Thursday, September 25, 2008

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!

Monday, September 1, 2008

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!