I like scarves. I think they’re really pretty, and I like to start making them. I just don’t like finishing them. For some reason, the miles and miles of plain knitting just bores me and so I pull things out and reclaim the yarn. But I have this new obsession now–smooth scarves. I see all these people walking around campus with nice, smooth scarves that look knitted on both sides and are all pretty. I know you can make a scarf like that by doing 1×1 rib, but I hate 1×1 rib with a passion. You could probably do it with 2×2 rib too, but as much as I like that, it gets lame after a while. So I started something weird last night, as I was thinking about all of this. I started something like I would a toe up sock–with the special cast on and the increases and everything, and now I have something that looks kind of like a sock toe but that I’m planning on turning into a very, very long tube. I have a ball of solid, lime green sock yarn for the ends and a ball (that’s really 2 balls) of stripey green sock yarn for the main part of the scarf. I’m going to make myself go slow on it, and just knit whenever I feel like it, and maybe by next winter I’ll have a scarf. I’d put up a picture but it just looks weird right now. Once I get to the stripey yarn, I might take a picture.

Knit Night was okay, despite the fact that I got there so late. I forgot that Bethany, who shares my passion for knitting, is here. I think she took charge while I wasn’t there. It was nice to have someone else around who is as crazy about knitting as I am. (I hope the people we taught last night will become as crazy as we are, but for now, having one kindred spirit is enough.) 2 people started on squares and several other people started on other projects. I knit a random “I’m not sure what it is but I want to use up yarn” thingy that will probably function as a blankie.

More later. I need to go to practicum now.

Tonight is supposed to be a good night. Knit Night is finally starting up again and it’s an all-hall event and I’ve been really excited about it for weeks now. Then this morning I realized that I have to work tonight from 6-8. The Knit Night thing, which my RD so kindly arranged, is from 7-9. I emailed my RD in a panic and explained, and she found someone to keep watch for me during that first hour, but that and a few other things I forgot (like homework stuff) has completely ruined my day. Grr.

I am trying to get the all-hall knit night organized here in my dorm, and I’m finding that some people have misconceptions about knitting if they don’t knit themselves. These are all my take on some things that various non-knitting types have said to me while trying to help me set this up. In their defense, let me point out that (1) they are not knitters and do not understand the ways of knit, (2) they are very nice people and very smart, and (3) they are putting up with my insanity on this whole knitting thing, which is very nice of them and I love them all. That being said, I need to clear up a few things.

First, all knitters do not know each other in this building. I know some of the knitters I’ve created on my unit because they came to Knit Night last semester, and I know one girl who is a prodigious knitter like myself because we met before and we’ve talked a little bit. However, there might be other girls in the dorm who knit whom I have forgotten about or never met. I’m trusting them to show up at Knit Night and reveal themselves. Otherwise, I do not know them and therefore cannot recruit them to help me teach others. I will do that when they arrive.

Secondly, knitting is not as easy as it looks on TV. You can’t just sit down with needles and yarn for the first time and whip out a perfect hat (or even a perfect scarf). You make all sorts of crazy mistakes, and generally your first piece of knitting is a piece of crap. I don’t want people coming in to this and thinking we’re making hats for charity or something, because unless they already know how to cast on and knit using circular needles or DPNs, how to decrease, and how to finish up, I’m not teaching them right now. Next year will be the time to focus on other projects. This year, I’m trying to get the basics down for people, so that they can improve on their own over the summer and come back ready to try new stuff. Scarves take too long (just ask some of my Knit Night girls from last semester), so I have a plan.

That’s another thing–I actually do have a plan for this. I’ve thought and prayed about it, and I think it’s the right plan. The plan is to make squares and sew them into a blanket. They may turn into baby blankets for Project Linus (so we can make more than one) but for now all we need to focus on is the squares.

I am approaching this like a teacher. That means I have a plan and a schedule, and while I’m willing to change the plan (and probably will, knowing me), I don’t want to deviate too much from what people need to learn–the knitting basics.

I could keep going on this, because I’m a little ticked, but I think instead I’ll knit something and remind myself that the people helping me here are not knitters. They are wonderful ladies and I love them a lot, and I hope they can become knitters over the course of the next few months, but until then, they don’t get it. At all. And that’s okay.

