Stretching Stripes

Well it was all too clear just moments ago as I stretched this little handknit over her tummy and stressed out a few buttonholes. It is likely getting close to that last day of this girl wearing the first sweater I made for her.  Do you see how upset she got when I told her?  Then we both cried.  Not really.  I think this would be an easy one to upsize now that I'm all cocky with my knitting skills, so that's on the (long) list.  I got the pattern over here from those smartypants at Purl.  As I've said before I suck at saving yarn details.  I also suck at resolutions to improve upon saving yarn details.  But. Well. There was red and blue and it was hand dyed and just thicker than sock yarn and washable.  Smileyface.

This place has been busy.  It took 3 tries and 5 days at the weathered-over airport to get Juliana back to Brooklyn for her final semester of college last week.  What?  Wait.  Final semester.  Had to retype that.  Got it.  I just turned in my fall fabric collections rather late, but I will beg the mills to forgive me and all should be well with that.  Pierrette and I sat down to make our schedule for 2014.  The whole year.  I've never really done that, but last year we did it about half way through the summer when things were feeling out of control and I was amazed at how much it helped me to put things down on paper.  Duh.  I know.  So very much of my work comes in regular intervals and with recurring tasks that should not jump up at my face and shake me by the shoulders every time they are due.  They should just happen.  Because I know they are going to happen and I should do things to make them happen in plenty of time.  I think you call it a schedule.  My name is Anna Maria Horner.  I am 41 years old.  I just made a schedule.

And there are very exciting things on my schedule!!! Two new quilting cotton collections, my first collection of jersey knits, reprints of some VERY favorites if my IG stream from yesterday is telling the truth, new sewing patterns, new needleworks patterns, new supply categories for my online shop, teaching at Sew Down Nashville and hosting SewDowners at my house (all of them), a Mother-Daughter workshop in Vermont with my very good friend Heather (I think there might still be some spots available)..... I'll stop here before I start totally freaking out.

How did I start this?  Sweater stripes.  Yes.  I imagine I can put Mary Anna growing out of more of her sweaters on the schedule, but I think I'll just watch that happen moment by moment instead.  Lucky me.

xoxo, Anna