It’s been a very strange year, with incredible highs and
lows. Much of my time is still being
spent job-hunting, although a part-time temporary assignment has been extended
and I do have some hope of eventually being hired. So that portion of life has been challenging.
But I also have wonderful children and grandchildren, and that most exciting of
all things, new grandchildren! And since
I’m not working full-time any longer, I’ve had time to spend with these
wonderful people.
On the knitting front, I’ve been plugging away at several
things, including christening gowns for the two new granddaughters. One was born earlier this month; she’s
absolutely beautiful, healthy and growing; her gown is complete, and my
daughter loves it. And I got to go play with my 20-month-old grandson while my
daughter was busy birthing that new granddaughter! Time spent with grandchildren is always at
least three things – wondrous, happy and exhausting. And so incredibly precious! My younger grandson is an easy-going, busy
young man who is content as long as something around him has wheels. We played
with a Brio train set for hours and hours.
And at least a little of that time Grammy was considering the purchase
of knee pads – I haven’t spent that many hours in the floor in quite a few
years! The gown is below, and there are more photos on Ravelry – my handle is
pjkite.
The second christening gown, for the granddaughter due in
December, is in progress. At this point,
the overgown is about 1/3 complete and the undergown isn’t even started. But I do have time, and it’s a lace pattern
that goes quickly. I just need to buckle down and spend a couple of weeks of
dedicated knitting time on that specific project. Of course, that’s true for several of the
other projects I have going, as well…a sweater, several pair of socks, another
sweater, some slippers…best not to enumerate further.
Classes I’ve taught this summer have focused on a sweater
class – Knitting to Fit – that’s been reprised at my LYS, Clinch River Yarn
Company. In fact, this is the fifth
iteration of the class during the past three years. So we’ve planned a reunion in October where
everybody can wear their summer or winter creations and show them off. Plans call for lots of photos, a little food,
and perhaps some celebratory spirits!
Just at this moment, I’m teaching a beginner, top-down sock
class on DPNs. The first session was
yesterday, and I have seven students.
Yes, seven, only one of whom had ever tried DPNs before. Luckily, there were two other instructors in
the shop during class time, and they graciously contributed their expertise by giving
individual attention to some of the class members. Thank you, Marie and Julia! Without your help, we might have spent the
night at the shop!
This is a standard, top-down, flap-heel construction;
nothing fancy. The student knitters’
expertise is all over the place, from
knitting for 20+ years to one new knitter who didn’t know how to purl yet. Yesterday we took measurements; learned to
handle DPN’s; figured our cast-on number and then cast on; joined and began to
knit the leg. In worsted-weight yarn, on
mostly size 3 or 4 DPNs. We talked about
why I insisted on a wool content to their yarn choices, how the fiber choice
impacts the cast-on numbers and why, and why we are using such tiny
needles.
Luckily, there are two students in this group who just
finished my sweater class; they reassured the other class members that knitting
without a pattern, making it up for yourself, is perfectly possible. These ladies are the personification of
adventurous knitters – neither of them has been knitting all that long, and
both designed and knitted lovely, perfectly-fitting sweaters. These ladies are kind enough to give me some
credit for showing them how to do that, and I’m so grateful to them – they make
me feel good!
On a personal note, I’m feeling healthier and more energetic
than I have in a very long time. A food
sensitivity was diagnosed, I removed the culprit from my diet, and the results
have been extraordinary! The most
visible result is the loss of more than thirty pounds. Of course, this means none of my clothes fit
any longer, and isn’t that terrible! For
the first time in decades, it’s actually fun to shop for clothes, and I can buy
things off the rack that fit and look nice.
But I can’t indulge very often – no full-time job, remember? – so I’ve
been dusting off the sewing machine and re-working some of the clothes I’ve
shrunk out of. That’s been entertaining,
and has allowed me to re-learn some of the sewing skills I’d forgotten. I’ll also need to rip back those sweaters in
progress and start them over…
The extra time has also let me dust off another
fiber-oriented accessory – the loom!
Yes, I’ve been weaving again, on both a rigid-heddle and on the Baby
Wolf. I didn’t realize how much I’d
missed weaving until I had the opportunity to get back to it. Nothing fancy as yet – just some twill wool
yardage planned for a jacket – but I’ve got some cottolin ready to warp for
guest towels as soon as I get a little time.
This has been a rambling post, but I wanted to catch
everyone up on what’s been happening. I
do hope you’re looking forward to fall of 2012 as much as I am, and that you
have a happy, fibery time over the next few months!
