Too Late, Hot Plate! Buh-Bye, Oh-8!

I have no wonderful, witty way to wrap up the year. In fact, I am having a bit of trouble trying to remember just what happened. I am not going to risk pulling a mental muscle attempting to recall. It was either a year that flew by, or one that lasted forever. I think it might be the latter.

I believe I finished between 35 and 40 knits this year. I suppose that is not too bad. There were a few things left unfinished, some things I never got around to knitting, and some knits returned to stash.

I have quite enjoyed reading all the eloquent and touching send-offs of this year, and ushering in of the new one. That brings me to one of the best parts of this year--the blogging. No, I do not mean my blogging. My blogging quite lacks in quality. Still, I have had some fun with it. Reading what you all have written has been much more entertaining.

Then there have been the comments. They are what make the blogging experience come to life. When you invite me to comment, you let me into your world. I cannot express how much I appreciate the ones you have made here. You have offered me encouragement and comfort in difficult times, and you have joined in with cheerful celebrations during the good. I have enjoyed the greater connections and relationships with other bloggers this year. You are wonderful.

Budding Halfway

I thought for sure today was going to have more time for knitting. I only made it through the seventh repeat of budding lace. Still, that is half the number the pattern calls for, so I am making decent progress. I did have something of an artificial deadline of finishing this before the year changes, but I do not have my heart set on it. I am already thinking about my next lace. It might be the Lilac Leaf Shawl (Rav link) from Knitted Lace of Estonia, but I am not sure. Yesterday, I came across some yarn in the stash I want to use, and hope it will work with this pattern.

Anyway, the yarn has been nice so far, and I am quite enjoying the Harmony tips I am using to knit the piece. I really like these wooden needles. Generally, I prefer my slick metal needles, but these are also good. I would not mind having more of the Harmony needles one day. I am not in a hurry to obtain more. I do have a nice supply of needles already.

Speaking of the quest for acquisition, I was surprised the other day. I was browsing over on the elann site, and I felt a sudden urge to purchase. I was thinking about multiple sweater-quantities of yarn. Then I snapped out of it and moved on with life. It was weird. Then again, so am I.

Why Finish Today?

Rather than work on anything I have in progress, I decided that I needed something new. I know this can put the other projects in danger, but I am OK with this. Besides, what do I really have in progress right now? I need to rip back the socks because they are not working. The amigurumi tiger will happen when I am ready to pick up the hook. Ice Queen is temporarily frozen, and does not want to be touched. So, really, I have practically nothing on the needles.

I am feeling a wee bit tense at present. I am working through it and preparing myself, but there is no getting around the fact that there is some stress. So, what is a good remedy to such a situation? I cannot think of anything better than lace. I thought of some special yarn, and after that it was a short leap to the right pattern. There was a brief moment of panic when I could not remember where I had placed my pattern binder. Yes, the quest for organization occasionally bites me squarely on the buttocks.

Anyway, I am getting ready to wind the yarn and cast on for a new Swallowtail Shawl. This is going to be small, and probably a gift. I feel like this bright color is a good choice right now. This will be my first time working with Malabrigo yarn. According to Ravelry, people have finished this pattern with this yarn over 100 times, so this is probably a safe choice. I am considering beads in place of nupps, but I am not sure. Maybe I will do the nupps, and then place beads in the peaked edging. That sounds better, but perhaps a bit too busy. We will see what happens. I still have a bit to go before I need to make a decision. Ah, now that is a comforting thought.

Some Sunday Spindling

I grabbed some fiber and the drop spindle today. I thought I would breeze my way through a pile of blue. The pile of blue had other plans. This was my first go-around with this fiber. It seems like it might benefit from a little more preparation.

I have not branched out much in the fiber prep end of spinning. For one thing, I worry about ruining something. Since this stuff needs more help before I can really get down to spinning it, I am ready to jump in and see what happens. Yes, I might mess it up horribly, but if I do nothing, I will not spin it. The colors are too beautiful to just sit in a bag.

The first step will be to wash the fiber. Actually, I first have to wash dishes so that I have access to the sink. Maybe I will just get out the wheel and spin some fiber that is ready now.

That's a Tiger By My Toes

I like the feel of my Red Brick Road sock, but I am not thrilled with the look of it. The mock cable does not show up well with this yarn. I will knit it a bit more before I decide whether to rip or not. The alpaca is so nice and soft, but it may work up better in a different stitch pattern.

