I ❤ Minutiae

Meal Plan: June 13 - June 17

2011-06-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Monday:

Queso Blanco Chicken Sausage

Rainbow Chard sauteed with Garlic

Roasted Salsa and Chips

Tuesday:

Fusilli with Broccolini, Cherry Tomatoes, Oregano, and Lemon

Wednesday:

Mushroom and Fontina Quesadillas

Spinach and Arugula Salad

Thursday:

Whole-wheat Couscous

Roasted Carrots

Spiced "Meat"balls (made with chickpeas)

Friday:

Orzo with Shrimp, Bell Peppers, and Feta

Grilled Zucchini with Herb Dressing

A Year of Knitting Generously

2011-03-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

I've decided that instead of having a selfish goal like last year (10 shawls in 2010), I will make it a goal to knit for loved ones this year. I don't regret or feel ashamed about having a selfish goal last year - it was just something I needed to do. But this year, I'm ready to put the focus back on others. That's not to say I won't be knitting for myself, I will, but I will be shifting the balance. My side goal is that if I'm working on something for myself, I must be working on something for someone else as well.

Starting with my family (and that may be as far as I get this year), I want to make one item for each person. Here's what I've done already:

a vest for Clint and I am working on a second
a headband / warmer for Kelly
I'm working on socks for my dad
a toy for Cash (that is almost done)

I'm still trying to decide what to make for my brothers. If the current vest I am working on goes well, there is a strong possibility that I will make those for the bros. I can just picture the next winter holiday - with all the boys wearing their vests. But then I would need to make one for my dad and Rodney as well...decisions, decisions.

I am also feeling a Finley project coming on - maybe a short sleeve sweater, so she can wear it now but then also into the winter with a shirt underneath.

Before I settled on the knitting generously goal, I thought maybe I would try to go a whole year without purchasing any new yarn. It started kind of by accident when I didn't buy any new yarn in January (except some for a potential project for someone else, so it doesn't count) and then I made it most of February before I splurged (big time) at The Tinsmith's Wife in Comfort. So I think the idea of the yarn diet is not sustainable (according to Tom, it wasn't a diet, it was yarn bulemia), but I am better off limiting my yarn purchases and trying to use up stash first if I can.

Holy Yarn Crawl!

2010-10-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

I just completed my first official yarn crawl! Nine yarn stores in two days! I am overwhelmed to say the least! Along with the gifts skeins we received at each location, I purchased more on my own. I tried to resist, but I couldn't. But as one very wise knitter said after she transferred more money to her account, yarn is our jewelry.

I don't even know where to begin about what a wonderful experience the yarn crawl was - I can't wait to do it again next year! Stacy and I had fun on the bus and made new knitting friends. I saw and purchased spectacular yarn. We appreciated small towns and dreamed about moving to one.

At one store I was introduced to an old craft: rug hooking. Stacy and I were both intrigued as the women of Stonehill Spinning in Fredricksburg demonstrated the art on a piece in progress. Rug hooking involves pulling strips of wool up through linen or burlap in small looped increments to create beautiful rugs. It looks to me what would be the predecessor to latch hooking. Stacy bought some tools; I think I will wait and see if I can find a reasonably priced starter kit. I was telling Clint and my dad about it and my dad said that his mother used to do rug hooking in the 60s and 70s! She even had her own fabric cutter which cuts five or six strips at once. So fiber arts are truly in my blood!

I can't imagine how long it's going to take me to photograph and catalog all of my yarn spoils, but I'm looking forward to the task!

All this time...

2010-09-24T19:30:00.001-07:00

All this time, I thought I knew how to pick up stitches. I mean, I've been picking them up, but unsuccessfully. I knew all along that something didn't look right, but I continued on with my absurd picking up technique anyway. I would look at knitting books and stare at the instructions for picking up stitches and think, that's what I'm doing - why do my projects look so...bad? On a whim, I watched a video on YouTube and finally learned the error of my ways!

All this time, I have been picking up a stitch with my left needle and then knitting it with my right. The result was this twisted-looking line of stitches that pulled very far away from the edge they had been picked up from. What I didn't understand until now is that your left needle is not involved at all in the process: it's just the right needle, the stitch and the working yarn!

The funniest thing is that all this time, I thought I was right! This makes me want to go back and reknit things so that I can pick up the stitches correctly. Well, not really. But from here on out, I will.

Knitting and Learning

2010-09-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'm working on the body of the top-down raglan. I really love the Spud & Chloe yarn; I'm glad I gave it a second chance. The more I think about it, the more I realize the sock yarn I am alluding to is really not responsible for my dislike. I'm pretty sure the culprit was the size 1 needles I was insisting on using even though it felt terrible. Note to self: frog the socks that have sat untouched for who knows how long and use it, but not on size 1's! When I started the body, I thought I was a 0 ease kind of gal, but as I'm trying it on every couple of inches I am realizing that I am indeed a negative ease gal. How much negative ease? That is yet to be determined. I guess I will just have to make another sweater to find out! For now I am accepting this sweater for what it is and enjoying the learning process : )

Recent Knitting Epiphanies

2010-08-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

I am trucking along on my top-down raglan and loving it. I finished my first skein and it's time to start a new one. I decided that instead of joining my yarn in one of the two ways I have made up, that maybe it's about time that I learn the proper way. So I searched YouTube for a knitting tutorial and found one. What I learned was beyond simple and I actually already knew it, I just wasn't applying what I knew at the right time. The secret to joining the yarn is to do so at the beginning of the row (or round in this case), then you just weave in the ends when you're done! Duh! Why did this take me so long to figure out?

My other epiphany came when I magically realized how to do a yarn over at the beginning of a row: you wrap the yarn before the first stitch! Duh! I have actually avoided patterns and stitches because I didn't understand how to do this!

Feeling unsatisfied by all your current projects? Start another!

2010-08-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

For me, having six knitting projects at once is pretty normal. So it's no surprise then, that I felt the need to cast on for the top-down raglan knit-along that Susan B. Anderson is sponsoring here. I am so excited to be working on this sweater; it's the first cold weather item of the season. I picked a beautiful burnt orange for the fall (and for UT) and just knitting it makes fall seem a little closer, despite the fact that my car thermometer said 107 when I got in after lunch.

I love knit-alongs because they make an otherwise daunting knitting project feel doable. The parts are doled out weekly and I feel like a kid in school again! I looked at the blog yesterday because I was so excited and Susan had already posted the first steps - yea! I finished my whole assignment last night and I can't wait for the next part!

In other knitting news, I saw Barbara W. up at school today. She is a retired teacher and was up at school visiting all of us. She is very special to me because she taught me how to read a pattern and make booties. Once I learned that, my knitting life really took off. And when I say "took off", that's an understatement. Learning how to read a pattern was life-changing for me. I didn't even know I wanted to learn, so I'm glad Barbara took a chance on such an ambivalent person! Anyway, we're going to try to arrange a regular knitting night which is great because Stacy and I had already been talking about this AND Stacy was in Barbara's class in middle school! I can't wait to tell her (Stacy).

Knitting Update and other things

2010-08-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

After finishing one washcloth, I am hooked. I must make more washcloths! I usually don't care to knit with cotton, but I have a newfound respect for the fiber. I am on #2 and cannot wait to start #3!

I am slogging away at Abalone. I know I am going to love it when it's done, but right now I'm drowning in stockinette. I want to get it finished up until seaming by August 28 because on that day there is a finishing class at Gauge and I would really like to go.

Finley's monster has stalled out for a little while, but that's okay, it's already belated, but I need to start on Cash's because I know October will be here before we know it. I also realize that Lora is one of my two followers, and this may ruin the surprise, but oh well. Maybe she won't read this post.

