Knitting : The sound and fury

So, not really sound... kind of silent really. And who likes William Faulkner (not I)! Anyway... this weekend I did several KNIT type of things.

Thursday was knit knite... where I had some issues with what I was working on, so I stalled out and didn't have another project handy so I just chatted, laughed, etc. Enjoyable time as always.

Next up... Friday, I spent the early hours fixing the Thursday mistake which was slipper #1 or was it 2? Anyway, I ended up making slipper #2, as well. Then I decided it would be a good time for felting, so Friday evening, I felted the slippers and Entrelac gift bag. The bag only took about 5 minutes or so and looks quite snazzy (see below).



The slippers however, took FOREVER! I'm not crazy about the shape of them either and they didn't felt down to the correct size. So i'm not sure about them.

After all this knitting and felting, I decided, darn it, I'm going to WARP that loom!!! It was kind of a killer process. My back was certainly sore after doing it. Here's why, it's a lot of reaching and bending and such for the small space I'm working in. I think the next warp will be done in the kitchen. Anyway, I decided to start simple and grabbed a skein of Kureyon Sock yarn. I think I did 30 or 40 (can't recall now). Then I rolled it up and used old christmas paper because it was sitting there on the table and was really convenient. Next I wrapped the shuttle and then I started the weaving.

Enter in a few problems. Not sure if I rolled the right way because I was having some tension difficulties. The reed kept popping off in the low spot and a few times in the HIGH spot. So all in all a little frustrating. At some point, I became unravelled a bit, well, not me, but the weave and SO, I had to cut it short. So my "Scarflette" is only about 2 feet long and has about 7 inches of fringe on each side. It looks really nice and the Noro colors are stunning of course. So for the first try, I'm pretty happy with what I have. I have some of the warp left, so I might try and do something with it, maybe make a table runner or something. I don't think I have enough for a full on scarf.

Here are a few pics of the process:


So that took me late into Friday evening/Saturday Morning.

Then ON Saturday, I did a bit more Shopping. Met up with Scot for 5 Guys burgers, then home. Back out to meet up with Scot & Joe at Mac's for apps and pints. Had a ton of fun.

Sunday, met up with Cath and Jimmy at Panera for breakfast and knitting. Then we headed to the Merc and I FINALLY got yarn for the White Witch Mitts (rav link) that I have been DYING to make ever since I saw the pattern... which was like 2-3 years ago! So I bought that yarn and am really excited to start those, but I am holding off until I finish ONE more hat!

So a whirlwind weekend it was. Didn't get as much knitting done as I wanted, but, I did get some stuff done, so that is what counts. I still need to wrap a lot of presents and get my car packed up, so I can get on the road hopefully Wednesday.

I'm heading north to see my family. Will stay at Dad's for the evenings, however Christmas dinner will be at Joy's this year. So excited to see everyone!

Knitting: It's in the back seat

That is kind of LITERALLY, too. I haven't knitted since Saturday. My new schedule started a couple months back (October maybe?) and so I'm working 4 10hr days now. In and of itself, not totally bad, but some days are REALLY long. The other downside is now getting home between 6-6:30 instead of 4:30 takes a HUGE 2 hour chunk out of my day. Before that 2 hours was spent, tending to home and dinner. Then I had a few hours left of my evening to relax with the knitting and the Tele.

Now, those 2 hours gone, I get home, work on fixing supper and then I'm caput/kaput?! What's that word again? Anyway, yeah, donezo. So I haven't knitted in a few days.

Today before coming into work, grabbed the laptop out of backseat and there it was, a bag full of yarn and recent wips and 2 fo's. So I grabbed that sucker, and brought it in with me. I decided if I don't go out to lunch today, I will definitely knit at lunch. I love knitting at lunch. I sit down in our cafeteria with whatever food I get on a nice comfy bench. I knit away and stare out the window and it seems like the day, no matter how trying she may be, just isn't that bad. That is really a bonus to knitting. I notice when I knit at lunch, I take my time and just watch the stitches go by. I'm not in a hurry and I just take those moments to relax. Alas, the hour always goes by quickly but at least I had those few precious moments and can then hopefully make it through the day.

So yes, I need to fit more knitting time into my daily life as I have all those presents to finish. Fingers crossed I stay motivated.

Knitting: It's a flurry or fury?!

So this weekend, I spent a large part knitting! YAY! I did get massive amounts done although don't have much to show. Here's the breakdown.