I have also been working on an amigurumi tiger. Now that I have the head and all of its details finished, I should be done with this soon. Sewing on the stripes has not been my favorite part of this, but it is turning out to be so cute. I keep looking at the other Chinese Zodiac critters, and I want to make more.

Well, I need to finish up for the night and switch to weather-aware mode. They are predicting possible bad stuff for the middle of the night. I am going to make sure we have the volume up on the weather radio. I am operating on the theory that if we are prepared, nothing will happen. Also, I am hoping that we have earned some credit with all the recent power blips of late, and our electricity will stay on through it all.

To the Red Brick Road

I suppose I could have explained the picture from yesterday and how it added to the specialness of the day. Those were my baby chickens and my sister. It was quite a day we all had together. I noticed some changes in my family. I am pleased to say that many of those are positive. I think I might have appeared off my game a bit, but I really enjoyed the day.

Right now, my day-of-the-week sense is on its ear. Yesterday felt like a Saturday or Sunday, today felt like a Tuesday, and tomorrow seems like it should be Monday. How I came up with that last one puzzles me a bit. I think it might be that I am missing my Skanks, and I need to knit with them soon.

It has taken me a moment to move on from all the gift knitting of late. I have had some difficulty thinking of what I want to make for myself. It is not as though I have been stuck thinking about things to knit for others. However, there was a moment yesterday when I was. Someone announced that I have never knit for her. Her statement was incorrect, but it stirred up many feelings. It nearly had me casting on something for her last night, but I worked my way through it.

Now I am ready to grab the needles and knit something I have not knit since spring. I am knitting a pair of socks. The Red Brick Road (Rav link) socks look nice and easy. It is worked at a gauge of 6spi, so they might even be a quick knit. In continuing with the weird and different, I might even follow the pattern as written.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you spent the day the way that brought you the most meaning and peace!

No More Teenagers*

After a sleepless night of ripping out and re-trying the applied cord several different ways, I stumbled my way through today. I do not know if I could have slept if I did not have the hat to finish, but I am done pondering it. I am also done with the hat. The next time you see it, the son should be wearing it.

I may be a bit punchy. I caught a couple of thirty-minute, poor-quality naps. I also did a favor for a dear, elderly woman by braving Wal-Mart to pick up three things for her. To give you a clearer picture of the scene, I will let you know that my right flip-flop broke just before I entered the store.

Yes, the weather permitted flip-flops today. Earlier this week it was in the teens, and today it was in the sixties. There was also a possible tornado about five miles away from my home.

Now I get weepy at Christmas songs and Christmas movies. I definitely need the sleep. It feels a bit odd this year. It is different, but I may have a bit more peace.

*Happy Birthday, Tawn-Tawn! Congratulations on making it to the big 2-0!

Drama Llamas and the I-Cord of Infinite Madness

Apply, rip, repeat.

Found It!

I discovered that I was not the only one to have given up on Knit.1. I checked the stores I recalled seeing the magazine in the past, only to find they no longer carry it. I cannot say that I blame them. I had never purchased a single issue.

Anyway, today I was out shopping with my mom and sister. We will block out all memory of this endeavor save this--I finally found my magazine.

More Muttering

1. Carpet :: burn


2. Bottoms :: up
   


3. Music :: machine


4. Nails :: tough


5. Watch it! :: idiot


6. Your life :: sucks


7. Candies :: wheelchair


8. Chafing :: powder


9. Svelte :: exercise
   


10. Ding :: dong

In Danger of a Popcorn OD

We went to the movie theater with family tonight. The selection for the evening was Bolt. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the movie. Some people overdid it with the popcorn.

"I haven't hurt myself this much with popcorn since the last time we went to the movies."
-Brucie-

Still, we came home with the two large buckets refilled one more time.

Insert Star Wars Joke Here

I have made my way over to the Darkside (Rav link) in cowl form. These were fun, quick knits, and I think I need to knit one more. I used Mission Falls 1824 Wool for them both. I love them, and hope the recipients enjoy them.

I have come to accept that some of the mailed packages will arrive late. At first, I was a bit frantic, but when I saw I could not make it happen on time, I finally relaxed. Actually, I do not know if I gave up or relaxed. I suppose the result is the same either way.