The brown charades are slow going. I'm almost to the 2nd heel and if I can get past that, I'm in the home stretch!

I survived job-alike today. I don't know why I was so nervous. I ended up having two co-presenters and a class of 15 teachers; no sweat. Tomorrow we don't report to school until 11:00! Yea! One more morning of sleeping in and knitting!

Delicious Minutiae

2010-08-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

I survived the first two days of staff development and am excited to start the weekend. I am terrified about presenting at my district's curriculum day next week, but I guess I'll worry about that next week. There are going to be a lot of changes this year and I'm trying to take things one day at a time, which is great until you notice there are plenty of teachers trying to pack 48 hours into one day; that's hard to compete with.

Tomorrow Nancy and I will be doing a mini yarn crawl. On the tour for sure are: Gauge and Hill Country Weavers. We are also thinking about checking out Yarnbow in Lakeway and the Knitting Nest, which I did not realize until last night, is at a new location on South Congress! I am out to purchase some yarn, but I'm mostly excited to be around yarn with the woman that started it all for me. It should be a great day.

Then Chris and Rodney will be making there way to Austin for a visit. I'm hoping we can plan an elaborate Greek meal and then go on a fun shopping excursion to either Whole Foods or Central Market.

Why?

2010-08-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

Why can I forgive everyone (so easily) but myself?

New School Year; New Names

2010-08-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

I go back to work tomorrow - yech.

❤

I've had this blog for over a year and it's never really become what I wanted it to be. But then again, I don't really know what I want it to be, so I guess that all makes sense. I changed the name today. I chose this new name because it is true; I do ❤ minutiae. Like when everyone complains about the crap people write on their FaceBook statuses I can't relate because I ❤ the stuff people right there. The more minute and unimportant the better! I don't know why I like it, I just do. {Last Christmas we were watching old home movies at Clint's parents' house. There was this one that their friend Robert had made. It was minutiae at it's finest: suck random clips from his own family, Clint's family, etc. I think about that video all the time.} It (this blog) has had three different names since its inception. First it was "Spacegoat Knits" but then I was doing other things that I wanted to include in the blog, so I changed it to "Spacegoat Creates", but now I'm just sick of that spacegoat stuff. It was a really funny memory, but I think I'm over it. I'm also ready to not be anonymous. Which means I guess I'll be changing my name on Good Reads and Ravelry. I wonder what will happen when I do? I wonder if I can...

❤

This summer I had a radical idea: what if instead of keeping my separate blogs, I just wrote one? It hasn't officially happened, but I think I'm moving toward it, slowly.

❤

Earlier this summer Stacy and I went to outdoor yoga at Barton Springs. It was was really enjoyable, except for the end when I put my arm in an ant pile right before savasana. After that we went to eat brunch at a place on South Lamar. The food we ordered sounded good and mostly tasted good, but later made us both sick. We had gazapacho, but it was warm because they had just made it. It didn't really hit the spot after sweaty poses in the great outdoors. And our sandwich, a tuna and dill havarti, was acceptable. I decided today that I would relive this sandwich experience and right the wrong I had endured. So I made that sandwich for lunch, but now my stomach kind of hurts. I can't tell if it's real or in my head.

Let's Try This on For Size

2010-08-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

One of the blogs I read and enjoy very much, occasionally puts up a post in the following format. Personally when I see posts like this, I usually skim them at best. I don't know, reading that format does not appeal to me. But I thought I'd try it for myself and I have to admit, I REALLY liked writing using the format. A lot of times I go weeks without posting because I feel like I don't have anything worthy enough to write about (I know stupid, but always occurring) or I think that when I started this blog it was the for the purpose of logging what I was creating at the time. I don't know why I box myself into corners like this; it's my blog, I can do whatever I want with it. Anyway, I liked this format because it helped write about things I never thought to write about here, original intent of the blog be damned!

The only thing I'm wrestling with is, I want to go back through and add links to things I've mentioned, but I am telling myself no because if I do, it will take forever and this post will never be published.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... the shades are closed in the office today.

I am thinking... of writing a letter to Katie thanking her for a unique gift.

I am thankful for... yoga for giving me so many gifts.

From the learning rooms... reading like crazy before school starts and I don't have time to do my own reading. I finished Outliers and loved it. I was thinking of buying Blink, but then I found it on my shelf - what a great surprise. I'm also trying to finish Eat, Pray, Love before the movie opens. There are other books, but they can wait.

From the kitchen... preparing to make Devils on Horseback for a get-togther tonight. I haven't had them in so long and I've never made them, so I'm excited to try.

I am wearing... khaki yoga pants, my black Chinati t-shirt

I am creating... a short-sleeved sweater called Abalone, brown socks called Charades and another monster set for a belated birthday present.

I am going... to fold the laundry that has been sitting in the laundry basket in our bedroom for almost a week.

I am reading... oh, I didn't realize there was a specific place for reading. This is my first time using this format. Hmmm, well I guess I can talk about those other books I eluded to earlier. My bathroom book is 13. My goal was to finish The Passage before the end of summer, but that is obviously not happening. I am pacing myself through Hidden Gems. I'm trudging through Until I Find You; it's heavy (literally and figuratively) so I don't get far before I have to put it down and read something lighter, like The Friday Night Knitting Club. It's light and easy.

I am hoping... that a dear family friend is doing alright. I just heard this morning that she was diagnosed with cancer and I haven't touched base with the family yet.

I am hearing... Clint clear his throat repeatedly.

Around the house... tidying up for tonight's get-together. Yesterday Clint installed the last cabinet and the over-sink light. Now the only thing left is the backsplash tile. And that will be a pretty big job.

One of my favorite things... leftovers - I'm about to eat some for lunch.

A few plans for the rest of the week: welcoming my Aunt Nancy from upstate NY, dreading going back to school, seeing Chris and Rodney who are visiting from Houston this weekend.

Adapted from: The Simple Woman's Daybook.

My own amendments:

I am listening to (I feel that this is different from I am hearing because I am hearing lacks deliberate intention)... lots of How Stuff Works podcasts, The Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine, Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The High Road by Broken Bells, and the auto-tuned Home Invader (so ashamed).

I am watching... lots of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Real Housewives of New Jersey and D.C., The Next Food Network Star, Design Star, and Skins (Season 2).

Betcha Didn't See that One Coming ; )

2010-08-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

I was listening to one of my favorite knitting podcasts the other night while I was falling asleep: The Knit Picks Podcast hosted by Kelley Petkun. The topic was knitted gifts. Since I am someone that from time to time, gives my knitted objects as gifts, I thought this was worth listening to. Kelley had her recommendations for what makes the best knitted gifts especially to be given to non-knitters.

Sidebar: Gifting knitted objects to knitters and non-knitters is a topic I should explore in a further post. The common belief is that a non-knitter will likely not appreciate a knitted gift the way a knitter does.

Surprisingly her first suggestion was socks. Personally, I can barely make it through a pair of socks for myself, so the idea of spending all that time and then giving them away? I don't think so.

Sidebar: I did knit a couple of pairs of socks for my mom, so that should illuminate how special it is to receive socks from me.

Kelley's second suggestion was washcloths. I've seen many people do this and then pair it with a great soap. And I thought, hey, this is a good idea. Washcloths are easy and super fast and how many people actually use hand-knit washcloths on a regular basis, so that's a real treat! So to make a long story short, I thought about who deserved a hand-knit washcloth and the winner, I decided, was me.

