Knit One, Preach Too

2012-01-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

Knitting out the old, and knitting in the new!

2011 was a wonderful and adventurous year. There were a few (major) bumps along the way - especially with the health of family and friends - but I'm grateful for all the good that happened! I rang out the New Year the way I love best: family and best friend and ice cream. It really doesn't get any better than that!

It was a good year for knitting.

I estimate that I knit:

13 hats
6 sweaters
4 pairs of socks
1 pair of mittens
3 baby sweaters
1 scarf
1 shawl
1 felted purse
1 possum ;-)

I also finished two other sets of mittens - but as they are waiting for linings, they don't count. ;-)

I spun up MUCH fibery-goodness as well, including three of the Enchanted Knoll fiber club offerings from last year, and 1.5 pounds of yumminess from Roclans (purchased at the 2010 NJSW).

Of the above, MOST was from stash. I'm pleased! Knitting up six sweaters does a lot to eliminate stash. Unfortunately, I've left a bunch of lace yarn on my shelf, which I'll need to tackle this year.

The plan for this year? Continue to stash-bust. If I continue at the rate above, I may just about get through my stash (or much of it) this year. My plan, therefore, is to either knit it.... or get rid of it in 2012!

Here's to a happy, fiber-filled New Year!

Almost finished with finishing....

2011-10-28T13:36:00.001-04:00

The October tally thus far:

3 sweaters
1 pair of socks
Hat, scarf and mitten set
1 hat

Of the above, all were truly UFO's'... with the exception of the fauxhawk hat. ;-)

Chances are good that I'll finish two more projects before the end of this month - a pair of Zilborg mittens that I started this month, and a children's sweater that is another UFO. It's been a good month. I think having a theme has helped with my progressing towards my goals.

November is the month of 50K - words and stitches. Once again I'll be doing both NaNoWriMo as well as NaKniSweMo - focusing on novel writing, and working on a sweater. The NaNo project is "Last Wish" which has been bumping around in my brain for a year. I hope to do a reasonable rough-write, and then pass it on to the daughter for work on narrative (she's great at dialogue!). The NaKni project is a CPH for the bestie in a pretty blue.

And yes, there's also work. The house. The PhD.

Better busy than bored though, right? And if you don't have goals, how do you know if you've arrived when you weren't sure where you were going in the first place?

Finishing for others, part deux

2011-10-23T07:17:00.001-04:00

Every year my Women's group sends dozens of hat/scarf/mitten sets to Appalachia. I always try to get at least one set done. Here's this year's contribution. It's made out of Red Heart -which gives me hives - but that is what is required for washability and wear's sake.

I mentioned upstream that I finished Zamora for a knitting friend. In contrast to the Red Heart, she's made of this wonderful feeling silk-based yarn from Noro. The striping doesn't do much for me... but the fabric is lovely.

Yesterday I began prepping Angora (bunneh) for spinning. My wheel is on stage until mid-November, but my hope is to have everything ready to go for when she is returned. The plan is to spin a simple two ply for use inside mittens. Not sure if I'll be able to do any more finishing this month - although I've just cast on for one of the aforementioned Christmas mittens. We'll see!

Finishing for others ;-)

2011-10-13T20:39:00.002-04:00

At my monthly knit/crochet group at church, one of the women was obviously distressed by a project she was working on. I had helped her with a few new techniques, but something had gone wrong, and she had gained 5 stitches. She looked at me and said "I know you're busy... but I would be so happy to PAY someone to finish this for me..."

So, it's now on MY needles (she was knitting on 11's, and I moved it down to 8's in order to match her gauge) and I'm finishing it for her. Of course, I won't ask for compensation. This is the sort of thing we do for one another, right? Besides - I know she's got MY back when I'm unable to finish something else. ;-)

The third floor and second floor are almost finished being rearranged/cleaned. I hope to get the rest of it done tomorrow so that it looks perfect for when the daughter comes home tomorrow. Perhaps I'll finish my friend's sweater tomorrow as well. ::smile:::

So much done!

2011-10-09T05:46:00.002-04:00

Every once in a great while I have one of those days where things get done that really need to get done. Yesterday was incredible! I met with knit friends in the morning, and spent the afternoon hoeing out the daughter's room(s). We rented a steam vacuum cleaner and did the rugs - I spent an hour on the recumbant bike and an hour visiting a parishoner in the hospital. Knitting, cleaning/organizing, exercise, pastoring.... a great day.

Here's hoping today has a bit of the same! ;-)

2011-10-06T08:26:00.001-04:00

Today I know I will get nothing finished - there's simply too many meetings and things that need attention. I'll be spending a few hours working on my PhD cohort's summary of Sun Tzu, but in my own mind, that doesn't count. ;-)

This weekend I hope to get much accomplished. I'm setting aside the entire weekend for fall cleaning. The plan is to begin at the top, and work my way down. Everyone loves a huge old Victorian - if they had to clean it, they might change their mind!

