Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Red Rubber Ball

I've been working on mystery project #2 (or was it three?) and the questions I had have been answered, thanks to the wonderful thing called internet and blogging knitters.

My detox is also helping and I feel more alive today than I have in at least 6 years. Hallelujah!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Pots on the stove

I found an article in the newest "Yarn Forward" magazine that was inspirational, but I'm not sure how good it is advice-wise for just anyone. For those of you who pain-stakingly finish one project after another and will not start a new project until the other(s) are finished, this might be liberating advice. For those of you who never finish anything you start and are always getting new and wonderful ideas that only live 2.3 hours long, this might not be good advice for you. I leave it up to you to decide who's who and what advice to take! :)

The article was basically a "Here's to..." for starting new projects, regardless of what you already have started.Of course there's a timeline to be considered for those things being knit that are being made for pleasure and those that actually have to be finished sometime in the next month (the author put it in an idea of the projects having lifespans of either a car race or a leisurely stroll) and those lines will cross each other and priorities will need to be assigned. Always keep in mind that a project doesn't to be rushed through just to be finished if it doesn't have to be. Also be open for new project ideas and start them as the inspiration hits. It'll all be finished in due time and sometimes the fun of knitting is having options on what to knit.

That being said, I have started yet another project. This makes #4 and I am excited about it because it gives me something to blog about other than that darn chenille hat (#1) that I am ignoring at the moment. I know I will feel better once it is finished but I'm not to reconciliation point yet. #2 and #3 are presents for LMSS and since she reads this, I can't talk about them. (even though I heard via email from Snakewoman she'd love to hear about them on the side; will write you soon!) They are both started, one I'm already having questions about, and the other is going to be quite the haul, but both will be fabulous once they are finished.

But back to #4. It is a free pattern off the internet that I saw a lady in the knitting shop wearing while I was teaching the hat class. It's called "Shalom Cardigan" and it looks lovely. I'm knitting it in a teal blue acrylic/wool:

http://involvingthesenses.blogspot.com/2008/03/shalom-cardigan.html

I'm thinking 3 buttons in front rather than one (that's what the lady in the knit shop had done and it looked great) and I can't wait to see how it goes!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Evil cackle optional

Ha-hah! I got some work done, went home for lunch, and got my knitting projects to work on organized. And guess what. I might only need to buy one set of knitting needles. ONE SET. You know how it is; you buy the needles you need for a project, use them, and the next project needs completely different needles so you buy them. Eventually, throughout all these projects, you are supposed to reach a time when you own every knitting needle on the planet and not only do you have the needles needed, you have a spare just in case you want to knit another at the same time (just in case). I have never seemed to reach that goal. I have reached the part where I'm pretty sure I have the needles for most of the project but still need to get the double-points, or need to get the needle that needs to be 2mm sizes smaller to do the ribbing around the edges, etc. Well, this time, I have the needles. They are even wooden straights (I do aluminum for everything except cotton; cotton, I have to do wooden or things are way too slippery and it drives me crazy) but they aren't long enough for the required CO. I have aluminum ones that are long enough in straights and circulars but because they are aluminum and I have been there/done that mixing aluminum with cotton yarn, we aren't even going there. We are going to buy long, straight wooden needles and be happy and at ease.

But the miracle is this: THAT'S ONLY FOR ONE OF THE THREE PROJECTS. And I can't tell you what I'm doing because it's a surprise for LMSS. I'll save it for after I give it to her. The other two are that blasted hat (trying to stay positive...) and the baby blanket for LMSS. The baby blanket is going to be ADORABLE!!! and I can't wait to post it once I start it. (Wait, I can't do that either. It'll ruin the surprise for LMSS. Darn. I guess I'll save that one until after I give it to her too. That's going to be hard because I'm going to want to share!) It's going to be an endeavor because I'll be working one technique I've had minimal experience with and another I've had no experience with. But it's going to be great! Bring on the forces! I've got my knitting needles and there were no shop trips required!

