Oops

There is definitely something in the air. I spent the entire day cleaning out *stuff,* tossing it into bags for Goodwill, posting it on ebay to hopefully earn back a few of the many dollars I've spent on all this clutter and sometimes just tossing it because it was really nothing but trash. The "to do" list from 2002... I think it can go. And to think I've moved that piece of paper into two different apartments. That's just ridiculous! I really wish I was an anti-clutter person, but this has always been a struggle for me. I just love my treasures and it seems I love my trash just as well!

I am finally starting to let go of the yarn "mistakes" that I made early in my knitting obsession. A whole box of unidentified brown chenille yarn that sheds? Um, gotta go. I had visions of a dark chocolate afghan but then I woke up and listed this one on ebay for another yarn newbie. I guess if you actually liked knitting with chenille, this would be the mother load, but that's for another knitter out in Internet land. I may even break into the general Lion Brand stash* tomorrow and do a complete clean sweep. Anyone else have some "oops-es" floating around the stash?

Even my computer was cluttered! I can't say that you can see much of an improvement, but at least I know that many, many photo sessions of knitting projects have been sent off to the electronic graveyard to allow room for many more photo sessions of knitting projects. I can handle yarn taking up space, but pictures of yarn have got to go!

*Not that I've only made mistakes on cheap yarn. I've got a pricey skein of silk something or other that was for a beaded purse class... because grad students have so many opportunities to use a beaded purse out of pale pink that would show every speck of dust. Not ready to admit defeat on that one yet, but the day may come and if it does, you'll be the first to know.

*Gulp*

This morning, I went here

www.fuzzymabel.com

and bought this

Noro Silk Garden #232

for this

Lady Eleanor, Scarf Style

and this

Noro Kureyon, various shades

for this

Knitty's Lizard Ridge Afghan

and this

Child's Rainbow Scarf - Last Minute Knitted Gifts

and this

Fake Isle hat from November Magknits

I also discovered this to add to the Must-Make list.

Berrocco free pattern - Puzzle Bag

(Yes, I'm an English teacher that loves crosswords. Go figure.)

Tomorrow, I will go here

www.ebay.com

to attempt to sell enough of this and that from around the apartment to make up for the credit card carnage.

Lara

(Excuse the bad pics. It's dark and I'm tired and yeah, well, I'm no model...)

Tonight I had my second Knitter's Guild meeting and of course I had to face the "what to wear" dilemma. I mean, c'mon, a room full of knitters and you best be bustin' out the good stuff. I went for discreet and safe last time. No seams to inspect or stitches to analyze in a pair of handknit socks tucked safely away from discriminating eyes.


But now that I've officially been allowed to join, I figured it was high time to show these ladies (all 200 of 'em) just what level of mediocrity they're letting into the ranks. It's time to wear a handknit sweater in a room full of knitters. This could be bad, bad, bad...

Since it's now gotten rather chilly here, it's time for the wool sweaters. I actually finished this one this summer but I never blogged it because I just couldn't face putting on a wool/mohair blend concoction in the hot weather. Wimp, yes I am. For some reason I also thought I didn't like the fit but I don't think it's so bad as I imagined. In the book, you're supposed to wrap the two sides of the collar over each other, but I like it better loose, perhaps because I'm wearing a loose t-shirt under it today.

Pattern: Lara from the Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk collection

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted

Needles: I think I used 8's, but I'm not entirely positive

Dates: February - August, 2006

Recipient: me, me, me

Notes: This is a great pattern and one that I will be making again. It curls a bit at the bottom so I'm considering going back and doing a crochet edge, but it doesn't bother me enough to not wear it as is. My side seams are also wonky where I cast on stitches, but I actually saw another woman wearing this sweater tonight at the meeting and she had the same issue with the side seams.

I really like the Lamb's Pride yarn but I think I'd make this in a different yarn the next time. The mohair content makes it just a little hairy and itchy for me. I tried this with a short sleeve t-shirt and there was no having that nonsense, even though I'm not particularly sensitive to wool.

So I guess I'm a real blogger now. I've made the Lara and done the Rachael pose. And I really be a real blogger soon since I think Clapotis is moving up in my knitting rotation.

Oh, and other big news, I'm going to get to update (or redo) the local Guild's website! I suppose it's a sign of true dorkiness that this makes me inordinately happy.

NaBloPoMo post #2

Gifts

My weekend junk store partner came bearing her own treasures to offer… a vase made by her very talented husband. He is pursuing a master’s degree in ceramics while she works at a production jewelry company and pursues her own art work in metals. Can you imagine the kind of amazing Halloween costumes their children will have one day? Cool Christmas gifts? Or science fair projects?

Anyway, I’m honored to display art work produced by friends. Maybe someday my friend will let me show off and brag about her own work that she is much too modest about.

On an entirely different level of creative production, I decided to go into my craft room/pit of destruction and pull out the first sewing project that I came across and get at it. Nothing like digging out a quilt that was promised to your brother years ago. And the really horrible thing is that I was able to complete the piecing in two nights at the machine. Oops, guess I shouldn’t have filed that one away for so long. I still have to finish tying this, but I may just have a finished gift to bring home at Christmas.

This is one of my favorite quilts to make. I made a large one for myself years ago and use it pretty much year round. I’ve made one as a wedding gift for another friend and have at least two more planned. It’s pretty much a no-brainer sewing project and you can feel good about making good use of old jeans that are too worn out for the Salvation Army. I hit the jackpot a few years ago and scored two garbage bags full of jeans for a quarter a piece so I’m set for a good while. If you’re on my Christmas list, you may just be getting a denim quilt under the tree…

And since I’m really trying to do this post-a-day month, I may just post instructions for this no-brainer, just for the heck of it. After all, Lone Knitter, you’re going to need some simple sewing projects when you convince your mom to give you her machine!

On a not really related note, it seems the commercial world has decided that since Halloween is officially over, it is time to bombarb us with messages about the holiday season and its all-too-quick approach. Actually, I saw Christmas cards at Target a few weeks ago, but they were discreetly displayed in the back of the store for the super-organized among us to start those letters. Today, I came across three Christmas internet ads while doing my usual poking around. Ugh. In my own little act of celebrating the giving aspect of the holidays while staving off the last-minute panicked run to the mall, I'm going to try to prepare and/or give a gift of some sort every day for the rest of the year. This may be getting together something for the numerous family and friend birthdays coming up as well as actual Christmas gifts or donating a "gift" to charity, be that a financial gift or an item to take to Goodwill. I must admit that this is partly a selfish act as it would be nice to start the new year with a lighter closet and a few checkmarks on my list of crafty projects that I'd like to make for others. Hopefully it will also keep my own urge to get into the holiday panic (and the accompanying credit card bills) at bay.

National Blog Posting Month Entry #1