The biggest challenge is getting started. Once I'm up and moving (and progress is being made) I should be fine. My gift to myself is a little Sunday afternoon knitting with friends.

The quick finishes are pretty much finished at this point. I have a few small projects that I'll be tying up this month, but there are also a number of Christmas gifts I need to begin (and finish!) as well.

What I finished yesterday: The Wooster Fauxhawk for the daughter; 200 pages of reading.

What I didn't finish yesterday: The dang chutney. I need malt vinegar. ::sigh:: Fortunately, no harm in the tomatoes sitting in the fridge another day.

2011-10-05T12:33:00.002-04:00

Was at Knit Night last night, finishing up Dad's sweater. Did I mention this was Fall Finishing Month? :::laugh::: Finished last night - wasn't able to post until today:

Today I hope to finish Ella's newest hat - and the green tomato chutney. ;-) I did manage to get through several assignments yesterday, for a total of 275 pgs.

If I'm able to get my Christmas knitting this month, I'm going to try for NaNoWriMo in November. I've tried for three of the last four years, with some limited success. I'm apparently attached at the hip to my laptop for the forseeable future with the PhD program, so maybe in my 'free' time?

2011-10-03T22:29:00.001-04:00

Fall Finishing Challenge: Cut up the green tomatoes for chutney; finished the remainder of the peanut butter cookies (freezer!) and sent out the package for Ella; finished 200 pages of reading and...

Finished this:

Fall Finishing

2011-10-02T17:50:00.003-04:00

Amidst several challenging changes at work and the wee beginnings of a PhD program, I've decided that October is going to be the month of finishing projects - knitting and otherwise. Today I started to put the garden to bed, and after finishing a paper on Sun Tzu and dinner, I hope to put up some grape pie filling and some green tomato relish. If I've got time, I'll make some peanut butter cookies to send to the girlchild.

In the spirit of finishing... I did finish these:

Today's finishings: Pumpkin socks, SunTzu paper, the garden

Hopeful finishings: Green tomato relish, peanut butter cookies, grape pie filling ;-)

ETA: Finished the cookies and the grape pie filling (2 pies worth!). Opted to make mincemeat instead of relish... and will do that on Monday!

Knit. Frog. Knit again.

2011-04-28T08:30:00.002-04:00

I've been working on the Shavo sweater from Berocco. It's a simple enough thing, with the promise of much mindless knitting.

Enter the Knitter with No Mind (or Brain).

I got to the upper part which is a simple (can I use simple again to show just how bad an oops this was?) knit/purl sort of thing - and immediately read a portion of the pattern as being 1 x 1 rib. I finished the back, and looked at it with a critical eye.

Eh.

I began the front, and just about the time I went to work on the patterned portion, I decided to look at the pattern again. Yeah... 1 x 1 rib. Except....

In the picture, it was clearly seed stitch.

Look at the pattern.

Look at the picture.

Look at the sweater.

Weep a bit.

Frog.

I will say, it looks so much better as seed stitch. I know I'll be happier with it... but, damn.

Is it bad...

2011-03-18T17:36:00.001-04:00

.... that the thing I'm most careful to pack on a Confirmation trip is my knitting projects? ;-)

The Other Things

2011-03-13T20:15:00.002-04:00

For three years, knitting has consumed my free time. I'm not complaining - it's been a wonderful thing, and the companionship of needles and yarn is surpassed only by the new companions I've found through this craft.

However....

When the squirrel invaded us this week, I went up to the third floor to ascertain how "Nutsy" had gained access. What I discovered (other than that he came down through the ceiling of one of the front rooms) was a much neglected craft room. Stacks of fabric, jars of beads, tubes of acrylics and oil gathering dust next to lampworking material and scrapbooking supplies. And, in the center of it all, my sewing machine and my 45" loom.

It all looked so lonely.

My heart jumped a bit. This was a place that for many years had offered solace as well as nurtured dreams.... and it was all simply sitting there.

It's not that I don't love those other crafts, I've decided. It's simply that those other crafts are far more portable and sociable than knitting. Still, the balance of finding solitude alongside companionable knitting is attractive - especially during Lent.

So.

I'm going to continue to knit and spin. Those still bring me joy and allow me to spend time with wonderful women with incredible talents and a similar passion for the yarn. But I'm also going to spend time apart - on my third floor, reclaiming my craft area and using some of the non-yarnish stash that I've gathered there. It will mean less knitting at home, and at this juncture, that feels as it should. I've got two small projects (fuzzy feet for Dad and a Misselthwaite for a friend) that need to be finished, but after that? Who knows what forgotten jewel I'll re-discover?!

