Sweater Woes and Triumphs

One of my personal knitting goals this year was to knit a full-size sweater, so I recently knit a sweater for myself. I needed a success after so many failed sweaters and not-quite-right sweaters. Most of the sweaters that don't work are those I intend to keep for myself--at least I think the sweaters I've sent to other people are successful and fit well.

I tried knitting two sweaters from Knit One Crochet Two's Cozette, which creates a tissue-tee type fabric. That fabric was completely and utterly wrong for Element, which I couldn't admit to myself until I had knit the whole thing. The first sweater was a plain Custom Fit sweater that I frogged after knitting the back because I had measured myself incorrectly. It would have been okay if I'd wanted a crop top. The yarn isn't delicate, but I hesitate to rip and try again. If I do, I want to knit a pattern intended for the yarn. I think it will be a really nice sweater.

I tried to make Tiny Rocky Coast again and again. It wasn't an adult-sized sweater, but I just couldn't get it right. I messed up the increases on the yoke, then I screwed up the cable pattern. When I couldn't get the cables right a third time, I just gave up. The recipient wouldn't have fit into that size anymore anyway.

Since 2008 I have knit 48 sweaters and tops. Of those, I've frogged 9 adult sweaters, one kid's sweater, one baby sweater, and one baby dress (turned into cowl). I also gave a sweater to a 7 year old that I had made following the adult small size. Plus I've donated three sweaters and have given away two sweaters meant for me. The last sweater I made for myself that fit was finished in 2011.

So you see why I needed a success. And success it was. I love this sweater! I was nervous because I'm not very skilled at substituting yarns, and I was coming off the major fail that was Element. Using the Cestari Old Dominion Cotton for the Clarke Pullover by Jane Richmond was perfect. I wasn't getting gauge, so I did the "knit a size bigger" trick, and it worked! I probably should have used a smaller needle on the ribbing, but I'm so happy with this that I don't care if the collar looks stretched out. The pattern was well-written and worked well with the cotton. I've even gotten compliments from strangers!


I like knitting this so much I considered making another one, but I didn't have enough of the yarn. I may break down and purchase some more of that cotton. It didn't hurt my hands, and the knitting moves along quickly, even though it's listed as a DK.

So now I want more sweaters of my own. I am working on Woodstove Season by Alicia Plummer. The yarn I'm using is from a frogged sweater, so it has some weak points. It has a little bit more drape than a wool would, and the collar is somewhat floppier than I'd like, but I think it's working out. Believe me, I've learned my lesson about knitting through the end when I know it's wrong.

I have some other cotton and non-wool yarns in sweater amounts, so don't be surprised if you see more sweaters for me on my projects page. Maybe I'll even try using the Cozette again. And don't expect many knitting presents either, because I'm quickly turning into a selfish knitter!

Life Reflected in Art

The following is going to sound like a long whine, but it's not--or not quite. I have been thinking about how my frustrations about my job situation seem to be showing up in my knitting. You'd think I'd have more time to be careful about every stitch, and I am taking more time with some things, but I have this unfounded sense of urgency with knitting that I don't often have. So I'm explorring a correlation here, and it sounds like a whine because I'm correlating mistakes with frustration. Ah. Maybe it is a whine. Stop reading if you're not in the mood--I don't blame you.

Lately it seems that there are mistakes in everything I've been making. I put aside and plan to frog a sweater that I re-knit at least twice because I just couldn't seem to get it right. I re-knit a baby sweater because I held stitches for armholes too early, making them too small. I knit a stranded pattern and didn't realize my stitch count was off until I was attaching the pom pom.

Sunnyside Cardigan

There are small mistakes, too, like forgetting to do a jogless stripe or wonky bobbles. There are fudges, like settling for a stripe two rows shorter than the other stripes because I ran out of yarn, or letting the first mis-crossed cable go since I didn't notice it until many cables in (see baby sweater above).

Astrea Hat

Some mistakes I don't understand. I have one legwarmer that is shorter than the other, even though the row counts are the same. There's a hat that is a bit snug even though my gauge was spot on.

Legwarmers (maybe better as armwarmers?)

In nearly every project I have to make some sort of correction because I've made a mistake. It might just be tinking back a bit because I knit when I should have purled, but I am frequently making mistakes.

