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

In Like a Lion

It's been a rough couple of months. But let me back up to the giveaway. It was fantastic! I gave away everything but one pair of fingerless gloves that didn't photograph well. I even got a friendly knit monster in trade! Gerald R. Ford sits on the couch-bench with us, watching TV while I knit.

Even though it's been rough (99% of the hard times are at work), I've been busy and knitting like crazy. The first-ever Roller Derby Bout in Elko is on April 16. I made the roster! I'm sure I'll be a second or third-string blocker, but I'm excited to play. Practices take up some time, and the Sunday morning one is right in the middle of my weekend, so Brian and I have been staying in Elko. We made a quick run to Salt Lake so I could buy some things for my derby outfit. I bought eight pairs of tights to try out!

Some deadlines at work have changed so my April is going to be much busier than in years past. Add derby practice to that and I'm stuck here for a while. I haven't had a real break since Christmas. Brian and I are heading to San Francisco over Easter, for a friend's birthday. I'm trying to plan the early part of that week, too, so I can finally take a vacation. I need a rest. A serious, not-at-home, no-responsibilities kind of vacation is the only thing that is going to keep me sane.

Here are some knits I've finished since the giveaway (plus a couple that were finished before but not picture-ready).

Duck Feet for Julie's baby. Finished 1/18, sent much later.

Surtsey in Yellow for Donella's babies. Finished 2/9. Buttons made (by me!) and added later.

Surtsey in Green for Donella's babies. Finished 2/22. Buttons made (by me!) and added later.

Indian Summer. Finished 2/24. Button made (by me!) and added later.

Toorie. Finished 2/28. So cute.

Cassady. Finished 3/10. I made this to try the technique. It's clever.

Java Socks for Brian. Finished 3/16. The next pair of socks I make for Brian will be tighter, I promise. He wants more socks, so I'll be able to get it right.

Scallop Lace Hat. Finished 3/27. It looks better now that it's blocked.

I also knit a cover for one of my knee pads. but I didn't take a picture of it. It's just a black blob anyway. It was a two-hour knit last Saturday, 4/1. I may make another cover with a tighter knit, but probably not before the bout.

Full Moon Blanket WIP. This is an ongoing project since 3/17. I don't normally knit blankets, but I'm waiting for some yarn from Pickles, which is in Norway, so I can knit their Impress Dress for another baby (Annelise). I got distracted while at their site and cast on for this blanket. I'm sure I'll pick up another project in the meanwhile. Brian picked out some more Malabrigo Sock, which I used on the Java socks, for another pair of socks, and I just impulse-bought two full bags of yarn (twenty skeins for $45!). I'd like to start a sweater or vest. It's time for a full-sized garment.

So that's it. I'm tired. I'm working hard at derby. I'm burned out at work. Knitting is my salvation right now. Thank goodness for knitting.

Presents and Poetry

So many things were completed since my last real post: 13 FOs, one frogged hat, and one cowboy poetry gathering. Sure, it's been two months, but that many projects is a lot for me these days, especially those days leading up to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

I'm not sure where to start. The Gathering was great. I had been feeling about a month behind in preparations (probably because I'd lost a month's worth of work days to furlough) until two weeks before the event. Then, magically, I was ready. I'm sure a few things got overlooked, but all in all, it was a great Gathering. I heard so many compliments--people don't usually tell me those things, since I'm the invisible hand running the machine--which was really nice. I even got a present! I usually only get amazing hugs, but Doris Daley gave me chocolate straws (and hugs). I finally shared them with the staff, but I pretended they were just for me for about a week.

I didn't see much music or poetry, as is usually the case, but I did get to see my friends Andy Hedges and Andy Wilkinson perform. Andy Hedges's wife, Alissa, sang with them, too. They are all great. Video and audio from some of the shows are available on the Western Folklife Center's website. We also blogged during the event. Find that here.

Now on to knitting. Here are some things that became presents (in Blogger upload order, not chronological).

Windschief, which I will some day send to my brother.

