I have made some knitting resolutions which might seem like an announcement of sorts.
One of my friends for 2008 went on a “Do-not-buy-a-single-thing-besides-food” pledge. This friend lasted till about March and all of us in the stitch n bitch weren’t surprised when she did. She did eventually tell me that, yeah, she lasted three months but it really helped her think about what she buys, which I’m sure was the whole point.
I like buying and fondling yarn. I’ve done that a lot during 2008. I want to focus more on stash diving rather than stash enhancing this year. I’m very blessed to have such a wonderful sock yarn collection so socks will always have socks on the needles. Of late, I’ve acquired enough yarn for five sweaters. One has been on the needles for some time now, Dad’s sweater. I also have yarn for Bonnie, Apres Surf Hoodie and the Latice Lace Pullover and quite possibly some more sweaters. This brings me to my second resolution–to produce more garments. Like I’ve said, I’ve recently gotten the yarn for some of the garments I’ve been gawking at on Ravelry and now I would like to start making them. Mom got me a book for Christmas, The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques, that I’ve been referring to as I seam up Abby’s Cardigan. Much of it is common sense but I need that so that I can make garments NOT scream HANDMADE.
I would love to finish these garments for 2009 as well as make a huge dent in my stash. Now, will I buy yarn? yeah probably…I’m part of swaps and I know I’m human…but I guess my main thing is when I buy yarn, I want to have a PURPOSE for it as opposed to buying it “cuz it looks pretty.” I did that a lot in ‘08 and wound up with this situation “If I only had one more skein then I could make….” These situations just make me put the yarn back on the shelf and forget about it even if it’s gorgeous. I want to have reasons behind my getting yarn. Taking those few seconds at a yarn shop or sheep and wool festival can allow me to think if I already have something like it at home and/or if I have a purpose for this yarn.
On our way to Rhinebeck, my buddy Darsana and I had a discussion about cowls. At the time, I thought they were pointless and almost dumb looking. (They still kinda remind me of dickies…I’m not gonna lie) She mentioned that they are a very satisfying project and make your neck warm without the bulkieness of a scarf.
Fast forward to the week before Christmas. I parked the car in Dupont Circle wearing a GWU sweatshirt. I was walking from the car to Jermaine’s job at Books a Million where I was going to pick up some Christmas gifts. My neck got rather cold as I hauled ass from the car to the store. That’s when I texted Dar and said “kai maybe you had a point”
So I present you with the first finished object of 2009
Pattern: Poinsettia by Anne Hanson from Knitty Winter 2008 Yarn(s): Brooks Farm Solo (DK, wool) Colorway(s): 11 (a better picture here) Needle(s): US 7 / 4.5 mm Casted On: January 1, 2009 Casted Off: January 2, 2009 Modifications: None really.
The cowl needs to still be blocked, hence the curling at the end but I am quite pleased with this. It’s incredibly warm and I know it will be appreciated going to work. (Foggy Bottom is always so much colder than Silver Spring because it’s so much closer to the river)
I am sure there will be many more cowls in the future
That’s a total of 29 finished items, 11 more than last year. And I have to say, I’m quite proud of myself. I’ve been thinking of my resolutions for 2009. I think I’ll formulate them later because, I’m quite smitten with the graphic above
Happy New Year, everyone. Be safe and have fun…in that order!
I finished Ray’s hat just in the nick of time for Christmas Eve dinner
Pattern: Herringbone Tweed Hat by Sophy T. O’Donnell from Knit Notes, Etc Yarn(s): Lion Brand Wool Ease Colorway(s): Navy Blue & Grey Needle(s): US 6 / 4.0 mm
US 8 / 5.0 mm Casted On: October 15 2008 Casted Off: December 22, 2008 Modifications: I did a three inch lining in the hat using size six needles then did a row of purls, switched to size 8s and started the colorwork. There is an error in the decreases so please check the errata. Sophy O’Donnell, the pattern’s author, was so extremely helpful in answering my questions as I finished it for Christmas.
I love me a colorwork project but this one required more attention than most patterns I’ve worked on. I tried it on and I gotta say, it’s an incredibly warm hat. I really hope Ray likes it and appreciates it when he’s out in the snow.
