Well. . .

I finished the bracelet.

It's not perfect (rice pearls aren't all perfect, and the ones I bought really aren't perfect).

But I really like it. I'm happy,

Next project.

Later

I'm past the slump. . .kind of. . .

Well.

I didn't want to cross stitch or knit.

I knew I wanted to do some sort of crafting, but because of a few stressors (I'm not going into them here, but I'll have most of them sorted by the end of June), I just couldn't mentally "sit still" to look into which type.

Yesterday, I just sat around and let my mind wander for a while. I didn't expect to get very far, but for the time I did, it was really nice. I then surfed a tiny bit on the TV and watched a cooking program. I saw a pretty pearl bracelet and *ping*. . .

There was a project I wanted to do.

I had a stash of rice pearls and beads in a baggie with some beading thread that had been stewing for a few years - and I had fine beading needles nearby.

So I found the baggie, found the needle, threaded it (a lovely concentrated job that I was very glad I could still do) picked out most of the pearls and started weaving a square stitch bracelet.
I think (not sure) I'm just going to keep weaving rows until I run out of pearls. I've got 5 rows done and it's looking very nice. It's not perfect, but I can tweak it after it's finished so it looks much better - I'm not going to re-start it, as I think I just need to get this finished. I have to get my "mojo" going, so to speak, and I think that this *might* just do it.

But yes, I'm VERY happy. Overall, I feel a lot better about most things and (as an surprise to myself) I've also done some cross-stitching (not a lot, but a little is better than none) and if I'm right, I'll be doing some more of it today. . .

Life is very good. I'm off to bead.

Later!

Another slump. . .

Well, I love my cross stitching. I've got some really pretty pieces (I think so anyway, and let's face it, that's the most important criteria - since they're going on the walls in my house,) in the queue.

The problem is that for the last 3 weeks, I've not wanted to do any. Not a single stitch. It's bothered me, and I even regularly pick up the frames or look at the charts in order to try and get the urge to start working on it again.

 - So I read instead. (I got 2 books ahead of my Goodreads goal)

I picked up a little knitting 2 weeks ago and I did 3 rows on a scarf and I didn't want to work on that.
Last week, I went so far as to buy more frames for the smaller pieces. I put some of them in the frames and. .  .sewed 3 stitches on each small project and  . . .nothing. I still didn't want to really work on them.

 - and I did some more reading (I got 4 books ahead of my yearly goal)

I tried again today to work on them. Picked out three projects and did a teeny bit of work and . . .nothing. No oomph.

 - So I'm now 5 books ahead of my yearly reading goal ....

I'm glad of the leeway the extra books give me, but at this point, I would love to want to be cross stitching or knitting more than reading. I've got 6 months to finish at least 3 projects and with the lack of "oomph" I've got going, I'm going to have nothing to show at the end of the year.

That's really making me irritated and angry.

I hope something happens soon. . . .and I'm sure it will.

Later. I'm going to go read.

The knitting is losing. . .

I love my knitting, I do, but it's not got my attention right now. In fact I haven't picked up a single piece of knitting in the last 2 weeks. All the knitting I would normally work on is literally right next to me on the couch, but it's just a pile of pretty knitting.

It's been put by the wayside so I can focus on my cross-stitch. I've even gone and bought supplies and a couple tapestry frames so I can make it easier to work on the cross-stitching. I am sorry about ignoring the knitting, really I am, but I am concentrating on the stitching. I don't know why, but there it is. It's coming up on March, and right now, the best I can hope for is that I'll pick up a knitting project before April.

Got to go, I need to sew.

Later

I was Determined and Successful . . .but.. . .

I waited for the sunrise and found the yarn. I started the cowl. The yarn fought me (100% linen is surprisingly springy. It likes to "squirm" off the ends of the needles, so I'm working on a much longer double-pointed cable than originally planned for - it's . . . interesting), and so I had to frog and re-start the cowl 6 times. I'm now 1/3rd of the way through the cowl.

I'm definitely less stressed now. I have also found out from the comments of our choirmaster over the last couple of weeks that he's expecting that this isn't the last semester. It's nice to know.

But . .
I've had to drastically slow down on the cowl.
It's very nice, and I'm happy that I'm working on it,
But . .

