Ever since I heard the word "wonky" from my knitting buddy Thea, I use it as much as I can.  In this case wonky means unusual, different, outside the norm.  My need for wonk came after my visit to one of my favorite LYS, Yarn Envy.  

First of all, this is so me!  It is one of the reasons I have such an immense yarn stash.  I have the fear of not buying yarn, deciding I want it then learning it is discontinued.  Or even more scarey, I find a yarn I absolutely love, not buy it with the intention of buying it later ONLY TO FORGET ABOUT IT.  I shiver when I think about all of the yarns deep down inside I want, but I've forgotten about them.  I think I will some day write about The Growth Of A Yarn Stash.  

​This is Jan's Tip #1:  Buy it when you see it if you love it!

Well, I was getting my hair cut in Sylvania and Yarn Envy is kind of on the way.  I wanted to do some knabbling for an upcoming project and I needed size 3, 16 inch circular needles.  I have many. many interchangeable sets which all begin with 4's and believe it or not I couldn't find a size 3, 16 inch.  I know, I was shocked, too.  I "911ed" Thea to see if I could borrow a set of her's.  Thea does all kinds of baby things from booties to hats to sweaters to blankets so I was banking on her having some.   Of course, she did and dropped them off on her way to Ann Arbor.  They weren't just any needles.  They were Knitter's Pride Karbonz and they were wondrous.  They hadn't even been taken out of the package.  I was on my way to knabbling.  Since I was going to Sylvania any way, it made sense to get my own size 3, 16 inch Karbonz at Yarn Envy.  I wanted Knitter's Pride Karbonz just like Thea's so I could give her the new ones and keep the one of her's I'd opened.  They didn't have any but had just ordered more.  I really didn't want to wait.  The wonderful women at Yarn Envy made two suggestions;  1)  Addi Turbo Rockets or 2) Buy a set of Karbonz Interchangeable since they went down to 3's.  I briefly thought about buying the set of interchangeable just so I could have a size 3, 16 inch but even I could see the sensible thing to do.  You know, it was a good try.  I almost bought them.  After I bought the needles, I thought I would just look around.  One of those wonderful women said, "Look at the new things we just got in."  My head whipped around and before me I saw a table filled with new yarn, some of which I'd never seen before.  Like the Pavlov dog, I began salivating.    

Isn't this cute.  To quote an old friend of mine, "I'm just a sucker for packaging."  A cute little box of yarn for a wrap.  

Is this me or what!?!?!?!  Beautiful!  I'd like to say this was all I bought but I'd be lying.  

I bought a few unicorn tails because I really can't walk past Madelinetosh without buying.  This was not UDY (undesignated yarn).  I know exactly what I'm going to do with it.  I would like to say this is all I bought but once again, I would be lying.

This is so beautiful.  It's alpaca and soft and sparkly and yummy.  This is UDY.  Just love at first sight and some day I'll find the perfect pattern.  Or it may become part of the collection.

​I was just getting ready to go out when I decided to walk by the "table of new things" once again.  I saw this.

I guess I chopped off the name Skacel when I took the picture.  It is an amazing magazine.  I asked the wonderful women if they had another copy.  They said it really wasn't for sale.  It is a magazine Skacel sends to shops to explain their yarns and design.  "But they sent us two so you can have that if you'd like."  Did I mention that I love Yarn Envy and the wonderful women?  

​Wonky suggestions #2 comes from the Skacel magazine and I will tell you all about it in Part 2 of Jan's Tips Are Often Wonky But They're Always Fun.

I am a month and a half into "My Year Of Selfish Knitting."  By this time many New Year's Resolutions have been abandoned At least that's what happens to me most years.  I had a real test this week. Let's see how I did.

This is my second Knit The Day scarf.  I started it December 1 and will finish it March 31.  It looks very different than the first one which I started July 1 and finished November 30.  It is much more blue and purple rather than orange, yellow and green.  I knit on this while we were in Sunset Beach.  I got a lot done.  I was zipping along.  I knit a couple times a week, kept up pretty well.  On Wednesday, I realized I haven't knit on it since we returned to Adrian.  I said to myself, "I really should get back to Knit The Day."  Wait a minute! "Should" sounds an awful lot like "have to."  Remember "My Year Of Selfish Knitting" is all about "want to" not "have to" knitting.  I ask myself the defining question, "Do I really want to work on Knit The Day right now?"  My answer was "No!"  So I got out what I really wanted to knit.  It's an afghan or throw or whatever for the condo.  It is made of 15 different skein of Malabrigo Caracol.  You will not be surprised at this, the skeins go from orange to red to purple to blue to teal to green.  That's right, the old Roy G Biv. It is knit on the bias and is really beautiful.  It excites me and that is what "My Year Of Selfish Knitting" is all about.  I really can't wait for it to be finished so I can show you.  IT IS SPECTACULAR!

Then I had another challenge.  I worked at Ann's By Design on Saturday and was getting my things together.  I put this in my bag. 

It's that beautiful Be Sweet shawl I finished in Sunset Beach.  It is beautiful, but do you know what would make it even more beautiful?  Steaming!  Marilyn the steamer now has a home at Ann's By Design so I thought, "I really SHOULD steam this while I'm working."  I am really glad I noticed that SHOULD.  Nothing fits into my philosophy for 2017 that has a should in it.  I didn't steam but I did work on a prototype for a scarf for a class I'm planning for Ann's By Design.  This class is going to be very unique and exciting.  As soon as the scarf is done, I'll tell you all about it.