We have not done baked any cookies or made any candy. I figure that might happen next week if it happens at all. I keep thinking that some unexpected person or invitation is going to pop up and set us back to scrambling. Unless something like that happens, I think I am staying home. Have you been out there? It is more than a bit nutty. We have rainy, foggy, drizzly weather and it was nearly 70 degrees today. Sunday they have predicted a wind-chill of 15 degrees.

Hat's All You Get Today

The gift knitting has been great, but today it messed with the blogging. I had a post nearly ready to go when I realized it would have to wait. Life is like that some days. So today, you just get a picture of the inside of a hat. Tomorrow should be better.

Knitting Together

Because the daughter came over to spend the night, I missed getting out to knit with everyone tonight as I had planned. However, that does not mean the needles were idle, or that I knit alone. I was clicking away all evening, and someone else picked hers up again after a having laid them down years ago.

Tanya asked what happened to the scarf she began in high school. She had taken it home with her, but brought it back over here a few months ago. I was able to surprise her by knowing right where it was. She was able to surprise herself by watching me knit a couple of rows and then she was off and knitting again. This is her first knitting. I did try to advise her to choose different yarn back then, but this was what she wanted. She still likes what she is making, but now understands what I tried to tell her.

Later on, she mentioned how the long needles were getting in the way and that her hands were getting tired. I introduced her to circs, and she loves them. She hopes to finish her scarf in time for a trip later this month. Her knitting time has been abbreviated this evening as she is studying for her last two finals. After that, the schedule is open, and she should have plenty of time to knit if she so chooses.

Losing Track of the Days

I seriously just had a brief panic when I could not remember the day of the week. Anyway, tinking back mohair is so much fun. It is almost as fun as trying to use too small beads. I have the Ice Queen back on track. It is now an enjoyable knit. I really do not feel too bad about taking out that round because it allowed me to change my beads. It was just a bit of a pain to do, but no more than fighting those little beads another two hundred times (or however many beads this thing takes). Also, I will probably be finding beads around here for years. I feel I exercised the greatest self-control in that I did not throw any of them, tempted though I was.

I have also made this much progress on weaving in ends. There are just so many of them! I estimate there are about fifty more to go. Then I can work that applied i-cord edging. This has been a great hat to knit, and I feel a little bit of anxiety about giving it to the son. Speaking of him, I need to think of one more thing to get him for Christmas.

In other news, today, I bought a Wii Fit for the Christmas Eve daughter. I was afraid we might not find one. If I had known she wanted one, I would have picked one up earlier and not had the stress. I continually change my mind about whether I will knit anything for her or not. I really think it depends on time, and whether I think she would like a Calorimetry.

Icy Insanity

They have issued a freezing rain advisory nearby. Maybe it is a sign that I should knit an Ice Queen. Perhaps I am just avoiding the weaving in of a million ends on a certain hat. Of course, before I attempt to tackle any of these things, I need to do something about this headache.

Simple Sunday

1. Travel :: lost


2. Expensive :: crap
   

1. Backspace :: edit


2. Traffic noise :: headache


3. Now see here :: younglady


4. Vegetables :: soup


5. Chat :: prattle


6. Your calling :: unanswered


7. Weekly :: rant


8. Oh! :: dear

Tick-Tock

I had a great time at the Little Barn party today. The gift exchange went wonderfully. The package I brought was well received. As for my prizes, I received a great bag of fiber, an adorable lambie ornament, and the cutest little spindle pin. I recognized the beautiful blue fiber from a recent road trip my friends took. I love what they do with color, and I am excited to discover what this becomes.

The folks at Little Barn gave us all bags of coffee, and it smells wonderful. It might be just what I need to finish the Christmas knitting. I'm just being silly, of course. I will not need to forgo sleep. I still have a bit to go, but it should be totally doable. Now that I have reached the crown, the rounds on Taki's hat are getting smaller and smaller. I think I am making a pair of felted slippers for Tanya, and they should be quick. I do have a few other little things I would like to make, but they are on the optional list.

The mittens for me and spinning have helped to make the gift knitting come along. Taking these nice little breaks for myself have kept me from burning out on knitting for others. Now I am going to get back to knitting and watching It's a Wonderful Life. I may make it to the top of this hat by bedtime.

