I did it!

On New Year's Day, I started a hat because working with the cotton for the baby sweater was driving me bonkers. Oh, how I love Malabrigo yarns- gorgeous colorways, SUPER soft, and comes in several different weights. It's wonderful stuff. I decided to make the Thorpe hat (Ravelry link) with some Malabrigo Chunky in the Purple Mystery colorway. It's knit from the top down, which is a bit different than most hat patterns, so getting it started was a bit of an adventure. Once I got through the first few increases, the hat flew off the needles and was finished rather quickly.

Well, almost.

See, to finish the hat, I needed to do a crochet border. Previous attempts at crochet have resulted in me strangling my crochet hooks with the yarn and being extremely frustrated that I just couldn't figure it out. I knew the hat just wouldn't look complete without the border, so I pulled up You Tube and watched a couple of videos of the crochet stitch I needed to perform.

After a couple of viewings, I pulled out a swatch and started working. Somehow, my hands figured it out and I was working the half double crochet on the swatch. When I picked up the hat tonight to attempt to finish the actual project, I somehow remembered what I needed to do and managed to not put too much tension on the yarn!

I still need to weave in a few ends, add the braids (and possibly a tassel if I feel like it), but the hard part is over and I'm really happy with how it turned out. Keep an eye out here for photos of the finished hat!

52 in 52 in 2011

This year, one of my goals is to knit more- more gifts, more fun stuff, and more things to show off. I adore knitting, but sometimes I need some motivation to pick up the needles and string. Even though I know it calms my troubled spirit, some days I just don't pick up the projects when I really should.

Through a friend (Thanks, Ria!), I found a group on Ravelry that's all about getting projects done. The idea behind the group is to start and finish 52 projects in 52 weeks, or about one project per week. There's no specific type of project that has to be done, so it's entirely up to the knitter's whim. Theoretically, small projects which can be completed quickly make up for larger projects which may take several weeks. Also, if I decide to learn a new type of fiber art (i.e. crocheting or spinning), I believe completing these projects count as well.

I have several ideas for gifts throughout the year, so this will be a good motivation for me. I pulled out my entire stash today and matched up some yarn with patterns, so I've got several things ready to start. I don't have anywhere near 52 projects specifically planned, but I fear that may overwhelm me, so I'll just pair up 5-6 projects at a time.

Today I started the first of the projects, Plymouth Yarn's Baby Placket Pullover, a baby sweater for my niece who is due in April. It's a kit I purchased a couple of years ago and comes complete with yarn (Plymouth Yarns Cotton Kisses), pattern, and buttons. The pattern has two versions, one a pullover and the other a traditional cardigan style. I chose to go with the pullover style since I liked the styling better in the photos. I'm doing the 6-9 month size, that way it will be big enough for the baby to wear for a while and there's less risk that it will forever be too small for her. This project has already reminded me that I'm not a fan of cotton yarns, because they naturally have less stretch than wool and can be much harder on the hands. I'm glad this is a baby project, because it will be done faster and then I can go back to my beloved wool and wool blends!

Whoa...

Wow, it's been a good long time since I last posted. Guess I really didn't have much to say about things and don't know that I do even now.

Still knitting as much as possible, but most nights I'm too tired to do anything other than stare at the computer or TV. I hope I can get all of my holiday knitting done and not lose my mind!

DONE

I'm done. I'm tired of it, I'm over it, I'm done. There's just no point in putting myself through this crap. I didn't do anything wrong, I busted my ass to try and make everyone happy, I keep slogging along with it because they say they appreciate it, but I really feel like no one gives a crap. I'm barely hanging on by a thread, and no one notices. I've given all I can give, and I feel like no one's giving in return.

Why do I care?

Eye Pillow pattern

I created this for a friend. It's a simple knit, and only takes a few hours. (Photo tutorial coming soon!)

EYE PILLOW

Materials:

Yarn- Malabrigo Silky Merino, 1 skein (150 yds) or yarn of your choice

Needles- US4 DPNs (3.50mm), set of 5

1.5-2 cups rice or filling of your choice

1 knee high nylon stocking (preferably new :) )

sewing needle and length of sewing thread to close stocking

tapestry needle

Method:

CO 24 sts.

Row 1: kfb each st Row 2: *sl 1 wyif, k1*, repeat * to * across row

Repeat row 1 until piece is 1 inch long.