Summer To-Do

2010-07-04T13:30:00.001-07:00

1. Go to Barton Springs. Then go to Guero's and eat al pastor tacos and a hornitos margarita (on the rocks of course) with Stacy.
2. Sleep outside.
3. Finish reading The Passage.
4. Go to yarn stores with my Aunt Nancy.
5. Go to the Sit and Knit at Mandolas at least once.
6. Do a movie in our backyard.
7. Make homemade hummingbird nectar and feed hummingbirds.
8. Eat a caprese salad with fresh summer tomatoes.
9. Learn how to make my own good iced coffee at home.
10. Watch Swimming Pool.
11. Watch Bridget Jones's Diary.
12. Finish the kitchen.
13. Finish the Tuck vest I'm knitting right now.
14. Finish Herbivore.

Kitchen Update

2010-06-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

After days of waffling back and forth between laminate that looks like granite and granite tiles for our new countertops, I think we've reached a decision, or at least a step in the right direction. We had originally disregarded the option of stock laminate that we would cut ourselves because one of our countertops is nine inches longer than the longest stock laminate pieces. We briefly discussed that we could use it, we would just have a seam which at the time, I didn't think I could live with. After some reconsideration, I've decided we should reexamine this option because it's a fraction of the cost of custom-cut laminate. And Clint could do this himself and we could start right away. We're both tired of the reno being halfway done with no end in sight.

Makes a Mistake

2010-06-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

So I was trucking along on my Tuck vest now that I have the pattern and I had a good amount knitted when I realized ... it's too big. I brought it to lunch to show Stacy over the weekend and she held it up to me; I know that I want it big, but I don't want it this big. I was knitting on a larger needle trying to match the gauge of the vest they have out on sample at Gauge, but I don't think I can make it happen. I think I'll just stick to the pattern the way it's written. I'll have to rip it all out and start over : ( For that reason, I haven't touched the project since Saturday. I know I'll pick it up and start over, but it takes some willpower.

In the meantime, I've been working on my Herbivore shawl. I know I'm gong to love it when it's done, but it's taking some time. I love the shape; it allows for a longer thinner shawl as opposed to a triangular shape, the typical shawl I make. This will be my 7th shawl out of 10 for the year. I don't want to jump the gun, but I'm already starting to think about when I'm done with 10 and what I'll do. Will I keep going? Or take a break from shawls? I don't want to jinx myself though, so I should stop.

The Spacegoats Make a New Kitchen!

2010-06-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty busy around here with remodeling the kitchen.

Our original plan was to remove the soffits to allow for a real overhaul and open up the already tiny space, but that idea was quickly shelved when we realized we would "have to" have the ceilings checked for asbestos. We have the lovely popcorn ceilings and the ones that were installed pre-1978 (which is a loose number) potentially have asbestos in them. Our house was built in 1979 and I didn't want to taken any chances. The more I read about getting the tests done and the money involved, the more we decided we could live with the soffits.

So we started to make a plan and a budget, but then we got ahead of ourselves and went to Ikea and bought our cabinets last Thursday. Since they were so heavy, we had them delivered and they arrived the next day. I don't know what was wrong with Clint and I, but we somehow neglected to think about the fact that Ikea products come in pieces. As they unloaded our flat boxes of cabinet materials, the realization set in: we would have to assemble these cabinets before Clint could even install them! I know - we're stupid.

Things went pretty smoothly for a couple of days. We got all the upper cabinets installed, but then paused on the lowers until we got out countertop situation situated. We had imagined that we would install laminate than looks like granite because of the cost. Well, this is where spending some time on a budget before we got started would have been useful. We went to three stores to price the cost of laminate countertops. Just for the countertops and delivery, it would cost about $700! That doesn't even include removal and disposal of our old countertops, or installation of the new one, or sink connects and disconnects! So we don't think we're going to buy laminate.

We priced some granite tiles today with the prospect of laying them as the countertop. It would be about $400, with Clint doing all labor himself. I just wish we had planned out a full budget ahead of time so I could have started adjusting to the prices awhile ago.

Spacegoat Makes a Swatch

2010-06-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

So long time, no see...yadda, yadda, yadda...I'm starting a new project!!!

After breakfast today, I convinced Stacy to go to the yarn store with me. I wasn't really planning on buying anything (really!) and neither was she, but then we saw this sample vest and all bets were off. She tried it on, I tried it on, we fell in love with it! I thought it would be fun if we did a summer knit along together and I could reignite Stacy's passion for knitting. So we ordered the pattern and yarn and I was lucky enough that my yarn was in stock, and I was able to take mine home today! The pattern will take a little while, so the acquisition is bittersweet, but at least I can start swatching and get ready! Yea - project!

Day 6: Cleaning Up

2010-02-22T18:27:00.000-08:00

I've spent an inordinate amount of time today cleaning out email inboxes. We received an email at work telling us that our inboxes are just too big and even the scheduled deletions they do once a month are not enough to keep up with us! They recommended that we take time daily to filter through that day's mail. It's hard for me though - I used to manage weekly clean outs, but now I'm more like every few months. I did successfully clean out my school email before I came home today. There's just so many stupid emails that waste my time, like teachers telling everyone they let their class out late (so we don't mark the kids tardy) or emails soliciting us to join the school dodgeball team...

I came home and in just over an hour managed to clear out my personal email inbox as well. It was interesting getting back to pre-August 28th emails. I read through some random ones and thought about how much my life has changed since then with my mom's cancer diagnosis.

Anyway, I'm keeping up with my Lenten addendum: no knitting blogs or Ravelry. I also realized after the last post that I really need to include knitting podcasts as well. Wow - I didn't realize how much knitting had intervened in every crevice of my life! So as of today, I'm fully knitting-free. I reorganized my Google Reader subscriptions, so that all the knitting blogs I read are in their own folder that I promise not to open until Easter.

I'm hoping to post some pictures soon of what I'm doing without the knitting: cooking, embroidery (a little), taking pictures of Clint's growing hair and seeing A LOT of movies (we saw Shutter Island this past weekend and I REALLY liked it) - you know what I'm making. Afterall, this is a blog about making things.

Day 4: A Double-Edged Sword

2010-02-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

Since I've been a member of Ravelry for a little over a year, I've seen it really grow and make a lot of my knitting dreams come true. Just now I was reading their "This Week on Ravelry - Issue 68" which is basically an online knitting magazine, and some thoughts started forming in my mind.

When I decided to give up the knitting for Lent, I didn't want to outlaw myself from Ravelry, plus I didn't see the point. I figured, if I'm giving up the actual knitting, what's the harm in reading about knitting? Well, there's a lot of harm. Obviously, when looking at other people's knitting, it makes me want to knit. I'm thinking that I'm not truly giving up the knitting, if I'm still spending time on the computer looking at all-things-knitting.

So here's a radical decision: starting Monday, I'm not going to look at Ravelry or knitting blogs for the remainder of Lent - gasp! I know this is a good decision because the thought of it makes me want to to cry - that's a good sacrifice ; ) Also it's just not feeling hard enough to only give up the needles. It's like all the online accoutrement is allowing me to give up the actual act, but all I'm really doing is living vicariously through other knitters.

Day 2: The Right Choice?

2010-02-18T17:19:00.001-08:00

Obviously it's very early on in this event, but I found myself wondering this morning if I made the right decision about what to give up. I'm barely missing knitting! I know, I know - ask me in a week and I'll probably answer differently. Alright, I did stare at my green socks longingly today and admire for far too long how exquisite the stitches looked...

So far, some of the things I am doing to occupy myself are: reading, helping plan Candace's bachelorette party, helping Clint plan our spring break trip and staying later at work. I'm cool with all except the last. Every Tuesday and Thursday after school we have a yoga teacher that comes and teaches a class for all of us tired teachers. Typically after yoga, I go straight home, but both yoga days this week, I found myself back in my classroom after yoga struggling to catch up on all things school. It makes yoga less relaxing knowing I have to go back to working afterward. There's just so much going on right now. UIL is this Saturday, so after that, there will be one less thing.