Win-Win, Right?

I made it out to a yarn store today to check out the sale. It was all very lovely. I only purchased a little. My biggest task was to find something for the party out at Little Barn tomorrow. I started by looking through the spinning fibers. There were some lovelies. If the discount on the merino/silk blend had been better, I would have picked up a bag for me, and one for the gift. Anyway, it was very nice to listen to people decide their purchases. I saw some beautiful knitting in progress, and felt the tension amongst those trying to finish many gifts over the next 1 1/2 weeks.

When I arrived at the store, I was cold. I had on my mittens, coat, and a sweater over my regular clothes. My husband insists I am coming down with something. I am resisting. As I warmed up, I kept stacking my belongings on a chair. When I checked out, my pile of clothes was bigger than my pile of purchases. I finally decided on the Flower Basket Shawl pattern and a skein of Dream in Color Baby in the Ruby River colorway. Lovely, isn't it? I hardly want to give it away.

Therein lie my win-win thoughts. If I keep it, I have a wonderful new pattern and fabulous yarn. If I go to the party, I will be giving a great gift (I love to give gifts!), and it is probably good that I get out and socialize.

What usps.com and I Have in Common*

First, we had the rain, and now we have the cold. A local newscaster said something to the effect that whether it freezes depends on what happens with the temperature. She said this while holding up a giant thermometer.

I have kept busy today, but have almost nothing of interest to show. I am nearly done with a garter scarf. I finished another Calorimetry. I have made my way through about 30% of the next bobbin of Indian Summer singles. Can you stand the excitement? I am thinking this might become a three-ply yarn. If that is the case, I will need to spin a third bobbin of singles to go with these two. Oh, dear! Did I really just write that? The local newspeoples have eaten my brain!

I have been working on a possible present for a friend. I really hope it works out the way I have it planned. I cannot write anything else about it or show pictures, as she has been known to peek in over here.

There is a holiday shindig on Saturday at Little Barn, and if I am to attend, I need to get the gift together. There is going to be one of those gift exchange things. I am not such a huge fan of them, but sometimes they work out well. I had wanted to order one of those Andean Chullo Kits, but when I last checked they were listed as unavailable until next year.

If I have my way tomorrow, I am getting out of the house and try to find adventure. There is a sale at a yarn store, and I may check out the offerings. Also, is the new knit.1 out yet? That's not a question I thought I would ever ask. Anyway, I caught the preview, and it looks like there are good patterns in it.

*We have both been experiencing temporary online outages. What it means for you is I cannot seem to come up with coherent comments to write on your blogs. What it means for me is an actual trip to the post office.

Wishing Wednesday

If you see me whispering into my new mittens, I am probably just checking to see if they really are magic. Also, it might be a poor choice to surprise me at that moment.

We are getting ready for a dip back down to colder weather, and I am glad to have these finished. Knitting these mittens for me has helped with the gift knitting. I feel ready to get back to knitting for others.

Take a Day Off Tuesday

Thank you for all of the kind words and support. I have taken the day off to rest. I will get back online Wednesday.

Mopey Monday

Actually, I am not moping. I feel bad because of a crushing disappointment. It is one of those times when my feelings reflect reality. There are many things that I do not understand, and this is one of them. The solution to this has never been in my hands, and in some ways, it is not something that can be fixed. What I do have is the choice and the power to continue in love.

I suppose that is enough dancing around a topic I cannot discuss with everyone. I am home, and that is good. I left my pillow at the hotel, and that is not good. Perhaps I am about to find an even better pillow. Yes, I am reaching.

I just heard the mail truck, so I will get the kettle going while I walk up to the mailbox. Then I will sip some tea or cocoa and treadle away in silence. That seems to be the right thing to do.

Meandering Meanderings

The journey is going well, so far. I put on my red-light headlamp and knit the whole way down here. During the drive, I finished another hat and made it about a third of the way through a new Calorimetry. Once we settled ourselves in our room, (yay, wifi!) I decided to go for a nap and then a little more Calorimetry. I knit it to the midway point and set it aside. Unless I am awake in the middle of the night looking for mindless knitting, it will wait for tomorrow.

