The January Effect

I have noticed on all of the blogs I read that they all are concerned with unfinished projects. As a general rule, I am a good finisher, meaning I finish what I start at least 90% of the time.  But I noticed that I've started a good many projects lately that are un-done. 

I think this is what I call The January Effect.  We start the new year by clearing out the old.  Most of us are like that I think.  So in December, I had this frenzy of everything I wanted to do in 2011.  I had limited myself to four projects and guess what?  I not only started those four and had a great start, I started four other things. I made three hats and a pair of gloves.  I mean I started five, because I also started a crochet shrug.  I used to say crochet didn't count because its not knitting.  Who's fooling who?

The three hats and one pair of gloves are done, but the four main things I wanted to work on are in various stages of completion.  The Rowan Winter Drift sweater has a completed back. The "mixed media" sweater also has 95% of the back done.  The one piece garter sweater is actually pretty close to half way and the baby blanket is well past half. 

The main thing I wanted to accomplish in 2011 was to "knit-down" my inventory.  I came up with little plans to use up some of my excess stash.  And then I promptly went out (online mostly) and bought MORE!  Why did I buy more yarn?  This is the whiplash of The January Effect. I start thinking I can get all this done, I am so efficient.  I started knitting in June of 2010 and have made forty or more knitted items.  I am so conceited, lol.

So next month is February, Knitters Repentance.  I will turn from my "start a bunch a stuff" ways and bend low over the current in-progress and mend my ways.

Blah-blah-blahgging

I am moving my blah-blah-blahging to a new place...Knit-Wise. As soon as everything is setup, I'll write again... 

Post Christmas Blues…and Greens!

I am reviewing the 2010 project list, you know, what got done, what didn’t, what shouldn’t have been done in first place.  I think I did a lot of work this year. 

I made four quilts for my nieces, three of whom were present at the unveiling and only one showing delight in the gift.  I guess that’s about 25% “Like it” on quilts.

Also five men’s hats were knitted.  My plan was to photograph each guy in his hat candidly, action shots for my Ravelry site.  Since it was too warm to wear them, I didn’t get to see what they looked like.  My son and step son may have actually thrown them away from the look on their faces when they opened them, although my brother-in-law seemed to really like his. My husband swears he loves his but I think he may be bluffing but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.  I couldn’t tell if my dad liked his or not.  I did match it to the socks I made him.  So I’ll say 40% “like-factor” on the hats and 0% on the socks.

I made two prayer shawls: one for my mom and one for my step mom.  My step mom loved it.  She wore it all day one of the days we were there and she really showed it off to everyone.  My mom on the other hand showed my grandmother the shawl her friend made her and not the one I made her.  That’s 50%-er for sure. 

Not sure what became of the burgundy headband I made my step daughter.  It may be under the bed by now, but that’s not really a “tell” if she liked it or not.  Since she actually tried it on and seemed remotely interested in it, I’ll give this one a 50%.

Now, remember the piece de resistance?  The bamboo shrug I made my sister?  I said excitedly, of course, “its a shrug!”  She said, “I know what it is.”  I am pretty sure this one got a 0%. Wow, how much time did I put into that thing? Crap, the yarn cost a bleeding fortune. I should have given it to my co-worker that I had tried it on to see if it fit.  She would have loved it more I think.  /sigh. Maybe I can sneak in her closet next time I’m there and take it back, if it is still in the box, then I’m home free!

As for the dishcloths, those seemed to go over well.  My Gramma, aunt and uncle liked them I think.  I think I got maybe an 80% acceptance factor on those.

I may have gotten 90% or maybe a 100% from my husband on his sweater.  He does really seem to like it but its been way too hot to wear.  He wore it to my sister’s house for new year’s eve but had to borrow a t-shirt from my BIL because he was sweating. LOL have to laugh at that. It did make me feel good that he tried.

