I had 2 weeks(ish) away from knitting due to volunteer work. I didn't miss it for most of the time, and felt a tiny bit guilty towards the end and thought about what I was going to work on. It felt decidedly weird, but adult. I knew I was going to knit again no matter what happened and for a change, let myself not feel wretchedly guilty.
But within that time, I have had this small epiphany: I'm really, really, totally, honestly, truly wholeheartedly allowed to not feel guilty or bad for something that I can't do anything about - or even just because I don't want to feel guilty - today. I've known for a long while that it was true, but my brain wouldn't let me believe it or let me act on it. So much FUN.
You see, I've spent far too many years feeling like hell (sort of permanently apprehensive) because of my childhood and teenage years. Not because any of it was my direct fault - far from it, but because most of that time was spent in apprehension about how my Mother was going to behave every day (I had an ulcer from 12 to 18, so joyful). This feeling was so indoctrinated from an early age, that I didn't know it was supposed to be any different, so I carried it along with me, even after I was 23 (she died a few weeks before my 24th birthday). I suppose you could call it the mental equivalent of a habit. I got thoroughly sick and tired of it in my 30's, when I knew that a lot of my "misery" was partially self-generated, finding things to be "worried" and "anxious" about, since my psyche felt oddly "unused" if I wasn't worried about something. I was in my early 40's when I finally made a concerted effort to quit the "mental torture gymnastics" when one or two nights (not consecutive) were spent in tears trying to shut up the paranoid "voices" in my head.
- I have no diagnosis or previous activities of DPD (dissociative personality disorder) and those two nights felt like I was going insane.
I had no idea of whether my efforts were working until these last couple weeks-ish.
The following things last week tell me that they are: I had a friend brush me off and it only irritated me for a couple hours (normally I'd take it to heart and I'd analyse it to death, dig it up and analyse it some more for a few days). I could sleep without needing to go through my regular routine of relaxation. I turned the TV off so I had a quiet room to sleep in.
Now for most people, these things aren't anything to think about, but for me, it's pretty darn great. I'm hoping that I can keep it going even when I'm tired. That will be a true sign of success....
As for the knitting, well, I bought a set of Addi interchangable lace needles (short tips). I'm SO happy. I've decided that the first project I'm going to knit on them (after I've finished a project) is going to be a Muir shawl/stole with Angel 2ply yarn and delica beads as accents. Yum. Again, SO happy. I've wanted to knit this for over a year. WHEE!
I'm off. I have a stole (Raspberry Dream Stole by Dagmara) to finish up a repeat on (4 rows to complete a repeat of 34 rows - 17 pattern rows, 17 purl). There's another ball of yarn to go (hopefully I'll get another 3 repeats out of it), but it is a joy to knit. Mmmm.
Later
31 August 2012
12 August 2012
Yay and Blah....
I've finished the two pieces I put in for the Ravellenics.
Growing Leaves Shawl #1
and
Yoga Cardigan.
Before I start, I'm running on 2 hours sleep - I just could not get to sleep last night. I couldn't do much of anything except look at the TV most of the night. Very frustrating. *bah*. I finished off the last seam under the left arm this morning feeling like fog was creeping in my head.
The title is, well, while I wasn't keeping either item, I did like the way the shawl turned out.
The sweater, on the other hand. . .
As I was finishing off each seam and then knitting up the second half of the neckband/waist tie, I started disliking it more and more. I "knew" it wasn't a good garment. I'm a sewer first. I started out by hand sewing items (I made a dress by hand when I was 8, and while it looked like a Frankenstein's Monster dress, it did work) and eventually graduated to a sewing machine in my teens. Over the years, I became good.
Anyway, I knew the blocked pieces were ok, but even as I turned the sweater back and forth and in and out during the seaming, I thought it wasn't working. They weren't sitting right (yes, I am a bit of a perfectionist). But, at the same time, I was going to give it a second chance by re-washing it (I've got to "lock-in" all those sewn-in ends) and then blocking it by pinning it to my dress form. I am hoping it works, really I am. if not, I'll felt it and turn it into a cushion (I'll knit up a filler panel for the neck and sew everything in place except the bottom seam (zip goes there) and sew up a cushion to insert into it. I can't send out a (possible) substandard garment, really I can't.
Now - I am brain fogged right now. I do know that the sweater needs re-blocking. But tomorrow (or the next day), after I get enough sleep to function (thank goodness it's the weekend), I might look at the sweater with a kinder eye.
I hope so. The yarn is so soft and has the nicest halo.
Until next week(end).
Growing Leaves Shawl #1
and
Yoga Cardigan.
Before I start, I'm running on 2 hours sleep - I just could not get to sleep last night. I couldn't do much of anything except look at the TV most of the night. Very frustrating. *bah*. I finished off the last seam under the left arm this morning feeling like fog was creeping in my head.
The title is, well, while I wasn't keeping either item, I did like the way the shawl turned out.
The sweater, on the other hand. . .
As I was finishing off each seam and then knitting up the second half of the neckband/waist tie, I started disliking it more and more. I "knew" it wasn't a good garment. I'm a sewer first. I started out by hand sewing items (I made a dress by hand when I was 8, and while it looked like a Frankenstein's Monster dress, it did work) and eventually graduated to a sewing machine in my teens. Over the years, I became good.
Anyway, I knew the blocked pieces were ok, but even as I turned the sweater back and forth and in and out during the seaming, I thought it wasn't working. They weren't sitting right (yes, I am a bit of a perfectionist). But, at the same time, I was going to give it a second chance by re-washing it (I've got to "lock-in" all those sewn-in ends) and then blocking it by pinning it to my dress form. I am hoping it works, really I am. if not, I'll felt it and turn it into a cushion (I'll knit up a filler panel for the neck and sew everything in place except the bottom seam (zip goes there) and sew up a cushion to insert into it. I can't send out a (possible) substandard garment, really I can't.
Now - I am brain fogged right now. I do know that the sweater needs re-blocking. But tomorrow (or the next day), after I get enough sleep to function (thank goodness it's the weekend), I might look at the sweater with a kinder eye.
I hope so. The yarn is so soft and has the nicest halo.
Until next week(end).
09 August 2012
Watching the Olympics and Knitting...
I've been enjoying the Olympics, watching Archery and Fencing, Equestrian Dressage, individual Artistic Gymnastics (the regulation team events with set routines get boring fast), and occasional other events.
I saw the beach volleyball in Beijing and I was bewildered by the clothing mis-standards (odd word, but bear with me). The men get to wear beach shorts and long baggy vests. The women wear a heavy tan and a tight bikini. Why? If it's a matter of comfort, why aren't the men topless? If the IOC are concerned with equality, why don't the women get to wear long vest tops (with built in brassiere) and beach shorts? In many other sports the women dress similarly to the men (I'm not including gymnastics - it's irrelevant, but, I would like to see the option of the women using track-suit bottoms during competition). Ok, I'm done. I had to say something. It's been bothering me.
I've been knitting and sewing during the Olympics. I signed up for theravelympics (bad, bad USOC) ravellenic games. I entered a shawl (Growing Leaves #1) and a wrap-sweater (Yoga Cardigan) into WIPS wrestling. They're both unfinished projects I hadn't worked on since last year, and they needed to be finished. I've finished the shawl, and have put in the entries and form for a "medal" (yes, that I thought I wouldn't get) and am still trying to finish the sweater. It needs seaming and the other half of the front edging/tie to be done. I'm still struggling with the seaming. It's not difficult, but it's tedious. After it's finished, I'm debating on whether I'm giving both items away.
I knitted the sweater for me, but it's way too small (I have to be realistic, I'm not going to lose the required weight this year or the next *sigh*), and I'm not in love with the shawl. The problem is that I know they need a bit of special care (blocking after every wash) and the average person won't know how/won't want to do that.
It annoys me - not because the items won't be cared for - but the fact I'm caring quite so much. Once they're out of my hands, and I send them off with appropriate labelling (which they'll get) it's not my concern anymore. But I do care, and that's just me.
We'll see what happens.
Since the last entry, I've bought all the yarn talked about, with a couple changes. There's enough for three mistake shawls. I bought two lots of dark purple yarn from Deramores: 12 balls of Wendy (Merino (chunky)) and 10 balls of King Cole (Merino Blend (chunky)), and then took myself (and my Dad) off by train to Texere Yarns and bought 7 100g balls of their own Chunky wool in claret (dark red). I'm not sure which set I'll use, but I'll be happy with the colour no matter what.
Whilst at Texere, I also bought yarn for another project (funchal mobius cowl, by Kate Davies), and I finally caved and bought a ball winder, as the thought of winding up another 100g skein of lace yarn by hand makes my shoulders scream.