I plan to knit on my right mitten until I go to sleep, which should be soon. I am going to change the Susan Bates Silverado needle out for a Knit Picks fixed circular. Those cables will go even more smoothly with the pointier tip. I remembered to bring a highlighter so I can mark out the rows on the chart as I make my way up the mitten. To think, I could be wearing new mittens soon.

Since none of my knitting today has been particularly picture-worthy, I leave you with something from Friday night. The birthday party was wonderful. Mom loves her new lace. My niece was also thrilled with the scarf I knit for her. Today is her birthday. Happy 4th Birthday, KOH!

Packing

I am about to be away from home until Monday. Right now, the biggest questions in my mind revolve around what and how much knitting to pack. I will probably bring more than I need, but that is preferable to running out of things to knit. Most of this will be mindless or low-level concentration knitting, but I am also bringing my right Magic Mirror Mitten.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I finished it this morning, and was able to block it and have it ready for the party this evening. I like this yarn, and love this pattern. Even though there was pressure associated with the bumpy beginnings of this project and the serious time-crunch, this was such a great knit. I think knowing that I was knitting this for my mom added to the enjoyment.

This was my first experience knitting with Dream in Color Baby. I like it. It was a pleasure to knit with, I like the coloring, and blocked into beautiful lace. I am glad I decided to knit this on US 6 needles. I worked twenty-five repeats of the center chart, and the piece ended up being around 19"x68" after blocking. My only other modifications were the two eyelet rows I omitted, and I did not create the scallops on the sides in the blocking process.

Going Postal

I do not know why mailing things is such a deal for me, but it is. I am determined to get these out of my home and to the places they belong. I am a bit embarrassed at how long a couple of these items have waited. I have to write notes for a couple of the packages, but that should not take long at all. I love that I can take care of the rest of it online. I do not even have to drive to the post office. I can use the carrier pick-up service. Still, it will probably take me one more day to finish this task. I am ridiculous.

Need to Nupp

Project monogamy has made the blogging this week a little more difficult. I have been working Mom's lace. I have developed a nice rhythm with it. It feels like I am moving quickly through the center. It is easy to go from thinking, "I'll just go to the end of this repeat," to finding that I went past that and I am back to the nupp row. Once I knit the nupps, I might as well knit to the end of the chart, and the cycle continues. These are the most enjoyable nupps of my knitting life. Anyway, I am now hopeful that this will be a birthday present. I have passed the halfway point.

Wednesday night knitting had a happy bonus. Life finally allowed a friend to get out to knit with us. It was so wonderful to see her. I have missed her very much. The night flew. The knitting grew while we caught up on things. The next thing I knew, the barista alerted us to the fact that the store closed ten minutes previously.

Another thing that happened tonight was a request for a progress shot of the llama earflap hat. Now, with such kindness and flattery, how can I refuse?

Responsibili-Tuesday

Ten Ways to Save Money

Coupons
Stock Up
Adjust the Thermostat
Drive Slower
Inflate Tires
Exercise
Plan Ahead
Stay Home
Make a Budget
Eat at Home
DIY

Wear a Hat Night

Tonight was the 2nd annual Wear-A-Hat Night at Skanky Knitting. This is always the first Monday after Thanksgiving. All of that wool made being next to the door more tolerable.

I had hoped to have a different hat to wear this year, but it was not to be. I am formulating a plan for a small knitalong after the first of the year. If I can make it happen, I know which hat I will be wearing next time.

I Made It!

Why, yes, I did make another mistake on this lace, but I think it is one I can live with. I noticed that I neglected to work an eyelet row between the edging and center. I will just do the same on the other end. I saw this after I had worked two center chart repeats. Speaking of the center chart, I began knitting it in garter instead of stockinette. I am glad I noticed this after only one incorrect row.

I have accidentally yanked a needle out of the work halfway. Twice. I was able to get back on track easily enough. These kinds of problems are unusual for me.

There are good things to report on this project. Making the nupps has been smooth. I bumped up two needle sizes, and I am glad for that decision. I think the lace looks better this way. This really is not a complicated pattern. My brain is just a bit fuzzy. Sometimes knitting something that requires a bit more concentration helps. I do not think this is one of those times. Therefore, I am going to work on something a bit less complicated today.

My plan for today is to knit hats and bask in the glory of successfully completing NaBloPoMo. I am surprised to have made it all the way through. No photo because the batteries need charging.

It Fits!