To be honest, I've started working on some of my stored cross-stitch projects. I've ignored them for a few years and for the past few weeks I was constantly thinking about completing a few of them so I can see if their charm is still the same as it was when I bought them. I've pulled out a few things I had originally wanted to frame when finished, and I deserve to complete those at the very least.
(there's 2 sets of 4 small pieces, a rectangular piece, and about 6-7 others.)

But . . .
I don't know exactly how long I'll work specifically on them - or if I'll even finish any of them.

I'm very much enjoying working on all of them, so I'm taking each day as it comes. While I'm working a little bit (about 1/2 an hour each) on a few projects every day
(I'm constantly rotating the projects, so it's not necessarily the same few projects).
There's a specific project I'm singling out for working on after 9 p.m. - for all that it's got a limited colour palette, it's quite lovely.
(No, I'm not saying what any of them are. I feel I'll jinx all my work and plans if I say what they are - silly, I know.- but it is what it is.).

But I will say, while I am doing a lot of cross stitch, I am doing a little knitting every day- still (though it tends to only be between 10 - 30 mins of knitting, at least I'm doing something.).

I don't know what's going to happen with my knitting "plans" of 2016, but anything's possible.

Later.

I need to be determined. . .

I'm a bit upset. There's a genuine chance that the choir I've been a member of for 15 years is in it's last semester. We're very low on members (10) and no amount of advertising or promotion for the last 3 years has done anything to gain members. It's a very sad state of affairs and I'm not at all happy about it. I'm really sad, if I'm honest.
I want so much for our choir to keep going, but every time we lose members there comes a point where the cost of meetings goes up and so we have to pay more money (it's now £70/term (10 weeks/term)). If it goes up again this time, there's a very good chance I can't afford to go anymore. I don't know what to do.

Which comes to the point/reason for my title. . .

I have a de-stressing mechanism. I either start knitting a new project and/or I buy yarn.
For the first de-stressing mechanism, . .
Well.  I have plenty of projects to knit upon, seeing as I still haven't been able to decrease the number of projects I have to finish (about 50). I do try, but life is stressful, and there's *so* many lovely patterns I want to knit (that, and I keep adding them to my queue, which now has 1111 patterns. . .and growing *sigh*).
So, I almost immediately start a pattern for everyone I finish. Ah well. As I always say: "At least I'm not bored".
And as to the second one. . .Well , , ,I really, honestly, *CANNOT* buy anymore yarn for the next two years.
This isn't because I'm on a budget.
It's simply because I have enough yarn in my stash (most of it isn't listed) that I don't have to buy yarn for the next *FIVE* years.
I also have 3 boxes of bundled projects of various types (e.g. shawls, wraps, scarves, a sweater, a coat and a couple other things I can't remember) with pattern and yarn ready to go (roughly 15 projects).

But if I'm honest, I do have a way to de-stress . . .
But . . .
I have to be determined, and use some of the stash yarn for a project I want to knit *now*.
It's a beautifully interesting cowl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pfeilraupe) in a soft sportweight yarn (whatever fibre "you" want to knit it in) and I have a linen DK that I think will work (a minor problem with getting the yarn out of the stash - but - it's about 4:30 am while I'm writing this, and I'm waiting for the sunrise so I can go get the linen yarn - there's reasons for that.). Unfortunately, my stressed out little brain *still* wants very much to go buy yarn for it.

Ah well.

I have to be determined - and happy - to not go buy any yarn. Seriously determined. It's driving me mad. I think I'd better go and start listing all of my stash. It might make it much easier to not want to buy yarn. . .
I sure as hell hope so.
Onwards.

Later.

Addition to the last post

Well, I was perusing my queue on Ravelry, and for whatever reason, I was reminded of a shawl I've been drooling over for a few years;

Aquila Shawl by Sari Anstrom

It's a Finnish pattern without an parallel English transcription, but so many people have knitted it (175 on Ravelry), that there's quite a few sets of English translations of the stitch meanings for the chart. That'll do for me. I think it's a stunning design, and I've not knitted it before now because I wanted to find just the right soft greyed-brown yarn. Which, really, I've not been able to find no matter how much I wanted it. So, because I want to knit this lovely beastie, I'm going to use my skeins of white no.8 crochet cotton and see what happens. I've wound up half of it (it came as a bunch of 10 10g mini-skeins). The reason is that the pattern says to repeat section/chart A until half the weight of yarn is used and then knit the other section/chart. I figure I'll get a nice length of shawl for everyday use. I might decide to dye it, and I might not. There's a lovely white one in the project display page, and I'll be happy if mine looks anything like that one.
Anyway, time is wasting, and I've got to go knit.

