Winter Vine Cowl in Three Sizes

My newest pattern is live and available on Ravelry. (My website is a bit behind, Oscar and I will be working on it once the business of the holidays is done.) Thank you to Amanda, who once again makes a beautiful model, and to all the people who helped me test knit this one!

Here are the deets:

Graceful vines bared by winter cold weave their way around a simple shaped eyelet pattern. The cables are easy to work, giving just enough texture to this versatile accesory. Not too bulky, yet substantial enough to add warmth, these medium-weight cowls are perfect for tucking into your purse in case the wind cuts a bit cold in the evening, and quick enough to make they can serve as a last minute gift. The pattern is given in both line-by-line instruction and chart forms.

The neck cozy (size small) measures 16 inches around and is 6 inches high. The medium sized cowl (made to fit closely around your face) measures 20 inches around by 7 ½ inches high. The full, slouchy cowl (large) measures 22 inches around and 11 inches high. All sizes measured after blocking.

Materials: 1 (1,2) skins Knit Picks Gloss DK, City Tweed DK or Capra. (Cotlin, Swish DK or Merino Style may also be used.) Alternatively 118 (123, 246) yards of any DK or light worsted yarn will serve. For the medium sized cowl, there was very little yarn (less than 2 yards) left of the single 123-yard skein; for confidence you may wish to buy a second skein.

Gauge: 6 stitches per inch on #6 (4mm) needles in stockinette, 5.25 stitches per inch in pattern stitch in DK weight yarn; after blocking. Exact gauge is not required.

Tools: Cable needle, tapestry needle, 1 stitch marker and U.S. size 6 (4mm) needles for whichever in-the-round technique you prefer (Or size needed to obtain gauge). Pattern easily adapted for working flat by adding a selvedge stitch to each side.

Quiet Time

Oscar is working mega overtime this week. His only day off will be Sunday. He plans to do the same every chance he gets, as long as he has one day off left in 7.

Even with this, we have managed to enjoy time together. Last night for example we stayed up a bit and watched a DVD of Robin Hood: Men in Tights. It had been long enough since we had seen it (in the theaters, yes we be old and proud of it) that it was a renewed delight.

Right now I am waiting for the rice to finish cooking. It is at the point where it smells delicious but the wee red light has not switched to amber, so it isn't quite ready. I love rice, especially short grained Japanese brown rice (mostly Japanese rice is grown in California, near Sacramento, but it is a Japanese variety).

I eat it sweet, or savory, with or without other things.

Yesterday Oscar helped me get stuff ready outside for a photo shoot of the new cowl.

It didn't work out very well, and despite all his efforts, my photos were crap.

He took a rather nice photo of me wearing the silvery one (above), but mine of Zelda wearing the other two were too far away to be useful in the pattern. (sigh) BUT tomorrow we visit Amanda, Tommy and Sean, and Amanda has agreed to model for me :-}

Whoops! There went the 'click' of the finished rice cooker! Time for supper :-}

Split Pea Soup, Otter Style

Ingredients:

a pound of split peas, rinsed, and soaked overnight

a package of bacon (we like nitrite free bacon, you may also use smoky meat of any sort, including ham, smoked turkey, or go vegetarian and just add chipotle pepper for the smokiness and some seitan for the meat-effect)

a package of Cajun mirepoix (or onion, celery and bell pepper, chopped)

two large carrots, sliced into moons and half-moons.

1 quart of chicken stock

3 tbs natural unsweetened peanut butter (yes, peanut butter, it is a secret ingredient)

Water

In a cast iron dutch oven or your favorite soup pot:

Cook the bacon (it's easier if you cut it up first) and when it is cooked through (no need for crispiness, just cooked) add the vegetables. Cook a bit more, and add the (freshly rinsed) peas, chicken stock and peanut butter. Then add about 2 cups of water or less, enough to cover the peas for sure but leave a 1/2 at least of the top of the kettle empty for boiling room.

Cook over slow simmering heat for at least 2 1/2 hours. (you can also do this bit in the crock pot)

As you cook it down, keep adding water. You can cover or not, but I generally don't cover it unless it is in the crock pot and needs the lid to keep the heat up.

Near the end of the cooking time, I sometimes add marjoram or thyme, and some freshly ground black pepper.

Serve with crusty bread. Even better the second day.

Freezes well.

Makes lots of food.

Thanks

I am having a fibro flare, heavy on the fog with a side of ouch.

Yesterday I decided to make pumpkin bread. I had made some pumpkin muffins earlier this week and Oscar enjoyed them greatly. So I made a bigger batch, but it still only fit into one pan (???) 30 minutes after I put it in the oven I realized I had totally forgotten to add the pumpkin. Thank goodness Oscar likes it, even though it is extremely dry, and very, very spicy.

Fibro fog means that it is a waste of time to try and write book reviews. It is also a waste of time to try and work on one of my patterns. It likely means it is a mistake to try any complex knitting or crocheting. (Yes, I used to try anyway, and wound up frustrated and frogging (ripping out my attempts). Thank goodness I know this and will choose a simple knitting project and watch shows I have seen before. (I have tried watching new tv shows, and I just end up rewinding because I miss a chunk of story line) It is definitely a Re-run kind of day. Knowing the parameters of a Fibro flare day makes for a more pleasant day, rather than a day of escalating frustration.

