What kind of catchy title should I name this post?

It seems so cliche to post pictures from Christmas, and I really just want to do what I'm supposed to do and keep this blog about knitting. But I feel so bad to not put at least a few pictures at the end of this post from the last few days so if you actually want to see them, they're below.  (I honestly wonder if they're not like my vacation pictures, or like the lady on the plane who wants to show you pictures of her grandbabies.  I don't want to be like that I swear!!)
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I've made an excellent, and I do mean excellent start on the Mr. Rogers sweater.  I'm using some soft pink yarn that I couldn't sell to a blind man.  It is a light gray-ish blend that got dyed pink but kept a lot of the spotty gray characteristics.  It  looks like dirty yarn to be honest,  like it got dragged through the mud and not washed out properly.  I will dye the whole sweater black when I'm finished. That will save me the headache of knitting with dark yarn, which is a pain if you wear reading glasses. Well anyway, here goes!

I cast on for the sleeve with a smaller needle size 3, completed the ribbing, increased all around, then switched  to size 5 needle.  Circulars of course.  I happened to cast on with some antique straight needles (the size 3's)  and my wrists were hurting in no time.

Here is the pattern I'm using and yes it has been out of style for several years, but now folks seem to be wearing these grandpa sweaters all the time.

I  really don't care if it looks out of style though.  I am past the point in my life where all my decisions are based on what people think of me.   That's not to say that I dismiss all others' opinions.  Not at all.  But I am capable of making a few decisions on my own, and one of them is the style of sweater I can knit.  (I realized once I typed this that it sounded enormously lame. You're right.)

My knitting goal for this year is to make a cardigan, and if I am even the least bit successful, I will try for a second one that can actually be worn in public.  I make no guarantees about this first one.  Like the first pancake that always gets thrown away, like some kind of sacrifice, this first sweater (cardigan) might very well end up in the pile labeled, "Not to be worn under any circumstances - this means you".
 Wish me luck!!

Okay, here are the holiday pictures. I got some really nice presents including some cool makeup from my daughter (and son in law)  pictured below!  My big present was a new Maytage stove/range/microwave which I have used literally every day since I got it.  Wow, I am thankful for it!!

Stockings & socks

Lovely hand painted shoes from my friend - click to see spinning wheel just like mine and a knitter in a tree!

She also made me these great cake pops!

Fruitcake from my mom - I love fruitcake!!

We have thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas season, remembering Whose birthday it is.  We attended a lovely candlelight service at our church and still have one more day to go.  My son and his wife are coming tonight for the last of our gift exchanges.
                                                               Gingerbread House!
 I also spent some time making a gingerbread house and I'll include some progress photos of that now.  This was way more fun than these pictures can convey; I did a little every day up till Christmas Eve!

Mise En Place

This morning I was catching up on some subscriptions I get on my Kindle, one of which is a foodie blog called Epi-Log from Epicurious.  I have learned a new term this year called "mise en place" which is French for putting in place or everything in place.  The idea is that before you start a recipe, you get out all the ingredients, making sure you have enough of everything and don't have to go on a hunting expedition in the middle of the process.  I love this new term because I totally identify with it.  I am one of those people that craves things being organized.  Maybe its a control disorder, but I like to have my ducks in a row before I begin something.  It helps me believe I'll actually be successful.  It frustrates me to see people rush into something before counting the cost and/or making sure they've got their stuff together.  Some people aren't even in a rush, they just don't care. 

So when you knit, you have to know you've got enough yarn for the project.  When you take a road trip, you fill up the gas tank and bring enough money for food on the way.  When you go on a picnic, (you get the picture!)
But then comes the inevitable Debbie-Downer moment when you think you've done everything right, and you still fail.  Wah whaaa.

I have re-knit these gray slouchy socks twice now and am about to start the third go around.   This time I'll just rip out the entire foot of both socks from the ankle down, and reduce the heck out of the number of stitches around, trying yet again.