I could not wait any longer to find out. Now, I just have to wrap it, and wait for Christmas to see her open it.

Plans Change

My Friday of sitting to knit and spin was not. Due to unforeseen complications, today was another day of watching my nephew. He has been so great that he is spending the night, too. We played a lot of video games, and engaged in general silliness.

Anyway, I still took time to knit today. I worked a few more rounds on the llama earflap hat. I have one more small chart before I begin the crown chart. I will have enough yarn to knit a few of these if I so choose. I think these kits could be nice gifts for fellow knitters. I am not planning anything, but the idea just struck me.

I worked on more hats for Jean. My nephew had cold ears and put on one of the finished hats. It did not take long before he needed to take it off because he was too hot. I take that to be a good sign. My husband continues to admire the growing pile, and thinks it would be a good idea to make some hats to keep.
I did not get to the re-start of my mom's Peacock Tail and Leaf Scarf. I began it on Monday, but had to frog it. I began knitting the first chart in stockinette instead of garter lace. I was halfway through that chart when I saw my error, but it looked like it would work, so I continued. I worked the change in stitch count and began the main chart. It was then that I saw it would not work. I also wonder if maybe I ought to go up one needle size. What do you think?

My only disappointment in frogging this is that I had hoped it would be my mom's birthday present on Friday (December 5), but that does not appear likely. I have backup plans, so I am not too worried. It will be a wonderful gift whenever I finish it.

Speaking of gifts, I want to knit Miralda's Triangular Shawl (rav link) for someone. I may want to spin the yarn for it, too. I just thought of my bag of CVM. Yes, that could be lovely. Maybe I should make one for me, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Like other important days, it is not a once-a-year occurrence. I am happier when I am thankful. The irritations of life matter less when I focus on the blessings of my life. Appreciation snuffs the flames of the wanna-get-mores. Acknowledging all that I have shows me more ways I can help others. Knowing that there are people thankful for me is humbling.

S'more Smatterings

I would like to be sleeping right now. The more I do tonight, the later I can sleep in tomorrow. Therefore, I am making a S'more Pie. I was going to link to the recipe, but the one listed on the Keebler graham cracker crust site is not the one on the back of the old label that I use. Also, I do not use frozen non-dairy whipped topping (thawed), but rather real whipped cream.

I have frogged another knit. I will probably show you on Friday. I would love to show it half-finished by then, but that just is not going to happen. I actually do not want to finish it that quickly. It will be an enjoyable knit once I get it back on track. The yarn and pattern are wonderful, and it is to be a special gift.

It is almost midnight, so I had better hit that publish button. I can hardly believe I have made it this far with NaBloPoMo.

Hats Everywhere!

I decided to settle in with the wool and knit some hats for Jean. I do not know how many I will be able to knit, but I love knitting them. I just need to remember when I put that other bag of yarn. Wait! I do believe I sorted it into its proper bins. Imagine that, eh? Yes, the yarn I want to use is in one of the bottom containers. I will get to it when I need it. I do have a bit of other yarn to knit with for now.

Anyway, these hats are great for on-the-go knitting. I grabbed one of my smaller knitting bags, a needle, an assortment of yarns, and carry it with me everywhere. I am close to finishing the second hat. The automatic knitting has soothed me when I worried, and helped to pass time when I have needed to wait. I think I have knit half of a hat in Costco. I definitely need to take this with me to the grocery store tomorrow.

I am pleased with the way I have been doing jogless color changes as I add the stripes. It is fantastic to completely use some small balls of yarn that I have been saving. For example, I am completely out of the green I have used on these first two hats. I think the next one will have mostly red along with an oatmeal. I am getting to remember other things I knit as I work through each small ball of yarn.

I feel strongly about doing quality work when I knit for charity. I sometimes worry about it a bit more than is helpful. What have helped me to quiet those concerns have been the compliments on what I am knitting. I tried the first hat on myself to see that it would fit a somewhat larger head. Then I tried it on my husband. He said, "Oooh, this is a nice hat. Who is it for, buddy?" I think maybe he needs a new hat, too, but he will have to wait.

The Good Thing About Mondays

I planned to shop for buttons, and then a brief knit with my Skanks. I did not think I would stay the whole time because I was feeling bleh. I am so glad I stayed. I had a great time, and my wonderful friends boosted my spirits tremendously. Those laughs helped so much.

