Wow! I decided to do this daily blog to keep me focused on the lessons learned while knitting but life keeps getting in the way and the obsession I have for knitting keeps taking over. It's a double-edged sword really. I want to continue growing and learning everyday and blogging helps me to mull it all over and focus on the lessons learned. But blogging means I must put down the needles and open up the laptop! Once I get going though, I don't want to stop for anything. This is my obsession!
So I learned tonight, over three hours, how to cast on using Judy's Magic Cast On. I figured out how to do it on double pointed needles instead of the circulars I didn't own, thus saving me some money! I thought mean and horrible thoughts while getting through the first 5 rows or so as it was like the yarn had a death grip on my fingers and needles (no earthly idea if my fingers will return to normal to teach guitar tomorrow) and then I saw the beauty of it all!
Now I don't mind grafting as the Kitchner stitch is a cinch once you master it. This though was pretty cool to see the toe of the sock come to life out of nothing! It really made me wonder about so many things. Trouble is, it's 11:15pm and I've got to get up at 5am and be a perky Mom and enthusiastic teacher all day. Right now, I'm just too tired to talk. Sorry ....even though I know no one actually reads this!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Day 8 (am) - The Toe-Up experiment
So, feeling very accomplished these days, I decided to be brave. I bought a book of Toe-Up sock patterns recently. I was totally swayed by the pretty pictures and colors! They see me coming a mile away and I am a complete sucker for the pretty! Anyway, I went into the newly organized office/craft room and retrieved the blue & green sock yarn that 9 short month ago, when Gus cam to live with us, had been ripped into and was a knotty, tangled mess! I had a few hours before bed and figured, what better way to spend my last few hours of vacation: untangling pretty yarn while watching mindless TV. All worked well and though it was tough, I was tougher and by 11:00pm, I had one big beautiful ball of yarn! I win!
That brings me to this morning. Now I'd read up on this new "toe-up" technique, and one thing that was immediately different from the way I'm used to doing socks is that you have to split your ball of yarn into two equal parts. Okay. I can now do this because I've got my nice new ball winder and my old food scale.
I first weighed the big ball and found it to be around 4 ounces. Easy enough. I hooked the end of the yarn on the winder and began that magic turning of the handle that produces tidy little packs of yarn. Very easy. Every once in a while I weighed the original ball and when it got to around two ounces, I cut the yarn and then wound the next ball. Pictures speak volumes so I will post them later and let you be the judge!
Lesson: Buy a new digital scale that is accurate!
That brings me to this morning. Now I'd read up on this new "toe-up" technique, and one thing that was immediately different from the way I'm used to doing socks is that you have to split your ball of yarn into two equal parts. Okay. I can now do this because I've got my nice new ball winder and my old food scale.
I first weighed the big ball and found it to be around 4 ounces. Easy enough. I hooked the end of the yarn on the winder and began that magic turning of the handle that produces tidy little packs of yarn. Very easy. Every once in a while I weighed the original ball and when it got to around two ounces, I cut the yarn and then wound the next ball. Pictures speak volumes so I will post them later and let you be the judge!
Lesson: Buy a new digital scale that is accurate!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Day 7 - The end of vacation
Today I woke up to see more snow, gotta love New England, a long and unpleasant letter to read, and the realization that this vacation is ending today. After sitting back to reflect about all that I'd accomplished or not, I realize that I am happy with how our time was spent over this past week.
I was able to get a lot of knitting projects that I'd started long ago, completed. There's something magical about seeing a garment made with your own two hands, some yarn and a few sticks that is amazing! I forgot how much peace knitting provides me with. I must make sure to find time to do this everyday no matter what.
I also spent a whole lot of down time with Dan and the kids. We watched movies, played games, talked and just had some good times together. There were few expectations and each day was left unplanned. We did miss some things that would have been fun to do, but our time together during the regular school/work week no longer allows for quiet time together. As selfish as it is, I am glad that we had these days to ourselves for the most part!
