Madness

Anyone who knew me and saw me at Walmart last night was certain to think that I has completely descended into madness. That could be the only explanation for one of my purchases. 

A child plastic knitting machine. but,fear not, there is a method to my madness. I have been wanting to dye some gradient yarn. So speedknitting the yarn into a tube will make it far more manageable. 

The person who composed this sticker, on the other hand, has clearly lost all sense of reality, as the word "quality" should never be used next to "Red Heart yarn".

Today, it is all about the madness in all forms.

Choices

Sometimes, life is about choices. And attitude is REALLY about choices. So as we are on the last three hours of a week-long road trip, I am choosing not to focus on the negative, and emphasize the positive. 

For instance, I had a wonderful second day at Disneyworld Magic Kingdom, and am ignoring the tantrums that my stepfather-in-law threw the first day that were ten times worse than anything from the five and six year old children. (I have to confess that Disney turns me into big kid anyway.)

I am also focusing on the fact that I am at the halfway mark on the Laughingbird, and conveniently forgetting how many times I lost the instruction or a needle somewhere in the minivan. Even the horribly obvious knot in the yarn worked to my favor, since it was near the end, and I could just call that skein done. I am not running short of yarn, so those missing few yards of yarn are not required. 

And I am choosing not to focus on the fact that I spent hours researching how Disney works, and the best route to take, and possible fun stops for everyone else's interest: hunting/fishing for men of all ages, classic cars for my mother-in-law, Lego for little kids. So on the last few hundred miles, when I found a little yarn store a half mile from the interstate and 3/4 mike from a Harley store so others wouldn't be bored while I spent a half hour  breathing wool fumes, and the 78 year old baby in the car said that we didn't have time . . . Sorry, there really isn't a silver lining in that one.  Other than my sweetie and I have bonded nicely over our mutual irritation over his stepfather. 

Today, it is all about the power of positive thinking. 

Cursed technology

Once upon a time, knitters didn't use advanced technology. 

Once upon a time, a knitter could imperfectly remember how long something had been in progress. Sure, there would some milestones that could give hints when projects were started: the ages of children, etc. But, really, unless you took notes, your mind could minimize how many years it has been in progress. 

Now, there are apps and ravelry. Sure, they are wonderful resources: pattern/yarn browsing, organization, and such. Until you reach the hidden snarkiness. When you create a new project, you give the start date. A firm, unmoving, unerring date, that comes back to haunt you. 

As I used the row counter app on my phone, I realized that I started the Laughing odd Scarf in November of 2012. Twenty inches of scarf, in two and a half years. That really is embarrassing. 

There were a few others from that era. Just when I was staring to waver on the 2 for 1 vow, I am reminded why I made it. Too many things in progress for two many months, we, years. 

Though, I think that the fact that I am blogging on my phone from the inside of a moving van challenges my point. 

Today, it is all about the tech. 

Same ol', same ol'

A downside of the 2 for 1 vow is that it leaves very little to blog about. 

A couple more inches on the Laughingbird Scarf. 

Placemat #3 finished. Placemat #4 started. 

A couple rows further on Celtic Sage. 

Another endless row on the pink ruffle.

Everything I am working is more of the same. Even Celtic Sage is at a wash-rinse-repeat stage right now. 

It makes for nice knitting, but boring blogging. 

Meanwhile, I have three or four new projects percolating in my gray matter. A swirl charity baby blanket. . . Multiple lacey shawls/shawlettes. . . 

Then, I had a request. A request from my little brother. (He is over 40, and over a foot taller than me, but I still call him my little brother.)  He wants a Lovers Mitten. You know, a mitten with room for two hands, so you can hold hands and still be cozy warm.  I pointed out that required three mittens: two for the other hand. He requested five mittens, so hands could still be cozy warm when single. The only thing that saved him from being bonked on the head with a rolled up newspaper is that he asked for thick wool yarn, and gave me creative license. Oh' my creative juices started flowing. Some stripes? Cables? Textures? This could be fun, but I have two projects to finish before I can start. Four, if I get distracted by more lace.  

Today, it is all about the limiting vow. 

The Perfect Accompaniment

Last Friday, I stopped to get new books for the little guys, and realized that I had a hold available.  Season 4: Game of Thrones.  Yippie!  I didn't know it was there waiting for me.  I hadn't even gotten the text yet.  I almost didn't stop by.  I. .  .I. . . I. . . Yippie!

So this past weekend, I spent a shocking amount of time hiding in the bedroom, and watched the entire season.  In addition to the usual child caring duties, cooking, cleaning, laundry.  I am not sure how I did it, other than I gave up a lot of sleep. 

Game of Thrones has become my newest guilty pleasure.  I find it rather condescending about women (they are either queens or whores, really)  and horribly violent, but I still can't wait to start the next episode.    

I don't have HBO, so have to wait until I can get the DVD's from the library, but I am officially caught up.  For a month at least, I understand Season 5 is looming. 

Some shows are not knit-friendly (ahem, Sherlock ), but this one is, as long as the knitting isn't too complex.  I spent 10 episodes knitting on my pink ruffled scarf, the sequel.  The last version ended up way too ruffly, and sitting on top of the garbage can.  So much for following the pattern, I started again with my own design, correcting the mistakes made in the pattern. 

The part that I can't correct is that ruffles and have a mind-numbing amount of stiches, yardage and work.  I don't know why I keep forgetting that in the planning and dreaming stages.  I dream, I plan, I cast on, and suddenly there are 800 stitches on the needles, with more increase rows to come.  Sure, you start with a manageable number of stitches (200) then the numbers increase exponentially. 

I have increased twice over, and am nearly to the point where I need to decide if I want to increase again.  The yarn is so grabby, I think I am just going to take a hefty portion off the needles, and see how full the ruffle is right now.  No worries about dropping stiches.  This yarn is VERY clingy.  I am tempted to make something lacey out of it (since I still have a couple miles of yarn left), but every yarn over and decrease would have to be perfect.  Tinking is not an option. 

Still, it endless stockinette rows were perfect to accompany medieval intrigue. 

Today, it is all about the pairing. 

Inexplicable

Eager to cross one more project, I am focusing on projects that are close to completion. At least, in theory. I have spent seemingly hours upon hours knitting this scarf. And it is a mere 15 inches long. 

I don't understand. I am knitting on Size 8 needles. The pattern is not particularly difficult. It makes no sense. I should have a finished scarf ages ago, but the tape measure doesn't lie. 

I really need to finish two projects: so I can start something new. I have been wearing Purple Annis with my suits, and I want more delicate lacey shawlettes. 

Today, it is all about the knitting that defies the laws of logic. 

Good Husband, Happy Knitter

It was my birthday this week, and my sweetie did well. When I got home from work, I found my mother and in-laws there, and my sweetie had even baked a cake! Eight years together, and this was the first time he had baked. He forgot the put icing between the layers, but it was delicious. 

Plus, there was a large box from Knitpicks. A winding kit. Swift, winder, scale, and measurer. And a gift certificate for yarn!  It is nice to know that when I leave pages open on the IPad, with a list of suggested gifts, he is smart enough to choose one of them. 

Today, it is all about the new toys.