Drama!

Everything in my life has been dramatic the last couple of weeks and I've been coming home exhausted. Kids, work, everything has hit that May (it needs to be summer) crazy. Even though there have been several nights where I haven't felt like knitting at all, I've gotten a lot done. And I plan to be more organized and productive in the near future. This weekend at least!

I did a Mad May project out of Tosh Sock from Jimmy Beans Wool in the Technicolor Deamcoat colorway. It makes me happy and I wore it that day even though it was 90 degrees out. It's a Sockhead, love the pattern, and I plan to make at least another one for my oldest son. I have nicknamed it my Happy Koolaid Hat.

I also finished a quick baby knit for a shower I'm going to next weekend. I don't have any good pics yet because I haven't blocked it. But it was the perfect match of yarn, pattern, and colorway and I plan to make a couple more this summer as baby gifts. The pattern is pretty new, Sweet Little Butterfly, and it's quite simple. It's mostly stockinette except for the butterfly stitch which is really easy and cute! The yarn is Hawthorne by Knit Picks. It's a new sock yarn and I grabbed a skein on impulse when it first came out, not knowing what I would do with it. I have to say that it is a great yarn for fingering weight baby knits. The colors are beautiful. This first one is in Nob Hill and I have since picked up 4 more colors. Each time I have been concerned when placing the order online, but super pleased when I have them in hand. They are all subtlety variegated but interesting. For example the Nob Hill is mostly shades of purple but it has these bits of a light sage that make it so fun. The other colors I got are Belmont, Goose Hollow, Irvington, and Sunny Side. Goose Hollow is probably the most contrasting one I've seen in person. Irvington is gorgeous! The next baby sweater is going to be in the Sunny Side.

I am working on some Stitch Surfers for the Must Stash Podcast KAL going on through the end of June. I really didn't think I would like Stitch Surfers when I first saw them, but they are a little addicting and not much harder than a plan vanilla sock. What pushed me over the edge was Fibernymph Dyeworks inversable sets. She had a sale on Mother's Day and I got Black/Silver stripes on her Bedazzled base. I'm not flashy. I like color, but I usually wear solids. So stripes are ok but I didn't like the stitch surfers I'd seen with 2 different variegated yarns or even worse 2 different self striping! But these are perfect for me. They seem classy, almost "formal"?!? And the yarn is wonderful!

I have lots of knitting planned this summer. I'm jumping in on Camp Loopy, Stash Dash, and Tour de Fleece on top of my other goals for the year (one sock per month and/or 1 self striping project per month). Today I'm gonna list the projects I have planned to finish up during Stash Dash.

1. Darin's Grizzly Mangyle due approx. 6/22 for the Yarngasm Podcast KAL
2. In a While Peacock? Top for me. This stalled out last summer when I got to the crochet sleeves. I'm going to frog the sleeve I've already done and just do the knitted sleeves.
3. My Carson, should be a straightforward and fun knit. I've already done one for my mom. I'm almost to where the second color comes in and I may do the extended lace boarder.
4. Sperry Style (Custom Fit), this is my birthday sweater (January). Just needs sleeves!
5. Garnet Ornette Socks I'm working my way through Cookie A's Jazz Collection. This will be my 3rd of 6.

I've also been doing quite a bit of reading lately. Well, technically listening, since I'm addicted to Audible. I'm making my way through the Outlander series. I finished book 3 yesterday. The audio book reader is so good! I listen to this one to and from work in the car and while doing spreadsheets at work.

I also randomly read this because of some friends who enjoyed it. It's YA so I read it in a little over a day. It was enjoyable for what it was and I will go ahead and read the series. I read this on my kindle.

Next up is The Agincourt Bride. This is also a kindle book. I love Historical Fiction!