Thinking is a dangerous thing

I've thought some more about that hat. Maybe since the yarn is so non-elastic and wants to be loose and free, CO even fewer stitches? How about a good 63? 3 sts per inch should give me 21 inches. Hmm. Of course, I have to make sure I get that gauge; 2.5 sts per inch would make the hat about 25". Grumble, grumble. At least it's a large gauge and won't take as long to knit.

I've also considered throwing another project in the mix, or at least putting this one on stand-by but I'm not sure if my brain will take it. I still have Hubby's sweater to start, mine to start, Little Momma Sock Sis's baby blanket, several socks, and some quantities of yarn I've acquired and will turn out into something interesting.

We'll see how today goes. I am supposed to be working anyway. :)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Feeling scratchy

It would be darn funny if this wasn't the third time I've tried making this hat. I actually finished the head part of the chenille hat tonight (while watching another wonderful Joan Hickson "Miss Marple", I might add!) and it's too big. Too big even for the aide. I put it on and not only did it swallow my head, there is no structure, no body. It's limp and it won't behave like an accordion; it just wants to get looser and looser.

Drat.

I think I'm going to double up on the yarn, keep the same size needles, and only cast on 72 stitches. I had thought of casting on less but I don't want it to end up too small and have to start over yet again.

By the way, wool really is a wonder material. I was wearing my sweater last night because it actually got a little chilly (!!!) and spilled red wine on myself. My pants were black and it didn't matter but I was worried about what it would do to the sweater. All the wine did was bead up. I dabbed it off with a napkin and the sweater wasn't even wet. Now, if it wasn't so itchy and warm... Maybe my skin could be less sensitive and Louisiana cooler?

I love the flower girl

Just a little spring-time picture to brighten your day. I took it with Hubby's camera a week or so ago when we went for a walk. SuperGirl picked those flowers for me and the only place I could put them was tuck them in my rings. Lovely day, lovely day.

The hat is going well so far. About 4.5" up. I think I'll do 5.5" before thinking about the decrease. I might track the aide down tomorrow with a tape measure to make sure. That should make things interesting at the pre-school... The chenille is knitting much better than it crocheted. And, Little Momma Sock Sis, I've changed plans for your baby blanket. The other just wasn't speaking to me. The new plans are, only I haven't found a pattern yet.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Ni!

I had to start over on the chenille helmet last night; the gauge I thought was 3 sts = 1" was actually 2.5 sts = 1". It was also turning out too loose and I didn't like the texture of the stitch so I frogged it and started over on needles 2 sizes smaller. CO 76 stitches, 3.5 sts = 1", and I think I'm going to do the whole thing in purl. So many knitters seem to dislike purl, I don't. I, however, do like that my knitting is a little tighter than my purling, and since this is a hat I would like to fit (like most garments), I'm going to knit it inside out. I'm going to knit in the round normally, stockinette stitch with the knit stitches to the outside, but use the knit side as the wrong side. When I'm finished, turn it inside out so that only the purls are seen. With the chenille it makes a nice, bumpy look which seems to fit this hat.

This hat makes me giggle. The helmet picture I'm trying to follow brings up images of Monty Python's "Holy Grail" and large mustaches. Not images I would invite while knitting but definitely amusing. And I'm actually looking into new shrubberies at the moment... my gardenias in the front of my house are not happy.

Anyway, work is plodding along ok. I feel a little schizophrenic because I can't seem to remember exactly what I need to check for in this project and my quality of typing the reports seems to vary from day to day, morning to afternoon, even though I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. Thank goodness Ph-i-l called yesterday and said they had to drop the current project to play catch-up/clean-up for someone else, thus giving me a few extra days to work on what we've received so far at leisure. I voiced to him my concern about the "sudden rush project" possibility and he said he didn't think anyone was rushing anything at the moment, people are just trying to stay busy so no one has an excuse to get rid of them. That's fine with me. I can stay busy. He knows I'm not a slacker, even though I'd rather be knitting. I'm very good, though. I group the documents into 5s and after I finish each stack I treat myself to 5 minutes of a break, whether blogging, walking around the house, tending to Little Guy, email, etc. This is one of my 5 minutes breaks. And it's lasted a little longer than 5 minutes. Oops.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

oh, the water

I think one of the most difficult weather situations for me is when it's about to rain, you know it's about to rain, everything is waiting for the rain, and it won't rain. IT WON'T RAIN. The sun even peeks out everything now and then, like it's saying "What? It hasn't shown up yet? It was on schedule for 9:37 a.m. What a slacker. I'm going to have to track it down now. I'm already late for another appointment and now I have to tend to this." And it disappears too.

