FO Friday – Double Heelix

January 27, 2012 in January 2011 | 1 comment

Finished, ends woven in and tried on for fit (my gauge was loose but I managed to make up for it by making them a hair short so they stretched lengthwise and fit fine).

I have a little ritual when I finish a project.  I put extra yarn (none in this case) and needles away.  I always print copies of online patterns on card stock when I’m using them so that I have a nice durable copy and when I’m done, I file them in a notebook for possible future use.  I very happily filed all 12 (14?  who knows) pages of this one in the recycling bin this morning, never, ever to be seen again.  It felt good.

Now that these are done, I’ve wound up this lovely handspun and plan to start a Baktus with it this afternoon: There’s a sweater to be started too and another pair of socks.  Time to go stash diving…

Tags:

Upward Spiral

January 23, 2012 in January 2012 | 2 comments

I have become fixated on one project – finishing my Double Heelix socks.  Once I got through the 2nd heel-from-hell, the knitting has been simple and blissfully mindless.  Its the kind of thing that is perfect for knitting with friends, in front of the TV (especially a nail biter of a playoff game) and when I have no more than 2 minutes to squeak in a little me time.  The closer I get to finishing them, the more I want to work on them.  And so, I’ve knit on nothing else for the last week.  As I write this, I’m ever so close to the end – ready to start the 2×2 ribbing on the second cuff which gets knitted until the yarn runs out or it matches the length of the first one.  Just a few more inches and they’re finally done.  Until then, all other projects – or starts of projects – stay cast aside.

  I just can’t wait for them to finally be done…

Tags:

Ten on Tuesday on Wednesday

January 18, 2012 in January 2012 | 1 comment

I’m a day behind – blame the long weekend and not wanting to wait to share what had just come off my needles.  This week’s topic is perfect for this past weekend – 10 Things to Do When Its Too Cold to Go Outside.  I gave myself a stay-home day on Monday – a much needed break from everything, including errands and running around for this and that and the other thing and I just hibernated.  In fact, I spent a lot of my weekend doing that.   Here’s my ideas for a day or a weekend like this past one:

  1. Snuggle someone you love – furry or otherwise.
  2. Enjoy the quiet – I turned off the tv, lit a candle and found a comfy spot on the couch to curl up with a book and my knitting.  Cold days are perfect for that.
  3. Cook – A made a big pot of chili on Saturday to eat while I watched football.
  4. Bake bread – Turns out I don’t need a holiday to make Grammy’s bread.  I just need a few hours and a longing for comfort food.
  5. Call a friend – My oldest and dearest friend and I can get on the phone and talk for hours, like we’re in high school again.  Whenever I call her, I have to make sure I have a couple of hours free – cold days are perfect for that.
  6. Finish things – a good book, a knitting project, something around the house.  I did book – Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and knitting project – Daybreak – this weekend.
  7. Speaking of household projects, fix something up, clean something or plan a project – I started eyeing the rooms I haven’t painted yet this weekend.  My kitchen and dining room might get done this summer…
  8. Warm up with a nice drink – I have a certain fondness for hot cocoa with a little splash of something boozy mixed in to kick it up on a cold day.
  9. Play with a kitty – Over the course of the weekend, I had a sparkle ball dropped in my shoe, in my knitting bag and on my head (sleep is no excuse for not playing) and the ribbon wand thing dragged onto the bed when I was folding laundry.  Thumper and Gizmo don’t do subtle hints.  We played until one of us was too pooped to go on – usually the human.
  10. Knit or spin – do something fibery!

 

Tags:

Daybreak

January 17, 2012 in January 2012 | 2 comments

Daybreak – my first finished project of the year is off the needles!

The important details – Ball and Skein Glissade, a heavenly 50/50 merino/silk blend (my favorite!) in Sugar Plum and Nickel and Dime, 1 skein of each (I only used about 2/3 of the Sugar Plum and ran just short of the Nickel and Dime for the last edging repeat, so I stopped one shy), size 4 needles, started in September and finished on the holiday yesterday.  I did the largest size – it is generous (Jane the dress form being true to my size), so it will drape to about my waste and wrap nicely around the neck.  Even the though the pattern recommends a heavy duty blocking with wires or lots of pins, I simply gave it a good long soak in Eucalan and warm water and layed it out on my blocking mat to dry overnight – no fuss needed.  I’m in love with it – I can’t wait to wear it later this week with a pair of jeans, my favorite wintery heels and a simple black sweater.

Tags:

Casting On

January 9, 2012 in January 2012 | 1 comment

My newest WIP – the Smokehouse Cabled Vest from Valley Yarns/Webs.

After my self-imposed moratorium on new projects until I’d finished all of the WIPs or January 1 came, I’ve finally started something new.  I made it a whole hour into my day on January 1 and in spite of an impressive hangover, swatched and cast on at 8 AM (thanks in part to Tracy’s not quite 7 AM wake up text – and I thought I was the morning person in the bunch).  In the crazy busy week since, I haven’t had a lot of knitting time.  Still, I’ve found time for a couple of repeats of the soft, squishy cables.  Its a great winter project – yummy yarn, beautiful color (its a deep teal, not so charcoal as it looks above) and easy pattern that just flows off the needles.

I have managed a lot of restraint with the other things I want to start – all 34 of them.  I’m in the mood to knit everything, not just start things but finish them too.  My limited knitting time this week saw a few rows of my Double Heelix socks too and a failed attempt to do a row on Daybreak.  I’ve gone through the Ravelry queue and library, my downloads and added things to my Nook for future use.  Its winter and I want to hibernate a bit, curl up with a blankie, a good book on the Nook and a nice project.

There’s no snow to be found, so my usual MLK Day weekend trip to VT is not happening – hoping this weekend brings some of time to hibernate, even if its just for a few hours.

Tags:

Ten on Tuesday

January 3, 2012 in January 2012 | No comments

This week’s topic is 10 Things You Want To Do in 2012.  A bit of daydreaming about what the year might bring and this is what I came up with…

  1. Take a vacation – the kind where I don’t stay at home.  Since money is an object, it won’t be far away or fancy or even very long, most likely – I’d just like to get away someplace fun, even just for a weekend.
  2. Spend more time outside – more walks, more time at the park, more fresh air.
  3. Plant a little garden – Maybe in containers or maybe I’ll take over the little garden space that sits empty in a corner of my yard (though I’m not convinced there’s enough sunshine to grow much).  I’d like a few tomato plants, maybe a pepper or two and to put my hands in the dirt.  I miss that.  I’d like to do something more than my little herb pots from last summer.  And yes, reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is rubbing off on me.
  4. Speaking of books – read more.
  5. Spin more – no more leaving my wheel neglected between Guild meetings.
  6. Knit more socks than last year – 2 pairs was sort of sad.
  7. Knit the Kousa Dogwood Shawl – I’m 2/3 of the way through spinning the singles for it, then on to plying.  Then, I’m finally getting my little dream project on my needles.
  8. Keep growing my programs at work.  I’ve got plans – big ones.  Once we get our youth shelter open, onward and upward.
  9. Spend more time with my friends.
  10. Take more risks – no more playing it safe! (and no, I’m not elaborating ;-) )

Here’s to an amazing 2012!

 

Tags:

Resolved

January 2, 2012 in January 2012 | 2 comments

I’m breaking with long standing tradition and making a New Year’s resolution this year.  I resolve to finish my Autumn Splendor Cardigan in 2012.

Even if it kills me.  That steek might do me in.

A little history – I started this in 2004, in Donna Kay’s Fair Isle Design class.  So yes, I designed it.  I loved the process of bringing together the traditional fair isle motifs and the beautiful fall colors that were just emerging that September in New Hampshire.  I credit that class with pulling me out of my color box and forcing me to really play with color for the first time.  It was inspiring.  Of course, I love the knitting – fair isle is my favorite thing.  So why does it sit for nearly 8 years?  No real clue.  For a brief moment this morning, I thought I had the answer – I was missing a color.  Then I found it in another project, so no excuse there.  Perhaps its just a little daunting.

I’m pushing that aside, finding my place in it and moving forward, even if its a little at a time.  I will finish this thing by December 31 – which feels so blissfully far away right now.

To my local friends – I’m counting on you not just for the usual moral support and encouragement but for one of you to hand me a stiff drink and help me to a dark room after I cut that steek.

Tags:

2011

December 31, 2011 in December 2011 | 1 comment

2011 was an up and down year if I’ve ever had one.  I think I will look back on this year and remember exactly that – lots of highs and lows.  There were definitely some great things – my trip to Harrisville, fun times with friends and family, a fabulously snowy winter, the success I’ve had at work with getting my new program.  And there were some rough things that I don’t particularly want to look back on.  I am instead looking forward – at what parts of those rough spots were in my control and what I can do to fix them.  I want 2012 to be a better year – and if I have any say, it sure as hell will be.

I can say that it was a rather successful year for the knitting.  My grand total for the year – 21 finished projects.  Two of those were long on the needles UFOs – Wisteria (“only” a couple of years) and Oh! Canada (it moved with me – once across state lines and once across town).  That was one of my goals for the year – one of the few I managed to complete (we’re not going to discuss the non-fiber goals, which went to hell in about March).  It was big for me to finish them and is absolutely motivating me for 2012 – I plan to tackle my biggest and oldest UFO next year.  2011 turned out to be the year of the accessory, whether I meant for it to be or not.  Of my knits for the year, there was just one adult sweater.  The rest: 4 kid things (3 pairs of slippers and a sweater), 4 home accessories (a pillow cover, stocking, ornament and key chain thing), 4 scarves/cowls, 4 shawls (including one handspun!!!), 2 pairs of socks, a hat and a pair of fair isle mittens.  I’d love to add one more shawl to that total but its not looking so likely ;-)

There of course was other fiber-y stuff – spinning and learning to weave and a couple of dye days (not enough).  2011 was a slow year for The Painted Sheep.  I think I’m at a point where I’m OK with it just being what it is – my little “hobby” business.  There was a point at which I had dreams of growing it much bigger.  Life has changed so much since then that its just not in the cards for the foreseeable future.  Now, if I win the lottery or figure out how to add 6 more hours to the day and get an “investor” to pump a little cash in, I promise to jump right back in with both feet.  Until then, I’m content with what it is – some online sales, some fun events and a great excuse to play in my studio from time to time.  It still brings me great joy so I plan to keep at it.  There’s still lots more fun to come.

I plan to see this year off and welcome 2012 with a bang – Jenni’s coming over for Cheap Wine and Chinese Night, New Year’s Eve style, which involves the usual mix of exceptionally cheap wine (I went boxed!) and take out from Great Taste, with a tequila toast at midnight and quite possibly, boozy cupcakes.  There will be knitting and gossiping and a lot of laughs.  I’m ready to see this year off and can’t think of a better way to do it.

To all of you, have a safe and happy New Year!

Tags: ,

A Convert

December 29, 2011 in December 2011, Uncategorized | 2 comments

Those of you who have reading a while have probably figured out that I’m far from an “early adopter” of technology.  I’m not one for the newest/latest/greatest of most anything.  I usually look at the trendy new stuff that everyone has to have with a bit of skepticism – you’re really going to have to show me why I need it and why I would shell out $$$ for it.  Don’t get me wrong – I love and depend on my technology – anyone who’s seen me with my iPhone appearing to be permanently embedded in my hand knows my addiction is strong.  I’m just sticking with my 4 until I’m both due for an upgrade and need to replace it.

When e-readers came out a while back, I met it with my usual – no thanks.  Looked like a fun toy but I would never give up a book.  I love how they feel in my hand.  I use my library, in part because New Britain has a great one, in part because I fear that we use them or lose them.  I love a good independent bookstore, especially now that they are a rarity.  An e-reader takes away some of the best parts of a good book.

Even still, I’ve kept an eye on what’s out there for e-readers.   I’m at max capacity for non-fiber related books (those have their own bookshelf) and never wish to move dozens of boxes of books again.  An e-reader is a perfect solution.  A few months ago, I watched a friend pull up a knitting pattern in PDF form on her Kindle.  It caught my interest.  Then I heard that you could get e-books from the library, which was enough for me to add one to my Christmas wish list.   I can still get books for free (!) and support my library and put knitting patterns on it and not pile books up on my shelves – sold!

Santa brought me a Nook for Christmas.  True to my nature, its the Simple Touch, the 2nd generation, just an e-reader.  No need for a tablet here.  Its brilliant.  I bought a book that’s been on my GoodReads list right away – a book in seconds, from my brother’s couch on Christmas day, made me giddy.  I added a bunch of PDFs of knitting patterns, including Daybreak, so I’d have them at my fingertips.  I borrowed Animal, Vegetable, Miracle from the library (the only downside is that most of the good stuff is out – but I put a hold on it and was emailed when it became available the next day). I added everything from my GoodReads To Read shelf to the wishlist on my Nook – just in case I need something in the moment.

Then I discovered something – I can read and knit at the same time.  Nook goes on my lap, mindless project in hand.   I’m in feet up, cuppa at my side, vacation heaven here.  Bliss.

I have to admit – had I known that, I would have gotten one a long time ago…

Tags:

The Final Push

December 28, 2011 in December 2011 | 2 comments

Remember a while back when I said I wasn’t starting anything new until I either finished all of my works in progress plus the Christmas stuff or January 1 came?  Its crunch time.   I’ve got 2 projects still on the needles.  The new year is approaching quickly and the startitis is kicking in – I want to start everything.  I also want to finish everything – start the new year with a clean slate and all.

Here’s where I am:

Daybreak – 26 of 40 stripes done, so I’m roughly halfway there.

Double Heelix – that’s the 2nd heel, finally done this morning, when all was quiet at home and I was well rested and heavily caffeinated.  I have whole rest of the sock and the cuff on the first one yet to do.

Of the 2, Daybreak is the one most likely to be finished.  I’m on vacation and sticking close to home until my car is out of the shop (the transmission on the non-mom mobile went while Jenni and I were on the way home from Webs on Monday).  I’m going for it – that final push to get at least one more thing done before the end of the year.

Then, its on to this.  Or this.  Or this.  Or maybe this?

 

 

Tags: ,

« Older entries