Knitting

All the makes- December 2024

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December went out quietly and the year is complete. Holy crap the year was a brutal one, but it is over and done and as the great Snoop Dog once said, “we can chill to the next episode.” I have higher but still realistic hopes for 2025. Making for this month still wasn’t good. I didn’t finish anything and I stalled on the one thing that I started on. I am still working to find a spark that can ignite my want to craft again. Hopefully the new year will have some changes that can bring back some of that old part of me.

New cast ons:

Gingerbraid

Sock remakes for Feebs

Works in progress:

Shatar Vest

Highlights Dress (timeout)

Knithouse Cardigan

Kaylen Mesh Scarf

Barebones Mitts

Goals for next month:

Finish the mitts

Finish Feebs’ socks

Finish all purging/ cleaning projects

Find a happy project

Finish budget project

Well darling, not much happened in the making department this month. Actually, that’s not true. I had a bit of a realization. Due to the mental symptoms that include the shit memory and inability to have a concentration level above that of a goldfish, it occurred to me that any knitting project that I try to tackle right now will have to be incredibly simple and involve a lot of muscle memory. Hence I decided to pull out some socks I never wear because they are far too loose on me and rip them out and knit new socks for Feebs. She asked for new socks, and she loves the yarn so I am close to starting the heal on both socks since I am knitting them two at a time. I think I will have to stick with socks and hats, since I can basically knit them by muscle memory with very little counting or memorization. Hopefully once my treatments change I will get my cognition back and I can move back to more complex things. (Fingers VERY crossed!)

Let’s try to recall what happened in December, shall we? The first week was very mellow and was all about getting ready for the upcoming holidays. I felt prepared pretty early this year, which is very unusual for me, as I am always scrambling at the last minute. The second week got a bit more exciting with our work holiday party. Many people participated and it was a lot of fun. The following day was my doctors appointments for my usual 6-month treatment. This is the first time the Husband went with me so that was an eye opening experience for him. The dose was doubled by my new doctor and it took me out of commission for over the weekend and into next week. The Mother also had an eye doctor appointment where they cauterized her tear ducts that week, so we are a collective hot mess. The following week was a superfluous appointment with a dietitian who agreed that most of my issues are either life-long genetic or specifically caused by medications that I’m currently taking that will stop once I am able to stop taking the meds. I had a lovely “thank you” lunch with the work ladies for putting on a fantastic holiday party. They do an amazing job each year and it would be a fraction of what it is if they didn’t do it. Then I got a whole bunch of hair cut off in the crusade to get rid of all of the color-treated hair before April. My hair is currently short and choppy/ shaggy. It doesn’t look bad, but I am over it being short now. I seem to keep having her go shorter and shorter at each hair cut. I just want it gone so that I can be done with it and move on to my next stage, whatever that will be. The next day, Kennard came over. It was so good to see them. We always enjoy hanging out with them. They brought Feebs a Lego set for Christmas and she was so excited about it. We had Pakistani food for dinner and chill conversation and laughs. The day after that was the big Family Christmas party. It was really good to see everyone We saw all of the sibs, the cousins, and next generations. Everyone had a great time. As usual, we didn’t stay for the games, as usual, the Brother gave me shit about it. Oh well, a good time was still had. We had one day of rest, in which I started to get an itch to start to declutter and purge. We started with Feebs’ books and her room and closet (and didn’t it spin out from there over the next month!). The following night we had the Husband’s side gathering. It was awesome. We thought we were just meeting up with his cousin for dinner, but it turned out to be a bunch of them. That was Christmas week. I worked all week, since I was taking the following week off. We kept if very low key and stayed home for everything but dinner on Christmas day. The Mother came with us and we found a seafood place that was open. We cut back on gifts this year, but no one noticed and we all had a great day. We had SIL #1 and family over for snacks and Winter Comforts that week and had a great visit. We had the Silver cousin come stay for a the weekend and we always love her visits. I am hoping that she will be back a couple of times before she moves to Japan before next year. We had a couple of adventure meals with her and she gave me the coolest gift EVER! She was able to get the After Dark Games to work on my computer. I don’t understand her wizardry, but I know that she was able to do some kind of magic to get it to work, and I am sooo excited about it. I never thought I would get to play Roof Rats again! I always take the week after Christmas week off, so I was thrilled to be off for nine whole days. Unfortunately, there is always unfinished school work to contend with, but we did get it done in time to have some free days. Feebs and I got some errands done and we had some great mommy and Feebs time. We got to spend NYE with our favorite people ever and ring in the new year with chosen family. The Male O got a job, which was definitely something to celebrate. The girls got to celebrate their 10th NYE together. We got to spend a couple of days with the Father and have our traditional mini-golf night. I had dinner with the Female McC all by myself, which was lovely and much needed. Then the weekend was spent getting everything ready to head back to school and work. All in all, it was a really great week off.

