Ok, I've been bad.

So I haven't posted in forever.  I've been bad I know, it's not like anyone probably reads this, but I started this as a journaling of sorts towards my knitting adventures.  But I have definitely slacked off.  I have started following blogs and I read what these people right everyday and I think to myself wow I'm not that immersed in knitting.  I don't feel like my life is going to drop away from under my feet if I don't knit everyday.  I do, however, have a fond passion for it now and feel that my life would not be the same if I couldn't knit again.  

Anywho, that's just my apology for being absent for so long.  In recent news I'm trying to hurriedly work on Christmas gifts.  I have finished one.  I made a shrug for my sister and I think it turned out much better than I anticipated.

I'm also working on a windowpane throw that I started over a year when I got a renewed interest in knitting.  Also, I've barely started a pair of music note fingerless gloves for one of my best friends.  I have come to a halting point because I don't know how to "make one" also the pattern tends to confuse me and I have to wait till I talk to my knitting professor, or one of my other best friends, so she can show me where to go next.  That's about all the news for now.  I will post some pics of stuff that I have completed recently for a halloween swap I was in.

I'm Taking a Day Off!

So I just made the decision about 5 minutes ago that I was not going to go to my two classes today.  I feel that I deserve a day off.  Anyways, I thought since I get to do whatever I want today, I'm going to take the time to update my blog.  Well let's see where I left off with my latest knitting news.  Well I finished my "Favorite Animal Swap" and sent off the package including the owl headband.  I think the headband turned out beautifully, but the only problem was that I bound off the normal way when the edge was ribbed and the top didn't really have any stretch to it.  So I'm not so sure she is going to be able to make it fit her head, but maybe she can use it as something else.  Who knows. LOL

Well since that was completed I had only a couple of days to work on my afghan and the shrug that I'm making for my mom and sister, respectively, for Christmas.  But then my next swap "Halloween" started and I knew that I was going to have to bustle.  Because the crafting phase of this swap is scheduled to finish on October 31st, but you really want to finish in time to mail out your package so they can have time to cherish it during the holiday.  So I went in with my friend Katie to one of our local yarn stores.  Let me just tell you, anyone from the Bloomington-Normal, IL area must try out MaryLynn's Yarn Garden.  She is the most amazing person.  I sat in her shop for over 3 and a half hours working on a skull dishcloth, which I finished!  She made us coffee and it was nice to chat it up with some of the locals.

A couple of days ago I started my second project for the "Halloween Swap" which is a felted knitting tote with a skull on it.  This is going to be my first time felting anything so we'll see how it turns out.  I just finished the skull diagram last night, so most of today is going to be spend finishing it up.  So unfortunately since it's not done I don't have a pics of it yet, but I will soon. No worries!

Monogamous Knitting

So I came across a discussion thread on Ravelry about a month or so ago which dealt with monogamous knitting.  Someone was interested in knowing who only knits one project at a time.  This was extremely interesting for me to read because I had always been a monogamous knitter before.  I couldn't understand how someone could carry on more than one project at a time.  Part of the fun in knitting for me is following the pattern to a "T" and using all the suggested yarns and materials.  Well so in this sense I am the kind of person that wants to start something and become immersed in it.  That means I wouldn't even consider moving on to a new project this I had my current project completed.  There was only one problem with this.  My first project that I started since my resurgence of knitting came along was a throw.  Well when I read this it was April or so and I had been working on that throw since December.  (In fact I'm still only about half way through it)  So I had never actually completed a project yet.  I figured it was time to try something new.  I then put the throw aside and made my first hat.  It was a Norwegian Star Earflap Hat that I made for my boyfriend for our anniversary.  (see pic)  Right after that I started working on a shrug that I am planning on giving my sister for Christmas.  We right after I cast on the shrug I needed to start making my projects for the Favorite Animal Swap I'm in.  Well I have been knitting away on these projects.  Well I'm working on the last project for the swap which I started last night.  Only thing is that last night things weren't working out all that well for me and I got discouraged.  When I sat down to do some knitting tonight I just couldn't look at the project that I started last night. I didn't want to have anything to do with it tonight.  So I went back and spend a couple of hours working on my sister's shrug.  I am almost done with the first sleeve and I super excited.  Reflecting right now before I go to bed I realized that having more that one project going at a time doesn't make life more hectic or confusing, it allows for possibilities. I am now not confined to one project.  That's what would happen before I had my resurgence in knitting.  I would knit for a couple of weeks, get bored, and stop for a month or so.  But now that I have all these possibilities I am able to step away from something that gets on my nerves and move onto something that brings my spirit back up.  Anyways, that's my random thoughts of the night.  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  Until next time!

You live and You learn!

So last night I finished the Owl Headband that I have been working on for the past couple of days for the swap I'm in right now.  Well, things started out rocky because I was trying to hand wind the yarn from the hank and it got outrageously twisted up.  I spent about 3 hours trying to detangle this yarn.  Then I cast on.  From there on out in terms of knitting it was pretty good.  Learning new things, and the pattern was coming out beautifully.  (Much better than the owl I tried to cable into a dishcloth)  So then I cast off.  Well I'm a relatively new knitter and just cast off normally not really thinking that there would be a difference for casting off ribbing.  Well now the the cast off has no stretch and I'm almost positive this headband is not going to fit her.  Oh well, I already plan on writing her a letter explaining my new knitterness and hope she's accepts my apology. LOL

Well, there will be pictures to come.  Once I find someone willing to model it (in some fashion even if it's not on their heads).  I think after I finish breakfast here I'm going to start on my next project.  It is another dishcloth, it's an illusion dishcloth that features Hedwig, the owl from the Harry Potter movies.  I don't read the books or watch the movies so this design has no significance to me, but I figured almost everyone else in the world is in love with Harry Potter so I figure I can't go wrong.  

Owl Headband

So today I got a skein of Blue Sky Alpaca's Alpaca and Silk in Mocha Brown. It came in perfect time because I am ready to start my new project which is an Owl Headband which I am making for a Favorite Animal Swap.  We'll see how this goes.  I'll keep you updated.

First Posting

Ok so here's my first blog. I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing but I'll figure it out as I go along I'm sure.  I am here to talk about all things knitting.  Now I still consider myself to be a relatively new knitting even though I have been knitting for over 2 years off and on.  But in the past couple of months my ambition for knitting has dramatically increased and I am learning how to make projects that aren't squares or rectangles in stockinette stitch.  I am currently in a swap on Ravelry called Your Favorite Animal Swap.  I am paired with a woman that loves Owls and Birds.  I had bought her some things while I was on vacation 2 weeks ago.  But recently I have finished two dishcloths.  One has an owl cabled into it and the other has a raven purled into it.  I was so excited to finish projects that came out the way I intended them to.  You will find pics of both projects.  Other than that I think that's all I got for today. Chio!