Next, finishing Abby’s Cardigan for Christmas and Knitting New Years Resolutions
Wrapping paper or gift bags? I can make wrapping presents into an Olympic sport and win medals galore. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Real tree or artificial? Real. Yes the bleeding heart liberal part of me cries. I’m on the real team. When do you put up the tree? I try not to get it too too early. But I don’t have a set date though. We got our tree this past year on the 14th. When do you take the tree down? Before my birthday? Do you like eggnog? Never had it. Favorite gift received as a child? My Kringle bear I received in 1988. I remember because his scarf had the year on it. Hardest person to buy for? My mommy Easiest person to buy for? Dad or Jermaine Do you have a nativity scene? No. Say I’m overthinking…I can take it but I would like to see one that is racially accurate! Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I did most of my cards for the Knitters for Obama group exchange but I have to do cards for my friends and family. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Eh…I can’t recall. I mean sometimes things didn’t fit but that’s not cause to say Worst Favorite Christmas movie?Muppet Christmas Carol. Without. A. Doubt I have my principles! My father asked for the G. C. Scott version for countless Christmases and I was like “Dad, I haz mah principles. I just can’t.” Dad rolled his eyes and got it himself.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No as I am a saint
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I turn into a baking queen! I love doing it. I make gingerbread…sugar cookies…pies…GALORE. Lights on the tree? Muli-colored plz. Favorite Christmas song? I inherited my grandfather’s tenor sax and I’ve always wanted to play “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” on it. I’m afraid that it’s been too long and I would butcher it and grandpa would send me a lightening bolt. I’ve also ALWAYS LOVED Little Drummer Boy. Especially this version. (I think I posted this last year but ask me if I care?) I love seeing musicians for different backgrounds joining together
Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?I’ll forget a few. Does it count that Layla recently got the nickname Prancer cuz, well…she prances? Angel on the tree top or a star? Star Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Combination. Jermaine and I are often too excited to give each other our presents to wait till Christmas. We go to mom’s usually for Christmas Eve and then spend the day with Dad on Christmas day. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? How everyone is like BUY BUY BUY NOW NOW NOW. That can get so sickening. Favorite ornament theme or color? THEMES? Whatever man! Here’s my favorite ornament though What do you want for Christmas this year? A safe presidency for the President-elect, the economy to get better so Jermaine can find a job. Yeah, there are things I’d like but I won’t sing the blues if I don’t get ‘em. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I actually started this summer knitting socks. Favorite Christmas dinner? At mom’s. Enough said. yummmmmmmmmmm
…to show off some skiens of yarn I’ve received from the Wollmeise Sock club and the Sundara Seasons Sock club and the term “satisfied customer” doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings on the four shipments. They are so gorgeous.
I’m part of two socks clubs from distributors that bring out the worst in knitters/crocheters–Wollmeise and Sundara. When these sites get updates, the knitters who have been refreshing the page all day resemble these ladies. In hindsight I now know that I love the yarns and I’ll even try to get said yarn during the updates but let’s just say…I won’t hold my breath.
Anyway, I signed up for these clubs thinking, “Hey…if the worst thing they can do is say no, then by all means!” So I got an email from the Sundara and Wollmeise with some good news.
The first Wollmeise shipment was in September and it included these LUSCIOUS colors with this awesome pattern.
This skein, above, is in the process of being a pair of Embossed Leaves. I put it on the back burner due to the Christmas knitting.
And a few weeks ago, I got the red I’ve been looking for for a long time for a shawl for me..deep gorgeous reds.
I’ve discovered the white balance feature on my camera so I’m able to take better photos inside. This is better than some inside photos I’ve taken but I think I’d prefer to do it outside but I couldn’t because it’s dark by the time I get home.
I’m not going to post a picture of the red skein’s mate because I’m likely going to be giving it away in a swap. The color isn’t me but is SO my partner’s. She’ll LOVE it.
And here are the two Sundara skeins I’ve received and I absolutely love them. I picked the season of winter because I loved this description from the website: darker and stronger colors with a bit of mystery or light, ice-like colors, emphasis on darker blues, blacks, violets and wines.