December is passed and the year is over, and I say farewell to them both. 2024 will be summed up separately, but what a turbulent year. December felt like a bit of a waiting room, honestly. I have a lot of tests and appointments (hopefully with answers and game plans) coming up in January, so December has felt like a hurdle that had to be jumped. I am ready for calm waters and fresh starts in the new year and mind is set for a bit of peace. Thanks for the memories, December, but let’s move on.

Loves,

M

P.S. The Husband has reported that after forty-three years of life and thirteen years together, I have become a snuggler in my sleep. I am in complete disbelief and am very bothered by this.

All the makes August- November 2024

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Well darling, I did warn you that things went way off the rails. I am sad to report that nothing has really improved. In fact things have gone more off track along the way. Making in all forms has derailed. So has my attention span, my enjoyment of all things, my memory, my ability to word in written or verbal form, and pretty much anything that makes sense in my head. On the good side of things, I am starting to get answers and will hopefully be switching treatment to match my new diagnosis (really weird switch, after almost 8 years). Once that switch has been made and all other weird ailments have been addressed, hopefully I will be on my way to the old regular Mrs. Collins insanity.

Finished Objects:

Rota Top by Irene Lin. I knit this Rowan Summerlite DK. This top looks so fancy and complicated, but it honestly wasn’t. Well, fancy yes, but not complicated. There may be a separate post.

I knit an Everyday Slouchy Beanie by Dragon Hoard Designs for a teacher’s Christmas gift, but totally forgot to take pictures of it before we gifted it. It was knit in To the Mack’s yarn held double with a cream silk mohair. It turned out gorgeous. It would have been fantastic if my ridiculous self would have remembered to take a picture…

New Cast Ons:

Kaylen Mesh Scarf

Barebones Mitts

Works in Progress:

Highlights tunic dress

Thelma top

Vinca hat

Goals for next month:

Find a groove with making

Find a decadent cast on

NY Cast on

2025 making goals

That is all I have made in four months (I think). I even cast on the Kaylen Mesh Shawl for Sister #3’s 50th birthday, in October, and have yet to complete it. My mojo has gone on an extended vacation. For a while, knitting was the only thing that I was able to do, then almost over night any urge I had to do anything completely fled. I have been trying desperately to find something to knit that sparks my fancy. I have scoured Ravelry a few times looking for some kind of inspiration to strike and make my soul want to cast on and knit my heart out. It hasn’t worked so far, but I will keep hope. Thank goodness at the last second I was able to find the umph to knock out the teacher hat for Feebs’s teacher and complete 98% of her 25th day of Advent gift. Those will show up in December’s post because I have the tiniest bit of finishing work to do that I need her hand size to complete. I am frustrated and a bit sad at my lack of knitting joy, but I am hopeful that big change is on the horizon and that my long time love affair with knitting with be back on shortly.

Everything since July has been a giant blur, so I will have to suffice with the highlights and skip the small fun details. In August we had our big family bbq. Unfortunately I was still in a peak health crisis and had to take Dramamine in order to make the 2-hour car ride to Sister #2’s house. To say I was not quite with it is the understatement of the decade. My nephews kept checking on me to be sure I was okay. The week after that, Feebs started 5th grade. I can’t believed my baby is in her last year of elementary school. Good God, time has flown by! We also had a weekend with the O’s, which was nice. Ms. Jan had a major health crisis and scared the hell out of all of us, so we went up to see them instead of them coming to us. We didn’t mind the switch and enjoyed our time. September started with Sister #2’s 50th and Mimi’s 10th birthdays. We had a wonderful time celebrating them. October was complete and total insanity. We went on our annual trek to Mendocino and had an amazing time. It was full of naps and chill. It wasn’t a reset, but it was a relax that I desperately needed. Right after that came Sister #3’s 50th birthday party and it was a fabulous time. We had so much fun and it was exactly what she wanted it to be. I saw friends of my sisters that I hadn’t seen since they got married, who have known me since I was 9. It was so much fun. The following weekend was the Husband’s 50th birthday party. We rented a house in West Lake Tahoe and had the O’s, the Mark, and the NH peeps, but only he came. We spent three days up there and had so much fun. The Husband had the best time. He said it was exactly what he wanted and it turned out how he had envisioned. I can’t tell you how happy that made me. November started with the Mother and I going on our trip to Reno for her late birthday. We spent 5 days there and we had the best time. I had to go nasty awful shopping, but it was necessary and now it is done for another 6 years. We had a horrible drive home in the snow, but we survived and all is well. For Thanksgiving the Mother joined us for a dinner out at a local Italian restaurant. I loved this arrangement. No one had to stress or cook or make a fuss. We went to a lovely restaurant and had delicious food. Then we went home and were in our jammies by 7:30 pm. I think this may be a tradition.

