I’ve been a bad, bad blogger. Again.

Eep! Sorry all. I've been so wrapped up in life and knitting that I've neglected this blog thing for way too long. As it stands I have finished the stars and a Christmas tree for August. We aren't talking about the fruit nets or the angels just yet. I'm lucky to have gotten ANY EZ knitting in last month with the giant, 6ft. long stocking cap that I made on commission. Still, I'm pretty happy with my FOs for August. All in all, I finished the ornaments, cap, a flower brooch, a scarf, and a Meowth.

September has been just nuts. I got another order for a stocking cap (which was only 3ft long this time and did not eat up all of my free time), a request for a black shrug from my 5yr old and A JOB AT THE YARN STORE! How awesome is that? I'm stoked. That is the only word for it. Absolutely stoked. I've only had one shift so far, but I've already learned a lot and I got to see the world's tiniest chicken egg. Best. Job. Ever.

I've cast on for the Nether Garments too. I'm making them as pajamas for myself out of the Yarn Bee Snowflake wool that you can get at Hobby Lobby. I picked up a skein thinking that I would really like a pair of fingerless mitts. Once I decided that they were going to be pants, I picked up a few more. Thankfully, I got a great gauge with the first pair of needles I grabbed, so off I went making the cuffs. I started with 80sts, to avoid leggings, and will work straight to the knee. I haven't decided what I'll do once I get to the hips though. I'm not sure if I want to make them sit low on the hips or high on the waist like the pants in the Almanac. I'm leaning towards low, but we will see how I feel once I get there.

I have a bit of a confession to make now though. I'm blogging instead of writing my English paper that is due at midnight. I've written more in the last ten minutes about knitting than I have in the past week about William Wordsworth. Think I can just turn this in to my teacher? I put the guy's name in it at least. . . Blegh. Off to be a good student and finish my assignment.

*pop*

Hear that? I think that may have been the last threads of my sanity snapping. Not to worry though, I can spin more!

I have been a bad knitter this month. Even now, with a deadline less than two days away, I am writing this post instead of finishing the mile long hat. I've failed to finish my daughter's surprise birthday plushie. I've completed only three stars from the Almanac and have yet to cast on/plan for the trees, nets or angels.

When is the end of August? Tuesday you say. Hmmm. . . No problem!

What did you say? Tests in all four of my classes on Thursday? Quit teasing. School only just started this week. Surely the professors won't test us on all of that information with just one week to study. They can't be that heartless. o.0 Maybe if I cut out eating and sleep I can fit it all in. . .

Where Did the Time Go?

Here it is, the day after EZ's birthday, and I'm just now realizing that yesterday was in fact August 9th. I had intended to do a happy birthday post. Ahem.

So far this month, I have made 1 star from the Almanac. This star was quickly stolen by the kitten. I'm sure it will turn up eventually and look nothing like a star. I really want to cast on for one of the little angels. The hat I'm working on right now (for an order) is taking such a long time though and I promised to have it done in 3 weeks. Maybe I'll luck out and get a few days off in which to sit back and knit. . . HAHAHA. That's my favorite joke. ^_^

I've also been busy getting my daughter ready for her first day of Kindergarten. This little girl has been so excited to go to school all summer and today, she finally got to . I missed her and I cried a little when I read the note her teacher gave to me after I dropped her off. I had some knitting therapy (hence the star) and did as many little errands as I could think of. I know that this school thing will get easier over time but I'm still in shock that my baby isn't really a baby anymore. Oops. So much for not getting weepy again. I'm going to get some more work in on the hat before bed.

Good night all. Happy knitting.

August 9, 1910 - November 30, 1999

Here we are at August. Shawl knitting is over for the year (maybe) and little Christmas projects are waving to me from the pages of EZ's book. I'm waiting until the 9th, her 100th birthday, to cast on for the first of this month's projects. It'll be my little way of saying happy birthday. I do have plenty to keep me bust for the next week though.

I recently started peddling my wares at a local artist's market. Every Saturday local artisans are allowed to take over an old mill close to our Downtown area and sell their stuff. I've been there the past two weeks and have made a nice little profit. Yesterday, I got two orders for custom hats. ^_^ All of this money making has made me realize that I really must do something about that pesky little etsy store. I've had it for almost two years now, sitting with nothing but a name. If I'm going to make a name for myself, I need an internet presence. This is annoying to no end, since it is taking valuable time away from my knitting. I have managed to get the brim for one custom hat done today while making dinner and hope to get to the first decrease rounds before bed.

As I begin to turn my love of yarn and knitting into a little career, I can't help but feel closer to EZ. She was such an amazing woman and still is such an inspiration to so many knitters. All this month, as I knit for my business or for friends or for the knit-along, I'll be knitting a stitch for her and wishing her a very happy birthday.

At last!

IT'S FINISHED! I can't begin to describe how glad I am that this shawl is finally done. After knitting nothing but purple lace weight wool my fingers are itching for some other fiber and my eyes are craving something fun to look at.

Don't get me wrong. This shawl was an absolute pleasure to knit. I got a good portion of it done while on vacation and was able to finish well before my August 5th deadline. I'd say that this month was definitely a success. Now, I need to go feel some silk. See you in a few days with Christmas Fiddle Faddle!