I'm planning on going to either John Lewis in the Trafford Centre (by Tram and bus, because I can), or, Up Country near Wakefield (by car, because it's really the only option), to check out some Rowan Creative Linen yarn. It's to make a sweater (Sorrel, from The Knitter Magazine, Issue 44). I do like using the required yarn if possible. I have the chance to buy the yarn online for a 10% discount, but, I'm picky about texture and colours and I don't want to buy yarn I'm possibly going to hate. Yes, it seems like a lot of work for 8 balls of yarn, but that's the way I float.
Unfortunately, right now I'm delaying (it does seem like a lot of work for 8 balls of yarn), but all will be resolved eventually (at least before the end of the month).
Anyway. I'm still without my netbook, though it's hard drive is out and being copied (very slowly) and we'll see what happens - my Dad is under the delusion that the extended warranty is still in effect, even though I told him it wouldn't be, I now just have to persuade him that it will be cost effective to get it fixed (if it can be).
Let's see what happens. . .
Later
I saw the beach volleyball in Beijing and I was bewildered by the clothing mis-standards (odd word, but bear with me). The men get to wear beach shorts and long baggy vests. The women wear a heavy tan and a tight bikini. Why? If it's a matter of comfort, why aren't the men topless? If the IOC are concerned with equality, why don't the women get to wear long vest tops (with built in brassiere) and beach shorts? In many other sports the women dress similarly to the men (I'm not including gymnastics - it's irrelevant, but, I would like to see the option of the women using track-suit bottoms during competition). Ok, I'm done. I had to say something. It's been bothering me.
I've been knitting and sewing during the Olympics. I signed up for the
I knitted the sweater for me, but it's way too small (I have to be realistic, I'm not going to lose the required weight this year or the next *sigh*), and I'm not in love with the shawl. The problem is that I know they need a bit of special care (blocking after every wash) and the average person won't know how/won't want to do that.
It annoys me - not because the items won't be cared for - but the fact I'm caring quite so much. Once they're out of my hands, and I send them off with appropriate labelling (which they'll get) it's not my concern anymore. But I do care, and that's just me.
We'll see what happens.
Since the last entry, I've bought all the yarn talked about, with a couple changes. There's enough for three mistake shawls. I bought two lots of dark purple yarn from Deramores: 12 balls of Wendy (Merino (chunky)) and 10 balls of King Cole (Merino Blend (chunky)), and then took myself (and my Dad) off by train to Texere Yarns and bought 7 100g balls of their own Chunky wool in claret (dark red). I'm not sure which set I'll use, but I'll be happy with the colour no matter what.
Whilst at Texere, I also bought yarn for another project (funchal mobius cowl, by Kate Davies), and I finally caved and bought a ball winder, as the thought of winding up another 100g skein of lace yarn by hand makes my shoulders scream.
I'm planning on going to either John Lewis in the Trafford Centre (by Tram and bus, because I can), or, Up Country near Wakefield (by car, because it's really the only option), to check out some Rowan Creative Linen yarn. It's to make a sweater (Sorrel, from The Knitter Magazine, Issue 44). I do like using the required yarn if possible. I have the chance to buy the yarn online for a 10% discount, but, I'm picky about texture and colours and I don't want to buy yarn I'm possibly going to hate. Yes, it seems like a lot of work for 8 balls of yarn, but that's the way I float.
Unfortunately, right now I'm delaying (it does seem like a lot of work for 8 balls of yarn), but all will be resolved eventually (at least before the end of the month).
Anyway. I'm still without my netbook, though it's hard drive is out and being copied (very slowly) and we'll see what happens - my Dad is under the delusion that the extended warranty is still in effect, even though I told him it wouldn't be, I now just have to persuade him that it will be cost effective to get it fixed (if it can be).
Let's see what happens. . .
Later
09 July 2012
I can only post if I can get online . . .
Well, I've been offline for over a month, as my netbook was the victim of a spish of tea (I couldn't have called it a real splash, as there was literally just enough to get over the rim of the cup) and the netbook had not been in it's regular place, but unluckily, resting for a second against the sofa. *sigh*. Well, eventually, my father wanted to be online, so he bought a notebook (Toshiba) I'm using this right now. I'm hoping that my netbook will be fixed soon. I want to be using that, as its keyboard and general size fits me.
So, while I've been offline, I've been knitting and reading. I've done much more reading than knitting, so much so, that I'm 15 books ahead in my reading challenge (I increased the number of books to complete the challenge this year from 84 to 94; I was previously 18 books ahead).
I finished a shawl Coquille, from knitty.com) and something else, but can't remember what it was.
I felted a shawl (Mistake shawl) during laundry (washing, not drying - arrgggh) and need to buy yarn to make another. (10 - 50g balls of chunky weight - I'm not decided on colour or company, and I'll be off to Texere Yarns this friday to check out a few possibilities, if that trip isn't productive, then there's 2 contenders on the Deramores website, and I might get both of them - a dark red of King Cole Merino blend, and a pretty purple of Wendy Merino Chunky. Neither of them are expensive, but I might end up getting the Wendy Purple regardless.).
I'm thinking about starting another shawl, but, I've been looking at the categories for entries for the Ravelry "Olympics" (ravellencs, I think, or something like that) and noticed a UFO category, and I'm seriously looking into entering that. I'm not going to get a medal, but I'd finish something, and that's appealing.
Later.
So, while I've been offline, I've been knitting and reading. I've done much more reading than knitting, so much so, that I'm 15 books ahead in my reading challenge (I increased the number of books to complete the challenge this year from 84 to 94; I was previously 18 books ahead).
I finished a shawl Coquille, from knitty.com) and something else, but can't remember what it was.
I felted a shawl (Mistake shawl) during laundry (washing, not drying - arrgggh) and need to buy yarn to make another. (10 - 50g balls of chunky weight - I'm not decided on colour or company, and I'll be off to Texere Yarns this friday to check out a few possibilities, if that trip isn't productive, then there's 2 contenders on the Deramores website, and I might get both of them - a dark red of King Cole Merino blend, and a pretty purple of Wendy Merino Chunky. Neither of them are expensive, but I might end up getting the Wendy Purple regardless.).
I'm thinking about starting another shawl, but, I've been looking at the categories for entries for the Ravelry "Olympics" (ravellencs, I think, or something like that) and noticed a UFO category, and I'm seriously looking into entering that. I'm not going to get a medal, but I'd finish something, and that's appealing.
Later.
11 May 2012
Doing . . stuff
I've not completed anything craft-wise since the last entry.
I've done a bit of knitting, but to be honest, I've been doing a lot more reading.
I don't feel that guilty. Ok, I feel a bit guilty I've not knitted more, but I'm 2 books ahead on my reading challenge (it's really 5, but three of them haven't yet been entered into the Goodreads library - oh well), and that can't be wrong.
I'm working on a new shawl -Coquille, by M. L. Egan. I'm knitting it in laceweight Zauberball (Lace ball), in a variegated green (summer green on the website). It reminds me of a Tudor corset, which really made it irresistible.
Later. I'm off to read. I did start to read the book that arrived in the post, but I'm also in the middle of a histrical novel, and I'd rather be reading that.
I've done a bit of knitting, but to be honest, I've been doing a lot more reading.
I don't feel that guilty. Ok, I feel a bit guilty I've not knitted more, but I'm 2 books ahead on my reading challenge (it's really 5, but three of them haven't yet been entered into the Goodreads library - oh well), and that can't be wrong.
I'm working on a new shawl -Coquille, by M. L. Egan. I'm knitting it in laceweight Zauberball (Lace ball), in a variegated green (summer green on the website). It reminds me of a Tudor corset, which really made it irresistible.
Later. I'm off to read. I did start to read the book that arrived in the post, but I'm also in the middle of a histrical novel, and I'd rather be reading that.
28 April 2012
NO, NO, Noooooo........
What is wrong with me? For three years I've not been able to go to any knitting "festivals"/wool events and I was determined to get to one this year.
For me, there's 3 main ones:
Wonderwool, Wales (April)
Woolfest, Cumbria (June)
Knitting and Stitching show, Harrogate (November)
and
other 'minor' ones are:
Fibre-east (July)
Gaelic Wool Festival, Argyll (July)
Knitting and Stitching show, London (October)
Fiber flurry (October)
Masham sheep fair (September)
Knitting and Stitching show, Dublin (November)
I'll get to the Knitting and stitching show in Harrogate - they put on a coach every year. I can do that. . . I hope. . .I forgot about it last year. *sigh*.
anyway
I'm at home, it's the last weekend of April and. . .
I forgot about Wonderwool.
No - I remembered it, but transposed the date with Woolfest. Then I forgot about "that".
*waaahhhh*
(No, I can't go tomorrow, as I've got my cousin's christening to go to. It should be fun. There'll be family there I've not seen in years.)
