I took along a new knitting project – two color toe-ups – and maybe knit six or seven rounds max. Yes. That’s all. Like I said, I was helping watch four young children. You don’t just hunker down with two balls of yarn, pointy sticks, and colorwork. Even if it just stripes. Maybe some of you are amazing and incredible and somehow someway manage to knit fair isle lace from a chart while running a daycare center (even with the exaggeration, I’m fully ready to pass out in awe), but not this girl. It only came out during nap time or once everyone was in bed. The rest of the time it hid, trembling, in my big bag on the pantry shelf. Out of reach of the two under-five year olds, and the eight-month old Boxer puppy. Safety first, you know.

I’m actually pleased with how the sock is turning out, especially the colors. When I picked the two balls of stash yarn – orange and green – I stared blankly at them for a bit, trying to figure out what I’d call them. Ravelry has changed my knitting to that extent – I must have an inventive, fun name for the project, otherwise it’s no fun. “Peas and Carrots” came to mind, as well as something of a “Pumpkin” nature, but I decided those were a little too tame. Then, keeping in mind the fall-ish tones of the colorwork, I came up with something that suited me fine. These will be my “Bushwhacked Chrysanthemum” socks, and they will be amazing.

I have grand ideas for fun and decorative additions, but first I have to knit the silly things. Perhaps I’ll take them along to Colorado. The trip on which I am leave in just a few days. (Yeah, I’m still trying not to panic over the seeming lack of time.) It’ll be a great trip, and I’m trusting that God is going to work everything out in His perfect timing. =)

But, back to the babysitting trip, I may have developed a thrift store craving. On our way back, the H, (the lady I was co-babysitting with) and I stopped at a higher end thrift store. This was a first for me, and I had little idea what to expect. What I found was lots of nice stuff – at ridiculously low prices. SHOPPING OVERLOAD!!!!

Thankfully I had a very strict budget, so I left the amazing black and lavender dress boots (only ten dollars!) and the nine dollar coffee table (where would I put the thing anyway?) and only succumbed to these little charmers.

In buying these I developed a new philosophy. There are so many give-away and throw-away mugs in this world – if I see one I like, I’d better buy it. If it’s reasonably priced. Otherwise I’d be toast.

My sister was gracious enough to lend me her tiny teapot, so I curled up at my desk with my prettiest teacup, and a whole pot full of Lipton’s “Vanilla Caramel Truffle,” with lots of heavy cream and sugar. Sometimes an emotionally low day requires such things.

Unfortunately, the emotional benefits were quickly overridden with a sudden headache. Either I used too much sugar, or it was just inevitable. Either way, the tea tasted really good.

The irony of taking refuge in my room lay in the fact that I was completely surrounded by piles and piles of unfinished projects. (Not to mention stacks of old notebooks from my emptied desk!) We’ve been busy filming some how-to DVDs for my family’s business, so I had adhered to the deceptively simple practice of “Oh, I’ll just lay this here until I get a chance to put it away.”

Let me tell you, that doesn’t work so well. Especially not two-and-a-half weeks at a time. The piles were downright scary.

If you don’t believe me, take a look.

That was my view from my desk chair. Inspiring, eh?

I was definitely in danger of succumbing to “Unfinished Project Guilt Syndrome.” Thankfully, I managed to squeak out of that and have been spending a good portion of this morning in removing those stacks and piles. And organizing a bit. I’ve had some thumping good ideas for new (and better) ways to store my various belongings. Particularly my stash.

I did a little web research this morning to see how much my idea might cost me, and I’m still in sticker shock. I’ve inherited an interesting trait that can wreck havoc with my pocket book – I always go for the higher quality / more expensive stuff. Always. I’ve never tested it, but I can imagine walking down a line of unmarked sofas at a furniture store and managing to want the most expensive. Maybe there’s a way to earn a living doing that. I’ll have to look into it.

Anyway, my brilliant storage idea would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 – for the first half of the project. Excuse me while I go try to build cardboard bookshelves. (I’d actually do that if cardboard didn’t tend to get dusty. I’ve built some pretty amazing things out of cardboard, if I do say so myself, and I might just wind up having to do it again.)

But, back to the unfinished project syndrome. To combat the rising tide of painful-project-memories, I took some pictures of my almost finished “Oh, Brioche” scarf. Knit from Malabrigo Worsted that I dyed myself. And it turned out pretty gorgeous.