So this is the Cliff’s notes of 4 months. I am sure I am missing a ton of highlights and amazing lowlights, but that is all that my memory can recall. I am still very frustrated with the lack of interest in doing things, knitting especially, but I am trying to be kind to myself. I am being patient and not allowing myself to be critical, mostly because I have absolutely no decision in the matter. I will keep scrolling on Ravelry and continue to look for inspiration and motivation. I will periodically creep my yarn stash and caress pretty yarn to try to make myself crave the feel of it in my hands. I will even review some of my sweaters and see if there is anything in my collection that I simply must have in other colors or textures (I’m looking at you, Calliope). My mojo will come back as will my health and my brain, if there is a kind universe.

So that wraps it up. December should be a bit more detailed and clear. So far I hope to have separate posts for Bliss Shorts and Rota Top by end of year or early New Year. I hope in December I can talk about falling in love with a sexy little new cast on and how I am so in love with her and how happy she is making me. I also hope to talk about my goals for 2025 and how excited I am for it. We’ll see what comes next.

Loves,

M

All the makes- July 2024

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Can a month be hormonal? I mean can it be super manic and imbalanced? Asking for a friend. July was one crazy up and down month. A metric ton of knitting happened. A metric ton of stress happened. A metric ton of Mrs. Collins done lost her mind happened. Holy wow, it was a weird month. It wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t all good. And hey, did I say there was a lot of knitting?

Finished objects:

Bliss Shorts by Muki Craft. I knit these in Cascade Yarns Venezia Sport. These are amazing, but there is a separate post all about them.

On the Go Socks- contrast toe, cuff and heel. I knit these as the second half of my on the go socks experiment. They worked out great. I think I will write a brief post about how these worked out, as well, because I have some cool notes on what I did with the toes and heels. More to come.

Oaken Shawl by Tin Can Knits. I knit this using Urth Yarns that the Father brought me back from England. I have knit this shawl before, but I just checked and there is no blog post, so I guess that will be coming soon. I have some feelings about this pattern.

New cast-ons:

Thelma Top

Rota Top

Works in progress:

Highland Tunic

Vinca

Shatar Vest

Stalled out Knitting my memories blanket

Goals for next month:

Finish Highlights Tunic

Cast on something gorgeous and squishy

Don’t don’t die or lose my mind

Get answers about my health stuff

So, a lot of knitting occurred in July. With all the health crap that happened, that we will get to shortly, all that I was able to look at and focus on was knitting. I knit my favorite thing ever, the Bliss Shorts. As I said, there is a separate post for them, but they are SO fun to knit and I love them! The second pair of on-the-go socks were just as successful as the first. I do intend to write a second post so that I can really decide which method I prefer more and weigh out the pros and cons. The Oaken Shawl also needs a post. It will become evident why when I write it. Suffice it to say that the shawl is gorgeous and I love both of the shawls that I have knit, but I do not love knitting the pattern. I have stalled on knitting the Highlights Tunic dress. I hit an annoying part of the pattern, plus the weather has started to cool off so she has been in and out of time out. My hat knitting has lost some interest for now. As the weather cools off more I will get more into the charity and cold weather knitting spirit. Obviously, no sewing, though I am constantly wanting to sew something. Someday I will understand this ever present block I have about it.

