Left One First

So it's November!  Yay!  That means October is done, and I have a weird and completely inexpiable dislike for that month.  But November is here and that is good. 

Less than 8 weeks till Christmas!  Woo!

So yesterday, I had a marathon yarning session.  I made up my own pattern for a pair of fingerless mitts.  And you know how I hate doing two of something.  So it was torture.  The good kind, but torture nonetheless.  But I was bound and determined that I would get them done, and it took me all damn day but they are finished.

It wouldn't be me if everything worked out properly of course.  I had to frog it twice before I really got started.  I made them with variegated yarn, and normally when I do mitts, I work the ribbing flat, and then start working in the round, sewing up the gap in the beginning.  But because of the way these colors worked, I had to start in the round from the very beginning.  So that was the first frog.

The second happened after I had finished about two inches, and realized they weren't big enough.  Because, you know, math.  So I had to take rip it out again.  These both happened on Friday night.  So I made a plan, and got cracking early yesterday morning.

And dudes, it worked out perfectly!  I was a little bit surprised myself.  Because, you know, winging it as I went along.   I mean, I knew theory and all but putting it into practice was something else entirely.  I had very specific requirements, and I had to custom fit them to someone.  So I was convinced it was going to be one big hot mess.  Especially after the false starts.  But yeah, once I got going, and it was actually working, I was like a yarner on fire.  

My fingers are sore, and my wrist is aching something fierce, but yeah, I got two mitts done.  After I finished the first one, about 3 o'clock, I had a serious attack of SSS.  Holy crap, did I not want to do the second one.  It was epic, and I whined out loud even though there was no one to hear.  But I just made myself do it.  The second mitt took a bit longer, because I had to take breaks and procrastinate a little with Youtube.  And then there was a whole incident with being roped into taking Tato to work. And then, long about ten, I was so tired I was nearly falling asleep.  But I was so close to being done, that I just made myself push through.  It took me until about 11:40, but God that sense of satisfaction was huge.  

But here's the thing that I realized when I was working on the mitts.  I made the left one first.  And it occurred to me that I always do.  When making mitts, and I've made my fair share, in which there is an actual wrong side and a right side, I always make the left one first.  I have no clue why.  But it's an interesting observation anyway.  

The yarn is totally sumptuous, 100% alpaca, and it just feels awesome.  And as per usual, I overbought.  This time, though, I really thought it would take almost the entire hank to make one, so I bought two hanks.  It took about 2/3 of one hank to make both.  Of course.  The good news is that I have the lovely, wonderful yarn now that I can use for something else.  Maybe fore me, as it's blues, and I love blues. 

I'm not going to post the pattern, because I only have it half written down in "Kris speak" but if anyone wants it, just drop me a note and I'll send it to you when I have it transcribed into English.  Well, into knitting, but you know what I mean.  In the meantime, check 'em out!

The Yarn, She Beckons

Okay, yeah, you know I'm sometimes I'm a fickle yarner.  Sometimes, the pretty things catch my eye and then...I just have to make stuff even though I should be making other stuff.

So I started this blanket.  I found this really easy pattern, and I didn't think it was going to be anything exciting, but I was going to use up some of my old yarn (that was once going to be a sweater for me) and by a bit of other yarn.  And in the end, it'll be a blanket for the BFF.  But here's the thing...

I really want to keep it.

I love it.  I really, really do.  I love it so much.  There isn't even anything too special about it but I just...love it.  It's knitted, which is fun.  And it's got peaks and valleys, which is more fun.  And it's just really lovely.  And I want it.

But no, it's for the BFF.  Because it's purple and that's her color.  And I want her to have it.  I really, really do.  

So I thought to myself, I'll just make another one for me when I'm done, right?  But that dreaded SSS comes into play, and I don't usually want to make the same thing twice.  And I'm only about five inches in on this one so far, and I know I'm going to get bored with it before I'm half finished and just want it done as happens to me whenever I make anything at all.

But the BFF only has one blanket from me.  And that was a very particular, special gift.  It was a Slyterin blanket, with a big S that was a snake and it was crocheted in the afghan stitch and it was a bitch. But it was awesome when it was done.  

