The End

It is officially the end of 2011, this being week 52.  It has been quite a year with lots of close calls for our family's health, ends and beginnings of many significant things and most important of all, the amount of yarn that I've spun has broken almost all land/speed records.  Woo hoo!!!

I've been working on my resolutions for the new year, or as I like to call them, pre-solutions.  Change is inevitable, and life is tweaked over and over again, whether we're caught up or not.  I am glad to say that I have no real regrets about the year, as far as what I did or did not accomplish.  I wanted to do things that just didn't happen, but not for lack of trying.  Sometimes things are out of our hands, plans get changed and situations take on new shapes, even unrecognizable ones.  It is important to be pliable, willing and upbeat as much as possible.  Occasionally we mourn the loss of loved ones, or rejoice in the joining together of lives, births and new opportunities.  There is something to be thankful for in every situation, if you look hard enough.

I for one am excited about the new year ahead, and all its potential.  My household now has another member, since my husband's father came to live with us this summer.  My children both have spouses, so many of our get-togethers are larger, louder and more lively. In fact, I have to stop for a minute and show a few more of the gifts I received for Christmas. Really thoughtful gifts, I might add.

Recipe holder made by my son, who, by the way, is the most talented drummer you've ever heard.

Lovely fragrance I happened to comment on while shopping (from my daughter the beautiful vlogstar & her husband!)

Amaryllis bulbs ready to show off! 

Sourwood honey from my honey of a daughter in law (had to say that, you know!)

And my husband and I took some gift money to buy ourselves a panini press. It totally impressed us at our Thanksgiving Eve dinner, so much so that we had to have one!

I am excited to tell you about my ideas and goals for the new year.  Next time we talk, you bring yours and we'll see if we have any in common!!

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!!)
~~~~~~
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!