I haven’t posted for a while, but now that I’m back at school, I’m getting back to the knitting. I have more time now, if you can believe that. I had nothing to do at home, but somehow I didn’t want to knit when I was there. I just wanted to sit and do nothing. (This annoys the heck out of my mother, which is another benefit of it.) Here at school, though, I like having something to do, and so I knit. It helps that I’m taking all education classes this semester and so the “early is on time” principle applies again. (English professors are a bit more lax on that idea.) I tend to get to class early early early, so I have quite a bit of time for knitting. My Children’s Lit prof thinks it’s funny, but I really should decide what the thing I’m knitting is, because two people have asked today and I’ve had to say, “I dunno…” It makes me seem a bit odd. (I am anyways, but that’s beside the point.)

In spite of this new time to knit, I have decided something. I have too much sock yarn. There. I said it. I decided this yesterday when I picked up the box of sock yarn I ordered when I was home (it got here about two days early, but that’s okay because I got it and the post office isn’t annoyed at me). I opened it, wound all the new yarn, and realized two things. First, I realized that I’d ordered two kinds of yarn that looked almost the same–Knit Picks Felici in Marsh and another Knit Picks Yarn (Stroll handpainted I think, but it might be the Stroll multi) in Aloha. The only difference was that one was made to make pretty stripes and the other was a bit more random. Second, I realized that the other Knit Picks Felici yarn I got, in another colorway whose name escapes me, did not go with the dusty blue yarn I’d meant to pair it with and that the lighter brown in it was, well, kind of ugly. It was supposed to be tan, but both the skeins I got had sort of a beigey-peach skin color. The blue and the darker brown were lovely, but the other one was just sticking out like a sore thumb, and I didn’t like it. Plus, the sock yarn drawer was so full that I couldn’t fit any more into it, and if I knitted up all the sock yarn I have, I’d end up with three pairs of turquoise socks (with some variation but not much), two pairs of pink ones, and several others in various colors. As much as I like turquoise, the thought of three pairs was a bit much. And I’m not that big a fan of pink–two pairs is too much.

In short, I had too much sock yarn. Luckily, my friend Bethany, who is an even better knitter than me (she made a sweater in a week recently; mine is still only halfway up the back and sitting discarded in the yarn box) is back at school here now. I sent her a message on Facebook offering her free sock yarn, and she came and took a lot of it off my hands. She was really happy to get it. Apparently she’s on a yarn diet and can’t buy yarn, but she can accept it as a gift no problem. So now I have the following sock yarn/ socks in progress:

1) Rose garden socks–cream and the rosey striped stuff. This is the third time I’ve tried to make these socks, but the first time top down instead of toe up. I think I’ll go better.

2) Dark turquoise socks–I kept the Felici Marsh yarn and gave Bethany the Aloha color, and I’ve started a cuff for them in coordinating Knit Picks Stroll Tweed in a turquoise color that I really like.

3) The Navy Blue/Pink/Blue/Orange Socks–Originally Susie’s until I ripped it out and started over (and decided not to knit socks for other people). I got about halfway done with this sock over break and just need to convince myself to knit the rest of the foot and the toe, and then the other sock.

4) The Purple Knee Socks–still slowly working my way down the leg; maybe four inches to go before the heel flap.

5) Robyn’s second purple sock–languishing in my purse, waiting to be knitted on. I still don’t like that Amethyst yarn, but I do owe Robyn the socks…

6) Neon socks–not yet on needles. Will involve Deborah Norville Sport in Aqua and the random neon colored yarn whose brand and name I forget. I was going to make knee socks with this too, but I’m not sure I’ll be up to it.

7) The Bright Green Socks–I got a good bright green to contrast with the stripey stuff (see a few posts ago, I think; basic story is I got bright green stripey yarn and the contrast color I got didn’t work) and I think they’ll work out.
The Pink socks–Lion Brand sock yarn in bright pink with a bit of white, purple, and green in it. To be paired with Deborah Norville Sport in Pink. They’ll be a bit bright for my taste, but I like the pattern the yarn makes.