1. Friday, met up with Julie and some other ladies I didn't know for Friday knit club at Temptations. Had a nice time where I officially finished the last 5 decrease rounds of the pirate hat. Picture still to come.... I then started working on my 2nd pair of Ampersand socks, with the lovely ST-1 colorway. Only after several rounds I must have stopped paying attention because my count was off. I corrected and went back to it and a round or 2 later was off again. I decided the socks had had enough that day, so they went back to the bottom of the bag. I then pulled out one of the Noro Entrelac gift bags, I had started and did a tier of that. Then we ordered lunch, ate, packed up and left.

2. I went to winterfair with Scot. It was a total blast. Bought lots of goodies. Some Sangria mix, Margarita mix and all sorts of dips and hot sauces(for Brian) and a lovely piece of pottery. It's called a Brie Baking dish, but you can bake anything in it really. It's just specifically sized for Brie.

3. After winter fair I was a slight bit exhausted, but we went to the North Market anyway because they were having a craft extravaganza. Lots of handmade stuffs, but I didn't get anything cause frankly I was too shopped out by that point. But I did run into my friend Adrienne from Crafty Beavers, whom I hadn't seen in years. Then we got some Pho and went back to Scot's.

4. Then I headed out to Cath's house for the rest of the day and knitted my head off. I worked on Brian's hat. It's the Chullo from the Holiday Gifts issue from Interweave. Stranded colorwork, my fave! It's turning out well, but at some point I made a booboo and now I have to tink about 4 rows back. :( So, as it was later in the evening and I couldn't bear it, I put that project away. I pulled out the Noro Entrelac again and finshed the next tier, bottom triangles and the bottom. It finished up quite nicely and is ready to be felted. However, I want to make a few more and felt them all together. These are really easy bags, although after making 2 of them now, I'm really not crazy about the construction. They are top down and I really don't like how the bottom is made, it's kind of different/odd. But since I haven't seen the felted piece yet, I'm not sure if I'm counting chickens early. So then I think, maybe I should felt it first before I go changing the design? Anyway, that took me late into the evening and then I went home.

I unpacked my goodies from the day and went to bed.

Sunday there was NO knitting to be done. Instead I put up the christmas tree, went to buy stuff for christmas tree, then I decorated. And made supper. I barely watched any TV and was pooped and went to bed early. My fingers are ready for more knitting, so hopefully I can start incorporating it back into my evenings.

So again, I'm posting my list. Trying to stay on track.

1. Finish sweater vest for dad (back is done, just need a front)
2. Finish 1 slipper for Sarah (1 is done)
3. Finish 1 slipper for Mom (1 is done)
4. Mittens for the boys (this is a maybe)
5. Something for Addison, maybe a little hat/mitten set
*6. Hat for Brian (half done)
7. Hat for Scot
8. Hat for a friend
9. Hat for a friend
10. Slippers for a friend
11. Something for my boss (am thinking a felted bowl)
12. Aunt Lisa's purple Hedgie (needs stuffed, felted, sewed)
*13. Noro Entrelac Felted bags for friends need about 6-8 (2 done)

Knitting: to knit a gift or not

I've been thinking a lot about this lately... knitting gifts for those that knit.

There seems to be a larger percentage of knitters out there that don't knit gifts for other knitters. "They can just make it themselves" they say. And while this is a true statement, some of use don't really want to make certain things.

For instance I hate making scarves. REALLY hate them. I LOVE them, but don't want to make them. I get too bored. So a few years ago, I was in need of a scarf and my friend Audra was in need of a xmas gift for her mom. We swapped, she make me a lovely long WARM luscious scarf and I made a Pieced Pointsetta quilt type wall hanging. We each did something we were good at and exchanged.

So take this year for instance... there are things I've been toying with making for people because I think they might like them. They are from the heart and made by my own two hands. I think it would be great to get a knitted gift from someone because I DO knit and I would KNOW what went into that. The time and sincerity that goes with something hand made, to me, that's just nice.

Of course with all things, I always wait until the last minute and who knows what and when I'll get anything done. And if I start stuff now, it might be done by people's birthdays. LOL.

So here's the list of yet to be made for Christmas. I think in 2010, I will start the list in January. Maybe do a project a month and keep on target.

1. Finish sweater vest for dad (back is done, just need a front)
2. Finish 1 slipper for Sarah (1 is done)
3. Finish 1 slipper for Mom (1 is done)
4. Mittens for the boys (this is a maybe)
5. Something for Addison, maybe a little hat/mitten set
6. Hat for Brian
7. Hat for Scot
8. Hat for a friend
9. Hat for a friend
10. Slippers for a friend
11. Something for my boss (am thinking a felted bowl)
12. Aunt Lisa's purple Hedgie (needs stuffed, felted, sewed)

And I guess that is it. That is a lot to do in 23 days. Good thing most of those items will only take me 5-8 hours.

good grief, I am a little nuts!