I had to add a third more stitches to allow for the cables in the leg portion, but the stitches are not necessary for the feet, which have no cables, they're just plain knitting.  Now if my daughter had feet like a bear the socks would have fit, which they do not! (Me growling like a mother bear protecting her cubs.)

So here we go again, hoping and praying that the third time's the charm.

Now to show the festive blue hat, made with three shades of peacock (?) yarn.  Blended in gradient fashion.  Cue applause!

Isn't it lovely? Its warm and loose and soft, just right!

So where do we go from here?  Once I knock out the gray socks, I hope to start the cardigan.  I swatched some pink yarn for gauge over the weekend, but it was busy and once I got the stitch count, I ripped it out without taking a picture. Whatever.  FYI, 4 stitches per inch on size 6 needles - too fat for the project and I don't have enough yarn.  I'll need 1,000 to 1,200 yards and I only have about 800 yards of the pink I was swatching.  It takes a while to hand spin 1,200 yards of yarn, I'm here to tell you!  It may be a while. 
Don't tell the others, but I'm contemplating buying some acrylic yarn from Joann's instead; maybe dark chocolate brown so no one will know.

Zippety Do Don't

 The thought that keeps swirling around in my head (there's lots of room in there!) is to go ahead and take a stab at a regular cardigan.  The Mister Rogers kind but with buttons instead of a zipper.  Zippers are from the pits of hell, okay?  Buttons are nice and kind and never hurt anybody, unlike zippers that are evil and cruel and malicious.  They can snag your tummy and can break open at the most inopportune time.  Guys have to constantly remind themselves to check for you-know-what.  No way, no zippers for me.  Buttons it is (are).

I've had such a nice week already and its only Wednesday.  I know sometimes you wish the week was over with and Wednesday is hump day, but I'm not in any rush.  It was just beautiful today once the fog lifted and I don't think the heat has come on all day.  Yahoo! 
Tomorrow we're supposed to have storms but that is always a little exciting, depending on what kind of work you do.  Unless of course you're the UPS guy or postman!  I had plans to spend the day doing lots of "me" things, but my plans may have to be adjusted slightly, since walking in the park may not be near as fun in the rain.  I'm still thinking...

The alterations on the sweater turned out great and I wore the sweater as soon as I'd finished casting off the hem stitches. 

AFTER

 

 

 

 

Done

Ripping out stitches

Re-knitting the hem

This gradient blue hat looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.  The decreases have begun and I'm already thinking about what's next. Pitiful, huh?  

December Surprise!

In the midst of getting guest rooms ready for company this weekend, I happened to move some things around and come across a little bag of swatches I had made earlier this year.

 They are all made with yarn I received every month from a yarn of the month club my daughter bought for me for Christmas last year.  One of the best and most unique gifts I've ever gotten!  So I dumped the little paper sack of samples on the bed and realized that there was a sample of yarn I'd never made anything with.  Woo Hoo!

What a sweet surprise - and I'm sure I was saving it for later.  Like finding an extra mini candy bar leftover from Halloween.  What a treat!  Now I can't think what to make with it.  But give me a minute.  I'll come up with something.

I also took up the mantel to finally remake one of my favorite sweaters, and the first sweater I've ever made.

When we moved to Tennessee, I visited a local yarn shop (LYS) and told the lady I wanted to make a sweater: simple, pullover with no challenges.  She helped me find needles, yarn and a pattern and it pretty much knocked a hole in $100.  I know that might surprise you, especially if you have a ton of hand knitted or crocheted "gifts of love" from someone who thought enough of you to make something.  But believe me, no matter how little you thought of it, she thought a lot and spent a bit too!  Anyway.....I digress.  I made the sweater as best I could given the directions and measurements I took.  It turned out pretty well, except for the fact that it was more appropriate for an orangutang.  Arms too long and chest too short.  So I ripped out what I could and balled up the yarn the other night.  I will the give the alterations my best shot next week.  I feel pretty confident that after 10 years of knitting since I made the thing originally, I can probably figure this one out!