Oh darling, July started out so good. We had 4th of July the first week. We went to the Mayberry parade and hung out with the normal crew, then went for beers at one of the regular spots, which is always fun. After that, we went to hang out next door and swim with the ladies. It was a really nice and chill day. That weekend there was an ArnoCorps show. We got the Nama-sitter and the Husband and I went out for a night on the town. There was a kerfuffle about when the show started and we ended up getting there about 3 hours early. We had some cocktails and were having a delightful time. My darling, your girl decided to test the limits. I fought the laws of my limits and the law won. I got so sick that we had to pull over so that I could evacuate on the side of the highway. That is VERY un-Mrs. Collins like behavior. The next week was Feebs’s 10th birthday! I cannot believe my girlie is 10. I am thrilled and sad at the same time. I took the middle of the week off to spend with her. For her present she got to trade her full size trundle bed for a twin size loft bed. She was incredibly excited and loves her new nest. Fortunately, Sister #1’s daughter wanted the full sized bed, so they came and picked it up and we got hang out for the day. We also did the over night in Santa Cruz, like she always wants to do. She was really funny, this time she didn’t want to go on the rides, she just wanted to play the games. That weekend was her birthday party. Mommy was such a hot mess express that I didn’t get my stuff together in time to actually plan a party. I booked the park in time, but didn’t get invitations out or get anything ordered in time for it to be a party. So at the zero hour I asked what else she wanted to do to make up for not having a party. I checked with our core people and they were all prepared to go where ever she wanted to go. She chose one of the trampoline places near us, then to lunch after. I won’t lie and say that it wasn’t 6 times more expensive than it would have been if I had actually planned the party that was supposed to be planned, but she loved every minute of it and it was so chill. So needless to say, the first half of July was really great. Come Monday the 15th, my world came crashing down. I had noticed the week before that the weird buzzy feeling from 2022 was back, but I didn’t pay much attention to it because it never turned into anything else in 2022, and I figured it would go away in a month or two. Well, July 15 proved me wrong. By the end of the day, my vision was horribly blurry and the gritty pain and pressure (similar to when I had optic neuritis) was back in my left side. The left side of my face and body was numb and I was dizzy and disoriented. I was having sporadic headaches and all kinds of fun stuff. I finally called my mom and asked her to take me to the ER because I was afraid I was having a stroke. That was the entire second part of July. Doctor’s appointments, tests, possible diagnoses, wrong diagnoses, and a whole lot of brush offs and “you’re fines” from specialists. Fortunately, I didn’t have a stroke. My lesions do not show any changes, so my disease does not seem to be progressing. I got some really crappy doctors, but my PCP is heaven sent and advocated for me the entire time. By the end of the month I still had no answers, was missing a ton of work, and felt like hot flaming garbage all the time. My family was trying their hardest to be my cheerleaders and keep me going. I had to stop driving, by my choice, which made me feel like a burden and helpless. Poor Feebs was scared and wasn’t sure what was happening. She was trying to be helpful and understanding, but she kept asking everyone if I was dying and if I would ever get better. We were all scared and frustrated. It was obvious I would get no answers that month, but I was going to keep asking for them. I was working at home a lot, or just missing whole or partial days. I missed a bunch of family stuff, cancelled Feebs stuff and was ever so pleasant to be around at home, I am sure. My mental health tanked. So all in all, the second half of the month was so fun. I could look at any screens, couldn’t read papers, couldn’t look out windshields. The only think I could do was knit. I realized that my knitting muscle memory is so built in that I can look at my knitting without having to focus on it, so that made knitting the only possible thing for me to do. That is the entire reason that I was so productive with knitting in July.

So, I can’t say that the entire month was terrible. It had so many beautiful parts, and so many terrible parts. I got to celebrate my girl, and see Sister #1’s family, be supported and loved by my family, and feel like I have a tribe of people standing behind me. At the same time I was fearful for my life, my mental health was a dumpster fire, and I was left holding an industrial size basket of questions that still are unanswered. July was really a mix bag. I am choosing to focus on the good though. I will be positive and embrace the fact that I have made it this far. Hopefully there are answers to come and more treatment that will be useful to me.

Loves,

M

P.S. you will notice that the posting date of this is months after July. This couldn’t be helped for a series of reasons. July- October will all be a bit messy and overlapping due to the ongoing health bull-shit that is still unfolding. Good times, darling. Good times.

Lambtown Festival- 2022

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What: Lambtown Festival

Where: Dixon May Fairgrounds, Dixon, CA

When: Saturday, October 1, 2022

Who: The Husband, Feebs, and me

Why: To fondle yarn, of course

We showed up to the festival around 11. The Husband and I were both surprised that the PETA protesters were absent this year. We hadn’t been to the festival in 2 years, but the last couple of times that we went, they were standing at the gates with signs. We bought tickets at the window, since I didn’t think to purchase them in advance. It was $10 per adult and free to children under 17. Once we got through the gates, there was the usual information booth in the gazebo. Behind the gazebo was a booth set up with crafting stations for kids. The Husband and Feebs headed toward that booth, and I turned right and headed into an exhibit room.