And you know my track record with blankets. Okay, you know my track record with Sis's blankets.  But this one calls to me.  It wants to be made.  And even though I'll be giving it away eventually, I really, really love it.  And I can't wait to see it when it's done.  

Wonderful Friday

Oh, darling Friday!  How I have needed you!  I've longed for you!  I'm so glad you're here!!

It's been a long week.  In fact, every day this week, it felt like Thursday to me, so when I woke up in the morning (on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) I spent a minute or two being glad it was Friday...only to crash back down to reality when I realized it wasn't.  To say that it was disappointing is an understatement.  But this morning, it is Friday!

But it's Friday.  Which means jeans and sweatshirt instead of business casual attire.  It means good lunch (as we usually order lunch at work on Fridays).  It means when I get home tonight, I can get in my even comfier clothes and just chill.

I finally finished Mum's mitts last night!  Go me!  I had particular motivation, though, because the yarn for the BFF's mitts arrived yesterday.  And I desperately wanted to get them on the needles and get them made.  But I told myself--very firmly, I might add--that there was no way I could do that when Mum's weren't done.  So, I sat myself down and finished knitting.  I knew it would only take a wee bit of work and a couple of hours, so I commanded myself to finish.  And I did.  Of course, now I'm terribly worried that she won't like them...

Relatives were supposed to come in this weekend, but now they are postponing it a bit.  So I get to relax and unwind this weekend.  I'm going to make a pot of tea and drink it leisurely.  I'm going to knit on the BFF's mitts.  I'd really like to get them done in one weekend, but I think that's really a pipe dream.  But I am going to start them when I get home tonight.  I'm really very excited about the whole thing...as long as I can keep the SSS at bay.  Look for pics in the near future!

Hope everyone has a splendid weekend!

More Knitting

I spent the entire day yesterday yarning.  Almost literally.  I finished one of The BFF's mitts and then...well, I couldn't resist the other yarn I bought so I started working with that.  It's so freaking fabulous!  It's a baby alpaca/merino wool blend and it's just so light and lofty but so warm too!  Honestly, I'm a little sad I'll be giving it away once I'm done with it.  I'm going to have to go back and get more yarn and make myself something too.  Well, I say that but we all know the issues I have with making things for myself.

So, that's what I'm doing today again.  Watching Supernatural all over again (I started at the beginning again yesterday) and knitting.  I'll finish the other mitt and then go back to my fabulous yarn once it's done.  SSS (remember the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome, of which I am an chronic sufferer) is rearing it's ugly head and I don't even want to do it, but once I get it on the needles and start doing it, I'll be able to muscle through.  I think the mitts are lovely and I hope she'll be pleased with them.  Look for pics tomorrow because...

I'm skipping Second Blessing this week.  It's just not where my head is at all.  In all honesty, I've got so much else going on in my life right now that I might put it on hiatus for a bit.  I hate to do that to any of you who are reading along, and I'm not quite ready to say it officially.  It definitely won't be going up this week, but, as much as I enjoy Sean and Daniel (because I really do) and even though I know where the story is going, I'm having issues wrangling them to where they need to be.  It might be good for me to take a step back for a bit.  I want to tell a good story, a story that's worth telling, and I'm afraid I'm forcing it.  Whenever I tried to get the next episode written this week, it all fell apart.  And that's not good for the readers or the characters.  Thoughts?

Anyway, I'm in yarning mode today and I hope I'll have pretty pics for you tomorrow, along with a pattern.  

Long Week

Isn't it weird how days have a feel to them?  It's very common for us to say "it feels like Friday" on a day not Friday. This week, both Wednesday and Thursday felt like Friday to me. On top of that, time has a feel, too. It's feels later than it is or it feels like more time has gone by than it really has. Of course, the opposite is also true. Time sometimes flies by and suddenly it's hours later than the last time you looked at the clock. Or it's already Thursday and you have no idea where the last three days have gone. But this past week, even though it had the same amount of days and hours as weeks previous, it felt much, much longer. 

