Wow, time does fly when you’re having fun! I know, it’s been a week since I wrote.

Remember the socks for DH that I frogged because I didn’t like the stitch pattern I started with? Well, I came up with a different one, that I like a lot – only thing is this pattern is really similar to Ann Budd’s sock pattern “Diagonal Rib Socks“, which is a pattern I hadn’t seen until after I was almost done with the first cuff and was spending a little time looking at patterns on Ravelry. Oh well, it’s a good pattern and DH likes it and this pair is different from all his other pairs which is what he likes.

There are some differences between “my” pattern and Ms. Budd’s – most notably I have p2, k2, p2 between the diagonal ribs and she has a series of 1×1 ribs. And of course the pair I’m working on is sized for a men’s medium, but I may have to make myself a pair with this pattern too. Other differences are: I have a 2×2 ribbed cuff (no separate “cuff” in AB’s pattern), I carried the diagonal rib pattern down the heel – looks really cool – (AB’s is normal heel stitch) and DH likes the top of the foot to be ribbed, so I am doing 2×2 rib for him (AB’s pattern has the stitch pattern to the toes). Oh, the beauty of the flexibility of knitting.

Here’s pics of DH socks so far – haven’t taken any since getting past turning the heel. These are my “take along” or “spare time knit for just a few minutes” project.

BTW, I do like Opal yarns for DH socks, it takes the hard wear he dishes out. He also likes to chose his own yarn & colors – does a pretty good job don’t you think.

And a couple of very exciting packages arrived yesterday – 1st, the book I purchased from Interweave Press Hurt Book sale – Weldon’s Practical Needlework Volume 12. Just let me say, awesome book and there isn’t a “hurt” on it anywhere! Not the binding, not the pages, nothing. If all Interweave Hurt books are like this I will certainly buy from this sale again. The postage was a little high I thought, since the book only had to come from one county away – but the price and condition of the book makes up for it.

The 2nd, and most exciting package – I received the yarns for my “to be published” project. The yarns are Berroco Pure Merino and Jasper – love both. Now, off to the day job so I can get done there and start on this project tonight! Ok, I have to work it into the other designs I’m doing – but I can at least start it. I’ll also take a look at the deadline for each project and schedule my knitting time based on that.

Have a great day – Cheers! Jean

On knitting – now that “A Danser” is released I’m thinking about what is next. I should be receiving the yarn soon for my project “to be published” – can’t wait to do this one. And then there are the patterns I am working on for the independent dyers. These will be released through their respective web sites. I also have a top with matching shawl, started awhile back, that I can pick up & finish, and a vest or a shell top or another pair of socks. So many ideas! And DH is wanting to know when he’ll have more socks – his socks are my “take along” project. I started a pair only to rip, rip, rip because I didn’t like the way the stitch pattern was looking with the yarn he chose, which is Opal Rendez-vous. This yarn needs something simpler. The stitch I chose will look better with a variegated or hand painted. And a special project for a friend of mine, promised before fall. And I can’t leave out the special RMTA project(s) – yes multiple ones this year to be done by Christmas. I need more knitting time.

On puppy dogs – I learned yesterday that dogs can catch strep throat from people. My little Aprilia was up much of the night before with symptoms like she couldn’t swallow something. The vet says her throat is quite red and sore with her tonsils and neck lymph nodes swollen. Apparently the cause could also be a severe allergy but the vet is treating as if strep is the problem. So, we’re giving medications twice a day for 10 days.

On the day job – what can I say. Go to work, try to get everything done and go home. Repeat the next day, and the next day and the next day. At least I am starting to get caught up some since we hired part-time help and my tasks are varied enough that it’s not boring.

Well, that’s probably enough musing for one day. I’ll leave you to some musing of your own.

Cheers! Jean

It’s done! The legwarmer pattern is now available on my web site. (Ravelry stores are having a few issues today so this pattern will be available there too once the problems are resolved.) The problems Ravelry was experiencing are fixed – so “A Danser” is now in my store there. I am also listing selected patterns, which include this one, with Patternfish. I’ve had some very nice emails with Julia, the site owner and her vision for Patternfish fits right in with the direction the knitting community is going as a whole. Listing my patterns on more than one site give me the opportunity to reach many more potential buyers.

My test knitters reported they really enjoyed knitting this pattern – and gave me thumbs up on changing the name for the published version. The new name – A Danser – is French, meaning “To Dance”. Since this project came from the world of dance the name seems appropriate.

As I got ready to list this pattern, in all the various places, it was clear to me that I need to have a check list for all the tasks involved. One thing affects another so I made a list, in order of what should be done 1st, 2nd and so on. I think this was very helpful and will make a check list part of my routine for future pattern releases.

I’ll leave you today with the picture I chose for the pattern sheet, and invite you to visit Desert Rose Designs to purchase your own copy of this, or any other pattern I offer.

À Danser

Cheers! Jean