February & March Stuff

January was a significantly more productive month than any other of the first quarter of 2013, but February and March saw a dramatic uptick in sock production.  Socks, the thing that inspired me to learn to knit.

I am not kidding about this - I watched a lady magic-loop a beautiful burgandy-and-gold sock yarn while waiting for jury duty one day, and thought I have to learn to do that.  It took me a while to get to the point where I feel I can say, "I am a sock-knitter," but yes, I do loves them.

One of my goals for this year is to knit at least 13 pairs of socks in 2013.  I am 4/13ths of the way there, plus a bit (since I'm done with the toes and first inch of ribbing on my next pair).

January 2013 Summary

So, I'm at 1,311 yards and 10 projects for the year, so far.  If I continue to work at the same rate (highly unlikely!), I might actually exceed at least part of my 2013 output goals.  Let's all hold our collective breath on that one, yeah?

Anyway, on to the pictures!

Two Hats (2013 Projects 4 & 5)

A quick entry before I do my semi-regular-until-I-get-busy-or-forget end-of-month summary.  Holy hyphens, Batman!

Two hats, both in the same yarn: the super-snuggly Sublime Yarns Baby Cashemere Merino Silk DK.  Oh, yarn names.  Shouldn't be itchy or rough, but maybe I'm not the best judge?

Hat #1 - Beanie style.  Pretty snug on, has some interior texture due to the tight fit & narrow ribbing.

Hat #2 - Watchcap style.  Looser fit, smoother interior texture.

 

52 in 2013: Weeks 1 & 2

Well, well, if it isn't the second week of January.  I can tell I had some time off, because I actually got a few things D-O-N-E at the beginning of the month.  WOO!

Apparently, I am on a pig kick.  In my own defense, the first pig was planned in 2010, started in 2011, and knit (mostly) in 2012.  I did the finishing work in 2013, so I'm claiming it for this year.

Second Verse, Same as the First

Don't know if I'll be any louder in 2013, but it's unlikely to be worse - I got a job and completely abandoned my hobbies (and most of the rest of my life).

Yet again, I'm setting the bar high: 52 projects between January 1 and December 31, with 13.1 miles spun, knitted, or crocheted.

Oh, and make it through my first year of full-time contracted teaching, but really, I was planning to do that anyway.

First up: four pairs of socks in 3 months, a violently purple shawl in a pattern I've been wanting to get to for over a year, and a couple of hats in various shapes and levels of floppy.  More Hexipuffs (because they are fun and a great way to use up yarn ends).  Some dishcloths, because it makes me happy to have Doctor Who dishcloths, and also they're fairly easy turn-ins for the silly Harry Potter knitting game I play TO WIN.

GOALs!

I am nothing if not ambitious.  (Hey, I'm not in Slytherin House in the pretend knitting game on Ravelry for nothing.  I'm also a huge, huge nerd, but we knew that already.)

So, I have some goals for 2012.  Some crafting goals, to be more precise, because the Real Life goals (finish my masters, get a full-time contract, & get the house in order) are big, but kind of boring in the daily making-of.

Anyway.  Crafty crafterson over here also has a case of crazy pants.  52 in 52.  13.1 miles.  And so on.

Here's the breakdown of my goals.  I'm including in my 52 in 52 the finishing of Works in Progress (or WIPs) because otherwise, they will never, ever be complete.  So there.

2012 Challenges: 13.1 & 52/52

Because I am nothing if not ambitious (and perpetually almost willfully unaware of my limits), I have set myself a set of challenges for 2012, one old, one renewed: finish 52 projects in 52 weeks and knit, crochet, sew, or spin a combination of 13.1 miles (23,056 yards).

I'll be counting.  Will you?

My Year Starts Sometime in May

I am currently in the throes of writing a 140-page document that serves as the capstone of my master's program.  I have also in my fourth month of full-time teaching in an interim position of indefinite length.  Bluntly: I have no time for hobbies.

I've still managed to squeeze in a very few number of fiber-related projects, but my production is low, compared to the past two years.

I still found time to spin 268 yards of noms.

Beginning in May (when I - hopefully - graduate with a Masters of Arts in Teaching), I'll renew my efforts to document my fiber-related pursuits while simultaneously trying to use up my stash (as ever).

Until then?  Picture me frantically writing essays while gazing longingly at whatever I've got on the needles or on the spindle.

52 in 52: Week 43

I blame the Harry Potter Knit Crochet House Cup on Ravelry

I'm a bit closer to "on track" with this hare-brained scheme, although I'm not convinced I'll hit 52, between work and school and my work assignment getting extended and extended and extended (which is an AWESOME thing).

Since I've finally figured out spinning, I'm counting yarns-I-make in my "finished object count" for the year. And I've been making yarn like whoa because (a) I can do it in the dark, which makes it movie-compatible and (b) I can do it even when my brain is mush from the over-tired.

Om Nom Nom

 My first useable yarn is a worsted-ish weight 2-ply merino/massam/silk blend that knits and warms like a bulky-weight alpaca.  (I spun the first 45 yards, then started knitting, stopping only to spin more yarn when I ran out.)

52 in 52: Week 31

So, Weeks 16 through 30 were, um, busy.  Between trying to finish up student teaching and all the involved paperwork (including the never-ending portfolio), trying to find a job for this fall, volunteering at summer school, and the Vacation of Awesome, it's been a fairly breathless summer.

 I found time to complete another Umbrous shawl, however, which ... just ... Crystal writes amazing patterns.  Super easy to follow, scalable, and a beautiful end project.  Love.

