Blacktlight of Backlight?

I am knitting the hat from the yearn Kat gave me and I can't remember the name of it...backlight? Blacklight? I don't know, but it's a florescent color mix and I will be the only one on the planet who will wear it. And I WILL wear it. I am doing Christmas laundry and thinking of making my bed for the holiday..except the dogs and cat are still in it. Just glad it's over and glad I made it without going nuts. How very unlike the many good Christmases I spent with mom and dad. How very unlike my childhood and all it's decorated magic! Ah well! I can't stand the whole idea of it anymore and it's just as well. I did finish Pops' hat and put a pom pom on top. I have so many things to do. That's the best present ever.

Big Thanks to Kat!

Kat drew my name for Christmas at work, and outdid herself. She got me tons of yarn. I can hardly wait to start a hat and maybe wristlets. Something I haven't done in a while. I am working on a hat right now for my dearest friend at work, Pops. I just love him. What a freakin' kindred soul. Not only is he one of the most talented artists I have ever met, he likes the same music as me, and we have so much to talk about. I love that guy. So nice to have a friend at work like that. A woman I met the other day mentioned she might have some yarn to give away and I said, promptly, I AM A SERIOUS KNITTER. And the more I thought about it the more I liked it. It's true. I am a SERIOUS KNITTER. Thank God for this craft. I may never fully master it, I may never make a big bedspread or a sweater for anything more than a dog, but I love that I have jumped in and just started. Hell I was cable knitting the minute I figured how to purl on Youtube! What a comfort it has been. How many hospitals and car rides have I made endurable with some yarn and my knitting needles? I did make four hats for my friend Avalon, three navy and one multicolored, and then threw in another one for her as I drew her name for Christmas. I hope she wears it in good health. I look forward to 2014, and hope it's a better year than this one.

Uninspired

I'm knitting a hat- something I do when I am not feeling like knitting anything else. I am searching for the next big obsession and not really finding it. I will though. I usually do!

Yarn Overs

I am learning to be more comfortable with the dreaded yarn over. I am still not great at it but I keep trying. Made a lime green scarf to go with some lime green leg warmers, as one should. I plan on a hat, but I'm working on a sort of lace beanie. I have one in dark red right now I'm doing, and we'll see how that pans out. I like the principle. October used to be one of my favorite times of the year but I am just not feeling it right now. I wish I could be happy and excited, but ow well! I will keep on knitting, and maybe that will help.

Green Scarf

Because I do not have enough shit to drape around my neck, I am knitting a green scarf to go with some leg warmers I made last year...though I can't really recall where leg warmers are right now and I am not sure I would ever wear them. I also have another idea for a hat--skidding halt--not an original idea, but one I haven't tried yet. A simple beanie with no rib stitch band. I think my knitting pisses off everyone I'm related to or anyone who is around me very long. Don't much care. I figure it's the only thing that keeps me even marginally sane. Being pulled between people just leaves me feeling stretched out and miserable. Ugh why are people so mean? I am not even remotely looking forward to work. Just not feelin' it y'all.

Scarves!

I went on a ruffled scarf spree- I think I made 6 of them. Then I was given some yarn by Liz for a hat and scarf for Mary. I am probably half finished with the hat, and then of course I'm making a baby set for my friend Jean, and I have the hat made for that....of course, hats have never been the problem. I can knit a hat in a couple hours. But, the booties and scarves are troublesome. I do think my knitting drives people crazy, as it is one of those things that looks so fidgety and weird. You know who you are. So I say to hell with 'em. I'm off today and I am taking mom out and about. It's a beautiful October day out there and maybe it will be nice. We shall see.

Hissing and Growling

Well, the day has started out calm enough, but we'll see how it goes on. I am knitting a scarf, simple, stockinette with a garter stitch border, nothing special, and I plan on blocking it when I'm done because I am going to embroider it. Or try to. This might be a total mess, but I've got to try. I threw the throw into a basket where I am ignoring it, and I'm pretty much bouncing around small projects, alternately trying to work on the throw when I hit a dull spot. If I manage to make some flowers on this scarf I am going to try more challenging things- the duplicate stitch is something that sounds...FASCINATING!!! I am really excited to try. I have a vision of what I want the scarf to look like, and I hope it's doable. I am not just covering it with flowers, I see some on the ends, and then just a few vining along....if it works out at all. It may. It may not. But, there's always the throw to work on! It's getting too big to put in my bag. It has become a home project now! At least cold weather is coming, so I can use it as a lap robe while I work on it. I am looking forward to trying some of the things I've been thinking about! It's a pity it's all about knitting!

