A crafting resolution or two . . .

Ok, the first resolution is that I've decided, in line with my fervent wish to decrease the amount of clutter (crap) in the house, that I will start projects that use my yarn stash.

There's over fifteen (15) carboard flip-top Ikea storage boxes of yarn in my craft area.

I realise I'm a sucker for yarn, so I'm certainly NOT going to say I'm not going to buy any new yarn in 2011, but the list of projects I have or think of in the future, I WILL think of the stash yarn first.
That stash pile has GOT to get smaller.

The other resolution is to finally re-start work on my spinning, braiding and weaving in 2011. I originally got the equipment to finish projects and to increase my knowledge.
To start this, I'm going to take a spinning class in February (I've already talked to the teacher, and somehow I've got to get my spinning wheel down to the class) but I promised I'd take the class - once it goes online, I'll run down to the shop and book (and pay for) a place. I have silk top, flax top, wool and linen fibre to spin and I want to get them done.

I'm not saying that a huge amount of work will get done in the year, but I'm determined to complete a braid, a part of a woven piece (to finally get the loom useable would be something!), a decent amount of spun fibre (the minimum is about a 50g ball in total fibre spun) and a box of stash used in knitting.

It doesn't sound like much, but it will be a start, and if I complete those things in 2011, I can do even more in 2012. I deserve it.

Go me!

I am knitting furiously (for me) on a lace wrap cardigan - knit half a size too small. I don't know yet if I love it, and at the same time I hate it. I hate it for being so knittable.
This frantic knitting goes against my being. I am, by nature, a procrastinator. I'm (somewhat) lazy and flighty, and I don't spend a lot of time on one thing. I find I'm thinking of the cardigan as an alien being, stroking my soul and making me do things contrary to my nature.

I deeply love it as well. I want this cardigan to be perfect in every way, so I can coo over it and wear it every day (once it fits me). It seems a bit strange to be paying this much attention to an item that won't be able to be used as soon as it comes off the needles/blocking pads, but I'm knitting it for the smaller, healthier me.

I suppose that this also means that I'm really happy about being healthier. Which I am.

I want that time to be here MUCH sooner than it should be.

Music and Knitting

The music first:
Last Night (3rd Dec) I was watching Cecilia Bartoli @ the Bridgewater Hall. Astounding. She sang Castrati arias with a Baroque Group (forgot name of group), and it was wonderful. the music and her voice carried all over the hall, and it was unmiked. *whee*. I booked a ticket to see a counter-tenor (sorry, can't remember his name at the minute) singing more baroque music, and I'm SO happy.

Onto the knitting. . .
The knitting umph is back. I don't know when it came back, but so far, in addition to the other stuff, I've knitted a cowl (used last night due to the snow and general cold weather here) in Blue Manos Classica yarn, a circular vest (got to sew in all the ends and crochet around the armholes before I *lightly* block it) in Aqua Rowan Bamboo Tape and though I'm nibbling on other projects in an erratic rotation, I've started on a lace wrap cardigan in a neutral grey Texere White Rose Mohair yarn. It makes me happy to see it in progress. So soft.

Other stuff:
I'm losing inches around my body through a combination of diet and exercise. In 8 weeks, I've gone down a cup size and my clothes feel generally looser. I'm ecstatic. I've got to sign up for the next round of Yoga and Tai chi classes and the first chance I get, I'll be signing up for aerobics classes in order to get me fitter in general. Whoo! Go me!

Later.

It's gone. . .

That frenzy of knitting on projects past, present and future has disappeared. I can't quite pin down when it went, but I think it was about 2 weeks ago - when I started 3 seperate classes (not OU classes). 1 was the evergreen Choir, and the other 2 are Tai Chi and Yoga. My brain must have shifted and pushed knitting out.
I knit for about an hour a night right now, and it feels "not enough", but I can't make myself work anymore than that.
I'm joining a knitting group either this week or next, (the old one I was running died at the beginning of summer and I just don't want to re-start another one right now) in order to restart my "frenzy", and while I realise it might not work as well as that, it should make it easier to knit more than I do now.

*crossing fingers*.

Later

A bit overjoyed

Today, this isn't a post about my crafting - it's about me.