My ankle has further deteriorated. Last month I could stand for between 30 and 45 seconds before the pain began, and could tough it out for almost a minute and a half while I put a few dishes away. Yesterday, I realized I can walk where I need to, as long as it's only once an hour. If I need to stand once I get there, it isn't a good thing. Thank goodness for my rolling kitchen stool!

Money is tight. Oscar cancelled his hunting trip to avoid the extra expenses. Thank goodness he was home and able to say yes when work offered him three days of overtime this weekend. Thank goodness he has a job, and thank goodness my patterns are bringing in between $100 and $200 a month now. It helps.

We aren't having anything elaborate for Thanksgiving today. It might be as simple as peanut butter sandwiches. But thank goodness we can eat them together, after Oscar gets home from work.

Home Stretch

The Winter Vines 3-in-1 Cowl pattern is in the home stretch, all the samples are knitted and blocking, and the next step will be the modeled photos. Zelda the dressmaker's dummy will likely be the chosen one. (My neck is too short to model the smallest size.. maybe I can do the middle and or large size)

I like how this one turned out, and feel an extra bit of pride because I drew the lace and cable graph from scratch.

Once we have the final photos, I should be able to get this one up and selling the same day. The rest of the pattern has been tested and everything :-} (Thank you Kym, Anna and the people at Free Pattern Testers on Rav!)

Chicken and Barley Stew

Oscar and I are a little under the weather.

I decided it was the perfect day to cook some chicken and barley stew. The house smells wonderful, and it will taste great for supper this evening.

I don't really have a detailed recipe but this is how I made it today:

Boil 8 cups of chicken stock, add maybe 2 pounds of skinless boneless chicken thighs and 'Cajun Mirepoix' (celery, onion and bell pepper) as well as some chopped carrots and a lot of minced garlic. Simmer until the chicken is falling apart, then add a cup or so of barley (depending on how much liquid is left). When the barley is cooked, add some freshly cut small pieces of broccoli or any other green veg that sounds good, and cook only until done.

Adding the green veg at the end really freshens the dish.

In the past I have also added turnip greens, spinach, tomatoes (back when I could eat them) or a little lemon juice (same).

I also might add some thyme or marjoram and some freshly ground black pepper toward the end of cooking today, if I feel like it.

We'll end up with enough for supper tonight and 6 to 8 meals for Os to take to work for lunches.

Up to 18 patterns!

I have designed a total of 36 patterns (not counting the 3 I have in the final stages) Nine of those patterns are free, which makes a total of 27 for-sale patterns.. With today's update on the Knit Picks site, 18 of those 27 patterns are for sale there now :-}

I am proud they've liked so many of them.

The two new ones are the Rosie Socks, and the Gentle Shawl.

While Oscar is gone this weekend I will try and finish the samples for the Winter Vine cowl set, and next weekend while he is gone I will try and finish the as-yet-nameless ruana/capelet. Next up, a new sock design that guys will want to wear (I hope, cuz Oscar's getting a pair for Yule).

Winter Vine?

I am having a good time playing with graphs and cobbling together my own twists on stitch patterns. I have a pattern written for a set of cowls, one the size for a 'neck cozy' the other a full cowl size. It just kind of cropped up and muscled it's way in front of the other stuff I had all planned out. These infant patterns have a mind of their own!

I like it quite a bit. It has a hint of asymmetry about it, and combines lace and cables in a way I haven't seen before.

I did a rough version (I plan to change the edgings) and hope to have the full pattern tested and out by next week. Anyone interested in test knitting? No need to finish it by next week, I just want someone to work through a few of the pattern repeats and make certain my directions are clear and understandable.

I'm thinking about naming it 'Winter Vine' but haven't really decided yet.

Knitting Season!

We have had a gorgeous autumn this year, most days sunny, and warm enough to keep the windows open. Today however is gray and cold. Not so good for body surfing, but great for knitting, or as will happen in my case, curling up with a box of good books.

This past week I knit and crocheted despite the sunshine, though. I completed a pair of purple fingerless mitts for niece Breanna, and a long-promised poncho in many colors for niece Bricelyn.

I'm thinking about a hat for nephew Robert, and I think I have shawls for Liz and Amanda (also nieces, and providing me with great-nephew and great niece!) I also have a shawl I think I will give Breanna, she is poor in knitted objects from my needles, and I think I have one that will match the mitts.

No photos of those today, though. Oscar and I are struggling with a virus, and I did too much already over the weekend.

But yesterday I received a box with 10 new books from Freshfiction.com that will provide a perfect cure, and keep me on my butt where I belong today. (I am up to 70 reviews so far).

In Otterwise news, the Gentle shawl has been accepted by Knit Picks, and should go live on their site sometime in the next few weeks. I also submitted my finished Rosie socks (photo above) and am waiting to hear back.