Who Needs Sleep?

Here we are at the beginning of July, faced with THE SHAWL. This can be a very intimidating project on it's own. Add to it a host of little items for surprise births, charity donations, commissions, etc. and you have a panic attack waiting to happen. Oh. And I forgot about the back to school sweater that I promised my little one. First day of school is August 9th.

Despite all of the knitting that needs to happen, I also have this pesky thing called a job. For now it is only part time. Hopefully next week that will change. I have an interview (WOOHOO!) for a full time position that could carry me through school. It'll mean a lot less time with my family and my yarn but could give us the boost we need to get out of my in-laws' house. Decisions, decisions.

I have cast on for the EZ shawl. I'm using a 2-ply handspun lace weight that was given to me by an amazing local spinner. It is a really beautiful shade of purple, but she hated the way it turned out and just gave me 7 hanks. I'm doing the plain version since I will not have time to follow a lace chart and keep my sanity. Thankfully, I've been able to sneak a few rounds in and am all the way to the 4th increase section!

I've been typing for long enough today. I'm off to finish a different shawl, two scarves, 6 bags and a few alien hats. I'll post pictures of everything once I have another spare second.

Now That's More Like It

June knitting is done! I finished the final hat about a week ago, but haven't had a chance to post until now. We have the Maltese Fisherman's hat (left), the Ganomy hat (center) and the Three Cornered hat (right). Each hat took no more than four hours to complete and they all fit an average woman's head. That says success to me!

The three cornered hat was made with a super chunky 100% Alpaca yarn leftover from a vest that I made for my daughter about three years ago. It is really soft and will hold in the heat nicely this winter. I'm not really sure how exactly to wear it but that is a minor detail.

I'm waiting until July to start the big scary shawl project, so here is what I've been doing in the interim:


Socks for NPH! After his tweet about wanting socks for his birthday, a good friend of mine at knitting decided that we should all make socks for him. She somehow wound up with his shipping address and shoe size before the evening was over and I was chosen to make a pair due to my knitting speed. It has been one full week and I have just finished the heel flap for the second sock. Oh, and this is my first completed sock. Ever. In the 12 years that I've been knitting, I have never finished a single sock.

I may be a little proud of this one.

A Bevy of. . . Aliens?!?!

I've had to put the hat knitting on hold to make gifts for a class I am teaching on Tuesday. It won't be long before I am done though and can get back to the book.



Aren't they adorable? Each little alien takes fifteen minutes to make on size seven needles with novelty yarn. When I am done with this batch I will have 30 to give out to the girls in the class. I'm planning on making a few more after I'm done with my hats and experimenting with gauge to get bigger, chubbier aliens.

Back to life and knitting for now. See you soon (and I'll bring some finished hats with me).

AB

Keep Moving Forward

Do you ever just have one of those days? You know, the type of day when everything you try to do to make life better/easier/happier for the people around you seems to backfire? Have you ever wanted to curl up in bed and just stay there forever? Today was that day.

Things about today that sucked:

• Work politics
• Family issues
• Rare meltdown from 4-year-old
  

At work, I was the dumping ground for management's petty little problems with everyone else. At my mom's birthday dinner, I was made to feel like absolute GARBAGE for offering to get part of the tab. Once we (finally) got home for the night, my daughter decided to get in on the fun and completely came apart over a pencil.

I decided to knit at that point. I took on the next of the three hats, Ganomy, which I had been told was the most difficult. I can see how it would be, for a beginner.

Things about today that rocked:

• Started Ganomy hat
• Finished Ganomy hat
  
• Had a tasty beverage

The hat is wonderful. I used some stash yarn that has been laying around for close to ten years that was originally going to be a shawl, the thought of which sends chills down my spine. It is Irish green and gray and the yarn is a 2-ply worsted weight wool. I'm not sure what kind of wool it is. Definitely came from a sheep though. I love the way this pattern came out. The only thing I'm not happy about is the fact that I could not find a ping-pong ball to put in for the bobble. I got over that pretty quickly though when I had that glass of wine.

All in all, I think today turned out pretty well. Granted, I'm still a little miffed about the needless interpersonal issues that came up and I'm in knots about going back to work on Monday, but it's nothing I can't handle. Especially since I'm wielding pointy sticks and have no inhibitions about using them.

It Starts

Almost all knitters know Elizabeth Zimmerman. She is knitting royalty. Read her books and it is easy to see why. She has this easy style about everything. No stress, just knitting.

About a year and a half ago, I bought the Knitter's Almanac with every intention of working through it from January to December. Life happened though and the book was lost on the shelf. Fast forward to finals week, Spring 2010. I'm absolutely falling apart when I notice the familiar green cover peeking out at me. I put away the textbooks for a little while and flipped through the pages. It was like catching up with an old friend. Just reading EZ's stories helped me clear my head and relax. That is when I decided to start my little project. I promised myself that after finals were done and the house was put back together I would work through the book as planned.

So what if I'm starting in June instead of January? They both start with J.

I'm also very happy to report that I have finished my first project! Truth be told, I couldn't put it down once I cast on. Bedtime got pushed back a bit but the results are worth it. I even got to use the rest of my first wheel spun yarn.

Life starts again, so goodbye for now. I'll write again soon.

AB