The first thing that I noticed was that most people weren’t wearing masks. This surprised me since the buildings weren’t that large. The vendor stations were set up nicely. There was a good mix of fiber and yarn, with some metal art and fabric crafts mixed in. I specifically set out to find the Houndstooth Fiber Arts booth, but they weren’t there. Some booths that stood out to me were Sincere Sheep, Invictus Yarn, Sea Change, Royal Bee Yarn Co., and Mendocino Fiber Company. The only person that I recognized was Yellyknits, a person that I follow on Instagram. She creates content about inclusivity in the LGBTQ community.

I circled through the first Exhibit hall, without buying anything. I then crossed over to the other building. I went through that hall relatively quickly. I didn’t spend much time perusing the booths, this year. I think that my want to buy yarn was at a low point. I wanted to go and support all of the makers, but I didn’t have anything in mind to purchase before we got there. I circled through the second building and went back to the first one. I purchased three skeins of fingering weight yarn from the Royal Bee Yarn Co. It is a lovely dark green color. It is non-Superwash and according to the shop owner’s mother, it is hand-dyed to the shop owners specifications. I probably could have gotten away with buying only two skeins, but I bought the third, just in case. I don’t have project in mind, so better safe than sorry. Incidentally, the shop didn’t offer me a bag to put my yarn into, and I didn’t have my normal purse with me. My purse was small and I didn’t have my little bag in a bag with me. So, I literally had to carry around the yarn around with me.

After I made my purchase, I headed out to find my people. I found them at the crafting station. Feebs was hard at work making a sheep magnet. I relieved The Husband, and he went in search of food trucks and beverages (sadly, nothing caught his fancy). Magnet completed, Feebs moved onto the hand felting station. It was a really cute setup, where there were sandwich bags with round pieces of fiber layered in different colors. The instructions were to add some soapy water to the bag and agitate it with your hands or against the table to felt it into different shapes. Once you were done, you rinse the fiber out with clean water, shape it into a flower, and wrap a pipe cleaner around it to make a stem and let it dry to hold the shape. Feebs is very pleased with her felted flower.

Once The Husband came back, I went in search of a bag to hold my yarn. If you know me, you know that I am the bag lady. I love bags, baskets, and any other carrier-type vessel. I knew that I didn’t need a new bag. I was 100% sure of this fact. But, I went in search of one anyway. I was back in the first building and came upon the Mendocino Fiber Company booth. They shared a booth with Ephemera Creations. I noticed a bowl of mini skein sets. They were in such beautiful colors. I am not a collector of mini skeins, because I really never know what to do with them. But these ones caught my eye and I decided that I would buy a set. So I purchased the set and they gave me a bag to carry it in! Talk about being efficient! On a side note, the cheapest project bag that I saw, that would fit my 3 skeins of yarn, was $45 or more. I was able to save about $15 by buying the mini set and getting the free bag. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

All in all, I enjoyed Lambtown. I did find it surprising that we were only there for about 2 hours. A good portion of that time was Feebs working on her crafts. I didn’t spend much money, which is always a good thing. I was very sad that Houndstooth wasn’t there. I always enjoy supporting them. I really liked talking to the two vendors that I purchased yarn from. I may see if I can find the Mendocino Fiber Company, or Ephemera Creations when we are in Mendocino, next week.

The next fiber festival that is on my radar is Stitches West, and I am NOT missing it next year! Lambtown has definitely whetted my appetite for more festivals. I intend to start looking for fabric festivals too. Perhaps next year, I will take some Lambtown workshops too. We’ll find out next year.

Loves,

M

Vanilla is my favorite

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Handknit socks are some of my very favorite things. They are warm, and comfortable, and durable. Wearing handknit socks makes my cold days bearable. I am not sure how many pairs of socks I have knit in my lifetime. I knit socks throughout the year, for my self. I also knit them for those that are truly knit-worthy, i.e. The Husband, Feebs, The Father, and the Female O. The Mother is excluded because she hates wool. It’s a struggle with that one…

I learned how to knit socks using double pointed needles (dpns). The construction was cuff-down with a heel flap and gusset. The first sock (singular) that I knit was beautifully done. My stitches were even and the sock was nice and dense. The reason for the singularity is that it was the perfect size for an 8 year old, and I was 23. Also the cuff was so tight that there wasn’t a chance that I would get it over my heel. I never bothered making a mate for it. Mind you, I still have that sock. I am still proud of that sock.