Day 1: Lent

2010-02-17T17:25:00.000-08:00

So ironically on this first day of Lent, I taught Carol how to knit during 7th period. She was a super fast learner and took to it like a spider to a web. I don't even know if it should count as teaching because I showed her one row (15 sts), she tried one row and had the hang of it. She was planning on going home tonight and knitting more, so we'll see what she says tomorrow.

Now that I'm free to pursue other interests, I actually feel distant from fiber in general and have been reading a lot more. I think that's good for now. I'm hoping to fall in love with knitting again. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?

The Countdown Begins

2010-02-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

Lent starts on Wednesday.

It's Monday - 4:38 pm.

The time is almost upon us.

I spent some time yesterday organizing and putting away my knitting materials. All I left out was the citron shawl in progress and my knitting notebook, but I don't even feel like working on it. Knowing that even if I worked on it every waking moment between now and Wednesday and I still wouldn't finish it is causing a serious lack of motivation. I think I might even indulge in some embroidery tonight!

I've been a little jealous of all the Ravelympics that's currently going on, but I think it's good - I'm looking at it as an extra challenge. And hey, there's always next year...

So during Lent my main goal is to not work on any of my personal knitting, I will be teaching some people though - I've had several requests and I'm really excited. I will also be starting the knitting club at school after UIL is over. These are both good things and I don't see them as spoiling my sacrifice because I haven't taught anyone to knit in f-o-r-e-v-e-r! And my main motivation in giving up the knitting is 1) to make a sacrifice and 2) experience some things I've been missing out on because I've been spending so much time knitting. Plus, in the old days when I would teach people to knit, my heart was in it, but not 100%. I would teach and then want to work on my own projects - I could never give myself fully. So now that working on my own personal projects is not even an option, I can be a more devoted teacher!

Change of Direction?

2010-02-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

After much anticipation, my very first sock kit arrived today. I am definitely pleased with the yarn and the patterns, but I think all of my yearning definitely got the best of me. Do I love the patterns? No. Do I like them? Yes. The good news is the yarn is gorgeous, but I'm already contemplating not making socks out of it! Why did I have to fall in love with knitting shawls all of a sudden?! They're all I can think about!

When I first started thinking about not making the socks, I told myself, no - you joined this SOCK club and you are going to knit socks. But the truth is, life is too short to knit something you're not into - and I don't think I'm into the sock patterns this month : ( I'm a little disappointed in myself, but I don't regret signing up for the club at all. I love the yarn and I love even more that I'm expanding my color horizons. I figure I won't be able to complete a project with the new yarn until after Lent anyway, so that gives me plenty of time to ponder what the yarn will become.

I'm thinking I will have time to finish the blue shawl for mom before Lent. I completed 3.5 lace repeats today and that leaves 6 more. Definitely finishable in two weeks.

Waiting on the Yarn to Arrive

2010-01-29T15:21:00.001-08:00

My first shipment of yarn from the sock club is due to arrive any day now. The online boards I read are abuzz with who has gotten theirs and who hasn't. I'm strangely reminded of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, which strangely I read (for the 84,000th time) last week. There are many a spoiler threads where people post pictures of what the shipment contains and I'm having a really hard time staying away from them, but I will resist- I want to be surprised when I open my box. Since Clint and I don't really exchange gifts I feel like this is Christmas. Sometimes we tell each other something we want and then the other goes and gets it. But rarely do we give each other true gifts. So I'm excited because I feel like this yarn is a true gift since I don't know what it will look like. Maybe in subsequent months I won't be so restrained and I will look at spoiler threads, but for now, I shall remain untainted.

Because I was so anxiously awaiting my sock yarn, I actually went online and purchased two more skeins of yarn form The Backwards Loop because it always comes really fast and I knew it would arrive before the Rockin' Sock Yarn. I ordered it Monday evening and it was here waiting for me yesterday after yoga. I didn't even get a picture of the blue because my camera battery was dead and I couldn't wait; I balled it and cast on a shawl for my mom.

All of a sudden I am OBSESSED with shawls, or shawlettes, I should say. I noticed there is a group on Ravelry for those dedicated to knitting 10 shawls in 2010. If you had asked me a month ago if I would ever knit a shawl I would have said you were crazy, but now I can barely focus on anything else! I hope I can divide my attention when the sock yarn arrives. So I'm thinking of joining that group and trying for 10. If I made my first in a week, then surely 10 in a year won't be too troublesome...

Resistance

2010-01-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

Ever since I told my parents about giving up knitting for Lent, they haven't been fans of the idea. I'm not even really sure why. My parents have NEVER been the type to meddle in my business. All my life they have provided me with support in the endeavors of my choice, but they're always very reserved. So I'm very confused why they're even voicing an opinion on what I consider a non-important (from their point of view, not mine) topic.

Having them question my decision of course made me question my decision. Several times in the last couple of days I've thought about how easy it would be to NOT give up knitting. But then I think, that's why I'm doing it in the first place.

I asked Clint why he thought my parents were being so vocal, but he didn't know. But he disagrees with them; he wants me to give up knitting for Lent because he's looking forward to spending more time with me. It's so funny, when I'm knitting, 90% of the time I am with Clint (on the couch watching TV), but I know what he means: my attention is definitely primarily on the knitting. I wish I could be one of these people that multi-tasks easily, but I'm not. Like when I hear about people that can knit in meetings and still be active participants, I can't relate at all. I have to be fully present to one thing.

On another aspect of resistance...I did not go to the yarn store this weekend. Instead I pulled out my white Through the Loops socks that were supposed to a November knit-along. I had a renewed interest in them, maybe because of all my pent up anticipation of the arrival of my first sock kit (which should be here any day!!!!!!). Anyway I got a significant amount done - maybe I'll even finish before the sock kit arrives...

One night last week I got obsessed with knitting this gorgeous hat I keep seeing on Ravelry. I guess one of the things holding me back from knitting is I would have to knit with two colors which I've never done for real. I mean I've made items where a second color starts at the start of a row, but that doesn't really count as color work because it's really easy. The hat would involve fair isle which means I would have two colors of yarn work simultaneously.

I started researching different techniques and it appears that the most efficient method is to use both hands, ie. knit Continental and English at the same time and keep one yarn in each hand; much easier said than done. I practiced a little bit and it went better than I thought, but it was really slow. Knitting the other way is like writing with your non-dominant hand. It's been so long since knitting was difficult that it was hard to stick with it. Then I considered, if I learned Continental would that count as knitting during Lent? ; )

FIrst Shawl: Complete

2010-01-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

I completed my first shawl last night. Shawl is a pretty loose word; what I made is not nearly as big as what I would consider a "true" shawl. But I like what I made because I can wear it as a shawl around my shoulders or backward around my neck and wrap it. It's being blocked right now and is almost dry, so I'm hoping to wear it today when we leave the house. And we have to leave the house because we barely did yesterday.

For my shawl, I used Madeline Tosh sock yarn - it was my first time to knit with Madeline Tosh and it was a dream. Every time I find a yarn like this, I think, where has this yarn been all my life? It's so soft, but still has some weight to it and the depth of color kept me entranced the whole time I was working with it. I think I'm going to end up calling the shawl "Goldilocks and The Three Bears" because of the browns and golds. And besides, Goldilocks was a traveling woman (the original name of the pattern) in a way.

I realized when I was very near finishing that I had been completing my yarn-overs incorrectly the whole time. I though this was a lesson I had learned when I made the orange socks in October but apparently not. I don't think anyone else would be able to spot this mistake, and I did keep it consistent, so I guess that will have to be okay.

