The Daily Grind

I haven't knitted in four and a half weeks. At this point, I currently have over ten projects started.....in various stages of construction that should really be picked up and finished. I think part of the problem is that I started back to work...after a year and a half being home I decided I was ready to get back to the daily grind. Working full-time, being a mother and wife and staying on top of everything is a difficult task so finding that small bit of time to do something I truly enjoy is nearly impossible. My personal time is in competition with daily chores, exercise, work, cooking and kid time...as the old saying goes "there's just not enough hours in a day". There are some positives to working..bringing in the extra cash is nice, especially with one kid in college and the other just a mere 4 and 1/2 years away. Plus I can actually spend money on knitting without feeling guilty..well I do feel a little guilt..have you seen my stash? I'm on the verge of bypassing stashing to entering the world of hoarding..even I have to acknowledge the fact that I could not possibly knit everything in my stash..So here I sit....with my piles of yarn....but simply not any time to create. I know it won't always be like this..that I'll eventually learn how to carve out time for myself and but like anything else in life there is a learning curve.

The Miseries of Knitting for a 13 y/o

My youngest starts 8th grade Monday. So I thought as a treat I'd knit up something for her to start the year off "right". We perused some sites and came up with a cardigan she liked:



08/12/2011: First attempt. Knit 2/3's of the cardigan only to discover that the two skeins of yarn I was working with were two different whites. :/

I ended up ripping it completely back because the initial skein I used was the only off-white skein I had. Aye Carumba!?



08/16/2011: Second Attempt. Decided I would try this from a different approach and knit it top down in a raglan style. Yeah. Not. After knitting a good 1/4 of this sweater I noticed I had THREE arms. :/

08/17/2011: Third Attempt. Again with the raglan top down style. After knitting all day at the shop and coming home..I took one look at the "ew" look on Alex's face..then compared what I had to the picture..then proceed to rip it completely back. The fabric was way too bulky and not at all even close to what Alex wanted. After looking at the picture further I see now that the sleeves are set-in rather than raglan. So here I go..Fourth attempt!?

08/17/2011: After my miserable three prior attempts I decided, again, that I would go in another direction. Since the knit fabric looks to be smaller (maybe a dk weight yarn) I toss the yarn aside that I had originally purchased to make this sweater. Reswatched in a dk yarn (Debbie Bliss' Cathay) and decided I liked the look. I've calculated my swatch and knit approximately an inch on the ribbing. Lets hope "fourth" times the charm and that my arms don't fall off as I try and finish this by Monday. :/

Baby Knits

There is nothing like a new baby in the family to jumpstart anyones knitting. The projects are quick, pretty simple and super adorable! Now that my niece, Chloe, has been born I've been on a baby knitting crusade. I've decided that I like baby knits immensely and am thinking I just should stick to the smaller projects because my knitting A.D.D. doesn't get a chance to kick in. With all of my cardis, and any other knitting projects that take more than a month to complete, I end up losing interest, sitting whatever project aside and take a chance losing interest altogether. With currently over 30 projects in the works, its nice to see some finished additions to my project page. Plus they look so darn cute on that baby!

Vacation Knitting

Vacation knitting! Love it! Over analyze it! It's funny. When preparing for a vacation the first thing on my list is "What project shall I bring?" That's when the monster in me comes out to play. I mean really, you have to have a project that is easy..mindless..doesn't require my entire suitcase full of knitting tools etc etc. Then comes the research. I start going through my list of patterns..researching patterns on Rav...looking at projects done with yarn already in my stash..then it starts to roll a little outta control. I find a project but I don't seem to have any yarn in my stash that will complete this to my satisfaction (yeah riiiiiight). So then I purchase the yarn. Then I find other yarn that will be simply perfect for a cardigan...but alas..I have no pattern satisfactory for the yarn..so I buy a pattern..this continues until I now have four..yes FOUR..vacation projects. All cardigans. I'm only going on vacation for 10 days. Now I'm sure you're wondering how I rectify this in my mind..and here's the math:

1) There's the wait time at the airport..at least a few hours worth..I shall knit!

2) The flight alone is 15 hours..I figure if I knit super fast..intent on making the Guiness Book of World Records as the fastest knitter..get no sleep..I can surely (don't call me shirley..giggle..I had to say that) finish at least one cardigan.

3) I'll be relaxing on the ship for a least a few hours of day...what will I do? Hey, I know! Knit..so I figure I can finish at least another cardigan.

4) Lastly, the trip home..again why can't I finish another whole cardigan..my lord I'm delusional!

Wow..after reading that I think I really need some professional help. In all reality I probably won't even get half-way through one project but I so enjoy imagining all the finished projects I get to bring home. I love the thought of having a project I can have, keep, and remember the time I had when going to [insert vacation destintion]. It's the best souvenior of all! Along with the memories and photographs. ;)

The patterns I plan on bringing:

1) Hay Cardigan using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in forestry;

2) Kira using either Rowan RYC Baby Alpaca DK in Spring Leaf or Madelinetosh Pashima in Isadora;

3) Lily using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in Burnt Orange; and Lastly

4) Walnuss using Madelinetosh Pashmina in Charcoal.

Here's hopin' I at least get to finish one! ;)

My Knitting Eludes Me!

