Woolythyme

2013...here we go

Knitting resolutions for 2013....

I typed that....and then sat and looked at it for w-a-y-y-y- too long.  Trying to come up with something that doesn't sound like every other new year's resolution I've made for the past ????? knitting years and broken before the month is out.  Maybe if I said, this year, I really really really  mean it, it might make a difference?  Maybe.

 

:: before 2013 ends, finish the current 6 WIPs in Ravelry (one has been hanging out since 2010); things can come and go---but those 6 have to be finished THIS year.

 

:: knit from the stash.  This will mean that other than the two sweaters that are currently UFOs, there will be no adult sweaters unless they are scrappy ones or unless I unravel one.  Do I need another sweater?  (you've GOT to be kidding.....!!!!!)

 

 

::  be less frenetic  (I love that word!!)  Yes, LESS.  2012 was a very productive knit-year (well over 150 FOs--if you count all the multiple things that got made but only rated a single Ravelry picture) ....do remember that there were a LOT of American Girl doll clothes in that number, several dishcloths, and over 50 little pouches for the Kenya trip---they all still count!  But, there were sweaters, and shawls, and 14-hour knitting days, and knitting at 2 am........!!!!!!!!!!  (being less frenetic with the knitting might open up some embroidery or sewing or baking hours!!)

 

:: so, if #2 and #3 actually happen, this might free up some time to enjoy some long-range projects--and of course, I have a couple of things in mind.

 

yes.  another mitered square fingering wt afghan.  It will be my third.  (frenetic, remember?)  I gave the first one to a friend whose home burned--the easiest knit I've ever given away.  But, I missed it, of course, so made myself another---and promptly gave away all the bits of fingering wt yarn to a couple friends who decided to start their own blankets--because I was crazy to have done two and will never do another.  HA.

 

But look what happened...

I've been tossing odds and ends into a basket, and it's full.  Some are rather large partial skeins that might turn into something else, but for the most part.....there are just bits and bitty skeins.

I thought about doing

a hexipuff blanket...I really hated doing these.  I'm sure they would get better with time, but I'm also not sure I want a puffy blanket.  If anyone wants these, I'll stick them in the mail.

 

then I thought about

a logcabin afghan, but that didn't cut it either.

 

ah, yes.  Mitered squares.  I LOVE mitered squares.

 

But, there was also the crazy amount of partial skeins of worsted hanging around.  

I gathered up some colors that I thought looked OK together and am going to try to do the springtime throw in Cute and Easy Crochet.  This will necessitate ordering more white worsted at some point, but ordering yarn to finish something doesn't count, right?  

 

Now, if I can just pace myself and not decide that this needs to be done by spring.

 

Happy, Healthy, Frenetic-less New Year, Friends! 

Yarnalong and WIP Wednesday.....

Seven days...one week...and my Christmas knitting is done (I think.  I hope.)  This has never happened before.  I've made my list---and checked it twice and three times and then again....and I really think I might be done.  Instead of being giddy happy, I'm actually rather worried my list wasn't complete and that I'll still have that panicky dash to the Christmas eve finish line...but until I figure out what I forgot to do, I've been enjoying a little.......

.

.

:: x-stitching

:: crocheting bitty stars

:: reading my British Country Living that actually came this year before the holidays were over! 

:: and knitting  from deep in the UFO pile  (maybe THIS will be the year to finish all those half-done, almost finished, and barely started things....after all, 'tis the season for miracles!)

weekending....making an AG doll skirt

 Last weekend when our out of town Grands were visiting, The Bling (age 3, almost 4) asked for Grandma clothes for her American Girl (facsimile, but we're not discriminating) doll for Christmas.  I'm on it!  I've done some for her older sisters' dolls, so I have patterns in hand.  Polished off a sweater lickedy-split; and the granny afghan that might have gotten finished sometime mid-century got some edging and, ta-dah!! dolly has a blanket.  

The sweater needed a skirt--so that was the project this weekend.  But first, I thought the other things needed to go into a little doll suitcase that had belonged to the Bling's great-grandma when she was a little girl.  I knew exactly where it was; I just forgot that these dolls were in it---in pieces.

A friend of my mom's brought them from her homeland in Czechoslovakia in the mid 50's; they are beautifully dressed in hand sewn clothes and are much happier now that they have their legs and heads back on.  (The Chuckie look was pretty scary; glad I didn't open the case while the little ones were here.)

Back to the skirt.  I've stashed odds and ends of fabric in a pie safe.  It looked like this.

YUCK!  How can you find a darn thing in that mess?  So, a couple hours later....and massive rearranging in a corner cupboard, things look like this....

Not perfect by any means, but considerably better.  See those brown fabric bins?  They used to hold yarn.  Since I just dumped the yarn to get to the bins, I had a huge yarny mess to clean up, made more messy by Freddy who had a field day ripping labels off skeins of yarn.  (I was too busy chasing him and rescuing stash to take a picture.  Sorry.)    Luckily, I had enough empty project bags to accommodate the dumped yarn.  But I stuffed randomly---that redo will have to wait for another day.  Today, I'm making a skirt.

