It’s “WIP it out” Day! As decreed by Elspeth over at Multitasking.
Insert “Show me yours and I’ll show you mine” joke here.

I feel I have so many things I want to start, are in the planning stages and are one the needles I needed to sit back and take stock. Each of these projects I’ve realized has taught me a little something along the way.

Starting with the lower left hand corner working counter clockwise:

Sweater swatch for design submission - This poor little guy has been being tested and ripped in countless cycles. It’s been on my progress bar haunting me for ages but keeps getting pushed back by other items. I now have the pattern all worked out and just need to work up the damn finished swatch to send off.
What I have Learned: Dolman style construction. Researching on how to submit design packages and pushing myself to develop a cohesive design presentation.
Yarn: Berreco Cotton Twist

Jesse’s flames sweater - This is still all I have on this black hole of a sweater. I’ve only barely made it back to where it was before Aejaz had destroyed it.
What I have Learned: That knitting in black (and especially 6×1 beaded rib) takes a certain level of patience. And good lighting. That I should probably focus on this more when not sitting in the dark with the boy playing Xbox.
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-ese

Branching Out scarf - This is a well traveled project, worked on sporadically here and there. I really do like it and enjoy knitting it but it too keeps getting put on the back burner.
What I have Learned: Tinking of a mastery level – or how to royally screw up something and still fix it. This was my first lace and it has been invaluable in really learning how stitches work together and relate to one another.
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool

Celtic cable purse - I can’t wait to get back to this one. I have some construction ideas I really want to try out with this.
What I have Learned: Making my own cable charts- really not too hard!
Yarn: Recycled and dyed with food paste

Lace leaf pullover - I’m liking how it’s looking but it’s currently on a time out. Reason?
What I have Learned: That wine, me and knitting really, Really do not mix. I should have learned this by now, but this one finally sunk it in. Apparently it causes adding impromptu short rows and working increases on only one side instead of both. Damn false confidence. It’s resting while I get over my self-irritation
Yarn: KnitPicks Sierra in Bud

New pattern design - This is my current pattern I’m designing and rushing to get under a deadline.
What I have Learned: I would like to say I’ve learned better about procrastinating, heh. How focusing entirely on one project that I can’t really show makes for boring blogging. Hey ‘in progress’ means I’m still learning right?
Yarn:Lion brand Jiffy? I think.

A little story of our dog, or as I deemed him “The Cutest Puppy in the World”
I’m not at all biased or anything.

This is Aejaz on the day we adopted him from Operation Kindness at 9 weeks old. We were told he was a Sheltie “mix” and the last of his litter that had been abandoned at 3 weeks.

As you can see, he doesn’t have much in the way of a tail which may have been why he was the last one. I love his little fuzzy knob tail, I think it’s one of his cutest features!

We named him Aejaz which is Indian meaning “One who performs miracles”, or his full name written in Mr. Pieknits’ native language of Telugu as ఏజెస్ తల్లపనేని.
He quickly proved to live up to his name when shortly after he came home with us he fell extremely ill. At first it was believed to be Distemper (nearly always fatal) but it turned out to be a severe case of Kennel Cough which he developed pneumonia on top of. The photo above was taken while he was sick- you can see how miserable the poor guy was. It didn’t look good for awhile but he thankfully made a full recovery and is a crazy energetic nine month old puppy now.

The tail today- you can see how his coat has come in and the fur makes a little tuff at the end. I love it and his crooked ears- this is what makes adopted mixed pets so unique. The excess of fur on his hind quarters has also led to him being dubbed “furry britches”.

My view most nights while knitting. Aejaz will bring his ball and quietly set it on the couch next to me as I knit. He then sits and looks at me as piteously as he can until I can no longer take it, pick up the ball, and throw it for him. This repeats though out the night.
Note the look of concentration once I pick up the ball. He is rather ball obsessed.

A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn’t care if you’re not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector.
–Louis Sabin, All About Dogs As Pets

Visit all the wonderful adoptable pets available at petfinder.com