Sometimes my knitting simply eludes me...either I get sidetracked with things I feel are more important...or I'm interrupted by one or more of the following (1) the husbeast; (2) the child(ren)beasts; or (3) my motherly duties i.e. cleaning, bathing, errands, dog duty etc. I think you get the idea..so how does one carve out time for themselves? Without being interrupted? Lock themselves in the closet, bathroom, car? I'm honestly hoping that I can buckle down and get three projects finished by the end of the month..yes I said three..are you laughing at me? Okay I'm actually laughing at myself..I know I know..impossible, right? :/

I've Discovered The Destash Group

Boredom...Boredom gets you in trouble. I know I should be productive. I have like a hundred million projects that I want done but sometimes I just find myself on Ravelry. This is when I get into trouble. I start to nose around and discover things. Like unusual patterns...new stitches..and Destash groups. Yep, the latter is what got me in trouble. I start to peruse this group and discover "Wow, people are actually selling their stash and some prices are actually reasonable, if not down right cheap!" Then I start to buy...now I'm a few dollars poorer, but man did I get some pretty yarn! Just what I needed. :/

Come Hell or High Water

Socks. I knit them. I wear them. Essentially I love them but there are a certain pair of socks I've been attempting to knit for about 2 months now...I knitted..then ripped back...knitted..ripped back..then I totally ripped back the whole project and started over. I have other things I need to do..I have other things I desire to do but I will not let these socks get the best of me. I wish I could blame the pattern, but its not the pattern, its me. You know those patterns where you need 110% concentration or you lose your place and if you lose your place you're screwed. Well meet Mystery Sock III: Family Jewels by Wendy Gaal.



Its wonderfully written and interesting but I just can't seem to finish it. I'm worried if I walk away from it now it'll become a UFO and I won't ever finish it. I'm in a quandary. I might have to concede defeat and realize that my brain is not equipted to handle such difficult patterns. Ugh! I will not concede..pattern you will not win!

I've regressed to the behavior of a 3-yr old.

I've decided that I have the self-control of a three year old...no seriously...when it comes to buying yarn, patterns or anything else I have no self control.

The problem is, I see a pattern I like, in fact, I LOVE the pattern, I must have the pattern and if I don't get that pattern (together with the suggested yarn, needles, project bag, notions etc) I'll die a gruesome sad death that will stain the history of the world for ages. I get mesmorized and I dream of all the places I can wear it..how romantic and full my life will be...with my hair whipping in the wind...riding horseback along the beach...in the coveted (finished) object, which is now instantly making me look 20 lbs thinner and 15 years younger. See how delusional I am..I guess my point is, I've decided that here recently I needed to add something like 6 or 7 new projects to my already overly extended project list.

My first mistake was opening the newest email from Interweave Knits revealing their newest book: "Vintage Modern Knits: Contemporary Designs Using Classic Techniques". From this book alone I have committed myself to four patterns: "Abigail Hand Warmers", "Ajiro Scarf", "Whitby Stockings" and "Yvette Rossitud Hat". So, I decide that I had to have the recommended yarn, I mean because none of the 150 skeins of yarn I already have will do, and I visit a yarn site to place an order...Alas, as I'm on the website, I come across another pattern: "#12 Cable Tunic" from the Vogue Knitting, Winter 2009/10 issue...I think to myself, ohhhh pretty, hmmmm I really could use another sweater..cuz hey, one can't have too many sweaters, right? So I bought more yarn. Disgusted with myself, I get off the yarn site.

Then I get on Ravelry, hoping to divert my attention. That's where I picked up the last two projects along with the suggested yarn. After adding an additional 30 plus skeins of yarn to my already overflowing stash, I am now forced to face the end result of my foolishness and mayhem. I now must butter my husband up, rub his feet and cook his favorite food in hopes that when he sees the current charges on the credit card he won't move my belongings to the tool shed. I guess my husband's right "Moderation is the key". Unfortunately, I think I've misplaced that key, along with my mail key..the key to my old house...the key to the lock on the gate I can no longer open cuz I lost the key..I really need to find that damn key.

Why Does My Garage Door Hate Me?

I realize...completely off topic..but seriously! Everyone can open it with ease..one touch of the remote and up it goes...then there's me..one touch of the remote..up about one-quarter of an inch then stops..hit the remote again..goes down..hit remote..up one-quarter of an inch AND an extra inch..this goes on for about five minutes..then finally..after the garage door has had its fun with me..does it go up...I know my neighbors have got to be watching from their dining room window just laughing their ass off..why do you hate me garage door..what have I ever done to you...well other than run into you twice and throw you off your track...but seriously..can't we just be friends?!?

Most Expensive Yarn

I've read a few topics on Ravelry regarding the price of yarn...how much would you pay for yarn? the most expensive yarn you've bought? would you pay this much for yarn? I always read these threads with great interest because I know, for me, I don't mind paying a pretty penny for a great skein of yarn. Its a matter of quality. I love the texture. The feel of the yarn working through my fingers and the excitement I get when I see my project grow into something beautiful and unique. I love exotic fibers and I guess you can call me a yarn snob...once you start knitting with quality fibers you can tell the difference between cheaper yarns (and I say that with no insult intended) and the more expensive yarns. Knitting for me is more than a hobby for me...it's a way of escape...an outlet for my creativity and something I sincerely love and adore. Who can put a price on that? Btw the most expensive yarn I've purchased would be a skein of Qivuit...$78 and I'm going to make myself something gloooorious with that skein..I promise ;)