Of course, part if that is the rough time I had. I wanted the week to be over so it seemed to take longer than it really did.  At any rate, I'm very, very glad the bulk of the week is over and I have a couple of weekend days to decompress. I need those days sometimes, the decompression days, desperately. I don't have anything I have to do, anywhere I have to go. After last weekends busyness, I'm very glad about that. My intent is to spend solid time with the yarn and finish Toby's mitts. I think that I can get it done. Maybe not the whole thing today, a nap will most likely happen this afternoon, but I've reached that point in the project that makes me desperate to get it done. And even though the dreaded SSS is making me not want to do the second mitt, once I make myself get it on the needles, I'll be able to work. Of course, if his hands weren't so damned long, it'd be easier because I wouldn't have to far to go. The only good thing is that, when I was making the first one, I was figuring it out as I was going along. Now that I've done it once, it should go a bit faster because I just have to follow what I did before. And remember to make the thumb on the other side!

Side note?  Remember last month when I said I got some exciting news?  I think sometime this week, I'll be able to tell what it is and talk about it a little. 

One to go

One mitt finished...one more to go. The dreaded SSS has reared it's ugly head and I don't wanna do the other one. I will, but I don't wanna.  I try to look at it as one whole project and its only half complete but no such luck. My brain is disagreeing vehemently. It says "we've done that already, why would we do it again?"  Silly brain. I'm really going to have to force myself. Once I get the next one started, I'll be able to make myself finish. Maybe this weekend. 

I finally heard back from the website about the missing yarn. Apparently, it is out of stock. The one skein the sent was the last one they had. There is no word on when the stock will be replenished. I still have two skeins from my previous shopping endeavor. So that's plenty to work with for the moment. I'll still need all the ones that will eventually arrive. And probably more on top of that. Good thing afghans can never really be too big...especially where Sis is concerned. 

All that aside, my muse is already trying to decide on what to work on next. I'm desperately trying to tell her to put a sock in it. But. As you can imagine, she's ignoring me completely. I'll let you know when she decides. 

Family Time...part deux

Happy birthday to my mommy!!  Today is a day to celebrate her and I'm very pleased to do so. There will be dinner out, and then cake and prezzies. And lots more family time. Which, as you know, pleases me to no end. And my mom is good at being the center of attention when it comes to things like this. I anticipate a fun time will be had by all. 

Happy birthday, Mom! I love you!

In other news, the christening was beautiful and the baby was so good...even if she tried to pick her nose at one point during it. I had to keep pulling her hand away but after the third time she got the message. She's also completely full of personality and was a big love bug at the party after. 

I started the mitt flap part of Toby's mitts yesterday evening. They are really coming along. I already feel like I've been working on them forever, though, even though its only been a day and a half. I can feel SSS sneaking up already. But I will push through!

Worked on Sis's blanket some too. It makes my lap hot. I best get going on that because I sure won't want to work on it in the summer! 

OK...So

Started Toby's fingerless mitts and since he was here today, he could try them on for fit.  Now I know exactly how much longer I need to make them so that they'll fit his hands well.  I've got most of one done...SSS has already kicked in but I'm staunchly ignoring it.  Pushing through the pain, as it were.  The good news is that he likes them very much and he's very excited about. them

Speaking of Toby, he's reading for me right now.  And he says he's only able to read a little at a time but "so far, I'm really enjoying it."  This is good news for me.  I'm sure he'll have constructive notes when he gets to the end.  We'll see.

And speaking of writing...I've got all sorts of characters running through my head right now and they aren't making a lot of sense.  I've chosen to allow them free reign and mostly ignore them for now.  I'll just go ahead and let them percolate and see what comes up in the end.  Seriously, I can't make heads or tails of them right now.  I have absolutely no idea what the muse is thinking at the moment.  She's driving me crazy.

I can't believe November is just about done and Christmas is right around the corner.  Fortunately this year, as I've said, I'm  not driving myself nuts with tons of projects to get finished.  It's going to be a lean Christmas for us this year, but the best part is we will actually all be together all day for the first time in a while.  No one has to go to work (Sis and Tato have those kinds of jobs that are open all the time, no matter what).  I'm so excited about that.  It's gonna be awesome!

And I have some time off next week!  Yay! 

A Wee Bit of News

The BFF's birthday was a roaring success but sadly, I once again forgot to get pictures.  So, you'll have to take my word for it that not only did the Dr. Who Tom Baker-esque scarf come out awesomely, but it looks positively smashing.  I was a little worried as I was making it because the stripes are not the same amount of rows (I really like things that are symmetrical) and the colors didn't look like they should go together.  But they so do!  I love it enough, and have enough yarn left over, that I just might make one for me.  Maybe.  The dreaded SSS may not allow it.  And speaking of SSS...

