Did you partake in LYS Day?

Yesterday (4/30/22) marked Local Yarn Store (LYS) Day. I've happened upon this day accidentally a few times. It falls within a few weeks of my typical professional work deadline, and I'm always eager to treat myself after the long hours leading up to the deadline.

I didn't make it out this year, but I was able to tech edit a pattern that was released on LYS Day. In a small way I feel like I participated :). As many have shared on social media, if you didn't participate, it's not too late support small LYS or indie dyers. My April skein of Yarn Over New York's Yarn Explorer's Club is in the mail. The space theme is wonderful, and I am looking forward to knitting/crocheting up January and February. Notably, I missed March, which related to my busy season and my desire to give up crafty purchases during Lent. Hoping to treat myself to the May colorway. It sounds lovely!!!

I'm keeping this short, but there is more to come.

Happy crafting!

New Year New Outlook!!!

I haven't posted much over the last couple of years. There is plenty that I've wanted to say and do, but the motivation to post and share has waned. 

I've been crafting a ton and there are some fun developments that I'm excited to share.

Crafting goals for 2022 -

• Knit 12 pairs of socks (I've now completed two - I'm letting myself do shorties and DK weight socks during busy season)
• Make a square a week for an advent pattern (I have eight completed so far)
• Design a pattern and publish it on Raverly
• Tech edit at least one design for money
• Develop relationships with three designers/publications
• Use more of my stash than add to it

I'm in my day job busy season, but there is real hope of making these goals a reality. I'm taking a class from Tian Connaughton, check her classes out here. I'm thinking of joining her Pattern Partnership once I'm through the tech editing course. You can really hear and feel the coaching nature she has. I love that Tian wants you to get out there and see the value of what she brings.

I love the math of patterns and I've been test knitting for years. Bringing that together to support the creative community and to earn funds to support my family sounds amazing. My day job and professional career is nerdy, and math focused too. I've also been entrepreneurial in my career so selling my skills is not as scary as it would have been a few years ago. 

My new name is @bettyeditpdx on Instagram and I'm working on my website that will be bettyedit.com. In addition to the tech editing services, I want to share the pattens and yarn I love. My space is always one of love and inclusion. Featuring yarn and patterns from BIPOC makers is so easy with the amazing makers who are creating space and community.

More to come!

Where my stitches at?!?

It's been a long time and I definitely have drafted a few posts that I couldn't quite wrap up and post. 

Some FOs!!!

I'm excited to share some recent finished items. Most are related to getting ready for several baby arrivals. Can you tell I'm prepping for baby showers?

Throughlines Wrap from Remadebyhand (aka Erin Kurup). This was so fun to make. The yarn is far more colorful than what I like to cram into one project, but that made it even more fun. The yarn is Sprout Sock from the Fiber Seed. The colors are so lovely and saturated, and I enjoyed the springy feel of the yarn.

I made a Gnot Just Another Gnome for my sister-in-law...sh...it's a secret!!!

I'm trying to make each of the babies a bucket hat. This pattern is from Lisa Zingsheim and it was recommended by Safiyyah Talley of the Drunk Knitter fame. Have you checked out her new podcast that includes both true crime and knitting? She's focusing on less well known stories because the victims come from marginalized backgrounds. I do recommend listening. There are currently two episodes and more arrive weekly. The shrugs are from Mon Petit Violon and the blanket was crocheted by my crafting buddy Cathie (she has made so many lovely blankets during COVID).

I also hope to make some of Safiyyah's baby shawls that make great dribble bibs. I made three for my sister-in-law last year. Aren't they lovely!!! I love using Knitpicks Comfy Color Mist. The cotton is soft and the colors have this beautiful muted tunes. 

Celebrating Pride, Juneteenth, and Independence Day!

I was so excited to see that Knit the Rainbow, Inc. celebrated its first anniversary this last week. The organization is based out of NYC and they advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in NYC. They also collect knitted items and yarn to help warm the homeless as well. They are always looking for mittens, gloves, and socks in addition to other knitted goodies.

On the Juneteenth front, I'd only learned about this historic date with in the last 12 months. It was shocking to learn so much of our history that seems so critical for our national understanding. I still struggle with the idea that this wasn't taught to us in school. One way that I celebrated the holiday this year, I was so excited to order Lady Dye Yarn's Juneteenth yarn kit. Here are some picks. I really love the colors and am so excited to finish it. The knit version of the pattern is the Birthright Shawl by Dr. Charlie Untangled. 

It's been a more troubling time to celebrate Independence Day for so many reasons. I love this country and I believe we can continue to improve. However, the fractured nature of our society and fundamental inequities are intolerable. I will continue to seek freedom and equality for all.

