A little Christmas present to myself

DO YOU SEE THAT?! That's the melonstrosity. I have finally killed it. I cast it off this afternoon, and wove in the ends, and tried to fold it up.

Do you know how heavy more than 40 skeins of Simply Soft knitted into a blanket is? Do you? Well, it's really *bleep*ing heavy. Like, really. Clearly, someone didn't think this plan through all that well.

Too late now! Now I'm going to love this blanket to bits. Because I invested several months of my life into it. And it's wonderful. I just need to find a place for it to live... hopefully somewhere with reinforced floors.

I now have the freedom to knit pretty much anything I want! And don't have to donate 2 hours every night in the hopes that someday I will be free of this blanket. Unfortunately, I'm still being dutiful. I have a hat that was a class project but now class is over, a cozy shawl that has been sadly neglected, a scarf made out of the new ruffle yarn that hasn't received my full attention because it's kind of difficult to knit with, a sweater that requires-wait for it- 3 charts, some socks that have fallen out of favor, and a lace shawl that I can't bear to look at because it's scary.

*Sigh* I guess it's back to the grindstone. Maybe I'll reward myself with some time on the spinning wheel before I slog away at those other projects, though...

Picture this

Last night, I sat down at my knitting (after whining a bit to Caitlin about how sick I am of the melonstrosity). I was working dutifully, thinking how wonderful it was going to be to get 4 more rows done, and be closer to the end (less than 3 blocks away!), when BAM! I ran out of one of the colors I was using.

Apparently, the last time I purchased yarn for this freaking blanket, I didn't check the labels on the colors I was buying. I bought 2 skeins of vanilla, and one skein of off-white. Off-white is not sufficiently close to the correct color of yarn.

Therefore, at 10:30 last night, progress on the melonstrosity stalled.

Bugger.

Going out for yarn reinforcements later. I am cranky that this is necessary.

Revised

I was going to post this really long, whiny rant. But then I decided I didn't really want to put that out into the universe. Instead, the things I want to say, in bullet format:

• This week is kicking my booty. Seriously. Can we be done yet?
• It's my sister's birthday week. Yes, she gets a week. Which means I'm seriously sleep deprived and yet still have to function normally. How is that fair?
• Knitting on the melonstrosity continues apace. If by "apace" you understand that I mean that I'm cramming it in wherever I have space, which is not really a whole lot of time.
• Shield your eyes if you are sensitive. Christmas is less than 3 weeks away. I'm not done buying gifts, making gifts, and deciding what to give people. This is a problem. 
• I'm leaving for Europe in less than a month. I don't have enough clothes for this trip. And I don't have my airline tickets yet (not my job, I'm waiting for the group I'm going with to send them to me). I'm kinda freaking out. I have my knitting planned, though. So at least that's settled.

That is all. Return to your regularly scheduled lives. Sorry there aren't any pictures. Again. Because my life is being consumed by this month. No joke.

I have nothing to knit

That's a lie. I have many things to knit, including the stash and the WIPs. I should say I have nothing that I want to knit. But you know the feeling, right? I've been slaving away at the melonstrosity (4 rows a night equals a little less than 2 hours of work, somewhat less if I'm not procrastinating/distracted/tired). But the melonstrosity knitting is just... duty knitting. I'm doing it because I know I should, and because it will yield a product of which I can be proud and which will be useful. I'm not knitting it because I want to. So it doesn't really count.

I'm also knitting on a cowl, which I started a few days ago because I was bored and because it counts toward Christmas knitting. Which I should really get on. I'm just not inspired about it yet. I probably will be when I get back from Thanksgiving, though, because that will really be crunch time. But now is not the time.

I have, as you know, several shawls on the needles. But the lace shawl I had big plans for last weekend pissed me off to the extent that it's back in time out because I've decided I hate it. Big scary holes, that's all I have to say. The other shawl I'm working on is the leaf lace shawl that I've been eyeing for a while, primarily because the sample I saw is made out of Karabella, which is a yarn company that only manufactures luscious, uber expensive yarns.






Mine is made out of slightly less luscious yarn, because I don't really need to spend a hundred bucks on a shawl. I just don't. Anyway, it's coming along fairly well, although it would be doing better if I could remember my freaking pattern when I leave the house. I'm still on the first ball of yarn, but nearing the end of it (I like to think).









To distract myself from the fact that I have nothing to knit, I have been spinning many things. Firstly, I started some of the fiber that I purchased at last year's Estes Park Wool Market (where Caitlin and I were overcome with wool fumes and nearly hyperventilated because we couldn't purchase everything).

It's Bonkers superwash merino in Indigo. It's very pretty, in person, and I haven't even washed it yet. I'm a little worried that the dye is going to bleed quite a bit when I do wash it, so I'll have to be careful. Anyway, it's pretty and it's plied and now I need to think of something to do with it.

I've also been plying my singles from the Tour de Fleece this summer. I only had a hand spindle for the TdF, so I went a lot more slowly than I thought I would, and didn't get nearly as much done as I had planned. I was proud of what I accomplished, however.

