Turning the Page

Over the weekend I traded in my red pen for colored pencils and balls of yarn.

August was officially editing month. All three books where in some stage of editing at once. It was a bit batty keeping them all straight, especially since things like "blp" and "blo" are different book to book. Now that syntax and most of the math are sorted for 2 of the 3 books, it is time to start #4. Right?

Right. Isn't that what you all do? Finish one huge job and move straight into the next. Well, I do.

I haven't had a planning binge in quite a while. Actually the last one was at my old house, so over a year at least. Our dining room table looked like a mess for most of the weekend, until late on Sunday when I had a plan. I always think it is funny that I sketch, swatch, and pull out inspiration; then have to throw most of it out. To boil it all down into a cohesive book. On the wall of the studio are folders hanging for each project in the book. I am a visual person, so I need to see my lists in graphic form. I have the sketch, yarn choice, color, and swatch all in the clear folder just staring at me. They will stay up until I finish the book (or I decide to finally paint... the yellow walls are starting to talk to me.)

Right now its the quiet before the storm. I have the designs chosen and yarns ordered. I have my task list for September worked out (10 projects to design and make in 30 days). Of course, I can't take a real break though. I still have 2 more projects to write up for Knit and Crochet Now (especially since the new season will start airing in a few months!) Besides Sept is only 2 days away.

Hopefully, even though I have the new book starting, I am hoping to be able to have time to blog a bit more about life and writing again. We will see.

Best of Knit It

This week a got a copy of the book Best of Knit It. Do you remember Knit It? It was a magazine for simpler knitting patterns. I actually loved it. It was all projects that I could tackle at the time.

Well, we now share publishers (Wiley) and they got in a jam and asked me to help them out. They needed a charity shawl that looked really close to the knitted version they already had in about a week. My handy crocheter came to all our rescue and whipped up my design in no time. The result is above and to the side. It came out really cozy in my opinion. Nice to snuggle up with in the winter.

The book has 100 patterns in it of both knitting and crochet. I counted over 30 crochet patterns. So worth your while if you only do one or the other too, especially for the price. The cover shrug I still love all these years later and would still totally make for myself. I will warn you there are some.. eh, winners?... in there. You will see what I mean, but brace yourself for some bulky novelty yarn in a handful of patterns. Most you will like, though, so do just skip those pages. There are sweaters, blankets, toys, hats, and more that have lace, cables, and colorwork. I will also caution that there are no stitch diagrams for the crochet patterns, if you really like them. It is a nice collection though, and a huge book for the price. I mean, 100 patterns?, that is a ton!

Slowly Getting there

I am slowly, slowly getting through my mountain of work. I can't believe that I only have one project to crochet at the moment. I have two coming but the yarn is not here, so I am pretending they don't exist. Even better is that I only have 2 patterns to write and some technical stuff for the 3rd book. (The picture is another preview of the book, if you have been following these random previews. I have been really really closed lipped about this book on purpose. The content is so awesome that I want it to speak for itself when it comes out next year. All I can say is hold on to your hats!)

My goal is to tie up all these loose ends by the middle of August so I can clear the decks. Literally. I want to throw out everything in my office and finally move in. I need to start sketching and swatching this month for another big project-- and I just can't think in all that junk.

The good news is my family just welcomed another baby this past weekend; so I have another baby to spoil and then give back to her mother. Love that! At least she will keep my hands crocheting, coming up with something cute for her to wear.