THE THROW

I am back to the cream, brown and turquoise throw. I am making progress an inch at a time. I'm taking it to work in hopes that I can finish it.....someday. Having a few issues with my keyboard. It's ridiculous. My poor laptop is so ancient and worn out, but still, I keep using it. While I was sick with pneumonia I knitted so much! I also knitted a hat almost entirely in the doctors office, where I had a 3 hour wait. I was reluctant to take the throw with me because of its burgeoning size so the hat is brown, cream and turquoise. A simple toboggan with a giant ball. I have made half a dozen of those this summer. Speaking of that, summer is nearly officially over, and Fall coming along fast. Yay! I can't wait to wear hats and scarves. I will be bitching when it gets cold, but I will at least be wearing a cool scarf for it. So I continue to knit- crochet hasn't really floated my boat much. I will probably try it again.

Pneumonia!

No! It's not the latest broadway musical, it's what I just had. I am hoping I'm over it. I am feeling better, anyway- but did I knit a lot the last four days. I finished the basket weave scarf- not quite the length that I envisioned but good- and made a huge Dr. Seuse like toboggan with the giant scarf in progress now- purple and green, the yarn that Darla gave to me. The hat makes me very tall. For a while there all I was able to do was knit and sleep. And take pills. Until I got the steroids nothing seemed to be improving, but finally, thanks to Bug, I got them and I'm coming along nicely. Still looking out for my next project- this will be crucial for avoiding smoke at work. It's always been so easy at home. And then I get to the job where cigarettes are everywhere. I just have to remember what I felt like the last two weeks--and the better I feel the harder it is to remember! Idiot. I would love this to be for real this time. Not just a temporary quit. The money saved, the COPD avoided, lack of hassles with the old man..I can only try to be strong and stay cool. And knit~!

Basket Weaving

I am very much enjoying the basket weave stitch! I am making a scarf, very wide, in a sort of rusty cranberry kind of color, and a hat to match, also in the basket weave, which I have never tried before. I am reasonably happy with my progress, and going right along, despite the crippling bout of...bronchitis? Whatever it is I have. It started out as a virus and is now a bacterial infection. I am pitiful! If I felt better I would take pics. I have the crochet scarf done, a hat and scarf I made on huge needles with big thread, and the white hat with matching infinity scarf. And I am sitting next to a camera. Wish I felt better. It's ridiculous to be this sick. I plan on doing a little more crochet- because I should be able to do it and it isn't that hard and I have no idea why it's so bad when I get after it. But knitting will be my first love. I have had more fun making things than is humanly possible. Turtles, octopuses...octopi? Ponchos, and hats, hats, hats. I plan on having a different scarf for every cool day of the winter...whenever it gets here. And some scarves for cool days that just look awesome. No, I don't have a life.

When it USED to be Fun

I guess I have been feeling my age lately. I have somehow stopped doing my nails, even my toe nails. Too much trouble Too much fuss. I quit wearing underwire bras last year! I am no long sporting the short, sassy messy hair that I loved. I'm letting it go. Just pinning it up. And I'm knitting. Knitting scarves! I am far too lazy to make the effort to do a throw but someday I may... I might change some day but really I don't care anymore That might have been some kind of middle aged thing. Fashion used to be fun but now...I just don't feel like I have time or inclination. I'm getting old. I am resigned to it. Oh well!

Basket Weave

I started a wide scarf in the basket weave pattern and it's one of those things that's just soothing and comfortable. No over-thinking, no real challenge, but not boring! I learned to crochet- badly- but I have a real problem with uniformity and it's kind of sad to be bad at something at my age so I just keep trying. Somehow I am decreasing! I don't know. It's a mess. I am inspired by the girls at work, so I will keep at it. I do have a strong philosophy that needlework is a lost art that needs rejuvenation. I guess it's not lost. Lots of people are knitting, crocheting and doing embroidery. As women and men have for thousands of years. We should keep it up.