Later.

Onwards!

The project round-up of 2015.

Well, I was ticking along, knitting a little everyday, and honestly, until about October, I thought it would be something of a damp squib. I had felt like I'd done nowhere nearly enough, and my finished project list reflected this. Then three days after my "musings", something took hold and I became a knitting daemon and by the middle of December I was rather proud of myself. One project I really was determined to finish didn't get done, and I'm rather sad about that. But, it's a good contender for finishing in 2016 (got lots of seaming to do and it's awkward, but not impossible).

Onwards for a good chance of finishing 16 projects in 2016. As last year, I plan on finishing at least 3 long-term projects - with no pressure. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it. . . .


Well, here it is again, my completed (and not-so-completed) project lists of 2015.

Projects Completed in 2015 (long-term projects marked *):

Flip-Top Mittens
Camera Case
Nori Shawl
Quant #2
34 Leaves Shawl* (started 2012)
Ten Stitch Twist Blanket #1
Clapotis Shawl #2* (started 2007)
Secret of the Stole II * (started 2008)
Ditty Bag #2
99 Percent Hat
Queen's Garden Shawl
Lap Blanket for the Cold
Brea Bag* (started 2012)
The "Almost Lost" Washcloth #1
The Final Multnomah+ Shawl (#3)
Leafy Washcloth #1
Helen's Washcloth #1
Summer Mystery Shawl (#2)
Mermaid Jacket * (Finished just under the wire. Almost literally. I finished the last i-cord sleeve edging on the 30th.) . I still have 1 hole to repair, but all the knitting and sewing of seams is complete. I'm so happy!). (started 2011)

Projects Started in 2015 (But not finished):

Ten Stitch Blanket #2
Papyrifera Shawl (I had great hopes of this being an Christmas gift, but I lost "oomph")
Feather and Fan Scarf (it was a project to use some angora wool)
I Flap My Wings and Glide Shawl
Taliesin Shawl (Granted, I started it in December 2015 - and even with the best will in the world, I couldn't finish a 1600m cabled shawl in a month.)

Projects Worked on in 2015 (but not finished):

The V-Necked Sweater (I'd hoped to get this finished in 2015, but to be honest, I lost "oomph" in October. I'm hoping this will be finished by July 2016.)
Beaded Muir Stole
Indian Shawl
Icarus Shawl
Cherry Leaf Shawl
Saroyan #2
More-Than-a-Triangle-Shawl
Grey Rhodion Stole
The Spider Web Half-Hexagon (+1) Shawl
Funchal Moebius Cowl
So Long Duster
Jack Skellington Hat
Orenberg Shawl
Spring Blossoms Square Shawl
Foreign Correspondent's Scarf
Luna Flickering Flames Skirt
4-stitch Scarf (it used to be "3-Stitch Scarf")
Construction of the Cotton Square Blanket

Projects I'm hoping to Start in 2016 (provided I finish other projects) I have both the yarn and the pattern for each project:

Sagrantino Shawl
Hemlock Ring Blanket
Ecotone Shawl or Mariposa Shawl (I love both shawls but even after months of trying to decide, I just don't know which one to knit with the yarn I have designated - I guess I'll have to swatch both and see. *sigh*)
2-Colour Under Dutch Skies Brioche Shawl (This is also my "learning new knitting technique" project for 2016, as I haven't yet done Brioche Stitch in any form at all)
Leftie Shawlette
Semele Shawl
Igneous Stole
Storm Cloud Shawl/Shawlette
Holden Shawl #2
A Cardigan for My Father (I forgot the name of the pattern. Oops.)
A Diagonal Blanket #2 for my father, smaller than the first one.

As always, I've got to go knit.
ONWARDS!!!!

Later

Hat Plan for August 2016

A little back story here.

I'm a volunteer for Manchester Pride. 

One of the things I've done for a few years is to be a parade steward. It's not a taxing job, it entails walking with a parade float (one side of the road, and someplace in its designated space) and stopping the watchers throw themselves into the path of the parade, and, also to make sure it doesn't lag too far behind the entry in front. The parade's about a mile and a bit long. 70% of the time it's sunny and there's maybe a sprinkle or two of rain. 

