Kninja Knitter

Time just keeps marching on, as it does. While I just shared my updates on Friday, I had limited that to happenings as of a week ago. That helps me remain consistent at least with my content. So here are the happenings around here from July 13/14 to today, July 20.

Stitched or Still-in-Progress

Knitty Natty’s Sock Week MAL challenge wrapped up yesterday: make one or more socks in eight days. I successfully completed two socks in the challenge, and that also gave me one completed pair toward my YOP goals for the year. Woot! My patriotic themed socks turned out shockingly identical! I did have to supplement the blue/white stripe in the heel on the second sock – it’s possible I wasn’t starting from the beginning of the stripe segment. There’s not much yarn left from this skein – mostly red and white stripes with one or two blue/white left over.

Then there’s the first sock from my Sock Week sponsor yarn color way, and I cast on the second sock before crashing last night. Knitty Natty’s Love in Stitches group is hosting a second sock MAL this week, but I’m not feeling any pressure to get this sock done sooner than the end of the month. I always like to have a vanilla sock instep or leg for movie theater knitting, so we’ll see how quickly I end up finishing this mate.

Because of the sock work, I didn’t have a lot of time to devote to my boomerang. Still, I’m almost halfway through the skein, so I should be able to finish this month.

Lastly, I’ll share the finished photos of the tank that I completed a week ago. By last Monday morning, I only had the front to complete, plus the neckband and sleeve edges once the shoulders were connected. I wore the tank to church yesterday, and I love the fit and the fabric drape.

I’m also going to pick up the patriotic cowl this week to target completion by the end of the month.

Cast-on Conversations

Having finished the red tank last week, I cast on the next pattern in my queue using yarn I bought at Zombie Knitpocalypse. This design has a simple lace detail at the bottom hem, and now I can just knit in circles to the underarms. Unlike my last tank, I will want to alternate skeins since I’m working with an Indie-dyed yarn this time instead of commercial-dyed.

I did forget to share last week the knitting-related goodies that came in the mail while I was away. I don’t have a photo yet, but I got the full skein of LMFA Show Stopper in Darkest Hour that I’d ordered while at Zombie Knitpocalypse. Ordering at the show meant there was no shipping charge. Also, the team is now providing the skein-winding service for free! The USPS fairies also delivered my first of three kits from Laura Nelkin through her Lola’s Choice club. I had signed up after she teased on Instagram that there would be a Tolkien-esque project coming. I was not disappointed! Here is the July kit, and I just might cast on this week as it’s reportedly a super-quick knit!

Lastly, my order for the August installment of Camp Loopy 2026 arrived early in the week. After working with this yarn for my July project, I opted for the same base after I decided on the pattern. I’ll be knitting Jennifer Dassau’s Tarry tee in this neutral gray yarn.

Grandson Glimpses

This week I had a couple adventures with the kiddo that I can highlight. On Thursday, I had to make a run to the bank, and the munchkin informed me that I needed to go to the car wash, lol. So we went to the car wash and the bank. Then I was finally in the headspace to make a grocery store run (after too many restaurant deliveries!), and I invited him to join me. The boy was clearly getting tired after that adventure, so on the drive home, he was covering his head with his blanket – which usually precedes him falling asleep, although that didn’t happen this time.

On Sunday, for some unknown reason, the kiddo thought we were going to see firetrucks. Granted, it’s been over a month since our last Touch-a-Truck event, and apparently he was attempting to will it into existence. Given that we had lovely weather and I had some availability (needed a break from knitting socks), I decided we’d pop over to the nearby fire station. We occasionally see trucks drive past the house as the rear entrance to the station is accessed from the cross street alongside my property.

Much to our delight, the firefighter who answered the door was happy to entertain us for a bit. Of course, Mr. Bossy Pants practically pushed his way in before we were invited. The two men we met were thrilled to engage with a possible future firefighter. He was hoisted up into the cab of the truck, and they even let him push the button to turn on the flashing lights.

We kept our visit short so as not to be too disruptive, but it was still an impressive encounter! One of the guys recommended visiting the Fire Fighter Museum in downtown Columbus, so I’m adding that to our list of places to visit in the next few weeks. There should also be at least one more Touch-a-Truck event this year.

Movie Moments

It did take me a while to recover from my travels, so I only made it out to see Supergirl this week. The summer blockbusters are out, so I’m hoping to make the most of my A-list membership to see them in the theater! My near term plans include Young Washington and The Odyssey, and possibly the live action Moana.

Environment Evolution

I don’t have any substantive updates to share as far as work that’s been done, but I have some coming-soon teasers to share. First, I’ve started doing some initial investigation into going solar. Again, thinking of ways I can reduce my expenses in retirement, this has potential, though the up-front costs have me nervous. The City of Columbus is promoting a program that includes a partial rebate on installation costs. Since I missed the federal tax breaks, much like with the windows, I’d like to take advantage of any other possible savings. I’m meeting with someone today to get an estimate, and the co-op the city has organized has an info session in a couple weeks. This isn’t going to save me any money this summer, but I’m thinking long term here.

I’ve also had a chat with my son’s girlfriend, and I’m hiring her for some labor in making more progress in the basement. The dumpster rental last year made a HUGE improvement, but since then, I’ve done almost nothing. Hot summer days are the ideal time to be bagging up trash in the basement where it’s perpetually cool. Initially I’ve asked her to target the side of the basement that houses the laundry facilities. Once that’s done, we can shift the focus.

I think that sums up the happenings for the week here. Cheers!

Knit on. 🧶