RAR MADE THIS!

I finished some things.

Clapotis

knit out of Wool in the Woods "Frost"

Maine Morning Mitts

out of Noro Kureyon

After manically knitting for three weeks straight, I've hit a lull. While working on a pair of socks for Emily, I've hit a grumpy case of ennui. It's a bummer. I desperately want to cast-on for something new, but rules are rules. I'm trying to finish old wips or work on the current, new project ONLY. I don't know why I insist on punishing myself this way.

As for the finished items, the Clapotis wrapped up quickly. I think Mom will be pleased. The Maine Morning Mitts are already in constant use. Two happy projects.

I'm going to go sit down with my sock in progress again. Maybe if I just push myself through the slump, it'll go away... right?

finished projects 2008

Clapot-this!

So, I realize that I am very late to the Clapotis party. The patter never really appealed to me, especially reading all the accounts of people who sent this one into hibernation out of the need for anything but stockinette stitch. One thing I noticed, though, was that these sleeping beauties always somehow made their way out of the darkness of bottom of the WIP pile.

It isn't so bad really, the knitting. The knit stitches through the back loop every few stitches break up the monotony a bit, and my decision to go with a larger gauge was definitely a good one.

The yarn is also a plus. Wool in the Woods' "Frost" has a hint of nylon that lends a very subtle sparkle which did not translate to this photo at all. I'm not really a sparkle kind of a girl, but week after week as I worked at the knit shop, this yarn kept talking to me. When the shop owner gave me a gift certificate for Christmas (!!!) it came home with me.

It's the perfect thing for keeping my mom's shoulders warm at church, I think, and after only a week of work, I'm on the home stretch on the sucker.

Oh... and the kitty really likes it, too.

Finished Object: Merino Lace Socks

The first official finished knit of 2008!

Pattern: Merino Lace Socks by Anne Woodbury from Interweave's Favorite Socks
Yarn: Fleece Artist's Sea Wool in Ivory
Needles: two 24" US1 Addi Turbos

I LOVE these socks. The knitting was quick and enjoyable, and the finished product is simply heavenly. This is the fastest I've completed a pair of socks in quite a while, and I've now queued up several other intricate sock projects after this burst of inspiration.

The only downside to the experience was a little something at the end... there just, well.. a little too big. It's seems that somehow the socks stretched after first being worn and now there a bit slouchy. That's nothing a little bit of washing won't fix, I'm sure, and even with the slouch I love the way they look.

My current project is a bit of a bore. I'm knitting up a Clapotis for my mom's birthday. (No worries... she's not a reader of the weblog.) The yarn, Wool in the Woods Frost, keeps it a bit interesting, but I'll be happy when the beast is done. I knew from others' reports, and just by looking at the sea of stockinette, that this wouldn't be a thrilling ride, but it makes for great tv knitting.... and mom will like it. (photos of the wip soon.)

finished projects 2008

I know a baby who is getting a suprise (jacket).

The new bookstore job is wearing my butt out.  I have spent the last two days shelving and alphabetizing book after book after book, and right now the muscles in my legs are so sore that walking is a bummer.  Worse than that, though, is the fact that my fingers are aching, so I could only handle about four rows on my latest WIP. I've jumped on the Baby Surprise Jacket craze, and let me tell you, this pattern is glorious.  Right now I have a garter stitch blob, but I am mesmerized watching it grow.  Using Artyarns Ultramerino to knit the thing helps quite a bit also.  This is knitting heaven.

Speaking of knitting heaven... after I finished alphabetizing our entire stock of "general" cookbooks today... that's fifteen shelves worth, mind you, I ran over to the craft section and tackled our needlecraft, knitting, and crochet section.  Oh, my, goodness... every knitting title ever.  Well.. not all... no EZ, which is a crying shame.... but I got to look at (I'm not supposed to take the time to do this) a ton of stuff I haven't seen yet, including Vogue's new sock book.  Too much temptation.

The fact that I now work both in a yarn shop and a bookstore is going to be trouble.  I guarantee this, people.  Here's to hoping that enough of my paycheck finds it home.

In my element

I keep hinting about change.  There has been a lot of it here lately, which tends to be almost a constant in my life.  These past few weeks have been scary, exhilarating, freeing, and prolific.  I have been knitting on a more consistent basis than I have in years.  I've been dyeing yarn like a crazy person.  I've been spending time with friends.