 This is Prim on BFL, from Storied Yarns. It's a representation of a character from The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. This BFL isn't as luscious as the BFL singles I gifted to Caitlin last weekend, but might be nicer after I wash it.

 This, I think, is Rose Quartz on Merino, from a mystery fiber company. All I know is that I purchased this fiber from my LYS, because I lurved the color. It's very nice, and fairly smooth.

This is Mint Petals on merino/silk, from Funky Carolina, which has closed since I purchased this fiber in the spring. It's also my first attempt at 3 ply, which came out quite nicely, and is quite gorgeous because of the silk. It's actually kind of pastel, but I like it. Excellent.

You know what I really want to work on? I want to start a new sweater... I've got it picked out and the yarn and everything, I'm just a little concerned that the yarn is the wrong weight. Which would suck. We shall see. Maybe.

Big plans

I had big plans for this weekend. Ambitious. I was going to do some serious work on the lace shawl that has been languishing in time out for several months. And I was going to work on the leafy shawl that promises to be gorgeous and comfy. And I was going keep up my streak on the melonstrosity.

The only one of these that I accomplished completely was the melonstrosity goal. I worked 4 rows on the blanket each night, which means my streak is still intact. I think I only have 7 more blocks to finish. Which will take me approximately 35 days, if I stick to my goal. Which I won't, because next week is Thanksgiving and I'm not dragging the albatross with me for that holiday. It would be pointless, since it would just get ignored.

I did a small amount of work on the lace shawl. I hate the edging. I'm sure it'll look good eventually (that's not true, but I'm trying to believe it is). But right now it's funny looking, hard to work, I'm pretty sure I'm joining it wrong... let's just say there's a good reason that it's in time out. Someone want to work a lace edging on a lace shawl?

I did a few rows on the leafy shawl. Which was fairly satisfying, but I was really lusting after some spinning. Since I didn't bring a spindle with me, and I don't travel with my spinning wheel (it makes me nervous), I was unable to scratch that itch. Which mostly meant that I didn't craft. I read my books. And spent time with people that I don't resent because they're intelligent and I don't have to tutor them. And I watched Caitlin spin things, because the spinning process is rather soothing, even if you're not the one spinning.

Know something interesting that she spun?

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary on BFL roving. I spun it on a hand spindle, she plied it on her wheel. ANd it's finished! And quite luscious, really. It was an early birthday present, because I can't think of anything that I would make with it. It's not in my colors, but she loved the bright greens and the pretty purples and blues. So, let this be a lesson to you: cultivate friendships with other crafters with different tastes than you because that way they won't try to steal your favorite stuff, and you can give them stuff you don't love. Genius!

I didn't take a picture of the other things that I gave her. I should have, though. They were project bags, with little handles and elasticated openings to keep the yarn and stuff on the inside. Caitlin seemed to like them. I'll probably be making some more as gifts for other yarny friends. It'll be good stuff! I really need to get to my gift list. Too many friends have birthdays this time of year (I'm looking at you, Shelby and Caitlin), and then there's Christmas. Or Hanukkah. And all the things that I want to make for myself, of course!

What's on your gift list at this time of year?

Streak

I haven't been doing very much interesting knitting lately. It's a result of the fact that I haven't had much knitting time, I feel that my WIP list has reached critical mass (this is an arbitrary determination, not like I have a set number of WIPs that can be called "too many"), and the fact that I am really determined to finish the freaking melonstrosity soon-ish.

Or at least to make consistent progress on the beast.

I have, if you wish to know, knit 4 rows on the melonstrosity each day for the past week. That's right. I've got a knitting streak going. It's really great, because I can see that I'm making progress; I mean, I finished more than an entire block! But it's also putting pressure on me, because I don't want to fail now, when I'm doing so well.

So I've mostly been working on that blanket. And haven't really had time for much else. Because 4 rows of melonstrosity takes up about 2 hours of my life. Which isn't a big deal, since I have tv to catch up on and whatnot. It just means that I'm not knitting on anything interesting, or spinning anything that needs to be spun. Oh well. This needs to get done too.

What projects in your life have felt like a ball and chain?

Adventures in Spinning

I've been spinning a lot lately. It might be a result of the fact that I'm not very enthused about my knitting projects, so breaking up long periods of melonstrosity (yes, I'm back to working on it. It's freaking freezing and nothing sounds better than a big cozy blanket) with spinning either on the wheel or finishing up some stuff on the hand spindle. I showed you a picture of the stuff on the hand spindle before, but here it is, nearly finished:

This is Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, from Storied Yarns. It's just BFL, but it's pretty luscious. I haven't had a chance to ply it yet, because my ball winder broke sometime in October, and I put off getting it replaced. I'm hoping that it'll come in the mail today and then I can get on with plying some stuff that I spun over the summer.






Next, let's take a look at my first handspun from the new spinning wheel:

This is some mystery fiber. I purchased it last year, shortly after I learned how to use a spindle. I think I got it because I loved the color so much. It's not my favorite fiber, but I did have quite a bit of it. Took forever to spin up. But it was a good first project because I didn't care if I messed it up, or had to throw a bunch of it out or something. Anyway, it's kind of tweedy, and I don't know what I'm going to do with it. Anyone have an idea?