I told myself this morning as I was waking up that I deserve to go buy new yarn since I completed a project. Although my first sock club shipment arrives this week (!!!!!!!!) and obviously as soon as it does I will be casting on some socks. My goal is to complete that pair of socks before Lent starts and I think it's highly possible I can...if I don't have new yarn and other projects to distract me. My heart is saying, go to the yarn store - you deserve it; but my head is saying work on something already in progress.

A Lenten Sacrifice

2010-01-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

So every year I think about giving up something for Lent: some years I actually do it. Growing up my mom always encouraged me to try it and usually I would by giving up something silly and purposely doable, like Cokes or candy, which I didn't really consume much of to begin with. I am and never have been super religious, but the idea of Lent has grown increasingly interesting to me as I grow older.

I gave up eating meat for Lent in either 2002 or 2003 and it was a REALLY rewarding experience. My roommate at the time participated with me and we helped each other out. We learned a lot about vegetarian cuisine and actually continued to abstain from eating meat for about a year afterward. Even now, I try to limit my meat consumption and go through long periods without eating it.

My brother and sister-in-law regularly participate in food fasts with their church. I noticed when I was with them over the holiday break that my sister-in-law was having an unusually difficult time with her decision this time. She would excessively salivate over everything she saw us eating and I started thinking and wondering why she was participating in the fast. I mean I know fasting is difficult, but it's something you're choosing to do and I believe that you should humble yourself.

So in an effort to stop judging her, I started to think about what I could give up myself. I went through all my normal ideas: meat (again), alcohol, etc. but none of them seemed hard enough. I thought, what is something that would be REALLY hard to live without for 40 (46) days? Knitting. I do it everyday, I think about it all the time; I want to talk about it constantly. Not knitting is a true sacrifice for me.

I'm afraid that instead of just being a relaxing hobby, knitting has become a security blanket for me. It makes me feel good and I want to bring it everywhere, even when it wouldn't be appropriate. Or I'll be out with friends and think, I'd rather be knitting. There have even been times recently when I have chosen knitting over social outings. Sometimes I worry that I'm ignoring Clint in favor of knitting. I've also noticed lately that I'm insatiable; I finish a project and I don't even enjoy the end result - I voraciously start a new project.

I've also been thinking, what else could I produce if I directed my creative energies in different directions? I haven't embroidered in a long time. I haven't been reading or writing nearly as much as I want to because I'm always knitting. And I'm also excited for the possibilities that exist that I haven't even thought of yet.

I would like to say that during Lent, I will update my blog daily. I can picture the posts: Day 10 - Withdrawal, Day 18 - Was I Crazy?, etc. but I don't think it's realistic. I also need to decide what to do about Sundays. I've been doing some research about Lent, just to know what I'm getting myself into, and I found out that some people exclude the Sundays of Lent and treat them as "celebration" days or "mini-Easters." The websites I have found state that Sundays should always be a day of rest and your sacrifice should be suspended, but that plenty of people don't abide by this and continue their Lenten sacrifice throughout the entire time period because it's easier. I was kind of excited by this prospect at first, but if Lent is about sacrifice then I don't think I should take the easy way out. I don't know, but I still have some time to decide before Ash Wednesday.

As a reward to myself (is that allowed?) I signed up for a sock club. I have wanted to participate in one before, but I have always been hesitant because of the cost and commitment, but with the sacrifice in mind, I told myself to go for it. So starting the last week in January, and every other month after that for the year, I will receive in the mail a shipment of beautiful, hand-dyed sock yarn, 2 sock patterns and other surprise goodies! I think the most exciting prospect of this venture is that I will have no say in the colors of the yarn that come to me. I don’t know why it’s so thrilling to me, but the idea of someone picking colors for me intrigues me. I guess because I’m hoping to expand my color palette and be exposed to colors I wouldn’t normally pick out on my own.

Knitting Stress

2009-12-08T17:29:00.000-08:00

Ever since I finished my FLS over Thanksgiving, I've been experiencing knitting stress! I am so happy with the results of my first sweater and now I don't quite know where to go next. The following is an update on all projects since (FOs and WIPs):

Clint's hat:

This turned out well and I made it in a day. I didn't follow a pattern; just used a formula to determine how many stitches to cast on and then worked a simple stockinette. I added a white and red stripe from yarn in the stash.

November Through The Loops KAL Sock:

I was so gung-ho when this KAL started and then I just stalled out. I finished the cuff and leg on the first sock, but I didn't make it far past the cuff on the second sock. I feel like I've come to far too frog, but I don't see myself returning any time soon. It's also my first Spud & Chloe yarn which I was so excited to use and I just haven't been impressed. Although, I'm not giving up on it completely yet because the ultimate test of a yarn for me is how good it feels on and how it wears over time. I think this project will hibernate for now.

November Cowl KAL Wimple:

I was also super excited to be in this KAL. I would say it's going slightly better than the sock KAL. It's an easy enough pattern and shouldn't take too long. I'm just not crazy about the yarn. It's just a Patons Kroy socks - nothing incredible. It's just kind of rough and sometimes I can't imagine wearing it on my neck, but I'm almost halfway done! I think I'll keep going on this one. I just got so KAL-happy and then it became too much pressure.

Baby Brown Bear:

I bought Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Toys. I love leafing through and admiring the patterns. I especially like the toys made from sock yarn. I was dying to wind a skein of yarn on my ball winder, so I chose my Thousand Oaks Alpaca and wound away with the intention to make the brown bear. It's cute and all, but I'm stuck. The yarn is nice, but I'm not in love with it. It did ignite my interest in knitting toys in general though. I think this little bear is going to hibernate for awhile.

Purple Reading Mitts:

Arghh! I finished one and I was on love. I used DB Baby Cashmerino which I LOVE and the knit was smooth sailing. For extra warmth, I decided to increase the length by an inch. No big deal I thought. I got 2 leg warmers out of one BD BC skein, this should be no problem...or so I thought.

On the second mitt, I got within an inch of the end and ran out of yarn. No problem, I thought, I'll go to Hill Country Weavers and buy more DB BC - you can never have too much BD BC. Well...they only had two lavender skeins, both different dye lots, and both different from mine. Neither matched - arghh! I feel so irresponsible - but I reminded myself, that yarn was originally intended for more leg warmers.

So I figure, if I rip back and knit an inch less, I should be able to complete the project with the yarn I have. However, I cannot bring myself to rip yet. It was just so disappointing to think I was fifteen minutes away from wearing my beautiful reading mitts and then...not.

Aviator Hat:

I've seen this hat on Ravelry for a long time and I've always wanted to try it. When my SIL requested a black hat, I thought, here's my chance. Plus I'm using the Heirloom Breeze that was intended for the Clint socks that never came to fruition. I've knit 1/6 of it and I like it, but I'm lacking drive. Plus, Clint reminded me that I had vowed to stop knitting for other people. It's just hard to stop when that's what I do so often!

Lamba:

I found Fuzzy Mitten's Lamb Pattern the Monday after Thanksgiving before I left for work. I drooled over this pattern like no other. I looked at it all day, just counting the hours until I could go home and start knitting. The end result is okay. I used the Lion Brand Organic Cotton and I didn't like it the first time I used it (Organic Baby Guernsey), so why would I like it now?

I'm also having trouble with the face - I'm just way too much of a perfectionist. I thought I could sew the eyes and now I know I can't. I tried to find doll eyes at Michaels over the weekend, but had no luck. To make matters worse, Cassie got a hold of lamba and now one of his legs is loose. Sigh.

Autumn Leaves Scarflette:

Too tired to explain.

Vital Organs Embroidered Coasters:

For Chris, going okay, just feeling overwhelmed.

And I know I'm crazy, but I want to wind my ShiBuKnits and make some gloves after seeing some beautiful ones on Ravelry.