Owl, with a magnet in the bottom, for Brian

Cat toy. It was supposed to be a sock, but I did not like the colors at all. I ripped back to the toe, seamed it up, and voila! a cat toy.

Mittens with flip-top thumbs (my pattern) so Brian can use his iPhone.

Soxies for Brian's Mom.

Men's Cashmere Scarf (not cashmere) that Brian will probably never wear (don't be surprised if you see it in my giveaway pile)

Argyle Felted Hot Pad for my kitchen. I always forget that white yarn doesn't felt at the same rate as colored yarn, so I pulled out the blue argyle pattern.

I also finished Duck for a pregnant friend. I'm not sure whether she reads this, so no pictures until I mail them off.

On impulse, Brian and I went to Portland after Christmas (which was spent with his mom in Mountain Home, ID). I visited a few yarn shops while we were there.

Malabrigo Sock

Rowan Purelife (I made the mittens above out of this)

2 skeins of Shelter. I used one skein on a hat that I ended up frogging. It was knit too tightly and I couldn't get the lace pattern (as usual).

All of the above were from Knit Purl. Very nice store.

Purple Lotus Sweet Grass hand dyed cotton from Gossamer

Cascade Eco + from Close Knit. I'd been to Close Knit the first time I was in Portland. It's a really great store. I'd probably shop there a lot if I lived in Portland.

I didn't love Portland the first time Brian took me (nearly a year ago, for our second date), but my mind was changed this time. The weather was awful, but I miss the moist air of the Midwest so much that I didn't mind. My car minded, fogging up and condensing on the inside every day, all day. We ate some amazing food. Food I dream about. We did some great sightseeing to Sauvie Island and The Grotto. We also explored some neighborhoods, and did a lot of window shopping. My favorite day was spent in Ground Kontrol, dropping quarters into classic video games. That day reminded me of the times when my dad would take me to the arcade after school. All the games were from that era, except most of the pinball, which was newer and reminded me of college when I would spend my laundry money on pinball. I love pinball.

Ever since I started knitting without an intended recipient (for the most part), I have accumulated a pile of homeless knits. I have an idea to give these away to whomever expresses interest in them. I recently gifted the Snapdragon mitts to CarrieK because she liked them. Why not give away the rest of the items to people who will use them? I think this post is too long and picture heavy to do it here, so I'll list the items next week. Stay tuned!

NaKniSweMo is a No Go

I thought about joining NaKniSweMo this year. Of the 434 projects in my Ravelry queue, 268 of them are sweaters. It seemed like joining along with the 700 other people who are in the Ravelry group would get those needles moving through 50,000 stitches in no time. Alas, November is just too busy for more deadlines.

Brian's birthday is in November, on Thanksgiving this year. We're going to spend it with his mom and then head to San Francisco the next day to see Lucero in concert. We'll see our friend Dan, which is always a treat. Brian suggested that he'd like a pair of socks, so I've been whipping through those. He tried the first one on, after the foot was finished, before the heel, and we discovered it was too big. Gauge swatches lie. So I ripped and started over with more negative ease and better math. The sock is still a little roomy, but it will do. He also mentioned that he wouldn't mind a fun color. This, after I'd already started knitting! He's so green-gray-blue-black that I didn't think he'd like something with some color. I guess it means I'll have to knit a second pair later.


I finished all the knitting on Goodale. I still need to tack down the front flaps, but I need space and space-out time for that. I've been working late and then too tired for seaming, so that's on hold. I'm not sure who this sweater will fit, anyway. It fits me fine, but I can't wear wool. I'll probably give it to Jen. Who knows when I'll see her next. My life is so empty without a visit to see her and the kids, I might have to give this sweater to someone else just so it doesn't make me sad.


While I was waiting for Goodale to block, I started a pair of long fingerless mitts, inspired by the pattern at The Purl Bee. My gauge is completely off, and I didn't follow the pattern for the thumb. Turns out I did the thumb exactly like the pattern, though I went straight to the ribbing, eliminating the striped rounds. I'm having lots of fun knitting these. I think I might make a matching hat, maybe with a few slipped-stitch ridges running up the sides into the decreases.