Nevermind. I'll remember it next year. *crossing everything*
Besides, if I start a "wool fund" for Wonderwool now, I should have a nice little nest-egg for next year. *grin*
Later.
For me, there's 3 main ones:
Wonderwool, Wales (April)
Woolfest, Cumbria (June)
Knitting and Stitching show, Harrogate (November)
and
other 'minor' ones are:
Fibre-east (July)
Gaelic Wool Festival, Argyll (July)
Knitting and Stitching show, London (October)
Fiber flurry (October)
Masham sheep fair (September)
Knitting and Stitching show, Dublin (November)
I'll get to the Knitting and stitching show in Harrogate - they put on a coach every year. I can do that. . . I hope. . .I forgot about it last year. *sigh*.
anyway
I'm at home, it's the last weekend of April and. . .
I forgot about Wonderwool.
No - I remembered it, but transposed the date with Woolfest. Then I forgot about "that".
*waaahhhh*
(No, I can't go tomorrow, as I've got my cousin's christening to go to. It should be fun. There'll be family there I've not seen in years.)
Nevermind. I'll remember it next year. *crossing everything*
Besides, if I start a "wool fund" for Wonderwool now, I should have a nice little nest-egg for next year. *grin*
Later.
25 April 2012
General Update on some projects....
Well, I scanned posts back to January a couple weeks ago, and realised I had forgotten "things".
So here's what I've done (or not done) with some of the knitting and gardening.
Gardening - nothing. My garden lies ignored. I hadn't planned on it, but things happened and I got distracted from the garden. I'm hoping I'll fix it next year. I'm not going to start work on it now because I'd need to start seedlings and it would get too cold for harvest for some of the plants.
Knitting. Ok.
(Jan 2012)
Cable-icious ear-warmer/scarf - I'm knitting erratically on it. It should be finished by now, but it's not. I don't know why as it's a fun knit and completing it would mean I would have finished off the set.
Not-so-Raspberry-as-Cherry Dream Stole - I completed 2 1/2 repeats on it and put it to one side to work on later, but later hasn't arrived yet. Again, I don't know why I'm not working on it. It's fun.
Mochi-Mochi Elephant, Chickens and Hearts - Well, The Elephant is at a fiddly stage. I need to do the legs and tail. I'm not in the mood to mess with them. The Chickens need stuffing (I stuff them as I make them) and with no stuffing, I can't make anymore. I will buy stuffing on Thursday (27th April). The hearts aren't working out. I made 2 sides and they look pathetic. More work needed on them.
Eyelet Gloves - Well, I just got overwhelmed. While the yarn is 4-ply, the needles are tiny and it seems like I knit a million rows and knit an inch of glove (lovely warm fabric, though). I'll work on them eventually. I like them.
Mitered Vest/Jacket - I said I was going to frog and re-start it. I haven't frogged it yet, don't know why.
(Feb 2012)
Indiski Shawl - I'm chugging along. It's a bit better than the gloves. With lace work, the light fingering yarn and small needles don't seem too bad. I feel like I'm making somewhat acceptable progress. I'm still on the first set of borders. I'll be glad when I start work on the second set of borders.
Patchwork Jacket - Well, I'm sewing in an end or two every week. It's heavy and too warm in my lap (for all the lovely soft alpaca yarn) and I'm dreading blocking it. I'll get all finished eventually.
(March/April 2012)
Blue Leaf Shawl - It's just been finished and blocked. I love it. It came out bigger than I expected (I did end up using 5 balls insted of the 4 expected in the pattern), but it's great. All resolved itsself wonderfully, and the beads in the border are perfect.
Reading Shawl #2 - Well, I fixed the hole, but I need to weave ends in and I was wrung out fixing the hole (tiny area, lots of pins to keep loose stitches in place so I knew where to go and multi-strand black yarn - it doesn't seem like a big thing, but it was).
Brea Bag - I've finished knitting the pieces, and skeined the rest of the yarn to finish off and seam the pieces. Dyeing needs to be done next. I've worked out the ratios of dyes I'm using (2 greens and 1 blue from Dylon) as the yarn weight exceeds the amount by weight a single packet of dye will cover. I'm using 66% Green #1, 66% Green #2 and 12.5% Blue.
This bag is part of the Cable Knitting I wanted to start doing more of. I haven't found a pattern for a beret I like enough, and I still need to find the right yarn in order to start the cabled yoke cardigan that I want to make. I'm not having any luck so far.
Kerchief Cowl - Done, blocked and with the rest of my "winter" knits. I'm planning on making a pair of flip-top mittens with the remainder of the yarn. It'll be a nice set. I had thought of a making a hat, but I've more than enough of those.
I've just re-started work on the Mariposa shawl in the last entry, as I wanted something "new" to work on, but didn't want to start a NEW project. Right now I REALLY want to work on old projects. It's not a matter of finishing them, it's more a case of wanting to feel less like being stuck-in-a-rut. Stagnant. So if I'm making progress on them, all is well.
By the way, my "inner knitter" (go read Yarn Harlot's journal entry for April 11th, it's perfect) is all better. She's in the mood to knit now. She's being a pest, in fact, but I'm just managing to ignore her. I have other things I need to do...like...
I had caught up on my reading 3 days ago, but I looked at Goodreads last night and I'm behind again *sigh*. The reading never ends. *dramatic (with hand on forehead) sigh*. Never mind.
I "won" a givaway in Goodreads, and it arrived Friday (20th). I'm now off to start reading it. It looks interesting -in a good way.
Later.
So here's what I've done (or not done) with some of the knitting and gardening.
Gardening - nothing. My garden lies ignored. I hadn't planned on it, but things happened and I got distracted from the garden. I'm hoping I'll fix it next year. I'm not going to start work on it now because I'd need to start seedlings and it would get too cold for harvest for some of the plants.
Knitting. Ok.
(Jan 2012)
Cable-icious ear-warmer/scarf - I'm knitting erratically on it. It should be finished by now, but it's not. I don't know why as it's a fun knit and completing it would mean I would have finished off the set.
Not-so-Raspberry-as-Cherry Dream Stole - I completed 2 1/2 repeats on it and put it to one side to work on later, but later hasn't arrived yet. Again, I don't know why I'm not working on it. It's fun.
Mochi-Mochi Elephant, Chickens and Hearts - Well, The Elephant is at a fiddly stage. I need to do the legs and tail. I'm not in the mood to mess with them. The Chickens need stuffing (I stuff them as I make them) and with no stuffing, I can't make anymore. I will buy stuffing on Thursday (27th April). The hearts aren't working out. I made 2 sides and they look pathetic. More work needed on them.
Eyelet Gloves - Well, I just got overwhelmed. While the yarn is 4-ply, the needles are tiny and it seems like I knit a million rows and knit an inch of glove (lovely warm fabric, though). I'll work on them eventually. I like them.
Mitered Vest/Jacket - I said I was going to frog and re-start it. I haven't frogged it yet, don't know why.
(Feb 2012)
Indiski Shawl - I'm chugging along. It's a bit better than the gloves. With lace work, the light fingering yarn and small needles don't seem too bad. I feel like I'm making somewhat acceptable progress. I'm still on the first set of borders. I'll be glad when I start work on the second set of borders.
Patchwork Jacket - Well, I'm sewing in an end or two every week. It's heavy and too warm in my lap (for all the lovely soft alpaca yarn) and I'm dreading blocking it. I'll get all finished eventually.
(March/April 2012)
Blue Leaf Shawl - It's just been finished and blocked. I love it. It came out bigger than I expected (I did end up using 5 balls insted of the 4 expected in the pattern), but it's great. All resolved itsself wonderfully, and the beads in the border are perfect.
Reading Shawl #2 - Well, I fixed the hole, but I need to weave ends in and I was wrung out fixing the hole (tiny area, lots of pins to keep loose stitches in place so I knew where to go and multi-strand black yarn - it doesn't seem like a big thing, but it was).
Brea Bag - I've finished knitting the pieces, and skeined the rest of the yarn to finish off and seam the pieces. Dyeing needs to be done next. I've worked out the ratios of dyes I'm using (2 greens and 1 blue from Dylon) as the yarn weight exceeds the amount by weight a single packet of dye will cover. I'm using 66% Green #1, 66% Green #2 and 12.5% Blue.
This bag is part of the Cable Knitting I wanted to start doing more of. I haven't found a pattern for a beret I like enough, and I still need to find the right yarn in order to start the cabled yoke cardigan that I want to make. I'm not having any luck so far.
Kerchief Cowl - Done, blocked and with the rest of my "winter" knits. I'm planning on making a pair of flip-top mittens with the remainder of the yarn. It'll be a nice set. I had thought of a making a hat, but I've more than enough of those.
