reflections

Thank you for all of your well wishes. Happy to report that my back is slowly getting better. I ended up taking all of last week off from work after not being able to get out of bed the day after New Year's Day. I overdid it the week before and ended up with a ruptured disc in my lower back which was pressing down on a nerve. It had gotten so painful that I couldn't sit up and could barely walk. So the first week of 2017 ended up being a pretty dull affair with no knitting accomplished. On the bright side, I managed to get a head start on my reading goals. 4 books in one week!

Now that my back is truly on the mend, I'm excited to cast on some new projects. But before looking ahead to what this year will bring, I wanted to briefly reflect on some things that I learned in 2016:

15 pairs of socks, 3 cowls, 2 sweaters, 1 shawl, 1 ornament

Socks Socks and more Socks: I will fondly remember 2016 as the year that I got bit with the sock knitting bug. It has been so much fun learning a couple of different heel techniques (Afterthought & Strong heels) besides the traditional heel flap. Plus I gave toe-up socks a try. Designing a pair of tabi socks was also a highlight. But the number one most satisfying thing that I learned from a year of sock knitting is being able to do the Kitchener stitch without having to refer to written instructions or diagrams ever again.

Improvising a top-down sweater: This was a huge accomplishment for me. Still can't believe that I managed to pull it off. I learned so much in the process, such as the importance of planning but also being flexible when certain parts of the plan didn't work or needed to be changed.

Thank you for all of your support and kindness! Even though my blogging has been sporadic at best this past year, I still treasure all of the wonderful connections that I have made here. Looking forward to what this new year will bring for all of us! Hopefully lots of love, good health, beautiful yarn and shiny new projects :)

systems & tools

I decided to hold off on starting any large time consuming projects until some more WIP's were finished. Some easy vanilla socks were cast on instead. Yarn is the popular Design Line by Arne & Carlos (first edition) in the Summer Night colourway. Fun! I also couldn't resist buying another knitting gadget: the Sock Ruler. Like I need another knitting ruler! But I have a hard time accurately measuring my socks-in-progress without having to resort to a mini-wrestling match so it was worth buying and has been used quite a bit so far. Another useful gadget is this sock knitting needle holder. I always get paranoid that my project will slip off the dpn's as it gets shoved around in my knitting bag. Also found a cute storage solution for my jumble of dpn's with this nicely sized pencil case.

I wanted to talk a little bit about how I've been managing the WIP basket this year. Pretty sure by now that you are all aware of my newly discovered love of sock knitting. Well, it turns out that an unexpected but most welcomed side effect to that addiction has been a noticeable lack of inclination to start new projects. Besides socks, that is. I have been diligently working on one WIP during my spare time on my days off until it gets done. Then on the days that I have to work, I get to relax and wind down with some perfectly mindless sock knitting. Where as before, I would come home after a 12 hour shift, eat a lonely late night dinner (since the guys are both fast asleep) and then pass out in front of the tv because all of my knitting required too much concentration. Knitting a little bit before bedtime on an undemanding project really is a great stress reliever. Plus, focusing on just two projects at one time has made me feel so much more productive. So far this year, I have completed 5 projects with two more close to being off the needles. That's a personal record for sure! So, what is your system for managing WIP's? How many WIP's can you juggle at one time before things start to feel a little crazy & out of control?

here's looking at you 2015

Although I thoroughly enjoy the excitement, togetherness and fun that surrounds Christmas, it's the quietness and peace of the week after that is my favorite part of the holidays. The guests are gone, the house is still relatively clean and the fridge is full of yummy leftovers. There's nothing too pressing that needs to be done. I love having the time to reflect on the year just past and to set some goals for the new year ahead.

The overriding theme for 2015 was knitalongs. Such a surprise to see that I had participated in ten KAL's! I guess my inner social butterfly was waiting until this year to find its wings and fly :)

Also taking note of the fact that there were a lot fewer finished objects this year than in previous years. However, I can honestly say that I love every single thing that came off the needles. Both the process of making them and the items themselves gave comfort/pleasure/peace in a year that saw many personal challenges.

For 2016, I intend to keep things pretty simple: continue to whittle down the stash, knit garments that can be easily incorporated into my everyday wardrobe, dust off the oh-so-rusty crochet skills, knit down the WIP pile that's been slowly growing over the past few months:

.... and most importantly, have FUN!

Wishing you all a happy, creative, healthy and peaceful New Year! Thank you for all of your kindness and friendship!

punk rudolph

I hope that everyone who celebrated had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was lovely even though I had to work a half day. Being in the healthcare profession, it is a given that weekends & holidays are not necessarily days/nights off. But I do think that it's sad to see Thanksgiving Day, the one major holiday that has traditionally not been overly commercialized, is now not the case. The shopping malls and big box stores around us were all opened yesterday. And the ones who were closed had early openings on Black Friday. It has been a number of years since I have ventured out of the house on Black Friday. Can't imagine waking up that early to shop! Or standing in those kinds of lines for anything other than a concert ticket to a favorite band or let's be honest....yarn! I would much rather stay home and knit gifts for my loved ones. "What kinds of gifts" you might be asking? Oh, how 'bout a Punk Rudolph Hat?!? 

