Before The Beard

Kyle's Viking hat. Before the beard...

Purple

Made wristlets to go with the hat and reversible cable set which will go to Michelle for Christmas. Today I am going to document my pile of knits...

In Progress

Avy's' Hat

Working on two hats for my friend. One down...

It is a very well fit hat!

I have dragged my stuff out. There is a lot. Some may go to new homes.

Ball is Rolling!

The other day the old man and I were going for Mexican food and when I got out of the car this ball of yarn dropped out and rolled under the car.

It rolled clear to the driver side.   I walked around and kicked it, hoping it would return to the passenger side.. It stopped halfway under the car.

The old man shook his head and put the car in reverse, let me get my yarn then re- parked. He never even complained.  

Future Hat/ Raspberry Stitch

So there is the newly learned Stitch.

And there is the future hat. Lots of work to do.

Dad Hat

The purple reverse cable knit scarf and green hat. The green hat took about five hours and the scarf? A month or two...

Why I Hate Scarves

They take too long. Even when it's a fairly interesting reversible cable knit...I been working on this thing for weeks. And yet I bought another skein of yarn to do more. Maybe I'll put a hood on it. Maybe I'll give up! I don't know.
So I keep toying with the idea of making a big project but the idea of working on it until 2016 is distasteful, to say the least.
This means I am floating around without a follow up project. Horrors!
Maybe that's why I'm not working on the scarf as hard as I could be. I don't know!

Break!

I haven't been knitting much. I'm on vacation and that seems to entail a STARTLING amount of napping. Cooking old favorites and new things I will never, ever try again (damn you Paula Dean's cinnamon rolls....damn you!) and TV. Lots and lots of TV.
I figure if I didn't have a job I would be one of those 600 pound people they have to break a wall down to drag the body to the morgue. Hell that may happen anyway.
So, still on the reverse cable scarf and the two color hat. I ought to take a pic of them just because, who knows if I will ever finish either one of them.
Also, watching The Bridge, again. This time it has Portuguese subtitles. It's one of those movies I watched probably a dozen times, several years ago. It makes me think of California, and suicide of course. Which is a dreadful and yet fascinating subject. The people who had the balls to leap off that bridge?? Respect. Sadness and respect.
Yeah so this is what I'm doing on my vacation.

Why Can't I do ANYTHING Right??

This is going to be a whining post. And  Short one.
Why on earth can I not do something right? I started a two color hat (purple and cream) and I'm afraid it's going to be for a very small head. It's going to be fabulously warm, but...the tones of the cream and purple work against each other.
I suppose it'll be an emergency hat for when I see someone in the cold who really needs it. Who has a small head.
Still working on the reversible cable knit scarf. I keep it in my locker at work so I have something to do on break. It's crawling along.
Still searching for my next inspiring project. Haven't found it yet.

BEE HAT

BEE HAT!
I just discovered I could add pics from my phone like lickety split...so there's a lot easier way for me to keep up with things I want to post. The day pictured I wore the Bee so I didn't have to wash or comb my hair. We went out to grab a burger and I enjoyed the cooler fall weather. I LOVE being able to wear a hat without sweating like a dray beast.
Then it got warm again and  hats were out. But that's ok. It's going to get cold sooner or later and I will be ready.

Inspirations

Dammit I have got to stop checking out Pinterest. I've seen some beautiful things, and lots of free patterns from Ravelry- I've been a member for years and almost never download patterns because I have no confidence in my skills and don't think I can follow the pattern or some such.
Still working on the purple reverse cable knit scarf, which is a Lion Brand free pattern (Because I am NOT going to pay for a pattern for anything. Ever.) And I started a two color hat in cream and purple that I am pretty sure is going to have to be saved for the next time I find a little kid that needs a hat. It's extremely thick and heavy work. I am disappointed it's not big enough for an adult head. Namely mine!