It’s as soft as it looks, too.

~ Happy crafting,
Rebekah

Forget hobbies, it’s a lifestyle-wide issue! I’ve been having so many ideas for new projects that I feel like they’re shooting out of my ears and ricocheting wildly off the walls. Sweaters, socks, blog posts, Twitter, fairs… will someone please make me stop? Or just get a notebook out and write down the ideas. (Although there is a drawback with that. I’m the type of person who sees no gap between having an idea and acting upon it. To think is to do. Sitting on a notebook full of ideas is just plain irritating.) (Really.)

But, that’s what I’m having to do these days. I know it’s a good thing to think things over (and definitely pray about them before starting); I’m just having difficulty discerning what needs to happen because I want to discern it at my own pace. I want snap decisions. Paper handed down from God with “do such and such” written on it. But, obviously, that’s not the way I’m supposed to get instructions, otherwise I’d be getting it like that. So back to the notebook for me.

I must admit, waiting has proved its worth on numerous occasions. Lots of ideas that seemed like the only thing at the time have lost their warmth and excitement. Circumstances have changed. Money has or has not been there. God is still in control. (I’ve got to get my head wrapped around that. Or rather, He has to wrap my head around that for me. I know I can’t get it on my own.)

So there is my case of start-itis on a non-physical level. Moving on to fiber—

I pulled out the Emily Dickinson shawl a few days ago, and, once I’d scooped up all the little copper beads that fell out of the project bag, I started casting on. About one hundred and twenty of the five hundred something stitches. And that is where it is sitting currently. Despite my hankerings for a nice big laceweight wrap. Despite the fact that the only other knitting project I have going on is the final Hedgerows sock, and a re-do on a hat. At least, I think those are the only ones. Oh, and the little scarf I’m weaving on a plastic loom I’ve had since I was eight.

True, I am hankering for another knitted sweater. But I really can’t afford more yarn, so I’d have to tear apart my stash to dig up enough fiber. Ah me. So many projects, so little fiber/cash/time/yarn/coupons/time/motivation/time.

Oh, and to make things even better, somehow, someway I ended up knitting one sock on size ones, and the other on size twos. No, I’m not ripping it back and starting over. They both stay on my feet, and the difference isn’t too huge unless you notice that one is an inch or so shorter than the other. A good reason to not repeat the “it takes a year to finish these” method.

About the same time I finished those up, I finished spinning the singles for my “Violet, You’re Turning Violet.” Hurrah! A lovely bluefaced leicester and silk blend. I’m thinking it will turn out as a DK or light worsted weight. Two ply.

While I was photographing the singles, I started playing around with a clock key and wound up with this photo. (No pun intended.) The colors are slightly off, but I like the feel of the picture.

But, I have made some rather good progress on my second alpaca sock, and I have found the secret to finishing a never-ending pair of extra-tall socks! The key is to go and stay in a rather chilly house for a few days. Take the sock knitting, and just barely enough pairs of regular-height socks. By the middle of the first day you’ll find yourself huddled on the couch watching old, instant-stream TV shows off of Netflix and knitting for your life in the hopes of warmer toes.

Unfortunately this knitting streak didn’t cross over to the other pair of unfinished socks I brought along, or the Emily Dickinson shawl that I had hoped to start again. However, I did have a lovely time resting, reading (three whole books!), and movie-watching.

If I’d been thinking I would have taken along the Fall Shawl and a large needle for “weaving in the ends” purposes. Oh well. It’ll get done eventually.
As you may be able to see, I didn’t quite finish the pattern. Due to my scandalous “departing of the text” and “altering,” the final project was smaller than I thought. So, I stopped knitting a ways from the end of the neck and left myself a handy little notch out of the middle. That way it actually stays on for the most part. I think a really interesting shawl pin or button will be in order for this. The best way to wear it is with the two edges meeting in the front like the front of a cardigan. It keeps my shoulders and neck warm and doesn’t look half bad—once you learn to ignore the gazillion and three little bits of yarn dangling off of it.

Yes, I think a button and loop would be the best way to keep it on in the front. I know of some rather fun buttons at JoAnn Etc. They’re wooden, and not quite square. Or I could purchase some from this interesting shop - We shall see what comes.

Speaking of buttons, I still don’t have them for the Sky Pirate gloves! They shall have to languish under my desk a while longer.

