Coloring Pages!

 Well, I've done it! I have finally decided to post my drawings for sale. As an artist whose passion is drawing, I've always struggled with how to utilize it as a shared skill. I've finally been inspired to make a whole bunch of cute alpaca drawings, and they have morphed into coloring pages. 

 I never thought I would make coloring pages, but my mother in law gave me the inspiration. She is always sharing how she loves coloring as a way to relax and keep her occupied while traveling. With my disability, normal art for me has become a bit of a struggle. I was always the one making huge works, and now I have to think more pint sized. 

I'm happy to share my drawings, but I'm also very nervous and leery. There is so much art theft on the internet these days. I love my images. They are my babies, and very personal to me. I hope they get the love and care I put into making them, and I hope everyone loves them as much as I do.

My Etsy Shop Bits N Bobs Boutique

Fingerless Mitts Anyone?

So I started knitting with socks. I now have a million bazillion socks. I've also sort of lost my love for them, because I love a simple sock. I know how I like my toes, heels, and cuffs, and I hardly ever stray from that setup. I also find that I am limited on pattern due to texture issues. I don't like my feet to feel funny. All of this has led to fingerless mitts.

Fingerless mitts are like socks for your hands! The great part about them is the simplicity and the texture variety! I can put whatever I want into a fingerless mitt and it will never negatively affect my hands. This allows for greater creativity in lace and cable patterns! Woohoo!!! 

Without further ado I would like to introduce Puget Sound Mitts! My third fingerless mitts pattern. This pattern uses a complex cabling over a small portion of the mitts. It satisfies that cabling urge without it becoming super stressful!

Reminiscent of the tumultuous eddies and currents throughout the Puget Sound, these mitts represent the waters I live around and love. I designed these based off of the mesmerizing swirls in the Tacoma Narrows and through Deception Pass. The ups and downs of chronic nerve pain can be very tumultuous too. I feel the waters of the ominous eddies of the Puget Sound really resonate with the broiling turmoil just under my surface. Being on and near this water brings me so much peace.

I hope this pattern brings you peace too. In a time when everything in the word is stressful, and emotionally disjointed I think we can all use a small bit of peace to turn to. Enjoy the peace that only knitting can bring my lovelies!

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Hugs and Warmth, 

That Bits N' Bob's Girl

 

Kitchener Graft Demystified and Simplified

That gosh darn Kitchener again! Always confusing, but it looks so good, we all want to do it!

When I first started knitting, I picked up socks pretty much immediately. I love the idea of making something functional that eventually wears out. They also have so many changes throughout it keeps the knitting interesting and fast. So let’s get to the nuts and bolts. 

Here is a little trick that I've picked up over the years. It will make grafting a dream! You'll never fear the join again! This video also has a way to speed up your grafting process, and before you know it you will be grafting while watching shows, talking, having coffee or tea with friends, while traveling...anywhere and anytime!





Happy Knitting!

-That Bits N Bobs Girl

Syringomyelia Warrior

 I am a syringomyelia warrior. You may be asking, "what does that have to do with me?" A lot actually. This is a rare disease. It only affects 1 in 100,000 people. There is no cure for it, and not a whole lot of medicinal treatments either. It's a lot of lifestyle changes and pain management. Most people who have heard of it usually know about it due to dogs. Dogs get syringomyelia a lot.

So, to the question at hand...I am a knitwear designer. I may not have hundreds of patterns, and I don't have a published book (yet). I don't submit to magazines, festivals, and I don't offer to teach my craft to others. This does not make me any less, but it does make me a different kind of designer. A designer who values every one of my knitters.

I would love to do all of the above, but the reality of my condition means I have to accept certain large limitations. These limitations affect the people who follow and knit my work. I cannot teach large groups or even small groups, to knit. It takes so much energy to teach, and I always give my students everything I have. So I had to shelve teaching. I try to make YouTube videos to help address common issues, and I hope they are useful to some. I try to keep regular on updates and pattern development, but it really isn't in the cards for me. So, I do the best I can, and greatly value all of the support I receive from knitters. 