I've just re-started work on the Mariposa shawl in the last entry, as I wanted something "new" to work on, but didn't want to start a NEW project. Right now I REALLY want to work on old projects. It's not a matter of finishing them, it's more a case of wanting to feel less like being stuck-in-a-rut. Stagnant. So if I'm making progress on them, all is well.
By the way, my "inner knitter" (go read Yarn Harlot's journal entry for April 11th, it's perfect) is all better. She's in the mood to knit now. She's being a pest, in fact, but I'm just managing to ignore her. I have other things I need to do...like...
I had caught up on my reading 3 days ago, but I looked at Goodreads last night and I'm behind again *sigh*. The reading never ends. *dramatic (with hand on forehead) sigh*. Never mind.
I "won" a givaway in Goodreads, and it arrived Friday (20th). I'm now off to start reading it. It looks interesting -in a good way.
Later.
16 April 2012
Frustrated, frustrated, frustrated. It happens sometimes...
Well, so far this month, I've not finished a project without incident. I was going to finish off 3 projects that were close to completion (or quickie project) for the month of April and feel smug doing it.
I think it was the smugness that undid the plan....
It's the 3rd week of the month, and I had to re-knit the first project - 98-12 DROPS shawl - (from it being 70% finished) because I didn't have enough yarn and had to order a new batch +2 balls - the new batch was just different enough in tint. . . I added beads to the new knit and then had to frog back 4 rows because I didn't like the way they looked. It still needs blocking as I don't want to deal with it. It'll get done next week.
The second project - Mariposa shawlette - is sitting in a heap, pulled off the needles in mid bind-off row because I didn't have enough yarn to finish it - even with having to miss out the last two rows of the border. After getting over the frustration, I'll re-knit it on smaller needles (3.5mm instead of the 3.75mm I used). I'm a bit miffed at this point....But it sort of helps the project that I'm using Knit Picks/Pro Harmony needles on it and I'm using the 120cm cable on another project so it'll be awhile before that gets started. . . . . . . .
drat.
The 3rd project was a pair of should-have-been-a-quick-knit yoga socks that don't have a heel or toe. I've only done the first sock and I hate it. It's a bit scruffy and the cast on stitches for the leg/ankle section looks like hell and I just don't want to frog it back and re-do it. They're stuffed into a baggie in a bag nearby. I'll might/probably pull them out next month (or I might not - I'm putting all possibilities in here) and do the odious job and finish them off in 2 weeks.
There's nothing else on the needles that are far enough along to finish in the next 2 weeks.
Nevermind. It happens sometimes. I think I'll take a bit of a break from knitting for the rest of the month and catch up on reading for my annual Goodreads challenge as I'm 3 books behind (I should be reading 2 books a week). It'll also probably help my inner knitter as she's sulking in the corner, snacking on chocolate pudding with a shovel.
Later.
I think it was the smugness that undid the plan....
It's the 3rd week of the month, and I had to re-knit the first project - 98-12 DROPS shawl - (from it being 70% finished) because I didn't have enough yarn and had to order a new batch +2 balls - the new batch was just different enough in tint. . . I added beads to the new knit and then had to frog back 4 rows because I didn't like the way they looked. It still needs blocking as I don't want to deal with it. It'll get done next week.
The second project - Mariposa shawlette - is sitting in a heap, pulled off the needles in mid bind-off row because I didn't have enough yarn to finish it - even with having to miss out the last two rows of the border. After getting over the frustration, I'll re-knit it on smaller needles (3.5mm instead of the 3.75mm I used). I'm a bit miffed at this point....But it sort of helps the project that I'm using Knit Picks/Pro Harmony needles on it and I'm using the 120cm cable on another project so it'll be awhile before that gets started. . . . . . . .
drat.
The 3rd project was a pair of should-have-been-a-quick-knit yoga socks that don't have a heel or toe. I've only done the first sock and I hate it. It's a bit scruffy and the cast on stitches for the leg/ankle section looks like hell and I just don't want to frog it back and re-do it. They're stuffed into a baggie in a bag nearby. I'll might/probably pull them out next month (or I might not - I'm putting all possibilities in here) and do the odious job and finish them off in 2 weeks.
There's nothing else on the needles that are far enough along to finish in the next 2 weeks.
Nevermind. It happens sometimes. I think I'll take a bit of a break from knitting for the rest of the month and catch up on reading for my annual Goodreads challenge as I'm 3 books behind (I should be reading 2 books a week). It'll also probably help my inner knitter as she's sulking in the corner, snacking on chocolate pudding with a shovel.
Later.
01 April 2012
Been busy
I didn't mean to miss a post in March.
I've just been busy reading and knitting. I've set myself a challenge for the next 6 months to get as many projects and books finished as I can. I've taken one day off knitting and one day off reading in the last month.
I've only started 2 new patterns in March (a cowl (Kerchief cowl) and a bag (Norah Gaughan's Brea Bag), I've only completed 2 projects (Reading shawl and Kerchief cowl) I "punched" a hole in the reading shawl while washing it before blocking (obviously didn't happen, I just dried it flat). I'm still repairing the hole - I've got it done, but have to sew in the ends - and I'm then planning to get it dry cleaned, then I'll dry block it and spray it 'til it's damp. I really hope all goes well. It's a nice shawl.
The Brea Bag is going relatively quickly considering I hate knitting moss stitch. I've got 1side done, part of the gusset and I'm working on the other side. The yarn I'm using (Drops Lima) is gorgeous. SO soft. I'm hoping it stays soft after it's dyed (I bought off white ayrn and I'm planning to dye it a medium slightly blued green).
As for the rest of the knitting, in April I'm planning to concentrate on finishing a Drops shawl (I call it blue leaf) knitted in Drops Alpaca yarn so I can wear it to a third cousin's christening on the 29th. I'd like to take the bag with me also, as I'm expecting that the knitting will be finished in the next week (or so), but, I need to find large D rings and a strap (I'm NOT knitting a strap as I don't have enough yarn). I don't know quite what I'm looking for, but I'll look around for cheap (leather) handbags and if I see a sutable strap and I'll buy it. I'm also going to line the bag in this lovely cotton with a leaf pattern on it I had planned for a reversable shopping bag. Yum. I can't see all that being finished in April. No way. I'll settle for the shawl being finished - at least that's realistic.
I'm also (still) working on other shawls and sewing in the ends of the Patchwork Jacket. It's long time it was finished. I really think it's more of a case that I'm scared of blocking it. It's a heavy monster and it's not going to get lighter when damp/wet. *sigh*. I'm tempted to get it dry cleaned and block it after I've let it air out for a bit. Yes, that sounds like a good idea. More news on that when it happens.
On that note, I think it's time I quit for the night.
Later.
I've just been busy reading and knitting. I've set myself a challenge for the next 6 months to get as many projects and books finished as I can. I've taken one day off knitting and one day off reading in the last month.
I've only started 2 new patterns in March (a cowl (Kerchief cowl) and a bag (Norah Gaughan's Brea Bag), I've only completed 2 projects (Reading shawl and Kerchief cowl) I "punched" a hole in the reading shawl while washing it before blocking (obviously didn't happen, I just dried it flat). I'm still repairing the hole - I've got it done, but have to sew in the ends - and I'm then planning to get it dry cleaned, then I'll dry block it and spray it 'til it's damp. I really hope all goes well. It's a nice shawl.
The Brea Bag is going relatively quickly considering I hate knitting moss stitch. I've got 1side done, part of the gusset and I'm working on the other side. The yarn I'm using (Drops Lima) is gorgeous. SO soft. I'm hoping it stays soft after it's dyed (I bought off white ayrn and I'm planning to dye it a medium slightly blued green).
As for the rest of the knitting, in April I'm planning to concentrate on finishing a Drops shawl (I call it blue leaf) knitted in Drops Alpaca yarn so I can wear it to a third cousin's christening on the 29th. I'd like to take the bag with me also, as I'm expecting that the knitting will be finished in the next week (or so), but, I need to find large D rings and a strap (I'm NOT knitting a strap as I don't have enough yarn). I don't know quite what I'm looking for, but I'll look around for cheap (leather) handbags and if I see a sutable strap and I'll buy it. I'm also going to line the bag in this lovely cotton with a leaf pattern on it I had planned for a reversable shopping bag. Yum. I can't see all that being finished in April. No way. I'll settle for the shawl being finished - at least that's realistic.
I'm also (still) working on other shawls and sewing in the ends of the Patchwork Jacket. It's long time it was finished. I really think it's more of a case that I'm scared of blocking it. It's a heavy monster and it's not going to get lighter when damp/wet. *sigh*. I'm tempted to get it dry cleaned and block it after I've let it air out for a bit. Yes, that sounds like a good idea. More news on that when it happens.
On that note, I think it's time I quit for the night.
Later.
01 March 2012
Changing and changing my mind....then changing it again.