It doesn't help that I've been having to juggle a cranky Little Guy, the IRS, my financial advisor, and the new, big project that doesn't have "RUSH" written all over it yet. Notice I say YET. Nerves are a little frayed but I'm holding together. I got Van Morrison's "Moondance" playing and White Stripes 'White Blood Cells" on stand-by. Little Guy is finally taking a nap so we'll see how work goes. The IRS can wait until I figure out the form.

I finished the dishcloth last night. It's lovely. I felt so good I actually started work on the cheneille helmet hat for Lovely Aide. I got my gauge, CO 66 stitches for 22 inches around, and worked away for a few rounds. I'm not sure how it will turn out but I'm sure this way it'll be a sight better than the first attempt.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Feathering and fanning

This is what I've been piddling around on. Isn't it great, especially in this blue? The pattern was a freebie off a cotton yarn skein that I've had for a while. I had attempted it about a year ago when I was feeling brave and wanted to try lace. I had been noticing I majorly needed more dishcloths, knew I really liked knitted ones, tried this pattern, gotten frustrated with a mistake in the pattern which my inexperience couldn't pin-point, frogged everything, and forgot about it. I found the pattern when I was organizing everything and stopped to read it, realizing what made me stop in the first place. It's called "Feather and Fan" (nothing wrong with that), neglects to give gauge (even though that doesn't really matter; it IS just a dishcloth) or final measurements (um, IS a problem), DOES give a needle size to knit on (but if you don't have gauge, how will you know you will have enough yarn, especially since you don't know how big it's going to be in the first place, hmmm???), and the picture is white-on-white with the cloth a little rumpled. All you can tell is it might be a little lacey. No clear anything on what to expect. No help from the pattern itself except a clearly stated 3 row repeat in the directions that they say is 6 rows. Makes me think "Fitted Knits" tried to do dishcloths as a side-job.

I started the pattern blind, obviously, creating something new and mysterious to wipe my counters with and also trying this out to see if it would make a great lacey scarf for that mercerized cotton I have. I knew that I had 2 skeins of yarn to use and somehow I would get the deminsions I wanted. Soon I found out (now that I have a tiny scrap of knowledge knitting lace) that the problem I had a year ago in the beginning was a major typo in the directions: where they say "yfwd" it is SUPPOSED to say "yo." Kinda important. I knitted awhile, proud of myself for figuring that out, and then looked at the progress and wondered where the "feather" and the "fan" was going to show up. I figured out the 3 row repeat they said was 6 rows is really 3 rows repeated twice where one set of 3 rows you see the knit side of stockinette and the other set of 3 is the purl side of stockinette (did you get that?) but no fancy feather and fanning. I decided there must be a row missing somewhere but kept knitting because, again, this WAS only a dishcloth and it really wouldn't matter, even if it ended up triangle shaped if the k2tog and yo didn't match up. That's when I noticed that the yo-s and k2tog-s made a ripple pattern. I have only crocheted ripples, never knitted them, and once that started happening (about 4 inches into the project) the pattern really showed up lovely. It was a nice surprise and a great one for a rectangular dishcloth to use in the kitchen. 2 50 oz. skeins will make the perfect size and this is a great project for anyone wanting to start lace and ripples.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

And now...



Here is the funky sweater shown from all angles, modelled by me in my fabulous pajama pants, taken by Hunky Hubby. The green and sleeves are seed stitch, the blue is stockinette. Fits pretty good. I can't wait to wear it.