I started thinking about how all these mistakes create frustrations that I mostly either have to live with or fix, and how that's similar to what's happening in my life--at least as far as working goes. I have been unemployed for 8 months. I have applied for many jobs that seemed like a good fit, and I've gone on a few interviews. But I haven't been hired. There was one interview in which I completely misread the interviewers (I swear one of them was about to tell me I was the perfect candidate before she was cut off) but didn't score high enough to pass to the next round. I've had a lot of "your resume looks great, but it's just not a good fit." Mostly I've had a lot of radio silence.

I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Why can't I get my stitch counts right? What is missing from my resume or my responses that is preventing me from getting the job? I am a good knitter--expert, even. I have 16 years experience knitting. I also have 16 years experience as a folklorist. I have worked all the right folklore jobs (at a state agency, on a major festival, and independently), and I love what I do.

Why do I keep making mistakes? Why can't I get the job?

This one may have been error-free! Rikke Hat

Of course there are successes. I have done a couple jobs through TaskRabbit and get excellent reviews and a little buffer in the bank account. I have successful projects, like the very simple Rikke hat shown above. Those make me feel good, of course, and remind me that I am competent both at work and at knitting. But I'm still not in a full-time job. I'm still working on a project that I've already fudged and whose colors I don't really like. I'm still applying for jobs and listening to the crickets that follow.

Have you experienced your knitting or other crafting or art-making reflecting your life? 

The Calming Effects of Yarn

I was semi-voluntarily laid off last June. I have applied to so many jobs since then, and I've even had numerous interviews. But no offers. My unemployment benefits have been exhausted. I never expected to be unemployed for more than 6 months.  Emotions are running high right now.

A Verb for Keeping Warm Pioneer

I'm angry at anyone who thinks someone who is unemployed can just "go get a job" but is too lazy because they are getting "handouts." I am frustrated that I've spent a lot of money and time getting to where I am in my career but now I can't get hired, despite that Master's degree and 15 years of experience. I'm scared about whether I can manage to extend my savings to cover more than two more months. I'm disappointed in myself for not managing my money better. I'm confused about what I can do to improve my chances of getting a job. I'm dreading the thought of going back into a minimum-wage job (especially in this very expensive city) like retail (is this what my degree was for?). The strongest emotion I feel right now, however, is thankful to have a partner who will support me during this hard time. I can't imagine having to face this alone.

November Leaves

A couple weeks ago I was struggling with my emotions after reading up on current events. The situation in Oregon at the wildlife refuge has upset me beyond reason. It has highlighted some deep philosophical differences between me and some of the people I care deeply about, and that realization has knocked me over with sadness.

Simple House Slippers (for me!)

One thing that has kept me from sinking into a dark place has been pictures of yarn. I was reeling from the news (just general news, not anything in particular) when I took a break to scroll through Instagram. The first two pictures were of handspun yarn. All my stress melted away. I'd never felt something like that--a visceral calm from looking at a picture. Since then I've tried to temper my news reading with pictures of yarn. I have been trying to stop myself from compulsively checking Facebook and Twitter, since so much of what is posted there is news about whatever terrible thing is happening (and where I see the opinions of people I care about but don't agree with, which is something that has been hurting me lately. I just haven't been able to let that roll off my back like usual).

A Verb for Keeping Warm Flock (the yarn is much bluer in real life)

I would like to follow more people who post beautiful pictures of yarn, so if you have suggestions, please let me know. Instagram is a much happier place than other social media sites. Nearly every picture is of children I care about, cats, or knitting related. Not a bad place to live right now. Find me there at everywhereknitting.

Tartara

Year-end Recap

I haven't been blogging (for more than a year!) because I was beginning to feel like all I wrote about was what I'd just finished. We've got Ravelry for cataloging our finished objects now, so doing it here doesn't seem as necessary. However, I do like a good list, so here's my list of completed objects in 2015. Since I haven't blogged since August of last year, I'll also do a 2014 list.

2015
1 baby sweater (the only sweater I completed this year!)
1 blanket
1 dishcloth
1 bag
1 sleep mask
1 headband
1 shawl
3 toys

2 pairs fingerless mitts
6 cowls
14 hats
32 completed projects

I also frogged one sweater and have one baby sweater on hold. Both of those were cases of making mistakes enough times that I needed a break from the project.