The Central Park Hoodie-of-Doom

2011-02-25T22:28:00.003-05:00

It's my own fault.
I 'measured' the hood, declared it done, and bound off. I added the ribbing, and did a beautiful 1-cord bindoff (starting that twice to get the right tension).

Horrors. The hood was way too small. When it was up - it pulled the rest of the sweater up as well.

There are a couple of things one can do when one finds the project one has worked on for HOURS messed up:

1) Wear the frakkin' thing anyway
2) Weep.
3) Put it in the 'fix' pile (located in the back of the closet, behind the ab-buster machine)
4) Attempt to correct it via non-knitting means (scissors, glue and sewing machines sometimes come into play here. Never underestimate the effectiveness of duct-tape and a staple gun)
5) Weep.
6) Pour yourself some good red wine (the cheap stuff won't work as well) and frog back to the point where you need to start over again.

I've done 1 - 5 many times and have found it to be less than satisfying. I've still got my spouse's sweater to correct (he's wearing it every day... I need to wait until it's warmer).

This time? I've frogged it, and will re-knit it.

Why?

I'm worth it. Really.

I'm worth being proud of my knitting enough to fix this mistake, and to wear it comfortably.

(Of course... we'll see if I feel the same way next week when I'm still working on it!)

Tightening the belt

2011-02-14T11:05:00.002-05:00

Back in December, I made a trip to WEBS with some yarnfriends. I bought a boat-load of yarns - good stuff too - with the idea that I'd be able to work on those (mostly stockinette!) projects throughout my PhD work. I enjoy knitting and reading at the same time, and have discovered that when I knit, I read with greater comprehension.

I'm glad I bought the yarn when I did. I had done a few "rent-A-Rev" funerals the week prior, which gave me unbudgeted money to play with. It was wonderful to spend with abandon!

Today is a bit different. Looking at finances in the near future (when we'll have both the daughter and myself in school) and I'm going to need to tighten the belt.

It's not a bad thing. I could dip into retirement savings (and will do so if we can't manage our regular bills) - but after reviewing my spending habits over the last six months, I've discovered that an extraordinary amount of money has been spent on yarn.

Even more has been spent on food and drink in the company of yarn. And yarnfriends. ;-)

Does this mean I'm not going to be able to join folks at SB and CB? Of course not. It does mean that I'm going to limit what I purchase (alas... the days of crepes, cupcakes and Chipotle are over!) for a while.... and that's okay. I'm choosing to spend money on things other than noms, stuff that will hopefully benefit our family long into the future.

As for yarn purchases? I've got a lovely stash that I plan on knitting from over the next few years. If I can get myself to a point where I'm out of yarn... well, bury me. I'll be dead. ;-)

Amnesia of the knitting sort.

2011-01-03T16:16:00.002-05:00

I picked up my unfinished Pumpkin socks today while waiting for treatment on my knee (the third and final injection of synvisc), and was a bit shocked to find that I really didn't remember where I had left off.

There, in my hands, was one almost finished sock (wait? I thought I kitchenered this one already?) and its mate, which featured the beginnings of the cuff. I could have sworn I was further along! Then, to make matters more confusing, I realized that I didn't actually have the pattern with me - because by the time I had set this down, I was knitting from memory.

Now, had the elapsed time been several months..... but, no. I put these to the side the beginning of December, as to finish the spouse's sweater.

It amazes me how memory, especially knitting memory works. There are times when I'm able to store rather complex cable arrangements in my noggin... while at the same time I cannot remember how to begin the kitchener stitch. It's a peculiar form of amnesia, I believe.

Heh.

Now... what size needles was I using on that other pattern?

When knitting strikes back.

2011-01-02T18:38:00.002-05:00

I'm a decent knitter.

Not a phenom, by any stretch of the imagination, but I can do almost anything. I'm also willing to try just about anything - and enjoy learning a new technique almost as much as finishing a new object.

Every once in a great while, however, I run into trouble.

The usual recommendation is to trust the pattern.... which, alas, is much easier than trusting the knitter.

I've been working, off and on, on this gorgeous shawlette by the wonderful Jesh (who IS a Phenom, in my opinion). It is called Misselthwaite, and is constructed in such a way that the edging is done first. A few others in our group have finished it with no issues whatsoever.

Enter the mental block.

I've picked this up several different times - and each time have screamed and ripped it out. (A slight exaggeration on the scream... more like a whimper, but 'scream' makes me sound so much more passionate, no?). I even had the designer (the ever-patient designer) sit on my right hand and walk me through step-by-step.