But, before I settle in---I better get the cast-offs still scattered on the floor into the scary basement with the rest of the rummage sale stuff.  Done.  

WOW.  Look at all that space cleared in front of the French doors....and I really need to bring in all the houseplants that have been vacationing outside.  I repotted the ones that needed it...

.dragged in the plant stand....

 

Was that corner always so dark?  It needed a lamp.  I stole one from the kitchen...which left an empty space on the plate rack---I'll bring in the vase of flowers from the dining room table---and put a bowl of fruit in ITS place---BUT, the only fruit I have are some apples that really need to be used, so I guess I'll make an apple (with frozen blueberries) pie.

 I had no idea it would be so hard to make a little skirt.  Maybe next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

weekending.....

A little of this....a little of that....not much of anything....

I've been waiting for fall since....oh, about mid-June.  I've waited long enough.  This weekend was spent wishing and dreaming....and--

:: making acorns.  I've made these before and somehow they all seem to get given away.  A new batch now awaits the celebration of autumn

:: baking apple crisp.  Made the house smell like fall

:: crocheting around a coastal rock from Maine.  Before the airlines charged for luggage.....and before there was a weight limit....I brought back some (actually LOTS) of these  wonderful coastal rocks. It reminded me of that wonderful October trip and how Maine is really one of my favorite places to be, especially in the fall

:: knitting a quick, easy fall-colored beaded bracelet (Laura Nelkin's mudra cuff)

:: pouring over Autumn decorating inspiration -- lots of pumpkins, mums, and harvest colored-love

Now if I can just get the thermometer to cooperate (note:  picture taken in the shade!)

(an online friend was talking about 'mood' decorating; when I really think about it----the seasonal rearranging and fluffing and spiffing I do around the house is just getting the 'home' to match the 'mood'; I like that---and now I don't have to wait for temperatures to drop or the calendar page to flip!!!--bring on the candy corn, bittersweet, and apple cider!! Does anyone else re-decorate to get the right mood? )

 

joining Amanda for weekending...

Tuesday Ta-DAH!!

Granny is DONE!!  That last green border finished with about 4 yds of yarn leftover.  (phew!!!)  Christmas day temps reached almost 60 degrees, so I dragged her outside for her photo op, but the camera still didn't capture the colors.  This is one happy afghan, and when the weather turns dreary and cold and grey and damp and overcast, I will be one happy afghan snuggler. 

(It's not going to last.........but this morning........it's SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Yarn along....WIP Wedneday

Granny is nearing the finish line!!  I'm working on the final edging row (but will undoubtedly run out of yarn and have to take a break while another skein is ordered).   20 squares by 16 squares has made it large enough to cover the top of a queen size bed, but it's been pretty happy on the sofa, and will probably stay there.  The perfect snuggly to drag in front of the fire, too, with a book (and a wish for snow).  (Done with KnitPicks Swish worsted wt--squishy soft.)

I've been listening to an audible download of the Night Circus (recommended by several yarn-along-ers)--and am loving this Jonathan Stange/Mr. Norrell era fantasy.    I finished listening to P. D. James' new book, Death at Pemberley and was rather disappointed.  P.D. James meets Jane Austen--perfect, right!!!? But, no twists, no turns--and, because I was listening to it, I really didn't know how much more of the story was left....and when it ended, I thought--that's it?  I'm a rather devoted fan of English mysteries--and love most of James' work.  Just not this one.

The book in the picture is "queued"...The Reading Promise, my father and the books we shared by Alice Ozma.  My dad was a huge reader--and even after he lost his sight (I set him up with talking books) he was still reviewing and recommending books to me.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to love this reading adventure between a daughter and her librarian father; it's a discussion book at our local library.  Let you know next week, maybe--still slogging along with the Prague Cemetery; liking it, but not having oodles of time for it.   (One chapter before lights out isn't moving it along too fast!)

What are you reading and working on this week?  Hop over to Ginny's yarn along for other great reading recommendations and project ideas!!! 

Weekending....

 

 

 

 

 :: a little  a whole lot of  wrapping

:: a little bread making

:: a little candy-ing (peppermint bark)

:: cookies!!!  (my mom's chocolate cookies--yum!!!)

:: watched The Christmas Story

:: watched PapaGeek suffer through a kidney stone episode (and felt so helpless.  he's fine now.)

:: made soup (creamy wild rice...yum)

:: played Santa and delivered/mailed some gifts

:: crocheted, crocheted, crocheted

:: resisted the urge to go buy buy buy; it's so easy to get caught up in the consumer frenzy--just one more little gift...oh, maybe one more...this is definitely the downside to "finishing" early; am I really finished?  I could make one more thing...buy one more book (that's good for the grandkids, right? which means one more times seven...) make one more batch of cookies (when there are more calories sitting in the pantry and more tins to be delivered than are healthy!!!!) I resisted...(except for the cookies...) so far.