The next project on the docket, even though I still haven't finished Lyse's afghan or started Bunny's afghan or finished Sis's afghan, is to make a pair of fingerless mitts with mitten flaps for Toby.  He's really doing wonderful things for me and it's starting to get pretty darn cold.  So, I'm thinking I really need to get on that.  This weekend, I have some major cleaning to do which includes reorginizing of the stash and tracking down all the needles that have found their way out into the ether.  Once I have a good handle on the needles and yarn  and patterns in my possession (yet again.  Because it seems this is a semi-annual event) then I'll get the mitts on the needles.  I've made a couple of pairs of these in the past, and even though my SSS really doesn't care to do it again, and makes me worry that I won't finish both mitts, I do know that I can make them fairly quickly.  It only takes five or six hours a mitt.  Of course, he's got big man hands so I may need to tack on a few hours to the projected completion time.  

And like I said, cleaning.  The one part of that I actually enjoy (besides the music blaring to keep my brain occupied) is the organizing of all the projects, yarn, patterns and other accutrements of my favorite hobby.  I love taking a look at all that I have, in part, because my brain starts thinking of new projects.  My brain does love a good work out.  And really, once I have a handle on the "things in progress" I may have to make me a real live schedule to get things done.  That's the plan anyway.  And I do love a good plan.

This year I'm not going crazy and making a ton of things for christmas for people.  In years past, that's been my thing.  Other than a scarf made out of Starbella in Spring Bouquet for Sis, I don't really have anything else planned.  And really, I would have needed to get on that already if I were to have had things done.  So this year, it's store bought gifts...and maye a Krafts by Kris gift certificate or two.

Incidentally, the empty store front down the street a bit where I always imagined my yarn shop would be is no longer empty.  Even though I have no capital and no business acumen, I still wanted to open a yarn shop and I wanted to do it there.  Oh well.  When I passed it tonight with Brub and saw that it was a nail salon, Brub promised that if he should ever win the lottery, I could have my yarn store.  Something to look forward to, I guess.

All right, maybe it wasn't as "wee" as I thought.

Apathy

It's SSS all over again.  Because I can't find a pattern that I really like and everything that I think of on my own is something that I've done before and don't want to do again.  I need to make this baby blanket and I've started it I don't even know how many times.  But I just keep frogging it.  Worse than that, I have a bunch of other projects that need to get done and I just don't wanna do it.  

Later today, I need to put together a new bookshelf.  This is something that I really enjoy; building things.  I am, usually, gung ho about getting something like that done.  But I don't even want to do that.

I have a problem.

I'm usually all for working a problem and figuring out the solution.  But apathy seems to have me tight in its grip. Apathy is a relentless bastard and it does not give up easily.  I can't make myself do anything about it.

I know the only way to combat it is to make myself do something.  So, I will make the bookshelf and I will work with yarn.  Even though both things will most likely seem like a chore.

Apathy is a cruel mistress.  

Big Sigh...

OF RELIEF!

It turns out, as per usual, all my worrying was for naught.  The hinky happenings were...not hinky at all.  They were completely normal, everyday work stuff.  And I got work sponsored lunch thrown in.

Toby, my fabulous beta reader, has requested fingerless mitts for his prezzie.  I will have to find my man pattern as he has surprisingly large hands for a little dude.  Okay, he's not that little.  He's actually very normal sized.  But still, big hands!  In the past, I've always made them to fit my hands because everyone I've made them for has had similarly sized paws.  His?  Bigger by a lot.  I worry about the dreaded SSS cropping up, though.  Fortunately, it's not a hard pattern and I have many months before the snow flies again.  I endeavor to get them to him before that happens.  

Which brings up the point of my lack of working on projects.  Seriously.  Big slacker here.  There is so very much to get done and yet, I haven't felt that passion, that ambition, that's needed to do it.  I'm not sure what's wrong with me.  But I need to get over it.  Send some good thoughts my way, okay?  Because I sure need them.