Three weeks ago, I quit my job.  "The Job" as I always referred to it here, consisted of working as an inbound customer service representative for a major wireless phone service.  It was awful.  I did it for just over a year, and I cannot begin to express to you how thrilled I am to be out of that place.  I feel, oddly, like I got myself back from some dark place that I was trapped in.  I spent my days doing something I hated, and each morning as I arrived there, I had that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that can best be described as the way it felt to show up at high school without having done your homework.

I walked out on a Saturday and only went back to turn in my letter of resignation.  I have since gotten my job back at The Knaughty Knitter (best LYS ever) working a few days a week and teaching scattered classes.  I'm also working at a bookstore, and have finally found the time to set up my own Etsy shop. I've been having a good old time over at Ravelry, and I have finished several things. 

Sometimes I can feel people not understanding when I try and tell them how much I love knitting, yarn, and the rest.  My goal now is spend a bit more time with people who get it, and spreading the love as much as I can.

These have been some of the best weeks I've had in a long time.  Welcome me back.

Lately

A list

1. To the left is a shoddy photo of my Easy Flame Lace Scarf.  All I have is the cellphone to take pictures right now, so the colors are off and the resolution is blah, but it's better than nothing.  I am well over halfway done with the scarf at this point, which is exciting.  I'm still not bored.

2.  I finally finished sewing up a sweater that I started last year today.  It's busy blocking right now.  Out of nowhere, we're about to have a finished product.  What do you think about that?

3.  The new Rilo Kiley record is rocking my socks off.  I can't get enough.  I highly recommend it.

4. I am not very good at dieting.  The only solid progress I've made in changing my eating habits has been switching from regular Mountain Dew to diet Mountain Dew.  At least that's something.

5.  I hate my job.  I just had three days off and the thought of going back tomorrow makes me want to pitch a fit.   Just thought I'd gripe about it.

Wouldn't you know it?

I had every intention of getting home and blogging about the bliss that is my current work in progress, but then I went and left my knitting at work.  How ridiculous.  Now you don't get to see pictures.

About a week ago I started my very own Easy Flame Lace Scarf from the lovely Knit and Tonic, and I am in love love love with the ease of this pattern.  With only two rows repeated four times each, it has been easy to memorize the pattern and knit semi-mindlessly and still produce something beautiful and lacey that is super pleasing to look at.  The other perk of this project has been the yarn.  I'm using Hello Yarn's Hand Dyed Single Color Lace in green, and it's absolutely beautiful.

Pure knitting joy from start to half-way finished.  If I hadn't left it at work I would get at least six inches done tonight.

Sigh.   Pictures soon.  Promise.

No more nesting on the couch!

I signed up for Weight Watchers today.  This is something a bit foreign to me, as I've always been one of those people who claimed not to care about weight. Turns out I didn't care because I was happy with the way I felt.  That's changed.  I stepped onto a scale today for the first time in months and it was quite the eye opener.  I've got an initial goal of losing ten percent of my body weight which equals to about 17 pounds.  That seems like such a huge goal for me right now, but I'm going to try it.  Consider this my first official leap into the world of dieting.  Wish me luck.

In other diet news, I am officially on a yarn diet until the end of the year.  My stash has been sitting stagnant for months now, and I've become more of a yarn buyer than a knitter.  I've got too many projects in the works to count, but as soon as I find the charger for my camera's battery, you people are going to start seeing some progress.

I'll probably attempt to document the weight loss effort here as well as the stitching progress.  Right now I'm trying to focus on getting out of the funk I've been in where all I do is work and complain about work.  Somehow I've let The Job become my life.  The problem with this is, I hate The Job.  I would leave, but the benefits/pay are something I couldn't find anywhere else.

So... I'm going to do more things for me.  I'm going to start going to knitting group once again.  As soon as I get a firmer hold on my bank account I plan on starting up with some yoga classes.  I am going to knit for at least one solid hour a day.  These things aren't hard, they just demand that I shed the layer of laziness that has been covering me lately.   I'm pushing it off, though.  I'm knitting lace, socks, and sweaters.  I'm getting off of the couch more often.

I'm listening to more music.

Funny how easy it is to forget yourself sometimes, isn't it?

Restless.

Right now I can't find a project that I'm happy with.  Well.  That's not exactly true.  Right now I have several projects going on and two that I'm really enjoying.  I just can't seem to find the motivation to stick with any of them.  I have pair of socks on the needles for Emily... the Cable Rib Socks from Interweave's Favorite Knitted Socks books out of some Alpaca superwash yarn from The Alpaca Yarn Company.   I'm also finally working on my first pair of Fetching(s) from Knitty.

The real question is whether or not I'll ever finish either pair.

Y'all wish me luck.  I'm going back to my needles now.