Makes a Mistake

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.

A Lenten Sacrifice

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. 

One More Bonnet

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

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.