I guess it's safe to say I knit mostly hats this year. I didn't knit as much as I usually do, which is surprising since I've been laid off for six months. For 2016 I'd like to complete at least one adult-sized sweater.

Some other fun statistics for 2015:

• Nearly half of these projects were knit using only one color (two projects were with variegated yarn). 
• Two hats were knit with six or more colors. Both of them were by the same designer, both because I added additional colors to what the pattern specified. I also knit two hats using self-striping yarn paired with a white yarn, which could count as more than six colors.
• 28 used fewer than 300 yards; 14 used fewer than 150.
• Blue and white are tied for most frequently used color, though no single color was used most often for single-color projects.
• Size 7 needles were used most, with nine projects. Only one project was knit on needles larger than a size 10.
• I used worsted-weight yarn 15 times, fingering-weight nine times.
• I finished the most projects in September (six) and none in June.
• I learned brioche this year. I really enjoyed that and plan to use it more often.
• I purchased 16 skeins of yarn this year and was gifted one.
• I taught one friend how to knit and helped another move beyond the basic knit stitch.

2014
1 child sweater
1 washcloth
1 pair of slippers
1 tie
2 baby sweaters
2 pairs fingerless mitts
3 toys
3 cowls
21 hats
1 each frogged or hibernating project
37 completed projects in 2014.

Repetition

It's tempting to explain and excuse myself for this long absence.  The truth of it is, I haven't had much to say about knitting lately.  I have been contemplating a personal blog--there's so much on my mind about job hunting, living in a new place, trying to minimize my belongings (a very slow process), my body image--but I'm not sure what I have to say is interesting, or maybe it's too personal for a blog.

There has been knitting.  So much knitting.  I had hit a block for quite awhile, where I didn't even feel like adding to my queue.  Knitting had stalled.  And then I knit a Virgo Hat, after visiting Princess Animal and getting friendly suggestions from their staff.  It felt good to talk knitting and yarn with other knitters.  (I really should find a knitting group.)  Anyway, after that hat, I just wanted to knit and knit.  Perhaps it was because I knit much of it while on a short vacation in Big Sur.  Big Sur is a beautiful place that encourages revitalization.

Lately, I've knit three things from the same yarn.  I've started a fourth project with it, too.  It's not that I love the yarn, in fact, the teal color sheds and then tangles up on itself, which is maddening.  I do love the color combination, though, and it knits up nicely. Brian helped me pick it out to make a Chromaticity Cowl.

After knitting that, I still had a bunch of yarn left, so I made a Brushcreek Cowlette, which used less yarn than I'd expected. 

So, I knit a Hado Slouch, knowing it wouldn't use up a lot of the remaining yarn, but I was hoping for more of a dent in it!  I still have 40% or more of each skein.

The real purpose for knitting so many things from the same yarn is that I need more yarn for my Beekeeper's Quilt.  It's been stalled since February (and June of 2013 before that).  I intended this to be a project using up the remainders of yarn skeins, so 40% seems like too much to commit from a single skein, especially of a solid color.  I want a random assortment of colors for this project.  I am itching to work on it, since there hasn't been much progress for months and months.  Plus, it's the perfect project for our upcoming trip to Maui.

So, I'll keep on knitting with this yarn until it's gone. One way or another. 

Shouldn't I be Settled by Now?

A tie Brian will never wear.

I have moved to new cities many times.  California is the ninth state I've lived in; San Francisco is the 21st city I've lived in.  That's counting the cities I called home as a child.  Cities I've chosen numbers 19, including short-term residencies during college.  Cut those out and I'm still at 17.  The point is, I've moved a lot.

One thing I've learned about moving so frequently is that it takes a good year to make solid friendships.  At this point I've gained two friends who will likely remain my friends even after we no longer work together (I also have a few friends ready-made from other places whom I've joined in San Francisco).  I'm feeling the urge to make friends outside of work, however, which is a much more difficult proposition.  Brian and I like to explore through walking around the city (see my Instagram posts for photos from around the city--I'm everywhereknitting there, too).  Being on the move does not allow the time to settle in, to get to know something really well.  Sure, they know my name and my drink at Starbucks, and I've made friends before

by lingering in stores, but this isn't quite the tactic I'd like to take.