Today, I picked it up again and knit it somewhat successfully. The qualifier is there because this time I trusted my knitting ability... and began to doubt the pattern. I finished the first section, and although I acknowledged to myself that I was a bit closer than before, I ripped it out. Again.

After tweeting with Jesh (ever patient, ever kind) I was reassured that indeed the pattern was written correctly.... and to my horror realized that I had ripped out perfectly sound knitting.

The only thing left is to knit again. And so it goes....

January - the two-faced month.

2011-01-01T19:24:00.002-05:00

January gets its name from Janus - the Roman deity of gates and entryways. He governs the beginnings, as well as the endings of things (and therefore is a bit, well, tw0-faced).

As a nod to Janus, I hope to embrace a bit of both beginnings and endings this year when it comes to yarn: endings - in that I hope to finish my UFO's, and beginnings in that I'm planning on casting on a few new projects this year.

My ratio? Why, 1:1, of course! It is 2 0 1 1, after all!

If you can't be with the one you love....

2010-12-03T13:10:00.003-05:00

The big Christmas project of 2010 is out of the bag. After years of ignoring what I was working on with my needles, the spouse decided to actually ASK me what I was working on. He suggested at one point that perhaps it was for my Dad? But, weren't those cables pretty?

A few days ago he mentioned that he thought it was too big for my Dad, and was I sure I was making it for him?

After an exasperated sigh and a deep mumbling about men who are only observant when they SHOULDN'T be observant, I confessed. I also had him try it on.

I'm making the Hedge Fence Pullover by Elinor Brown. It's a delightful pattern - well-written - with scads of yummy cables. Although it wasn't finished it time for me to claim NaKniSweMo victory (National Knit a Sweater in a Month for those on the outside of my Tribe's coolness), I haven managed to finish all but one sleeve.

And emotionally, I'm done with it.

I've reached that point in the pattern when all I want is to knit something else. Cables cross and uncross in my dreams... and I found myself looking at our picket fence out back and thinking how what was needed wasn't a paint job, but rather an artful crossing of two of the beams.

When I pick up the project now, I want to weep. Hell with weeping... I want to CAST ON my next project.

HOWEVER, even though I don't win NaKniSweMo points and even though he knows it is for him, I still have the pull of this being a Christmas gift to help me learn to love the project I'm with. It has to be enough.

This is a common enough theme in my life - whether it be knitting or a project for work. I swear, sometimes I think I preach only because each week it's a new challenge and a new pericope to play with. I don't want to resent my current projects, spending my passion fantasizing the next thing on the needles (only to look at it with disdain a month or so later). Somehow, in some way, I need to learn to love the one I'm with.

You know?

2010-06-01T12:10:00.002-04:00

What indeed is the point?

This blog is like one of those UFO's sitting in the bottom of my knitting box. I'll pick it up from time to time, knit a stitch or two, and then pull out something shinier. I guess I'd rather be knitting than writing?

But this is important work too. Ravelry, admittedly, has taken some of the work away. One of the intents of this blog was to track projects. Ravelry offers such a great way of connecting with other folks as well - and I love how my project joins a sister project from across the globe.

Still.

This is *mine*. It's a place where I can not just post my current work, but also the musings and thoughts that come with knitting. So, today I dust it off and look at it again in hopes to learn something of the intersection between ME and fibre. ;-)

2009-07-09T23:16:00.003-04:00

$#@*()@#$ Bella's Mitts.

After knitting them up for a THIRD time, I realized how unhappy I was with the sizing. Fortunately, I only knit up one of the pair. It's frogged. And in time out.

I've switched gears and am working on being an active participant in Tour De Fleece. I'm a member of the Lantern Rouge group, which is similar to the Lantern Rouge group of the Tour De France. Basically, we really WANT to do it, but we can't. Or don't. But we do some of it.

It's all good.

I'm working through this lovely stash I bought a year ago - in the end, it will be appx. 2 lbs of stuff. I've already started knitting with it, and know that at the end I'll have an extremely warm shawl which will be perfect for those cold autumn days.

Until then, big wheel keep on spinnin'....

Charity knitting

2009-06-18T22:10:00.002-04:00

Today I finished the second set of hat/mittens/scarf for Tender Loving Care Ministries. I hope to also finish the Cleopatra wig for Gracie.

There's something about 'charity' knitting that is different than knitting for myself. Generally, I'm knitting with far less expensive yarns (by request - most places want acrylic!) and so the activity itself should be less pleasant by my usual standards (I'm a touchy feely type.. and a snob), but something else is present in the knitting.

It's all good. ;-)

A little more work on Rogue today as well. Perhaps this weekend I'll be able to finish it.

AND...