The WHOLE Reason

Quitting smoking? Grrrr.....it sucks, and yet most days I'm pretty ok with it. I was only smoking at work, because my family doesn't smoke and mostly hate those who do. So when my lungs became super-corroded I decided to quit, again, and using knitting, again, as the crutch.
I am thinking I quit on  September 7th...but I might have smoked a random cigarette I found in my purse on the following Sunday. Which would have been the 13th. So whatever, it's been almost 3 weeks and I haven't slipped once. YAY ME!
Still at the violet scarf at work. I keep it in my locker and get it out at break to try and structure my time so I don't miss smoking. Whatever it takes, I guess.
Big plans this fall...maybe. We'll see how any plans I make turn out. I want to take the Old Man to the fair for his birthday (It's actually before his birthday but we are adults here.)I have vacation scheduled for my birthday. Mostly to burn some hours and not be at work. Who wants to accept getting older AND work?? It's so not cool. I haven't worked my birthday in probably 20 years. And don't intend to.
Anyway we all know what happens to me when I have vacation time. I somehow end up at some random casino like I have money to throw away. Idiot!
Ah, happy times!
So the latest from the Old Man is, he thinks the fuzz from my yarn is affecting my lungs. I hope this isn't true because I don't know how I would live without knitting. I may have to look for fuzzless yarn? I don't know. He tries to take care of me, but look at this crazy life I lead, knitting and all. Sharp needles, fuzzy yarn...I'm a wild woman!

Yarn Eater

I forgot how much yarn you use in the rib stitch. On big needles. The fabric created is heavy and thick of course but this is really going to take a couple skeins.
It's going pretty quickly but who knows when I'll finish since I haven't been taking it to work....I have a whole other project in my locker...the reversible cable knit scarf in a deep violet. I am reserving judgment on it at the moment because though it is on needles almost as big as the eplain rib, its not going as fast. Patience! Patience!
Its the first day of Autumn...my favorite season. Everything I love is in this season. And the first one I have to enjoy without my mom.
I suppose in a way it might be getting easier but still there are torturous memories and things I can't get out of my head. October will be my first birthday without her.
I miss her so much. I never thought I could live without her. Yet here we are. Look at me surviving and shit!
I've really started feeling old.

Rib Stitch Navy

The latest

And I did unravel a couple feet to start over with the slipped first Stitch. It looked much better.

Navy Scarf

Damned if  I didn't forget to slip the first stitch of every row. Dang it!!!!
So I realized it after rib stitching a couple feet. Crap.
So plowing my way through that and intending to make a hat too. Hats take a couple days...scarves take a month.

Catch Up

So there's the blanket. I finished the scarf for Kim. Now can't find the hat! Think its at work...I hope. Working on a prayer shawl...almost following the pattern. Pics of that later.

The Ill-Fated, Long Term Blanket

I don't know that I will ever make another baby blanket. I worked on it from April to June. I am delivering it TO HER MOM today. And the baby- gorgeous little baby- was born Wednesday.
So, yeah, I am cursed with... something.
Got a new phone last week, and I LOVE it. I mean, it's three thousand times better than my old smartphone. Hopefully I will be inspired to take a bunch of pictures of my work.
Still on the scarf. Honestly, there is nothing more boring or tedious than making a scarf. I think blankets aren't as bad. This is just going on and on. Took a day to knit the hat, and three months to do the scarf. YUCK. Of course it's seed stitch, which is tedious anyway. Knit pearl knit pearl. Pearl knit pearl knit....on and on, into eternity.
I am thinking about another hood/throw/scarf/cowl.....I don't know. It's going to be on big ass needles, and it's going to be for me. I am thinking of navy and buff...I often think of navy and buff!
I am really trying to get through work this week. I am on vacation next week, and will inevitably spend it watching the US Open and knitting.
I do plan on posting more pics- it's good to have some memories to look back on.
Hopefully some good ones.

Distracted

So I have missed the boat on Crystal's baby blanket. She was induced this morning. Oh well! She knows I love her.
I got a new phone so all that has been going on is Candy Crush and fiddling with apps. *sigh*
I am also watching the US Open. Too awesome for words. And it is easier to post from this phone than it is my tablet.
Yay!

Hats....Dammit I Forgot the Baby Blanket

This is the hat I was knitting for mom when she died. I have a huge head compared to her. I wanted it to be warm and beautiful. I haven't even weaved in the ends. 

This didn't turn out like I wanted but it would be warm. 