I've spent 3 days (in chunks) putting my ravelry queue back to chronological order.
Luckily, I didn't have to guess at that, since the dates the projects were chosen sit right underneath the project picture. I have NO idea how I'd have chosen to organize them if I hadn't had that. I have put "labels" on them, but since there's multiple ways to organise a list of knitting projects, that would have driven me even more crazy. So I decided on the simplest (and most obvious) method.
I think the basic reason I decided to do this is because after a search through the queue for a project to start, I realised that I hadn't started some of the first projects I'd queued, and furthermore, I didn't remember how many I'd queued from the start of my joining Ravelry (I think in September 2007).
I usually spent hours deciding what the start next. I'd go back and forth from page to page, looking and usually going "hmm. maybe" before going to the next page.
That was futile. It IS futile. I like all of the projects in my queue, whether I decide to knit them or not, there's an aspect of all of them that pleases me.
But.
I have to shrink the knitting queue faster than I have and picking the next in line (unless the yarn I buy, on impulse, screams for a specific project) is the easiest way to do it. My ADD touched brain might not like it, but that's just too bad.
That's it. (I hope).
Later.
Luckily, I didn't have to guess at that, since the dates the projects were chosen sit right underneath the project picture. I have NO idea how I'd have chosen to organize them if I hadn't had that. I have put "labels" on them, but since there's multiple ways to organise a list of knitting projects, that would have driven me even more crazy. So I decided on the simplest (and most obvious) method.
I think the basic reason I decided to do this is because after a search through the queue for a project to start, I realised that I hadn't started some of the first projects I'd queued, and furthermore, I didn't remember how many I'd queued from the start of my joining Ravelry (I think in September 2007).
I usually spent hours deciding what the start next. I'd go back and forth from page to page, looking and usually going "hmm. maybe" before going to the next page.
That was futile. It IS futile. I like all of the projects in my queue, whether I decide to knit them or not, there's an aspect of all of them that pleases me.
But.
I have to shrink the knitting queue faster than I have and picking the next in line (unless the yarn I buy, on impulse, screams for a specific project) is the easiest way to do it. My ADD touched brain might not like it, but that's just too bad.
That's it. (I hope).
Later.
19 February 2012
A cold is NOT condusive to knitting. . .
Not last time, not this time, not ever.
I'd much rather be curled up in a cosy blanket, with continuous hot tea (herbal or fruit) and lots of sleep.
I caught this throat wheezing beauty from my youngest godson. (many thanks, Darryl. *humph*).
I'll whine and grumble for a while, I'll take lots of supplements, and I'm planning on a shower tomorrow.
Having grumbled, I must admit that it's getting better in the past day or two - as colds do.
Later. *grumble, cough, wheeze*
(I'm not asthmatic, btw, it's goo.)
I'd much rather be curled up in a cosy blanket, with continuous hot tea (herbal or fruit) and lots of sleep.
I caught this throat wheezing beauty from my youngest godson. (many thanks, Darryl. *humph*).
I'll whine and grumble for a while, I'll take lots of supplements, and I'm planning on a shower tomorrow.
Having grumbled, I must admit that it's getting better in the past day or two - as colds do.
Later. *grumble, cough, wheeze*
(I'm not asthmatic, btw, it's goo.)
29 January 2012
More knitting. Hopefully faster.
Well, I've started another shawl, finally. It's one of the primary 16 on my internal set - and my queue on Ravelry.
I'm just happy right now. I have been in a foul mood for a few days and I'm gratefully through the other side. I'm hoping that it's going to last a few days and I can knit in emotive peace.
The shawl is a beautiful Orenberg shawl "Olga's Indiski [Indian] Shawl" designed by Galina Khmeleva (in Piecework magazine May/June 2009) and it's glorious, honestly glorious. I'm using Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace (55/45 merino silk), colourway 501 (cherry). It's a ripe cherry colour, with hints/shadings of brown and blue that change as the light source changes. At this time, I'm sitting under an energy saver bulb and the colour's a medium/dark blued-pinky-red. Hard to name.
I think, if there's one bad thing I can think of about this shawl, it's that I've got a Kindle, and I want the charts on it.. So, I'm having to type up the charts into text (.txt) files so I can upload them to the Kindle - I don't have a way to transfer them to pdf files. But, luckily for me, the body chart had an error, so Interweave press re-pubished it on their website as a .pdf file, so that was a sanity saver *whew*. I'm only halfway through typing up chart 1 - and that took a day. Eek.
Anyway, I'm going to fix the last row of the edging (I accidentally pulled the needle out), finish up typing chart 1 (and start on chart 2) then I'm back to knitting on the shawl. Yum
I'm itching to knit, and so off I go.
Later.
I'm just happy right now. I have been in a foul mood for a few days and I'm gratefully through the other side. I'm hoping that it's going to last a few days and I can knit in emotive peace.
The shawl is a beautiful Orenberg shawl "Olga's Indiski [Indian] Shawl" designed by Galina Khmeleva (in Piecework magazine May/June 2009) and it's glorious, honestly glorious. I'm using Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace (55/45 merino silk), colourway 501 (cherry). It's a ripe cherry colour, with hints/shadings of brown and blue that change as the light source changes. At this time, I'm sitting under an energy saver bulb and the colour's a medium/dark blued-pinky-red. Hard to name.
I think, if there's one bad thing I can think of about this shawl, it's that I've got a Kindle, and I want the charts on it.. So, I'm having to type up the charts into text (.txt) files so I can upload them to the Kindle - I don't have a way to transfer them to pdf files. But, luckily for me, the body chart had an error, so Interweave press re-pubished it on their website as a .pdf file, so that was a sanity saver *whew*. I'm only halfway through typing up chart 1 - and that took a day. Eek.
Anyway, I'm going to fix the last row of the edging (I accidentally pulled the needle out), finish up typing chart 1 (and start on chart 2) then I'm back to knitting on the shawl. Yum
I'm itching to knit, and so off I go.
Later.
22 January 2012
SOPA shelved
SOPA's been shelved!
I had no idea it was making me so uptight until I read the info via a google search and I jumped up and down with the news. Unlike my impetus before the news, I'm very happy to knit now - and I've a lot of projects to catch up on.
Whew.
I hope SOPA never leaves the shelf, and disintegrates where it is. . .#
Later.
I had no idea it was making me so uptight until I read the info via a google search and I jumped up and down with the news. Unlike my impetus before the news, I'm very happy to knit now - and I've a lot of projects to catch up on.
Whew.
I hope SOPA never leaves the shelf, and disintegrates where it is. . .#
Later.
18 January 2012
Re-starting a project.
A while ago - a LONG while ago, I started a colourful mitred jacket/vest with removable sleeves. I wanted it a bit big, so I made the squares 18-20 stitches wide and long.
This picture is an early shot of the bottom half of the left front.
At the time I started it, I was on the way to becoming a size 18 (quite happily, as I just wasn't seeing my body change, and had things continued, I might have gotten to a size 22.). Later that year, I walked in front of an office building, caught sight of my winter glory in the mirrored windows and noticed I looked like a weeble. It was quite the eye opener.
I've lost weight and inches since then and am at a size 14 (average). I'm hoping that eventually I'll (slowly) get down to a size 12 - I'm really not one for exercising like a fiend or starvation dieting (I'm using a mixture of exercising 3 times a week and removing 95% of all dairy products (I'm now lactose intolerant) and it helps that I'm a pescetarian.
Since I'm 47 now, and only 5'4", I'm most focussed on reducing my waist measurements (more a ratio of waist measurement/height - I forget the exact ratio) in order to prevent me becoming (at all) insulin dependant or glucose intolerant. I'm determined NOT to become dependent on a regiment of pills to control blood pressure/cholesterol/glucose (I'm fine, and healthy, but I worry).
Anyway, all of this means that the mitered jacket I started is now big on me. I'm going to have to rip out all the knitting and re-knit the squares in a different size. It helps that I found a free pattern on Ravelry (Freyalyn's Modular Vest) with a different style of mitred square and I'm going to use it instead. The new squares are actually about half the size (I think) of the original ones and I like the orientation of them better than the ones I originally made. I don't know at this point how I'll design/engineer the sleeves - again, removable - but it'll happen one way or another.
So.
I'm off to frog a vest. I'm a bit sad and frustrated, but I'm not going to work on it as it is. So frogged it will be. The "yarn" deserves to be something nice/pretty.
Later.
At the time I started it, I was on the way to becoming a size 18 (quite happily, as I just wasn't seeing my body change, and had things continued, I might have gotten to a size 22.). Later that year, I walked in front of an office building, caught sight of my winter glory in the mirrored windows and noticed I looked like a weeble. It was quite the eye opener.