This little blue hat has a few more rows on it now, adding in some lighter wool of the same shade. I blended and spun this yarn last year in a gradient fashion.  Four skeins, each progressively lighter.

Two inches of the deepest blue, then two more inches of one-shade-lighter. 



These little bits of hope and joy are pretty timely for me.  The early part of this week, including last Sunday were not my best days emotionally.  Some days are like that.  Not all days are good, or you'd never know the difference.  But, things got better as the week wore on and I am confident that next week will be really good.  My husband and I are planning to do some fun, couple things since his dad will be away for a while.  Papa's going to visit his other son in Birmingham for the week, so we're going to take advantage of the opportunities to paint the town.  Or Target.  And maybe Starbucks!

That's just about enough of this!

Do you have places, things, issues, etc...in your life that make you want to put your palms down on the table in front of you and say, "Now that's just about enough of this!" ?
Surely we all have things that bug the daylights out of us, and we're better off keeping our mouths shut, hoping that the thing will simmer down and  soon enough we'll be in control of our emotions.    I am one of many individuals,  like the Occupiers of Wall Street, who can get a little too stirred up about a thing for my own good.  However, it always makes for spicy conversation if you can get me to talk about the things I'm passionate about.

One thing I love to talk about is of course knitting and spinning.  I love seeing the articles about prisoners learning to knit.  I love to hear how therapeutic knitting is, and how it has changed people.  I hate to hear or see the stereo typical nonsense that knitting is an "old lady" thing.  If you spend much time reading knitting blogs, you'll begin to need an explicit content filter for your computer.  Even image searches can be shocking, or at least funny.  Like the new trend of knitting a beard.  They're in stores, online, everywhere.  Crazy, huh?
Most men hate shaving and would love to be able to grow a beard and not get in trouble with their wives.  But to knit and wear one is a hoot!! Love it!

Below are some photos of what I was working on during the year and only one project was a complete failure (not pictured).  I'm not through with the gray socks so they don't count - they're fine and will be done this week. 

January 2011

February 2011*

March 2011

April 2011*

May 2011*

June 2011*

July 2011

August 2011

September 2011

October 2011*

November 2011*

(Starred items are handspun. )

Every year I spend a lot of time in December thinking about the upcoming year and all its potential.  I love a new start and I love leaving behind past failures in favor of finding new successes.   I am now calling these goals Pre-Solutions rather than Resolutions.  I have been working on a sort of outline that helps me collect all the odd bits and pieces into a collection that is cohesive and resembles a short list.  Like things together, you know.  My larger topics seem to be the following three categories: Knitting, Reading, and Personal which includes everything from gardening to cooking and fashion.  Shows you what really matters to me! ( I'd rather be knitting/reading than jogging. )

So 2012, here I come, ready or not.  I will be doing more, doing less, and trying to balance what I have control of.   By the way, I can tell you from experience that its impossible to have New Years Resolutions that involve other people.  You don't control others, and you can't, so forget-about-it!  Just stick with yourself and you'll be better off.  And so will your friends, family and co-workers!

Three Easy Payments

Every item that might sound too expensive at first is usually advertised not by its actual price, but by a third of the price.  Three easy payments of.....
It seems to me that we're either too cheap for our own good, or bigger suckers than we'd previously thought.  The things I'd really love to have are almost always way out of my price range.  Take for instance the cute purse I saw at the luggage store.  It was more than cute, judging by the price tag.  When I commented about it in the store window, hubby said, "Go on in and see how much it costs".  But my response was, "Oh, its at least $150."
Wrong.  Try closer to $300!  See what I mean? I'm too cheap for my own good.
So now you know why I'm a spinner.  I love great looking yarn for knitting, but it usually is way out of my price range.  The yarn on Etsy that I finally decided was worth a second look costs $95 a skein.  What??  So, I'm a spinner, who can start with white or gray wool, silk or alpaca and end up with beautiful, colorful yarn, perfect for any project.

