And then there were extra

I knit my traditional Teacher Mitts again this year.  Except, my oldest has two teachers: one for STEM and one for Humanities , so there was an extra set of mitts.  I started early this year, in September, so that I wouldn't be frantically knitting the night before.  I even let the boys pick out the yarn, so they would feel more connected with their gift.

However, my slightly OCD child did not like the way the longer color progression appeared in the mitts.  Basically, the long repeat made for fraternal mitts, not identical.  The first started with light blue, progressed to mostly dark blue, then ended with medium blue.  And the second started with medium blue, and progressed to mostly light blue.  And my child hated it.  He didn't say so, but I could tell.  So I finished all three sets of mitts in record time, not long after of Thanksgiving.

So I made two more mitts, one of each set to match one of the existing mitts.  He only wanted me to make the extras if I could make BOTH of them.  The first didn't take too long, but the second was harder.  The yarn was single ply and loosely spun.  It was a bitch to work with, but was a pretty finished product.

So for all of my advance planning, there I was, the night before the last day of school before Christmas break, knitting away on the last couple years.

Today, it is all about the repetition of years past.

Knit Me a Rainbow

I have been hard at work knitting three sets of Teacher Mitts for my annual teacher Christmas present.  (Possible more than six mitts, update on that another day.)  Since I have completed 4 1/2 mitts by the beginning of November, I have felt secure enough to work on Prism.  (I know, famous last words that I will regret when I am binding off at 10pm the night before the last day of school for the year.)

I can't help myself.  I am enchanted.  And now that I am on the final decrease rows, I am anxious to finish.

The colors.  The colors!  Lion Brand really hit it out of the park on this line.  I have one finished and two projects in progress with the same yarn in different colorsways.  I made the mistake of passing through the yarn aisle at Walmart (of all places!) and saw some new colorways, and I had to run to the hunting department to resist temptation.  (There is nothing tempting in the hunting department, but that is where my favorite three men were to be found.)

I can't wait to sport my newest shawl creation.   Yesterday, it was so cold, I nearly threw it around my shoulders, needles and all.  Prism deserves a proper debut, so I put on my scarf and fingerless mitts instead.

Today, it is all about the anticipation.

Knnitters Come Through

The St. Baldrick's event was a success!  A number of people shaved their heads in solidarity for those who have to shave their heads during chemo.  And the knitters made a whole pile of hats for the shavees.

I had 3rd grade football game, so I arrived late.  My sweetie took our little football player home to change his clothes (he was also supposed to have him shower, but whatever.)  We got there just in time to rush to fill out our raffle tickets and stuff them into the little containers.  In fact, I didn't even do that right.  My sweetie found some of my tickets under a box.  Apparently I had left them there when I picked it up to put a ticket in.

They had over a hundred raffle prizes, and we ended  up making out like bandits.  We won gift certificates to three local pubs/restaurants.  AND, we won the big prize of the night: a charcoal grill/smoker.  Way cool.

But the best part of the night:  the person who won the shawl I donated, was a Kniterventioner.  She is one of our crocheters, not a knitter, but she was still a fiber person.  And she still appreciated my knitting enough to put her tickets in the little container.  I am so honored, and reassured that someone who understands yarn will be taking good care of my shawl.

Today, it is all about the honor.

Political Invasion

These days, it feels like politics has invaded every facet of American society, on a extremely toxic and negative level.  Today, it felt like the invasion was complete, Knittervention was targeted.

One of our sporadic members stated that as the bar where we meet had a poster for her political opposition, and refused to put her poster up as well.  Therefore, she decided not to pay them another dime.  I pointed out that she could come and knit and order water.  She discussed how we should consider a place that was not "taking sides."  (Really, she doesn't have a problem with a business taking sides, just that it was not willing to take HER side.)

I restrained myself from responding right away.  Definitely one of those times when it is wise to sleep on it, and form a well-reasoned response.  I pointed out that the particular bar had been very accommodating for nearly a decade.  They reserve a private room for, no matter how busy the main bar is, and they leave the lights on bright when they dim the rest of the bar.  Personally, I generally judge a bar by their food, beverages, and service.

Apparently, there were some personal messages exchanged, and she will not be joining us again at Knittervention.

Is nothing sacred?  Have we honestly descended so low that a few earthlings (we are all women, but I don't want to limit our ranks to those of the female persuasion) truly not able to knit in public for two hours without political animosity rearing its ugly head?  Can we really not put aside any political leanings to enjoy a mutual interest?  Can red knitters and blue knitters not peacefully coexist while surrounded in fiber?

We apologize for this political interruption.  We now return you to your normally scheduled knitting blog.

Today, in is all about the disbelief.

Hats Off to St. Baldericks

One of our Knittervention attendees organizes an annual charity event.  St. Baldericks is a charity geared towards childhood cancer.  The event is Rock the Bald, encouraging people to shave their heads in support of children with cancer.