Perhaps I should join some knitting groups.  I have made friends that way before, so it will probably work.  I just get shy in situations where no one knows me.  You'd think that after so many years of making new friends I'd be an expert, but I'm not.

Which brings me to knitting.  Since I don't have many friends here, and job hunting can only occupy so much of my day, I should have a lot of time for knitting.  Somehow, I don't do much of it these days, though.

I never did a summary of what I knit last year, so here's a quick summary:
39 total projects, plus one that has stretched into this year.
9 cowls
9 hats
5 baby items
2 pairs of socks
3 pairs of mitts
1 baby sweater
1 sweater back that has to be re-knit.

Not very impressive.  I did get on a run at the beginning of this year, but it has since fizzled out.  I'm working on a toddler sweater that just needs to be finished. 

This feeling of being unsettled has bled into knitting.  Some nights I dink around on my phone or computer instead of knitting.  Some nights I knit a row or two and then find something else to do.  I just can't seem to focus on knitting.

I think I need to revisit the "knit whatever I want" rule.  It's nice not having deadlines, but I miss presenting people with gifts.  Does anyone need anything?  Want anything?  I could use some inspiration.  I guess a knitting group would do that, huh?  Maybe I just need to be here for another four months before I feel settled enough to happily knit whatever, when I'm not out gallivanting with all the new friends I'll make.

A hat that has no owner.  Want it?

Adrift

I was catching up on some other blogs yesterday and many of them had apologies for not posting in a while.  I guess I'm not the only one who let February get away from her!

There has been a lot of soul searching happening around here.  I did have a revelation or two, and I took some time to express gratitude to people who have made my life a little easier.  I also got a part-time job to help with the bills.  This is completely a throw-away job (no offense to the people who work there for better reasons than mine) that may not cover all my expenses (only about half) but it gets me out of the house and interacting with people.  It's just what I needed.  Now I need something a little more meaningful.  Smiling while handing over the receipt for clothes that cost more than my weekly paycheck is getting depressing.  I don't think I ever thought about how poorly paid everyone in retail is.  Only the managers make a living wage, and I'm guessing that it's not a great salary either.  There are no holidays, and no holiday pay, at least for the part-time workers.  I only make about a dollar more than minimum wage, so the saying "at least you have a job" really gets under my skin.  Is it worth it to spend even four hours peddling something I can't afford?  I could be job hunting for something better during that time.  I feel really sorry for the people who work three of these kinds of jobs just to get by, especially because this is really a forgotten area of our economy.  We talk about how consumer confidence is up, but we don't really look at what cost to the worker.  I definitely appreciate anyone who is working part time in a low-wage job much more than I did before being that person myself.  The bright side for me is that I know that it won't last forever.  I am not stuck in this job.  It gives me what I need for now and I will move on when I have the chance.  I know there are many others for whom this is not the case.

Back to knitting.  I'm still following my no new yarn rule, but the last time I was able to buy yarn I bought for two projects.  I am trying to decide whether that's cheating or not.  Perhaps I'll make seven or ten things before the next purchase, to appease my self-imposed guilt.

Here are a couple of the latest FOs.

Made from leftovers from a cowl and some baby things.

More of the same leftovers, plus some other stash yarn.

Legwarmers for Sarah.  One of these days I'll mail them to her.  The pattern is Laced Legwarmers by Jenise Reid.

Speaking of Jenise, I won a copy of her new pattern book, Between the Trees!  It is beautiful.  I always joke that I'm not a winner, but this is the second thing I've won in the last six months (and about ten years, but who's counting?). 

Keeping Resolutions

I did pretty well on my resolution to knit five projects from stash yarn before buying new yarn.  Brian started complaining that he doesn't have a pair of slippers, which made me pretty annoyed since I've knit him two pairs, including thrummed bunny slippers, which are really warm.  He wears them all the time.  How dare he say he doesn't have any slippers. 