Over the years, I have knit socks with patterns, knit socks with various heels, and knit several iterations of vanilla socks. I find that while I enjoy owning pretty patterned socks (I am looking at you, Blueberry Waffles pattern), I don’t tend to reach for them when getting dressed in the morning. I wear socks from October till May, and I am a boot wearer. I need socks with a smooth fabric that will cover my leg all the way up to the boot top. I try not be the Princess and the Pea, but have you ever tried to walk around with a hard knot in the sole of your sock? Or knee high boots worn with socks that only go up to lower shin? While I do love my version of fashion, I love comfort more. So socks with lace don’t work for me, since I wear them for warmth. Socks with beautiful colorwork are nice, but I tend to knit colorwork tight, so calf comfort could be compromised. Socks with any kind of a texture can add friction and also compromise comfort.

Heels have been a journey. As stated, I began with the noble heel flap and gusset. It is so cool to watch that heel come alive. Once you finish a heel flap and gusset, you feel like an honest to goodness Knitter. I have also tried afterthought heels. Afterthought heels are seriously convenient when you just want to keep knitting a tube. I don’t always love the fit of an afterthought heel, though. I also always have holes on each side from where the stitches were picked up. I have also tried a few different short row heels and my favorite is the Fish-Lips-Kiss (FLK) heel. This heel fits my feet well and is very easy to knit. I really like the look of it, and have found that if I add a stitch to each side of the heel, then knit it together on the next row, I don’t end up with a hole on each side.

This is an Afterthought heel
This is a FLK- short row heel

It took me a long time to figure out my formula for my perfect vanilla sock. I have tried my hardest to find the right formula for every foot that I knit for. Many parents have a wall where they measure their child’s growth, or a picture frame that shows the evolution of the child. I have cardboard cutouts of Feebs’s feet. The first one was when she was about 1 1/2 years old. Every time she has a growth spurt, a new foot is drafted. I have a foot for all of my sock-worthy people. It follows the FLK method of sock measurements, and is invaluable when the person that your are knitting for doesn’t live with you, or even near you.

My perfect vanilla sock is toe-up, FLK heel, with a calf that is increased up to the ribbed cuff. If I am knitting daily wear socks, I always select a 75/ 25 blend yarn (my favorite, to date, is Paton Kroy sock yarn). I like that the little bit of nylon helps the socks maintain shape and allows machine washing. I also think they are more durable. I only use 100% wool, or other fiber types, when knitting house/bed socks. They won’t get as much wear and tear as daily wear socks, so they can be more precious. I use a very stretchy bind off (Jenny’s Incredibly Stretchy Bind-off) so that I can pull them on and off with ease. I knit my socks in stockinette for a smooth and comfortable fabric. I like my socks snug and dense, so I knit a 58 stitch sock on the foot and increase the calf to 64 stitches. I always use 1.25 mm needles, even if I am using a thicker weight yarn. I like the dense fabric that using the smaller needles creates. I tend to cast on the socks using the magic loop, 2 at a time method. I always like to knit pairs of anything at the same time. I do this with sleeves and fronts and backs of sweaters. My theory is that if I am having a rough day or a brain-fart, my pairs will have the same mistake, the same gauge, the same issue on both pieces. Then it is more of a feature and less of a mistake. This has always worked out well for me. I measure the feet to know when to start my heels. Once the foot and the heel are completed, I separate the socks and work the calf, one at a time, using a 9 inch circular needle. Once I am working independently, I no longer measure. On the first sock, I wing it. I have a general idea of when to start increasing and I put them in every inch or so. I knit a 1×1 rib cuff for 10-12 rows, then bind off. On the second sock, I use the first sock as a guide and instead of measuring, I count rows. My knitting stays pretty consistent, so I am able to get away with this. I am also not horribly concerned about my pairs being sisters versus twins. It doesn’t bother me if they don’t match 100%. Once you put them on your feet a lot of the “errors” disappear.

The very baby beginnings of socks for me

So, my bottom line is that handknit socks are amazing. They are fun to knit, very portable, and fabulous to wear. I have even begun teaching Ms. H how to find her vanilla sock formula and how to knit them. With some minor help, she has knit her first pair. I love fingering weight all the way to bulky weight socks. Daily wear socks, and bed socks. My PSA for the day: Handknit socks- get on that train!

Loves,

M

All the makes- June 2022

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Hello darling. We made it to July. June was very busy and filled with good things. There was a whole lot of making, or really, finishing last month. I am very proud of my perseverance, and my Ravelry page is getting more and more current.

