It seems like forever since I’ve posted, it probably has been.

I do not think of myself as a stupid person. I am an accountant by trade; I work with numbers and dollars every day. I’m required to add, subtract, multiply, divide everyday to come up with reports, totals and verify information. Yet, for all of this math, I see day in and day out; I still can’t follow a simple knitting pattern.

Now, I don’t consider myself a stupid knitter either. I can follow a pattern, I can read charts, and I’m not scared of lace or cables or color-work. I admit that the thought of knitting my husband a sweater vest, is a little daunting, but if you saw him, I dare you to think otherwise. Why is it then that a simple baby sweater is becoming the bane of my little knitting world?

The “Baby surprise jacket” seemed like such a great idea at the time. It was cute, It didn’t’ seem overwhelming. I knew it would take me a little longer to do, because of the cramping in my hands due to pregnancy related carpal tunnel, but it would be worth it in the long run. I cast on, I started to knit, I was happy, and I was going to do this. Then the pattern bit me in the ass.

I been told that this pattern is a leap of blind faith, to trust the pattern and not worry. Maybe that’s the problem, I’m an analyzer, I keep stopping to check my work, count and recount stitches. I am going insane. I’ve actually written an excel sheet on how many stitches I should have on each row. Why? Because, I’ve finally gone insane. Something has got to give with me, because I do not want to give up on this sweater, but I really need things to click in place so I can just get it done.

Anticipation

My first spinning wheel is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I'm really excited. I ordered the Ashford Traveller. I had expected to be waiting a few more weeks for it, but I have a tracking number and a estimated delivery date of 4/18. I have no idea how i'm going to make it through work tomorrow.

Bad Blogger.

Okay, I resolve to blog on a more regular basis. Actually I do, I just am trying to figure out if I want to keep both this and my livejournal or just do LJ. Decisions, decisions...In the mean time, I think I owe you all an update.

Last post was my knitting resolutions for 2006. I am proud to say I have accomplished one of them. I learned how to spin!

In the last month I've taken some classes. One 2-day class was devoted solely to the drop spindle, the other 2-day class was suppose to be all encompassing, but alas once we saw all the spinning wheels that went out the door. We learned about fiber prep and played on the wheels. I'd like to say we were spinning, but we were all struggling.

incidentally, I took the class with the wheel before the drop spindle class. I think the fact we weren't shown drafting properly was the main problem. It was fun to sit at the wheels and make these chunky blobs of tiny skeins. Once I got into the other class and saw the instructor drafting, it hit me "OH, That's what you do!".

This is the skein I made in the 2-day drop spindle class.


I'm spinning away and having so much fun. I'm going to invest in a wheel sometime soon, I'm just not sure which one. At our class, I tried the Louet S10 and Lendrum, the instructor couldn't understand why I was more comfortable on the Louet. Oh well, I want to try the ashford traveller before I make any decisions.

In knitting news, I'm just trudging along, I just finished up a pile of knitted chicks for my mothers kindergarten class and I'm in the middle of some cabled socks. Next up is a scarf from Mason- Dixon knitting. This book is fabulous, especially if you enjoy knitting stuff for around the house or apartment.

That's it for now. Till next time bloggers!

Knitting Resolutions 2006

Okay, I know it's the 11th but it's never too late to share your resolutions.

I have 3 knitting related resolutions:

1) to challenge myself (this includes learning new techniques like intarsia, fair isle and chart reading)

2) to keep the number of WIP's to a manageable level. I tend to start more items then finish, I will look to finish up old outstanding items.

3) I will learn to spin yarn. I have a drop spindle, but have never been able to get the hang of using it. There is a 2 day class at the end of march at one of my lys so, hopefully I can get in on that.

well that's it for now.

December flashback

My sticks are clicking away, I decided on Friday I needed to make a scarf for my friend Rob's birthday today. I'm half done and probably won't see him till Thursday, so I should be okay. I also went yarn shopping Friday, I bought some white Dale of Norway Baby Ull which was on sale. I also bought a 40" size 3 addi turbo needle. I'm determined to teach myself magic loop for socks.

That said, it's nice to have the knitting bug again. I even updated my sidebar to show my current projects. Yes, I still haven't finished Charlotte. That's been sitting in limbo most of this year.

Bad Blogger

Bad, bad blogger, I have been neglecting my poor blog again. Bad, bad girl.

Oh well, at least I have not been neglecting my knitting again. Maybe it's because the wehather has gotten so cold, I've been on a bit of a knitting kick. Last weekend I bought 3 skeins of Cascade 220, 2 skeins of cotton-chenile and 6 skeins of mission falls 1824 wool in charcoal. I've got flowers wachcloths going, a kitty hat with the mission falls, as well as a yet to be determined pink swatch project.

Hmm

you know I was just looking at my blog.. I've very much been neglecting it. I haven't updated my sidebar in ages.

Broke but knitting

I managed to fall down my back stairs last week while leaving for work and broke my foot. What can I say I am a klutz, it's not the first time I've fallen down the stairs and not the first time i've broken a bone. I have to say, I've never broken my foot before, and I have no desire to ever do it again. I'm in a cast and on crutches and everything is just a pain in the butt. It's my right foot so I also cannot drive. I'm calling in all sorts of favors from family and friends to get me too and from work. The only bright thing I can say about this whole experience is that I only have 18 more days till the cast comes off.

Since I was laid up most of last weekend, I was able to get some knitting done. I did a little work on my new bag and quite a bit of work on a new lace hat. Here's the kicker, I wound up falling asleep and rolling over on the hat (still on the dpns) and somehow in my tossing & turning managed to pull two of the needles out and by the next morning it was beyond repair. On the bright side, at least I didn't impale myself on a dpn.

The yarn for my Harry Potter scarf shipped out yesterday, so I'm very happy. Happy Dance!

See you later.