Friday, March 20, 2009

When it goes round in circles

The hat is finished and fits Hubby so hopefully it will fit the guy it's for. It looks great. I did have to get more yarn to finish the top and (get this) ended up only needing a foot off one skein. The second one didn't even get touched. I'm going to keep the slightly used one and am contemplating taking the other back (it IS on the expensive side) but then again I'm wondering if I will need it to do a gift somewhere in the future and it would be better to have tucked away for that midnight solace when the urge hits me or should I be economical, do the right thing, and not have it hanging around when I'm not sure I'll need it. But there are always those gifts... hmmm. Any thoughts?

The sweater is nearly dry. Little Momma Sock Sis said that was typical. She's also been explaining to me my paranoia (reminiscent of high school CRINGE!!!) is typical for detox systems and it gets better, like the sweater drying. I should have the picture up soon.

We've been having a good time, LMSS and me. She spent the day with me yesterday and we played with the kids and talked knitting, life, etc. We had supper with the Fab Fam and went back to my house so I would sit still long enough to fold laundry (it was slowly swallowing the bed) and go through my yarn and knitting magazine stash. LMSS didn't get any yarn this time, but she did get the magazines, a ribbed, maroon scarf I had made a year ago last Christmas to see if I truly did like knitting, and my purple hat out of the Debbie Bliss cashmerino superchunky that I loved making but when I put it on it looked like I was about to whip out the black turtleneck, knit pants, and go on a European bank robbery. It, however, looks GREAT on her and she works virtually outside so she needs a nice warm hat and scarf.

I also got some of my projects rearranged. I decided not to do the gray scarf to go with the hat and gloves. I have scarves and I'll do that if the mood strikes me. I have the pattern written so everything is in order just in case. What I'm leaning towards for a scarf is trying a nice lacey wisp out of some mercerized cotton I picked up for some fingerless gloves that never happened. I've even organized all my patterns (you know, even the patterns that you get off the yarn labels; I was proud of myself. They are in a 3-ring binder with dividers and each pattern has it's own clear plastic sheet to sit inside) and I'm thinking about purusing it to find what would work. Just something small enough to be cute but still work with what I do. We'll see... Anyway, I've also started the stack of yarn that is going to be AA's queen-sized afghan for his b-day. I'm really excited about that because not only does it clean out the worsted acrylic that I have hanging around, I'll get to crochet that one and crochet and me need to reconcile somehow.

In all this, I discovered that I really have a lot of sock yarn. It's a shame I'm still in sock-block. Hey, I like that. Sock-block.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Skiing anyone?


The sweater is STILL drying (probably another reason why wool is not popular in warm, humid climates) and I have decided to invest in a flat drying rack (I only own hanging). It still is looking really cute on my dryer. It is not dry enough to take a picture of so I have posted the Noro hat for your amusement.

Sock Sis is in town showing off her Little Momma status (and a cute status it is, too!) and she worked on her sock, I worked on the Noro hat last night while visiting with our friend who takes the wonderful pictures of things and people. (She's for hire, too.)

The Noro hat is hinting at needing another set of skeins to finish and methinks I am embarking on the most expensive hat yet to knit. It looks great (very much so the guy I'm knitting it for and it didn't cheat me on gauge, either) and has the right feel and structure, but it..might..want..two..more..skeins. And Noro's not cheap. But I do have yarn credit and these people are so worth it, plus his wife is going to trade with embroidery, so we're good. I always rather do things right than skimp out and feel guilty.

I am only working on the Noro hat right now. Chenille helmet is waiting in the wings out of sight/out of mind. My brain can't take another thing to do (especially since Ph-i-l called and there is suddenly something to do money-making work-wise) and it likes the idea of emptying out project bags one at a time. I like hats. They are quick and gratifying.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Shooting stars

I finished the sweater last night and it is blocked on top of my drier (the only place kid and laundry free, latter surprisingly) and I should have a picture posted soon. It fits, (yay!!!) Hubby thinks it's cute and very me, and it's finished in time for our 70-something degree weather so I will have to pack it away until next year. Ahh, the way knitting goes sometimes... Actually, this summer I plan on working on at least 2 different sweaters to get ready for next winter. I'm not scared of seaming anymore, or at least not as much as I was, and I can't wait to try the pattern with all the cables and my lovely cotton yarn I saved up for.

