My Sister's Knitter KAL/CAL

So Andi over at My Sister's Knitter has started up a KAL with the aim of finishing up projects. Even though I rarely have many WIPs (Works in progress), I thought I'd join in. At the moment, I have 4 WIPs. Starting in the top left corner and moving clockwise we have: the Prairie shawl, Strathcona (an embarrassing late bday present for my Mum.), a yet to be revealed sweater design, and a simple old shale scarf.

My goal is to finish the sweater. I only have a sleeve and a bit to go. Then I'd like to finish up the Prairie shawl. Strathcona has become my car and appointment knitting, so I won't worry about finishing it too quickly. And if I wait long enough, it can become Mum's next birthday scarf.
The old shale scarf is a hard call to make. It is a variegated yarn that has been knit in a way where the colors line up. I'm a little worried that the scarf will be too short. It's pretty wide, so I'm thinking about going up 2 needle sizes to make it longer and narrower. But this means that I get to figure out how many stitches will make the colors line up.... again. I'm not too enthusiastic about do the set up again. Unfortunately, having a too-short scarf is also a poor alternative to continuing on. My goal for this one during the KAL is to make up my mind on what to do with it.

Is anyone else participating in the KAL? (It's on ravelry as well). Do you have a blog post of shame like this one? Feel free to share how many WIPs you have... if you dare.

Mossley Latte

Earlier this month I finished another pair of socks. This pair was made with the Vanilla Latte Socks pattern. The pattern was really easy to follow and I quite like the result. The yarn was Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Silkie Socks That Rock" in the Mossley Manly color way. I loved how the yarn looked when I bought it, but I was unsure of how it would knit up. I am pleased to report that Silkie Sock base knits up beautifully. 

Scooter, as always, wanted to assist during the photo shoot. As soon as Mum sat down, he leapt into her lap. Now if only I had made a pair of matching socks for him.

Stash Sisters

The last time I showed a sneak peek of this sweater was in February. When I knit the last one, it was made to fit the model. This time, it's going to fit me. I wasn't expecting to be so excited making this sweater again, but I am. I do wish for a few things though: I wish I was done knitting it and that The Book was out so that I could wear it. I also wish it was cold so that it would be possible to wear it for more than five minutes without overheating.

This version is made with Stansborough's Mythral in the color Takahe which Wei Siew so kindly gifted me. The yarn is glorious. For those who are use to only knitting with Merino wool, it might feel a little rough. But for me, it is perfect. Every time I wear the sweater, it will be a big, warm hug that reminds me that I have a yarn buddy who willingly gave up their favorite stash for me. You can't get any closer in the yarn world than that. It's like being blood brothers. Or in this case, stash sisters.

As for The Book, I have spent the last few days writing up the introduction, acknowledgments, and a few other non-pattern pages. It is so close to being done, yet it will still take over a month to get everything ready for the release. Even after The Book itself is finished, I'll still have to get my website updated, all the ravelry descriptions written, pictures resized for the different places they will be posted. It's funny how there are so many details tied up in a project like this. I sort of wish I could have several of me running around to get some of this done faster. But everything is still moving forward, even if it feels like it is at a snails pace. 

Shout, Shout, Let It All Out

Did anyone hear a really loud shout today? That was me. I finished drawing the last diagram for The Book. (Nevermind that I still need to scan them in...) At last, I emerge from diagram purgatory. 

In other news, I've continued working on the Prairie Shawl. Although it has gotten set aside temporarily in favor of a sweater. The sweater is one of the patterns in The Book. I'm testing it. You know... to make sure my size comes out right. How convenient that I "have" to make myself a sweater.

Pedro The Cat

Meet Pedro the cat. My Mum needle felted him the other day. Pedro wasn't originally going to have a mustache. But while deciding what color his mouth should be, it became clear that he didn't need a mouth. He was in need of a mustache.

Pedro is quite attractive with his striped back and tail.

No detail was left unfelted. He has individual toes and a butthole.

Pedro's a cool cat. He and Scooter have been hanging out.

Mum wanted me to share her crafting triumph with you guys. Her little needle felted creatures are pretty neat. I'm hoping she'll make a needle felted Scooter sometime in the future.

A Big, Scary Step

New opportunities are presenting themselves as I work on The Book. I may have come to a crossroads that affects which way I want to go with my business. One direction would be easier, but would mean that bear-ears.com would remain a hobby. The other direction would be quite a bit more work, but would mean that bear-ears.com becomes a serious business for me. 

This decision hinges on how many copies of my book I think I can sell. 

There is a big cascade of questions based on this one question and it's a scary step to take. It sort of feels like that scene in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade where Indiana steps into what he thinks is air, but (spoiler alert) actually turns out to be a bridge. 

This is a test knit of one of the patterns in the book.  

I really hope that when all is said and done, I'll be on the other side with the Holy Grail in my hand.