2009-06-09T08:35:00.002-04:00

...the socks for April are done! Finished in June! ;-/ I've got the May socks already on needles, with a few inches already completed. Given the wonderful gift of some time at the shore later this week, I'm hoping to finish those by next week. Then I can actually begin to work on my June socks! In June! Who'd have thunk?

As the new purpose of this blog is to work out my evil plan for domination of my stash... I thought I'd outline my plan.

Next projects:
UFOs -
Rogue - sleeves
Diamonds - sleeves
2nd Quarter charity - mittens and extras

New (with old yarn!)
Cleopatra for Grace (may need to cheat on this and buy new)
Sweatshirt sweater
Bellas
Mitts for Sam
3rd Quarter charity

The above (plus the sock o' month project) should keep me busy through this summer.

Ewwwie.

2009-06-06T18:37:00.002-04:00

So, it's not been QUITE a year - but rather close to that. I guess I spend so much time on LJ chatting about life, and FB chatting with friends... and Ravelry documenting my knitting that this has become somewhat obsolete.

I've decided to give it a go again, if only for the purpose of organizing my knitting a bit better. I'm a bit - um - flighty in the yarn department.

So more for my own good than the benefit of anyone who should stop on by... the blog reopens and we start anew! ;-)

Technology woes....

2008-08-03T23:36:00.006-04:00

Finally!

I know I promised pics earlier... but, the laptop died - got a new one - lost the camera cord - didn't have the driver needed to upload.... and now Blogger is giving me grief in uploading pics.

First, the Icarus:

The current WIP is a flowerbasket shawl in silver... I'll post pics when Blogger decides to be more cooperative!

2008-07-11T15:28:00.002-04:00

Oy.

Okay... so I promise that I've been knitting. I finished the Icarus actually. It's the camera thing. Oh.. and the laptop died.

Yeah, I know. Excuses.

Feeling accomplished!

2008-03-07T18:46:00.002-05:00

Three projects finished - A Dragon Scarf for Mom; A Tweed Beret for me; Ice Queen for me!

Chrysopolis...

2008-02-25T15:03:00.002-05:00

75% done!

Bad Blogger Revisited

2008-01-22T15:22:00.000-05:00

The post-holiday season bit me bad. It's been so hard to motivate myself to do much of anything. I was sick for a number of weeks, and now I'm playing catchup with all sorts of stuff. Oy.

As for knitting? Knitting continues to bring me sanity in the chaos. It's as if every little looped stitch is a promise that order can exist in this universe of mine, and that I can indeed create that order one stitch at a time.

After a year of knitting almost nothing for myself... literally... I've decided that 2008 is the year of the ME. I'm working on finishing up some projects that I've started (Secret of Chrysopolis is #1 on my list) and my hope is to wear down some of the stash that I've built up. I've also decided that the first part of this year will be the year of lace and socks. ;-)

Pics soon!

2007-12-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

The original:

The copies:

2007-12-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

:::dance of joy::::

You know how you have those projects that hang over your head - taunting you - that you've learned to absolutely hate?

Well, take one of those projects, and multiply it by three - and add in that it is a commisssioned affair. What you end up with is my angst these last few months.

The projects were (notice the past tense!) Christmas stockings. A good friend's grandmother used to make these stockings for all the children, and then their spouses, and then their children. Although there was some variation in the colors due to different yarn choices, the stockings were all the same. This fine lady passed away a few years ago, and since her passing, several new grandchildren (and a new spouse!) were included into the family.

My job? To make stockings for them based on one of the originals.

I tried my darndest to infuse these stockings with the same amount of love an affection that the original knitter obviously did, but I learned a few things.

1) I hate colorwork.
2) I hate colorwork.
3) I hate colorwork.

I had done some smaller projects - but these three stockings each measure appx. 2 ft in length, and in some sections, the colorwork is a-plenty.

I also learned that I really don't like knitting on commission. Part of it, I'm sure, was having a deadline. In my life, I have so many deadlines that adding one to my hobby was not the best of ideas.

Anyway, I'm free!! (Pics to come)

Confessions

2007-11-12T07:57:00.000-05:00

I'll confess - I'm an ambitious knitter. Every year I begin with the idea that I will accomplish so many Christmas gifts, etc. by a certain day....

...only to face the reality of mid-November and pure panic.

I've made some adjustments to my "plan", and it might be do-able. Well, it would be do-able if I didn't need to work or sleep.

Sigh.

Next year, I'm not making any gifts for anyone. I'm making stuff for Me. ME. Mememememe! For instance, I started "The Secret of Chrysopolis" stole. In January? I finish it. So there.

(Slap me next year when I make the exact same post, k?)

Whee!

2007-10-02T12:32:00.000-04:00

I'm obviously insane.

I've joined, not one, but TWO mystery stole groups.

What can I say? I don't do well with temptation.