Finally, I made a quick pair of slippers for Brian. They are kind of silly, with bulky feet and worsted cuffs, but the pattern was free. They actually turned out pretty well. He wears them, which is the most important part. Thankfully, Brian likes knitted gifts.


I think I'll still make a sweater, but I don't know if it will have enough stitches to qualify for NaKniSweMo. I will most definitely take longer than the rest of November to finish it.

Darn Buttons

There are no buttons to be had in Elko. At least not any that would work for my nearly finished sweaters.

Remember the Holly Jacket?


For all intents and purposes it is finished. You'll notice I haven't taken it out of my current projects list. I finally found some buttons in Boise that look good on the sweater. The problem is the inner buttons. They don't fit in the holes. Part of the problem could be my wonky button band,


and another part could be that I sewed them too tightly against the fabric. I'm not sure that fixing either of those problems would solve the larger problem, so I'm going to sew on some snaps to keep it closed.

My goal this week is to finish the current projects. Along with Holly, I've just about finished Laccaria. I'm working on weaving in the ends (as you can see in the picture). This sweater will probably go the way of Holly, though, and wait months on end for appropriate buttons.


Finally, I'm finishing Playful Stripes. I have buttons for that, which I got in Boise with the buttons for Holly. I need to graft the armholes first. I'm procrastinating on that one. Somehow weaving in a million ends is more attractive than grafting.


I'm itching to make something with cables. I also want to make Goodale, but I don't have the yarn for it. I can't really buy yarn right now, unfortunately. I think I'm going to satisfy the cable craving with either Liffey or Snapdragon Flip-tops. I'm in the mood for mittens more than a hat, but the design of the hat is calling me. Who knows? My craving will probably change before I allow myself to cast on for a new project.

What about my travels, you ask? Brian and I went to Salt Lake City to see She & Him in the park. That was fun. We stayed on to camp and climb with friends--well, I climbed. It hailed on us so we bailed.Brian and I backpacked in to a small lake, which was really nice. We tried camping just outside Salt Lake the next night, but we got to the campgrounds past curfew. It really makes us angry that they lock the gates at 10 pm. They even put those tire spikes on the exit so you can't get in. What about folks like us? What if you already have a site and decided to go out to dinner? Horrible. I'm starting to think that people in Utah like torture, too. We went on a two-mile hike that had a 2,000 foot elevation gain. Ridiculous. It was even difficult coming down! We ate at an incredible restaurant to make up for our pain. We even ordered wine and the most delicious dessert.

Michigan was amazing as usual. The UP is such a special place in the summer, and seeing my friends is worth waiting for all year.

Fall

Fall and winter are so busy for me anymore (with planning the largest and oldest cowboy poetry gathering and all), that I no longer have time to plan for the important things, like making flight arrangements for Christmas, or figuring out where I'll be for New Year's Eve. The busy-ness creeps up on me. All of a sudden I'm working late and skipping lunch and I don't know how that happened. I don't mind, though. My job is still interesting enough most of the time to keep me expending the energy it needs.

Knitting doesn't seem to be suffering right now, which is a surprise. I take that back. The amount of knitting I'm doing hasn't slowed down. In fact, I seem to be spending more time with the needles in my hands. What is suffering, are the knits themselves. I spent all that time loving the Holly Jacket, but now that I need to do the finishing touches (which include knitting), I can't get motivated to do it. I thought I was finished with the cozy shorts for Sandman, but I need to rip back and fix a leg.


Those shorts. How can I have the same number of stitches and end up with one leg wider than the other? The problem with the pattern is that it doesn't give stitch counts, so it's harder to keep track. I thought I had calculated everything correctly. I even had a friend try them on. The simple fact of the matter is that one leg is wider than the other. So the shorts have been sitting in my knitting basket, staring at me with contempt when I pick up the needles to make a sure-fire hat.

I was thinking that it was just garments, and that I should stick to accessories. I made two hats (stop what you're doing and make Piper now. It's awesome),


then I made a scarf,


then a Calorimetry.