Lyse's afghan is so very close to getting done.  And if I could just tear myself away from the computer for an hour or two, it would be done.  But somehow there is always a book to read or a blog to read or an email to answer and before I know it, it's bedtime.  And Bunny's lapghan, the one she specifically asked for and she's never asked for anything ever?  Still not even started.  I feel horrible guilt over this.  And yet I can't seem to make myself change it.  

Dear yarn gods, please grant me a divine intervention!

I'm making myself work on Lyse's 'ghan right now.  I'm going to do it.  Ready...set...

Is it Cheating?

With my gift cards (remember I got them as a going away present from work?), I broke down and bought a sock loom.  I have spoken before of the horrible affliction of SSS.  But I have a desperate need to make socks.  It just seems to take a long time and I don't like working on DPNs.  The magic loop method has saved me when it comes to gloves and mittens...but even though I have a plethora of of sock yarn, I haven't been able to make myself actually make socks.  So, I got a sock loom.  And guess what?  It's a lot of fun!

It's not actually any faster, at least not yet.  I've only been playing with it since yesterday evening.  But it came with an instructional DVD so there's no guessing as to how to actually work the sock.  And the short row method for making the heel is so much easier...it uses wrapped stitches.  So instead of working on Lyse's afghan like I should be or even my afghan that I really want done, I've been playing with sock yarn and attempting to make a sock.  I will be sure to keep you updated on the progress.

But part of me worries that its sort of...cheating.  It's knitting but not.  Am I laughing in the face of hundreds (thousands?) of years of tradition by using this method?  I can knit just fine.  It looks good when I do it.  Am I taking the easy way out by using the loom?  That's not to imply that anyone who uses a loom to knit is less than a knitter.  That is not my intent at all. But I've made socks the old fashioned way.  I worry that I will be perceived as cheating by using the loom instead.


And then I tell myself it doesn't matter.  I have a pretty high opinion of myself.  Confidence is not one of the areas I usually lack in (though I do very much enjoy, and sometimes need, validation) and my self-image when it comes to my work is usually bordering on arrogant.  So I tell myself this is just another tool in my arsenal of yarn craft goodness.


I also bought an ergonomic handle with interchangeable crochet hook heads.  I've been wanting one of of those for a very, very long time.  I am well pleased that I have it and am now hoping that the Carpal Tunnel doesn't act up quiet as often.  Shooting pains sure do have a way of taking the fun out of stuff, even yarn. 

Second Sock Syndrome

It's a horrible affliction.  I, myself, am a chronic sufferer of SSS.  For those of you who are not aware, Second Sock Syndrome is the disease in which you make one sock...and never make the second one.  It's not just socks either.  This disease can manifest in any project where you need to make two of the exact same thing; mittens, gloves, or sleeves can all be affected by SSS.

I have an even more serious problem.  I don't ever like to make the same pattern twice.  It seems to me like it's "been there, done that."  What's the challenge in it?  I've already done it once!  And then, too, it lessens the uniqueness of gifts given when someone else already has it.

I'm able to overcome the disease in small bouts.  I have, in fact, made three whole pairs of mittens/glittens.  I have also made the same project a few times.  There was a wrap I made on three different occasions.  But that doesn't count, not really.  Because those were orders.  Someone had actually requested that I make them so that they could be given as gifts to others.  But it's a fight every time.  I have to make myself work the project.  And, for me, that diminishes the enjoyment of it.  

You may recall that the afghan I'm making for C-Lou is one that I have done before.  This is the rare occasion where SSS hasn't even come into play.  The first time I made it, it was a gift for my brother.  He picked the colors and it looked awesome when it was done.  I absolutely loved it!  I told myself, then and there, that someday I would do it again.

A few years later, there was a request for a baby blanket.  I tried several different patterns before I thought of this one.  And I thought: it wouldn't be the whole afghan because a baby blanket is much smaller, so it wouldn't be exactly like working the same thing all over again.  I dusted off the pattern and set to work.  The end result?  I loved it all over again.  I filed that knowledge away for future reference.

And now?  I still love it.  I'm happy I chose it for her afghan.  And I have no doubt that in a few more years, the pattern will once again resurface.  Anything that makes living with SSS a little easier is worth repeating, wouldn't you say?