Necessity is the mother of invention.
[Pesius Flaccusm, et al]
Unvention is a word I learned at Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp. When a knitter figures out a technique in the isolation of her/his knitting nest, she/he unvents the technique, unaware that someone else has probably stumbled upon the same thing at one time or another. That is how I taught myself double knitting years ago. I just fiddled around not knowing it was an existing technique.
Here is my latest unvention. By the time I reached the gusset increases, I realized I’d not have enough yarn to finish the sock. When I finished the gusset, I knit back and forth on the top-of-the-foot stitches until I ran out of light green near the toe. I slipped the stitch at the end of each row then knit it as I started back. Then, using the dark green yarn, I worked the short rows for the heel and continued working back and forth on the sole. I knit the edge sole stitch together with the slipped stitch on the edge of the light green top. I slipped that stitch on my way back. Actually, it is very tidy looking and there are no holes.
A while back, I received an email from a knitter who asked how to reinforce just the sole of a sock. This might be the answer. I’ll experiment and let you know.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of The Yearling and several other long-loved books, wrote The Sojourner not long before her death in 1953. Although this book is not as well known as some of her other books, it is my favorite. I read it years ago and it struck such a cord with me that it stayed in my memory. Ever since I attended the Land Full of Stories writers’ conference presented by the 
Too bad I didn’t have a BEFORE photo to put with this. I’d found myself apologizing every time a visitor asked to use my bathroom so I’ve spent the past three weeks sprucing it up with the help of my handy lady. She did plaster repairs, painting and anything that required the use of power tools. I did the cleaning, wallpaper and trim. Since my house is 80 years old, the ceilings are high. We painted the ceiling and about 14″ down the wall navy blue. Then I hung white wallpaper that is textured like beaded board, and edged it with wood trim. One of my favorite things about the makeover is the new curved shower rod—no more sticking to the shower curtain.
I’ve just returned from the most delightful of journeys—almost 3,000 miles through the heart of America. My primary objective was to attend the Land Full of Stories writers’ conference presented by the 
Sammy Marvel was killed July of 1864 during the battle of Atlanta. His little brother, a drummer boy, marched on to the sea with Sherman’s army and lived to be an old man. Sammy’s uncle and cousins fought in the same battle—in the Confederate Army. 
If there was an SPCA for house plants, they would come and collect mine. This slightly blurry photo is my effort to stave off a visit if such an organization exists. Just when I thought my violet was on its last stems, it rallied and started to bloom. I am amazed. It must be very hardy.
My friend Jane from Austin, Texas says that Suzanne Atkinson from Ontario is North America’s best kept knitting secret. Suzanne led us through knitting a quilt block (photo, left), then inserting it into Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Surprise Jacket pattern. That was Friday evening and all day Saturday at the Dayton Knitting Guild retreat. On Sunday morning, Suzanne taught a cable pattern on a seaman’s scarf. Suzanne has all of the traits of a good teacher that bring out the best in her students. She is gracious, knowledgable, patient, positive, encouraging…. 
Knitting, writing and other joys 