Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Knitting: Taking a break

Because I can't attend my weekly knitting with friends right now... I have decided to try and keep the world updated via blog. I miss my knitting gals, but due to work schedule changes and husbands work schedules, knit night is not do-able for a bit.

Although in a way, this isn't a bad thing because I have seriously LOST my knitting mojo. Think about this for the last 2-3 years I have knit almost constantly, every single day. I mean now and again there were a few days I didn't, but mostly, I did try at least a few stitches, rows, or rounds every day. Be it at work during lunch hour or at home... or my weekly knitting with friends. Anyway, the last month has been a difficult one for me. Actually we'll call it 2 months.

I've been in that quandary with a lot of unfinished projects hanging around, it does bug me yes. And being tired of them and not wanting to work on them and not wanting to start yet another thing... I do the opposite and do nothing.

Add to this being pulled in other crafty directions. I really want to sew again. I really want to work on quilts and blankets and WARM things. I want to weave (I now have a loom), I want to get my scrapbooks put back together, I have pictures EVERYWHERE. I want to clean and get organized. I have actually been yearning to crochet... and for anyone that knows me, that should be a surprise. I hate crochet! Well, sort of. It has it's use, is applicable in certain things like edgings, etc. But for the most part crocheted fabric, is kind of gross (to me anyway). HOWEVER... that being said, I think in my head the term crochet often goes with crappy acrylic yarn. There is a reason for this. I learned to crochet when I was really young, say 6 or 7. What was I given, a bunch of hand me down magazines, some hooks and really cheap yarn. Fast forward a few years, my crochet was never great, my hands always hurt and well, it wasn't "cool".

So I quit crochet. Jump forward a billion years and I decided to learn to knit. But knitting to me is fabulous yarns and beautiful fabrics etc and so on.

Anyway, Cath got me started on this crochet bug because she posted about this cute crocheted gingerbread house. I promptly went and bought that magazine like 2 days later and have been looking for the right yarn ever since. I really want to make a blanket, so I figured crocheted squares is the way to go, they are mostly quick and I can trot them around with me. Easy-peasy. I buy a book of like 90 or 99 different squares... I work on a few, I'm bored. :)

Then... I'm browsing more magazines and buy another crochet one because there is this unbelievable blanket in it that I'm dying to make. So anyway, I'm pulled in different directions. I have a million things to finish and yet no desire to do so.

Argh!

However, this weekend, I may put a plan into place that will give me more crafting room/space. I have a spare bedroom, I've been wanting to convert for awhile now. There is a bed in it, that I will move out. There is much cleaning and organizing that needs to happen in there as well. But I think if I get my arse in gear, I could do it this weekend.

Of course I may be lazy, so no promises, but we'll see. My plan for the room, which already houses 2 book cases, will be to get a sofabed in there. Possibly a small TV (cable is already wired) and a large long table to set up sewing machine and cutting area. I will also need bins and such to put tools in and so forth. This could be a good plan and could come together nicely. Of course this entails shopping for furniture. I definitely see a trip to Ikea in the near future, won't Brian be so excited, um no, probably not. :)

So even though I'm not really knitting. I'm working a what I think is a really neat hat. I haven't even photo'd it yet, so I'll just have to tantalize you with details. It's a fair isle type hat, pattern is a little boring, next one I'll design myself. But I love the yarns I'm using, Mochi Plus and Berroco Lustre. I can't wait to finish it and show it off. Not sure if I'll keep or gift, but that's what I'm working on lately.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Knitting: The toilet

So, no I'm not knitting a toilet, or on the toilet, or even a cover for the toilet... but I feel like my knitting is in the proverbial toilet. I have become lackluster with projects and ideas and knitting in general.

Now don't get me wrong, I love to knit and talk about knitting and read about knitting and just be a geek about knitting... but lately... so unmotivated to do actual knitting.

I think it's partly the whether and that time of year. Days are shrinking, my house is a cluttered catastrophe. I've put off so many things for so long and they are really biting me in the butt. So as unmotivated as I am to knit, I'm even more so to clean and declutter. But it is something I have to do... and do it soon!

I need to reorganise my house, my life and my knitting. I start 3 day weekends very soon, I think some of this can be accomplished.

Onward!