Ankle Socks (gift knit)

Not only did I get a knit gift done in time, I got to see them in action. The recipient wore them for 3 days straight - I already knew she was knitworthy, but that sure clinched it. I'm knitting another pair for her now!

Ravelry project link: Ankle Socks

Pattern: Top-Down Socks, Fingering Version by Kate Atherly, in her book Knit Accessories: Essentials and Variations. I used the pattern as a jumping off point; worked at a different gauge, so the numbers aren't the same. 

Yarn: Twisted Fiber Arts Playful in Self-Striping colorway Firefly. This had been sitting in my stash for a couple of years and hadn't worked out for another project, so I was especially happy to use it up. 

Oddball Grab Bag Destash Sale

I'm destashing - and that includes the small stuff, like leftovers that I keep meaning to use in "something" "someday." Listings will be added to this page up through this weekend; if you are on Ravelry you can take a look at the full skeins I'll be posting for sale here on my stash page. 

Knitters Without Borders: Smocked Mug Jacket (revised)

I started a Mug Jacket sample in Peace Fleece and got annoyed with myself. If you check the Ravelry projects for this pattern, you'll find a lot of very smart revisions to modify the pattern for different purposes (like travel mug sleeves) or just to make it easier to knit. Sometimes I think my desire to get something knit-to-fit or easily resized overrides my desire to make something easier to actually physically knit, which is how I wound up wrestling with the smocking stitch for a couple of repeats before deciding to just rewrite the pattern already. And so there is now a revised version available for sale - knit from the top of the sides, down to the base. The hand-drawn graph paper chart for the smocking stitch has been replaced with a chart done in Knit Visualizer. Additional photos have been added - each section has a small photo of the section being worked (the base, for example, includes a photo of the finished base).

The previous version is still available for free as a PDF download. The fundraiser version price has been raised to $5.50, with $4.50 going to Medecins sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders. MSF/DWB is always in need of funds; sadly there is no shortage of people world-wide in need of medical care. If you are reading this, there is a very, very good chance that, compared to most of the world's population, you are wealthy. If you are planning to knit a warm jacket for a mug or French press coffeemaker, chances are you can spare a few dollars to help others in need.

For those who purchased the earlier version of the pattern, as a thank-you I sent a new download link for a free download of the revised pattern. If you did not get an email from me with the download link, please let me know so I can send you the link.

Survey: Honolulu Yarncrafting Workshops

Do you live in Hawai'i? Would you like to help me out? I'm drafting proposals for knit/crochet/spin/yarn dye workshops in the Honolulu area, and I'd like to be able to narrow down my focus as well as have something to show potential event sponsors. Filling out this short questionnaire (4 multiple choice, 2 short text) would help a lot! I won't share your name or email address with anyone without your permission, and you can remain anonymous if you prefer. 

If you have any questions, there's a section in the questionnaire for that, or you can email me (info@mkcarroll.com).  

Link Roundup

How Knitters are Human Computers - a guest post I wrote for the Codeacademy blog. Back in January, Codeacademy promoted an API course with the tweet “You wouldn’t knit your own sweater. So why code your own map?” While I certainly wasn’t the only person to let them know I found it offensive, I may have been the first (or only?) to reach out and say that I thought it was a missed opportunity, and why Codeacademy should be reaching out to yarncrafters instead of dismissing them. I'm glad that Karen Baker, Codeacademy's Community leader, agreed and gave me the opportunity to write this guest post. I'm also thankful that LeTonBeau, Daniella Nii, and Megan of Stockinette Zombies answered my tweets for help and made sure my post was accurate and comprehensible. 

The Crochet Project - have you been looking for a crocheter's version of Knitty or Twist Collective? Check out this collaboration by Kat Goldin and Joanne Scrace! This online only, bi-annual crochet collection features gorgeous photos of projects done in lovely yarns, with seasonal themes (Spring/Summer 2013 theme is botanicals, the upcoming Fall/Winter theme is Woodland Whimsy). 

Knit Edge issue #3 is live, with a (mostly) crochet edition of What We're Reading, an article about the Yarnbombing Los Angeles CAFAM Granny Squared installation, and a pattern for the Thousand Petals scarf designed by Ryan Hollist that combines variegated yarn, double-ended Tunisian crochet, and short row shaping. 

If you're looking to celebrate mango season in the Honolulu area, our family farm is producing an especially good crop this year - juicy and flavorful with a nice smooth texture. Follow me on Twitter (@mk_carroll) or on Instagram ​(mk_carroll) for delivery updates. This year most of the crop is going to Kokua Market. Short FAQ: although we don't use any pesticides/insecticides/fertilizers, we aren't labeling our fruit as such. We have no control over what our neighbors do, for starters, and third-party organic certification is not worth the cost for us. We don't ship off-island, and we're only selling to a small group of retailers - if you want to buy our mangoes, please check out Kokua Market. The mangoes are Hayden varieties.  

Kim Werker's asking craft bloggers to take a photo of their workspace in its normal state for her #nogloss project - you can see a pic of my desk at home (and I think I'm currently winning at "most clutter").