So, Tomorrow is February, huh?

This has been a whirlwind month, to be sure. It just absolutely flew by! Now, I’m gearing up for my design schedule in February. And, it’s starting to get filled very quickly.

I have four designs which have a March 1 deadline with publishers/editors. 2 garments, 1 blanket and 1 accessory item. 4 items in a month is pretty comfortable for me. One a week is definitely do-able. But, I’m going to have to try very hard to slip in a couple of other things as well because it seems that there is SO MUCH to do around here! So many plans and just not enough hours in the day.

I could get started on those designs this weekend. But, I’m working on a book proposal. Remember I said that I would be swatching and sketching a lot? Well, I started yesterday. You see, although February is very busy, I have to continue marketing my designs, no matter how busy I am. We certainly don’t want to get into a position where I am sitting here with no design schedule, right? I may be busy right now. But, I’d also like to be busy the remaining months of the year.

Brianna has started knitting again. I guess she was waiting for the colder weather. She started off by making two garter stitch scarves again. But, incredibly, she is now working on a hat FROM A PATTERN! And, yes, I’ve helped her. But, she’s amazingly self-sufficient and has been figuring out a lot by herself. She even went to the internet to teach her how to bind off. I can’t wait to see how the hat turns out. She’s making very quick progress.

Christian is doing well. Still non-stop talking, of course. He tries to repeat just about everything he hears. Yesterday, he started counting from 1-10, only in reverse. So, he can count from 1-10 and then from 10-1. I didn’t really have to teach him. I just happened to notice that he’s been saying the numbers in reverse when he watches the microwave. So, I wanted to see if he could do it without having the microwave there. And, sure enough! He knows them backwards, without any problem at all.

Tunisian Around the Home

I wanted to show you some of my favorite projects in my new book, Tunisian Around the Home.

There is no doubt that the circular projects in this book where my favorite. So fun! And, so quick!

Pillows are also a terrific way to practice Tunisian crochet since they’re so small. And you’ll be so pleased at the professional-looking results you get with this crochet technique. Both pillows were made with a cool, sort of rustic-looking yarn, Moda Dea Silk ‘N Wool.

This is indeed the most difficult item in the entire book. It took some perseverance but is well worth the effort!

This is a much quicker project. And, I loved working with the colors in this one. I was using a new yarn called Red Heart Collage with long color changes. The woven look of this afghan is what I love the best.

Now, don’t laugh! Yes, I really did make a toilet seat cover! But, you can’t deny that it looks terrific in this vintage-looking chenille type of style. And, the more I think about it, the more I like it. A toilet seat cover that you make yourself is easier to clean since it doesn’t have that rubber backing. And what better way to redecorate the bathroom in a pinch? I believe it took me less than 2 days to make all three pieces. You could change your bathroom with the season, if you wanted!

There are a total of 13 projects in Tunisian Around the Home and it can be purchased in both hard copy (to be mailed) or an automatic download at Annie’s Attic.

Email Subscription Update

Sherri kindly commented to my last post about a service she uses for email subscriptions. So, I’ve now set it up where those of you who would like email notes about my blog updates can now sign up! Yay! The link is in the bottom right column.

Okay, Here We Go!

This will be my first official post on the new blog. And, I believe that I will just carry on as though this is the same blog. It just seems easier that way, huh?

On January 17, I began knitting the model garment for the Carnivale Top I wore at the Chain Link Conference this last summer. Here is the prototype garment.

I started with the bodice. I’m using Elann Lustrado which is a much finer weight yarn. So, it’s taking a bit longer than it did the first time around. But, I really love this size of yarn. I’m doing several things in this garment which I’ve done with crochet designs before. But, not with knit designs. Definitely a learning experience!

I had to rip out the armholes and start over about 4 or 5 times. They just weren’t coming out right. Last night, I finally got them them looking good and I finished the bodice this morning. I tried it on and it looks great. Armholes perfect. Short row shaping excellent. Shoulder-to-shoulder right on target. I’m so pleased with it that I really wish I could finish it now.

But, I can’t. I have to stop for awhile to work on the other things I have on my schedule.

• I really need to get my CrochetKim.com website set up for automatic downloads. Kimane Designs has been automatic downloads for about 6 months. It’s been working wonderfully, so I’ll work on that tomorrow.
• I have two garments and one accessory item due to publishers by the end of February.
• I have boxes of sample yarns from three super cool yarn companies. I’ll be swatching and sketching like mad because who doesn’t like new yarn?

I’ll be doing the updating on my website first since that will give me an opportunity to allow my wrist to recover from the knitting. But, you can bet that I will be hard at work, crocheting away, in just a couple of days. I’d like to get 6 designs finished in February. And, with it being a short month, I’ve got my work cut out for me, don’t I?

New Home for WIPs ‘N Chains?

After experiencing problems with my original blog, it looks like I will have to move it. Since Bravejournal doesn’t play nicely with other services, I won’t be able to move all the data that I have accumulated for almost four years, unfortunately.

If you would like to visit my former site, click here, or click on the link in the right column.

There is so much data there. Perhaps I will try to copy some of the most popular entries here later.