But, on the bright side, here’s one of my more recent yarn creations. It sold right away, but I will definitely be making the colorway again.

When I first made it, I didn’t keep track of how I did the colors, so I thought it was non-reproducible. Then a good friend asked me to pretty-please try again for her sake, and I tried, and (praise God!) it worked! So, it is now fully reproducible. Allow me to introduce, the Dawn Treader yarn!

Shortly after I recreated that, my friend with the drum carder came for a visit. We had to cut things short, due to the threat of impending snow, (Yes, snow here in the Southeast. Lots of it.) but we still got ten batts of the Iowa fleece all carded up. I have some interesting plans for these. Hopefully it will work out.

And, as a fun note to end the post on, my knitting sister (who is also my amazing yarn photographer for the Etsy sites) put together a collage of all the products I made and listed last year. Quite a few, eh?

Believe it not, I haven’t forgotten about my knitting projects. I just pulled this sock project back out from the closet and started back in. Since then I’ve turned the heel and gotten a ways into the foot part. This is the “Hedgerow” pattern, and I rather like it. I ran into some trouble on the heel flap, but that was probably an operator error as opposed to a glitch in the knitting pattern.

The yarn is knitting up really nicely too. All these deep grays and blues. Lovely!

And I’ve got another pattern begging to be made. I’ve never really been big into fingerless gloves.
I mean, they’re neat articles of clothing and all, but they didn’t do much for me personally. Then I saw this pattern. And my non-glovey self said, “Self, if you were to wear fingerless gloves, those would be them. So you might as well buy the pattern.”

Ta-da! “The Last of The Sky Pirates” fingerless gloves. Cool, no? I’m particularly fond of the little buttons down the side. (I borrowed the photo from the Etsy listing.) The construction looks pretty unique. At least as far as my experience goes. You use straights and DPNs.

Once I got the pattern I wasn’t sure what yarn I’d want to use for it, and then I dyed this.

Oh yeah. Thankfully it was a two-skein batch, so I’m keeping one of “Beryl,” and the other goes in the store. I’ll be taking this project along on a trip to Missouri. And I have extra incentive to finish it while I’m gone, as I’m borrowing the needles from my knitting sister, and she’ll want them back as soon as we return. No pressure! Thankfully my knitting time includes the lengthy car ride.

At this point in my post I would like to show you photos of the progress I’ve made on my Fall Shawl. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find it to take photos. I know it’s around here somewhere. And I managed to find the extra “not in-use” skeins of yarn for it. But somehow it’s vanished. I sincerely hope it’s not in the depths of my closet somewhere. This may call for a full-out closet reorganization. With new storage facilities.

I may as well admit it. My closet is a mess again. A jungle of fiber and yarn. I’m seriously considering doing another New Year’s Dash spin-a-thon this year, but with a catch. The yarns I’m spinning have to be spun with a final project in mind. Otherwise they’ll just increase my yarn stash and I won’t be any better off. Time to start finding projects for smaller batches of thick yarn!

And, to complicate the issue, I did just buy more fiber. I know! I know. But wait until you see it. I mean, you can’t pass this up, can you? Four ounces of art batts with glitter and beads and neps and absolutely amazing stuff in them. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.

No clue what I’ll do with them. But gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. These are from PrancingPixel, and she is one of the nicest people ever. Look what she gave me as a bonus gift!
This is a kit from her “Spin a Steampunk Necklace” contest. It’s a lovely little batt, and I can’t wait to do something with it. Probably not a necklace, as I’m not a big “spun necklace” person, but I think I might turn it into a coffee mug cozy. Particularly as it comes with these adorable little charms and beads. Coolest mug cozy ever? I think so.

Actually, it would be a hot chocolate and tea mug cozy. Still can’t get into coffee. I tried again the other day and could barely finish half the cup. Too bitter! I need my sweet.

Of course a yarn store stop was involved in the trip, and it dawned on me there that I hadn’t blogged for quite some time. Therefore, I am taking the necessary steps to share some of the neat things that have happened lately.

First off, the new purchases, because everybody likes seeing shiny new yarn. Three balls of Jo Sharp wool. They’re not amazingly soft, but I really like the colors and the subtle sheen.