I'm delighted. I've gotten a ticket to Orff's Carmina Burana (and another choral piece). Now it's a wonderful thing to go see it performed, but in this instance, I'm going to be in the chorus. Soprano Section.

*EEEEE*

*squEEE*

There's 2 conductors (one of whom is Mark Elder, and the other one is good as well), the Orchestra is the Halle and the place it's in is the Bridgewater Hall.

I'm going to have another happy dance and do some private gloating movements. . . again.

*grin*
Later.

Another quick update

Well, I think I'm going to exceed the (self) planned limitation of my "patterns-on-the-go". At the end of July, I had 12 patterns I was actively knitting:

Maelstrom Shawl
Spring Blossom Shawl
Black Basketweave lap Blanket
Patchwork Jacket
Beech Leaf Shawl
Pink Eyelet Wrap
Verena Exclusive Orenberg Shawl
Spiderweb Shawl
Simple thin black sparkly Scarf
Black Drops Cardigan
Secret of the Shawl II
Candleflame Lace Skirt (that's sort of the name . . .)

(there's 18 more that are hibernating)

and 6 I was in the process of finishing (sewing in ends, needed to block, etc.):

Rainbow cape - sew in ends, wash, lightly block
simple Doll - seam & stuff
Torreyana Shawl - sew in ends, block
Toddler sweater - seam, wash
Saroyan "scarf" - block
Grey Snow Rose shawl (Lumiruusu) - reblock

Within the last few days, I've finished the Saroyan "scarf" (blocked it) and added one more project - Vogue Knitting Lace Capelet in sirdar baby bamboo.

Just to even things out, I might be adding another pattern in a couple days - Lacy Baktus. I've wanted to start that for a while.

I think that of ones I'm working on, there's 3 that could be finished in a month if I concentrated a bit more on them (Patchwork Jacket, Simple Scarf & Pink Eyelet Wrap), and there's 3 that I don't know when will be finished - they're all shawls (Maelstrom, Beech Leaf & Spring Blossom), and I want to be a bit flexible about the size - I have enough yarn within each project to be able to do that. The rest. . .well, they'll be done when they're done.

Later.

A frenzy of knitting for the forseeable future. . .

I've never been one for doing a single thing at any time (for the most part, anyway - e.g. one can't sleep and type meaningfully - as far as I understand it , anyway). So I have multiple books I read, and multiple cross-stich projects in various stages of completion, among other things.

It works exactly the same for my knitting. I really don't know how many projects I have going, and to be honest, I don't want to know (I have a ravelry account and the vast majority of my projects are on there, but there are a few that slip through the cracks). But I also have projects I WANT to do, so I get the yarn and/or the pattern, and put it to one side to do later.
Sometimes, I really want to do a particular project *now*, so I start it as soon as possible. I also have a list of future knitting projects, where I want to do it a certain way, but don't have it together yet.
*deep breath*

. . . is there a point to writing all this? . . .

Anyway, I think what I'm trying to say is that at this point in time, is that I don't think I'm going to stop knitting for any considerable length of time (one or two days, maybe, but no longer than that). Right now I can't see me being at a point where I get "knitters block" (so to speak).

I have enough projects on the go that I WANT to finish and enough projects I could start tomorrow (that I really DO want to start tomorrow, but won't) that I'm full up with things to do. *grin*

You know what . . .It feels great!

Later.

Frogging and swatching

Well, I bit the bullet last night. I frogged two projects that had been in hibernation.

My Debbie Bliss Sophia Sweater (I'd only done 1/2 of the back) in the Rialto pattern book - knitted in Sirdar Snuggly baby bamboo yarn. The pattern was fine, but the yarn wasn't worjking with the pattern. I was getting more and more irritated at the yarn as time went on.

So the sweater is gone (not the yarn).
I immediatly started swatching with the Sirdar yarn for two projects - the Capelet out of the spring(?)2010 Vogue Knitting Magazine and the Torreyana shawl out of Knitty.com online magazine. I'm not sure, though. I actually like both of them, but there's something similar in the lace pattern (there isn't, really) about both of them. I'm being picky. I'm going to knit one or both of them. At this point, I'm betting both.

