Miscellaneous Design Studio

The Hatchery: a blog about my adventures in bird watching

Year of Projects: Week 26

I think I’m approaching that time of year when everything starts to blend in together and one day becomes the next with no real delineation yet you still mark the passage of time in days, weeks, months. This is what Deep Winter does to me. Today is February 14th, Valentine’s Day. But that’s not a…

February 14, 2021
Book Hangovers and Snowy Days

Last year I read Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and I instantly wanted to devour EVERYTHING I could find by the author. But for some silly reason, I decided to hold off on reading another one of her books. Mostly because I don’t want to put them down and I get sad when it’s time…

February 11, 2021
Year of Projects: Week 25

I continued the hat momentum this week. I only finished 2, but on the 1st I started a fingering weight project using my Love Lines Advent Yarn Box from AT Haynes House Yarns. I am at an impasse with the needles, I’m working on it with the DPNs but circulars would be better with the…

February 7, 2021
Lesson Learned

It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes I don’t have a needle I need for a project. Yes, I may have a needle in that size, but I don’t have EVERY size/length circular combination (I have interchangeable needles, but the smallest tips are a 5). Particularly in sizes smaller than 8. I started a new…

February 5, 2021
#YarniaPix2021 Recap

I decided to participate in a January Photo Challenge, which tagged #YarniaPix2021, on Instagram starting the first of the month. It really inspired me to wear my FOs! On Instagram, I listed the pattern, designer, yarn and colorway where applicable there too. In case you don’t use Instagram, I’ve made a gallery of most of…

February 2, 2021
Year of Projects: Week 24

No lie, last week WIPED ME OUT. Publishing and promoting my Merry Un-Birthday Hat was most of my week. I had been working on Merry Un-Birthday since JULY of 2020, I’m so happy that its been released into the wild. This also makes 17 YOP items completed since August! Get the pattern FREE (rav link)…

February 1, 2021
Merry Un-Birthday Video Links

At long last, Merry Un-Birthday is ready! This pattern works with ANY two sock/fingering weight yarns held together. You can get the pattern on Ravelry Here! Use the code MerryUnbirthday to get it Free Until 02/11/2021 My new light box made it possible to get some great pictures of the finished project!! Having the kids…

January 28, 2021
Year Of Projects: Week 23

Thing have been feeling chaotic at our house. Nothing has changed, except I’m feeling overwhelmed by the day to day stuff. This may be because we’ve been having a cold, dreary snap in the weather making it more difficult to WANT to be outside. I had hoped to have my Merry Unbirthday Hat released late…

January 26, 2021
Snarlyghaster

Not to be confused with Snallygaster. In the past year, I have been knitting a lot of projects with 2 yarns held together. With this comes the expected tangles and unwinding and knotted yarn barf messes. On some occasions, I have been working with the yarn from BOTH ends of the ball. Sweet mother of…

January 22, 2021
Revolution 40

Yesterday was a great day! Not only was it my birthday, but America gave me a REALLY great gift! We watched the inauguration with our daughter (a first grader), our son (pre-K) was completely not interested in the proceedings. We made a cake on the 19th, the Chocolate Cake from the Snoop Dogg cookbook. I…

January 21, 2021