In working on Monique Melton's Pursue Black Liberation Challenge, I've been doing more of the work and I encourage more to check it out. The outlay was only $32 for a helpful workbook and if you follow Monique on Instagram (@moemotivate), you can get additional insight. Her Shine Brighter Together podcast is also fantastic. 

Love you all and happy crafting!

Modest Progress and Looking Forward

From my pictures last week, I've completed a sleeve of the Knitorious RBG, added some inches to my Juncture sweater, and I'm halfway through the ribbing on another hat for my colleagues. I'm hoping to get through a hat a week and plan to make time for it on the weekends as a priority. That means I could make about 11 hats before the end of the year! 

I also made progress on the Even Moss Hat from Desamour Designs too. Make sure you check out the #BIPCMAL2020.

Balancing my kids' school, housework, and a day job with overtime has been rough the past six months. Staying grateful is critical and tricky. I've had minimal downtime due to the virus. I feel like those of us who've maintained employment have had more work to do during the pandemic. I don't say that to complain. Staying busy has been a blessing.

The new treat I'm claiming for myself is to get back to my knitting group. We meet over Google Hangouts and I really wanted to attend the last couple of weekends. I signed on a few times last weekend, but wasn't successful in doing more than saying goodbye to a couple of attendees and having one on one time with a fabulous crafter in my group.

I've taken steps to get things kick started in our group again. It would be so nice to see everyone in person. Making a plan for an in person event is now tricky with the weather. We'll see what comes.

Jessi Ksanznak of Yarn Over New York is having a mystery sock knitalong starting on Monday. I just remembered that I signed up for it today...what yarn should I use? The fabulous mini-skein sets are amzing. I'm on a real yarn hold...not buying yarn to add to the stash. Maybe I can get new yarn next year!

I'm still excited to cast on Monday :). Maybe I'll use one color, but use something fun and festive. A special skein...maybe :). Winding yarn should begin soon.

My first Instagram giveaway is online and thanks to it I now have over 100 followers. That probably sounds small, but it's exciting for me. I want to continue to support yarn shops, dyers, designers, and the community, so I'll keep the giveaways going for a period of time. Spreading a little hope to the crafty folks, free marketing for shops, and purchasing gift cards/yarns is what I hope to do until I can't. This will go on each quarter or as frequent as I feel like it :).

Spreading hope is fun!

Ok, this is meant to be a quick post in between the things I need to get done. Have a great week and happy crafting!

2021 Goals!

Ok, it's only October 3, 2020. There is still time for 2020 goals, but from a crafting perspective, I'm already thinking about next year.

Here's what I still hope to accomplish before the end of the year:

• Knit 10+ hats for my colleagues (fall/winter project)
• Knitorious RBG sweater by election day
• Start quarterly giveaways on Instagram (I have one going on until October 12, 2020...check me out at @lizziehutch3)
• Working on the Juncture sweater for the #intafriendskal2020
• Working on matching hats from @desamourdesigns for the #bipocmal (starting that today)
• Get some awesome pictures of a test knit I've finished up

Here are some WIP pics related to the above goals.

Start of a sleeve for the Knitorious RBG sweater

Trying on my Juncture Sweater

Now for 2021! I want to ready lots of traditional and intricate crafts for the Multnomah County Fair. I was inspired by Kristy Glass' vlaog about entering several of her knits in her local fair and I'd love to try to aim for the cool best in show or other special awards in the needle craft segment. 

This assumes that there will be a county fair in 2021, but if not, I can create a stockpile of beautiful finished projects. I'll share some of the ideas and WIPs as I sort through new ideas.

I'm also hoping to be inspired by KnitStars 5.0. I purchased it during the early bird special and ordered some of the special skeins for projects. The yarn is set to arrive this week, which will be fun to share.

Are you going to participate in this? My post deadline time off  will be about a week after the initial sessions are posted. It will be hard to wait!

Hope you're staying safe and sane! Happy crafting!

RBG RIP

 This is the time to truly reflect and remember a hardworking and amazing human being. Ruth Bader Ginsberg was such a courageous force to be reckoned with. May her legacy continue to live on and shape us.

I've been quiet in 2020 as work life has been busy and I've been trying to reorient this blog and my personal goals. I've been lucky to keep busy and I'm continually grateful for my job and family.

Facing the grim reality that so many are not so lucky has left me feeling guilt-stricken and down. Seeing the marginalized further marginalized during this time is incredibly heartbreaking. Losing a feminist icon like RBG is another heavy weight on us.

However, instead of letting the fear and sadness in me grow that my gender will have a more diminished representation in the judiciary, I'm inspired by RBG to be courageous. Starting with this post, I'm saying something again.