I guess I am doing pretty well keeping to my focus of the year.  You know, it has kind of seeped into the rest of my life.  I find myself saying "no" to "have to" things.  It feels powerful!  I really can control my days, my focus and my life!  I AM WOMAN!  Sorry! I kind of slipped back into the 70's.  I guess I'll go and work on my "want to" condo afghan.  You really need to try this.

I have to apologize for taking so long to get this posted.  I have been having some "technical difficulties."  WOW! That frustrates me! But here I am back.  Now on to the important stuff.

April will be Ann's By Design's second birthday.  During that time Ann and her minions have supported cancer survivors over and over.  Adrian is very fortunate to have the Hickman Cancer Center at Bixby Hospital.  It is through the Hickman Cancer Center Ann's By Design has found a vehicle to share the various labors of love created by Ann's loyal friends.     

First came the Survivor Shawls.  Survivors Shawls were created in both knitting and crocheting.  When we had several completed, we gave them to the Hickman Center to keep patients warm during chemo.  They were made from three tubs of various pink yarns which came from the Stash Studio.  Since I have 8 more tubs, I think we will be knitting Survivor Shawls for a very long time.  Ann's By Design has received the most heart felt thank you notes from recipients of the shawl.  I don't know about you but something like that puts me back on my needles real fast.  

The next project was Chemo Caps.  My knitting buddy Thea really got into these.  She knit all colors of pink, all sizes, different patterns.  They were really quite fabulous.  For some reason I can't find my pictures of the Chemo Caps so I want you to pick a ball of pink yarn, close your eyes and imagine it as a Chemo Cap.  Isn't it beautiful!?!?!  You have a very good imagination.  

Next came knitted knockers.

My first experience with knitted knockers came during Jocelynn Brown's Detroit Knitting Together.  One of our participants was knitting knitted knockers and told her story.  She started knitting for a friend who had a mastectomy and was using a traditional prothesis.  Her prothesis was heavy, uncomfortable and sometimes caused issues going through security in an airport.  I was mesmerized by the story and the need.     

Ann ordered the soft pima cotton in a "close to flesh" color.  The first Friday of the month from 11:00 to 1:00 we have a knitted knockers group.  Isn't that great!  It's just two months old and we had 4 women knitting once again for cancer survivors.  

I was excited to learn that knitted knockers aren't limited to flesh colored. Look at these!  Aren't they fun!  I love it.  If you are interested just Google "Knitted Knockers" and go to the web site.  You'll find a free pattern and much more inspiration to start knitting knockers.  Just pick soft, yummy yarn and find your nearest cancer unit.  They will be thrilled at the donation.  If you really want to make knitting knockers special, start your own group and spend time with loving, giving people like yourself.  You will be glad you did.

We have been home for four days.  You know what amazes me?  It amazes me that spending a month relaxing can wear you out so much.  I have been tired and draggy ever since we got home.  I came home to Christmas decorations and gifts which weren't put away before we left, unpacking a month's worth of stuff, putting away a months worth of stuff and catching up on laundry.  Finally, I have time to relove the Knit "N Purl purchases.  

During my first trip to Knit 'N Purl, I came f2f (I love using that.  It means face-to-face.  I learned that when we began using ITV in my work.) with these two beautiful colors of Malabrigo.  It feels like a dream.  I have no idea what I will do with it.  I will just add it to the collection.  Just touch the screen.  I am sure that the incredible softness will come right through.  I left with a smile on my face.  

During my second visit, I participated in social knitting and bought an Ott Light.  The lighting at the cottages wasn't the best and I was having a little trouble distinguishing the colors in the Parallax.  

​Trip number three, I discovered Trendsetter's new Transitions and Transitions Lux.  

This is Transitions.

These are Transitions Lux.  Can you see the little bit of bling?  You know I am a sucker for sparkle.  The most amazing thing about this yarn is how it is constructed.

It is made of four strands of a lace weight yarn.  This happens to be cotton.  It begins with four strands of one color then after a while one strand is replaced with a strand of a new color.  After a while a second strand is replaced with the new color, then a third strand is replaced with new color then the fourth and final.  Then it starts over with the new color.  The color  change is gradual and the look amazing.  I have talked before about my addiction to gradient yarns.  I love it.  Remember when I did this. . .

This is the same principal only I had to decide when to drop a color and bring in a new one.  I had to divide the skein into 4 little balls and hope I had divided it appropriately. I love this afghan, am really proud of it and will never give it way but Transitions will have the same effect without the decision making and second guessing.  Once again, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE GRADIENT YARN.

While at the Coastal Cottage, I decided to get acquainted with my new Transitions.  I really did Knabble and Kniterest.  I looked through magazines, Ravelry, Pinterest, my iBook collection and books trying to find the perfect pattern.  I really wanted to get this fabulous yarn on needles.  I was smitten.  I swatched using needles in sizes 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to see which needle showcased the yarn best.  I got acquainted but didn't find a perfect pattern that showcased this beautiful yarn. I had an amazing time knabbling and kniteresting.  I feel it is so very important to get to know the personality of your yarn before you choose a pattern.  You need to know the drape, the texture and the hand of the yarn before you marry yourself to a pattern only to find out it is all wrong for the yarn.   

​Yes, I am home but I haven't found the perfect pattern for Transitions.  Some day it will just be there.  You really should try this.  I know you will love it, too.