No wonder I'm stressed - that's eight WIPs! I just feel like there's not enough time to knit all the patterns I want to make and use all the yarn I fantasize about. I'm writing myself a prescription: no knitting tonight! Take a shower and go to bed!

First Knitting Dream Ever!

2009-11-14T16:46:00.001-08:00

I had a dream where I was knitting! I didn't realize until just now that I've never had one (that I remember) before. I find this surprising because I spend so much of my waking life knitting.

In the dream I was making a scarf (something I probably wouldn't do awake) in two different colors and I was trying to decide when to start my second color to create stripes. Only a few rows in, I decided my two colors were too alike and so I ended up foregoing the stripes. Then I realized I had made too many stitches and it would be a really wide scarf. To my surprise, I had accidentally double knit it and all of a sudden, the two sides split and I had a lovely cowl in progress!

I Know What I Have to Do

2009-10-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Back in September I started a pair of socks for Clint. After I turned the heel, I realized that I had made the foot way too long. When I tried the work-in-progress on him, he dubbed them his goofy socks because of their length. Well, they have sat ignored long enough. Today I will order the remainder of the yarn needed to complete the pair and I will rip back and correct my mistakes. Carpe diem!!!

Back on Top

2009-10-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'm glad I finally hunkered down and got back to the FLS. Once I fixed my mistake and moved forward, I felt like a new woman. I also practiced button holes over and over, and I'm just not getting it. They all look the same, so it must be a fundamental flaw I'm making from misreading the directions. I guess I will have to pursue bh perfection in the future because I've moved on for now. So now the sweater is breezing along slowly but steadily in the gull lace stitch pattern.

My only concern (and I'm trying hard not to worry about it) is the sleeves. I had the hardest time gauging if they were big enough and I worried they would be too tight. So when I reached the place in the pattern where I cast on 7 new stitches for the armhole I was relieved because I figured that would fix any tightness issue I had. That was until I tried it on and with the additional stitches, the sleeves now seem loose... My plan of action is to just go with it. I know from experience that arm (or leg) openings can look rather large and gaping when unfinished, but then close in dramatically when the actually sleeve (or leg) in completed.

My purple Malabrigo arrived today, so I wound it into a ball by hand and swatched for the Amanda hat. The pattern says that if done carefully, I may be able to get two hats from one skein. I would love to have matching hats for my mom and I. My gauge is off however because I don't have size 9 needles. How do I not have any size 9s? Before I run out and spend more money on this obsession, I will try a size 10 just to see.

Progress

2009-10-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

As per my last post, I did buckle down and finish some WIPs. Although I was still avoiding the sweater and Clint's socks like the plague. It reminds me what a perfectionist I am and that I need to get over it.

So some of the items I have finished are: the blue brioche booties, the blue baby bib (finally!) and the yellow bonnet for Melissa.

I was feeling so accomplished that I joined a Mystery Sock Knit-Along on Ravelry for Soctober! It's been really fun so far and I think it's what's finally pulled me officially out of my knitting slump because last night after I finished the 2nd sock's cuff, I pulled out that FLS and starting unknitting back to my mistake: the third buttonhole I attempted to make. My first buttonhole was actually my best and I just improvised it (YOs and COs over 2 rows). It looked decent, but I decided for the second, I would use the one-row technique suggested in the pattern. I followed an online tutorial that was mostly helpful, but in the end my buttonhole looked really sad, not beautiful like all the sample pictures I've seen. But I decided the two were good enough especially because when there is a button in them, no one will see them. So for my third button hole I decided to return to my improved version. The BH itself wasn't too bad, but for some reason, I did not make it the appropriate distance away from the edge!!! Argh - what was I thinking? So I have almost unknitted back to the third BH and I am swearing to myself that before I attempt it again in the sweater that I will practice in a swatch. I keep reminding myself, swatching and practicing is good, and, hey, I get to pull out some new yarn and try it out - what's more fun than that? After that adventure, I will unknit on Clint's sock and get it right.

So back to the Mystery Socks! I have never participated in a KAL before and I think this was the perfect one to try for my first. Since the pattern comes in weekly installments there's all this anticipation. And the pacing has been really lovely. I knitted cuff #1 Friday night and cuff #2 Saturday night and I feel so accomplished because there's literally nothing else I can do - I have to wait until next week (Thursday?) to continue. I feel like it's assignment and I've finished early: always the teacher/student.

Knitting Block

2009-09-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

It happened so suddenly: one day I was knitting normally and the next - nothing.

I stalled out on two major projects - my February Lady Sweater and Clint's black socks. The sweater is giving me a couple of different problems wight now. The biggest one being that I messed up the last button hole. Actually all of the button holes are messed up,but there is not way I am ripping back to the first one - or maybe I should...maybe it would reverse my bad knitting mojo. The other thing that's bothering me with the FBS is I have come to the point in the yoke where I think I am supposed to stop increasing, but I don't understand how the shoulders will become big enough to reach almost my upper arms and almost touch like the pattern says if I discontinue the increasing. So I've basically given up for now.

I also messed up Clint's socks by knitting the foot too long/ I had turned the heel and felt like I was in the home stretch until I realized they're just too long. All because I didn't take the time to measure properly. I guess the idea of ripping back on these is a lot less daunting than the FLS; I should probably start on these. Oh yeah, and I also don't have enough yarn to complete the project because I only bought two skeins (this was a long time ago when I was pretty clueless about knitting).

My first instinct is to start new projects or to swatch. I think starting new projects now would only stress me out more. I will only allow myself to swatch or tackle one of my many wips.

Yarn Poor

2009-08-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

I have bought so much yarn lately!!! I just keep telling myself it will be fine as long as I use it, but my ever-growing, under-the-bed stash thinks otherwise. I know most of this yarn will not be knitted right away, that it will find its way to the stash box. On a postive note, I found myself knitting from the stach a lot this summer.

I've been having flashes of patterns in my head. I'm dying to design my own patterns, but I'm not quite there yet. I think these flashes are the beginning though. So far, I've had two hat flashes. Luckily these flashes come when I'm lying in bed, so I quickly jot them down and the accompanying thoughts in my bedside notebook. The latest would be quite a feat to complete, but I'm fascinated with trying. It involves a simple thick rows of stockinette broken up up by some thin garter rows. Then on either side would be half circles of brioche rib. It sounds so complicated in my head, but I think its possible. If I can complete it, it would be my first original pattern!

Status Check:

1st Soaker: Complete. I used the Curly-Purly pattern and I really like it. It was easy and quick. I used the maroon O-Wool that Julie had given to me as commission. There's plenty left for another, so I think the next one will be a maroon and white. I also purchased some gorgeous green wool (not organic :( for a possible Lora soaker. I keep forgetting her shower is Saturday! Most of her package is complete, but it still feels incomplete.

Thermis Neck Warmer: Complete. I love this project and I would like to make more in other colors, but I'm not in any hurry. The next one I make needs to be a little shorter for my short neck. I also think I might use come Cashmerino for the next one...hmmm...I feel a swatch coming on... : )

Legwarmies: Half done: one down, one to go. This first pair is in pink Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (the only shade I could find at Bluebonnet Yarn Shoppe). Since then I have visited HCW and bought five new shade of DBC to mix and match for future legwarmies. They're easy and mindless, probably a good purse project.

Green Socks: Half done: one down, one to go. After months of trying to acclimate to two socks at once on one circular, I just couldn't do it. I thought I would love it, but I didn't. I'll have to try again in the future. I ended up using a toe-up sock formula and adding a bamboo stitch on the top of the foot. I feel like it's one of the most original things I've made in a long time. I still need to make the mate, but I'm feeling only a mild case of Second Sock Syndrome.

Charade Socks: Barely started. I'm not sure this project is going to last. The yarn is not nice and my needles are being uncooperative, we'll see. I just love this pattern so much and wanted to make it again.