Finally, we have my first attempt at spinning from a batt:

This is Octarine, again from Storied Yarns. Octarine, for those who don't know, is the color of magic on the Discworld. It's kind of a greenish purple. This batt is "textured" so it makes kind of an art yarn, which is not really my style of yarn, but you should try everything at least once. I'm going to have to try it more than once because I bought another textured batt from this lady, and it's lying in wait in my pile of fiber waiting to be spun. At least now I know what to expect. This yarn is going to have to be just a piece of art for a while, because I really have no idea how much yarn i have, and what I would want to use it for.


Since I've finished with all this fiber, I've pulled out some of the fiber that I purchased at the Estes Park Wool Market this last June. I bought quite a lot and haven't really made a dent in it. Anyway, I pulled out a bump of Superwash Merino roving, and am relieved that it's spinning quite well, because I was beginning to worry that I'm rubbish at wheel spinning, since the stuff I'd spun so far was a bit lumpy. Turns out it's meant to be that way, or the fiber wasn't the highest quality. Good to know.

Boredom

So, looking back over the posts in this blog, you might get the idea that I'm the kind of knitter who works on one project at a time, finishes the project and then moves on to the next. Nothing could be further from the truth. Depending on the project and the deadline (self-imposed or otherwise), I can work on one project until it's done. But mostly, I have enough projects cast on so that I can knit through any mood.

I've got a lace project (I tried to start a second one today, it didn't work out) to work on when I have lots of concentration or feel like working on something difficult, I have a little project (or two, or three) for when I need something that I can see real progress on and can bring it with me, if I'm going somewhere. And I have a really plain project, for those times that I feel like doing something that doesn't take much thought. These projects are not, by any means, the only projects I have cast on at the same time. They're just a general accounting of what kind of projects I have and why.

Right now, for instance, I have a lace project that I'm dragging my feet on because I'm a little intimidated by the border, even though I'm sure it will be pretty. Lace can be pretty discouraging, though. Because it mostly looks like crap before you block it, and you don't make much progress per row. And, let's face it, because I don't have much practice at knitting on a border.







Then I have my pair of socks. I recently got a little carried away with purchasing yarn for pairs of socks that I would conceivably want to knit. So I'm going to have a sock on the go for the next little while, until the sock to-do list is a little smaller. Usually my choice for this type of project is actually a fingerless mitt. It drives people nuts. They don't understand how wonderful fgs are. Anyway, it's a nice sock, but the effects of SSS can be felt even now. I'm a little fatigued with the little bugger. Not that the pattern isn't charming (I picked the stitch pattern myself), not that it doesn't go quickly (it's worsted weight yarn on size 4 needles, it knits up like lightning!), just that I kind of have a need for new knitting things in my life.

That need for newness makes really large projects, like the melonstrosity very difficult. You haven't met the melonstrosity yet. It's a blanket, made out of Caron Simply Soft. It's luscious and pretty and I like the colors. It's pretty simple, since the only patterning is k10, p10 on the wrong side rows. However, the important characteristic of this project is that it's HUGE. As in, 380 stitches across. And, as near as my calculations can get me, I'm only about halfway done. Yep. I've been working on it since March. Pretty good stuff. I'll try to post a better picture one of these days, when I find a way to do justice to its enormity.





I've also got another of the chunky, lovely scarves for my sister's boyfriend. He's lovely. Ask anyone who has met him. His birthday is coming up, and we (Abby, boyfriend and myself) were talking about scarves a while ago. I don't remember how it came up, just that it did and I promised him I'd make him a lovely scarf, knit with my own two hands. It's going pretty quick, and I like the colors. Aside from the fact that I have to carry strands of two of the colors up 6 rows of color changes... let's not talk about that part. Not pictured because it's in the dining room and I don't feel like going, digging it up and taking a picture of it.

Then I have the start of a tunic in chunky weight yarn, which I cast on in July because I was so excited that Caitlin gave me the pattern for my birthday. Unfortunately, the tunic takes the same size needles as the melonstrosity and so the choice is either to work on one thing or the other and switch the needles back and forth, as the mood takes me. It hasn't seen much work since the epic 9 day road trip to Hades. No picture because it's in my knitting bag and I don't feel like pulling it out. It'll make me feel guilty.

And then there's the Runcorn. It's a sweater. And it's lovely, even if I find the condensed version of all of the instructions a bit confusing and frustrating. It's really a nice sweater, and I think I'm going to love it. Caitlin and I even found some buttons that match our chosen colors perfectly. Which was totally random, but obviously it was meant to be!








Anyway, those are my projects, in the interest of full disclosure about my inability to knit all the way through a single project without even little breaks to knit other things. It doesn't make me a bad person, just means that I need a lot more sets of knitting needles. And rules about how many things I can have cast on at once.

PS. If the pictures suck, it's cuz I took them with my iPod. My camera is in my purse, in the kitchen. Again, laziness overpowers need for pictures.