Michigander Mittens

I'm super excited to give a little drum roll to my next knitting pattern out...

Michigander Mittens by Laura Ricketts

Meet Michigander Mittens! I grew up in Michigan -- outside of Allegan to be exact -- and it is such a joy to have spent my formative years in a state shaped like a mitten.

There are plenty of Michigan-map potholders available for retail, but I'm the mitten lady. Where were the map mittens of Michigan? You can't find them, either? Never fear: I made my own. In August they will be available via the Midwestern Knits book, available for preorder HERE. Marvelous!

On one side is the map. On the other side is the state motto -- in Latin on one palm and in English on the other: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice / If you seek a pleasant peninsula look about you. We learned it in fourth grade. Did you, fellow Michiganders?

This knit is done in a Michigan yarn, Stonehedge Fiber's Shepherd's Wool, and it does get a little tricky with all the color changes back and forth between the Beach and Frosty Blue yarns. The tricky part is just being mindful to twist the two yarns together every 5 stitches or so to keep the stranding inside from getting too long. That could bring about a risk of pulling one of them. But, with a little mindful knitting, you, too, could be safe with your stranding and sporting these snazzy accessories next winter.

Make them in your favorite Michigan sports team's colors! Put an X on where you were born. Or, live now. Or, have a cabin. Or, once caught a really big fish.

Michigander Mittens by Laura Ricketts, closeup

Then, you just tell them: I'm from here!

Summer work...

I want to thank so many of you who called, texted, messaged, emailed me and commented on my last blog post! Thank you, thank you for your many offers of help. It is very heartening to know I have friends out there in the wide world.

I have been feeling exponentially better each of the past three days. I was so thankful (thank you, praying buddies!), because it meant I was able to go to the Detroit airport to see my little, baby girl off on her three week trip to Australia.

Neither of us is looking too great, but such is life.

She is journeying there with People to People in a group of 41 middle schoolers. By the end of today, she will have cuddled a koala. Sigh.

But, work has not waited for me. In the past few weeks, I have done the final edits for Michigander Mittens, my contribution to the Midwest Knits! book, put out by Sweatshop of Love's Allyson Dykhuizen and Carina Spencer. Estimated time it is on the shelves is mid-August. It's available for preorder via the link above.

I also am excited to be finalizing plans to teach at the American Swedish Institute this October and give a talk to the Minneapolis Knitting Guild during the same visit. More details to follow. 

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this amazingly cool weather we're having for July 1. Happy Canada Day, Canadian friends!

Summer Sickness

Five weeks ago we had a major event in the family, and at the same time I got sick with a whopper of a cold. It lengthened and elongated, and now, for two weeks I have been stuck in bed.

For some (hint: my teenage son) this would be a dream come true: lie in bed and read books. I got over the novelty of it in the first day. I can't do house work; I can't do work work; I can't even knit.

So many people say, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything." I can say with authority, that that isn't true. In health or in sickness, I am still in God's hand. At times, when I feel worried or frustrated, I have been reminded of all of God's blessings in my life: a house, a wonderful husband, a family, and a content soul. Like Corrie Ten Boom, who wrote the Hiding Place, I'm even trying to be thankful for the things I don't understand. For Corrie it was lice. For me, it's a dog.

What are your biggest blessings?

Adventures in Knitting

Last Tuesday, I had a great time speaking to a group of Knitting Off Broadway knitters at the Scotty's Brewhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was good food, good conversation, beautiful works-in-progress, and a fun time during dessert when I presented on my two projects in the current Knitting Traditions magazine.

The Knitting Off Broadway gang at Scotty's Brewhouse, May 2015

Despite backing up as much as I could and standing on a stool, this was the best shot I could get. Hannah is wearing the Jeanne Baret cap I made, and, actually, made a cute model for the sweater and hat combo. Here is Hannah wearing both. The hat is reversible and here she is wearing the other side facing out:

I was able to share some of my research and talk through the life and times of adventurers Jeanne Baret, first (known) woman to circumnavigate the globe, and Prince Roland Bonaparte and his photographic expedition to the Sámi peoples in the late 1800s. Both these knitted pieces are inspired by their exploration.

This week is the last week of school for my three kiddos. The last hurrah for them AND me. This week, I cram in all the work I hope to accomplish for the next two and a half months. This week's plans, this includes charting and writing five patterns for an Interweave ebook, and submitting several more submissions to print and web magazines. I better get cracking! 

When I resurface, I'll be teaching at the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan, Michigan August 14 & 15. Come join me for my Skolt Sámi Motifs class, Irish Crochet Motifs or Kautokeino Sámi mittens!