{ Sunfest }

kelly without a net designs has published their first e-book!  Sunfest is a 6-piece collection of baby and children’s garments and accessories put together in collaboration with the spectacular malabrigo yarns. 

I worked with some pretty awesome people to put this book together, and I really need to take a minute to thank my tech editor, Kate Vanover, my photographer, Natasha Sioss, and my graphic designers, Anne & Phil Harvey.  This book wouldn’t be much of anything (well, it would be sort of a mess) without each of them, and I cannot thank them enough for their help and support.

If you’re not a knitter, you can take a look at the 6 designs by visiting my Ravelry designer page (open to the public). 

Whew!  What a rush that project was! 

A history of my world in 100 objects #28

I made this when I was a little girl. I remember my dad taking my sister and I to a craft store, where we got to pick out the materials, paints, glue, and everything we needed. Kiki gave hers to Nanee and Poppy, and mine went to Grandma and Granddaddy.

For as long as I can remember, this hung in their kitchen. As I got older, I remember thinking it was so absurd. I forgot to paint the mouths on some of the bears. It wasn’t perfect. It didn’t go with anything.

It was also a reminder of the argument Kiki and I had at the time, over who’d give which one to which set of grandparents. We’d both wanted to give ours to Nanee and Poppy. I’m not even sure why. As kids, maybe we saw them as the “fun” grandparents. We had to be quieter at grandma and granddaddy’s house. We didn’t get to watch as much tv. There was no air conditioning (the horrors!).

In the end, I simply gave mine to Grandma and Grandaddy. It didn’t really mean anything to me, anyway.

But it meant something to my grandparents. I had done it. Me, one of 15 grandchildren, had made it for them. And they didn’t take it down until Marcus and I bought our first home and they gave it to us.

Now, I can’t imagine my house without it. Time has taught me so much. About love. Faith. Family.

My Grandma died on Thursday. She’s meeting my grandfather in heaven, of that I’m sure. And they’re so very, very welcome there.

But she…they…are missed more than I can ever put into words. There are no favorites anymore. There is only love.

Knit on (and on and on and on…)

I go through periods in my life when I get a little obsessed with things, for one reason or another.  Writing.  Knitting.  Reading.  Running.  Cleaning…ha…fooled you. 

Right now I’m in a period of knitting.  More specifically, it’s the season of knitwear design in my house.  I feel very pleased and flattered that my knitting design business has really come into it’s own in the past year, and I am even more excited about the projects that I have upcoming for 2012. 

As a result of this growth of kelly without a net designs, I’ve started a FB fan page for those of you who are social networking lovers like I am.  Please take the time to check it out and become a fan yourself, if you’re so inclined.  Don’t just wait and watch–jump in and share, too!  There is nothing I love more than a satisfied knitter, so please, share your pictures and ask questions, too!

And get excited…I have never been as excited for a design as I am for some of these upcoming releases.  August can’t get her soon enough! 

A history of my world in 100 objects #27

Yesterday my family and I attended a BBQ not far from the beach house my grandparents owned when I was a child. On a whim, we drove a little bit out of the way to see the old house.

I was so surprised to see it, and all of the changes that had taken place there over the years. Gone is the wraparound screened-in porch, there’s a large second story where there was once none. It’s yellow. It’s all wrong.

I snapped a picture and we drive away. Marcus asked me what was wrong, and I burst into tears. Everything. Everything was wrong. The house wasn’t right. My grandparents, both older now and in declining health, aren’t right. The passing of time felt wrong. Nothing was right.

My parents, divorced now but both with hundreds, thousands, of memories of the house at Breezy Point were quick not reminisce, pointing out all the wonderful things that happened there. Those should be the focus. They’re right.

But I still look at this picture and everything seems wrong. Object 27 is this house…but moreso, it’s the lifetime of family memories that took place in this house. And that isn’t wrong. It was, it is, so very right.

A history of my world in 100 objects #26

I know, I know.  I’m behind.  I’m super behind.  I’m sorry.  I love this project and my goal is to get it back on track and finish it long before the year’s end. 

I’m incredibly embarrassed by this object, but it’s the truth and it wouldn’t be a true history if I didn’t tell the truth.  It also seems incredibly fitting time-wise based on a recent IPO.  My object #26 is Facebook.  Facebook has been a big part of my life.  I joined in the biggest social network in October 2007, which means I’ve been an active participant for almost 5 years now.  Five years.  It doesn’t seem possible.  While Facebook has been a bit of a curse for me (I’m easily addicted, as you know) it’s also been just as much of a blessing.  It allows me to nurture my inner social butterfly while I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I have found that that small amount of online socialization is invaluable to me and my mental health. 

Not to mention, I like keeping up with what family and friends are doing.  I like sharing my work with other writers (and reading what they’re writing, too).  I like relaying a funny story and sharing pics of the kids. I like Facebook and everything it affords me.

In which I am behind (and loving it)

For a lot of reasons, I stopped making lists when I moved overseas.  I had been an obsessive compulsive list maker.  I’d add things to the list after I’d done them so that I could have the gratification of crossing them off and feeling like I had, in fact, accomplished something.

But suddenly, making lists became stressful for me.  I probably became a little more disorganized in the process.  But it felt freeing.

Perhaps it’s because, as a parent, I know that list-making is futile.  If I add “wash dishes” to a list, it’s a waste.  There will be more dirty dishes in the sink as soon as I get the satisfaction of crossing it off.  I might add “buy stamps at the post office” and won’t have to put that back on.  But it will quickly become replaced by another activity that is of equal importance.  Do I make a list of activities?  Chores?  Things I need or can’t forget?  Maybe I need separate lists for each. And then I need some sort of a list organization system so that I can keep them all straight.