I finally got a hat this year, but to be honest, I don't much like it. It's not truly what I wanted (a natural-coloured straw hat with a medium-wide flat brim) and I ended up getting a woven paper green-and-white cloche-brimmed hat. It did the job, and I made a very nice braided/plaited rainbow ribbon for it. I'll admit, it was cute, but again, it wasn't what I *really* wanted.

So. 

To solve my pickiness (I could look at hat after hat and be unhappy with one aspect or another. Not a solution), I have a plan.

I'm going to knit a raffia one in 2016. I've seen enough crocheted ones for sale that I know it's a feasible project. So, I've got a supplier I can go to (Fred Aldous) to see if the raffia is good enough and (bonus for me) the cost of 500g of raffia will be *much* cheaper than buying a raffia straw hat. I have a hat pattern. I have a plan. Now lets just hope that both I and the raffia are good enough to get it done for the end of July 2016.

Later.

Knitting and the Hope for 2015. . .

Ok.
I've completed 10 projects this year and I'm in the process of finishing off 2 more.
One (Queen's Garden Shawl) needs washing and blocking and the other one (Lap Blanket for the Cold) needs the ends sewing in and washing and drying (I'm not going to block it - I think it needs to be fluffy for warmth and blocking won't help that, but I'll see when its dry. If I'm wrong, it's easily fixed). They both need to go into the freezer afterwards.

I have 3 (a Purse (Brea Bag), a Jacket/Cardigan (Mermaid Jacket) and a Sweater (V-neck Sweater with saddle shoulders)) that could be finished by the end of the year, but they all depend upon me having sufficient concentration. My insomnia is impairing that concentration and I'm feeling a little bit low and hence, that also impairs my concentration and buggers up my self-esteem, so I'm not fully convinced that I could complete one, never mind all three within the year. I'm really hoping my insomnia does one, and soon. I logically know full well I could do all three if I work on them even a little bit every day, but I just look at them sitting there and I don't want to. It's simple stuff that needs doing:
The Purse needs 3 things finishing - the lining cut out and sewn up (2 day job), the strap to be knitted (a week at the most) and then all the components sewing together (2-3 days) with the hardware and an edging crocheted along the edge (a day). It's a nice bag, and it's been sitting around for too long.
The Jacket needs to be finished, but I don't know if I could wear it. I've gained a bit too much weight since I started it and I think that's also impairing my wish to finish it (The i-cord edging (a week) and the sleeves (2 weeks) are all that need knitting before I sew it up (3-4 days)).
I'd like to finish the Sweater before the cold weather kicks in here. I'd like to be able to wear it at least once before the end of the year, but I can't get the oomph to work on the sleeves (1-2 weeks) (that and the neckline (2-3 days) are all that needs finishing before I sew it up (3-4 days).

I have at least 5 more projects, each of which could be finished within 6 months - all shawls. I've been working on the body of one lately (Cherry Leaf Shawl) since it only needs 3 repeats of the pattern (10 rows each) to compete the body of the shawl and then I need to start on the knitted on border. It'll take about 2-3 months of daily work to complete that, but with the work that needs to be done on the previous projects, it's not likely to be completed this year, which is why I put it into this paragraph. The other shawls are The Spider Web half-hexagon shawl (only the border left), The Papyrifera Shawl with beaded edging, The I Flap My Wings and Glide Shawl and The Saroyan (#2) Shawl. I'm hoping I complete all of those next year, along with two other long-term projects, though I don't know which two at this point. Oh! There's also a Sweater (So Long Duster) that could be completed by the end of 2016, but I don't know if it will. *sigh*

I'm going to go. I feel a little bit better about my prospects to finish the knitting on something else this year, and that's making me a bit more confident about things in general. I think I'm going to go knit on the sweater sleeve I started. It might just help a little.

Later.

Knitting. Reading. Knitting. Reading.

I'm doing little bits of both often.
I don't seem to have the patience right now to do more than 15 minutes of anything, so doing little and often is working. I've finished projects and books, so its working.

It's better than doing nothing, watching TV and twiddling my thumbs feeling as if I *should* be productive but not actually doing anything.