But anyway, needless to say, I did not finish the current sweater last week like I thought but it was for a good cause. My brain was about to explode and Harriet (the name of my knitting muse, by the way, if anyone forgot) did not say anything; it was the Voice of Reason and it said "You work too hard for your own good. Stop it." And I stopped. This weekend I knitted what I could, while keeping myself duct-taped together, and Monday I didn't knit at all. Then yesterday I was feeling a little better and somewhere in the midst of kids playing and blowing kisses through the front window to people who pass the house I finished. I... FINISHED. I had even knitted the body a little longer than the pattern called for. It was like the gentle breath of air that was God. I spent our "Biggest Loser" evening finishing it and tried it on. So cute. Slightly, slightly itchy due to the wool, but not unwearable. I think I'm going to stick with cotton, though.

My brain is feeling better, even though my memory and drives haven't come back. I'm on a detox system and I think it's working. I woke up a little clearer this morning but I'm trying to still take it easy and not overdo it.

Next, a Noro hat and finally writing the pattern for that hat for Lovely Aide. Good luck to me. I also wrote the cutest idea for a picture to knit on a washcloth (this was during that convention a few weeks ago). I might try it soon. I can't wait to see how it turn out! I even found my graph paper (while organizing all my patterns) so I can plan it officially!

And I said I was going to take it easy...

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The life aquatic

I'm down to one skein left on the sweater. I think I'll finish today (fingers crossed tightly, hoping the knitting gods haven't heard that and feel like smiting someone soon), especially since I've already finished what I needed to do with work, am waiting on Ph-i-l to arrive with more to finish, and it is raining. Not only is it raining, it's 40-something degrees outside here where it was 80 degrees only 2-3 days ago. Everything is budding, my cat was frisking about in the sunshine, and then this came through. I have a weather hang-over, a grumpy cat, and a perfect excuse to stay in and watch more of the movies I've taped on our DVR.

Speaking of DVR, marvelous invention, that is. We have tv channels TCM and IFC and I've been watching those movies (uncut, uncensored) I've always heard about but would never think to rent. In the past month I've seen "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (Paul Newman... sigh), "The Three Faces of Eve" (Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward, got an Oscar for it; she is amazing in it; spooky movie/situation), "Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (which is Wes Anderson and I TOTALLY watch all his, rent, own Criterion Collections, watch again, discuss, tell everyone they need to watch them even when they are the generic action-flick kind, and buy the soundtracks, it just so happens I don't have this one. Did I tell you I LOVE Wes Anderson's movies? And Bill Murray?), "The Black Hole" (totally freaky, NOT for kids), "Carnal Knowledge" (do I need to say anything? Art Garfunkel and Jack Nicholson as immature men trying to figure out sex and women. And they get everything wrong even though Art Garfunkel's character is more sympathetic. The women don't help out their problem, though. See Candice Bergen, Ann-Margret, Rita Moreno, and a flash of Carol Kane (she keeps her clothes on though). By the guy who did "The Graduate", came out in 1971), and "The Cat's Meow" (Eddie Izzard is a really good actor. And I could actually stand Kirsten Dunst in this one). Now, what does movies have to do with knitting, I am asking myself... Ah, yes. I knit to it. And the PBS mysteries but they are in fund-raising right now and not on their regularly scheduled programming.

So anyway, I have "Moonstruck" still on DVR, waiting on me, but Hubby wanted to watch that with me so it'll have to wait. "Tootsie" was really good, by the way. Saw that one a few months ago. The other few that really stand out as FABULOUS was "Harold and Maude" (did you know Bud Cort's in "Life Aquatic..." ? He's the bank insurance (or something like that) stooge who has to go on the expedition) and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

Headed home for a shower and sleepy baby...

