it has been a week of running and more running. deadlines and changes make for a busy, busy life.

and watering—we haven’t had much rain here and the plants are in a fast-growing stage, drinking it up as fast as we can get it to them. but it’s so worth it when i go outside and see that in just a few hours there is a noticeable difference in their size. how do they do that??

the squashlets, just 5 days later. amazing

now, as for changes, i am going to be raising pattern prices starting june 1st (tomorrow!). all patterns will increase $1. the good news is that there will be no more charge for transactional fees when you order directly from me—that will be rolled into the price increase.

you may see some price variation between vendors during the transition as some online shops still have older stock of hardcopy patterns; please don’t think that this means anyone is selling my patterns at different prices on a continuing basis.

it took me a long time to make this decision—i like to keep prices down. but a couple of vendors (and some customers) have been telling me that i should bring my prices more in line with what other designers are charging. and then, of course, the cost of keeping a workspace and equipment to do this work is always rising—electricity, gas, supplies, taxes, etc—having to pay for those things affects how much time i can spend designing.

and i am still very much committed to making sure that a portion of knitspot proceeds is recycled back into funds that make the world better. so, an increase for me is an increase for that, too.

now let’s talk about knitting, because i have indeed been doing that, too
look what’s finally ready for a sewn bindoff

it’s about time. they really are lovely. these are the teosinte socks knit with woolen rabbit merino sock yarn. (oh dear; i just went over there to copy the link, and kim has new colors AGAIN)

you know what this means? i will probably start a new pair . . . soon. actually, i still have two pair on the needles that i really should get cracking on. poor tree scum has been languishing, and the golf sock—i should get that done before summer ends, right?

i think for the summer i’ll try to keep my sock projects down to two at a time rather than the usual, er, um, four. i don’t need as much portable knitting in these months, and with bike riding and the garden vying for my free time, i’d like to stay focused on the bigger projects.
i hope that won’t be too boring for you . . .

oh, and BTW, i know there are a bunch of you that have been waiting for the word that ed jenkins is ready and willing to sell his wonderful lace knitting needles. they go down to size 2 and really, you cannot beat the points on these babies.

much as i love the new addi lace needles (and i DO adore them) the jenkins needles in natural wood with that positively seductive finish are the tops. and though i would never, EVER be pushy about something i like (cough, COUGH, ahem-hem), i’m just hinting (gently) that you might consider them before you start your bee shawl later this summer . . .

i’ve been cranking away on the bee shawl, too. the rows are getting longer now that i’m into the second section, so the inches don’t pile up quite as quickly

but i took it to classes yesterday (it’s always good to give projects a taste of the world by getting them out in public . . .), and everyone had a feel. it’s a hit—several people think it’s the prettiest one yet. (not that i would EVER compare them to each other . . . they are each special in their own way).

and the orchid scarf—well, i’m a little ashamed to show you this picture because it only vouches for my laziness.

i’m on the second half. this is how much i had done when i left for class yesterday. and i’m too lazy to take a picture of it this morning to show you how much i accomplished yesterday, all told.
let’s just say i will have an orchid scarf surprise for you probably by tomorrow evening.

now, the last ramp-up for the MS booster drive will begin on saturday june 2nd right here. we will have a drawing and lots of opportunity to make me PAY. check back on saturday to view the wonderful list of prizes, and the rules for entering the drawing.
it’s fun and simple, and i’m the only one that’s likely to get hurt.

i feel like i accomplished so much today. i woke up early and got outside to water before work.

squashlets in the early sunshine. it’s been sunny, hot, and dry here all week.
good for the seeds, and for these

but it makes me sympathetic toward the plants. the ground just looked so thirsty for so many days.
i’m trying to get on a new watering schedule, because evening watering attracts bugs. hopefully, i can keep this up throughout the summer.

of course, by end of day, we were looking at this

so i really needn’t have bothered . . .
for those that have asked, this is another section of our back yard, where we have all our vegetable beds.
we have quite a bit of space around our house, considering that we live right in the city.

i met a deadline at work that i didn’t think i would, and even got the documents in a little early. i got my hair cut, which i needed badly (my hair grows like weeds and it’s hard to keep up), i ran a couple of errands and now i’m ready to knit for the rest of the evening, as soon as i write this post.

it’s especially good because for the last two weeks, i’ve been feeling very “behind”. i still have several things on my immediate “to-do” list, but at least i’m starting the holiday weekend in pretty good shape.

tomorrow and sunday will be our local fiber show, which i wrote about at length last year. it’s a great event and i’m excited.

chris, from briar rose fibers, will be there again and we have a dinner date. i can’t wait to see her and giver her a big hug (she’s very huggy, and frequently sends them via email).

and of course, there will be fair fries. mmm.
(seriously, i have GOT to get more biking in than i have been this year).

sunday i am going out again to take a spinning class, “tips and tricks for spinners”. it’s five hours long, so i’m expecting to learn a few good things at least.

last night i worked on the bee shawl and i am only about an hour away from starting the second pattern, i think. i don’t know if you can tell from this photo, though

unfortunately. but trust me, it’s growing. what i should do, if i’m smart, is work on the charts for a bit, and get those out of the way. if i chart the second pattern out, i won’t have to work out the increasing by trial and error. of course, i could end up in the black hole of charting . . . so, it’s a tossup—knit my way out of the paper bag, or chart first, and THEN knit my way out of the paper bag?
hmm, tough one.

(i just finished work for the day so i’ve been sequestered in the office for several hours. but david had a free afternoon, so he’s been cleaning. how nice is that??)

well, at least the weather took the other big question of the day out of my hands—go for a nice long ride, or stay in and knit? i always feel a bit guilty if i opt for knitting over riding.
i wish i didn’t have to choose.