While it was not a productive night of knitting, it was wonderful in so many other ways. The anticipation for next week's annual event certainly gave the evening extra energy. I think the night has helped to ready us for this week and all of its busyness.

The icing on the cake for the evening? Helen bought me this:

Mmmm...must knit these gloves.

Sunday Spin

It seems like the busier I get, the more I enjoy my ten minutes with the wheel. I had gotten out of the habit, and it feels good to be back at it. I still have days where I fail to make time to spin, and the wheel lets me know about it.

I do prefer to spin for longer than ten minutes. Still, those minutes add up, and the bobbin is filling at a steady pace. I am not in a hurry. Although I look forward to finishing the yarn and starting the mittens, I have plenty to keep me busy.

Yes, the daily spinning time is great, but I need to schedule a spinning day soon. I would like to get out the fiber bins, the spindles, the wheel, and just play. I have some fibers in the stash that I have not yet sampled. I find that to be a nice, relaxing, and inspiring way to spend time. Also, I think it would be a great break from all of the busyness. When I am trying out a new fiber, I do not yet have any expectation of the yarn I will create. I just get to know it, and see what happens. Yes, I want to do this soon. I think I might like to invite a friend to join in on the fun. That is a little scary for me. I think I should sit back down at the wheel to calm myself.

Llamas Up to Here

Some knitting goes better with extended, uninterrupted stretches of quiet. This hat is that kind of knitting. I feel like I have the hang of the Philosopher's Wool style of two-handed Fair Isle knitting. I will not use this method every time for colorwork, but it is good for this hat, and I think I will like it for mittens and gloves.

This is also a very entertaining knit. I like watching as the llamas grow. Next up are their little heads and flowers. I think I want to use the Flourish and Spirals for the last two small charts. After that, it is time for the crown. This is not a quick knit, but I am making good progress. I would really like to have it finished by December 1.

Friday Frog

When I first thought of knitting a February Lady Sweater, there was no doubt in my mind that it would be for me. However, I did not get around to starting one until NaKniSweMo. I thought of making one for me and one for my sister. I loved the idea of using the same yarn in different purples. I had one that I knew she would prefer, and I love the other. I thought that I would knit mine first, working out any modifications and stumbling through any problems. Then I would knit hers, and it would benefit from any improvements. Then I thought that it would be better to knit hers first so that it could be a Christmas present. Also, if I did not have it in me to knit back-to-back FLS, hers would be done.

There is another reason I knit the FLS for my sister. If you remember the Annie I was knitting for her, you might also recall my worries about its size. Well, I put it on waste yarn and tried it on me. It was too big. My gauge was correct. I decided to do a little research. It did not take long to see why I was displeased with the way this top was going. You see, when I first purchased the pattern, the only modeled picture was on a mannequin. I thought it was going to be close fitting. I did not have the benefit of the human modeling it with a belt. This was not the look my sister wanted. I will give this top a go again in the smaller size, and hope it works. However, I am not so keen to start it again just yet. The big fail has squashed my enthusiasm for the project for now.

When I knew what must be done, I could not immediately frog it. I had to set it aside and try to shake off the experience. It kept creeping in on me, leaking anxiety onto my other knitting. I finally was able to move on, and was ready to do what had to be done. Satisfying.

Put My Left Hand In

The new sweater is still not dry, but it is getting close. I love this sweater. I tried it on, and began to wonder if perhaps my sister might like a scented candle or bubble bath for Christmas instead. Actually, I am excited to give this to her, and feel great about having it done. Well, it still needs buttons, but that is not a problem.

Lately, my knitting has been for others. I love to knit for people, but it is important to make things for me, too. With one major present completed, I knew it was time for me. As I thought of what I wanted to knit for myself, my cold hands called out the most. I thought about starting something from Selbuvotter, but I already had colorwork going. Then the new Knotions went live, and I knew what I wanted to knit.

I had first noticed the Magic Mirror Mittens in Ravelry queues, and was immediately interested. This is a wonderful pattern. I have already finished the left mitten. It was quick and fun. I look forward to knitting the second mitten even more because of the direction of the cables on that one. Those are easier for me to knit. I am excited about having a new pair of mittens soon.

Whew!

Time to cast on something new.