Off to knit some and read some more. I'm in the mood to start a project, but I'm determined not to until I finish at least 2 more projects. Here's to good intentions. Let's hope I do this.

Later

2014 Knitting

Projects Finished:

Rainbow Scowl (scarf/cowl)

Simple Garter Stitch Scarf

Maine Morning Mitts 4a

Maine Morning Mitts 4b

Ten Stitch Baby Blanket in Chunky yarn

A Simple Pouch

Cassandra Shawl + (minus edging as I ran out of yarn)

Tudora Cowl (finally finished, started 2008)

Calorimetry Headband #2

Calorimetry Headband #3

Arroyo Shawl

Ditty Bag #3

Wombat Shawl

Cabled Samsung Sleeve (with pocket)

Ten Stitch Twist Baby Blanket



Projects Started (and unfinished) in 2014:

Grey Rhodion Wrap

So Long Duster Cardigan

Lacy Pullover (scoop neck reversable top for Susan)

Quant Headband #2

More Than a Triangle Shawl

Lap Blanket for the Cold

V-Neck Sweater


Projects in Progress at the end of 2014 (yes, there is a difference):

Ditty Bag #2

Beaded Muir

Grey Rhodion Wrap

Indian Shawl

V-neck Sweater

34 leaves Shawl

Nori Shawl

Spider Web Half Hexigon +1

Clapotis #2 (still weaving in ends)

So Long Duster

Lacy Pullover (for Susan)

Quant Headband #2

Luna Flickering Flames Skirt

Prayer Shawl #2

Saroyan #2

More Than a Triangle Shawl.

What do I have planned for 2015? Well, I plan to finish 15 projects, 2 of them being long-term projects. Other than that? Well, let's just see what happens. . .

General Update - for want of a better title

   Ok, I was going to give an update about something that happened in an earlier entry, but it was so insignificant, I've forgotten what it was. Never mind.

   The knitting is still happening (no surprise there). I've cast on two more projects:
A cardigan from a Woman's Weekly Knitting and Crochet special edition and a Large sleeveless sweater for my best friend. They're both in the same yarn (King Cole Opium), but Mine is in Light Blue and hers is in Black.

  The garden is still being ignored. Two house plants have died (not my fault), and I'm thinking how to replace them. I want a spider plant and a succulent, but I've yet to go out and look or search on the 'net. It will eventually happen.

  I have plans to sew seeds for some more herbs, as the ones I sewed last year are reaching the end of the road. I left them for 10 days to be cared for by my Dad and that didn't happen - I shouldn't have been surprised really. I did revive them when I got back, but they're not very well at all.

   The book reading is slowly increasing from last month and I'm happy with my progress. I'm reading a book a week and I'm catching up on my pile a bit...or I would if I hadn't discovered the 3 books for £5 at The Works. I'm not discovering enough to be worried about it overall, but, there's enough stuff I like that I'm not going to have a lack of books to read (and I already had a *lot* of books to read).

Ok, I'm off. It's late and I should be asleep.

Later.

Knitting Pile

Well. My plans for reducing my knitting to-do pile have gone completely out the window.
I'm completely nonplussed about it.
I really don't think that I'm disappointed in myself, since I'm not surprised, but I'm also not going to beat myself up about it.
It is what it is. I like knitting, I like starting projects and while my intentions are good to finish projects, I get bored.
My biggest problem is that I have to keep an eye on them for insects, but it's more of an inconvenience than anything. I like my knitting and don't want it damaged, but if I honestly cared about it as much as I should, the projects wouldn't sit there untouched.

Having said that, I finished the knitting on a shawl (Cassandra+) and it's sitting there waiting for me to sew in the ends before I can take it upstairs to go in the pile for washing/blocking. That'll get done in a couple days (the sewing in, not necessarily the washing/blocking). Got to do knitting on a couple projects before that happens.

Ok. I'm going. I only signed onto Blogger to see what to do about a recent e-mail and it's been dealt with to my satisfaction.

Later

Another entry on My lap.

Well, I'm not exactly au-fait with fingertip typing, but, I'm getting better. It helps that I'm slightly addicted to My Toy. I haven't stopped knitting every day since the last entry,  and while I haven't actually finished another knitting project, I'm happy with my progress.