Sundara sock…yummmmmmmmm
Silky Merino, Fingering
I have abolutely no idea what to make with them but the former will make some great socks and the latter is 500 yards, which is ideal for a shawl/scarf. It’s nice to ponder as I’m working on Christmas gifts.
This is my second pair of Spring Forwards and I strongly recomend it if you’re searching for a quick sock pattern.
Pattern: Spring Forward by Linda Welch from Knitty Summer, 2008 Yarn(s): Socks that Rock, Mediumweight Colorway(s): Love in Idleness Needle(s): US 1 / 2.25 mm Casted On: November 18th 2008 Casted Off: December 10th, 2008 Modifications: I did a short-row heel, of course, and a round toe.
I know I just said it’s a quick pattern but, when you see the text above, you can see that I finished them over 22 days. Yeah…well….I have lots of projects on my plate.
Rose wears a size 7 shoe. I’m a 9.5 so I thought I’d stretch the socks out and/or the picture would look funny so it’s unfortunate that I do not have a picture of this pair of socks being worn. The pattern really pops out when they’re on a pair of feet.
I just hate getting said tree. Growing up, we would get the tree then my bro and I would spend ridiculous amounts of time trying to get it straight. So when J and I went out to get our tree, I was a little anxious but all was good in the end. Our tree stand, no joke, was older then me so we also got a stand that stabilizes the trunk more so that certainly helped. Here is our lil humble tree.
Growing up, we would get an ornament every year and when I went to live on my own we received these ornaments. Here are some that mean something to me:
Kitteh in Jack in the Box-I received that a few years after lil Duffy came to live with us
Snowman-First one I got for Jermaine and my first year Christmas tree.
Construction paper tree- Count on me to make a red Christmas tree in childcare. heeh
Reindeer-We had these kinds of reindeer growing up with mom. We had one for all three of us.
Lil White Kitteh- I got these the Christmas after Duffy passed.
Flute playing kitteh - I got this soon after I started playing the flute seriously
Kermit-Really…is an explanation really required?? There was a year in high school where mom wanted to put the more kid-like ornaments in the attic. While the jacked up Christmas tree glittered ornaments are cute, do you really need so many? Kai, mom, point taken. But she put lil Kermit up in the attic. When I realized that Kermit wasn’t on the tree I was like “oh hell naw!!” I went straight up in the attic and got him. He’s a necessity!
This is the only opportunity Layla and Luna will have living in a jungle so this experience needs to be photographed.
And, now, as I type this, I hear lil Luna drinking from the water at the bottom of the tree. How interesting–they have filtered water avaliable to them 24-7 yet the love the sappy tree water??
Whatever…it’s Christmas time, they can break the rules a little bit!
Last night I went to my stitch n bitch in Dupont for the first time in an incredibly long time and I finished not one but two pairs of socks.
I finished Rose’s socks for Christmas and my first pair of stockinette only socks (which are VERY comfortable, by the way) but since DC has encountered a ton of raining, I can’t seem to get decent pictures.
Better pictures to come when DC gets some nice weather so I can take some outside where, I feel, you get colors clearer.
(I upgraded to Wordpress 2.7 and, after a lot of frustration, I wanted to test this out. Me Likey)
The final paper is done and handed in. Now this is what greets me when I get home and I couldn’t be happier
YAY GUILT FREE KNITTING
Despite the cornieness, I love Christmas time. I’m knitting plenty of projects for people that I either have a plan b for or are patient to wait as I finish them. Because of that, I’m thoroughly enjoying them. I love decorating Christmas cards and wrapping presents and now I can start focusing on that without this class looming over my head.
This past weekend, however, I just had to take these photos. When I was in our craft room with a rather large window, I took to texting friends as a distraction. As the sun hit my cell phone, light showed up on the hall wall and it drove Layla CRAZY!
Rule of Cuteness-When a kitteh with a fluffy tail stands on her back paws. Precious!
I’m looking forward to a weekend of Season Four of LOST with Jermaine. I’ve deserved it.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No as I am a saint
It’s nice to ponder as I’m working on Christmas gifts.
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