I want to honor RBG and given my love for crocheting and knitting, I'm going to start working on a plethora of projects inspired by her and share them along with the other projects I'm working on.

Some of these will be gifts to family and others will be cherished by me. I'm going to share pictures and links for other designers as a means for you to find an RBG inspired project of your own. None of the the project links are sponsored. This is not a complete list, but I enjoyed searching: RBG, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and dissent in Ravelry.

Now where to begin:

Max Pfeifer's Dissent is a fun hat featuring one of her famous dissent collars. I love the simplicity of the hat design and the beautiful colorwork. I think my brother-in-law would enjoy one of these (in addition to me 😁).

On my list for much too long has been the Dissent Cowl (knit) from Carissa Browning. There are now both knit and crochet versions...thank you, Carissa. I've been wanting to make one of these for my sister-in-law. Now through 3, 2020, 100% of the sales of this pattern will go to the ACLU. Maybe I should purchase the crochet version and start it this weekend!

Elithea Whittaker's dissent is a beautiful lace collar based on a different dissent collar. This is a free pattern and I'm excited to get out the fine crochet thread.

Another crocheted jabot, is the Simple Jabot (in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg) by Derek Rollberg. This is a free project that was recently released.

The only cardigan on the list comes from Andrea Rangel. It's called Dissent and there is a pullover version of it as well. The wearability of a the cardigan and the quick knit with worsted weight yarn makes this a great project to start now. 

The pullover that I want to start quickly is the Knitorious RBG by Park Williams. This is a worsted weight knit as well. The colorwork in the yoke isn't as complex the Dissent cardigan above, but it is striking. The puffy sleeves and body are intriguing and mimic court robes. The cropped nature is fun, but I typically would add more ribbing (after having two kids...my tummy has seen better days).

 If you're looking for socks, have no fear. The RBG Socks by Jess Latta of PNW Purl are here! I've been wanting to knit socks and this might be a good starting point to pick them back up again. If you go to the pattern page, there are some fabulous pictures of the beautiful texture in the pattern that is difficult to see from the picture below.

Knittinglotta's Ruth Bader Ginsberg mittens are fabulous. From looking at the sample pictures, there is a different quote on each mitten the the RBG colorwork differs on each mitten as well. I need a pair of these...or least a pair for my sister-in-law.

If you need an RBG to hug, there is the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Doll from Penny Stewart. I love the details and I think this would be a classy way to decorate my living room. She would go well with my Captain Marvel figure, such a super human.

And, last, but not least, for your Christmas Tree...the RBG Ball by Lexi Bryan. There are two different collar options and the pattern is now free as of RBG's passing. Lexi Bryan will donate $3.50 for every Ravelry Project (the original pattern cost) to Planned Parent Hood. Kits are available in her LexiCorp Etsy shop as well.

Is there a project or two from this list that you plan to add to your queue? What has RBG done to inspire you? 

This is a great time to learn more about her and to find your own courage. This loss is so shocking because she has survived so much and has been here for our country for so long. Reflecting that she had been through five rounds of cancer and was working so hard at 87 shows that she did so much with the time she had. If only we could all be so super.

Reflection on her and the current times, I wanted to share some statements. These statements are more than just words to me:

Black lives matter. 

Racism is real. 

Be anti-racist. 

We are more than our genders. 

Reproductive rights for all.

Never forget someone's humanity.

Please take care during these trying times. Wish you all happy crafting.

3 years of blogging, 12,000 views, what to do next?

Thinking back to three years ago seems like a big stretch. My kids were so much smaller (7 and 2 years old...when were they that tiny?).

Starting a blog during my busy season seemed like a stretch too, but I was so excited to be in a cute little condo and wanted to share crafty things. Use of a bit of free time for creative outlet has always been critical to me.

With only one follower and minimal time to keep up on things (maybe minimal motivation is a better descriptor), does it make sense to keep this going? I've only posted/published one pattern. Should I try another?

Would sharing the fun projects that I'm working on be interesting? I'm so amazed at all of the awesome patterns available online. I want to start so many projects each day.

Should I pick topics to focus on, like crafting in groups during the COVID-19 pandemic? Why test knitting is fun even if I've given it up? Playing with math and crafting? Knitting in the dark? Side note, I do knit in the dark :).

Taking pictures of yarn and sharing what I love about the yarn could be fun.

Discussing the designers I support on Patreon could also be good.

In reality so much of this is covered by Ravelry and other sites. Instagram has so many fabulous pictures of yarn, projects, yarny people, designs, supportive messages, etc.

If you read this blog, please leave me a comment. I'm trying to determine how much of a break I should take or what direction to go.

Happy crafting and stay safe!