I've lost weight and inches since then and am at a size 14 (average). I'm hoping that eventually I'll (slowly) get down to a size 12 - I'm really not one for exercising like a fiend or starvation dieting (I'm using a mixture of exercising 3 times a week and removing 95% of all dairy products (I'm now lactose intolerant) and it helps that I'm a pescetarian.
Since I'm 47 now, and only 5'4", I'm most focussed on reducing my waist measurements (more a ratio of waist measurement/height - I forget the exact ratio) in order to prevent me becoming (at all) insulin dependant or glucose intolerant. I'm determined NOT to become dependent on a regiment of pills to control blood pressure/cholesterol/glucose (I'm fine, and healthy, but I worry).
Anyway, all of this means that the mitered jacket I started is now big on me. I'm going to have to rip out all the knitting and re-knit the squares in a different size. It helps that I found a free pattern on Ravelry (Freyalyn's Modular Vest) with a different style of mitred square and I'm going to use it instead. The new squares are actually about half the size (I think) of the original ones and I like the orientation of them better than the ones I originally made. I don't know at this point how I'll design/engineer the sleeves - again, removable - but it'll happen one way or another.
So.
I'm off to frog a vest. I'm a bit sad and frustrated, but I'm not going to work on it as it is. So frogged it will be. The "yarn" deserves to be something nice/pretty.
Later.
08 January 2012
A small change in Focus
I'm still knitting. I think I'll always knit from this point on - not necessarily every day, but as often as my psyche is comfortable with. If it wants to take a break, that's fine too, as there's more than enough knitting to sew up when I don't want to knit. . .
Anyway - the change in focus. I'm primarily a lace knitter and love, love, Love lace, but, I'm finding the beauty and delight in cables. Soft, squishy, textural cables. I want to knit more cables.
I'm looking for patterns with cables. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to do a full cabled garment, but a persistant pattern is lovely. I'm delighted with the 6-piece plated cable accessory set I'm almost (about 2 weeks to finish the last piece, a gartered scarf) done with.
I'll be sad when it's finished. I've already been thinking about the next cabled piece I want to do, and at this point, I'm pretty sure there's going to be 2 - 3 of them - definitely a beret (piece 1) and a wrap/shawl with either a cabled edging or central panel (piece 2). I know for a fact I'll end up giving the beret away, but I want to knit one and why not one with cables. The developing pattern will be fun. (Yes, I said fun.).
Even as I'm typing this, I'm also thinking about knitting Eunny Jang's cabled yoke cardigan (I'm pretty sure it's in an issue of Interweave Knits). I've had it in my queue for what seems like ages, and I think that this is the year (not sure when, as is usual for me) I'll be starting it (- there's piece number 3) Whee!
One of the other "big" garments I'm planning on knitting and will definitely buy is a pattern for a moss stitch coat from Vogue Knitting (I'm pretty sue I've mentioned it in the past, but like the cardigan, I can't remember the issue or even the designer). As far as I know, it's for sale on their website, and they had it last month on sale, but I just didn't have the opportunity to get it (no credit card). I'll have it bought for me as I'll send the money for it with my Father when he goes on his yearly trip. Hooray!
Anyway, I'm off, as I'm in the process (slowly) of knitting a pair of toe-up sock-lets (no toes or heels) for yoga. I'm tired of my feet cramping because of the cold. I'll probably have them finished by spring *grin*.
Later.
Anyway - the change in focus. I'm primarily a lace knitter and love, love, Love lace, but, I'm finding the beauty and delight in cables. Soft, squishy, textural cables. I want to knit more cables.
I'm looking for patterns with cables. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to do a full cabled garment, but a persistant pattern is lovely. I'm delighted with the 6-piece plated cable accessory set I'm almost (about 2 weeks to finish the last piece, a gartered scarf) done with.
I'll be sad when it's finished. I've already been thinking about the next cabled piece I want to do, and at this point, I'm pretty sure there's going to be 2 - 3 of them - definitely a beret (piece 1) and a wrap/shawl with either a cabled edging or central panel (piece 2). I know for a fact I'll end up giving the beret away, but I want to knit one and why not one with cables. The developing pattern will be fun. (Yes, I said fun.).
Even as I'm typing this, I'm also thinking about knitting Eunny Jang's cabled yoke cardigan (I'm pretty sure it's in an issue of Interweave Knits). I've had it in my queue for what seems like ages, and I think that this is the year (not sure when, as is usual for me) I'll be starting it (- there's piece number 3) Whee!
One of the other "big" garments I'm planning on knitting and will definitely buy is a pattern for a moss stitch coat from Vogue Knitting (I'm pretty sue I've mentioned it in the past, but like the cardigan, I can't remember the issue or even the designer). As far as I know, it's for sale on their website, and they had it last month on sale, but I just didn't have the opportunity to get it (no credit card). I'll have it bought for me as I'll send the money for it with my Father when he goes on his yearly trip. Hooray!
Anyway, I'm off, as I'm in the process (slowly) of knitting a pair of toe-up sock-lets (no toes or heels) for yoga. I'm tired of my feet cramping because of the cold. I'll probably have them finished by spring *grin*.
Later.
02 January 2012
Old Year, New Year.
Well, here's the overview of the knitting of 2011. It's what I've been working on the most. I've got old projects that haven't been finished, and I'm planning on getting a couple of those done this year, but here's what has been accomplished:
Projects completed in 2011:
Felted Slippers (DROPS Design)
Bamboo Circular Vest (Shelly Mackie/Elann.com)(needs to be adjusted, but it's wearable)
Wisp #1 (Cheryl Niamath/Knitty.com)
Cabled Kindle Cover (adapted from pattern by Emily Nimz)
Summer Shawlette (Wendy Knits/Ravelry knit-along)
Seafoam Shawl (Sarah Barbour)
Growing Leaves Shawl #2 (Lankakomero)
Iris Shawl (Krazee Kitty/Ravelry knit-along)
22 (BIG) Leaves Shawl (Lankakomero)(knitted with aran yarn)
Bamboo Dishcloth (own pattern)
North Roe Shawl (Aux Dentilles Dodile)
Nightsong (for the Day) Shawl (Nightsongs)
Thrummed Mittens (Stephanie Pearl-McPhee)
Amurigumi Cephalopod (own pattern, based on Tiny Mermaid pattern from Teeny-Tiny Mochi-Mochi Book)
Braidy Cowl (Maryse Roudier)
Braided Mitts (Tera Johnson)
Almost Finished in 2011:
Hooded Snow Scarf (Nikki McGonigal) (I decided at the last minute to make the hood detachable. it's been knitted and blocked. Buttons and loops need sewing on)
Clapotis #2 (ends -LOTS of ends- need sewing in) knitting finished 29 Dec. 2011 (started June 2007)
All Over Cables Hat (Lindsay Koehler) (just needs crochet edging)
Projects Started in 2011:
Cable-icious Ear Warmer (Scarf) (Kate Black)
Raspberry Dream Stole (Dagmara)
Mochi Mochi Tiny Elephant (Anna Hrachovec) (Tiny Chicken and Tiny Elephant from Teeny-Tiny Mochi-Mochi Book)
Mochi Mochi Tiny Chicken (a flock has been started) (Anna Hrachovec)
Eyelet Gloves (Cara Jo Miller)
Reading Shawl #2 (Danielle Landes)
Mariposa Shawlette (Dutch Knitting Design/The Knitter Magazine)
Moonlight Sonata Shawl (Shui Kuen Kozinski/Elann.com)
Growing Leaves Shawl #1 (Lankakomero)
Mermaid Jacket (Hanne Falkenberg kit, colourway #7)
Classic White Shirt (Sian Brown/Knitting Magazine)
Knitting Planned in 2012:
Shawls, a sweater, some baby clothes.