I'm working on "Secret of Chrysopolis" and in spite of spending quite a bit of time in the frog pond, I'm enjoying myself. Clues are published every Friday (my day off!) so this one will progress rather quickly.

The other KAL is "Secret of the Stole" which begins on the 5th.

Of course, there's still much Christmas knitting that also needs to happen, and well, I work. Really. But.... oh, the knitterly goodness!

The other excitement in life is that Rhinebeck is just a couple of weeks away. :::smiles:::: I'm so looking forward to this event. BFF, Connie, will be driving in from the Binghamton area so that we can make strange sounds at the sheep and fondle the fleece and yarn. I have no budget for this at this point... but I'm going anyway!

Such a rebellious life, no?

Le Clap!

2007-09-20T13:18:00.001-04:00

It is well.

2007-09-20T08:33:00.000-04:00

My heart that is. ;-)

And, my knitting.

In the last couple of days, I've managed to finish off a few projects. Much to my delight, I finished the bag part of the beta project I was working on for a friend. Delight, because the colors on this bag are AWESOME. It was so wonderful to see it all come together. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I also finished clapotis #1. I love the yarn, but wasn't sure how well I liked it pulled together in this way.... until one of my Ladies visited. She modeled it for me, and it was PERFECT. I'm sure it will be well received.

I also finished Betty's fuzzy feet - but got caught up in something while the washing machine was running - and now I have very TINY fuzzy feet. Looks like I'll be knitting something else for Betty. :::sigh:::: Fortunately, I've got more SWS.

Last Saturday I went to a picnic at C's house - and she unloaded some patterns and a skein of Lamb's Pride bulky in an yellow-orange. My plan is to return it to her as a pumpkin. The pumpkin part is finished (felted and everything!) so it's just a matter of doing the stem.

What's next on my needles? Clapotis #2 and the Christmas stockings that were commissioned. I MUST finish these soon. Already they are a bit of a weight hanging in the back of my brain. Oh - and I joined the "Secret of the Stole" so that will be on the needles soon. Oh, and Cherie Amour from the new Knitty. :::grin:::

It never ends. And that's a good thing. ;-)

Tomorrow -

2007-09-03T11:20:00.001-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time at the Dr.'s office lately - both for the kiddo and her new tooth (implant) as well as for myself. Waiting room - knitting time, no? ;-)

Tomorrow I go for a nuclear stress test. Prayers, mojo, candles, vibes, whatever are appreciated!

At sea

2007-08-27T07:53:00.001-04:00

I feel a bit adrift these days - and usually knitting has served as a good anchor. Work has kicked up to high gear, and there are other non-profits that I'm involved in that are demanding time as well. The body has decided to shoot me a warning (I'm visiting with the cardiologist today) and the spouse and child have left the remains of a good reenacting weekend all over the house.

I look to the day ahead and wonder what to do first.

What I *want* to do is pick up needles and play, what I *have* to do is work on a few press releases and project management of the rather largest sort.

So, I'll do both. I'll work for an hour, and then reward myself with 20 minutes of knitting time. It's less fattening than chocolate, more fulfilling than television... who could ask for more?

Still loving Ravelry - and I'm looking forward to when they open the gates and let the rest of my hoi poloi friends in. ;-)

I've finished MY pair of "Dashing" - in a pretty green yarn that Harmonyfb sent me. I've also started making flowers for "Folly". I think what I'll probably work on today, however, is finishing up the sleeve of Mariah and frogging the work on Pat's bag.

Would that my work projects line up so prettily!

Ah, the joys of a knitting group

2007-08-16T17:46:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to my third-Wed knitting group down in Metuchen.

Love the group.

It's been a year now - my first meeting was last year in July - and it's always felt cozy. I love the diversity of women (and man, sometimes Alan shows!) and the diversity of their projects. I come back so incredibly inspired that a group like ours can come together a couple of times a month with no real connection other than a love of craft.

It's cool.

I've got to set aside my knitting for a few days and focus on spinning these next few days. BFF and I hope to dye at the end of the month - and if I don't have yarn, it will have to be our toes!

Ravelry, etc.

2007-08-15T08:22:00.000-04:00

Magic Kitten is our Quality Control Specialist!

I got my invite to Ravelry - so I'm up and running, taking pictures and trying to find projects to put up on the web. The interface is lovely, and it really is THIS knitter's dream.

I'm working on my Horcrux socks, as well as Mariah and a few other projects. Knitting has slowed a bit, in part because I'm trying to spin up a pound of wool (it feels more like a pound of flesh) for a Dye Weekend coming up the end of this month.

I've finally managed to drag out the camera (see above!) so here are a few shots of Finished Objects (Dragon Scarf from Morehouse Merinos and Bobbilicious!):

Whew and Whee!