I was able to get a lot of knitting projects that I'd started long ago, completed. There's something magical about seeing a garment made with your own two hands, some yarn and a few sticks that is amazing! I forgot how much peace knitting provides me with. I must make sure to find time to do this everyday no matter what.
I also spent a whole lot of down time with Dan and the kids. We watched movies, played games, talked and just had some good times together. There were few expectations and each day was left unplanned. We did miss some things that would have been fun to do, but our time together during the regular school/work week no longer allows for quiet time together. As selfish as it is, I am glad that we had these days to ourselves for the most part!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Day 6 - Spending time with family
The holidays can be really wondrous times for some and for others, they can bring about sadness and loneliness. In my case, we see it all. In my immediate family, we relish in spending time with each other. Most of my friends and probably my children's friends think this is 'weird.' The thought of parents and their teenaged kids enjoying each other's company is foreign to most. And certainly life is not always a picnic. However, when faced with the decision to go out and 'do' something for the sake of saying we did it, our clan would rather rent a movie and talk about the day, the upcoming plans or just snuggle. I guess that I am and they are more aware these days that time together can end in an instant. We tend to cherish it and this year I hope to make sure they all know how much they are loved.
On another note, all of this hanging around watching movie time, allows me to knit as we go! I must confess that today I also tried out my new Wii Fit Plus! 35 minutes of silly exercise was better than the 'no' exercise I've done for way too long!
On another note, all of this hanging around watching movie time, allows me to knit as we go! I must confess that today I also tried out my new Wii Fit Plus! 35 minutes of silly exercise was better than the 'no' exercise I've done for way too long!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Day 5 (PM) Long, productive day
Well, today was another success! I am already feeling tired though so I thought I'd blog a little early and turn off this over worked laptop.
Today, I finished the dress for Lily. I am sitting here looking at it and cannot wait to see it on her. Cindy is such an earth-crunchy friend and the color and fabric are so fitting for her daughter. I can't believe that I've waited so long to finish this! It's so cute, it almost makes me want to have more babies, just to knit them cute little clothes! But alas, those days are dead and gone.
So I made up my mind today to get more organized in the knitting. I decided to take pictures of projects and of yarn in my stash and log it on Ravelry. I also made up my mind that I must put off getting back on track with Nanny's sweater. This was such a wonderful gift from Nanny and I owe it to her to get it finished and wear it in her honor.
So, after many hours of cleaning my office/stash, I took the plunge and ripped out both sleeves! I had screwed them up long ago and want this to be perfect. I have successfully ripped them out and re-wound the skeins. Amazingly, I do not feel the guilt, loss or regret I thought I would be wrought with! I instead, feel light a weight has been lifted. I feel empowered! I feel strong. I love that.
Lesson: Sometimes we must face our emotions head on. Facing them with honesty and courage can open up new doors! We can only see what we're made of when we trust ourselves to reach our own expectations!
Anyway, tonight, I've casted on both sleeves on one circular needle and am back in business. I should set a goal for myself as to a finish date, but I think I will just enjoy the process!
Today, I finished the dress for Lily. I am sitting here looking at it and cannot wait to see it on her. Cindy is such an earth-crunchy friend and the color and fabric are so fitting for her daughter. I can't believe that I've waited so long to finish this! It's so cute, it almost makes me want to have more babies, just to knit them cute little clothes! But alas, those days are dead and gone.
So I made up my mind today to get more organized in the knitting. I decided to take pictures of projects and of yarn in my stash and log it on Ravelry. I also made up my mind that I must put off getting back on track with Nanny's sweater. This was such a wonderful gift from Nanny and I owe it to her to get it finished and wear it in her honor.
So, after many hours of cleaning my office/stash, I took the plunge and ripped out both sleeves! I had screwed them up long ago and want this to be perfect. I have successfully ripped them out and re-wound the skeins. Amazingly, I do not feel the guilt, loss or regret I thought I would be wrought with! I instead, feel light a weight has been lifted. I feel empowered! I feel strong. I love that.
