Walker Treasury Project

The past few weeks while thinking about new patterns I've been knitting a few blocks for the (Barbara) Walker Treasury Project. I chose three blocks from her book Mosaic Knitting. I had a great time learning her mosaic technique. and I know I'll be using it in future projects.
I chose three blocks to make this time #s 100, 112 and 115. (photos below).
I have a deep affection for Barbara G. Walker's books. I first encountered her writing as a Pagan. She has written such books as The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, Feminist Fairy Tales, and many more.
Imagine my delight when, as a newish knitter, I discovered the Treasury of Knitting volumes and realized they were by the same author. :-} In fact, one reason I am eager to help with the knitting of the mosaic patterns is many of them draw from sacred symbols. What an afghan that will make!

A new deadline and challenge

Thanks to a timely call from Lynn, I was able to snag another coveted Ravelry ad, to begin on August 1st this time. I COULD use it for one of my existing patterns, but I would rather use it for this year's charity pattern. I will be sending $1 from each sold pattern to Kiva.
This means I have given myself a deadline of completing the brand new pattern by July 16th. It first needs to be listed with Patternfish, then on Ravelry before I can submit my ad for approval. The submission deadline is July 22nd.
I have been having a ball collecting images, drawing, coloring, and trying out different outlines for the project. As usual, I enjoy letting the details be secret seeds until they have flowered into the pattern for me. It often mutates beyond the original concept by the time I am done, anyway. :-}
I have narrow the shapes to three choices, and have determined on two different colorways.
Now I am trying to translate my sketches into a stranded pattern.... Which has already mutated the sketch three times this morning LOL.

Socks

I love knitting socks. I don't knit many of them, but I always enjoy the process. At least the first one.
I often try to knit both socks at the same time, so that I needn't make notes about how many rounds I did or how big the toe or cuff was. I just stop after the first toe or cuff, and make the second to match.
Of course, if I am designing a sock, I need to write it all down anyway, but I still have less enthusiasm for that second sock.

My Dad and Mom honored me by requesting that I knit another pair of socks for him. This is big. It's not that they are hypercritical, but that when they praise something, they really mean it. So I have that coming up pretty soon on my list. I want to have them finished by the time the weather cools come September.
I may write the pattern down this time, if I can find something unique to do that isn't too jazzy for Dad to like. The most important qualities are the flexibility and smoothness, so most likely I'll just work the First Time Toe-Up pattern from Colorjoy which is my favorite. I'll use the same yarn as for the first pair, too. Andean Silk from Knit Picks, which is a blend of alpaca, silk and merino.
A pair of Oscar's favorite socks were also made from that yarn (photo above) Maybe I should write up that pattern soon. I like how it turned out.

I have decided that when I make socks for myself, I will be perfectly happy to just have one sock from any pattern that intrigues me.
I wore mismatched socks as a kid when I had trouble deciding what pair to wear (which was at least once a week, if not every day). Why should I be any different as an adult?
Now I need to convince my friends and family that mismatched socks are the best kind of gift to get.
I think my nieces and nephews would be cool with that. they have a lot of me in them :-}
And my Goddess Son Sean Elijah... He's only 8 and a half months old.. I can start working on his fashion sense now, and gift him mismatched socks for the rest of his life :-}

Challenge

Piecework Magazine had a challenge in their May/June issue that was right up my alley.
They asked us to use directions they provided from Weldon's Practical Needlework Volume 10 (published in the 1800s) to complete a crochet project. Both projects were among those I had wanted to try anyway, so I decided to try my hand.
Instead of just making the item, I decided to create a complete clarified pattern translation into modern terms, using a smaller version, and providing several photos of the steps involved in a pdf.
I finished one of them today. I may or may not do the other, easier one another day. I am kind of melty-brained right now.
Who knows, if they like my work, they may ask me to consult with them in the future (at least the challenge mentioned that possibility).
I own all of the Weldon's books except volume 3, and also have several digital files of vintage needlework patterns (Yay Gutenberg Project!). I often go to them for inspiration in designing.
If Piecework is not interested, I will post the pdf here, and on Ravelry.

Idea scooped from Mokihana

Outside my window… The backyard is green filtered through green, all the maples and the grass, the weeds providing the birds with hiding space.

I am thinking… about the patterns waiting to be designed, and how Deborah Newton's book will help.

I am thankful for… my life.

From the kitchen…Oscar made delicious grilled pork chops, and I had a lovely big bowl of carefully selected fruit without getting sick

I am wearing… my soft green dress

I am creating… a magical mosaic square from Barbara Walker's pattern, for a winter afghan.

I am going… no where until next Friday, when we will go see No Doubt (and Paramore) in concert.

I am reading… Designing Knitwear, by Deborah Newton, and Small Favor by Jim Butcher.

I am hoping… I can find a knit meet accessible to me, that meets on Fridays.

I am hearing… the air conditioner, and some birds

Around the house… in transition.

One of my favorite things… cuddling my husband

A few plans for the rest of the week: More sorting and discarding and making space.

Adventure and excitement

I have just started reading a book called Designing Knitwear by Deborah Newton.
Now, this book is considered a classic in knitting circles, and I have long wanted to read it.
I am SO glad I invested in a copy. Already her sections on basic design and 'seeing' things with the eye of a designer make sense of how I've been working.
Those flashes of inspiration from my photos of old iron and wood and how they are translating into new projects make a lot of sense to me now. I feel less weird, and more confident of my design choices :-}
And best of all, she is not elitist as so many books on design seem to be. She firmly believes anyone with the interest can learn and grow and design, whether it be an entire outfit for Vogue, or simply taking a yarn, and a stitch pattern and creating a lovely special scarf as a gift. The same system of making choices is integral to both.

Leaves

Just another view of the Eden scarf:

Finished Eden Scarf

This will be for Ysabeau. I love the sparkle in the Mossyplace! I used the yarn left over from my Dragontial shawl, combined with some Noro Silk Garden to be certain I had enough yarn for the project. I love how well the colors combined. It was a fun project! (from the book "Knit Along") I will likely make a few more of these, maybe for presents for my nieces for Yule this year.

Happy Summer Soltice!