Is it my imagination or does my beginner's attempt at bobbles make these guys look like reinducks?

It's the perfect holiday headgear for a little guy who loves to follow the beat of his own drums and adores singing along to loud boisterous music. This free pattern is by the fabulous chrisknits. I love how she incorporated the adorable reindeer chart originally used for a sweater into a hat in three sizes. Yes, even adults are not left out of all this reindeer cuteness! In fact, Punk Rudolph was knit in the adult size since the little guy has a huge noggin for his age. All the yarns used were from the stash. Sometimes shopping from the stash can lead to some unexpected color choices. This one even surprised me! Now off to do more stash diving for the hubby's hat. And then mine. Knitting a couple of reindeer hats on Black Friday....now that's punk!

One big pompom coming right up as soon as I figure out how to use my Clover pompom maker

blog hop - creativity

Last week, Steph invited me to participate in a blog-hop about a topic that is nearest and dearest to my heart: creativity. Speaking of which, her blog is one of my favorite sources of inspiration for beautiful knits, witty writing and other hi jinks.

1.  What have been the doings/makings/scribblings at your desk/making table this week?

There is a jumble of crafty things on my desk this week. Here is the breakdown:

* 365 Things to Make and Do is a constant source of fun projects to make with the little guy. We especially love the ones involving bugs and pirates.

* Can't wait to get started on these mini embroidery kits.

* Another pin-loom coaster in progress.

* A random assortment of knitting which includes sweater ornaments, a newly started summer top, my Hitofude cardigan which is in desperate need of attention and...

* The ever-present hexipuffs.

2.  Where are you currently finding your inspiration?

The answer to this question is pretty cliched, but I find inspiration everywhere. Well, maybe not in the hubby's messy garage or my laundry room, but in everyday things like....my garden, or the hydrangeas growing just outside the front door, or the bunnies who claim our backyard for themselves, or my nieces and their budding sense of style, or the little guy's funny renditions of his favorite songs. I could go on & on & on. Also, there are so many wonderfully inspiring blogs that I love to visit. It is oftentimes very difficult to stay focused on my current projects when I see all of the beautiful knits/crochet/sewing, etc. that abound on these blogs. And then there's Ravelry. It is embarrassing to admit how many hours I spend ogling all of the gorgeous projects and patterns there.

3.  How important is being creative to you and how do you blend this with your work-life-family balance?

It is a constant juggling act most days, but I try to fit in a little time for knitting, listening to music or reading every day. Since I work pretty long shifts (12 to 14 hours), I consider myself lucky if I can knit just 15 minutes before bedtime. But then there are days filled to the brim with making, knitting, and other fun things. So it all balances out in the end. I also think it is important to teach by example. Seeing his parents knitting or creating funny motorcycle videos shows the little guy how much fun making things can be. I love seeing him caught up in his own creative ventures....most recently, composing hilarious lyrics to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody :)

Thanks, Steph, for letting me join in the fun! And now I would like to keep the blog-hop ball rolling by inviting Chris and Kepanie to play along. I so enjoy visiting their blogs and reading about their adventures in life and knitting.

kissing the holidays

I hope that all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving last week had a wonderful one. It was a work heavy week for me (60 hours!) but I still managed to spend part of Thanksgiving Day with my two favorite guys. We had a quiet and cozy evening. Some of it was spent putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house. Everything feels more festive when there's red and green everywhere. I asked the little guy what his favorite part of the holidays was. His answer made me chuckle: candy canes! What a simple and fun response, so I decided to make that our theme for this year. Keeping it simple, with lots of good food, sweet treats, handmade goodies and best of all, meaningful time spent with loved ones. Oh, and Christmas movies! Gotta have plenty of those.

Here's my holiday gift knitting list this year. Again, keeping it simple:

☃ Handmade ornaments for Grandma L. (my MIL) and hopefully for myself, too. I am currently knitting a few of these. Also planning on casting on for a couple of these adorable (and free!) holiday stockings.
☃ A hat each for my two guys. This has become a winter tradition. As is choosing a hat pattern from Mr. Stephen West. This year's pattern is Piece Out. Love the playful brim on this one.
☃ A couple of quick to knit cowls for my two nieces. I was at Target the other night and saw some simple ribbed ones made out of sparkly chunky yarn. Then I found some similar yarn at Michael's yesterday. Serendipity!

