Sick But Still Knitting

Friends,

I have been sick all week with some kind of cold. I'm finally on the mend and will go back to my two part-time day jobs tomorrow. I've basically been stuck in the comfy lounge chair since Thursday, watching Daredevil, The Closer, and whatever else suited my fancy.

Somehow, with the brain fog and all, I got inspired to knit something new. I pulled out a "how to knit a triangle shawl" chart to remind me, and redrew it for a somewhat V shape. I added 6 increases every other row to make it grow fast, and I used US13 needles with bulky homespun yarns. It's done except for the border. I think I'll do a row or two in contrasting yarn, then use a picot bind-off. I'll post some pics next time.

The Yarn Crawl starts Thursday and I'm very excited. I'll probably do what I did last year. I'll go to one shop after work on Thursday and Friday, then hit a few on Saturday and/or Sunday. I love to see the shops, and there is a new one this year in Liberty Station I haven't seen yet.

If anyone actually sees this post, let me know what accessory piece you would love to knit. I'm thinking maybe a scarf next.

Here's another one of my Little Felted Hats from the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con collection.

Happy knitting and see you at the 2018 San Diego Yarn Crawl!

New Beginnings

I hope none of you were holding your breath waiting for another blog post. Creativity involves experiments, failing, success, really screwing it up, getting up and trying again. So here we are to the trying again part.

Hi, I'm Nancy Hay and I'm a knitting pattern designer. In addition, I have two day jobs as an administrative assistant, I'm going to Spanish classes twice a week, and in my free time, I make time to design some knitted garment or accessory. I also make little felted hats for sale.

Recently, I was contracted to make a knitted hat pattern for the upcoming 2018 San Diego Yarn Crawl. Each of the 13 stops has freebies and sales over the four days. One of the freebies is a knitting pattern and a crochet pattern for all who come. I'm so excited!

The Alpacas of San Diego stop, in Descanso, is a bit of a drive, but they get a lot of Crawlers who come to check out the alpacas and the goodies for sale. I hope they will like my newest pattern, Cord Cutter Hat. Unfortunately for you readers, I can't show you the pictures yet, but will be able to show you once the Crawl starts on September 13 and runs through the 16th.

For more info on the Crawl, see their web page at http://sandiegoyarncrawl.com/.

Last year's hat:

Yarn Crawl Basketweave Hat

2016 cowl:

Gull Lace Cowl

I will schedule blog posts much more often now. *fingers crossed*

New! Fresh! Different!

11-14-15
Today is a new start in blogging.

Let me introduce myself. I am Nancy Hay. (Hi, Nancy!) I love knitting, and spinning, and sewing, and designing, especially knitting patterns. I've also started learning about Ball-Jointed Dolls, or BJDs. My two dolls, Lavender and Rose, are muses for creating garments for them and for sale.

Of late these pattern designs have come fast and furious and too quick to write down. I'm making shawls and scarves and hopefully fingerless mitts for the San Diego BJD Con (SDBJDC ) coming next weekend. Bruce and his crew of minions always throw a great show.

I'll have a booth there, Nancy Hay Decorative Arts, with Little Felted Hats and the new line of shawls and scarves.

Plus, I'm sewing prototypes today of a special garment. It will be a-dork-able! So far, so good. I'll keep it under wraps for the moment, but if they're ready in time, I'll post pics here for the premiere.

After all the preparations for that show are complete, I'll take some beautiful pics of the purple V-Squared Shawl pattern. OINK Pigments was kind enough to give me yarn support to create a sample of the almost final pattern. I still need to get closeups of the starting technique and nice full shots of the shawl front and back. My picture-taking skills aren't great, but I've been getting better with practice of late. I think this one came out pretty well.

Then comes Christmas knitting for the relatives in far-off Omaha, Nebraska. One granddaughter has asked for me to sew a pleated skirt. I'm still contemplating the other presents. Some may even be purchased. *gasp*

In upcoming posts I intend to discuss designs, dolls, and this fabulous gluten-free bread I make. I plan to post some free patterns, with link to patterns for sale before the end of the year. I'll post pictures and stories about works-in-process, news of upcoming shows, and what happens when you forget a critical step on the knitting machine. (It isn't pretty.)

It is instructive, and hopefully entertaining, to learn from mistakes. Our successes are that much richer if we have to work for them. Here's to failure because we tried something new! Here's to hoping we don't make that same mistake again! Here's to the joy of creativity and beauty when everything goes just right!

Here's to making an enjoyable blog for any readers who happen upon this blog.