The other project frogged is a baby hat. Last year, I tweaked a nice, very simple pattern to match a baby sweater and I screwed up the hat. I'd left it alone out of shame, but that's gone. I'll re-cast it on in the same yarn. Someday.

I've also finished a couple projects -
a "Reading Shawl" in two types of sock yarn (it's cute, but, it's not - It will work once the weather gets colder) it's been washed and blocked.
and that Baktus I wrote about in the last post. It needs washing.
Both of them need photos taking.

Later.

Busy Me

Been knitting like a fiend (well, it's a lot for me . . .) I've finished 2 more shawls (one's drying right now) and I'm rather happy.
The 2 I've completely finished (ends woven in, washed and blocked) are The Snow Rose Shawl and The Crow Prints shawl (a quick knit in DROPS alpaca -Dark Indigo).

I've recently started a Saroyan in British Breeds Guernsey 5-ply (Conifer)
I've got plans to start a Lacy Baktus once the Baktus (2 posts down -or so) is finished, as I want to use that same needle/cable.

What I'm Not Happy with is Flickr. Even though I understood at the beginning of my free membership I had a limit uploading every month, apparently there's now a limit to the number of photos on my site. Grrr.
I can't buy a Pro Account - I don't have a way to pay them in USD for it (I don't do paypal). I don't know a solution to this as yet, though I'm sure I'll find one eventually.
*sigh*

Later.

Sorry little socks

I'm coming (albeit reluctantly) to the conclusion that I've not got the brain for knitting socks.
I want to. I really want to, but aside from my intial knitting foray, I've not completed a pair of socks in 5 years.

I knit a sock - or part of a sock - and my brain gets disgusted. I have parts of 2 pairs (1 single socks and the first third of one) hibernating in this house and I cannot make myself knit any further on either of the pairs.

Again, I'd really like to knit socks. I LOVE woolen/natural fibre socks. I've seen hundreds of glorious sock patterns (lots of free ones) and my hands itch to knit them - but I just don't.

It's not the complexity - I'm well versed in knitting lace, cables, entrelac, intarsia, plain stocking stitch. I can knit yards of scarves and shawls (as can be seen in earlier entries, I've got 6 on the go, all active.). Some of those shawls are on lace yarn (mohair, even)
I can happily knit in the round - I love knitting sleeveless mittens and I like knitting hats.
Double pointed needles are fine as well . . .

So what is it with the combination of fine yarn, double pointed needles and sock pattern?

I don't know - but I'm completely stumped. A bit frustrated, too.

Later this year, I'll try to finish another sock. . . but I'm not that confident I'll do it.

*cross fingers* I do, though.

Later.

Finished knitting

I've finished 3 items this month - a Shawl (Gypsy shawl), a wrap (the black silk scroll wrap) and a shawlette (Multnomah). They've all been washed and blocked. Photos are up as well.

The knitting is done on the Grey "Snow Rose" shawl, but I've ends to weave in. That is NOT being fun at all with crochet cotton. Once it's done (and I'm over halfway finished), the washing, starching and blocking will be a breeze.

I've replaced two of the "missing" projects with a sweater (Patchwork Jacket from Knitting Magazine 072) in blue DROPS alpaca yarn and a "scarf" (baktus) in green-blue-purple Meilenweit Cotton Fun sock yarn.

Later

Better weather on the way. . .

I've not been journaling, that much is obvious.
The thing is, it's been cold.
Very cold.
Cold enough to freeze finger and toe tips.

But, spring is here, and the weather is getting warmer. So I'll be journaling a bit more frequently than lately.
Not much more, but at least once a month as "usual".

In a bit of last-minute, before-I-go news,
I've finally finished the black silk scroll shawl. I've ends to sew in (feels like a hundred), then it's to be dry-cleaned, then blocked, but I'm HOPING to get it all finished and photos up by May.
I've also started on a new shawl - a swedish - I think - one, called in English "snow rose" (I've only 21 rows to go) . A couple of photos have already been posted (grey lace "blob" thing).

*grin*


Later.