Hope that your holiday knitting is going well. I plan on just enjoying each project as it comes and not getting stressed out if everything is not finished by December 25th. My family know me well and have come to expect a few IOU's under the tree along with their candy canes ❄

just knit

Sometimes you just want to cast on and knit. No thinking. No pattern. No complications. Just knit stitch after knit stitch. Some might find a large tube of stockinette stitches boring. For me, today, it is the perfect accompaniment to the rain outside. Hope that you are having the same peaceful start to your week.

Lessons Learned in 2012/Looking Ahead

New Years Eve was a quiet and cozy affair here. Just the way I like it! We spent the day cooking up an army's worth of appetizers and the evening eating & watching the ball drop. Today has been just as lazy with my only plans being to eat, knit and maybe watch The Sound of Music, if I can wrestle the t.v. remote away from the guys. But first, I wanted to take a moment to look back on the year just past.

Despite the fact that the total number of projects made in 2012 were lower than in previous years, each and every one of them were fun to make and brightened my days with their colors, textures and patterns. I loved both the process and end product for each project. Being more selective in choosing what I spent my precious crafting time on was a valuable lesson learned.

I also learned that in spite of good intentions of wanting to challenge myself with new techniques, what I craved after a long day was a simple & mindless project to work on. And so 2012 was the year of easy, unfussy projects.

Shawls

Sweaters

Cowls

Mittens/Hats

Crochet

Of course, I couldn't end the year without making some fun softies.

Henry couldn't pass up the chance to photobomb.

These cuties have quickly found a place in my home and heart. I know that they will bring many years of smiles to come. And that is what crafting should be after all. A source of happiness and enjoyment, an outlet for our creativity, a haven from the stresses of our day & world. I am looking forward to the blank slate of days ahead and to filling them with joyful projects. Here's to the promise of a bright New Year. Thank you for continuing to join me on this creative journey!

Slowing Down

Did you know that we are in the midst of a Slow Crafts Movement? I had not heard of the term until I came across this book** which showcases the art of hand sewing. I guess that the concept has been a subconscious part of my life ever since the knitting bug bit many years ago. The Slow Crafts Movement to me is a return to the traditional ways of doing things. It lets us connect with the past as well as preserve these traditions for future generations. With so many devices on the market, it is harder and harder to be unplugged nowadays. Even the act of reading a book has become technologized by Kindles, nooks and iPads. Sure, these devices offer fast and easy access to a world of information with just a few clicks. And I freely admit to being hooked on my Kindle and iPad. But I also miss the weight of a book in my hands, the sound of turning pages, the smell of paper. The act of involving the senses! That is why I love knitting. What modern gadget can replace the feel of yarn, be it rough or soft? The beautiful colors in every shade imaginable. The smell of wool. The sound of needles busily clicking away as a wondrous weight of fabric grows from them. My family often accuse me of being old-fashioned. Yeah, I am. It is my way of slowing down.

**If you are interested in unplugging your sewing machine and making classic, pretty projects by hand, then this book is definitely one to look into. There are lots of vintage inspired projects for the house, toys, bags, even an apron made out of button-down shirts. Each project is rated with a portability factor for those who want to sew on the go.

Where Are They Now - 2KCBWDAY4

I was five years old when my family and I came to America from Vietnam. I don't remember much about the actual journey, but one memory stands out to this day: losing all of our possessions to the ocean during a transfer from one boat to another. So I have no pictures or memento from my life before my fifth year. That is probably why I tend to hoard all of my little boy's childhood keepsakes. That is why my most treasured finished object is a blanket that I had knitted for him when he was three years old.

It's just a simple log cabin blanket inspired by the one in the first Mason-Dixon knitting book. My son actually prefers a store bought one, and that's okay. The time and love I had put into making this little memory for his future was time well spent.

Thoughts

Ever since last week, I've had the same phrase running over and over in my head: this too shall pass. On a personal level, it's because my little boy has had quite a few physical challenges to deal with recently, starting with a serious leg injury and ending with a bout of pneumonia. Thankfully, he's on the mend and is now grumpily bored instead of feverish. Boredom can be easily combatted by lots of TLC, music, movies and toys. The last few days have seen us happily camped out on my bed, him watching his movies and playing with his favorite cars and me knitting on whatever catches my interest. I was able to finish the textured shawl and will post a picture once it is blocked, probably next Friday. A little progress has been made on the green monster. I really have to tackle this one soon since my niece's birthday is next week.

monster body

I've also been reading this wonderful book filled with charming knitting related stories, patterns and recipes. The author writes with such warmth and wit.

A Knitter's Home Companion by Michelle Edwards

And uh, oh. Are those yarns in the picture above the beginnings of a new WIP? Indeed they are! Stripe Study by the talented Veera Valimaki has captured me completely. But I will try to be a good aunt and finish the monster first. Make sure to check out WIP Wednesday with Tami's Amis. Warning: you might be tempted to cast on for a few more projects.