That one is super warm and made in expensive yarn. I like it. Probably keep it. It's too big for most women.

I made two just alike. This is the bigger one. Warm and practical.

I followed a pattern on the one above. Following a pattern is so fussy. FOR THE BIRDS. I am more of a seat of your pants knitter.
Next time I will get a pic of the blanket I spent two frickin' months on. Better do it before I give it so Crystal. I got it washed and dried, and I don't think I'm going to block it. Turned out ok.
I got a new couch and love seat and I am thinking of knitting a big cabled throw...just realized I ought to drag out the white one I made mom. Get some use out of it,

Still At It

I am knitting. I've made a couple hats.
Good Lord what am I going to do with all these hats???
I try different things once in a while. I love to buy weird yarn.
I am working on an ear flap hat at the moment. It's going to be a close finish because I've already done a hat off this ball of yarn.
My hands are being troublesome. This is the first time since winter I've had to take my naprosen twice a day. There are little electrical explosions going off in my joints and I assume it's the weather.
I'll post pics of the piles of things I've done, when I feel like it.
Really I need a new camera. Because phone pics suck and my old cameras are crap.

Baby Blanket

I started the blanket on the 7th of April and I'm still plugging away. Crystal is due in September so maybe I'll have it finished by then. That's all I've been doing- usually I have a couple projects going but I don't now. I could.... I have all kinds of yarn I'd like to do something with....but the needles for the baby blanket are so TINY and everything else seems so HUGE in comparison to them. I don't know what's wrong with me.
So I am just schlepping along. I am planning on getting a new couch and loveseat. I should really take a pic of the old one before it's taken to the dump. UGH! It was wearing out when mom gave it to me seven years ago. She bought them in 94. It's outlived its usefulness.
I am also having a mammogram this morning. YUCK. They wanted me to bring my old pictures. Right. I didn't part on good terms with my old mammogram people. I owed them money. Mwah ha ha ha ha.

Hospital and Blanket

Working on a baby blanket for Crystal who is due in September, I'm at the hospital with the old man. He's very sick and they are keeping him npo.

Knitting on teensy needles.
Might as well. Nothing but time.

Bee Hat

There's the bee hat with its stinger.
It's warm.

Dr Who-What???

Again? Yep.

A few liberties with color...

Trying

I picked up my needles. At last. I am doing my best to get back into the swing of things, including my happy hands hobby.
After mom died I didn't l couldn't knit much. I just didn't feel like it. But I'm trying to finish the throw and see where it goes after that. I had an idea of making a black and yellow bumblebee hat. With antennae,
I don't know, This has been so hard. Doing my best not to let how I feel affect everyone around me. So much to worry  about and so many things to do.
As long as I keep on keeping on. I'll be alright. I hope.

Knitless

I haven't been knitting.
Mom died on January 28th and I was working on a hat for her birthday on the 29th. It was green and white, on tiny needles...I finished it but I haven't even been able to think about starting anything. It's just weird. I can't bring myself to pick up a pair of needles.
So I need to start something. Or keep working on my existing projects.
Because this isn't good, not to knit
I need to find my stuff and keep at it.

A&W Hat

Rummaging through my yarn I came across some orange yarn- two shades or it actually. And I was thinking, you have to have a shit-ton of yarn collected to have at least  2 shades of everything. So I started on the tiny circulars, 100 stitches, 2k 2p rib that looks so pretty. I hope to just enjoy something.
Still working on part 2 of the Throw and privately wondering if it will even work as I resolve to iron the heck out of it.
This time of year you just have to crawl along and keep going.  That's what I'm doing, even as I plan on SOMEDAY not getting out of bed for a week.

Why I Bother

I knitted a hat sort of following a pattern and feel rather ambivalent about it. I'll get a pic here shortly. Still working on the second half of the 'poncho throw.'
I suppose I did learn a few things from the pattern hat...I don't know if I am capable of learning anything new...but it takes 100 stitches on my tiny needles to make a decent diameter hat...then the increases brought it to 140. And it does seem a little sad to me that these are things of interest!

I'm about to start one in neutrals. Maybe.. I love the rib stitch, and have done this before long ago. It was a good experience and I did learn a lot.