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Funny thing happened... but I'm not at the forum.


It's funny how it happens. You make plans for a project (or projects) and they decide what to do on their own. The 2 bags I had planned morphed into 1 (above): a bold attempt at a hobo bag but instead got a nice sized tote for my knitting classes, etc. It is reversible and I used the French cafe' print with the tropical print. I think I have more finishing to do on the seams but it took me most of the day to come out with this and I think I want to use it first and decide adjustments later.

I have 2 skeins left on the green part of the sweater. Whereas I thought I would be bored with it, I'm not. It's nice.

Monday, March 9, 2009

School days, school days

Today was SuperGirl's Kindergarten test. Hard to believe that she is that big already. While I was waiting for her to be finished I saw some of the people that I knew there and they couldn't believe she was that old either.

The sweater is coming along swimmingly. I finished both sleeves and was able to try it on yesterday during the Sunday visit with Mom and Dad. Let me just say IT FITS!!! I'm glad I stopped where I did on the sleeves, also.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Everything hits at once


This is the sweater so far. One sleeve is finished but not sewn to the body and the other is nearly finished. I decided not to do the sleeves as long as the pattern was calling for (5") because I don't like long short sleeves (did that make sense to you?) and this "sweater" is going to be warmish enough. However, I didn't weave anything in or finish off the BO on the sleeve just in case I finish everything, put it on, and say "Hmm... I should have made the sleeves longer." I would rather make the sleeves longer after I try it on and get a good idea how it's going to fit. I'm hoping this one does fit. It would be nice to wear. It also will be interesting to see how it looks worn and hopefully the color changes hit at flattering parts of the body, not the areas everyone wants to hide.

Note the green stripe at the bottom. That will continue eventually to be around hip length. I had stopped working on that part to focus on the sleeves when the green skein ran out. Plus having all 3 strands of working yarn twisting around (and I don't want to trouble with bobbins) was getting a little hairy.

Have not started on the chenielle (sp?) hat yet. I'm just a little strained at the moment and I think that would put me officially on the crazy train. I'm waiting for Harriet to come down one evening and touch me with the sudden inspiration to knit it all in one night. That would be nice. And it would clean out one more of the project bags stacked next to my yarn drawer bin in the bedroom.

Speaking of project bags, my drive at the moment is actually more on the sewing side. I'm really wanting to use some of the fabric I have had hanging around for years and make one into nice big hobo bag (reversible with a big pocket on the outside and inside; both prints are "tres francais" as in one is Monet water lilies and the other is a Paris cafe scene) and a more classy, sophisticated tote (a big red and white tropical flower print with white lining). The hobo bag is for me to use everyday to replace the hobo bag I've been using as my purse/diaper bag/work carry-all/Mary Poppins-magical-carpet-bag-of-wonders-that-can-carry-everything-and-anyone-who-has-decided-to-come-along-for-the-ride-as-long-as-it's-not-too-heavy. It's great but cheap ($5 deal at Target) and I have two of them, one with a huge highlighter stain (that, hah, the top came off in my bag and not only did it stain the bag, it bled on my M-i-ls curtains; explain that one) and faded drastically with the 1st wash, and the other is already showing dirt (it's lighter in color but still cute). I would love to have one around the same size but in the nicer fabric so it will last longer, or at least until I don't have one in diapers and I am still having to haul around physically. The tote would be a place for me to keep my knitting class stuff (extra copies of patterns, phone #s, etc.). I'm sure I could go find something at the store to buy but they never last with how I use them and everything is the wrong shape right now. Trends are not jiving with me at the moment, plus I would really like to use my fabric.

I've printed out some pattern ideas for me to read and form my plan of attack. We'll see what happens...