Year end roundup - delayed by cold

It's freezing in Manchester. I access the internet from my bedroom, which is unheated. Right now, it's 40F (5C) in here. To me, brought up in centrally heated houses and in the Western United States, I'm COLD!

So this is going to be as short as possible.

I made real baby clothing. Sweaters/Cardigans, really, but it's a start. It was fun.

I continued work on old patterns and started a few more.
I made a few quick patterns, like cat toys and a hat.

That's it.

Later.

Time flies when . . .

you forget.
I've not been that busy with the knitting or any other craft really.
I've just been getting a little engrossed with entering books from my library into the Goodreads site. Not that that's going to quit anytime soon, but it's a bit easier to do now that I've taken care of all the books in bags and not on the shelves. Now I can concentrate on the shelved books (only 3 rooms of them to do) and that's going to take more time than I thought it would originally, as I only remembered last week that I've got a large stash of crafting books over at my Dad's house.

I'll eventually get back to knitting (and the other crafts), but on that front, I only have one skein left to do on the Black silk wrap. It's only taken 2 years to finish it. Silly me.

More as soon as I can.

Later

photography

Well, I've found and started the two baby cardigans (in pink - *ick*)I wanted to. I'm planning on knitting a simple cap to go with one of them and it looks like I'll be finished with that set well before the first cardigan will be. It's not surprising really, considering that the first cardi is in 4-ply yarn, while the second is in DK weight. *wry grin*

I've started the latest shawl as well (Rainbow Half-Circle). So that makes 7 shawls I've got on the go:

SoTS II
Clapotis
Beech Leaf
Spring Blossom
Rainbow Half-Circle
Spiderweb half (+1) hexagon
and
The everlasting "Black Silk Scroll")

I'd better go knit - I got some new yarn on sale (buy one bag, get one free) from Abakhan fabrics and I've started a "quick" scarf with one batch (Sirdar Illusion)and am planning to start a second (and maybe a hat) with the other batch (Sirdar Fizz).

Wish me luck - the Fizz is a pink yarn. *happy grin*

Later.

Click, click. Click, click

Yep, it didn't take long. I'm back knitting. I stayed away about a week, I think, then I worked on a couple pieces and started two shawls. I thought I had two baby sweaters to work on, but I changed my mind about them, so I'm still looking for at least one suitible baby sweater to start on, and I think I might have found a couple. Just have to correlate them with the yarn in my stash to see if I can start them. If it's all good, then I'll be working on a small garment in about two weeks.

Later. Got to go knit.
*grin*

Taking a small break

Well, I'm a bit burned out with knitting. I like all my knitting projects, I don't want to throw any projects away.
I'm just tired of the physical act of knitting right now.
I'd really, really just like to watch someone doing it. (I don't mean I'd like someone working on my projects, I'd just like to watch someone knit for a while.)

I'll be back when I'm clicking the sticks once more.

Later.

Is there a chapter/group of Lace Knitter's Anonymous?

Because I'm addicted to knitting lace. I've just started two new projects - both lace - I'm planning three future projects (a shawl and 2 baby cardigans) and all three have lace in them.

I don't know.

*snicker*

I'm not worried. I'm actually quite happy that I'm knitting and pleased with what I'm doing. I'm proud of it. I find lace a joy to do. Right now, I'm never happier than when I'm knitting. Even doing other craftwork means that when I finish one of those projects (two fillgap braids, a sewing project, a little bit of woodworking and my crocheted necklaces) means that when I get finished with them, that means more time to work on lace.

All is good.

Later.

Well, I'm working staedily on two shawls - the "ink nib" (forgot the name of the one from Interweave knits) one and the Gypsy shawl. There - that's the craft content.

God I wish I had a Dreamwidth studio invite code so I could set up a journal there.

There. Said that as well.

I'm off to go eat dinner.

Later.

Photos

I've uploaded some photos of the projects - you can see some of them in the little flickr square to the right. If you don't see knitting pictures, or you want to see more photos, double click on the photo in the "knitting pictures" square to your right (not the picture of a ball of brown wool) and wait - then click on "photostream" and you can look at all the photos I've loaded in so far.









This photo is of a fillgap braid I'm working on for a future knitting project - a handbag.




Later.