  • Finished Objects

Feebs’s 8th birthday charm, made with a Disney Pandora charm and clear amethyst beads and clasp from stash.

Shik’is Cowl, by Jennifer Berg. I knit this in Berroco Ultra Wool in Cream and Morning Glory and Berroco Lanas in Black. I made this for the gift box, but ended up giving it to the Female O on our camping trip.

Another set of summer pajamas. I used a thrifted fitted crib sheet. I followed the PJ pants/shorts on http://www.lifesewsavory.com and a self drafted top. There is a separate post for this set.

Lawley Skirt, by Elbe Textiles. I sewed this in cotton seersucker from stash. There is a separate post about this skirt.

Jameson sweater, by Thea Coleman. This was knit in Lion Brand LB Collection Merino Yak Alpaca, in Navy. This sweater has a separate post. There were, of course, modifications.

June Charity knitting, my vanilla hat pattern. I used stash leftover yarns and my 80 stitch hat pattern.

  • New Cast- ons

Paris Toujours shawl

June 2022 socks for me

  • Works in Progress

8 pairs of pajama pants for the three of us

2 pairs of pajama shorts with pockets for me

2470 Women’s Lace Border Tank Top

Knitting my memories blanket

White denim skirt

Bench rehab project

  • Goals for next month

Get bench sanded and topper stripped

Sew toile for the Saltwater Slip Dress

Use either the pink gingham or gray linen fabric

A whole lot of making happened in June. In all honesty, a whole lot of making was done in the last two weeks of June. I finished the Lawley skirt and the Jameson sweater, two projects that I wanted to finish for a long time. I finally got my life together and sorted out the cubbies and my fabric stash. I forgot to take a before picture, of course. But I finally got my notions and thread sorted out. I got my patterns sorted and organized. My cubbies are now sewing supplies only, which is what I have been trying to accomplish for a while.

I sorted all of my fabrics and pulled out all of the flannel fabrics that I bought a year or two ago to make family pajama pants. Getting those pulled out made a lot more room for clearing the fabric out of the bottom cubby. I spent a couple of hours getting all of the pajama pants cut out and stacked on the arm chair to work on as I get time. Each set has a matching set for the Husband and Feebs, or me and Feebs. I want to have those done and put away for colder weather.

The month of June was a pretty good one. It started with the news that the Husband passed his dreaded test. The relief of that was so immense, we still haven’t fully adjusted to it. We went on our camping trip that weekend and had a pretty good time. Feebs and her bestie had a great time. We had some hitches, but all in all, it was pretty great. The next weekend was spent with the Ladies. We went over to swim and hang out. It was a lovely afternoon spent with fun people and puppies. That following week was party hell. My coworker and I planned and executed the 40th bash for our office party planner. What do you do when the office party planner has a party? You wing it and do your best. A and I were stressed to the roots of our hair, but the birthday girl seemed to really enjoy herself. The next weekend was my oldest niece’s graduation party. We are so proud of her and had a lovely time celebrating her. Unfortunately, the party was the gift that kept giving. We ended up getting Covid. Well, Feebs got Covid, then she gave it to me, then I gave it to the Husband. This ended up taking us out of circulation for 2 weeks. We are so lucky that our symptoms were relatively mild. The Husband and I both were prescribed the Paxlovid medication to get over it faster. The Father got Covid too, separately. Luckily, he is recovering nicely. Can Covid be gone now? Please? I am really over it. We also had Father’s Day, which was nice. It was pretty low-key and mellow. We have had to postpone it for both of our Father’s due to Covid, so those will be rescheduled soon. Feebs and I made meatloaf cake with pink potato frosting for the Husband. It was so cute, and he really loved it.

Last but certainly not least, I have signed up for Fall classes at the local junior college. I started school in 1999, and have yet to finish. I have decided to get back to chipping away at it. I have signed up for English and a Health class. I am still sorting out what A. S. major path I will be following. I have the dreaded Math class set up for Spring. I met with a counselor and got myself figured out, for now. I am trying to keep things in perspective and not freak out over what will happen. I know the last date that I can drop classes and there is no pressure to complete this quickly. So, I am going to start this and just check off the boxes as I go. One step at a time, right?

So that should sum me up for June. July has some surprises coming. We have a trip planned and the biggest surprise for Feebs. I am crossing my fingers and toes that everything will go smooth and all will be well. I guess I better get my knitting planned for the trip… I hope you are well and staying healthy!

