Bye Bye 2011

Wow, it has been a long blog silence. 2011 is gone. There were some challenges and difficult choices at work and at home in November and December but we powered through! The holidays were lovely and relaxed. The pics above were taken on the Outer Banks on New Year's Eve. Reed and I decided to end the year in this most beautiful of places! A re-cap of completed projects from 2011, I knit six pairs of socks, three pairs of fingerless mitts, one baby ensemble, one sweater, one tea cozy, five spa cloths,and two hats and I wove six scarves, five tea towels, one table runner and one bag insert.

It is not a race!

Life's Pleasures

Sometime over the last few weeks I asked myself why knitting, yarn and weaving were so important to me. I was wondering why so much of my time went into these pursuits. I think I get tangled up in thinking all my time should be devoted to hard work and socially redeeming activities. Thanks alot mom! I really, really enjoy it and that is enough. No need to analyze the significance of knitting socks, just keep doing it because it is fun and not harmful to me or anyone else.

Last night I went to my first weaving class. What fun, there were 11 women with varying levels of experience and one very nice, laid back teacher. I was wondering if it would be worth the drive to Siler City every Tuesday night for eight weeks. DUH, YEAH it is!

Today I got home and had packages. One was my Wollmeise lace grab bag. It sounds extremely odd but during the wee hours one night I jumped onto ravelry and found out there had just been a Wollmeise update. I went to the website and ordered a lace grab bag. For about $50.00, you order sight unseen one skein, 1750 yards of lace weight yarn. I opened the package and it is a beautiful saturated navy blue. It comes in the distinctive WM packaging with gummy bears and a free pattern. It was just fun to wait for the mystery yarn. I will not allow myself to do this again for many months but gosh what fun!

I started a lace scarf from Victorian Lace Today and as you can see I had some help!

Vacaaaaaation!

It has been a long time since I knit a sweater. This sweater is one I don't know if I will wear but it was a good learning experience. The pattern was an extremely simple top down raglan. Probably too simple as I was bored after the first bit. I did learn to make button holes on my sewing machine and use grosgrain ribbon to face each side of the button bands. Technically there are no errors in this sweater. The knitting is even and consistent. Used quality yarn - Rowan organic pure wool. I still think this looks more home-made than handmade. Trying to figure out why that is. Reed says I am too critical but I don't think so. Until I figure this out no more sweaters for me! Thank God, vacation is finally here. tomorrow we leave for the beach and more importantly I have 11 days off from work! This has been a grueling summer and I am ready to leave it behind!

Smashing Pumpkins

What I am knitting: The sweater is a simple top down raglan. I finally realized that I do not have the bandwidth to knit lace right now and am a little tired of socks. This sweater is definitely mindless. The yarn is Rowan Purelife, an organic naturally dyed wool. This yarn is from stash, from a Ravelry swap. Tried the sweater on the Duchess to check fit. My gauge is 22 stitches instead of the 18 per four inches called for in the pattern. Following directions for the 44 and hoping to get the 42. I am going to use the ribbon for the back of the button band. What I am weaving: Working on tying on a new warp for more tea towels. Only 442 ends to measure, cut and tie on! What I am reading: I love mysteries, especially those written by women. I realized recently that I had never read anything by Agatha Christie. I am about half way through "Murder on the Orient Express".

A long hot summer

There has been knitting and weaving. This summer has seemed interminable, partly becasue of the heat and partly because of a crazy workload! Some finished projects have been the bright spot. I continue to craft for Christmas 2011.

Getting and staying warped!

The weaving continues. I warped with some sock yarn for a scarf. I am working on evening out my selvages and developing a rhythm. Reed made me a fabulous boat shuttle. It is my new favorite! Amazing how much lighter and easier to throw it is than the 15 inch Schacht.