FOs: Socks & Mittens

Hooray for new socks AND new mittens. Unfortunately it's been too cold to wear the mittens out. I've found that Patons CWM just doesn't stand up below freezing temperatures particularly well. So until the weather decides to get a bit warmer, I'll just be wearing them around the house on occasion! I still don't have a great photo of the Grove mittens. Also, it's true that it took me MONTHS to finish the Angee socks from Sock Innovation. I'm not too sure why. The pattern worked up quite easily. I think I just got caught up in other projects.





Currently I have a Seaman's Cap on the needles and really should be casting on for my nephew's baptism booties. I have the yarn and everything needed, I'm just lazy. It isn't happening until the first weekend of March so I've got a few weeks.

I really want to sew my own clothes. But I'm so scared of patterns. Ugh, how is one supposed to overcome this?

January ending

A post because I never post.

First off, a few book reviews. I finished My Sister's Keeper and could have thrown it across the room. I could not believe that it ended the way that it did. Really author? Did you have to go and ruin everything for me? I've read a few of Jodi Picoult's books before and I must have forgotten they are always so sad. It was a good read and refreshing to read about someone elses's insane life... even if it wasn't a true story. I also read Casting About, which isn't really worth talking about. It was quite a waste of time but I still read the entire book for some reason. Go figure. I've made another trip to the library and am taking on a new stack of books so I'll talk about this at a later time.

I'm nearly done knitting my Grove mitts. Just the thumb on the right hand to go and then I'll be finished. In time to enter them in the NaKniMitMo2011 group on flickr! I'm sure they won't get much attention but I made it my goal to finish them by the end of this month. I do enjoy the mitts however am not too keen on the yarn chosen. I think they would have been much better in Cascade 220 or Malabrigo. But I used what I had on hand and wanted something to match my Quincy hat anyway. I'm also nearing the toe on my second Angee sock. FINALLY. I never thought I'd see the day that happened. Tonight my sister-in-law asked me to knit a pair of booties for my nephew's baptism at the beginning of March. I feel honored, but am now in a panic. What pattern do I choose? Which yarn? Oh my. Thankfully booties are small and even if I spend weeks panicking, I will still have time to crank a pair out. I keep dreaming about knitting sweaters but my goodness, I must be the slowest knitter ever. And I never thought I was that slow. I can't even begin to figure out how some of these amazing knitters on ravelry create sweater after sweater after pair of socks! What?! You gals (and guys!) are my heros.

Still have plans to sew. Still have plans to learn to cook new delicious meals. So far this year I have been somewhat successful with a potato and leek soup. Not so successful with stuffed mushrooms. (However, it may be that we just don't like fungi around here.)

Moo wanted to pop in and see you off. Hope everyone is staying warm with all their wool goodies.

Reading & Knitting

I've been reading quite a bit. And wishing I was knitting more. Then trying to figure out how to read and knit at the same time. Eventually I'll figure it out. In the meantime, I'll write about what I just finished reading. I just finished "The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club" and while I thought it was a good, quick read I wouldn't recommend it if you were looking for something that had any meaning. It reminded me quite a bit of The Friday Night Knitting Club, but with an English twist. A good, ridiculous read if you just want to pass some time pretending you are in a different place. I'm currently reading My Sister's Keeper - which is definitely breaking my heart. In both a good and bad way. I'll let you know what I think once I finish it.

Knitting, I'm currently working on not enough. I wish I had at least two more projects on the needles right now. I'm way too anxious to have finished knits. My two main projects right now are Grove by brooklyntweed and Angee by Cookie A. Both patterns are stimulating enough, but I just have the urge to start a hat. And a Penelope the Empathetic Monster. And perhaps something from the MochiMochi book I checked out at the library. Here's a photo of Grove that I've got going. Not the best photo, nighttime knitting photo taken with my iPhone..