9) The Autumn socks–pairing Deborah Norville Sport in Cactus (aka olive green) with Knit Picks Stroll Multi in Tuscany (I think that’s the one;anyways it’s mostly red with green and orange in it). Will make nice socks. Interestingly, this project combines the yarn from two pairs of discarded present socks which will now be mine (if I ever knit them).

10) The Deep Blue Socks–Lion brand sock yarn in a deep sapphire blue with bits of gold and gray. I finally found a dark blue yarn to match–Knit Picks Sapphire Heather. It has the same sparkle as the other yarn, which makes it fit even though it’s a slightly darker blue.

Yeah, yeah, I know. That’s still ten pairs of socks–five of them on the needles right now. In my defense, hand knit socks are really comfy, and Robyn’s socks aren’t for me so that’s only nine pairs for me. That’s a pair for each day of the week and two more besides. Plus, I definitely won’t finish all of these any time soon. It may take me all year to do it. And that means that one pair that I finish early could wear out before all of them are done. I think it makes sense. Once this sock yarn is gone, I will start again.

Right. I’m going to try to catch a quick nap (or maybe knit) before my class at 5. Next time I post, I’ll be sure to take pictures of the class knitting and of the socks in progress. Toodles!

I’ve been trying to sit down and make an actual list of what I want to knit this year, but I can’t get it down on paper. I guess I’ll try just getting in on the computer and see what happens.

1) My first sweater–I stopped in the middle of the back and haven’t picked it up again. I need to do that.

2) My first lace–I got pretty shiny white yarn (Vanna’s Glamour in Diamond) for Christmas and it has been crying out to be lace ever since. I started a shawl project in the only lace stitch I know–yo, k2tog–and have about four repeats done. I think it looks pretty so far, and the shininess of the yarn will keep me interested (that and all the talk I’ve heard of the thrills of blocking lace).

3) A Week’s Worth of Socks–I have almost enough sock yarn to do this. I’m half way through one of the navy blue socks now and the knee sock is progressing nicely. However, to be absolutely sure I have enough yarn to make seven pairs of socks, I will have to order some more sock yarn (oh darn! I’m choking on my own sarcasm!)

4) Nicole Baby Blanket–Currently an idea for a joint project. I need to get my friends together and get to the yarn shop, gosh darn it!

5) Pastel Rainbow blankie–More Christmas yarn, this time Caron Simply Soft Paints in Tapestry. It’s pretty and pastel and it’s becoming a basketweave blanket. I’m hoping to do it in four panels (one panel = 1 ball of yarn) and then attach all of them in a sort of window shape with a border in a solid color. I started it last night.  If this blanket goes well, I may fold it up and save it for a future classroom.  I imagine it hanging over the back of a rocking chair.

6)  Cool Colors Blankie–I started this one before Christmas.  Four different colors and I think four different yarns–Caron Simply Soft Paints in “Oceana” (I think that’s the name), Red Heart in “Ocean”, Caron 1 Pound in a light blue color, and some other acrylic yarn in a light purple color.  I’m planning on making eight strips with four squares each and sewing them together, then attaching the whole thing with a ruffly border around (using Lion Brand Ruffles for the first time, if I can get it).  This one is going to be for me.

That’s all I’ve got so far, I think.  I got some other Christmas yarn–a skein of Lion Brand Thick and Quick in Blossom and one in Claret–that I’m not sure what to do with, so it’s going in the stash.  I’ve got quite a substantial one now.  (If by “quite substantial” you mean a drawer full of sock yarn, a huge tub full of yarn, and a crate with more yarn piled in.  I know there are people with whole houses full of stash, but since I don’t have my own house, I have to keep my stash packed away.)

I may declare this the Year of Selfish Knitting, but I still need to finish up Robyn’s purple socks, and Nicole’s baby blanket is for the baby, not for me, so I guess that doesn’t count either.  Mmm…maybe the Year of Mostly Selfish Knitting?  I guess we’ll see.