Projects completed in 2011:
Felted Slippers (DROPS Design)
Bamboo Circular Vest (Shelly Mackie/Elann.com)(needs to be adjusted, but it's wearable)
Wisp #1 (Cheryl Niamath/Knitty.com)
Cabled Kindle Cover (adapted from pattern by Emily Nimz)
Summer Shawlette (Wendy Knits/Ravelry knit-along)
Seafoam Shawl (Sarah Barbour)
Growing Leaves Shawl #2 (Lankakomero)
Iris Shawl (Krazee Kitty/Ravelry knit-along)
22 (BIG) Leaves Shawl (Lankakomero)(knitted with aran yarn)
Bamboo Dishcloth (own pattern)
North Roe Shawl (Aux Dentilles Dodile)
Nightsong (for the Day) Shawl (Nightsongs)
Thrummed Mittens (Stephanie Pearl-McPhee)
Amurigumi Cephalopod (own pattern, based on Tiny Mermaid pattern from Teeny-Tiny Mochi-Mochi Book)
Braidy Cowl (Maryse Roudier)
Braided Mitts (Tera Johnson)
Almost Finished in 2011:
Hooded Snow Scarf (Nikki McGonigal) (I decided at the last minute to make the hood detachable. it's been knitted and blocked. Buttons and loops need sewing on)
Clapotis #2 (ends -LOTS of ends- need sewing in) knitting finished 29 Dec. 2011 (started June 2007)
All Over Cables Hat (Lindsay Koehler) (just needs crochet edging)
Projects Started in 2011:
Cable-icious Ear Warmer (Scarf) (Kate Black)
Raspberry Dream Stole (Dagmara)
Mochi Mochi Tiny Elephant (Anna Hrachovec) (Tiny Chicken and Tiny Elephant from Teeny-Tiny Mochi-Mochi Book)
Mochi Mochi Tiny Chicken (a flock has been started) (Anna Hrachovec)
Eyelet Gloves (Cara Jo Miller)
Reading Shawl #2 (Danielle Landes)
Mariposa Shawlette (Dutch Knitting Design/The Knitter Magazine)
Moonlight Sonata Shawl (Shui Kuen Kozinski/Elann.com)
Growing Leaves Shawl #1 (Lankakomero)
Mermaid Jacket (Hanne Falkenberg kit, colourway #7)
Classic White Shirt (Sian Brown/Knitting Magazine)
Knitting Planned in 2012:
Shawls, a sweater, some baby clothes.
14 December 2011
Getting better.
Well, the last part of the year has been nicely productive - that is, in terms of reading and knitting/craftwork.
I had, for the last couple years, planned on reading at least 50 books a year. I can, if I want to, easily read that amount. A book a week is no problem for me. I read multiple books - with my ADD, I'll read a chapter or 2 (or more) from 3 or 4 books a day - and if you've ever seen my "currently reading" shelf on Goodreads, You'll notice that there's plenty to choose from.
Unfortunately, for the last couple years, I've not been doing so well. I really cannot depend upon myself to just "do something" because I should. I need a push. A reason. An old-fashioned "kick up the pants".
Thank goodness Goodreads has come to the rescue and helped me with that. They brought out a widget/"competition" book reading challenge thingy for your homepage and you get to set (and manipulate) a target book amount. I don't remember exactly when I first noticed it, but my original target was about 35 books, and I kept increasing it. I finally set it (about 2 weeks ago) to 52 books and I got there last week. It was a fun challenge. I think, really, what clinched me finishing the challenge was the e-mail I got from Goodreads saying that there was a page "medal" you would get if you'd gotten to your target - and I'm a sucker for a prize. *grin*.
I'm now hoping that it's a permanent thing and so people can set reading challenges every year. Maybe I'll eventually read over 100 books a year. But I can't see that happening in 2012 - though you never know. . .
Now for my knitting:
The only target I'd set (around June) was to knit every day. I've been doing well. Some days I only knit a few rows, but for the most part, I'll knit about 40-60 rows (mostly spread over a number of projects). If I'm lucky, it'll be between 2 projects. On phenomenal days, I'll actually finish a project and start another. At this point in the year, I'm now firmly addicted to knitting (I have commented on this in a previous entry, but at the time it was an addiction to finishing a particular project...). I HAVE to knit something every day, and I can't do just a couple of rows - I now have to finish to a set point (not a big one, or I'd never get to eat or sleep).
In any other field (e.g. eating), I'd be upset about this. I've a mildly addictive personality and the thought of becoming addicted to anything gets me a little upset. But. (and it's a significant BUT.) There's a moderatly soporific affect that knitting has upon me (affect IS the right word). It's a nice feeling. I'm being creative, I'm being productive, I'm feeling good and I'm happy. It's a win-win-win situation when I'm knitting. I think the only downside is that getting yarn and knitting supplies isn't free. If yarn was truly free, then it'd be win all-around. *laughter*.
So, 2011 is good on two fronts. I'm reading more (and ploughing through the walls of books in my house) and I'm knitting more (and ploughing though the pile of projects in my house). Hurrah!
I had, for the last couple years, planned on reading at least 50 books a year. I can, if I want to, easily read that amount. A book a week is no problem for me. I read multiple books - with my ADD, I'll read a chapter or 2 (or more) from 3 or 4 books a day - and if you've ever seen my "currently reading" shelf on Goodreads, You'll notice that there's plenty to choose from.
Unfortunately, for the last couple years, I've not been doing so well. I really cannot depend upon myself to just "do something" because I should. I need a push. A reason. An old-fashioned "kick up the pants".
Thank goodness Goodreads has come to the rescue and helped me with that. They brought out a widget/"competition" book reading challenge thingy for your homepage and you get to set (and manipulate) a target book amount. I don't remember exactly when I first noticed it, but my original target was about 35 books, and I kept increasing it. I finally set it (about 2 weeks ago) to 52 books and I got there last week. It was a fun challenge. I think, really, what clinched me finishing the challenge was the e-mail I got from Goodreads saying that there was a page "medal" you would get if you'd gotten to your target - and I'm a sucker for a prize. *grin*.
I'm now hoping that it's a permanent thing and so people can set reading challenges every year. Maybe I'll eventually read over 100 books a year. But I can't see that happening in 2012 - though you never know. . .
Now for my knitting:
The only target I'd set (around June) was to knit every day. I've been doing well. Some days I only knit a few rows, but for the most part, I'll knit about 40-60 rows (mostly spread over a number of projects). If I'm lucky, it'll be between 2 projects. On phenomenal days, I'll actually finish a project and start another. At this point in the year, I'm now firmly addicted to knitting (I have commented on this in a previous entry, but at the time it was an addiction to finishing a particular project...). I HAVE to knit something every day, and I can't do just a couple of rows - I now have to finish to a set point (not a big one, or I'd never get to eat or sleep).
In any other field (e.g. eating), I'd be upset about this. I've a mildly addictive personality and the thought of becoming addicted to anything gets me a little upset. But. (and it's a significant BUT.) There's a moderatly soporific affect that knitting has upon me (affect IS the right word). It's a nice feeling. I'm being creative, I'm being productive, I'm feeling good and I'm happy. It's a win-win-win situation when I'm knitting. I think the only downside is that getting yarn and knitting supplies isn't free. If yarn was truly free, then it'd be win all-around. *laughter*.
So, 2011 is good on two fronts. I'm reading more (and ploughing through the walls of books in my house) and I'm knitting more (and ploughing though the pile of projects in my house). Hurrah!
01 November 2011
Lost for words - sort of
I'm knitting. I seem to be always knitting right now. I've got the "multiple projects" thing still going on, but my brain seems to want to decrease the amount of UFO's hanging around.
It's (obviously) never bothered me before, and to be honest, it doesn't now. But it seems like there's this lizard on the back of my brain getting hissy at the mess - the untidyness, the waste of time of it all.
So we'll see what happens on this front in the next 6 months.
I've recently finished 2 wool triangular lace shawls - one brown and one pink (I'veobviously forgotten the names and hopefully will rectify that in the next post).
But I've only started one new project yesterday to replace them - a pair of Thrummed mittens to go with a cabled hooded scarf I'm working on(started last month). I figure I might get both of them finished at the same time, considering the repeats on the scarf are 16 rows, and, I haven't gotten the thrum lengths finished (I'm using two different leftover roving yarns for the thrums and there's a lot less of the preferred colour than the other). so I need to pre-cut the lengths and divide them equally into baggies (suitably marked "L" and "R").
Later. I'm off to pre-draft thrums. It's turned out to be more difficult to do than I thought it would be. The yarn isn't cooperating. Drat.
It's (obviously) never bothered me before, and to be honest, it doesn't now. But it seems like there's this lizard on the back of my brain getting hissy at the mess - the untidyness, the waste of time of it all.
So we'll see what happens on this front in the next 6 months.
I've recently finished 2 wool triangular lace shawls - one brown and one pink (I'veobviously forgotten the names and hopefully will rectify that in the next post).
But I've only started one new project yesterday to replace them - a pair of Thrummed mittens to go with a cabled hooded scarf I'm working on(started last month). I figure I might get both of them finished at the same time, considering the repeats on the scarf are 16 rows, and, I haven't gotten the thrum lengths finished (I'm using two different leftover roving yarns for the thrums and there's a lot less of the preferred colour than the other). so I need to pre-cut the lengths and divide them equally into baggies (suitably marked "L" and "R").
Later. I'm off to pre-draft thrums. It's turned out to be more difficult to do than I thought it would be. The yarn isn't cooperating. Drat.
12 September 2011
Pondering on projects
I'm amassing a large queue of projects on Ravelry.
Some of them are clothes I love the look of and would like to have the ability to be an ultra fast knitter so I could knit them and wear them almost as soon as they go on the list (an even better wish is the possibility to amass a great weath so I can hire many people to knit them for me *grin*).