Turns out he meant slippers that he could wear outside, like when I ask him to take out the compost.  Oh.  So I knit nine projects from stash yarn (because I counted my December purchase of yarn as new yarn for the resolution), and then took Brian with me to Jimmy Beans to get yarn for a third pair of slippers.  I've knit this pattern before, and even though it's a bit fiddly, it is in worsted weight held double, so it goes fast.  In two days, I had slippers ready for some leather soles.  Alas, the soles I had don't fit Brian or the slippers.  I still hear about how Brian doesn't have any slippers to wear.  Still rankles me.

I've knit some fun things.  A present for my new favorite little guy.

 A bunny for a birthday girl.

A puff for a friend (the "for a friend" part came after I knit it and had no idea what to do with it.  It was fortuitous that this friend just happened to need a knit puff).

Some cowls.

Hats.

My favorite knit so far is my current project, Simple Sprinkle.  It is so fun!  I don't usually like to knit cowls flat, and I rarely knit scarves.  They just get so boring and repetitive.  I'm also not that crazy about knitting endless garter stitch.  But.  But!  This is so fun to knit.  I love the short-row sections the best.  I love that it's using up some bits of skeins that are too small to be useful.  You can't tell in the picture, but the yellow and blue striped section has three different blue yarns.  It's going to be a very squishy cowl when it's through.

Tallies

Along with lists, I like to tally.  Counting soothes me, gets me back into rhythm.  It's often why I lose track of my stitches.  If I'm supposed to knit three and then purl two, I will start off well enough, but then I'll fall into the rhythm of counting.  I speed past three to eight, ten, twelve, before I realize that I'm off the pattern.  So then I'll tink back, counting.

Since many bloggers are tallying their projects from 2012, I thought I would, too. 

I knit:
59 completed projects
2 frogged knits (plus quite a few that never made it into Ravelry)
2 projects that I knit sometimes (Beekeeper's Quilt and a secret project)

Breakdown:
16 cowls
13 adult hats
12 baby things (2 sweaters, 6 toys, 2 hats, 1 overalls, 1 bunting)
5 fingerless mitts
4 adult sweaters
2 pairs of slippers
2 shawls
2 headbands
1 bag
1 pair of mittens
1 steering wheel cover

I have also made one resolution for 2013.  I have decided that I will knit at least five projects using yarn from the stash before I can allow myself to purchase new yarn.  I will make an exception to this when we are traveling.  I like to buy something special from yarn stores in the places I visit.  I have 168 different yarns in my stash (some are partial skeins; some full, single skeins; and some multiple skeins).  I also have a grocery bag half-full of yarn that still needs to be cataloged.  I was thinking I would make it five balls of yarn and then I could buy more, but with all the partial skeins I have, that means I'd be allowed to buy yarn pretty quickly.  Since I ordered the yarn to join in the Downton Abbey knitalong, I'm going to count that as my first new yarn.  I've already knit four projects since the first of the year, so that means I have to knit six more from my stash before I can buy new yarn.  I'm on a bit of a bulky kick right now, which is very unusual for me, so new yarn could come soon.  I don't have a lot of bulky in the stash, so I think I'll challenge myself to emptying that bin, too.

Here are three of the four things I've completed so far (the third was mailed off before I remembered to take a picture of it).

My own design, using silk yarn without a label that I bought in East Lansing quite a few years ago.

Swirling Cowl, using left over Chalet by Classic Elite MountainTop.  So very, very soft.

Non-Felted Slippers, made with bits of Imperial Yarn Native Twist and some Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky

All three of those items used up yarn from other projects.  I was really happy with the purple cowl, so much so that I may even wear it myself.  The other cowl is a bit short, and a lot shorter than the pattern calls for, but the yarn is so squishy soft it won't matter.  It and the slippers took only a few hours to make because of the super bulky yarn. 

I knit a lot more in 2012 than I did in any previous year (mostly because I'm unemployed).  I plan on having a giveaway soon, so watch this space!

Lists

I am a list maker.  I make lists and sub-lists and sub-sub-lists.  I really only make to-do lists these days, but I also like to catalog things, which is why I love Ravelry.  I can list and catalog there.  Swoon.

My work lists (when I have a job) are numerous.  I have a top-level to-do list that outlines all the major tasks I could accomplish in the near future.  I don't keep long-term lists, by the way.  I'm strictly a short-term lister.  Then I have the middle-level to-do list that has smaller tasks that I should accomplish within the week.  Finally, I have a lower-level list that has three or four things I would like to accomplish that day.  Month, week, day.  I log everything I do each day (plus a phone log), and I save both the log and the to-do lists.  Then the next year I simply refer to what I was doing the same time of year and add those to my monthly list.  