Friday, March 6, 2009

Ask and ye shall receive; Seek and ye shall find

Several years ago I was very concerned that I didn't have any interests. It was during the time that Hubby was working a job and a half for a total basic salary, making enough to keep the college debt from overwhelming us and our household debt paid. I was home with an infant SuperGirl, depressed, and didn't care to do anything extra. All I did was clean various houses for extra money (as in, make enough extra so we could eat) and watch a friend of mine's daughter part-time while she worked. I didn't want to read, sew (unless someone hired me), join any social groups (gag me with a pink ribbon) or activist groups (my stress levels were high enough as it was), or really do anything at all. All the things I had been interested in were associated with my elementary teaching profession that I wasn't doing anymore and I was doubly concerned that my only interests were only with a job, not something I just liked to do for the heck of it. The only other possible interest I had was to write fiction and illustrate but everytime I sat down I couldn't focus. That made me stressed, which made me avoid it, so I dropped that idea also. I wasn't going to make myself enjoy something as a hobby when I was already having to make myself enjoy things like housework as a means to an end or lifestyle.

So I prayed, without even realizing what I was asking, for something to do. Something to be interested in. Something that I would WANT to do, no matter who was around, what job I was working, or what influences were working their magic at that time. I wanted it to be functional but not necessarily practical, charitable but not necessarily giving, and fun but not necessarily frivolous. I wanted something flexible, not trendy, and just... ME. That's hard to do. I'm sure others could look at me and give tons of great ideas but I have a tendency not to listen to others and discredit what they think. (I'm working on stopping that, by the way.) I knew this and I didn't want to listen to everyone's "great" ideas so I just didn't ask or inform anyone of this search except those closest to me. Plus, it simply came down to the fact I had to find my own way and make this MINE, especially since in my depression I felt so much to life had been taken away from me and everything was out of my control.

I had forgotten all this as I gradually worked on my depression, worked hard at just living, loving, and trying to be a good person, and worked REALLY hard at not comparing my life to everyone else. Several years passed and I realized a few months ago that I had received my answer to prayer: knitting. It happened so gradually it never occurred to me. When I started learning to knit, it was only because I knew I had always wanted to learn, but I didn't want to master, or even enjoy, it. It was just other thing, like cross-stiching, that I could mark on my list of abilities. The lady who I asked to teach me was an old family friend and I honestly had a better time visiting her and getting a break from my life than struggling with the project she had suggested me start with.

For the first year of knitting I didn't like it at all. The both hands thing drove me crazy and I could never get my tension consistent. I plugged along only because it was supposed to be the reason I went to visit her and I wanted to finish at least one project, no matter how long it took and how cranky it made me; I get even crankier if something goes incomplete.

It didn't click until about a year later when Hubby wanted a knitted Gryffindor scarf. I started it, was griping about knitting again (how long it was taking me, my inconsistent tension, and the all-round awkwardness), and begged him to let me crochet it; I knew how to do that and I would have it done in no time at all. He sort of looked at me and said something about how it would look better knitted. I frowned at him and kept going. And kept going. Somewhere in the 5 feet of scarf, I settled in my rhythm and had to pause and say, "Hey, this isn't so bad." But there was no way I would do anything else. Scarves were good. Scarves didn't have too many rules, etc. to follow. Blankets maybe, but I would crochet those. That was fine. And I was satisfied that I could knit something decent looking.

Then Sock Sis brought Debbie Stoller's "Stitch and Bitch" book to Shreveport and showed how she was knitting stuffed animals and oh, SOCKS as a NOVICE. She was knitting alone, in Austin, with only a friend's brother and the internet as guidance and doing a GREAT job. She didn't even have the crochet background I had to fall on and she was KNITTING while LOVING it. Hmmm... That got me thinking. Whereas I didn't want to steal her hobby, I didn't want to complain about it to her either, so I sucked it up and decided maybe I could keep on doing some simple things with knitting. Plus, I loved reading the Stitch and Bitch book. It totally took the hoity-toity-ness out of knitting, not to mention the kitch-y-ness (but let's not go into some of the bizarre patterns published in those books on the complete opposite side of the spectrum), and brought everything to a realistic level that didn't overwhelm me. Plus she's really entertaining in explaining everything. And that was only the beginning.