2007-07-16T13:54:00.000-04:00

Just a quick update from the wilds of Tug Hill.

I've been knitting like a fiend on vacation. Spent some time in Utah working on socks (dh took a pic of me knitting at 11,000 feet in the Wasatch mountains!) and the shawl-from-hell.

The past week or so we've been camping, and I've declared this my "get these dang half-finished objects finished" vacation. I've managed to wrap up a bit - pics in the next day or so!

The best news is that I'm doing a beta for a friend. Lovely felted bag pattern which is just the right amount of challenge and repetition for the beach (or the screenhouse!). Again - pics to follow soon!

2007-05-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

Posting to put it out there - but also because I really don't want to go back to work. ;-)Inspired by Tricia!

1. I prefer to have several different projects going at once, all in different stages of difficulty and weights of yarn. I obviously have KADD (Knitters Attention Deficit Disorder).

2. My favorite yarn is whatever is next in my queue. Once I start a new project, my net fav yarn is the very next one on the list (ad nauseum)

.3. I love knitting socks for their portability and the technology of them. Whenever I turn a heel (or use a new method of knitting) I marvel at the person who figured it out first.

4. I'm not captured by any one color or colorway. I love knitting with a variety of colors and patterns. Again with the KADD.

5. Although I'm aware of some of the knitting superstars out there, I'm not awed by them. Much. I'm more awed by the little old lady in church who has just begun knitting and has discovered so much about herself in the process.

6. I would love to take a knitting cruise. It wouldn't have to be an organized one - just me, alone on a boat. I guess July will be a knitting land-cruise, eh?

7. My stash is huge, but manageable. I'm obviously still in denial.

8. I love my Knitpicks needles - both the dpns and the Options. :::looks at a certain druid::: Yeah, I know about the length thing, but there's something about how the Knitpicks *feel*. It's the weight of the needle and the super pointy end. Love 'em.

9. I've never been a handbag person. I have a Coach bag that was a castoff from a friend that lasted for years. (Indeed, I'll take it to the shoemaker to get it repaired and likely use it for another few years). My Jordana Paige knitting satchel? :::swoons::: It's the first bag that I feel really *works* with me.

10. Novelty yarns serve a purpose in knitting. I liken them to a spice. A little bit goes a long way and really adds a lot!

11. I keep a knitting blog but don't really read anyone elses with regularity. For me, it is the easiest way of keeping track of what I've done.

12. I'm a bit obsessed with this particular hobby.

13. I knit in public frequently and with great abandon. I don't knit when I'm moderating a meeting - but will knit during a meeting that someone else is moderating as long as it doesn't distract me too much.Let me clarify that. I don't allow the *knitting* to distract me, and not the other way around. ;-)

14. Although I'm on a yarn diet, I think about yarn frequently.

15. My third-Wednesday knitting meeting is akin to sacred time for me. It's MY time and I've put up all sorts of barriers around it.

16. I love learning new techniques. On the list of things to learn: Entrelac, Magic Loop, Toe-up, 2 loops/2 socks, etc.

17. I enjoy cablework and patterning more than colorwork.

18. I'm obsessed. Did I say that already? ;-)

The Pomotomus...

2007-05-26T08:23:00.000-04:00

...or however it is spelled!

I'm working on this using http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:LnVGdacaPM0J:www.raveknits.com/product.php%3Fproductid%3D16143+%22Australian+Merinos%22+1003&hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

Colorway #1003

So far... so good!:

Pics at last!

2007-05-26T08:03:00.000-04:00

The camera's back home! Wheeee!

Mom's Bebenhausen Windows - in Skye Tweed:

And a infant sweater in Cottontots. I made this a couple of years ago, and was amazed to see just how much my knitting had progressed! (I was almost embarrassed to give it to my cousin as a shower gift!).

Currently, I'm working on a Clapotis in Boutone (pocitos colorway) for Mom, and a pair of Pomotomous in a loverly Australian merino. (And Fuzzy Feet in SWS, and a Skunk wrap for Mom and.... :::grin::: )

I'll be camping the entire month of July, and have already begun working out just what projects to bring. Imagine - weeks of knitting. ;-)

2007-05-17T07:20:00.000-04:00

I did manage to finish up Eiffel - at least knitting-wise. I've seamed the thing, but have yet to block it.

In general, I'm pleased. The stitches aren't as even as my usual work, but I think that has much to do with the inflexibility of the hemp. Hopefully blocking and stretching and stuff will help. The Bee likes it, which is what counts.

I made up a version of Vegan Fox using different colors. What can I say? Mom asked for a Skunk. I need to sew a nose on it - and place the eyes, but it's done.