But neither of those prospects are for me, so I'll have to trudge along, slowly knitting along and hopefully be able to live to 100 or better so I can knit them all (and wear them at least once).
There are, of course, a few projects listed that are filler/speculative/springboard projects - there to give ideas of what I really want. I'm never going to knit them.
There are a few that I have listed that are possibles - I think I like them, but I'm not sure.
Then there are the poor little projects listed that would like to be knitted, but they're actually what I call "candy floss" projects. These little items are projects who need to be knitted with the designated yarn. Special yarn that costs upwards of $20 dollars a ball. Now, honestly, I will occasionally splurge every 6 months and buy a skein of silk/merino space dyed lace or fingering weight yarn that costs about £16 a skein (better if it's less), but that single skein will make an item. The projects I have listed as "candy floss" need at least 6 balls of yarn per project, making the bill come out to over $100 an item (there's an project I made last year that was in the Vogue Accessories book, and if knitted with the designated yarn, would have cost over $400! I made it with yarn that I bought on sale for £5.99 for a pack of 10 balls and I think it came out absolutely lovely - I forgot the name. *grimace*). They're NOT getting made unless I find a suitible substitute yarn (it happens every-so-often). I'd be afraid to wear them at all, never mind wering them outside my house. Whew.
The finally there's also a 5th category of items in my queue on Ravelry. The "might-make-the-grade" projects. They're projects that are sort of akin to an item I want, but I think I might make if I don't find anything better within my own designated timeframe for that item. Sometimes I get lucky and find exactly what I want, sometimes I don't. It's a frustrating project list.
The reason is this: I constantly have a mental list of items I'd like to cook/design/make/knit/sew. They're not things that I know exist in reality, but I list projects/get items/research techniques to either figure out how to make what I want and/or constantly peruse patterns/photgraphs/books/items of all kinds to see if one day I can get lucky and either figure out how to make it - or - find that someone else has had the same idea I have and so design a pattern/kit for it - both things have happened before, and I'm sure will happen again. But, for all my skills, I don't have the ability to mentally draft knitting patterns on the fly like my grandmother did (that woman had KNITTING and CROCHET SKILLS).
I don't really even have the ability to re-draft written knitting patterns I like. For some reason I just can't make my brain do that. I don't know why and I wish I could turn it on.
I can draft up beading patterns and I can redraft sewing patterns with help from books (I can't remember the mathematics for them and I get in trouble trying to wing it). I can make up recipes (and remember them) from scratch and do VERY well.
I CAN easily memorise the stitch patterns within knitting patterns and I can make-up and re-design stitch patterns themselves, but making a whole knitting pattern is a whole different kettle of fish.
For me, it's like trying to draft a sewing pattern in 3D AND figure out how to spin the fibre and weave the fabric all at the same time. It just isn't going to happen. I'm envious of those people that can do that and I'll happily give my money to them - provided their design matches what's in my head. Bless them all.
Whew. This entry isn't really what I wanted to say and I don't have the power to re-draft it now so it goes up as-is. . .
My brain needs food.
Until later.
Some of them are clothes I love the look of and would like to have the ability to be an ultra fast knitter so I could knit them and wear them almost as soon as they go on the list (an even better wish is the possibility to amass a great weath so I can hire many people to knit them for me *grin*).
But neither of those prospects are for me, so I'll have to trudge along, slowly knitting along and hopefully be able to live to 100 or better so I can knit them all (and wear them at least once).
There are, of course, a few projects listed that are filler/speculative/springboard projects - there to give ideas of what I really want. I'm never going to knit them.
There are a few that I have listed that are possibles - I think I like them, but I'm not sure.
Then there are the poor little projects listed that would like to be knitted, but they're actually what I call "candy floss" projects. These little items are projects who need to be knitted with the designated yarn. Special yarn that costs upwards of $20 dollars a ball. Now, honestly, I will occasionally splurge every 6 months and buy a skein of silk/merino space dyed lace or fingering weight yarn that costs about £16 a skein (better if it's less), but that single skein will make an item. The projects I have listed as "candy floss" need at least 6 balls of yarn per project, making the bill come out to over $100 an item (there's an project I made last year that was in the Vogue Accessories book, and if knitted with the designated yarn, would have cost over $400! I made it with yarn that I bought on sale for £5.99 for a pack of 10 balls and I think it came out absolutely lovely - I forgot the name. *grimace*). They're NOT getting made unless I find a suitible substitute yarn (it happens every-so-often). I'd be afraid to wear them at all, never mind wering them outside my house. Whew.
The finally there's also a 5th category of items in my queue on Ravelry. The "might-make-the-grade" projects. They're projects that are sort of akin to an item I want, but I think I might make if I don't find anything better within my own designated timeframe for that item. Sometimes I get lucky and find exactly what I want, sometimes I don't. It's a frustrating project list.
The reason is this: I constantly have a mental list of items I'd like to cook/design/make/knit/sew. They're not things that I know exist in reality, but I list projects/get items/research techniques to either figure out how to make what I want and/or constantly peruse patterns/photgraphs/books/items of all kinds to see if one day I can get lucky and either figure out how to make it - or - find that someone else has had the same idea I have and so design a pattern/kit for it - both things have happened before, and I'm sure will happen again. But, for all my skills, I don't have the ability to mentally draft knitting patterns on the fly like my grandmother did (that woman had KNITTING and CROCHET SKILLS).
I don't really even have the ability to re-draft written knitting patterns I like. For some reason I just can't make my brain do that. I don't know why and I wish I could turn it on.
I can draft up beading patterns and I can redraft sewing patterns with help from books (I can't remember the mathematics for them and I get in trouble trying to wing it). I can make up recipes (and remember them) from scratch and do VERY well.
I CAN easily memorise the stitch patterns within knitting patterns and I can make-up and re-design stitch patterns themselves, but making a whole knitting pattern is a whole different kettle of fish.
For me, it's like trying to draft a sewing pattern in 3D AND figure out how to spin the fibre and weave the fabric all at the same time. It just isn't going to happen. I'm envious of those people that can do that and I'll happily give my money to them - provided their design matches what's in my head. Bless them all.
Whew. This entry isn't really what I wanted to say and I don't have the power to re-draft it now so it goes up as-is. . .
My brain needs food.
Until later.
31 July 2011
But for all the boredom, go I . . .
Right after the last post, I pulled myself up by my bootstraps, gave myself a good talking to and got knitting. I'm still knitting steadily.
I completed and blocked 4 shawls within the last 2 weeks.
I'm rather impressed at myself.
The shawls were:
Summer Shawl knitalong pattern by Wendy Knits
Growing Leaves shawl by Lankakomero
Iris knitalong by Krazee Kitty
and
. . .
I can't remember. I washed it and pinned it out. . .come on - it's the shawl that was being described in the previous post . . .
oh!
Seafoam Shawl by Sarah Barbour.
Whew. (Not because I did all that work, but because I remembered).
I'm hoping beyond hope that I can continue this rate of knitting and pattern completion. Now, concidering that I've got 4 patterns that just need sewing up and blocking, there's a very good possibility I can actually do it.
But. There's a small metal blockage that's preventing me from sewing up those patterns. I don't know why. It's not as if I have to do complex mathematics or physical gymnastics in order to thread or hold a needle. *sigh*
I really want to complete one of them. I'm not so happy about another one, and a third is just a bit fiddly. The last one. . .
The last one. I'm not sure why I'm so reluctant to get the last one finished, but I'll go look at it again and post the reason in a future post.
I've got to go knit - GOT to.
I love this productivity, really, I do.
I'm SO happy.
Later.
I completed and blocked 4 shawls within the last 2 weeks.
I'm rather impressed at myself.
The shawls were:
Summer Shawl knitalong pattern by Wendy Knits
Growing Leaves shawl by Lankakomero
Iris knitalong by Krazee Kitty
and
. . .
I can't remember. I washed it and pinned it out. . .come on - it's the shawl that was being described in the previous post . . .
oh!
Seafoam Shawl by Sarah Barbour.
Whew. (Not because I did all that work, but because I remembered).
I'm hoping beyond hope that I can continue this rate of knitting and pattern completion. Now, concidering that I've got 4 patterns that just need sewing up and blocking, there's a very good possibility I can actually do it.
But. There's a small metal blockage that's preventing me from sewing up those patterns. I don't know why. It's not as if I have to do complex mathematics or physical gymnastics in order to thread or hold a needle. *sigh*
I really want to complete one of them. I'm not so happy about another one, and a third is just a bit fiddly. The last one. . .
The last one. I'm not sure why I'm so reluctant to get the last one finished, but I'll go look at it again and post the reason in a future post.
I've got to go knit - GOT to.
I love this productivity, really, I do.
I'm SO happy.
Later.
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