Let me explain WHY

WOW. First off let me thank everyone who emailed me. Though it's quiet ok to post your comments directly on the blog, trust me I won't be offended. So with that said let me answer the question that I got 5 of. WHY did you pick that shawl?

After many hours of thought, I picked the Triangles within Triangles shawl because of the people who will be bidding on it. Yes, I do want it to WOW them but 99.7% of the people there will be 60 and over, so I wanted something that was beautiful, not too over the top and something that they too would be comfortable wearing. The ladies in my family are skilled in many needlecrafts. They tend to appreciate the overall beauty of an item not necessarily the complexity of it. It is hard to understand the difficulty level if you know nothing about it. (it all looks hard to do). I also then had to look at the time frame and since Aug 13th is about 2.5 months away, I felt I could knit this at a reasonable pace and have time left over. I will be using a handpainted lace weight yarn doubled, since the pattern calls for finger weight yarn. Of course there will be photos of the work in progress. Now this isn't the only reasons why I chose the pattern, but they were the reasons that tipped the scale in the direction it went.

Again, to all those who emailed me, thank you so much.
Blessed Be
Satori

I Finally Decided. LOL. It's called Triangle with Triangles by Heartstrings. This is the shawl that I will be making for the reunion. It's a beautiful shawl and from what I have learned it's an easy to remember repeat so that is good and it makes up fairly quickly. What really got my attention was how different it looks with different yarn. So now the search for the "Perfect" yarn begins. Blessed Be, Satori  

Another HAT! I thought I would do something different this time. So again on my size 7's I just did straight ST St. Basic decreases every other row when I got it to the size I wanted, and then added the pom pom. Now about this pom pom thing. This is the first hat I have added one to. It was a last minute decision, but I think it's kind of cute.  

Hats

Recently I have received some emails asking about the hats and if I use a pattern. So I thought that I would post a little about the hats. First off I don't use a pattern. Using size 7 needles, double points I CO 80-85 stitches (depending on the size and yarn). Then to get the curl up instead of ribbing I Stockinette stitch for 10 rows. Since the last row is a Purl row, I purl another row to stop the curling. The body of the hat can now be done in stripes, or patterns or whatever you are feeling like doing. I kind of eye the length and once I get it to the length that I want the decreases start. Alternation 1 row of decreasing and the next knit. (Depending on the number of stitches I first knit 2 together and then knit 4 or 5 and continue this across. The next row is knit.) Once I have decreases to 8 or less stitches I cut the yarn with about a 12 inch tail, drawing it through the loops with a darning needle, pulling it tight. Then turn the hat inside out I pull the needle through tie a knot and then hide the loose end.

I hope that makes sense. If not please email me and I'll explain more. Winging it, is never easy to explain. ;-)

It's a Libra thing or is it a Rooster thing ? ? ? ?

Living my life seeking balance has not been easy. And before I go on further please note that the following will end up being my way of validating my crazy "gift" of rationalization on one scale and indecision on the other, but sometimes it's good to put words to it, maybe it will help me. LOL I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Ok, back to balance. Being a Libra, also the Rooster in Chinese astrology, I have on COUNTLESS times been overwhelmed by the question "which one?" Being a knitter in today's society hasn't made this situation any easier. With all the gifted spinners out there that have some of the most beautiful yarn displayed on the internet for sale and the yarn companies that are doing the same and the millions of patterns, how on earth can someone like me deal with the torment of creativity overload? (that is where the scale gets tipped). It never fails when I start looking at yarn I get so caught up in the colors and the texture that I almost forget what I am originally looking for, because all this yarn is so inspirational. And I haven't even began to talk about the patterns out there. My goodness that is another day of ranting. Just when you think you have picked out the perfect one, there is another one even better and of course it would look good in a variety of colors and textures so it just goes on and on. Now I have tried the write down what you need and stick to it, but I don't stick to well. LOL.

Now for the rationalization. This should tip the scales the other way, let's cross our fingers. I have to admit that beauty and creativity is my weakness. If I'm not creating I get really grumpy, well, actually that's putting it nicely according to the rest of my family. (smile) So to prevent this from happening on a regular basis and putting them through undeserved hell, I continue to torture myself with the choice of "which one." Putting myself through the emotional roller coaster of looking at all the yarns and fibers and patterns. Finding the right yarn to go with the right pattern and finding the yarn that I have no clue what I am going to do with it, but I must have because it may not be there next week and let's not forget finding the cutest pattern that is so versatile that you can do all kinds of things to it. To me a definite must have for those gifts and donation items. (I have a drawer in my filing cabinet of these). Maybe I should call these patterns and yarns to "What If's". What if someone needs or would like a shawl, or hat, or mittens, or socks, or sweater, or scarf, then I will have the yarn and patterns available to knit them something special. See there, I did it, I rationalized my craziness. I feel better now.