I had a minor house incident yesterday and was quite shook-up, and so I've started another knitting project to calm myself. It's a Wombat "Shawl". I had bought two colours (beige and a soft jade green) of this lovely merino yarn and used the greater amount (the soft jade green) to start a sweater (which I have described in an earlier entry) and the latter amount was sitting there taunting me. I used yeterday as an excuse to start knitting with it, and it's absolutely lovely.

    To be honest, the minor calamity ended up being a lot of noise and smell, and will be tacked tomorrow (hopefully). It's not a small problem, but it's not something I'm going to describe until it's fixed.

Anyway. I'm in a bit of a mental fluff state, and while I had this great post planned, I can't remember exactly what I wanted to say. It (of course) involved knitting, but I also was going to include books and cooking.

Oh well.  When I remember it, I'll type it up and post it.

Until then.

Later

New way to post. . .if I like doing it

     Well, I've got a new toy-a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. I bought it second hand,  barely used, luckily,  and I'm still learning how to use it.  The keyboard is a bit small for my fingers,  so I think I'll go and buy a pointer for it if my dexterity doesn't improve in a couple of weeks. I'm knitting a cover for it - another cabled cover like the one I made for my kindle, only with Noro Kureyon instead of the Manos I originally used. I'm liking the colours and if the size is a bit small like I think it will be (I used a 4.5mm needle instead of a 5mm)  I'll swap them over. The kindle cover is stretching out a bit with age, though I'm sure that a good washing would improve it. The Samsung is slightly bigger than my kindle.

    I'm knitting every day (whether I want to or not), and seem to be getting little accomplished,  but I think some of the factors in that are the 4 projects I've cast on (that I said I wouldn't do).

Never mind. It's not the end of the world. So far, I've completed 3 projects a month (yes, I know that it's only February), and with the progress I've been making,  I think it will continue for a few months yet (eternal hope is always a good thing), but if not, I'll get at least one project a month done, that is for sure.

Later.

What am I doing? Why?

As can be read in the previous entry, I made a new year's promise (not a resolution, as those spectacularly fail) to complete at least 14 Unfinished Projects.

The problem is, As of this week, I've either cast-on, or am planning to cast-on 6 projects. SIX! ! !

I really hope that I have the strength to complete my promise to myself. I do honestly know that I can actually do it (mainly since half the projects I want to finish only require sewing in ends or sewing up the seams.). But I'd like to finish at least 8 projects on the needles. Goodness knows I need to do that.

Come on self, you can do this!

Projects started:

Toriot Mitten KAL (fair isle knitting in fingering weight)

Arroyo Shawl (worsted weight)

V-neck Sweater/Pullover (Jade Green bulky weight)

Cassandra Shawl (worsted weight).

I'm not going to list my planned projects, because if I'm as smart as I think I am, I'll finish two projects (out of any projects) before I start another - so I might change my mind and then finish another two.

Here's hoping.

Later.

2013 - Happy New Year to 2014

Well, 2013 was both productive and leisurely.

I finished 31 Knitting Projects:

Ayli Hat

Simple Lines Shawl

Light and Up Shawl

Moonlight Sonata Shawl*

Flip-Top Mittens #1

Wingspan Shawlette #1

Bellflower Cowl

Ditty Bag #1

Not-so-Raspberry-as-Cherry Wrap*

Pearly Pink Queen Shawl

Feather Lace Wrap-Scarf

Namaste Yoga Bag

My WWWW Headband

Cabled Tea Cup Cozy

Moss Stitch DROPS headband #1

Mistaken Shawl #2

Mistaken Shawl #3

Moss-Stitch DROPS Headband #2

"Red" Robin's-Egg Blue Hat

Multnomah Shawl #2

Tea Pot Cozy

Garter Stitch Fingerless Mittens

Riot Hat

Lacy Baktus #2

Wingspan Shawlette #2

Holden Shawl (expanded from Shawlette)

Maelstrom-Vortex-ish Circular Shawl*

Fingerless Mittens

Prismatic Scarf

Daisy Stitch Headband

Patchwork Jacket*

(*) indicates long term projects.