Loves,
M

Making Mrs. Collins

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Here is some information about me.  My name is Michelle.  I live in the East Bay Area of California, USA.  I live here with my delightful husband- AKA The Husband and our delightful daughter- AKA Feebs.  I come from a large family, who is both loving and dysfunctional and I love everything about them.  Sarcasm is my primary language, English is secondary.  I work in the county government sector.  I love my job, even when I hate my job. 

Now a little about my making.  I have been a knitter since the tender age of 8.  My grandparents had me at their house for a week, during Christmas, in 1988.  My grandmother was a knitter, quilter, sewer, etc., and could make all the things.  She used to call me her magpie because I talked non-stop.  She got the idea to teach me to knit after she noticed how mesmerized and quiet I became when she would pull out her knitting.  She decided that it was the best way to keep her sanity during the week I would be staying there.  I loved everything about it and have continued to knit throughout my life.  I became a KNITTER around 2001.  That is when I learned how to knit garments, new techniques, and new challenges.  I now knit ALL the things.  I do all garments and accessories, colorwork, cables, lace (though it’s not my favorite), in the round, seamed. I knit ALL the things. 

My Sister #1 and I taught ourselves how to crochet one summer when she was pregnant with my oldest nephew, so I was about 14.  I can crochet a mean square or rectangle, but that is pretty much where it ends.  One of my goals is to expand my crochet knowledge, with an idea to crochet a Dotted Doubles blanket and maybe a beautiful mandala top.

Sewing has been a to-do for me for many years.  Only recently have I had the nerve to just sew the thing and not expect perfection.  I realize that the only way I get better will be to actually do it.  I have a fair amount of knowledge and understanding of techniques.  Even if I didn’t, we are lucky to live in the era of YouTube.  Anything you need to understand can be found there; I am sure of it.  While I can’t see sewing becoming a Zen process for me, like knitting is, I want to get more comfortable with it.  I want to make garments that look handmade vs. homemade.  I want to proudly sport my me makes, not for the praise, but so that I can be comfortable in my clothes.  I am a very standard size.  I can buy anything off the rack, and it will fit.  I do realize how lucky I am for that.  I simply don’t follow trends or like to buy disposable, cheaply made items.  I want the kind of clothes that I want, and I am not always able to find them on the shelf.  It takes a lot for me to go shopping and I tend to keep my clothes for a looooong time.  I have a Brothers CS6000i sewing machine, and a Brothers 1034D serger.  Why on God’s green earth I got a serger, when it took me a solid year to get the courage to take it out of the box and try it, I will never know.  I fully stand by the statement that buying craft supplies, and making things are two completely different hobbies.

Other crafts that I dabble in are cross-stitch, fabric dyeing (though this is more necessity than hobby), and candle making (which is a very new to me).  Cross-stitch is something that I do very infrequently and is all about the product.  I really have to want a finished object in order to do it.  I have a dream of learning how to quilt and making a quilt or two in the future. 

The Yarn Harlot calls her blog her virtual living room.  I consider mine to be my virtual brain.  It is cluttered and chaotic and sometimes the words won’t make sense.  It also has to be treated with kindness and respect.  This blog is for me to (hopefully) stay organized and keep a history of my making, new skills/ mistakes, and progress.  I have no idea if anyone else will ever read it, and that is okay.  If someone does, I ask that they be respectful and kind.  I am snarky and sarcastic and end a lot of sentences with …. (that’s generally how you know I am being sarcastic), but I don’t ever intend to be mean or disrespectful.  I guess I just ask for the same in return. 

The format for this blog will be:

  • A post for each finished object, with an honest description of how I feel I did on the project.  I want to review the pattern and fabric used.  I need to call myself out when I was being lazy or sloppy on something, so that hopefully I will do better the next time.  I also want to make notes on new techniques that I tried and how I feel I can improve on them.  Also, any project modifications that I want to document for future makes.
  • A post at the end of each month with all finished objects completed for the whole month, cast-ons, and works in progress.
  • Dream posts- projects that I am preparing to undertake or new crafts that I am researching/ stocking up for. 
  • Event posts- I attend 2-3 making events per year (Stitches West and Lambtown festival are the most common).  I want to start going to more events as life progresses, especially sewing and quilting events.
  • Miscellaneous posts- things that I simply must document.  You never know with my brain….

So this is how it will all start, let’s see where it goes.  I guess I will start with my January monthly makes post, even though we are half-way through February.  Better late than never…

Loves,

M

p.s., when I refer to my family (especially my sisters) and friends with a number, I am referring to their chronologic order in the flowchart of my life, not their level of coolness.