I think I'll go knit, and while I am sitting in my favorite chair, knitting with a great cup of coffee, I will think about all the other people out there that suffer like I do.

May you have hours of happy knitting,
Satori

www.knittingsatori.com

Finally I was able to take a little time today and work on my web site. Knitting Satori. I've added some of the blog links that I go to and some charity links also.

It's been a terribly long day and I'm headed to my favorite chair to knit for awhile.

What do I title this?

I feel like I have slacked in my updates and getting the links on my blog, for something that is suppose to be fun, it's amazing the pressure you can feel. Yes, it's self induced, but it's still pressure. Being an artist I tend to put a little more pressure on myself which doesn't help ;-) Anyway, this weekend I hope to have the time to update ALL my web sites, knitting, the blog, and my business. (Having to do all this web work keeps my from knitting, yuck)

Yesterday for a change the kids and I all had the same time available so we went to see Star Wars. WOW. It's like we are still processing all of it, the good, the bad and the disturbing. From the technical and artistic point it's awesome, and graphic designers paradise. The colors were inspirational. In fact I seen some colors put together that normally you would think would be terrible, and it was gorgeous. If I can find a photo online of what I am talking about I'll post it.

But, those colors got me thinking about taking a little more risk in my color combinations. Really making each item I knit my own signature piece. I have in the past like all knitters changed gauge, changed the pattern, changed yarn color, but all within a safe and pleasing little box. It's time I take my knitting out of the box (again). It's good to break the habits we are in, especially when it comes to our creativity. Nothing rejuvenate the spirit like risk, change and accomplishment.

Be good to yourself today,
Satori

Another child's hat done! The photo isn't too good, The colors are a real deep royal purple and a contrasting light purple. Made from left over Micro Spun on size 7 needles. (which are turning out to be my favorite.)  

Knitter's Magazine

This morning at coffee, I seen that Barnes and Noble had put out the Summer issue of Knitter's magazine. There are some really cute things in this issue and they also have what they have coming for Fall previewed. Pick up a copy and flip through it. There some wraps and stoles that I am thinking about making for gifts for my family members that have late summer early fall birthdays. Anyway, take a look at the mag, there are also a few good articles in there also.

Keep knitting, keep sane,
Satori

This morning I finished another hat. This is made from some left over Simply Soft on size 7 needles. I'm thinking about adding a pom pom to the top. Last night I wasn't really tired so I got most of it done, then just did the decreasing today. Now it's on to the next one.  

This is the other child's cap I finished. It's purple and white. Made out of Micro Spun on size 7 double points. SUPER SOFT.  

Ripped it out, AGAIN

The past few days have been pretty weird. (glad that I have my knitting to distract me) So much going on, and for some reason I can't get into this scrap shawl. So I ripped it out again. Sometimes I feel like I am trying too hard to make something, instead of just letting it flow. It's the artist thing again. :-) I don't know about you but feeling like I have to be creative can stop my creativity in its tracks. I just try too hard some times. So today I divided all my stash according to it's gauge, I started sewing up a bag that I started at the beginning of Spring and bought the lining for it. I've decided to make two items for the reunion. One something casual like a stole and then make the shawl. The stole I can make fairly quickly and take it with me to work on while I am out and about. The shawl I will have to really devote myself to.

This week I finished another hat for donation and this morning I started another one. I did a crochet cast on and I really like how it's turning out. I had never done that before.

Have a great weekend, stay up late, have your favorite drink and knit on!

Aware of what is in your heart

I just got back from picking up my mail from my PO Box, and the only thing I got today was the new Patternorks 2005 Summer Update. There is some beautiful yarns and patterns in this issue. I always go into overload seeing all the yarns. LOL. Anyway, I really haven't had a chance to sit down with it and go over it like I should, but something caught my eye and I wanted to put it on the blog. On the last page (page 55) there is a new book titled The Knitting Way, by Linda Skolnik and Janice MacDaniels. Linda turned her passion for knitting into creating Patternworks. She retired in 2002. Anyway let me quote here a little from the book description, "In the words of Linda and Hanice, their book is about "becoming aware that through knitting you can hear and give attention to what's in your heart and soul..." The book is an engaging and satisfying way to explore how the nuances of knitting can apply to the larger scheme of life."