On Ravelry, I currently have 1296 items queued.  These are things that I could knit someday.  There's a great feature in the advanced search that lets one "compare" projects.  So I star the things that I might want to knit next and then look only at those.  I wish there was one more layer (I seem to like three layers of listing) to pull out the things that I really want to knit and leave the things that I don't want to forget as near-future possibilities in the comparing section.  Sometimes I delete everything but the next possibilities and sometimes I just open them all in their own tabs.  I usually have my next project narrowed down to three or four before I settle on it.

18 of the 20+ projects with no homes

After moving to Reno, I found myself both bored and listless.  This lasted for a month or so until I started to make lists.  I realized there was a lot I could be doing, but I could never settle on anything.  Sometimes I couldn't think of anything to do.  Finally, I made a list.  The list had everything from "apply for a specific job" to "knit a hat" on it--both productive things and leisurely things.  These were all things I could do.  Then each day I made a list of three things I would like to do that day.  Since I'm not working a regular job, nothing on my list is ever that important, so if I didn't get to the laundry, it wasn't a big deal.  In fact, I still have a pair of shoes to clean that have been on and off the list since this summer.  This finally gave me some direction for my day.  I haven't been using the lists as often, but I don't feel listless anymore. 

So, in the spirit of lists, here is a catalog of the last few things I've knit.  I've also included a photo of April in the Essential Cardigan, but it's a bad picture from a dinner out at one of my favorite Reno restaurants, The Brewer's Cabinet.

April in the Essential Cardigan

Katy & Kevin cowl. It's a bit small.

 

Surplus Stripes

Surplus Hat (I used the striping method in the cowl pattern to make this hat)

Gaelic Warrior Hat

Stockpiling

I have quite the stack of hats and cowls and mitts with no home.  I'm thinking about finding a charity for the hats.  Then I know that they will be going to a good home.  The rest of the stuff, well, I guess I'll just keep piling up the stack.

Nouvelle

Lots of 1x1 Ribbing Hat for Brian

 
The sweater for April is finished.  I think it's a bit on the small side, but she looks good in it.  She looks good in most things, really.  I did not take photos of the sweater yet, though, so that will come later.

I was trying to think of a topic for this post, but I just feel like I'm whining a lot lately.  I can't find a job, even a retail job, so I'm getting stressed.  I had a terrible nightmare the other night about someone (who looked like Jack Nicholson in The Shining) threatening to shoot me.  I called 911, dropped to floor and started shouting the address, which was my Nana's address (now my cousin's).  I guess it's because that was the first address I had to memorize, since I went to Kindergarten at the school on her block.

I thought this post was going to be about all the cowls I've been knitting lately, but the truth is, I seem to be knitting a lot of hats.  The majority of the projects on my Ravelry page are hats, followed by things for babies (clothes and toys).  Cowls come in third.  When I'm searching for a pattern, I tend to save a lot of cowls.  I like the simplicity of the shape, I think.  A tube has great potential for all kinds of design details like cables and lace and colorwork.

Pretty Thing Cowl

Once I finish my current project (a pair of Foliage Mitts to use up some yarn), I think I need to knit another baby something for my favorite new guy.  It's been fun knitting for babies again.  Older kids are harder to knit for, for sure.  I do have a tunic in the queue to make for Renée, but I can't seem to pick up the needles. 

Left Handed Foliage

Fall

I admire anyone who works from home.  I find it incredibly difficult to focus on getting work done.  Just today I'm procrastinating on writing a letter that should be very easy to write.  I have a routine, for the most part, so that's not the problem.  I have a dedicated workspace, so that's not the problem (though I do get distracted by the internet).  I just have no gumption.  None.  It's not just the work, either.  I've been trying to go for a walk every day while it's nice here (70s and quite sunny), but that takes a lot of effort, too.  I'm also supposed to be job hunting, but I've got about a dozen tabs open with jobs that I would like but can't seem to apply for. 