Status Check: Lots of Swatches

2009-07-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

As a relative newcomer to knitting, I feel like I am just now understanding the importance of swatching. I've known of the importance for awhile, but I just didn't get it. I guess when all you're knitting is scarves and iPod cozies from your own made-up patterns, swatching in not crucial. I also bought a lot of acrylic yarn that I found at Hobby Lobby and Michaels (I still buy yarn thee, just a lot more selectively). When I first heard about swatching, there were two obstacles I faced. One: I worried that if I "wasted" yarn on a swatch, I would run out for the intended project. Two: I didn't have the patience to start with a swatch: I just wanted to start my project BADLY.

But now as I move on to hats, mittens, sweaters, etc. and spend more money on finer yarn, I get it. I don't worry about running out of yarn anymore. I either buy enough from the start or I tell myself it's just another reason to buy more yarn : ) And even though I am not a process a knitter (which surprises me since I enjoy the process of so many other pursuits) I am trying hard to incorporate some time and reflection into my process.

Kendall Mittens: Now that I have my intended pattern nailed down I can play with yarn choices. I made three swatches today with some Patons Soy Wool blend. I did three needle sizes: 8, 6 and 4. I think 6 is the ideal. I do like the way the yarn feels, but it's a hand wash. I had convinced myself that Kendall's mittens and hats should be machine-washable, but so far I have been dissatisfied with the yarn selections I have in my stash that are m-w. I could go to the yarn store, but I know I will just get overwhelmed and spend a lot of money and come home with a lot of yarn that is everything but what I need for the Kendall project.

Kendall Hat: I found in my stash some pink Bernat alpaca blend. I knitted a swatch on some size 8 bamboo needles that I forgot I had. They came from my only-bamboo-needle phase that followed my plastic phase that I was started on by my Aunt Nancy. I thought that I didn't like bamboo anymore, but I guess it really depends on specifics. These were Crystal Palace and very slick; I really enjoyed them. Even though I'm feeling doubtful about this 18-inch head measurement, I went ahead and cast on with the alpaca. It's really soft but also hand wash - oh well. I started off thinking I would make the umbilical cord hat since I never have, but I keep picturing how Kendall looked in the sherbert hat I made her and I decided to switch to the Kittyville hat. In Stitch and Bitch it's for adults, but with an 18-inch head, it needs only minor adjustments. So that's off and rolling.

Cashmerino Silk iPod Cozy: Kind of stalled out. I'm too lazy to bring my iPod to the couch and check the size. It's really close to being finished - suck it up!

Blue and Brown Boy Bonnet: Started the nape decrease today. Nothing major. Dreaming about combining all of my scraps of Sublime Organic Cotton into one beautiful blend of a bonnet.

Spring Booties: I hadn't worked on these in so long that I thought I had frogged this project, but then I found the one finished bootie. I really want to master the pattern because I LOVE the way the booties look, but that half-brioche stitch is really hard for me! I haven't yet cast on the second bootie, but I foresee it happening within the week.

Third Time's the Charm

2009-07-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

Finally a mitten pattern I can live with. The funniest thing is that it's the first pattern I looked at and printed out and then for some reason I put it away. It did look a little daunting with all the different numbers for all the different sizes, but after completing a one mitten, they are some of the best written directions I've ever used!

So I still haven't matched the perfection of the rainbow mitten, but I'm getting closer. I still can't tell if the rounded effect is the yarn or maybe the age. Like maybe there is nothing I can do to recreate that aspect.

The new white mitten is still too stiff for my liking, but I think it's the yarn and the needle size I used. I started with 4s for the cuff and it felt fine. When I started the hand though it felt too tight and I wanted to switch to some 5s but my only circular 5s are otherwise engaged in another project, so I made do - it wasn't that bad, nothing like the green mitten. I'm debating if when I make these mittens for real if I will drop down a needle size for the cuff.

Now I just have to find the perfect yarn...

Mitten Research

2009-07-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

Have found a third pattern. The only drawback is the smallest size is for a two-year-old. Seeing as how Kendall is on the big side, I'm going to make a two-year old size and we'll see how it fits.

So far these tutorials has been very helpful:

http://live-learn-knit.blogspot.com/2007/09/mittens-little-tutorial.html

http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2008/07/mitten_thumb_pa.php

Will try mitten #3 in white acrylic. Will attempt to follow directions for four needle mittens and do with a magic loop. The two needle mittens calls for different right and left mittens - I'm not going there.

Mitten #2

2009-07-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

While on the quest for the perfect mitten pattern, I've decided I might have to purchase a pattern: either singly or a book. I usually have such great success with free patterns, but this is #2 and it's mostly a let-down.

I kept with size 2 needles, but this time I tried a purple Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - a yarn I've been dying to try. It felt so much better on the needles! I'm fine with the cuff. I think it's long enough and has enough stretch to keep the mitten on the hand. I also like the hand evern though the tip is more pointed than I would like. But the worst part is the thumb. The thumb looks so terrible I don't even want to look at it. I had high hopes for it because it was worked differently than the last one but I think it's so hideous the way it sticks out from the side of the mitten like it was a last minute addition and has no business being there. I wish I could just take if off and seam up the side and have a thumbless mitten, but I think that would look wretched as well.

So I have this mitten I found at my mom's house in her old Singer sewing machine that no longer actually houses a sewing machine. The sewing machine stand (?) is a safe haven for loads of miscellaneous little odds and ends. The mitten was knitted by Helen Noise (one of my grandmother's friends) for one of us kids, but I don't remember it ever being worn by me or my brothers. Now that I'm older and a knitter I can appreciate it for what it is: a perfect mitten. It appears to be a 32 stitch cast on and starts with a 2x2 rib. From there the hand and thumb is started together, simultaneously. I can see the bar increases make their way up the length of the thumb. looks like there are six stitches including the actual increases. Then a row is knit plain. On the third round two more stitches are added giving the thumb 8 stitches. This is repeated so when the thumb is started there are ten stitches. Here the hand breaks and goes its separate way. The top of the hand is rounded not pointed which I think entailed a sharper decrease: no alternating rows of decreases and knitting even.

If I were to recreate this I would attempt to use circular needles and form the thumb increases in the middle of on of the needles. I'm going to look around for another pattern, but if it comes to it, I'll attempt a recreation.

The mitten itself is also a good lesson in not using acyrlic yarn. The right side is dusty and fuzzy looking (no doubt because of its 20-year hide out in the sewing machine drawer) and the wrong side is sharp and pristine.

Mitten Time

2009-07-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

Lauren has commissioned me to make a hat and mittens for Kendall for their trip to Alaska in September. I was intrigued to try out some mittens since I never have before. I had trouble finding a pattern that satisfied me enough to try it though. A lot of patterns I found didn't include a thumb, which I wanted to learn how to make the thumb. Then I found only patterns that had sizes that were too big for a one-year-old. I finally found this one and decided to try it, but I had a lot of problems with this mitten: I used my standard green crap yarn to make a practice mitten and it was way too thick at least with size 2 needles - so that was an ongoing trouble. It wasn't that bad on a regular knit stitch, but the k2togs were nightmares. This was my fault; I should have used bigger needles - this seems to be a recurring problem for me. The end product is quite stiff and I think would actually be good for warmth because the stitches are so close together, but the acrylic feels awful to the touch and I know it will only get worse as time goes on.

I like the extra long cuff but because this was a practice mitten, I only did 12 rows instead of 24. But I like the 12 rows so if I do end up using this pattern, I would probably stick with 12.

As I made the increases for the hand I was unhappy with the placement of them - they seemed out of place, but looking at the finished product they're okay. You can see one at the center back of the hand and the other two on the palm-side at the edges of the wrist. Since I've never made mittens before I don't know if this is standard or not.

