you for being my friend.

My whole life seems to be in transition lately. Most of the changes are good, and some are downright awesome, but tackling them all at once has me a bit out of sorts and certainly way off my normal routines. I could babble on for hours about all the happenings around here, but that wouldn’t be very interesting for you and I don’t have the time. Instead I’m going to go with the old blog catch up standby, a list.

1. Sweater club is almost over. I finished the last pattern and sent if off for testing this morning. What do you think of Marmoreal?

2. Todd is now working for IMDB. Yay! Perfect fit for him and obviously we’re pretty darn happy about it. However adjusting to his new, gone all the time, schedule and the much longer commute is a challenge.

3. Sock Summit is ramping up. Big time. I’m in charge of the BMFA booth and then of course there’s the teaching. Only a month to go and it’s time to put my organization skills to the test. Go, go, go!

4. The kids are done with school today. No more homework, weekly activities, and crazy mornings. Yay! No more quiet alone time to concentrate. Oy. Cross your fingers that I can survive the next 10 weeks with my sanity.

5. Moxie is a big dog. We’re finally getting past some of the puppy craziness. She sleeps in her crate fine, has the potty training thing figured out and even listens to a few commands. She’s also grown enough to reach a lot of new temptations (like the kitchen table and my yarn basket) so mostly we’ve transitioned from watching her every second to see if she’s going to pee to watching her to see what she’s going to try to eat.

6. Last and possibly most exciting. I’m knitting something new. Just because I want to. It has no deadline and it’s not a sweater. Good stuff.

 

How can you love someone you’ve never met? I’ve got not idea how it works, but I do know it’s impossible for me not to love my new niece even though I haven’t seen her in person.

I love her because she’s family, because she is sweet and innocent, because I know how happy she makes my mom and dad,

and because I know how much she will drive my brother crazy (sorry bro, love ya but payback is a bitch and very entertaining to watch).

I’m thrilled for my brother and sister-in-law. Happy that my nephew has a sister and my kids have a new cousin to play with. I can’t wait to watch her grow and learn, and develop into her own person. Best of all I get all that, and I don’t have to get up in the middle of the night, potty train, or worry about what she’s eating. I get to play and cuddle with out all the responsibility. How can you not love that?