How does syringomyelia affect my ability to work at a normal pace? I work through a crushing rib pain daily. The pain has also been diagnosed as fibromyalgia. I have nerve misfiring throughout my body due to my spinal cyst. Pain can be very wearing. I also have autonomic dysfuntion and and autonomic neuropathy. That means my central nervous system is so not working with me. My blood pressure drops drastically, I struggle with heat and have raynauds symptoms. Sometimes I wake with unexplained hand tremors that make knitting and typing and pretty much anything very frustrating for the day or week it is happening. These are a small number of symptoms I encounter. I don't want to bore you with details. I just want to give you a glimpse into a rare condition that needs more visibility. I would like to weave this information throughout the Bits N Bob's blog, because it is so prevalent in how I run my Etsy and Ravelry shops.  

So, I want to invite you on my journey. We are all warriors for different life experiences. Let's be human together.

(The Bits N Bob's Girl)

Maria

 

A Little Minty

Oh my goodness!
I went live with my Corsican Mint Socks in August and it has been crickets ever since!
I have a few patterns in the works. They are actually all written up, and at the photographing stage. Photos can be so hard on me. I have to wait for a good day physically, and the weather has to cooperate. It takes every ounce of energy to get the photos fabulous, and then it takes at least another week for me to get the photos edited and the patterns published.
I'm having low blood pressure issues with some low estrogen to boot. I'm pretty much in sloth mode even on coffee. I don't want the sloth to be my spirit animal, but right now I think it's winning. I have two amazing patterns just waiting to be published. Until I have the energy to get them up and running I would like to welcome you all to try my Corsican Mint Socks. They really are a simple pattern, but the design layout and lacy top make them feel quite complex. They are shown as ankle socks, but they can easily be converted to full length socks.

I can smell the mint now!I sometimes go sit in my flower beds and run my hands through my corsican mint. I close my eyes and feel the delicate flowers, and the plush bed of soft tiny green leaves. The sweet aroma of mint fills my lungs and calms my spirit. It helps me reach for tomorrow, and enjoy the beauty of today. I know my neighbors probably think I'm crazy, and maybe I am a little, but I love growing things. I love making my world around me more beautiful. I may not be able to bring life to the world from inside me, but I can bring life to the world through the earth and the plants I help flourish. These socks are a representation of the life this plant brings out of me. They are soft and welcoming, and feel like summer green.

To sunshine and flowers

(The Bits N Bob's Girl)

Maria

Birthdays Are The Best Days

 Woohoo! It's my birthday!!!...tomorrow!

I'm so very excited to be here! Thank God my mom wanted babies. She's the best, and she did her best to shape me into the human being I am today.

I'm sharing my joy with all of you! On October 12th I will offer a 39% discount in all of my shops (knit patterns only). All you have to use is this coupon: CONFETTI

Bits N Bob's Boutique Ravelry

Bits N Bob's Boutique Etsy (here's the coupon: CONFETTI )

(for all you Lovecraft knitters out there I can't add coupons and sales. Boo!!!)

Now let's go eat some confetti cake!

(The Bits N Bob's Girl)

Maria

Fall Spinning

Fall is upon us. All summer I dream about spinning. I get excited and inspired. I run to my spinning wheel ready to make beautiful yarn. My hands sweat, and the fibers stick to me everywhere, and I remember why I don't spin in the summer. It sadly all gets put away again until the temperatures drop below 65. This is why I love Fall so much in the Pacific Northwest.
I am very much an outdoors kind of gal. If I can be outside when the sun is shining I feel like I am accomplishing life. Heck! If I can be outdoors when it is overcast, but not raining I feel happier. I stick to knitting small cotton things or socks over the summer. It's my season for sewing, and painting, and planting. I always feel like I'm missing something though. So when the temperatures drop and I start getting my itch to spin again, I remember the joy making yarn brings me.

This is my fall project. It's quiet and simple on my low energy body. This is a Yak/Merino blend. It has a catchy name: Red. I love it. It is the color I will knit my Midsummer Rose Shawl with. I have beads and thread waiting patiently. It's been 1 year in the making now since summer and my health put everything on hold. That's ok though. Slow and steady wins the race, and spinning is supposed to be fun right?

Midsummer Rose

What are you working on this winter?

 

- The Bits N Bob's Girl