Of course, newly shaved heads become cold, and that is where the knitters come in.  She mentioned a month ago that they had a goal to give each shavee a handknit hat.  Several of us had already donated a few knit items for raffle prizes, but she also made this specific request.  The request did not fall on deaf ears.  At Knittervention last night, five out of six of us were dutifully knitting hats to donate to St. Baldericks.  (The sixth person was a newbie who did not know about the hat need, so she could easily be forgiven.)  There was also a small stack of finished hats.  (I admit it, I forgot to bring mine.  Next time!)

Drawing on the same spirit of woman in decades pasts to answered the call when there was a need, I felt proud to be a knitter.  From Depression Era Americans to British women during the Battle of Briton (and more, those come to mind because of my recent reading material) knitters answer the call when there is a need to create warmth.

Like I said, makes me proud to be a knitter.  Now, if you will excuse me, there is a half finished hat that needs my attention.

Today, it is all about the pride.  

Looming deadlines

I am starting to feel like the knitting deadlines are starting to close in on me.  It is self-inflicted, but I still am starting to feel the pressure of deadlines.

First, there is charity knitting.  A kind knitting friend brought a huge pile of yarn to Knittervention.  Nice yarn, and lots of it.  I walked out with a large bag, overflowing with skeins of silk and balls of wool.  So, to pay it back/forward, I am using some of that yarn to knit for her charity.  Every year, she puts together a cancer charity event. People volunteer to shave their heads for charity (shudder), and there is a raffle, and more.  Freshly shaved heads need hand knit coverings, of course.  I have already knit one hat, and two ear warmers; and donated a shawl for the raffle.  I have another hat in progress, and realistically think that I can have it done in time.

Then, there is Christmas.  And the annual fingerless teacher mitts.  Except my oldest has started middle school and has two main teachers: one for STEM and the other for Humanities.  I don't know which to knit for, so I will do both.  Three sets of mitts, two mitts each set, that is at least six weeks worth of knitting.  Add in two weeks as a margin of error, and I need to start knitting . . . . .next week.
At the same time I am knitting hats for newly shaved heads.

At the risk of sounding a little selfish, when do I get to knit for me?  There are at least three shawls in progress that I am looking forward to wearing.  At this rate, I will wear out the coordinating dress before I finish the shawl.  Sigh

Today, it is all about the sacrifice.      

Mommy's Time Out

All three of my guys went to Cub Scout Adventure Camp for three days.  What is a Mommy to do with all that free time?

Finish a lace project, of course.  Celtic Sage  I tried to figure out exactly how long I have been working on it, but it is as least four years.  I am so excited to wear it around the courthouse tomorrow.  It was dry and ready to come off the blocking pins  by the time my house was invaded by soggy, dirty Scouts, with mounds of dirty laundry.  (How can three guys generate so much dirty laundry in three days?)

Today, it is all about the log-overdue completion

Apologies for the hiatus

I didn't intend to take a six month break from blogging, but apparently I have.  I didn't think it had been that long, but the date on the last post doesn't lie.  January.

I have lots of knitting updates, but I am going to do those one at a time.  That will cover at least a month's worth of posts!

Today, there is the scarf that I have fallen out of love with.  I am hating the pattern.  It is supposed to be a little lacey, but I am finding the holes gapey.  I would rip out and start something different, but I am disenchanted with the yarn as well.  I am finding the sequins gaudy instead of blingy.  Then I found a new purpose.  A friend is putting together a charity event, and is looking for donations for the raffle.  So I thought that I would finish the scarf, then donate it.  Then I realized that my plan required  me to actually finish the scarf.  I hate each and every row that I knit on it, but I am determined to finish the scarf, or at least make it long enough so I can stop whether I have run out of yarn or not.

Today, it is all about the recycling of old projects.

January Grays

A part of me is still a California girl at heart, especially in January.  I don't mind the cold weather, and I actually like snow, but January can a drain on anyone's cheerfulness.  After the bustle and colorful lights of December, January just seems so . . .  Janaury.  The weather is colder, the sky grayer, and there is not much to look forward to until spring. 

This year, it seemed like my knitting was gray too.  I was working on my brother's Smittens, in gray.  I was working on the last few inches of Celtic Sage, which is in a lovely sage green, but looked boringly gray.   Even my Wirbel was in a gray section of the color palette. 

I don't know what happened.  I have so many other things in progress.  So many shawls.  Pretty shawls.  Lovely colors, in beautiful designs.  Then this brightly rainbow ball of yarn jumped into my hands, and the next thing I know, I was knitting.  Making the pattern up as I went. 

Don't judge me. 

Today, it is all about the antidote to January. 

Down to the Wire

 Christmas knitting went down to the last minute this year, far more than normal.  I had an extra pair to make, but I had a good head start.  The first pair finished in record time.  The second pair was for my Sweetie's aunt, and I wanted to get it to her before the start of hunting season.  (Shotgun, to be specific.  Bow season started October 1st, but it was way too warm then to hunt for deer.) 

The third pair went much slower.   By last week before the kids were off school, I had barely started the last mitt.  The day before they had to deliver to their teachers, I still had half a mitt to go. 

I am pleased to announce, I DID finish in time.  Cast off around 10pm the night before. 

Just in time for delivery.   Both boys reported happy responses from their respective teachers.  So that makes the last minute deadline worth it. 

Today, it is all about the met deadlines.