I have all my presents–knitted and otherwise–ready to go. They are wrapped and labeled, and waiting to go under the tree. I ended up giving more knitted presents than I thought I would (well, less if you consider all the socks I gave up on). I had a project that I was working on and wanted to finish. I made it into something for my mom.

I’ll make sure to take pictures of the knitted things with their recipients tomorrow so I can put them up here. For now, I think this is all I can say (just in case my family decides to read my blog today.)

Have a very merry Christmas, and a kitty picture (because that’s what all the other knitting blogs have been doing).

Lilly munchin' on lunch meat!

I have basically given up on Christmas knitting. I made Debbie something and I’m working on finishing something for Matt, and that’s all I’m doing. All those people I promised socks to? Yeah, not happening. It’s not because I don’t love them, or even because I don’t have time (although at this point I really don’t). It’s because I am not good at deadline knitting. Debbie’s present was supposed to be for her birthday. So was Matt’s. If I promise to knit something for someone, they generally don’t get it until at least a year afterwards. I guess this means if you want to be on the Christmas knitting list for next year you’d better put in a request right now, because otherwise it’s not going to get done!

In the meantime, however, I have been knitting. I knitted on my new blanket project for myself today. (I started it a while ago and might have put something about it on here, but if not, know that I am starting a blanket for myself.) I knitted on one of my socks (the one knitted from the yarn that was going to be my roommate’s socks until I realized that she doesn’t really like socks unless they have penguins or cheetah spots or something else ridiculously hard to knit on them and reclaimed it for myself) yesterday on the way to the movies and then during the time before The Princess and the Frog (which was absolutely adorable, by the way) started. I didn’t knit during the movie because I tried in the previews and it was too dark and I almost dropped a stitch. I also knitted on my knee sock before Mommy’s Christmas program with her kids on Friday night. It’s still got a way to go, but it’s getting there.

I’ve asked for more yarn and needles for Christmas (along with books, pens, and notebooks like I always ask for) and I’m hoping to get some, though my family was a bit incredulous when they saw the list. I guess I’ll find out what they got for me in a few days. Then I’ll dig out my camera from the stuff I brought home and take tons of pictures. I’ve got a bajillion on there already, so I may do a post made entirely of pictures after Christmas.

Several months ago, I knitted a pair of wee baby socks and a bitty hat for my friend Megan’s new baby boy, Parker. I sent them to her and she loved them. She said that they fit great and she put up lots of adorable pictures of the little lad wearing my handknit things on Facebook. This naturally touched my heart and made me feel like I’d done a good thing. The feeling and the pictures were enough for me, but Megan apparently didn’t think so. Tonight, she left me a gift on my porch. This is what I found in the bag (along with candy and various other edible goodies):

Well, the tie-dye part is my shirt, but the little statue is the present. Megan made it herself. The card in the bag had a description of why she made each part of it the way she did. I love it. It makes me smile. I’m putting the picture up there as my Facebook profile picture, and I plan to cast on another pair of slightly larger baby socks for her as soon as possible.

I really feel like Megan has captured who I am in this little statue. Books, knitting needles and yarn, a kitty, a pencil, and a crown–she’s gotten all of me. I’m a reader, a knitter, a cat lover, a writer, a teacher (the pencil says “teacher” on it), and a princess. I hardly know anything about her, and she’s captured my essence in clay.

The funny thing is, Megan and I were never really close friends. We knew each other in high school, and we’d say hi when we saw each other, but honestly I hardly knew her. We reconnected on Facebook and eventually I found out she was expecting. I was getting into the baby stuff knitting, so it was just natural to make her baby things too because I loved it so much. I made those little socks and the hat out of love–for knitting, and for the thought of a new mother with a baby to care for who would need nice warm things to put on him. I would do it for any friend who was expecting. I’m working on socks for Nicole’s baby now. But it’s true what my kindergarten teacher told me–giving away love will always double what you have. No matter how much you give away, you always have more. This little statue is the love I put into those baby things come back to me. I plan to send it back in bigger socks. After all, baby feet grow fast, and the little lad will need new socks to warm his toes.