52 in 52: Week 15

I'm at the end of my semester, so knitting time has been scarce as I try to wrap up all my deliverables for student teaching.  I did finish one object, last week: a simple alpaca cowl/eternity scarf.

The so-called Snuggly Cowl used both skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas that I had in my stash and the end result is smooshable and warm - too warm, in fact, to wear with my winter coat.  Perhaps when I switch over to a lighter jacket, since I still have car lot duty every afternoon.

I like the simple, but not boring to knit (free!) pattern.  This might be a reasonable choice for simple gifts, in the future.  (Mine, for now, though!)

52 in 52: Weeks 3 - 14

Did I mention that student teaching is keeping me busy?!  Blogging has fallen way down the priority list, despite promises to myself about Doing Better about such things.

I've managed to finish a few projects since my last post, however, which brings me to five projects completed for the year, with another umpteen in progress.  I can't talk about one of my recent finishes, knit largely between bronchitis-induced naps over Spring Break, as it is a gift (and a spectacular one at that).  The other two products are less inspiring, but no less finished:

 Yes, a dishcloth.  Previously-knit (as in when I first started learning, back in 2002 or 2003) cloths are starting to develop worrisome holes and other signs of being used up.

So I made a new one.  And attempted to dye it, using Coca-Cola.  (I learned that Coke makes a poor dye base because the "dye" comes out in the wash.  Oh, well.)

52 in 52: Second Sock Syndrome

I can't decide whether it's going to be worth the time investment to finish my current pair of socks.  This is my second go-round with this yarn-and-pattern combination, and while I absolutely love that the knitted-up fabric is loud and full of faux-isle goodness, I am still trying to decide whether knee socks are something I'll actually wear.

I'm having similar thoughts about the Golden Ratio Mittens, which I'm really not looking forward to finishing and should probably just frog and be done with it.  Not feeling it, now that I've given an alternate gift to the originally-intended recipient.

Or it could be that the days are lengthening, the snow is showing signs of eventually disappearing, and I want to knit lace.  It could be that.

Trying, hard, to decide if I want to finish possible Items 3 and 4 of 52 or rip out and regroup.  Feh.

52 in 52: Weeks 1 & 2

Despite the challenges of student teaching (I'm even more invested in defending Saturdays as time OFF), I'm still squeezing in time to knit, here and there.  I don't know if I'll be able to maintain this pace, but I'm more-or-less on track to complete 52 projects in 2011.

So far, I've finished two and started a third and, perhaps best of all, they are all for me.  The fourth project scheduled for January is the second mitten of a pair; the first is done (save the thumb).

52 in 52

I came across an ambitious - and awesome - group on Ravelry this week. It's called "52 in 52" and the idea is that participants commit to complete 52 projects in 52 weeks. It's also not necessarily a one-project-per-week thing, since some projects go quickly and others not so much. (Ben's Henry, I am looking at you.)

One of the requirements of this challenge is that fiber artists have no more than 4 projects on the needles at once. I've developed up a bad habit that, along with stashing yarn, is relatively new and I'm not thrilled over: I've started starting multiple projects at once, then only working on one at a time. If I'm not switching between projects, what's the point in multiple starts?!

2010 In Review

2010 was my most productive year, needlework-wise, ever.  I also tried a lot of new things, this year.

In 2010, I completed 26 knitted projects (27 if I finish my Spearhead Cowl tonight).  I also finished two large home-dec sewing projects: a replacement for the way worn-out comforter cover and a new tree skirt, since the one I made in 2004 was far too small for our tree.

Christmas time is here, again!

OK, not really, since it's JUNE, but I've finished the first gift for Christmas 2010.

This does not classify me as one of those super-organized people, unfortunately; gifts from Christmas 2009 are still here - they never made it to the intended recipients (family emergency that required me to fly across the country on Christmas Eve plus recipients with address unknown, but still.)

BUT.  I have completed the first Christmas gift for this year.

I am very excited about this.  (No pictures, as it's 11:30 pm and I am tired.)

My First Lace Shawl!

A friend of mine from way back is a knitwear designer.  In the interest of supporting my friends, especially when they make awesome stuff, I added a couple of her patterns to my Ravelry queue.  And, in a moment of craziness inspiration, I decided to tackle my first lace shawl.  Using her pattern (Umbrous by Hippie Diva Creations).  In silk.

Shawls and socks

This is going to be the summer of shawls and socks.

Well, that, and Christmas gifts.  But back to the shawls and socks: I need some.  I need socks because my fun-n-funky store-bought socks are wearing out and my sock yarn stash is (ahem) considerable (by my standards) and my work environment is one that supports slightly funky fashion choices.  So I'm considering having crazy (handmade) socks be my trademark.  First up?  Play-off socks.  On account of the San Jose Sharks are in the semis and I have some Claudia Handpainted sock yarn in Sharks.

Is bee-yoo-tee-ful.

As to the shawls?

On the Wires

We have a phrase, in the fiber-obsessed world of knitting: On the Needles.  We use it for projects we are currently working on, since they are (generally) on our knitting needles while we work.  (The crochet version is, I believe, On the Hook.)

A related phrase I haven't seen but should exist is On the Wires for projects that are in the blocking phase of knitting.  Blocking is a recent discovery for me (because I am lazy, lazy, lazy), but it really can make a difference in how the final product appears.  It's an opportunity to massage the knitted object into a pleasing shape, open up interesting stitchwork, and smooth out the occasional oddity in tension or technique.

Even though I only recently discovered the Magic of Blocking, as a convert, nearly everything I knit goes from On the Needles (OTN) to On the (blocking) Wires (OTW).

Wisp Airy Nothing, for example: