Finally... Some quality knitting time!

Our son has started Middle School and he absolutely loves it!!!  Whew!

He comes home from school one day at the end of his first week in middle school and says at the dinner table, "You know, this is the best first week of school, ever!" 

I thought that was great :) 

With a great start of the new school year, I have gotten myself somewhat situated to focus on my passion...  Well, it's about time, don't you think???

Just because I haven't been on doesn't mean that I haven't been knitting.
I have finished a few projects here and there and even managed to round up a couple of my co-workers to join me in knitting, and slowly but surely working my magic to have them hooked :)

Actually, we had our first meeting of the Fall at my house last Saturday and of course we had a blast!  Unfortunately, one of my other friends whom I regularly knit with couldn't join us, but I am sure as we get things rolling for the colder months of the year, we will see more of her, I have my fingers crossed.

I am keeping it short today-  I have some actual knitting to do~

A new decade of life deserves a Special Vow...

It has been over a month since my last post.  I am not happy about it! but such is life, right?

Many events have happened the past month which did not allow me to spend some intimate quality time with my laptop and my blog-

Well, I just had my B-day and I am a "new woman" facing a new decade in her life... AHHHH!!!  

It was one of the best B-days I've had in my life and I am grateful for my family and close friends.

Since I am starting a fresh decade of my life, I vow to take my knitting to the next level and show what SassyHana~ is made of...

My vow is simple- 

I will make every effort to dedicate my attention and energy to my knitting and deliver great many joys to myself and those around me...

Overwhelmed with sadness...

Today is Wednesday.  It has been two days since we received the news...

Our Grandmother passed away on Monday afternoon.

She was my husband's Grandmother on the maternal side.  I called her Grandma Hana, but pretty much everyone called her Grammy- 

My husband keeps telling me that she's had a very fulfilling life... that she was just old.  She would have been 89 come this July.  I actually have only met and known her for just over the past two very short months.  Those two short months, for me, were a very special gift to me... 

She was just lovely.  I felt as though I have known her for a very long time... she made me feel so welcome and I instantly felt right at home.  Just wish I had spent more time with her and I am sure she would have liked to share a lot more with me as well.

The second visit we had was over Mother's Day weekend.  I wanted to give her something that was personal, and also wanted her to remember me by so I decided to knit a lap throw for her :)  she seemed cold all of the time even though her house is kept very warm.  I had no idea what colors she liked nor what textures she would prefer, for she also is a seasoned knitter/crocheter, but I wanted to surprise her...  So, I ventured out to find what I thought would be fitting for her and just went with it.

I worked diligently since I had a deadline to meet and just knitted my afternoons/nights away.  I do have a full-time day job, ya know?

I bound off the last stitch...  embellished some knitted flowers on it...  blocked the piece...  carefully wrapped it...  only then, I was able to relax...  however, that was short lived :( 

I started to worry about what if she doesn't care for it?  what if she hates the color?  what if?  what if?  Many "what ifs" later, I came to a realization that she will love it no matter what because it was knitted by my own two hands and made especially for her AND because she is a knitter herself, she will appreciate it. 

Guess what?

I was right. 

I noticed whenever we visited after Mother's Day, Grandma Hana had the throw over her lap whenever she sat down in her chair.  Oh, it made me feel so happy~  I am very glad that I was able to give her a gift that will keep her warm and cozy.

Ah...  I will miss you very much, Grandma Hana... 

I want you to know that you will always, always be remembered by me, Grandma Hana. 

I am so very grateful that the last time I saw you in the hospital, you were alert and that you remembered me as well.

I will remember your smile when I said, "Good Night~"

Almost finished!!!

Remember I said I was going to work on a perfectly sassy gift for my cousin?  

Alright, alright...  I will spill it...  It is a purse with adorable wooden handles in this incredible shade of purple by Dream In Color~ 

Well, I thought I had enough yarn, but ran out simply because I changed my mind at the last second to make my design a little bigger.

So, FINALLY, I made it back to the yarn shop this evening to purchase another skein... only to realize that it is, of course, hand painted and dyed so the colors may vary ever so slightly.  In which case, I am supposed to alternate between skeins of yarn to minimize any chance of my creation being noticeably different in their hue... should there be a discrepancy-  Only, I have already spent the first skein therefore I am not able to alternate... AHHH.........................

Oh, well...  I actually am not that worried about it because I just know it will be perfect!  I try to set a deadline for myself when I am working on a gift piece...  

I better get back to my needles~

  

A small gesture; a P-E-R-F-E-C-T surprise~

Well, I had a G-R-E-A-T night on Wed. :D 
It was such a pleasant surprise, really...

Every Wed. evening, my husband and my son have their "Boyz-Night-Out"-  They go off do their own thing while I'm at Yoga, usually, or doing my own thing-  Actually, I took a term off from my Yoga class so I've been pretty much left to fend for myself on Wed. nights.

Anyway, this Wed. evening, my Boyz took their night off to spend it with me.  My husband took me to one of my favorite yarn shops and my son helped me choose a perfect color to knit our favorite cousin a fantaboulous purse!!!

It was a small gesture, but nevertheless a perfect surprise for I really needed a little pick-me-up... 

Of course, I walked out of there with a perfect shade and weight of yarn to knit a perfectly sassy gift for our cousin.

Nothing like a good company to knit with~

I was just looking over a knitting book which my friend had left at my house for some time, now...


Hmm... it brings back memories as I thumb through the gorgeous patterns of vests for both men and women in all sorts of texture and colors.


Many winters ago, this friend of mine would come over every evening and we would knit and knit and knit.  We both love coffee and tea so we'd make a fresh, hot pot of coffee with our favorite mugs in front of us and we'd knit.  My family will eventually excuse themselves and go off to dream land, but we'd stay up long into the wee small hours of the morning chatting, laughing, discussing everything and anything there is to discuss under the sun... and most importantly, bonding-  Ah... those truly were some good times!  We carried on this way about 1 to 2 nights a week during the very cold winter months and never tired of it.  She and I shared many projects, designs and were each other's biggest knitting fans:)


After awhile, she complained of pain in her hands.  It worsened and she no longer was able to knit with me.  She still came over and kept me company for some time, still... but it just didn't feel the same for me anymore and I felt that I was somehow being disloyal to her because she loved knitting just as much as I did if not more.


So, I put away my needles and we would just visit...


I miss those days knitting with my friend :(

My newfound best friend~ Patterns!

Okay...  So, I've shared my secret with you last time which to this day as I look back at all those years of knitting by my "perfect" method, makes me smile :)  Why?  Because it worked so well for me!  I actually am capable of writing a perfectly sound pattern just like any other knit designers'.
Please do not confuse this statement with my being conceited and/or arrogant, I am simply stating the fact of what works for me and that I enjoy writing patterns as much as knitting them.


The reason I like writing my own patterns is that I could create the piece however I want!  Sure, I have a ton of books on knitting and also check out two tons of books from the library but when it's time for me to focus and actually knit, I almost ALWAYS tweak the pattern I am using as a reference to make it my very own.


Have you ever felt that you were at a total loss while studying a pattern?
I have...
But do not worry... you just have to practice reading them-
Also, I do not like to work from charts.  When chart reading is not your forte, make it so~ by simply writing it out!  That's what I do and it works every time.


Well... if you CAN'T read a chart... I can't help ya, there... just kidding... 


Try deciphering a simple chart using the skills of basic chart reading and always, always write down as you work your way through.  Remember, take baby steps with positive mental attitude, and soon chart reading will be a piece of cake~ oh, yeah, and you get to eat it, too-


One last thought on my newfound best friend...
As you study patterns in abundance, you will become more familiar and comfortable with them as well as you will love them as you would love your best friend; unconditionally!


So, go ahead, befriend a Pattern... you will thank me, someday...


I P-R-O-M-I-S-E   :D