Yarn

Yesterday I went to Wal Mart and got a pound of yarn on sale. I also picked up another skein of that stuff to make a frilly scarf with. My third. This one is purple with sequins, to go with the purple and pink one I've already got. Just waiting for some cooler weather to use them. Could be awhile. I am SO PROUD of the girls I work with who are learning to knit and crochet. They are going by leaps and bounds. It's amazing how fast they have learned. Looking back it took me forever. I am an idiot though. I did learn to crochet but frankly it's not that great, I can make rectangular objects so far. I really need a bigger hook. I might go get one today. Using the little ones is hard on my old eyes. I have no idea what the weather is doing today. Don't really care! Wont stop me from lazing around and doing little to nothing.

Hat Pattern

I've made a thousand hats but this is the first time I decided to follow a pattern. I suck at it, unfortunately. I was so disappointed in my inability to make a two color pattern that looked good. I ended up doing the same old hat mostly. But at least I'm still knitting! I need to start sewing but, oh the pins, all the threads everywhere...*sigh*. It seems like a lot of work and I can't shove the whole mess in my purse and take it with me.

More Booties

I finished two sets of booties and hats for my friend Tonya. I am back on my default project, the cream, turquoise and brown throw. Which is going very slowly. VERRRRRRY. I have thought about starting other things, but I have a feeling that there's something I should be doing that I'm not....sewing is one of them. In fact, I should be working on my Elizabeth I outfit....but really am not in the mood. Knitting is so much more rewarding. Watching the French Open a bit, and feeling positively dreadful with a sinus infection. But at least I didnt have to work today. Yesterday was torture. Hopefully the antibiotics I'm on will cure me before I have to go back and be nice!

Baby Stuff

I've been knitting baby doll hoodies for Cindy, and bounding from one set of booties or a blanket to another. The pity of it is, I'd started a throw for myself in turquoise, chocolate and cream, to match my bed, and now changed my bed because the comforter I bought is so faded from washing it ONE TIME. ONE TIME!!!! I was horrified when it came out of the dryer and can't stand it. I was never meant to have anything cream colored. Weather around here has been deadly. It makes me wonder why I am allowed to walk around and innocent children are taken from the earth. Ah well, sending prayers for them. I can't believe it's almost June. Didn't I just pay bills for May???

Still At It

I finished Kat's baby's blanket and one small bootie. Then I was distracted by some gorgeous yarn Tabby gave me and started knitting a scarf. I worked on it two days, then decided I had done it awful and unraveled it. I am making progress again. I'll take a pic. It's wonderful, and I love Tabby for thinking of me. I am working on a throw in turquiose, brown and cream for my bed....and washed the comforter it's being made to match, resulting in dramatic fading of said comforter. Son of a bitch. I am off today and with no plans to leave the house. I plan on hanging out in pjs and that's about it.

Face Palm

Well, it's official. I'm an idiot. I've been knitting baby blankets with a nice pattern from Bernat for a while now and today I realized I've been leaving a row out the entire time. I actually think my version looks ok, it's just...I am an idiot. So I came to that harsh realization today starting a throw for myself. I was so taken aback I had to just take a break for awhile. I'll be back to knitting in a few hours. Back to work tomorrow- I a ready for some structure. I think I ought to plan a vacation, but there's nothing I can do for fun so why waste the time?

Kat Blanket

So I've been working on a baby blanket for my friend Kat, who is someone I adore- free spirited and unique, and pregnant. We don't know if it's a boy or girl so the yarn is a mix of blue and pink....the end result would, you'd think, be purple...but it looks mostly blue. I got the pattern off a Bernat package and it took me a long, long time to master it. There are plenty of mistakes, but in this instance, I discovered if the vertical lines are good, the rest can have a few flaws. I'm at the point where the project is about to turn into an at home thing, because it's to big to fit in my bag. So I'm sort of eyeballing my yarn stash to see if anything grabs me...I like the heavy Homespun yarn Darla gave me and wish to make a shawl with it...but then I have other ideas...and a shawl wont fit in my bag very long either.... I am not going to make a hat. Probably....unless I've started one and I find it on that shelf over there and need to finish it....uh oh...

Patterns

I copied a bunch of patterns so I can start expanding my skills...but seriously, right now  I'm just working on a hat. I am so tired, I haven't knit much in a couple days. I have to work tomorrow, but it's my Friday and I've got three days off. I am going to rest and do some housework.
Just heard Bug call to the dog, "I'm coming, precious!" when she barked outside. Hmph. It's cute.