Ooooh, we should talk about a thing. Here, take a look at this.⁠ These hearts use the exact same yarn (they're from the same skein of sevensistersarts' Matrika base), but two different sizes of needles. The top one is knit on size 1 needles, the bottom one is knit on size 00 needles. See how different the fabrics are?⁠ That bottom is a solid 11 stitches per inch, the top one is more like 9 (it's hard to tell exactly because it's not blocked yet, and being on the needles distorts it a bit and makes it hard to measure). [...]

This is fine. I'm a grownup. This is a valid use of my time. ⁠ I am not at all a distractable child, easily led astray by the nearest soft, fluffy object, completely susceptible to the charms of pretty colors. Nope. Real live grownup here. This is fine.⁠ For folks who've been here before, your suspicion that this is Palpitation is correct. And the yarn is Seven Sisters Arts' Matrika base (Karen is doing nifty little heart kits, so keep an eye on her page for more on those). If you'll excuse me, I'm going to work on coming to [...]

Ahem. Next week? Shall we have this come out next week? I mean there's always the chance that 2021 will have learned some sneaky tricks from 2020 and will do something dreadful to me between now and then, so I'm officially not calling this a promise. But as it stands right now the plan is for it to come out next week. ⁠ Wander back a post to check out what you need for the lighthouse innards if you want to go on a scavenger hunt before the pattern comes out so you'll be ready to cast on the moment [...]

Let's talk innards! Well, lighthouse innards. Not my own personal innards.⁠ The core of the this lighthouse is one of the cylindrical blocks that came in the block set I used for the Chimney and Belfry patterns. If you want the exact ones I used, they're here (it's an amazon affiliate link), but most any toy blocks will work just fine (plus you've got some non block options too, which we'll talk about in a sec).⁠ But you need a couple of other bits and pieces to go with it.⁠ First, you want something round and translucent for the light [...]

So...let's talk hearts. When I first wrote this pattern, I did it in three sizes. This isn't one of those projects that has to fit on a human body, nor is it one where the cuteness is lost if it's half an inch bigger or smaller, so three sizes seemed like plenty.⁠ But now...now as I knit them in this rather tempestuous moment, I find I want them as tiny as can be managed while still retaining the clear heart shape. I want the instant gratification of sitting down, knitting for an hour or so, and having all my stitches [...]

Sometimes? Sometimes you know someone well enough that when they say 'hey, I have an idea' you don't even have to hear all the details before you say yes. So when Karen over at Seven Sisters Arts said she wanted to do something suitably valentine-ish, I was in. Yarn showed up in the mail a day or two later (the benefits of living just down the road from the fairy tale yarn workshop...), and has already climbed on my needles (the one in the back is the Matrika base, the two in the front are the Tellus base, color names [...]

Ahem...did I hear that some of you wanted a lighthouse to go with your wee, tiny villages? Because I'm pretty sure my wee, tiny village is a seaside sort of place, and nothing says lovely but slightly foreboding like a light house.⁠ We will be having a whole discussion about the pieces you'll want for this over the next few days (hint, if you got the same blocks I did for the village, you've already got the biggest bit of it). But for now, I just wanted to warn you about the cuteness that's headed your way.⁠ And someone will [...]

How about an action shot of the finished product. Well, if by action shot, you mean 'peak coziness' shot, not any sort of actual industrious striding about doing things. And again, if I'd done the mending (and extra padding) with yarns that were a closer color match, these would be basically invisible after few wears. As it is, they'll continue to be...um...high contrast. But the socks will also be much comfier (thanks to the padding) and should last several more years (thanks to the mending). So...tend to your knits people. It's not hard (especially if you catch damage early). It's [...]