Lesson: Sometimes we must face our emotions head on. Facing them with honesty and courage can open up new doors! We can only see what we're made of when we trust ourselves to reach our own expectations!
Anyway, tonight, I've casted on both sleeves on one circular needle and am back in business. I should set a goal for myself as to a finish date, but I think I will just enjoy the process!
Day 5 (AM)
Well, I've already finished another project today. I finished the dress I was making for Cindy's baby. It took me 5 months of so to ask for help on the top edge. Lesson: Ask for help when you discover you need it...don't wait!
I woke up this morning wanting it done. I wove in the 14 ends and then proceeded to hem the 40 inches of the bottom of the dress! Lessons: 1. Learn how to pick up the picot edge whilst knitting the garment. 2. hemming in such a way that the stitches are hidden is a very rewarding feeling.
This goes back to the adage that a job well done is worth doing! I was really pretty happy with the fact that I could do this successfully. Having completed this though brings me one step closer to that sweater project that I promised myself I'd finish before Thanksgiving. I did not. This sweater is a blessing and a painful remembrance and so I shouldn't be surprised that I have been avoiding it. Technically, I knitted the sleeves one at a time and made a mistake in the wrist of one. The result, they are two different sizes. I've agonized over my next steps for over a year as that's how long it's been sitting there unfinished.
I guess that leaves me only one real option: I must rip both sleeves out and begin them again. Today I will do just that, rip them out. Maybe then I can come to grips with the fact that Nanny always made me feel like giving anything less than 100% was letting myself down. I really miss her and her inspiration. I need to finish this project and so today I will begin that journey.
I woke up this morning wanting it done. I wove in the 14 ends and then proceeded to hem the 40 inches of the bottom of the dress! Lessons: 1. Learn how to pick up the picot edge whilst knitting the garment. 2. hemming in such a way that the stitches are hidden is a very rewarding feeling.
This goes back to the adage that a job well done is worth doing! I was really pretty happy with the fact that I could do this successfully. Having completed this though brings me one step closer to that sweater project that I promised myself I'd finish before Thanksgiving. I did not. This sweater is a blessing and a painful remembrance and so I shouldn't be surprised that I have been avoiding it. Technically, I knitted the sleeves one at a time and made a mistake in the wrist of one. The result, they are two different sizes. I've agonized over my next steps for over a year as that's how long it's been sitting there unfinished.
I guess that leaves me only one real option: I must rip both sleeves out and begin them again. Today I will do just that, rip them out. Maybe then I can come to grips with the fact that Nanny always made me feel like giving anything less than 100% was letting myself down. I really miss her and her inspiration. I need to finish this project and so today I will begin that journey.
Day 4 - I decide what gets my time and energy
Happy New Year! Today closes out Day 4 and I decided not to let the blue socks beat me! Rather, I realized that since the sock would be in a shoe ultimately, it wouldn't matter if the dye lot was a tad bit off and so I went to the yarn shop in the next town over and picked up another skein of my Happy Feet. I finished the sock as Nutmeag and I watched silly Disney shows and then rented a movie. I even wove in all the ends and got them ready to deliver to Mom tomorrow.
I love making things for other people. I hope that each time she wears them, she feels how much I love and honor her. She, like the whole process of knitting, has always been there for me. Teaching me new things about myself around every turn. I hope that like my mother, these socks will be strong, comforting and last forever.
That is my wish for 2010.
Well, I'm keeping it short as I have a lovely family waiting to snuggle up and watch bad New Years programing and fall asleep! Can't wait to see what Day 5 brings.
I love making things for other people. I hope that each time she wears them, she feels how much I love and honor her. She, like the whole process of knitting, has always been there for me. Teaching me new things about myself around every turn. I hope that like my mother, these socks will be strong, comforting and last forever.
That is my wish for 2010.
Well, I'm keeping it short as I have a lovely family waiting to snuggle up and watch bad New Years programing and fall asleep! Can't wait to see what Day 5 brings.
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