I would have preferred to use my circular needles, but I decided to follow the pattern and use 4 dpns. I t was fine, but I would like to convert for next time.

Making the thumb was fun and easier than I thought it would be. Although it did leave two gaping holes (one on each side) that I had to stitch up from underneath. I need to research a way of avoiding or decreasing this problem.

It's driving me crazy that I can't try these on to see if they fit and have the right proportions. I'll have to try one on Kendall asap.

So I don't know what yarn I will actually end up using. I'm thinking of getting some Debbie Bliss Rialto 4-ply in pink; it's so soft and it's wool, so it would be warm, but it's also thin.

One More Bonnet

2009-07-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

I realized I hadn't made any booties to match the bonnet I'm giving Erin at her shower this weekend. But I just didn't want to knit another pair of booties. I'm fearful with the booties that they don't get much use. I feel like bonnets may have a little more mileage.

So I started a light pink bonnet for baby Finley. The bonnets are so fast, it's almost done. I think I will embroider some flowers on it in a similar pink color - you know monochromatic-like. Oh and I'm making this newborn size so hopefully she can wear it right away.

Name Change

2009-06-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

I had to change the name of this blog because I am currently going through a non-knitting phase, but I want to continue blogging about what I am working on, whatever it may be.

It's funny, for many, MANY months, I did not go a day without knitting. And if I did - it was major - I noticed. There are several reasons why I am now on hiatus. I started my green socks at the same time on one circ and it just isn't all it's cracked up to be. I thought I would LOVE the two-at-once method, but I don't. I'm even considering...going back to my double-points or at least just working one sock at a time on the circ. Before I stopped last week I had knit a new iPod cozy (same old pattern) out of some yarn remainders I've had for a long time. I don't have the label anymore, so I have no idea what kind of yarn it actually is, but it's blue, wool-like, and goes thick and thin throughout. Even before I was done with it, I knew I had knit on too-small needles, but for some reason I just kept on going. I think it was bad karma. I started a second one with some cashmerino I've been saving for something special, but I thought - what's the point in saving it - life is too short - plus, if I like it, I'll go buy some more. But I barely started it before I put it down and haven't picked it up in over a week.

As per my last post I am also not embroidering. I visited Hancock Fabrics last week to pick up a few more supplies, namely backing for when I stitch on t-shirts which are soft and flimsy. I looked there and at Michael's with no luck. I guess I will just order it from Sublime Stitching directly. From reading Jenny's new book, I learned that in the olden days, women sometimes used tissue paper as a backer. I thought, I have tissue paper, I'm going to give this a shot. Well, easier said then done. The tissue paper tore immediately and fell to pieces. In the end I ended up taking a scrap of fabric and holding it on the back as I stitched and it seemed to work. I will need to try washing it to see what happens next. So I did stitch a cupcake on a little onesie - it looks cute - not the best - but cute. I would like to go back and add the words baby cakes to it; we'll see.

I'm actually doing a lot of cooking. This morning I made Ina Garton's sticky buns that I watched her make on tv yesterday. She made it look really easy (of course) and it wasn't difficult for me, but it was time consuming and there was way to much butter involved. My mother makes a similar dish every Christmas and her's is easier and yummier. So I'll stick with Mom's recipe.

Ever since I had some cucumber mint agua fresca the other day at the museum cafe, I have been obsessed. I made some of my own but with basil instead of mint the other night with dinner and it was delicious! I just made another batch of the same. I plan on trying a cucumber, watermelon, mint combination later this week.

A New Obsession, I Mean Craft

2009-06-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well, not really new. I'm going to take up some embroidery again. The last time I embroidered was between 2000 and 2001; it's been too long.

Last night I went to a communicrafting event at AMOA. There was embroidery, knitting, jewelry-making and other fun stuff. I went thinking I would craft while there, but it turned out to be really crowded and there were a lot of kids; not really the ideal crafting space (the crowdedness, not the kids).

Luckily I found the Sublime Stitching booth right away which was my main interest anyway. They had adorable little packets of different-themed transfers for $5 each. And they were 5 for $20, so I had to get 5. Embarassingly, I was a dollar short, but the kind gentleman at the booth let me have my patterns for $19. I've decided that I will be sending them a dollar in the mail, I mean after all, they're a small business based out of Jenny Hart's garage. I might even make them some iPod cozies to thank them for their generosity (there are only 4 people that work for Sublime Stitching) and for being the reason that I will start embroidering again.

The patterns I got (which are so exquisite, I can't stop staring at them) include:

I CANNOT wait to get started!!!

I was also lucky enough to pick up the last copy available (at the museum) of Jenny's new book! Which she also autographed for me!

So far the thing I like best about Jenny's new book (besides the oodles of transfers) is that she starts with a little sampler to get you in the embroidery mood and practice (or refresh in my case) your skills.

I'm going this morning to pick out some new floss colors and pick up some tools I may need like carbon paper and tracing paper. I love Jenny's designs, but I see myself doing some of my own in the future.

Ahhhh! A renewed obsession! I love it!

Knitting for Me!

2009-06-17T21:41:00.001-07:00

I knit gifts so often that I rarely take time to knit for myself. On a whim (well actually - after reading Knit and Tonic and seeing her yarn) I ordered some Claudia's Hand Painted Yarn.

It is a beautiful blend of greens called "country kitchen". I'm knitting socks for myself that I'm already excited to wear on "green" holidays like Christmas, St. Patrick's Day and Earth Day. Of course I can wear them other days as well : )

I'm knitting these socks toe up, two at a time, on one circular needle. It's a lot of newness and the process is on the slow side. I love the idea of finishing two socks at the same time, but I'm missing my double-pointed needles - I never thought I'd say that! I'm having a bit of a pattern crisis because I'm attempting to blend two patterns together. I don't know why I'm trying to make this so hard...

Finding Just the Right Yarn

2009-05-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

I thought I had found my dream yarn when I found Sublime Organic Cotton, until I found Debbie Bliss Rialto 4-ply. I've been resisting buying Debbie Bliss, but I'm not sure why. I don't know if I thought she was too commercial and I was trying to supposrt more independents..idk.

Anyway this Rialto 4-ply is a beautiful superwash wool. I'm using it to make another seamless baby kimono and a pair of matching booties. Originally this kimono was going to Baby Gobert, but seeing as how nephew Ezekiel's due date is fast approaching in the beginning of June and I have nothing for him, I have reassigned. It's also coming out rather small (4-ply) and I'm hoping it can be a newborn garment.

The booties may or may not go to Baby Kephart because that shower is this weekend and I was hoping to have a set of booties to match the bonnet I already finished.

The Obligatory First Post

2009-05-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not in love with the name of my new knitting blog. It will probably change in the future. My first choices were taken: I'd Rather Be Knitting or I Heart Knitting. And here I thought I was so original coming up with those...I also trued Obsessed with Knitting and Knitting Fiend...also taken.

Anyway, since I don't have any real knitting friends and my friends, family and co-workers are sick of hearing me talk about knitting, I will be writing all of my deepest knitting thoughts here, in this blog.

I am deep into the baby knitting as I know 9 pregnant women right now. Last week I finished my first seamless baby kimono and am in love with it! I went out today and bought some blue yarn to start another. This one is for Julie's baby. I cannot wait to start it!

I am still working on Ariel's big sis purse which I think I will wait and give to her as a birthday gift in August. It buys me a little more time. I love the finished look, but it's boring for me to knit b/c it's just two panels of stockinette stitched together. I know it will look great when it's done.

I'm kind of sad I didn't start a knitting blog earlier in my knitting life. It would be really interesting to go back and look at everything I've learned. Oh well, today's the first day of the rest of my life.