So if I analyze the data, I think I should stick to dishcloths or purchased items in the future.  Its not my place to try to put a new face on Christmas in my family. Homemade junk is just not popular.  I do feel dejected even though its not a requirement to like homemade junk.  Next Year's theme:  Scentsy!!!! 

So now I guess I’ll put my big girl pants on and make stuff for me and my husband.  This year he wants socks in “DeWalt yellow.”  Well, ok, DeWalt Yellow it is.

On to 2011, undaunted! Knitting like my head is on fire!

Rowan Drift.  The most beautiful yarn I’ve ever seen. This is Plantation.  A gorgeous green with yellow-green and blue-black threads mixed in.  Size US15 needles so this is going fast.  I know for a fact the person I’m knitting this for will love it to pieces. 

Happy New Year and may all your projects be blessings to whomever receives them.

New Years---Again

So here it is, another new year.  I remember being a kid and thinking what a big deal it was.  Lots of people still do.  My family had a big new years eve party and stayed up to watch the "ball drop."  I was really not into it.  Shortly after midnight I was ready to go to bed. 

I'd had a really good week on my Voodoo Lounge tour of the great south. Visited with all my relatives but I was kind of ready to come home to my bed and my shower. I was nudged awake at 6 AM on the first by my husband to tell me that my little dog, Oso had gotten away from our son that was looking after him in Texas and been run over by a car. After my first initial half hour of shrieking and crying, I managed to get my stuff packed up and we headed west.  It was a really sour note to leave on.  I've been kind of weepy and sniffy since I got back.

He was a black Pomeranian.  Really hard to photograph.  He was neurotic but I loved him so much and he will be greatly missed.  I bought him from a high school aged girl who carried him around in a purse about five years ago.  I liberated him from the purse but he was always somewhat agoraphobic.  Its hard to say how I'm really feeling. So instead I'll just say, "Goodbye baby, I'll miss you."

Lunear Eclipse

So my Husband and I put quilts and afghans on the driveway and watched the Lunar Eclipse.  It was his birthday so it all seemed really special.  We were so cold but we watched faithfully as the earth came between the sun and the full moon.  When eclipsed the moon had a beautiful amber red color cast to it.  About twenty minutes later I was asleep on my driveway with my Bad Amy Big Button hat on and clutching my binoculars to my chest.  I wish I had a picture to show you, I'm sure I was a sight to behold.

 DH's Sweater:

Quilts:

Pillowcases for Quilts-Done

Hats-Done (plus I made 3 Bad Amy's Big Button hats, not shown here)

I improvised the hat like below:

2-strands worsted held together
CO 54
4 garter ridges
Knit 12 rows
Divide to 2 circulars
Decreases
K7, K2tog, rep
Knit
K6, K2tog, rep
Knit
K5, K2tog, rep
Knit
K4, K2tog, rep
K3, K2tog, rep
K2, K2tog, rep
K1, K2tog, rep
K2tog
Draw through and weave in ends

Other completions: 
  Two shawls
  3 of Bad Amy's Big Button Hats
  plus all the other stuff mentioned below is done.

I guess its time for Christmas.  I'll knit some other stuff for fun or maybe, insane as it sounds, maybe I'll make something for myself.  I bought some really nice Malabrigo Rasta, super bulky wool yarn.  Its a pretty wine colored pink.  I think I'll try the moebius cast on by Cat Bordhi and make the neck cowl. 

http://www.catbordhi.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4

OK here it is, only took an hour and a half:

If you make the hat, let me know, send me a picture.

No Bounds

My insanity knows no bounds. 

I have, as I do, started looking at my 2011 project list and have filled it to capacity and then some.  It will probably take me two years to do everything I want to do and it takes all of my considerable (or is that questionable) self-control not to start 2011 TO-DAY.  I want to start thinking about my new list NOW.  I did purchase some Rowan Drift yarn and some super-wash wool for 2011 projects just this past week.  Talk about getting ahead of the horse with my overfull cart.  The horse is thinking, “thank God it’s not me pushing that wagon!”  But “push” I must.