Japanese cherry blossoms courtesy of my husband's green thumb, Spring 2010

On a global level, "this too shall pass" has been a prayer in my mind every time I hear or see a story about what is happening in Japan. My husband and I were fortunate to visit Japan a few years before our son was born. For my husband, it was a sort of homecoming since he had spent many years there working and studying. For me, it was an enchanting first visit. I was in awe of the country's natural and artistic beauty. But mostly, I was charmed by the hospitality and kindness of all those we met. If anyone is interested, there are many great ways to help. The Red Cross has set up a Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami fund which you can donate to. Doctors Without Borders is also a great organization who is responding to the crisis. On a crafty note, Alicia Paulson has compiled a list of crafters who are helping to raise money. Kay Gardiner from Mason-Dixon Knitting posted a Mitered Crosses blanket pattern on ravelry with all proceeds going to Mercy Corps in their emergency relief efforts.

The Soundtrack of My Life

For me, knitting is as much about listening as it is about seeing and touching. The rhythmic clicking of the needles is the perfect accompaniment.......to my little boy's chatter as he plays with his toys, to my hubby's noises as he putters around the house, to the quiet sound of rain on a cold winter's night, to a really great song that perfectly captures my mood in that moment. What do you have playing in the background to your knitting?

Giving Thanks

I am thankful for so many things. In these tough economic times, I am thankful for a comfortable home and steady income. I am thankful for having my family close to my heart even if some of them are halfway around the world. I am thankful for having a patient and understanding husband who is my helpmeet in all things (except the housecleaning), who gives me space to enjoy my hobbies even if he still doesn't know the difference between wool and acrylic. I am thankful for my precocious little boy who allows me to see the world through his unique point of view. Happy Thanksgiving!

History Repeating Itself

 knitting ninjas!

While hanging out with my two nieces and their friend, we became involved in a heated discussion about music. They are currently into a band called the Black Veil Brides. I told them that speed guitars and shrieking was not my cup of tea. To which they responded that I was a nerdy knitter with uncool taste in music. Being a nerdy knitter is a badge of honor in my book, but having uncool taste in music?!! That went straight through the heart! Just as I was getting ready to respond to their insult, the constant stream of corny Vietnamese love ballads that my parents used to play during every childhood road trip popped into my mind. I kept my mouth shut.



(artwork by my niece Bleach)

A Field Study*

Broken Rib Socks

Grapevine by Heidi Kirrmaier

There are as many species of knitters out in the wild as there are fishes in the sea. But some commonalities do exist. The first major subspecies observed share a trait call "startitis". These knitters tend to impulsively cast on for any and all projects that catches their eyes. They usually have multiple projects on the needles, but that does not prevent them from starting more. As for finishing any of these projects? That would require another study altogether. Then there is the (extremely rare) subspecies that have maybe at the most two projects going at once. One for travel knitting and one that requires more concentration. They have the compulsion to FINISH these projects before they can cast on for another. Did I mention that sightings of this subspecies are EXTREMELY rare? And then there is a subspecies that possibly is a hybrid of the two listed above. These knitters have a reasonable number of works in progress, say 9 or 10. Not too many that they can't finish any of them (so they tell themselves) but not too little that other knitters would consider them strange. The problem with these knitters is that they GET BORED with their current WIP's very easily. For example, they might stop knitting a pair of socks just at the point where decreasing for the toes begin and the dreaded Kitchener stitch comes into play (exhibit A). Some of their WIP's might be finished save for a missing sleeve (exhibit B). For more examples of any of the above subspecies (you be the judge) go to TAMI'S blog.

*no harm was done to any knitters in the making of this study

Reasons Why the World Needs Another Knitting Blog

....er, it doesn't....but I'm going to start one anyways! After years of enjoyably drooling over the talents of many wonderful bloggers I have finally decided to start journaling my own crafty adventures. I learned how to knit when I was around eight by watching my mother knit a sweater for my sister. It was made out of pink acrylic with long sharp metal double-pointed needles. The sweater was never finished but I inherited the needles. I lost interest in knitting after a failed attempt at learning how to purl. My next encounter with knitting was in senior year of high school. I sat in front of a girl in English class who worked on her sweater while we waited for class to begin. She had just came back from a year abroad in Sweden where her host mother taught her how to knit. I loved watching her needles clicking away as the fabric grew. The yarn was a lovely gray tweed with flecks of red and orange. Fast forward through college and graduation and the first years of career and marriage. After years of cramming for tests and writing papers, I finally had some spare time to devote to myself. I remembered that girl in English class, how content she looked as she created something before my eyes. I wanted that feeling for myself. It's been ten plus years now and knitting still makes me happy!