Over the past year, I've gotten a lot of requests for felted (technically, it's fulled) tabi from runners, but I've been kind of loaded with a few large custom commissions.  This time of year is the time of year where I should really be working on cranking out huge numbers of socks for the holidays, but it's always the time of year that I get itching to perfect some new designs.  This time, it's going to be these felted tabi, so rejoice all you runners out there. :)

I've been a bad blogger.  Seems like every time I hit a lull, life decides to get exciting.

The past few weeks have been better, and I've had more of a chance to get some knitting done.  This week, I decided to do some instant gratification projects and worked up two pairs of fulled slippers.  Awhile ago, I knit my first pair by bungling a pattern, and they're so much fun I made up two more pairs.

These have slightly higher sides, making them more clog like, which is a bit more practical if you're doing more than just sitting around.  They're super thick -- about 1/4" on the sides -- and the bottoms are doubled for extra squooshiness.

I think I've finally caught up on all of the custom orders that came in at the beginning of January.  I love the frantic rush, mostly because it puts me into knitting overdrive and allows me to finish a sweater in a week!

Yep, finished in a week.  Now that things have slowed down, the knitting factory desires have slowed down, too.  After I get a few more new listings of my regular ol' tabi in my shop, I'm going to continue to work on my experiments.  

After completing the last round of custom orders, I've actually started making forward progress again!  I packed up a footlocker's worth of yarn that'll go with me during our move, but I have another left to knit from for the next few weeks.  

In the meantime, I've broken out the kit I've made up for the second stocking for my brother and his partner.  I finished the cuff and plan on tackling some of the colorwork tomorrow while it's nice and rainy out.  It's a pretty quick knit, but it requires slightly more brain commitment than I usually need.  It'll be good to have those done, boxed up, and ready to mail out when the time comes.

After knocking out a pair of socks for my shop, I decided to make myself a pair of convertible mitts.  They turned out pretty kick ass, if I say so myself.  I originally intended them to be just red, but the cream and yellow jumped out of my scrap drawer and had to be used.  The cream and yellow stripes are at the top of the cuffs, the top of the mitten flaps, and two narrower stripes run at the base of the fingers on the fingerless glove part.  Pleased! 

that things always get so crazy right when the busy season gets rolling?
Between major house construction and preparation for our short move to the NYC area, nothing is really getting done!  I've cranked down this week and have been tying up loose ends, left and right, but still haven't had much opportunity to create anything new for the shop.
I'm finishing up a pair of cashmere socks, right now, so that I can ship immediately, if they're purchased.  I also plan on starting (and hopefully finishing!) a sweater panel and starting (and hopefully finishing!) a pair of tabi in a lovely variegated wool.  Then, if I have any time, I may make some stuff for ME!  Ya know, since I'll be in a place that gets snow this year.
And I just realized...I'm going to have pack up some of my stash for immediate use, so my MIL isn't constantly mailing me stuff. :)  It's a good thing I've been spending a lot of time working down my stash.  I'll probably be able to take all of my working stuff, plus a good chunk of my play stuff. 

I decided that I needed a pair of slippers and thought it would be a good time to knit up my own pattern.  Well, I got distracted near the end of the pattern and ended up with elfy slippers!  I was a bit disappointed, but the more I wear them, the cuter I think they are.  

I've decided to join the Etsy Holiday Bootcamp.  Things have been a bit slow on Etsy, recently, for me, and anything to jumpstart my motivation has got to be a good thing.  My passion for handicrafts has been a lifelong, thing, and I find myself fascinated by the skills and talents of other artisans.  I've been spending some time reading the wants of other Etsians and have found a few other directions to take my work.  

I hope, this holiday season, to not only provide my current line of warm, cuddly socks to people and the people lucky enough to be gifted them, but I hope to finally put some prototypes out there.  It's a bit late, but I think it can be done!

Since I mentioned the hat I made for the man-beast, I figured I'd post a picture of it:

I'm far from any hat genius, so this is the Marram Hat from Eskimimi Knits.  I went with one color, this soft, lovely, extrafine merino that he picked out.  I love the spirals around.  It's way too warm for him to wear it, yet, but it's funny to watch him picking it up and putting it on. :)  

The past few weeks have been very busy for us.  Between some major home improvements, getting ready for a move 1200 miles away, custom orders, and every day life, it's been enough to make me scream, at times. :)

Instead of really slamming on my shop, like I should be doing, I've been working on projects for myself.  I've been fixing up my husband's winter sock drawer, knitting him some cuddly hats and gloves, and making a few cozy winter things for me.  I've also started working on gifts for the holidays, again.

I'll have to take some pictures, but I don't feel as bad about neglecting the shop when I have such delicious knitwear for myself!

As soon as September hit, sales and orders started coming in.  It's been a fun two weeks, and even more fun is the cooler weather outside.

Of course, it's still getting into the 90s during the day, but it's such a relief to go outside in the evenings when it drops into the 60-70s.  I'm overcome with the desire to knit stockings, socks for myself, and sweaters.  Project ADD has consumed me and I have half a dozen things on the needles.

Yay for fall!