Believe it or not, I actually wound up starting a project with them at least four times. Quite probably five or six. This is what happens when I don’t have a pattern and keep changing my mind twelve rows into a scarf. First it was going to be stripey stockinette, then it was going to have purl diamonds to keep it from curling, then cables, then twists with ribbing, then cables and twists but no ribbing . . . you get the idea. I really think I should find a pattern as soon as possible, otherwise it will become the knitting equivalent of trying to rhyme with orange. It just doesn’t work.

You may be wondering why I bought yarn when I already have so much at home. Well, I was silly enough to only bring one knitting project along on the trip, and what looked like it would take all week (six sections of lace) was practically finished in the car. The lace sections were so very easy. Next time, I’ll actually read the pattern to double check how long it’s going to take me.

And here’s the “finished project” — a little bitty neck shawl called Little Shells. Still needs to be blocked. I knit it from some handspun DK weight silk which I spun up way back when, after hand dyeing it. It was actually the first silk I ever dyed. Memories, you know, memories. And I got to make some more memories while knitting the silly thing. Such as chasing the stitch count all through the project (I was always on the stitch count that belonged to the row before the one I just finished!) and knitting while laying out on a blanket by the lake.

Here’s a couple pictures of the area that I borrowed from my sister. It was a lovely day, and the bugs were few and far between, and none of them dared to go after my silk yarn.

My aunt is visiting, and that, as usual, translates into oodles and oodles of fibery fun. For instance, I have just a few yarns to dye during the two weeks she’s here. (Slight irony implied on the “few” part.)

It’s somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty-plus skeins. Seven of which are for my two stores. I’m hoping to dye those this evening. (Six of mine, that is.) I’ve got an idea for an Apple Cider colorway, and I want to try to dye some “manly” colorways on two of the skeins. There are gentleman knitters out there who would probably appreciate a less-feminine yarn supply. And I’m also hoping to try an interesting new method of dyeing, which may or may not result in color-gradation stripes. Stay tuned.

Knitting time is up a lot more now, since there’s an aunt to knit with, and I’ve made good progress on the fall shawl.
I’m really, really liking the Crow Waltz pattern, and I want to try it again someday the way it’s supposed to be done – with only two colors of similar yarn. I’ve got one eye on the KnitPicks City Tweed for that. Whenever I get to start new projects. Eventually. Along with the seven or eight sweater patterns I’ve been hoarding.

And, while this could be considered non-knitting related, while at the mall today I stopped by this wonderful store called Teavana and picked out one of their gourmet teas to try.

A lovely black tea called Masala Chai. It has cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and I think some ginger in it. Yum. Yum. Yum. (I also got some eyeliner and two new shirts, but that’s definitely non-knitting related.)

The Turquoise Hat of Floopyness is done except for weaving in the ends, with three skeins left over. Rats. It was supposed to use them all up. But! My aunt happens to really like that yarn, so she’s going to get a present that looks very much like the three extra skeins.
She’s also going to get this new thick and thin wool/llama yarn I spun. (She nabbed it before I could put it on Etsy.) I don’t have pictures of the Floopy hat yet, due to not having posed for pictures in it, but that should happen in the near future.

I’ve been spinning and spinning away on the indigo-dyed merino, and I have three nice skeins done already. Hooray! I think once the whole batch is finished I shall have to get some “big pile of smooshy blue yarn” type photos.

I tell you, though, spinning this is really eating up the audiobooks. I’ve already done most of The Wind in the Willows, The Jungle Books (part one), and now The Hobbit. Thankfully I was able to get to the library the other day, so now I have The Children of Hurin and one of the Mitford series ready in reserve.

On the knitting front, I have plunged into another stash-busting project. This one is of the “knit until project measures x length” variety, and therefore works for movies and such. It’s called The Floopy Hat and is really just for kicks. And to use up the amazingly large stash of this amazingly turquoise and textured yarn.

I’ve already had my signature gauge snafoo and had to unravel a full sixteen repeats of the lace edging so I could start over. I was very careful to start over right after unraveling — sort of a “get back on the horse after you fall off” idea.

I’m knitting the shawl pattern called The Crow Waltz Shawl (the triangular version) and using a variety of yarns from my stash. The idea is to actually use some of those one-skein yarns I’ve been hoarding for over a year.

The yarn combination is rather amusing. Of the eight colors, two are completely store bought. One is commercial, but hand dyed. Four are hand spun and hand dyed. And the last one is someone else’s dye work, but I spun it. They also range in weight from fingering to heavy worsted, so this will be an adventure.