But I'm risking a garment so I can have a very, very loose knit along with Amber. Amber's been knitting way longer than I have, and we've never had a chance to knit together, really, since we lived together before I learned how to knit. So I like the idea of a two-person knit along. It makes me feel connected to her. So we're both knitting Shalom. I've already made a mistake and had to rip back, but it's a fast knit so it wasn't heart breaking. I don't mind ripping back (except when I think the garment is complete--see above or, worse yet, Patti).

I've also made a New Year's resolution. I am going to avoid knitting for deadlines. These deadlines are always self-imposed and stressful. I am also going to avoid promising knits for anyone. That is also stressful. Instead. I'm going to knit what I want, how I want, and then decide who it's for. If I'm knitting for myself, I'm going to allow myself to take however long it takes. This way, I'll eliminate all the self-imposed stress and can enjoy the entire process. This starts now and is retroactive. Therefore, Sandman may not get his shorts while it's cold (though isn't it always cold in North Dakota?), and Aimee's cousin will never get his rattle. But someone else will get a great sweater in a couple weeks (or days, this thing moves fast!).

One more thing. I'm busy these days. I might not blog for a couple more months. Come to the Gathering if you need a fun festival in the depths of winter. I have an extra bedroom and plenty of floor space. I really recommend it. I know cowboy poetry doesn't sound like it could be as much fun as it really is, but trust me. It's a great time.

I Need Advice

I want to make some fingerless gloves or full-blown mittens out of the skinny cotton I bought. I think a fun, two-color, stranded pattern is what I want, but I can't find any. Neither of my two stitch guides has any colorwork, so I can't make it up. After browsing Ravelry, I'm really in the mood to do some colorwork in a mitten, too, but I want to focus on this cotton.

I know cotton for mittens isn't ideal, but these will either be for me or a friend who can't wear wool either. That's why I was thinking fingerless gloves instead. Maybe mittens knit in wool and lined with cotton would work, too. But, again, I want to focus on the skinny cotton. I only have one skein of each color, and a hat isn't inspiring me right now.

Other than the itch to start a million new projects (I'm dreaming of socks, too, and I've got a sweater's worth of yarn waiting to be knit), I'm plodding along on BYOB. If I finish it today I'll post a picture. In the meantime, here's a photo of a columbine from last weekend's camping trip.

7/27--Completed BYOB (added picture 7/28)

Butterfly in Lamoille Canyon (added 7/28)

Spring?

So who do I believe? Punxsutawney Phil or the robins hopping around the yard?

The Gathering is over. I think it went well. We had bad weather, but that made everyone seem friendlier. I guess they figured they were stuck in a good place. Here are a few photos. Remember that you can check out some of the shows on the Western Folklife Center website.

Adrian. Her voice gives me chills.

Oscar and Dylan, waiting their turn at the microphone.

Boots. Mine are the pretty reddish ones.

Kut, a group from Kyrgyzstan

Obviously, I didn't get much knitting done these last couple weeks. I had started a pair of Firestarter socks, but I ended up frustrated with the pattern and a little unhappy with my gauge. I ripped it. I am working on a something for someone. It should be finished soon--it's a little something. I want to start a sweater, so I ordered a lot of yarn I can't afford. I added to my stash of Eco Wool.


The yardage! Makes me swoon. I also think I can use this wool without too much trouble, even though I generally stay away from Peruvian Highland Wool. This doesn't feel as scratchy. In fact, I was hardly itchy during swatching. I think I'm going to make a sweater for Stef out of it. He's been asking for a sweater for some time now, and I'd like to make the EZ Seamless Hybrid. want to make a sweater for Dan, too, but I want to use Skye Tweed. I've only got eight balls. I don't think that will be enough. It's not even enough for a sweater for my sister, who wears extra small things. Speaking of, I ordered yarn to make the Dollar and a Half cardigan for her. I'm definitely itching to make a sweater.

On top of all that, I ordered some Misti Alpaca chunky to finish the Bas Relief hat I started way back before Christmas. I needed another skein of something to get the discount at Webs.