I am busily writing patterns and building charts. I have a cabled cowl in the works, as well as some texture-based socks. Bot today I will take a day off from designing and read as many books as I can :-}

Warm Hats and Mittens Campaign

I received an email from Wool-Aid today:

Warm Hands HATS & MITTENS campaign: 1/31/2011

Hats & Mittens are especially needed by the Innu kids of Natuashish and Sheshasuit in Northern Labrador that are served by Warm Hands.

We will be helping both communities in this drive, with an end date of January 30, 2011.

Many kids in these communities need hats and mittens to protect them from the bitter cold, but do not have them. The majority of kids are between the ages of 6 and 12, but hats and mittens for kids up to age 16 are very welcome. These items are distributed by the Directors of Community Health, who use the items as incentives to get young moms to bring their children into the clinic for checkups.

See Wool-Aid's general Guidelines for basic information, but please follow the guidelines detailed for this Hats & Mittens campaign.

I realized it has been too long since I did any knitting above and beyond that for my business.

I have a bag full of skein ends and such, saved for the purpose.

I still feel designing is important as it is the way I contribute most to our household, but surely I can devote an hour or two a week, and see how much I can get done by the January deadline.

Designing is a Fine Addiction

First, we had a lovely day yesterday. Oscar's family came down to Ann Arbor to meet us at a restaurant. The only reason they drove down from Lansing is to save me the physical wear and tear of a 90-minute car ride. I am so lucky in my in-laws! I really miss seeing them, but the physical cost of the journey is high, and I hadn't seen them for too long. With my dad being ill, I have been saving my journeying to see my folks, and even then have only been able to go a few times this year. It meant so much that Liz, Fred, Lynnie and Brian made the drive. I feel very loved.

Second: Lynnie is a designer and artist, and has been my mentor into the world of knitting. I love her very much, and love our discussions of the entire subject of design. We are very different in method, I often gain inspiration from reading antique patterns, and stitch pattern dictionaries, For me, the twist I give the pattern often comes in the form of the shaping and construction of the finished object. I also enjoy bringing little-known stitch patterns back out in a modern pattern. I tend to sketch out ideas both with imagery and with text before beginning, and take notes as I progress. Lynnie most often 'draws with her needles', and only later writes down pattern. After talking with her yesterday I decided to sit down with a little 'graph paper' (in reality, a table made on a Word doc to simulate a chart) and see what lace pattern I could devise by doodling rather than starting with an existing stitch pattern.

It was so FUN! This (photo above) may end up a pattern, but my fingers and mind are already itching to see what else I can come up with, perhaps to simulate ginko leaves, or the flowers of Monkshood. A way for my garden to live again.

I am very aware that someone else may have designed a similar lace stitch, but the process of creating it was all mine, and was SO enjoyable. Thanks Lynnie, for the reminder of how much fun drawing from my interior artist can be.

Vegetables and the Fiber Arts

Thanks to KPKate of Ravelry, for this link:

Luxuriating in Books

Now that the big push to finish the Gentle shawl is over, I have been focusing on catching up on my reviews. I am reading 1-3 books per day, and enjoying it!

Writing the reviews is not quite as much fun, but it is satisfying. I am up to 64 published reviews on Freshfiction, with two more submitted and waiting to go up.

I have one more book finished and the review rough drafted, and I am going to finish another one this afternoon. Some books are quicker to read than others.

I haven't stopped designing, though. I am working on items from the stitch pattern I mentioned previously, as well as a pattern using some luscious City Tweed HW for a shawl/ruana. Knit Picks sent the yarn for a pattern I designed earlier this year, but it ended up being published elsewhere, in a different yarn. I will be fulfilling my commitment to Knit Picks as well as fleshing out a design I started at least 2 years ago.

I love this stage of designing, when the ideas keep spurting up like geysers and I have all I can do to keep up with scribbling them down.

I also need to consider Christmas knitting. I don't always knit for everyone, but I like to when I can. I will do what is possible, but need to keep my work ethic first. I am finally making a bit of an income at this!

(photo was taken on our outing last week, I love the blend of fall and summer colors. I have no idea why I seem fascinated by fences these days!)

I Got Sunshine

Just another mellow Monday today, but quite pleasant, and better than last week.

Oscar made some changes this past Friday, after our outing (just a 'walk' around the neighborhood). He installed three lovely and bright ceiling fixtures above our sitting space in the living room.

The room has always been a bit too dark for us, although most people would find it just fine with the addition of chair-side lighting. We both have Seasonal Affective Disorder, although mine is less sensitive than his. Since Autumn is well entrenched and Winter not too far away, it was time and past to make the change.

Now it is brilliant. I can see my stitches clearly, I can easily read even my oldest books without eyestrain, and I find myself brimming with energy and thus sleeping better at night.

Amazing what a little extra light can accomplish!

We did discover we will need to dim them a bit around 10 p.m. if we hope to get sleepy before midnight, but that is a minor issue compared to the mood elevating effects.

Because I spend all day almost every day in this room, it has truly changed my life dramatically in the few days since they were installed.

Thanks to my guy: