So Many New Projects

So, while I have set aside my curtains, I have been slaving away on so many other projects. I've finished everyone's Christmas gifts except for Michael's, Henry's, and Chris's (except for the weaving in the ends of most of the others). That isn't bad at all. I have probably about 40 hours or so left to work on Chris's gift--I'm hoping that is all, anyway. And Michael's gifts won't all get done, but I'm learning to accept that. I do want to pick up my curtains again. I want to finish them before we move, at least, and they become obsolete.

I hate to admit it, but I am getting much too lazy to block things (I think it has to do with the fact that I don't have space anywhere for such frivolities), so I've taken to just steaming them and calling that well done. Don't tell anyone, though! So far, there isn't much of a difference between days of blocking and 15 minutes of ironing with the steam on, so, really, I don't think it's a big deal yet.

I am debating when I should put up pictures, (now that I've learned to do that!) but I'm thinking that it will be closer to Christmas.

I'm happy to be almost done, because this much knitting has really gotten to me. I'm beginning to feel old when my wrists get so tired from all of the knitting and typing at work all day. Next year, I will not be doing anything near this ambitious.

It's Finished!

I can't believe that I finished knitting my skirt. It's my very first skirt and I just love it. I have worked on it pretty much nonstop for two weeks (totally neglecting all of the other projects that I really need to work on), but it is totally worth it!

As soon as I figure out how to put pictures on here, I'll post one. It's so cute!

Guys, seriously, it is the cutest thing ever. I love it so much and it is so comfortable. I just want to wear it everywhere.

That is all I have to say about it.

Look guys! There isn't a ton of light in my apartment, so getting a good picture wasn't easy (or even possible, if you look at it), but Michael did a good job.

TV Update

So, I've got to take some time to catch up. I've been really busy with countless projects. My project-a-week thing (oh, right, I realized that I have to finish a project every week for the rest of the year to be able to get them all done) is going really well--I've been working on it like that for about a month and a half already. I've mostly just finished really easy projects--sewing up slipper socks and things that that are already done except for weaving in ends and things. It gives me a chance to work on huge projects (like my mother-in-law's hat/scarf set which is taking way longer than I thought because it's so intricate, but beautiful) but still finish things up.

While I've been knitting for about 40 hours or more a week, I've also had a chance to watch a ton of TV shows and things. I've watched a bunch of movies (that I can't remember right now) and a million TV shows. I finished season 3 of CSI and recently started ER season 2 (from Netflix) on Hulu, I'm watching The A-Team and I'm on season 3 of that. I watched season 1 and started 2 of Doogie Howser, MD--which is way more about sex than I remembered as a little kid. But it's really cute. I started watching One Tree Hill, which I had never heard of before, but am really enjoying. I have also started watching Conan O'Brien, but I think I'm about over that. It's funny and all, but I am just not really into it. I could be watching more episodes of The A-team. And, of course, I'm keeping up with Lie to Me (which has started over from the beginning, for some reason), The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and patiently waiting for Lost, Friday Night Lights, and whatever else my office chooses to watch next season. When does the Office Season 5 become available on DVD? I totally want to add it to Michael's Netflix queue (which I control, too. I didn't mean to do that, it just happened, you know? Oopsie).

That is so much television. I feel kind of lame for watching so much TV, but what else can I do while I'm knitting? If I do have more knitting/craft groups, that will really cut back on my television consumption. You know, it's kind of funny how I totally don't feel like it's TV when I'm watching it on my computer--like it doesn't count. Sometimes, I can get Michael to read to me (which I totally adore) but his voice gets tired within one chapter and then I'm left to myself, and there is no way I can read and knit at the same time. But I'm having a great time with all of the knitting and the movies and the TV, so it really isn't that bad.

Bordeaux Kettle- Hand-dyed Sock Yarn

So what that I have four unfinished projects waiting for me on the coffee table? The yarn just came in the mail today and I am so excited, I just can't wait to use it! I love the feel, I love the color, I love everything about it! So, here comes some freaking awesome socks and look out World! (if only they were for me...).

I would start making the matching tie, but I just realized that I don't have size 1 circular needles and I can't wait the insane amount of time it would take to put real clothes on and go to the store and then find them (if they have them--which usually they don't) and then come all the way home. I can't believe I took so much time to even post before using it. I am looking at it right now and taking little second-long breaks to touch it. I just love the color. I love the inconsistencies that come from the kettle-dying process. Oh, it's just gorgeous! And it feels great. I could cuddle up and sleep with it! It almost makes me want to learn to spin and dye yarn of my own...

I am so excited, I just can't stand it!

Taking a Breath

I have decided to step back from my huge curtain project for a moment so I can catch my breath. I put away the curtain panel this weekend and worked on a couple of other things. And, my, did I get a lot done! I mean, I've been working on the curtains for over two months. It is time for me to be able to work on something else, but I think my little fingers were a little too excited to work on something that actually showed progress readily.

**********Christmas Spoiler**********

I started the scarf to match the adorable hat I made for Jessica. I finished all of the knitting, too, I just have to graft the two ends together and then block it. But I am saving all of the blocking for the end, I think. I also started and finished two pair of cable slipper socks. They are adorable. I have decided to make them for everyone for Christmas next year (it will be a lot easier for me to make them for everyone and be done and able to work on other projects, too). I mean, I'll have to think of something else to do for the ones who are getting cabled slippers this year, but my projects for next year will only take about a month or so of serious knitting and then I'll be able to work on the charity project my family is doing.

This year, I am just having to work way too much on Christmas projects. That is all I've done, except for my curtains. I worried about being able to finish everything by Christmas, but I think that I don't really have anything to worry about. I mean, the socks that I was planning on making for my dad may have to wait, but as long as I get the tie done in time, I think it will be fine. I'm going to send the gifts out a little before Christmas, and I just can't wait for the tie. I finally found a pattern that doesn't look so stupid. Most hand-knitted ties look ridiculous and stupid, and I am so glad that it looks like a normal tie. I ordered a gorgeous Bordeaux kettle-dyed merino wool/nylon blend for the project, and I just can't wait--it's going to be so beautiful. I think it will look great and so elegant with a navy blue or black suit.

**********End Christmas Spoiler**********

While all this knitting is going on, I finished watching The Pretender and started watching The Practice. I really like the show, but it's only three seasons and I'm already into season 2 (the first season was only six episodes long). I want to see how many seasons of how many shows it takes me to work on the curtains.

Curtains...

I've been working on curtains, right? Well, I just realized that it is going to take me months of work to finish them, and I don't have that kind of time. I also need new curtains for our bedroom because, for some reason, the curtains in there now don't cover the entire windows. I really want to make beautiful curtains for the bedroom, but with everything else I have to do (work, make Christmas gifts, etc), making curtains that will take at least seven months is a daunting task. We'll see, I guess.

But right now, all projects are taking a hiatus while we are moving. We are pretty much done now--just a few odds and ends and a touch of cleaning to do at our other apartment, and everything is at the new place. In boxes. Piled up everywhere. Staring me down even when I'm miles away at work.

While we've been moving, sleeping on the floor, packing, and almost unpacking, I've fallen behind in every show I watch with my coworkers. And I haven't watched anything just for me. And I don't really miss it, except for the knitting part. I do miss that. And I love to watch something while I knit. So, soon it will be back to the TV and all of the fun that can be had there! And, someday, I will finish two curtain panels and they will be beautiful and they will hang in my living room for the world to enjoy.

Curtains?

It's official. We're moving. It's kind of exciting, really. But the most exciting part right now is that I get to start a new project. I'm knitting lace curtains for our living room window. It's just a small window, but it is a huge project. I chose the pattern from a pretty lace scarf I found online. It's a fairly simple pattern, and I'm hoping it will turn out great. I'm using cotton crochet thread and size 2 knitting needles, so it is going to take forever. I'm going to knit them in two panels and it's taken about 15 hours to knit about an inch of the first panel. It doesn't look super awesome yet, but I think it'll look better once it's blocked.

So, in the meantime, we're packing and slowly moving as we count the days until we are completely moved. There is so much to do still. We've barely started packing. Well, that is a lie. I haven't packed anything except a box of shoes. Michael has packed the DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, and some books. That is nice.

We signed the contract on Saturday and got the key. Right away, we went to look at it again and take a couple of boxes. They recently painted and everything, so the floors are all dusty and need to be mopped. But that isn't a big deal at all. So, Saturday, we took over just a couple of boxes and a little bit of food (lettuce and feta cheese and other salad treats) and we ate lunch there. It was so fun. I measured the window width, but I couldn't measure the length because it is pretty high.

I've paused all other projects for the time being while I'm working on the new curtains. I've never tried anything like this before, and it's going to be great. The curtains don't really match the tile flooring, but they are the prettiest shade of pink, so they will just look adorable from the outside. And I've decided that hand-knitted lace is so crazy hard. I just hope the finished, blocked project is everything I hope.

Turning the Heel

I am so excited that I've taught myself how to turn a heel. I am going to be a sock-knitting machine! On Monday, I was knitting for about 16 hours and I finished a lovely little ankle sock. Next time, I'm going to use bigger needles, chunkier yarn, and spend less time on a single sock!

But I couldn't believe how easy it was--why on earth was it so hard for me to figure out? The gusset is so incredibly easy! It is all just a piece of cake. Making the heel flap, turning the heel, making the gusset--so simple. So if anyone wants a pair of socks, I will be more than happy to teach you how to turn the heel! You'll love it.

The socks I'm making are black ankle socks with a really pretty lace pattern. I knitted one whole sock on Monday, and then on Wednesday, I knitted about half the second sock and ran out of yarn. I thought I had enough--so I was kind of upset. It's dye-lotted yarn, so I can only hope that the next skein I get doesn't clash too badly. So, I'll probably get enough next time to make another pair of socks, too, so that I can choose to do that later on.

The funniest thing about knitting the sock is that the yarn isn't colorfast, so, by the end of the day, my fingers had turned greyish black and it was so deeply engrained into the prints on my fingers that I just finally got it all out this morning.

Massive Amounts of Projects Underway as We Speak!

**Spoiler alert--if you are expecting a Christmas gift from me and don't want to know what it is, please skip this part**

So, with all of the frustration of the Lover's Knot Afghan, which I have again dismantled, I have been working on Christmas projects. I can't believe how much I've gotten done! My sister's bag is done. My other sister's bag would be done, but the felting process went awry and now I don't know what to do to fix it because it looks awful. So disappointing! But I have also finished Amos's scarf and hat. I improvised both patterns myself. And they look great! But then, I started working on these slipper socks for Chelsea's family, and I've finished James's so far. They aren't turning out how I imagined, but they are going to be just fine, I think. I can't believe how fast I'm finishing them. I've gotten James's totally done. His are brown and grey--I held a strand of each together the whole way through. Now, I'm working on Yayo's--his are grey and blue. The top will just be grey and the sole I'm making with blue and grey held together for a little extra cushion. I'm hoping to get those done this week. Then just three more pair and I'm done with that group of Christmas gifts. I can't believe what I have done already! It's really fascinating to me how much I can get done if I just do it.

**End of Christmas spoiler**

I've gotten a season and a half of Friday Night Lights watched in the last week and a half while I've been working on all of these projects. And movies and court shows and so many other things. It's awesome. I am loving Friday Night Lights. It's a great show--really intense. It seems a bit unrealistic for high school kids, but it's just so good! I don't remember parents being okay with the fact that sophomores are out drinking and having sex all the time or that juniors show up drunk or with hangovers to everything. Even in a small town. But it's just so good, I can't complain. I think I'll watch an episode right now…

Update on the Lover's Knot Afghan

I have to take the blanket apart again. I decided that I like the clustered braid with the XOXO pattern better than the Saxon braid with the XOXO pattern. Sad, because the Saxon braid is my favorite cable pattern (until I find a prettier one). The clustered braid isn't so bad, but it's kind of like the poor man's Saxon. I've been thinking about it for a couple of days, looking at it while I've moved on to other things to give me a chance to sort out how I really feel about the Lover's Knot Afghan. And I think that I am, finally, ready to start over and really finish it this time. But I'm sitting at my desk at work right now, so it's easy to just think it will be fine when I get home and actually take it apart and start over. I think that the Saxon braid was just too much to pair with the XOXO, so the simpler cluster will make a good choice.

I am going to do the tulip bud border. I really like that. It's a pretty border, and it's going to look great, I just know it. I stole the idea from the Tree of Life afghan that I haven't started yet, and I really think it's going to turn out well.

Update on the Corset Tank

Blah. I had to take it all apart. But I'm sure it will be better next time, and it will go so much faster because I know what I'm doing now. So I'm starting on a different project this evening. I'm going to start on the Lover's Knot afghan this evening. Maybe I'll actually finish it this time...

Provisional Cast-on

That’s right. You heard it here first. I learned to do a provisional cast-on. And, what’s more, it worked! I picked up the stitches again with no problem. I thought it would be so hard because it’s an “advanced” technique, but wow, was it ever easy! I am so proud of myself. I am just so good at this game!

I am knitting a bamboo corset-style tank. I think I’m going to have to take it apart and redo it. I’m following the pattern (with minor size adjustments because I’m so little), but it’s still huge! I couldn’t find the yarn I was supposed to use because it doesn’t exist anymore. But now, I’m almost halfway done (hence using the stitches from the provisional cast-on) and I am really seeing that It seems like it will be big. But it is so beautiful and soft. It’s lotus pink Bernat bamboo yarn--86% bamboo with a little acrylic and polyester. I could just touch it all day. I’m really excited to finish the project. Especially since it will be the very first thing I’ve made for myself that I will ever wear. And I think I will wear it a lot. I wear tanks every day, and this one would probably be my Saturday tank. And I learned shaping and provisional cast-on--things that are so useful in everyday life.