I used to think that knitted socks were a sign of love. If I loved someone, I would offer to knit her a pair of socks. I tried this strategy all summer, and ended up with about eight pairs of socks on the needles for other people. Now, as Christmas draws closer, I realize that while knitted socks can be a sign of love, it is not nice to promise someone something you cannot finish by a specific date. Knitting eight pairs of socks in about six months is silly, at least for me. I am not good at sticking to projects. I am very susceptible to Second Sock Syndrome. I am also quite selfish and rather lazy. Knitting socks for myself is much easier than knitting socks for friends, and requires no deadlines.

Some people knit to make things, either for themselves or for others. Others knit for the sake of knitting, not really caring what is coming off the needles or if it fits anybody. I am that sort of knitter—a process knitter. I knit because knitting is fun. Knitting is simple, unless you want to try lace or cables or complex stitch patterns. I don’t do any of those; I like plain stockinette or garter stitch. I have to concentrate really hard to do even the simplest things: decreases, increases, turning a heel, ribbing…I’ll do all of them, because I do like having finished things, but I’d rather just knit back and forth or around and around with no reason to stop and pay attention until I want to find out how long the thing is. I knit to give myself something to do. Adding the deadline thing only makes it hard for me, and eventually turns it into torture. I stop loving projects I have to have done by a certain time, and then I put them into drawers or boxes and forget about them. This leads to missed deadlines and disappointed people.

Some knitters have the happy ability to set and keep deadlines, and those knitters knit projects for other people. These are the knitters who churn out socks, scarves, hats, and sweaters in weeks. These are the knitters who see no problem in losing sleep to knit. These are the knitters who knit even more obsessively than I do. I knit before classes, before chapel, in many of the free moments I have in my room, in the car, during movies and TV, and even during the formal banquet my dorm had tonight. That is a lot of knitting, and some people think I’m already weird and obsessed for knitting as much as I do. But there are people out there who knit in lines in the grocery store, as they walk from place to place (I’ve tried that and discovered that it causes me to walk in to things). These people will knit every moment of every day when there is nothing else their hands have to do. I can’t do this. My hands like to do other things besides knitting. They like to write, to type, to draw (though not well), and to just sit and rest. If I knit for too long, my hands and wrists start to hurt and I have to put the project down to keep from seriously injuring myself. Despite how it looks to people (mostly people who don’t knit or who have just learned to knit and are still slow), I knit slowly and not very much.

In light of all this, I have decided something. I love a lot of people, and I want to show them that I love them, but knitting is not really the way to do that. I am going to find other ways to show my love. I’ll bake. I’ll spend time with people. I’ll buy books and other things that people like. I won’t knit for every single person I meet and decide that I love (which happens fairly quickly for me; there are few people that I truly dislike). I’ll knit for someone if they buy me the yarn. I’ll knit for my family (though not very much). I’ll knit for my really close friends and their future children. If a friend tells me she’s having a baby, I’ll buy yarn and cast on the baby blanket, because I believe that every baby ought to have a blankie. Someday, I hope, I will knit for the man I choose to give my heart to (when he shows up and I know he’s the one), and for any children we have together. Other friends will get other things for Christmas, and I hope they’ll understand. Anything else I knit will be for me. When I do knit things for people, I won’t promise deadlines. I won’t say, “Oh yeah, I’ll give this to you for Christmas”, or, “This is going to be your birthday present”.

All those whom I promised a knitted present to this year, please forgive me. I will try to buy you a present, and I hope you’ll like it. I do love you—a lot—but it’s not a good sign of my love if I give you a half-knit sock and say, “I’m sorry. I’ll make this your birthday present instead”. That’s just mean. I am reclaiming some of the yarn I started making into presents, and will turn it all into something pretty at some point. Right now, though, I’m concentrating on two projects for myself and three projects for others for Christmas presents, as well as one project that is going to be a baby gift. When those presents are done, I am going to allow myself to be a selfish knitter. I see no problem with this.

P.S. I do have an idea that if, as I suspect, I have ADD, then having that confirmed and getting medicine to help me may allow me to concentrate more on my knitting and thus get more done. Until that hypothesis is proved and something is done about it, however, I am content to be a crazy knitter who jumps from project to project and knits mostly for herself because some of her knitting has no clear purpose when it’s started.