The only thing I would add is that knitting lets you listen to your spirit. If anyone has read this I would love to hear from you and find out what you thought about it. Next week is pay day and I will be ordering this book.

Blessed Be, Satori

Busy Day

I hope mom out there had a wonderful Mother's Day. My kids took me to the Reniassance Festival. I loved it. We had a great time. There were some ladies there spinning which I really enjoyed and asked a ton of questions. But they were not selling their yarn at that time. Then there were two different fiber artists there. One lady had some beautiful woven items. The colors were inspiring. They other lady had hats, tons of hats, knitted and crocheted. The day went wat too fast. I also got red roses and a huge balloon bouquet. When we got home we were all tired so we ate and laid around the house. I got to knit with no interuptions for hours. THAT WAS FANTASTIC!

Monday though was the usual hit the floor running, I got up at 5:30 and didn't stop till 1AM. Today is going to be busy, but not like yesterday. I should be able to get some knitting time in. I started a purple and white hat to donate, and I have added a few more rows to the scrap shawl. Photos will be coming, maybe this afternoon.

Sunday night while I was knitting I was thinking about how knitting affects people. The knitter, the person receiving the knitted item, and the people around those two people. Knitting really is good for everyone involved.

More later.........

Tagged!

Ok, here is my current 10 Favorite Things. (subject to change depending on monthly cycle and PMS)

10. Scotland
9. Pirates
8. Anything & everything Goth
7. Renaissance Festivals
6. Isshin Ryu Karate
5. Hearing my kids laugh so hard they cry
4. My PT Cruiser
3. My cats
2. My dog
1. Knitting

*Added bonus, a real favorite thing is the 10 pounds I have lost!!!!!!!

Ripped It Out

Have you ever started a project and just didn't like how it was turning out, it just wasn't doing anything for you as you watched it grow, row by row? Well, that happened to me last night. I was working on the scrap shawl and just didn't like the row after row of the same thing, SSSSOOOOO off the needles it came. I actually felt better after the yarn was back in a nice ball.

This morning I was surfing around and found on About.com a knitting stitch that I liked, The Turkish Stitch. So I am messing around with it now. I didn't care much for the look of the pattern they offer so I am changing it around a little. (Keeps me busy and out of trouble. LOL)

Soon there will be pictures.

Catching Up

Last night I had a chance to just sit and knit outside for about an hour or so. It was wonderful. The weather here in Georgia has been just a little cooler than it should be this time of year, so it was pretty comfortable. I worked on the scrap shawl and got quiet a bit done. Right now I am planning on just keeping it. More than likely I'll put it in the car for when everyone wants the air conditioning on super cold and I have goose bumps the size of mountains.

I finally have a little direction in the shawl that I want to make for the reunion. I have decided to purchase the finger weight yarn from KnitPicks (Color Your Own) and dye it myself and then go from there with the pattern. I think that I can pull off the WOW that I am wanting if I can add to it that I dyed the yarn myself. At some point in the future I would love to get back into spinning, but I just don't have the time to fit everything in. Anyway, once I see how the yarn turns out I will get the inspiration for the pattern. For some reason I always run into creative problems when I pick out the pattern first, I should have known to start with the yarn and go from there.

It's fun seeing how people develop their creativity and how it works different with each person. I have a friend who is a seamstress, she can look at the fabric and see the end garment, others have to have the pattern first. What works for you, are you inspired by the colors, the texture, the pattern or a combination?

Just wondering

Can you tell I am behind in my blogging???? I finished this hat on Sunday. It's to donate to Head Huggers. I would like to get about 10 made up to ship. This one is made from recycled yarn and left over black microspun. I had forgotten how soft that microspun really is.  

My small project that I started Sunday night is another hat to donate. I have a lot of MicroSpun and some Boucle leftover from the Denim Blue shawl so I thought I'd make the rolled brim out of the boucle and then the rest of it out of the Microspun and then almost to the top add the rest of the boucle. I'll add more photos as the hat develops.  

While I have been trying to figure out what kind of shawl to make for the reunion, I went through some of my left over yarn and scraps and started another comfort shawl. This time instead of garter stitch I'm doing st s. I'm also using smaller needles, 10 1/2 us. I guess I can't stand not to have a big project going while I have other small ones going too. LOL.