I am very close to finishing my 2010 project list.  Not everything will be done but the important stuff will be done!  Here is what I must finish for 2010:

• Bind 4 quilts, which I will do each of the next 4 Sundays
• Tie one more quilt and bind it, eep, I don’t know when
• Finish DH’s Sweater, back is done, front is 2/3rds done, then sleeves, 3 more weeks I think
• Prayer Shawl is at 92 rows, only 9,417 stitches left
• Dad’s socks, just need the foots and toes to be completed, yes, I said “foots”

I will have the Thanksgiving Holiday to work many things, God willing, like knitting miracles.

I have a list of odds and ends to take with me in the car on my Voodoo Lounge Tour of the Great South at Christmas.  This is the “Tour” I take every one to two years to visit with my friends and family that live back east, in the Alabama and Georgia area of the US.  The round trip is usually around 3,500 miles, I get to see everybody and give them their presents.

My odds and ends to take include a baby blanket for some friends of ours who are expecting their first, a couple of sock yarns I’d like to try in stockinette, of course and a headband that I am thinking of making for my next swap group swap. I have also added the few items that are not completed to the pile.  The baby blanket is kinda started already.  The yarn is something I didn’t think I’d like but it looks and feels great.  It is Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe in Beach Glass. I’m going to put a crocheted edging on it like Havanaise on Ravelry.com:

(http://www.ravelry.com/projects/havanaise/baby-love-diagonal-baby-blanket)

I can’t decide if I want the edging in Eucalyptus or Mermaid. 

The 2011 List has categories.  I have become so much more sophisticated, lol.  My new categories are:

• Rowan Drift-I’ve picked 4 things I’d like to make from their book “Winter drift,” 3 for sure
• Knitting Machine-I have one of those knitting machines I bought several years ago and haven’t used yet, I have enough yarn set aside for 3 sweaters there, just to try it out
• Inventory Burn-selected projects each month to use up most of the yarn I’ve purchased
• Quilts-I still would like to make my sister a quilt and I’d like to make myself one too
• I have fabric for 5 men’s shirts that I would like to make for my DH, before summer
• Swap group items-5 headbands and maybe some scarves (I did just make my swapees sachets and mailed last week.  I worked each one using the Tunisian crochet technique)
• And Lastly (for now) there are 3 projects on my ravelry queue that I would like to make for myself.  I usually don’t make quilts or things for myself but 2011 is my year.

Does this sound like a lot?  You bet.  Just the way I like it.

Veteran's Day

Yesterday was Veterans Day in the US, Remembrance Day in CA and other names throughout the world.  I always try to remember to thank the veterans (and currently serving) that I know for their service to our country and our world.  I sent a few messages and had lunch with a friend of mine who was a para-trooper many years ago.  She and I had a nice time and I thought how hard it was for me to picture her in her army uniform, gun in hand, parachute pack on back.  But yet in her eyes I see that someone who can and does do what she thinks it right.

My DH also served during the Vietnam war.  He was honored at our daughter's school in the morning and our sons school in the afternoon.  he said the morning was very moving, a banner for each major branch of service (except Coast Guard, which in my mind should also have been included) and there seemed to be at least one man representing each as a veteran.  My DH got to represent the Air Force and he said they were all moved by the choir and the presentations. 

Veteran's Day commemorates the ending of the Great War, WWI.  The war to end all wars and which was so horrid that no one could imagine anything worse.  So much death and destruction.  No one would have believed that just 20 years later, it would indeed get much worse.  I still have a picture of a British solder, Henry Allingham, who lived to be 113 and who served in WWI. he died July 18, 2009. He was the last surviving founding member of the RAF, the last man to have witnessed the Battle of Jutland and the last surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service.

Here's to you Henry. Peace be with you.