Life-wise, I'm most likely insane. It's getting close to being a year since I've lost my brother and sister-in-law and as much as I don't want it to affect me, it definitely is. My mind is constantly racing and I find myself fighting off those horrible feelings as I did before. A bit obnoxious and I wish I had more control over it. But how can someone control that type of situation?

Until next time!

Is that really you 2011?

I know, I always say it but it's so true. I am so terrible at blogging. But I'm going to try really hard to do better this year. Really. :) My other plans this year include knitting more, learning to cook better, reading more and worrying less. Probably a million other things but we will just start from there for now. So, because I knit so little this year I feel that I don't even deserve a mosiac to show off what I knit. However I do want to show off my new favorite hat!





The pattern is Quincy by the fabulous brooklyntweed. I used Patons Classic Wool Merino doubled because I loved the color and I had it in my stash. I'm not always a huge fan of Patons but this didn't turn out so bad. I absolutely loved the construction of this hat and it really jump started by urge to start knitting again.

I've also been sewing. Unfortunately I have no photos to show of that. I will also get better at taking photos of my sewing.

More to come soon.

Forgotten Blog

I have actually not forgotten about you blog. I've just been preoccupied.   Knitting news... hm, well I finished a hat for K. I'll have photos someday. And I am STILL working on Peggy Sue. The cables just slow me down so much. I've been dreaming about knitting other things but just haven't found the energy to do it. Although the temperature outside did drop about 25 degrees from what it's been the past month or so and it seems to have sparked my urge to knit again. I just don't want to mess around with yarn when it's 90 and humid outside. Ugh.

Because I can't leave a blog photoless, here is a photo of a diaper cake I made a few weeks ago.

An Important Date

This date is not important in a way you would want it to be important. It doesn't celebrate anything that you really want to remember. It's not a birthday. Or a romantic anniversary. It is six months since my brother and sister-in-law were taken from us. You didn't really need to tell me that for me to know, because that burning hole in my soul I felt when it first happened, came back with an insane amount of strength last night. And it's been hitting me on and off more often lately. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it's getting closer to my wedding day. I'm obviously aware that they won't physically be there with us... but now it just seems more real. More painful. More irritating. I'm not the most religious person, nor do I not believe in a God, but for the first time in my life I've been angry with him. Why why why. Why did he plan our lives like this? But when it really comes down to it, I'd say that God has provided quite a few other amazing things in my life to help me get through. My absolutely amazing family, and the strongest person I know, my dad. My dad who lost his first born son and his best friend. Who by no means is a young fellow, but somehow found the strength to pull through and support any of us who fall. Kevin... who has done so much for me, even though it may seem to him like he has done so little. He never gets mad when I just break down crying. Screaming. Panicking. Or when I wake up early in the morning upset. Or when I'm afraid of life. He's the most amazing gift that I've been given to help me pull through. My friends, my incredible work colleagues. Life, really. And it's hard for me sometimes to remember just how amazing a gift life is. Because I get so afraid. And so upset. I wish that no one had to ever feel this pain that I have. To know that I will never hug my brother again, or talk about sewing with my sister-in-law... even that I will never sing karaoke with my brother in my parent's basement again. (I NEVER do karaoke, I am the worlds worst singer) Life has presented me with quite a challenge. And I know I will overcome it, because there still is so much beauty in the world. And so much life to experience. Besides, I have a new nephew coming in November. November 5th, actually. Exactly nine months after this happened. So, life is still amazing. And I can't wait to have a new, tiny man in my life.

This one is for you brother. I'll see you again.

Three Months Later...

I really am the WORST BLOGGER EVER. But I swear I've been busy. And lazy. :D

But look, I finished another garter yoke cardigan. Of course it's messed up because at this point I was still purling wrong, which gave me twisted stitches. Still... it is finished. :)



We also went on vacation. To Memphis. And it was so amazing... and so good to get away from everything.





Did I mention I have TWO baby showers in the next three weeks? Better get back to knitting...