I think it's because I feel like everything is on hold.  Of course, getting these things done, even walking, will help things to move forward.  This is a typical state for me, and also for my siblings.  We learned it from our mom.  Too bad we didn't learn to keep busy from our dad, who had hobbies and would work in the yard or on the car quite often.  On my good days I'm like that.  Most of the time, however, I fall into the "I should" mode, which means that nothing gets done.  My mom didn't work a regular job until my youngest brother was in school.  Before and during that time, she would talk about going back to college.  I think she would have loved to be in school.  She was a voracious reader and learned so much that way.  She also talked about becoming a party planner, which would have also been a great pursuit.  There were so many things that she wanted to do but could never muster the energy to put into action.  I can be the same way, and I know my sister and brothers do the same thing.  How do we snap out of it?

One thing that doesn't suffer is knitting.  Since much of my "I should" time is spent doing nothing, I end up spending that time knitting.  Too bad I'm not interested in designing.  Are there any jobs for people to just knit?  I could do that (though I think the competition would be stiff).

Since the last post, I mailed off a few things to my sister, who just moved to Denver.  Don't mind the pictures.  I should set up a light box, but, you know.

Bunny Nuggets

Wristers from leftover yarn.

Snake Skin Cowl from shiny Sublime Yarns Lustrous

Song of the Sea

Lovisa Armwarmers that I forgot to put the buttons on.

I'm working on an Essential Cardigan now for April.  April and her husband Jason, both friends from Elko, were nice enough to open their home to us.  We've been here four months, so I thought it was time to thank her.  Since I do nothing but knit, it's moving along quickly.

I have also finished a Shawl Collar Cowl and the Orbitus Hat.  Both of those and the Bunny Nuggets, wristers, and Lovisa Armwarmers were made  to use up stash. The Shawl Collar also used some extremely gorgeous Classic Elite Yarns MountainTop Chalet.  It is so soft and fluffy.  The cowl is quite bulky in the front, though, with all that overlapping fabric.  I think it needs to go to someone who lives in the arctic.

June Sucks

Here are some photos of the things I finished lately. Thermis and Honey are cowls I finished back in May.

Thermis

Two, count 'em, two knots in Calmer. Thank goodness I was only a couple rows into Thermis!

Wonderhorse modeling Honey

Zoz I finished when we were in Mountain Home, Idaho, to pick up my car after having its clutch replaced. I have been working on Mandel since mid-May, but after knitting the body and most of one sleeve, I ripped it out. Since we were in Mountain Home (the weekend my clutch went out), I didn't have anything to knit after ripping out the sweater. I've restarted it now, but I didn't want to risk being without knitting, so I took along Zoz. It was so fast! I knit it all in one night.

Wonderhorse modeling Zoz

Mandel, take two

Why does June suck, you might ask? Work. My clutch went out. Money woes. Mysterious doorbell ringing at 2:30 am when I'm home alone. Brian away in San Francisco. Messy house. No time for grocery shopping. And much, much more.

There's a major deadline coming up at work. It's always a struggle to get everything in by the deadline. Some of it is just communicating with artists, some is interoffice disagreements and strife. A big part of it is total disregard for established deadlines. For whatever reason, I'd like to just skip over June and head into July.

I don't think anyone from work reads this blog, and I don't think too many colleagues read it, either, so I'm going to put this out there: I need a new job. The WFC has had us on furloughs for the three years now. I simply cannot afford to live in Elko anymore. Add in the trouble like I described above, and I'm ready to leave. It's rather disconcerting that I'm deeper in debt living in a small town than I was in Chicago, where I actually pulled myself out of debt enough to buy a condo. I'm also done with the desert. I want to be somewhere lush. We're mainly looking at San Francisco, but at this point, if there's grass, a lake (or ocean), and it's in a city (or very, very near one), then I'll consider it. So if you've got leads for work in the cultural sector, please let me know. Or if you know of a well-paying retail job or office work. I can do that, too, as long as I can afford to eat.

Luckily, I have vacation planned for the end of the month. I'm so excited to make it to one of my uncle's pig roasts. Not for the pig, of course, but for the fun and family. We're then heading to a wedding and spending some time in Toronto. Where there's grass. And a lake. And a city. I can't wait.

Oh, and one more thing!


That's me with the blue knees!