I turn around and realize that I love it. I love every part of it. I love how I have to fix some mistakes and ignore some others. I love how I have to do 13 inches of 226 stitches stockinette to get a garment, even if it's INSANELY BORING; it teaches me that good things (or at least a finished sweater) come to those who wait. Plus, I didn't have anything else to keep my hands busy during those movie marathons. (Only, pick movies that you don't have to watch too close. Those with the long pauses and visual jokes call for lots of "what happened?" and rewinding, which fellow viewers get a little miffed at. "Love with the Proper Stranger" is totally NOT acceptable to watch, even though Steve McQueen IS. ) I love the steps of knitting socks and how you can make them as complex and OCD as you want. I love the "black hole" that is the foot of a sock (coined by Sock Sis) and how it seems to never end until suddenly your one inch is nearly 7 inches and might actually be too long. I love how there are certain stitches and techniques that help shape things and contour others so to achieve whatever goals needed. I love how the colors meld and pop and designs suddenly dance, depending on the stitch, yarn placement (or even displacement), and texture. I love how knitting a garment makes me calm my overactive brain and take things one step at a time when all I want to do is read everything in a rush, throw my knitting out the window and scream. I love how my gradual experience of knitting and taking projects as they come and interest me, letting the cosmos decide what I need for future reference, helps me read a pattern and see potential problems, things to work on, and things to keep in mind as I knit, plus be able to visualize it in my mind and contemplate what I might want to do to change it fitting my needs. I love how there are strict knitting rules. I love how there are no knitting police and as long as a person is happy with what and how they are knitting, it's fine. I love how knitting fits the knitter and also fits the wearer. I love the connection I feel with the women and men before me in the family of humanity who knitted to keep themselves and their families warm, clothed, and functioning. I love how knitting is practical and frivolous, depending on what is being done. And I haven't even started on what I like about yarn, whether acrylic, wool, cotton, or (sigh) alpaca. But most of all, I love how knitting can go wherever I go, with whoever I am with, using whatever I want, and start the most fascinating conversations with people I would never have known, talked to, or even considered I had anything in common with, whether an arthritic grandmother or the left-wing, gay-rights activist. Knitting is literally a common thread that we all can communicate with and that makes me a happy person.

Thank you God for giving me my passion. Thank you for knowing exactly what I wanted and needed. Thank you for using it to amuse everyone around me and keep them warm and loved at the same time. Amen.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Cold hands, warm heart

Little Guy has decided his hands are cold and is warming them by shoving them all the way up my sleeves. This makes typing interesting...

I have been trying to knit. It's been going ok. The sweater's 13 some-odd inches of seed stitch was getting boring so I decided to start the sleeves. Now it has some seed stitch and some sleeves and my pattern has post-it notes with A LOT of tally marks with titles so I know which part the tally marks go. I'll take a picture when I get around to it and if I feel people could tell what it is considering it's all different colors and has more pointy needle bits than customary.

The crochet hat has been a disaster so far. SuperGirl looked at it yesterday and gave me an amused look, saying, "Mommy, I don't think Ms. Ashley's head is that big." If a 4 year-old verifies the very thing I was wondering myself, it's time to make a change. It was starting to look like a basket, or at least a chenielle pet bed. Stitch gauge was fine, it was the row gauge that was off. The pattern doesn't have deminsions for the different parts of the hat though. What to do? I frogged the whole thing and am trying to come up with a way to knit it and make it look like crochet. Or least have patterned holes. Strategic yarn-overs sound like the thing. Now to measure Ms. Ashley's head...

I have decided crocheting is for blankets, knitting is for garments, and crocheting chenielle is heinous. It sticks to itself like crazy! I'm not sure how knitting it will be but I'm willing to take the chance that it will be only annoying enough that I will want to get it over with, thus have the hat finished in a week.

By the way, landman conferences are great for writing knitting patterns. Not only did I get a little scene planned using different stitches (sort of cross-stitch idea using stockinette as the "empty space" stitch) I took the shrug I was wearing off and figured the pattern for that too.