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Jan 15, 2008
Much To Say I've got a lot to talk about. Actual knitting content this time. No silly pictures of my personal life to distract so the UFOs can slip by unnoticed. Of course, I don't much feel like talking, I have to clean up the house. lol Quick personal update, Kyran started daycare Monday. It's crazy. Just me and the little Bird now. To help fill up my day, I joined a gym. That's really all that's going on. Oh yeah, check this cute lil' penguin gal out! Isn't she adorable?! She needs a name though. Got any suggestions? Now, onto the knitting. Oh, she came from Teenybeak.
Digitessa is coming along beautifully, when I work on her. You know me, the sizzle of a new project always dies a bit fast. I've already started and finished several quick projects since the new year. Despite my deal with myself. It's okay though, I've only got myself to answer to. No knitting police. :) Tree Jacket and Serpentine Mitts have both hit a kind of plateau.
 There has been some finishing though. Don't you worry. I finished that scarf for my friend, I should be sending it off tomorrow. Today was the first good day for taking pictures. It's not exactly exciting. Just a simple black scarf, but he seems really happy with it. And I actually blocked it. *giggle* Yeah, I'm one of those people who says "Well...it looks fine, it doesn't need to be blocked, right?" Since it's a gift however, and needed to be washed for softness sake, I did the right thing. lol  For myself, there was The Fidget and a book strap. The book strap was my own design. Something quick and  simple, a bookmark that will actually STAY! For goodness sake. Fidget was done with some of the leftovers from the Unoriginal Hat. Oh, can I just tell you how much I love my Fidget though? It's soft, and it stays right where I want it. I hate scarves, don't wear them. Probably why I hardly knit them. They don't want to behave themselves. When I was done with the photoshoot for The Fidget though, I didn't want to take it off!! Definitely making more. Although, I did make this with worsted weight yarn instead of bulky, which is recommended by the pattern. I wanted it to be thinner, it's perfect. P-E-R-F-E-C-T! Now for the little blurb about the book strap. And the "pattern", if you can call it that. I don't. It's more like...guidelines really. ;) Ever shoved a book into your purse or backpack, only to discover later that the paper  bookmark slipped out? Dunno about you, but my children like to steal my bookmarks, it’s like a sport. This super awesome bookmark STAYS where you put it! And as an added bonus only takes about 10 minutes tops. Here it is: Leave a 12” tail, crochet a chain twice the length of the spine, and then some. Make a small loop by sl st through the chain somewhere. No real instructions…no counting. Just guess people! Sew on a button ABOVE the loop. To use: Pull long tail through loop, then bring up through book and around the outside (round the outside….). Wrap tail around button. When you want to read, simply slide off. Works best with paperbacks. My Flickr and Ravelry both offer more pictures of the book strap that should help clear up the instructions for use. I hope. Just click the picture of it to go to Flickr, or you can sign into Ravelry. It's in my FOs, but you'll have to scroll down a bit to find it. Labels: book strap, Fidget, finished object, penguin, scarf 12:48 | | 
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Jan 8, 2008
No Resolution I decided I'm not doing resolutions this year. Why make a list of all of the things I hate about myself, only to still be just me? Maybe I improve one little thing, like taking over the finances, or doing laundry more often. In the long run...it's really not helpful to me. When something becomes a problem, I fix it. I like things that way and don't need to point out all of my faults, then stress about how I'm not keeping my resolutions. The closest thing I have, is that I refuse to cast on any new projects till all of my UFOs are either frogged or FO'ed. Which is actually more of a goal than a resolution. I just want to enjoy this year, last year really seemed to be tough, there were definite good things that happened. Ups and downs like every other year.
 This year was definitely a good year knitting-wise. Though, I haven't been knitting for very long. Participated in some swaps, met up with awesome knitters, finished a lot of projects. Tried a few new things. Look at those finished objects! It makes me feel rather productive. But was I a fearless knitter? I'm sure some of you read the Knitting Daily.
How about you? Did you Knit Fearlessly?
I like to think I did, the knitters at my LYS say I'm a challenge oriented knitter, and are always impressed by the way I jump into projects.
What would you knit in 2008 if you were really the knitter you've always dreamed of being?
A shawl. Actually, several shawls, some lightweight lacy ones, maybe a simple worsted one. Functional knits. Things that I would wear more than look at. More gifts.
Here's some things to think about:
• Is there something you haven't tried because it seems Too Scary?
Hm. Not really. No shawls, not because they are "too scary", but because of my fear of becoming bored and abandoning them. So, a fear of commitment?
• Is there a technique you want to learn, or learn to do more skillfully?
Color-work. I'm not 100% pleased with the way my stranding looks.Beading? I guess. Seaming.
• Is there something that stumps you?
Um...nope. I've always been able to figure things out, even if I need help to do it.
 • Is there something that you are dying to try, in your secret knitter's heart, but haven't dared because you think you're not a good enough knitter?
I guess I am a fearless knitter, I've never shied away from a pattern or project because I didn't think I could do it. However, spinning on the other hand...I want to spin enough balanced/consistent yarn to knit a sweater.
• Are you always knitting The Same Old Things, and you'd like to try something new?
For awhile it was socks, socks, socks. However, I think I've really expanded my repertoire, as it were. Even learned to crochet a bit!
• Do you always knit for others, and never for yourself? Or perhaps you only knit yourself accessories, but never a lovely cardigan or pullover to wear?
Actually, I'm a selfish knitter. Occasionally I knit for others.... I'm not sure that makes me a fearless knitter. It might be indicative of the opposite. I'm afraid that the beloved knitting will end up at the bottom of someone else's closet and go unappreciated.
 So, I think I might be a fearless knitter...but my confidence in other areas is lacking. Note to self: work on being a fearless crocheter and spinner. :) I've posted random pictures of my weekend and all throughout.  Labels: friends, goals, hair, hanging out, Jayne Hat, kids, knitting, life, lists/surveys, pictures, reflections, resolutions, updating, weekend 23:43 | |
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Jan 3, 2008
Quick, Fast, and In a Hurry Real quick post. Lots of pictures again. I need to clean up, my best friend should be on her way down here as we speak I type. Not that she would care if my place was a disaster, but I do. Anyways, I took some pictures the other night, which should be obvious since I changed that display pic on my blog (and my avatar on Ravelry, but some of you might not be on there yet).
Let's see, there are some knitting piccies, baby piccies, and a LOT of my new dress! Yes, the really awesomely cute one Mr. Shad bought for me. You really are going to want to click on some of these pictures so that you can see the larger sizes. That first one for example, I am actually knitting in it, but it's not super obvious until you see the larger version.
So here is the dress:
 Here is my streaker son (I don't know why he was wearing shoes but not pants....I asked Heather but she just said "He took his pants off"):  And the scarf I'm knitting in the pictures. It's the Harlot's One Row scarf, in black Wool Pak 14-ply for my friend Helios. Helios is on MSG duty (those guys who get to stand around at the embassies and whatnot) and he asked me for a scarf. :) Let's hope he likes it! It's a little scratchy, I'm hoping a nice wool wash (I still have that Soak) will soften it up. Opinions?  ETA: Some delicious Dexter based stash enhancement  Labels: dress, knitting, pictures, scarf 12:04 | |
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