Separate sides of piece using 2 DPNs.---Holding the 2 DPNs side by side in one hand (like an equals sign), slip the first stitch onto the back DPN, the second stitch onto the front DPN, the third stitch onto the back DPN, the fourth stitch onto the front DPN, and so on. You should find yourself with a tube of knitting that is now open at the working end.

Begin knitting in the round (knit every stitch), dividing the stitches on each single DPN onto 2 DPNS, so that you have 4 DPNs with 12 sts each at the end of this round.

Continue knitting all stitches in the round until piece measures 8 inches long.

DO NOT BIND OFF, LEAVE ALL STS ON THE NEEDLES!!

FILLING- I used a knee high nylon and rice to fill my eye pillow. Fill the foot of a knee high stocking with approx. 1.5-2 cups of rice. Check your fit by shaping rice to just smaller than the dimensions of your knitted tube. When you have a sufficient amount of rice, carefully fold nylon in half at the point where the rice-filled nylon fits the dimensions of the knitted tube, and sew the fold closed (try to keep the nylon from bunching as you stitch, it will fit more comfortably into the knitted tube when it's complete). Turn open end of nylon inside out around rice-stuffed foot to help keep the nylon from stretching too wide. Slide nylon filling between DPNs and into knitted tube.

FINISHING- You now need to get the stitches on your DPNs back onto two needles, so continuing where you left off in the round, slip the stitches from the first 2 DPNs onto a single DPN and the stitches from the last 2 DPNs of the round onto a single DPN. Be sure that your DPNs are parallel to the seam at the beginning of your work, so that the shape doesn't end up wonky. Now, starting at your working yarn and using a 3rd DPN, knit the first stitch on the front needle together with the first stitch on the back needle, then the second stitch on the front needle together with the second stitch on the back needle, and so on across the row to close the end of your work. Bind off on the following row (I used the sewn bind off method). Enjoy!

Post edited 6/29/2009 for pattern clarity. Photos to come.

Google Reader

This whole Google Reader thing is a lot easier and more fun than I thought it would be.  Huh, guess I should have joined the bandwagon sooner!

A disconcerting dream...

I don't generally remember my dreams, so let me start by saying it's odd I even remember this dream.  To remember it so vividly as well, this is what disconcerts me the most.  

I dreamed that I was sitting at the kitchen table in my parents' home (the way it looked before they remodeling).  Mom and I were sitting at the table with a pastor that I know from a church I've visited a couple of times in my travels.  I'm not sure where Dad was, but he was somewhere in another room.  Anyway, either Mom or the pastor said something, and my response, though not actual swear words, was something impertinent and taken to be the equivalent of swearing.  The pastor looked at me and said "That's not a very faithful thing to say."  I sat up in my chair, got in his face, and said "I'm struggling with my faith right now and I'm trying to find my way and it's hard.  When you say something like that to me, it makes me want to quit trying and walk away. "  I was quite brusque in my tone, and Dad came into the room and told me that I was being rude to our guest (my parents have never met this pastor, to my knowledge).  I looked at my dad and told him what the pastor had said to me, then told him of my response, and then said, "In fact, I've lost my appetite, so I'm going to leave now.", and left the room.  

Then I woke up with my thoughts and words swirling around in my head.  Truth be told, I am struggling with my faith a little.  I look around me and see difficult times and poor decisions flying every which way in my own life and the lives of my friends, and I wonder where God is in all of this mess.  My religious background tells me that God is here with me, with each and every one of us, as we seek a way forward to better days.  My heart tells me that I'm not dealing with this all alone.  My head tells me to move on, move forward, and forget about it.  I see people using God as an excuse and explanation all the time, but I don't see God at work.  I see selfish desires, fear of loneliness, fear of being forgotten and overlooked, and greed driving so many things around me.  In my own heart, I see jealousness, loneliness, hurt, confusion, anger, frustration, loss, and apathy.  I don't believe those who say that if I pray hard enough and do enough good that God will grant my heart's desires.  My religious background has taught me that I can do nothing to earn God's grace and mercy, it is a free gift.  With that, however, it means there's no contract, I do these things and help these people and say these things and God will do what I want.  God has control, and sometimes God, like any good parent, says no.  My head and my heart know these things, but they're having trouble following along and trusting the path that God has set before me.  Why does it matter what I say or what I do, if at the end of my days God forgives my transgressions and sets me free yet again?  

These are the things I struggle with.  Why does it matter?  Why does what I see in daily life not match with the promises God makes?  Why should I believe?  What do I believe, and what do I reject?