I decided to vary my dull gray existence with a little color - something spicy from south of the border, so to speak.  Doesn't this color just remind you of a wrap skirt in an exotic country?  Its supposed to rain the next couple of days and then turn cold, just in time for Christmas.  That means I need to pick up some firewood!

I'm making a little knit cap that's knit flat and sewn up later.  I started with a ribbed border and switched to a rib variation for the body. 

The gray socks are beyond the afterthought heel thread and I will start the toe soon. No pics today, sorry.

My Christmas present arrived Friday afternoon, and was completely installed just before we had to leave for dinner with friends.  I love these folks, but all I could think about all night was my new stove!  I went to bed that night feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve.  I woke up and looked at the clock in the middle of the night to see how much longer I had to wait before I could get up and try it out.  It was only 11:45 so I just had to go back to sleep.  When I did wake up, I made a pot of coffee on the stove, but then was afraid to use it any more.  I didn't want to wake anybody else up, but also, I just didn't want to mess it up.  So clean and pretty and shiny.  And by the way, there's a new microwave too.  They kind of go together nowadays, because of the stove hood factor.   And the microwave went out last week anyway.   So, I made molasses cookies and split pea soup.  Both old favorite recipes.  And today I made pot roast with vegetables and a pot of rice which boiled over. Dadgummit.  Clean up will always be a challenge, I'm told, but its worth it!   Can I fix you something to eat?

Where's the inspiration?

Today I have to admit that I am feeling under the weather.  It takes a LOT for me to give in to not feeling well, but there's just no other explanation.  I have a headache, sore throat, sneezing, achy sinuses and my skin hurts.  I almost never have to blow my nose but I did just that this morning.  When I was a kid, my mom made us homemade "cold remedy" out of whiskey, honey and lemon juice.   Can somebody go to the store for me?

I've put off the rest of the decorating, at least my front porch and the stairs, until the weather turned sunny again and I had a whole day to spend on/in the house.  Well, heck, its sunny out there today and I'm home, but even the best laid plans are shot to pieces when you just don't feel good.  And if you know me very well at all, coffee is my drink of choice but its being hedged out in favor of hot tea.

Anyway, I thought I'd at least post a progress photo of the slouchy sock #2 and later talk about inspiration. This sock is going really fast so I'll probably do some good knitting today/tonight when I get the chance.

  I had really wanted to go to Threaded Bliss' knitting group tonight, but if I don't feel any better, I guess I'll be staying home.

Also, I've done some occasional spinning and finished two bobbins.  I feel sure I'll spin one more before plying. Maybe I'll call it Trinity Yarn!  (three ply, you know)

I'm obsessed lately with silk, in the form of hankies, cocoons and caps.  The wheel is occupied right now, but my next spinning project will definitely be silk!

I added some links on the upper right corner of the page to showcase the blogs I read for inspiration.  They're mostly knitters (except for three) and all have their own unique attractiveness for me.  Most everyone has heard of Yarn Harlot and Wendy Knits, but I like to check out the others when I get low on inspiration.

I have nothing really funny or interesting to say today.  The only really newsworthy thing is that my stove and microwave will be replaced on Friday.  A series of unfortunate events sent us to Home Depot this week to check out the specials.  In the interest of fire safety and the well being of my neighbor's houses on either side of us, we bought a new stove and microwave.  Merry Christmas to me! 

Oh, and we watched my new favorite Christmas movie the other night, A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey.  It looks beyond amazing, to me.  I saw it in the theaters and my hubby bought me a copy this past week.  We watched it with his dad and he immediately said he wanted a copy too! Maybe I need to dig out some more Christmas movies to watch today.  Any suggestions?