I know.  It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?

But when I was depressed, this was how I viewed the world.

Healthy, happy Kelly doesn’t make lists.  I can’t.  I don’t spend as much time thinking about the things I need to do, and when I do, I recognize that it stresses me out, makes me upset, and actually causes me to accomplish substantially less than I would if I just got on with it.

So my list-making has gone by the wayside.  Maybe I’m not as organized because of it.  But maybe, just maybe, I’m better for it.

 

Guest Post by ‘Piggy Banks to Paychecks’ author Angie Mohr

I’m really excited to be able to share a guest post with you some words of parenting and financial wisdom by my friend and fellow writer Angie Mohr.  Angie’s book, ‘Piggy Banks to Paychecks’ is being published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside and hits the shelves later this month.  She offered to stop by and offer some words of wisdom to my blog readers about parenting and how kids learn their first (and most important) financial lessons at home! Please read along.  If you’re interested in learning more, you can also follow the ‘Piggy Banks to Paychecks’ FB page!

I have been graciously invited by Kelly to write a guest post on her blog today. Thanks, Kelly!

I would like to talk a little bit today about why it’s so important that parents take control of their children’s financial education. Many parents feel that it is something best taught by the school system. Unfortunately, it is rarely taught in most curricula in either public or private school and most children leave high school woefully unprepared for the financial life ahead of them. This leaves them vulnerable to digging themselves into serious debt without a plan on how to get out.

Without your guidance or formal lessons, kids are left to their own devices to pick up information about how money works. They usually absorb their beliefs about money through television, the playground, and what they think that you are doing with your money. Your financial habits impact how your kids learn money skills. Are you a feast or famine family? Spend it when you have it and do without when you don’t? Your kids may learn that money is in the driver’s seat and they can only react to their fortunes or lack thereof. Are you a careful budgeter, always ensuring that your purchases are planned and accounted for? Your kids will learn to organize their financial lives and plan for the future.

You don’t have to be a financial expert or have done everything perfectly in your life to be able to show your kids important money skills. Don’t be afraid to open up to your children about the family’s financial situation and budget. This gives kids a hands-on look at how a real family operates and the financial challenges it faces. Don’t worry about disappointing your kids with how little income the family has or how large the expenses are. Show them how you are managing on what you have.

There isn’t a more important skill you could pass on to your kids!

© Angie Mohr 2012

 

Can’t blog…

Can’t blog. Knee deep in holiday knitting. If you don’t hear from me in a week, send help.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

A History of My World in 100 Objects #11

Knitting. I could have posted pictures of my favorite needles, favorite finished object, my entire yarn stash, knitting bags, project bags, or dozens (hundreds) of other objects. But I decided to stick with old faithful.

Malabrigo Worsted, Blue Surf, Amanda Hat

This is my very first skein of Malabrigo yarn. This picture is from February 2008. Though I’d been knitting for almost a year at this point, I’d knit in acrylic blends picked up in town, and stuck primarily to scarves. It was not the finest year of my knitting career. I was a knitter, but not Knitter.

This one skein of yarn, the purchase of which also coincided with the founding of the Harrogate Nutty Knitters, paved the way for me to become the Knitter I am today. I realized what good yarn is, and how incredible it is to knit with. I learned to break free from my knitting box and to challenge myself as a knitter. I started to love knitting. Knitting became a lifestyle for me, more than just a hobby.

So it’s only fitting that this object should be that first skein of Malabrigo yarn, and the first project I ever knit with it. It made an addict out of me–both to the yarn, and to the process.

Knit on.

Practically…

I’ve been so busy working on the 100 Objects Project that I almost forgot to share the big news!  Practically, a grown-up variation of in threes: a baby cardigan, released today for sale on Ravelry.

I absolutely loved designing this pattern, got great feedback from my test knitters and tech editor, and am excited to finally share it with everyone!

For those of you that are interested, here are the specifics:

It’s almost a vest, practically a cardigan, just shy of buttoning shut, nearly like its predecessor…it’s Practically perfect in every way…

This has been a long time in coming—overwhelming response to in threes: a baby cardigan prompted so many knitters to contact me and request sizing for adults, too. So it seemed only fitting to finally make a slightly more modern and adult variation of in threes: a baby cardigan. After all, I’m the mom of those three beautiful little girls!

Practically is an open-front, yoked cardigan with three garter stitches ridges at the top and two at the bottom. Garter bands down the side add a delightful design detail without making the work overly fussy. It’s knit flat and in one piece. When all is said and done, you can wear it Practically and coordinate nicely with your little girls.

Sizing: XS (S, M, L, XL). These roughly translate to high bust sizes of 28 (32, 36, 40, 44) inches or an overarm measurement of 40 (43.5, 46, 49, 52) inches. If your overarm measures a size larger than the one indicated by your high bust measurement, you may be more comfortable selecting the larger size.

Gauge: 19 stitches to 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Row gauge can be slightly variable, as lengths are given throughout the garment. Take the time to block your gauge swatch so that you have an idea of how the fabric will react to blocking or washing.

Yarn Requirements: 550 (650, 750, 850, 950) yards of Shibui Worsted, Malabrigo Rios, or a comparable worsted weight yarn.

Needles & Notions: 5 mm circular needle with a 32 inch cord (or size needed to obtain gauge), darning needle, 4-6 stitch markers, row counter

Abbreviations: CO-cast on; BO-bind off; RS-right side; WS-wrong side; K-knit; P-purl; YO-wrap the yarn over the right hand needle, creating an extra stitch; K2tog-knit 2 stitches together as one; KFB-knit into the front of the stitch as usual, then without slipping the stitch from the left needle, knit into the back of the stitch as well (creating 2 stitches where one was).