Knitting projects started but unfinished in 2013:

Nori Shawl

Muir Shawl/Wrap (Beaded)

Flip-top Mittens #2

Foreign Correspondant's Scarf

Funshal Moebius Cowl

Icarus Shawl

Jack Skellington Double Knitting Hat

Saroyen #2

Knitting projects worked on in 2013:

Indian (Indinski) Shawl

Eyelet Gloves

Gothic Lace Mohair Scarf

34 Leaves Shawl

Mermaid Jacket

Orenberg Shawl

111-27 Knitted Jacket (DROPS) (re-started due to me losing my place in the pattern)

Prayer Shawl #2

Clapotis #2 (Having to sew in an indeterminate/endless number of ends is daunting - still)

Cherry Leaf Shawl

Diagonal Basketweave Blanket

2014 is going to be a year of completing unfinished projects and another year of clutter removal. I have too many of the former and too much of the latter (still). I'm not specifying how much of either I'm completing/getting rid of, since I don't want to depress myself with unmatched targets. Though I'd really like to complete all of my unfinished knitting and clear a (collective) a room of clutter, if I'm honest. That'd be great.

I'm not sure what exactly is happening with my garden, but so far, I don't care. I'm very tempted to rent a skip and toss most of it away. I'll see what happens in 2014. If I'm as lethargic about it as I was this year, I think it's going to go. We'll see.

The book reading hit a wall in June. While I hadn't been avoiding it, I just didn't have the drive to finish books that I had in 2012. I don't think it's bad, but I'm not exactly happy about it if I'm honest. I nearly read a book a week, and while many people would be more than happy with that, I'm proud to be a bibliophile. So I'm (again) going to try and read 100 books in 2014. I've a lot (LOT) of books in a pile I want to read.

The rest of the crafting (Beading, Needlework, Cross Stitch) is ticking along nicely. I even managed to do some machine sewing this year, which pleased me. I'm hoping to sew a few tops in 2014 and finish my needlework miniature rug. They're both possible.

Later.

Knitting on hold

   Well, I finally finished the Maelstrom shawl and it looks lovely. I've got one last thing to do to it, which is weave a pearlescent thread through one of the K2tog ribs from the edge of the body to the centre. It isn't time sensitive, and it'll get done when I find the right thread.
   Last week I started a Jack Skellington double knitting hat (white with black design on one side, black with white design on the other) in King Cole DK merino blend. It took forever to learn the tricks knitting it, but I'm in the middle of the first earflap. At the rate I'm knitting, the hat will be ready for next Christmas. I expect it's really because doing increases in double knitting is very time consuming. Once I'm onto the body of the hat I should be a lot faster. I very much hope so.

  The reason for the no go in the knitting is because I'm being more active in beadwork and jewellery making. I think I just need a bit of a break from knitting after being so immersed in a large project. I hope that's what it is, anyway. I am planning future knitting projects (including buying yarn for them), so I'm not planning on the knitting "go slow" for long.

Short entry today. Got things to do.

Later

Everything and Nothing. It's all the same.

   Well, I've spent the last month knitting on one of two things - either the Maelstrom shawl or the Nori Shawlette. It's been satisfying, but boring. I'm 95% done with the Maelstrom, and if I keep at the pace, I'll be done in a week (don't think it's going to happen though). The Nori increases in the latter half of the repeat by a total of 5 stitches, and so, by logic, each repeat takes longer to complete. Right now, a row takes 15 minutes, and I'm only on the 2nd ball of 3 in the increase section. I'm lucky in the fact that each row in the repeat changes slightly, so I can't coast through the knitting.

   All this concentrated knitting does mean that I've not finished any projects - or started any. I have, however, given a promise to knit two hats. In double knitting. This means that I have to start one after I finish the Maelstrom. The hat is the "Double-Sided Jack Skellington Hat" by Alyshia West. The yarn has been ordered (King Cole Merino Blend DK in both black and white), and all I need to do is go and get head measurements. That (hopefully) will be done next week - provided no one gets ill and asks me to postpone my visit. I'm truly crossing fingers that doesn't happen.

  I still (obviously) haven't up-loaded any pictures to Flickr. I'm sort of surprised. It's a good storage site.

   I've gained another class, and this means I now only have 2 free days a week. But it also means that on average, I'm doing over 8 hours of exercise a week. Not bad for me. Aw, it's amazing for me. I feel good about it, and I feel better overall.

  Well, everything else is ticking along. I'm fine, the house is fine, the garden is the same, and I'm going to go so I can do more knitting to catch up for the last two days.

Until later.