Empowerment

Early this year, I heard the phrase, The Year of No-Fear Knitting. I liked it. I thought to myself, "Why not? What's the worst thing that could happen? I try something way beyond my ability and tangle up some yarn to the point it has to be thrown away? Big deal." So I went for it and the proof is in the pudding. Well, the knitting anyway.

This time last year, this was a challenging project. I didn't want to try anything harder. In fact, I made three pairs of these pretty mitts. I might make more.But now, this is my level. I'm not afraid to read charts. To work with thinner yarns. Complicated? Maybe. But it's like when I was learning to drive. I was taught that, when you're driving in the rain, a ball bounces in front of you, and another car is headed toward you, SLOW down. When you slow down, many problems sort themselves out before they even get to you. I think life is like that, too.

Sweet!

Hartfield is happily under way. I haven't been sleeping really well (it's hot) and this project is very engrossing. I've never knitted on something that required so much attention. Gotta say I like it! Gotta say it would have driven me crazy last year. This is a close-up to show the pattern a little better.I purchased this yarn recently: Sugar Rush. Yes, it's made of sugar cane fiber! (So I can nosh if I'm hungry--can you just imagine me like a goat, with a strand of this stuff hanging out of my mouth?) It's got a sheen, like granulated sugar. It's a pale lavender and I've got the pattern all picked out: Clapotis.

Podcast highlight: Stitch It!

Meghan is like a good friend, just talking about what crazy projects she's got underway. She's a real "can-do" kinda gal, which I find inspirational. While it's ostensibly a knitting podcast, she also talks about spinning, gardening, hair products, her adorable kid and husband and extended family. There's always a section called "My Favorite Things": it could be music, food, or anthing that strikes her fancy that week. I really enjoy listening and this is one of my Favorite Things.


I'm planning to do some quilting today. We'll see. I also have housework. (blah)

Kitchen Knittin'

The Girl's Best Friend socks are finished. Of course, it helps that I only had to make one to have myself a pair! (Thanks, Faith! Your second sock syndrome was my bonus.) Anybody else want to pass on their half-done sock projects?

Cherrytini Jubilee is chugging right along. I really like to look at this one--pink is such a happy color! Check out my new cable needle. Turns out I had a box of 'em in the kitchen all along!

Yes, I know it's really a toothpick. Dur. It was Faith's idea. It's also handy if I've been eating corn.

And speaking of things that come from the kitchen, a new pair of tofu socks are in the making. I started 'em during Comic Con and got a good inch and a half done during Harry Potter. Always good to have a brainless project in the pipeline.And then there's the reason for a need for brainless projects: Ai-ah! This one is seriously charted with a new type of stitch: the twisted right-leaning decrease (Say that one five times fast.) The pattern is called Verdigris. It's a pair of fingerless gloves and is patterned so pretty. Go to the link for the picture and the free pattern. I'm calling this project Hartfield Gloves, for the home of Emma Woodhouse in the Jane Austen novel, Emma, which I'm currently reading. The project seems ambitious enough for Emma herself to begin, if not finish. I think I've got a little more staying power, though.

The yarn is alpaca and a bit fuzzy and soft as all get out. Sport gave me the yarn from her stash. I'm a little worried that the fuzz might obscure the pattern, but it'll probably be fine. Seems okay in the photo, huh?