Thankful Tuesday

Ten Things I Am Thankful for This Year
(in no particular order)1. Love
2. Chocolate
3. My husband
4. Skanky Knitters
5. My family
6. Ice Cream
7. My faith
8. My home
9. Flowers
10. Friendship

Sweet!

Here is a bit of sweetness to brighten your Monday. The pattern is the Cupcake Hat, and it is quick and easy to make.

I am pleased to have something accomplished today. For some reason, I am a bit stalled out, but I am steaming forward and trying to keep moving. I may even try to make it out to knit with everyone tonight.

Sleepy Sunday

I think I took two naps today. I also sat at the wheel for a while and thought about the mittens I plan to knit from the yarn I am spinning. This inspired me to get out a new book. I started a baby hat while flipping through its pages. I'm not sure if I spent more time looking at the patterns or reading the history and techniques. I saw so many I want to make from this book. I just need to set it down and get some things done. My hands long for a new pair of mittens, but for now, they will have to settle for a cup of tea.

Home Again

We are glad to be home again, and I am pleased to say that everything went well. In fact, it went better than well, in that we saw rays of hope. While we do not want to get our expectations too high or be unrealistic about the situation, it is nice to be able to look forward to possibility. Much of what has made these trips so difficult has been the seemingly hopelessness of it all. Oftentimes, this has overshadowed the joy that we have experienced through it all, and been so painful as to knock us down for days afterwards. I will leave this topic for now, knowing that I am not alone in my prayers for December 8th.

More good things happened while we were gone. I enjoyed some fabulous car-knitting. This resulted in a Calorimetry for Mom. I saw some buttons in the store the other day, and thought that they would be a possibility for these, and they work wonderfully. I am quite pleased, as the weather has made a turn for the much cooler.

I am glad to have so much knitting ahead of me to help warm others and myself, and celebrate many happy occasions. A baby's first birthday is rapidly sneaking up on us. In addition, today we received news of an upcoming wedding.

Photo-less Friday

We probably have a short road trip tomorrow. In fact, I should be asleep right now in preparation for the journey. I feel guilty about wishing we would call the whole thing off, but then I would feel guilty if we did not go.

Anyway, I hope to get in some good knitting time while we are gone. I will bring FLS along, but that is backup knitting. I think the Lace Ribbon Scarf and Calorimetry are better choices for travel. On the other hand, the sweater is getting so close, I feel like racing through to the finish.

Of course, with the wacky travel schedule we have, my car time is likely to be spent sleeping or driving.

Taking a Breath

Thank you all for the encouragement and suggestions. Both knitting as fast as I can and holding my breath seem to be working. I am beginning to think this is going to work, but I do not want to jinx it with a photo. While the chronic oxygen deprivation seems to affect my speed, and the frequent blackouts also hinder my progress, I am getting the best ideas. After a few deep breaths, designing and knitting new Christmas stockings for everyone I know holds less appeal.

However, some ideas have stuck. I think it is time for some lace. I have been flipping through Knitted Lace of Estonia looking for my first project from the book. First off, I must say that this is a wonderful book, and a fabulous lace resource. There is so much information, many lovely patterns, and the stitch patterns in the back are inspiring. Anyway, I decided I would like to knit something for my mom, and I had already chosen the yarn. It is special yarn. I received a gift certificate from a friend, and when the yarn arrived, I knew it should be knit into a gift. It is GoGo Grassy Dream in Color Baby. I think this is perfect for Mom.

As I looked at all the possibilities, I decided that the Peacock Tail and Leaf Scarf is the perfect choice. With the finished dimensions of 15"x49" from 525 yards of fingering weight yarn, I think my 700 yards will make the perfect size scarf for her. I have never worked with DIC anything, let alone their Baby stuff. It is soft and nice, and it seems to me that it is between lace and fingering weights.

Now, I just need to keep from beginning the scarf. I think if I can remember that I ought have my wits about me before attempting to operate the swift and winder, I may be able to hold off for a few more days. If I cannot, I hope my husband knows to call knitting friends to help disentangle me.

All By Myself

None of the other Skanky Knitters could make it out to Starbucks tonight. Therefore, I have resorted to taking my own sweater-in-progress shot and blogging it. If this sweater makes it, it will be so close. I keep looking at the dwindling supply of yarn and knitting faster. That's the way to make this work, right?