Today on my needles I've got the ever-popular "Lizard Ridge" as well as Pomotomus. The latter gave me a headache at first, but ever-so-slowly we're making amends. I love the pattern. No wonder so many folks work this one up!

I've also got the Christmas stocking project (commissioned) and will do Fuzzy Feet (commissioned) when I can locate all my 10 1/2 dpns! Oh... and I started a Clapotis using the Boutone nb that I picked up before Christmas.

All in all, happy and knitting!

No pics! ;-(

2007-05-05T08:18:00.000-04:00

I managed to leave my camera at the folks' last weekend, so all my lovely pics will need to wait!

Busy, busy month for knitting!

I gave Mom her sweater. I love how the Skye tweed worked up. I think if I were to use it again, I'd make the gauge a little tighter and use it for a cardigan. I can't imagine anything warmer.

My cousin had her baby shower (the reason I was visiting with the folks) and I gave her one of the Cottontots jackets I made. It needed a bit of seaming and blocking, but I finished it in April, so it counts as an object finished in April! ;-)

I've also started work on Christmas stockings that I'm making for a friend. Her grandmother used to make stockings for each new member of the family - and since her grandmother has past, there have been several family members left without. So, I'm doing my first real commissioned knitting! It's intarsia work, which I'm not incredibly fond of, and there are three of 'em, so it makes sense to at least get started now!

And last but not least is my Dd's "Eiffel". I'm at the neck, and will probably have this finished and blocked by Sunday night. It's gone fairly quickly - and although I really would prefer not to do it any time soon - I can imagine myself knitting with hemp again.

I'm behind a block on Lizard Ridge (the goal for this year was two blocks a month), and I've got "Fuzzy Feet" to finish up for another friend, but then I'll be current! What to do, what to do? I've got several projects simply waiting to be cast on, including IK's "Nantucket", but I'm thinking about working on a bunch of small stuff just to reduce the sheer number of objects waiting needles.

We shall see!

2007-04-02T22:00:00.000-04:00

Bad blogger. Bad. Bad.

I've been knitting. Honest. In fact, the only day since the beginning of this year that I haven't played with needles - if only for a few minutes - was this past Saturday.

Stuff that's on my needles currently?

A sweater for Mom out of a pretty Skye tweed. I'm using the pattern 'Bebenhausen Windows' from the Celtics and Arans book:

And.... the ever-popular "Lizard Ridge". I've completed several 'squares' in various colorways of Noro:

I'm also working on Eiffel (of Knitty.com fame) out of a cinnamon colored hemp, as well as various and sundry small projects spread hither and yon.

Where the hell IS yon, anyway?

2007-01-05T09:21:00.000-05:00

The needlecase is coming along pretty quickly - thanks to a couple of looong meetings where I could happily knit. Hey, someone has to be accomplishing something at these things!

I'm twiddling a bit with Mom's sweater this morning. Knit a little... clean a little.... repeat as needed.

2007-01-04T16:03:00.000-05:00

I managed to finish up four of the little caps before shipping them off to the capitol. Of course, having the 2nd declared a Federal holiday (no post!) gave me the additional time to finish them off.

The last couple of days have been spent working on Mom's sweater - Bebenhausen windows from the Celtics and Aran collection - as well as a Berocco pattern for a needle case. It's going well, although the yarn for Mom's sweater isn't my fav. It has a strange stiff feel to it. I hope it softens up with wear, etc.

Pics next time!

Exciting new toy!

2007-01-01T19:01:00.000-05:00

The spousal unit got me a sweet little digital camera for Christmas! Squee! How sad is it that the first thing I thought of photographing was my knitting? :-)

Actually, it makes some practical sense. Best-friend asked me how many projects I had completed this year, and I found that I really couldn't answer. There were half a dozen "fuzzy feet", four of "branching out", three "yoricks", a Jayne hat, a sweater (fugly sweater) and several pairs of socks, mittens and knucks.

I really have lost count.

So - for 2007 we start with..... :::::::::::drumroll::::::::::::::::

What is it? Feh. It's an infant hat that will join other infant hats in Save the Children's "Caps for the Capitol" initiative. The due date for sending caps is tomorrow - I had so hoped to send half-a-dozen, but I'm afraid this one will have to do. http://www.savethechildren.org/campaigns/caps-to-the-capital/

2006-09-16T21:34:00.000-04:00

Okay... it's a weird combination, I'll admit it. It's also a decent definition of who I am at this point. I'm a clergywoman (dang liberal, btw... not that THAT has anything to do with knitting. I don't THINK it effects my gauge...) but in my down time, I knit. I finding knitting to be deeply spiritual and meditative. It also keeps my paws out of the cookie jar.

I'm hoping to put up here my knitting adventures, such as they are. Thanks for joining in - I promise not to preach (much!). ~K