:: and I crocheted, crocheted, crocheted...........

:: it was a relaxing weekend...getting mentally ready for a whirlwind 36/48 hours with all 7 grandkids (under 8 years), having both my son and daughter together, celebrating Christmas and two birthdays---can't wait!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥

 

PS  I need an opinion...I changed my font.  I looked back on some of my posts, and I felt like I was shouting.  Honestly, I wasn't.  But, is this better?

want to see how others have spent their weekends?  Join amanda at the habit of being!

 

 

WIP Wednesday ----and Yarn along!

Last week's projects are this week's projects.....

We had a lot of car time this week and a lot of baseball playoff time (go Cardinals!), so two more rows got added to granny.  Live Oak Shawlette got me to "July" in the Happiness Project before I finished the stockinette stitch section; I'm now into the lace pattern.  Can't read and knit lace!

We like to listen to talking books on road trips, and usually the choice is a spy thriller/adventure thriller--something totally mindless.  For some reason, I just wasn't in the mood, and picked up It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump written and read by John Hurley.  Life lessons brought to you by your dog--if you listen closely.  Exercise with all your heart; nap every chance you get--you get the idea.  It was cute.

Since I ran out of easy knitting before I got to December in the Happiness Project, I decided to start the Annabel Cardigan, which I have renamed in my Ravelry projects Lori's Cardigan.  Lori's photography is amazing, in general, but she photographed the most beautiful gray yarn by Quince and Co (and I'm such a sucker for gray!); I'm just hoping she believes that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, because I'm afraid there is going to be a midwest cardi that is going to look an awful lot like her west coast one.

Books in the to-read pile: Stealing Rembrandts-- thievery in the art world.  Written by Anthony Amore, art security expert now working at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  He is committed to solving the heist that occured there in 1990, and this book is the result of his research into all aspects of art theft.  So far, reads like a detective novel. (Thomas Crowne Affair is one of my all time favorite movies--Pierce Bronson was good, but you gotta love Steve McQueen!!!) 

And if you all haven't seen Cute and Easy Crochet---take a peek.  Remember, I'm not a crocheter...I'm not a crocheter...I'm not a crocheter....(this is my mantra this week....because I want to start just about every project in this book!!!)

 

WIP Wednesday with Tami and Yarn Along with Ginny.  Won't you join us???

WIP Wednesday---Yarn Along

The granny blanket is moving very slowly.  I keep thinking I'd like to work on it more if the temperatures here could just inch below 80 degrees.  It's too HOT with all that wool on my lap.  So....only one row added this week.

It looks slightly bigger when all the squares are jumbled up....

don't you think????

While on vacation, I wandered in to an independent bookstore and discovered The Happiness Project and I'm loving it!!!  Written by a lawyer who clerked for Sandra Day O'Connor, Gretchen Rubin decided lawyering was not for her, and became a writer.  She had a nice career, beautiful family, happy marriage--but one day thought that in spite of her wonderful life--she could possibly be happier (and make people around her happier) and went on a year's quest of how to do this.  Sounds somewhat self-serving, but she researched meticulously all aspects of her project--divides it by month, and while I'm only to April, I'm pretty much into this!!!  Who couldn't use a bit more happiness in their lives?  I needed a project I could knit while reading, had already fallen in love with Karen's Live Oak Shawlette (at Pumpkin Sunrise),  and it seemed to fit the reading criteria (at least the stockinette beginning).   

Yarn is Bugga from the Sanguine Gryphon in Blue Lobster color.  Lobsters, books, knitting, happiness--life really is good!

 

WIP Wednesday with Tami and Yarn along with Ginny. 

WIP Wednesday.......and Yarn Along

It's been a free-wheeling week.....crocheted wheels, that is.....

 

 
I decided to make small squares again--turning the wheel into a square with just one additional round of crocheting.  So far, so good.  Decision made. 

How big?  I've done a couple of lap size crocheted afghans--10 squares by 10 squares with a border and edging.  Love the border and edging, so I'll do that again.  But for some reason, I get so focused with getting to the end that I really don't enjoy the journey (like with knitting)--I just  blast through the project--sore hands and all.  Not this time.  I thought if I commit to a HUGE project, I simply CAN'T get too compulsive about it.  (I'm not sure this rationalization is going to hold, but it's my theory for now and I'm sticking to it.)  SOOOOO. 

This little blankie is going to be queen size--20 squares by 20 squares.  Yep--that's 400 squares--I have 3 rows of 20 connected....that's 60 squares done....if I do a row a week, I've got 17 weeks to go--plus another week or so to do the border and edging---that puts me way after Christmas.  Back up---2 rows a week and a week for the border---done mid December.....and I'll probably still be able to squeeze in a couple of Christmas presents....but, when can I finish 22 Britannia Road (Amanda Hodgkinson)?????--it's really, really good!!

AmI getting a bit compulsive already?   drat!!!!!

 

WIP with Tami and Yarn-along with Ginny