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Back from the Knitting Black Hole

December 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Shawl Progress, December 2011Well, now. I have no excuses for why it’s been so long since I’ve blogged. I have no excuse, other than the fact that this is a (mostly) knitting blog, and for the last several months, I’ve felt as if everything about my knitting has been anything but steady. My knit group had struggled over the last several months about our meeting place, and I’d been working on several projects that my heart hasn’t been in, so I rarely, if ever knit at all. In fact, over the last several months there would sometimes be weeks and weeks where no knitting took place at all.

So a new year is about to start, and our knit group is settling down in a new place (I hope) and I’ve decided to go back to what makes me happy. This means I only completed one charity scarf this year, and I am returning to my shawl, which I had set aside while trying in vain to be successful at charitable knitting. I think I’ve realized that charity knitting is not for me. It’s great for the people who can crank out so much knitting that giving away some of it only seems fair. I, on the other hand, have realized that I spend so little time knitting, that it’s becoming a miracle if I can complete more than one or two projects in a year. So, in order for knitting to make me happy, I have to knit what makes me happy. Does that make sense? So, back to the shawl it is. I hope that none of you get bored with me talking about it, because, well, it’s gonna be a while before it’s done.

There’s also been a lot going on that I haven’t blogged about. Like in November, when I went on my first-ever cruise, and Rick Springfield and Beeb Birtles happened to be there. i should really write about that, maybe, except that probably for most of the folks who know me, that whole story is old news by now. But, if you read this, and still want me to write about it, let me know, ok? And I will.

And then last week, there was a Christmastime tour of The White House. I once went to the White House when I was about 7 years old, but I barely remember it. Though, I do remember that it was at Christmas time, because I have a distinct memory of the Christmas Tree in the Blue Room. I was in Brownies then, only I was in a troop of all girls with disabilities, because the disabled girls were not permitted to join the other girl scout troop at our school. (Yes it was really like that in those days.) So, I think since we were a troop of all “special girls” the leader called ahead and arranged a meeting with the First Lady for us. (It was Mrs. Nixon; I’m getting old.) Other than the Blue Room I have almost no memory of this day, except that Mrs. Nixon gave us all gold pens with her name on them. So it was fun for me to go there, and I have pictures of that, too… perhaps I’ll post them here, though they are on my Facebook Page, if you want to peek.

But other than those events, my life has been fairly uninteresting and work has been fairly stressful, and so knitting has been stalled, thus, so has this blog. So, my resolution for 2012? To rediscover the joy of knitting, and to make it worth writing about. Are you with me? I hope so.

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Day Seven: Where Knit Happens (Usually)

April 3, 2011 By 3 Comments

How fitting that today is the last day of Blog Week, and I get to save the best for last. Today’s topic is about where we are when we engage in our craft. Not just in terms of place, but where we are in our minds. Is it part of a journey? A calming ritual? What is the space that this thing we so love occupies?

I’ve been a yarn crafter since I was 7 years old. Sure, it was a way to pass the time when I was alone, or watching TV, or contemplating the world. One of my most favorite solitary memories was the night I watched Daniel Day-Lewis win the Best Actor Oscar for what is one of my most favorite movies of all time. (Since he’s won two, you’ll have to click to see which one it is, though once you do, the answer will be obvious!) I actually MET Daniel Day-Lewis just a few weeks before the big event that year, as crazy as that sounds, but it’s true. It was one of the most memorable evenings of my life, when I attended a special screening of said movie, in Congress, no less. So, there I was several weeks later, cheering him on at the Oscars (from my couch), and crocheting a bedspread for my then-boyfriend-now-husband. At the time, I thought that was about as fun as yarn crafting ever got. Except there were times when I crocheted in the company of my grandmother, who was rarely without yarn in her hands, and of course, those memories are priceless.

Three years ago, though, I learned something really important. When you love something, you love it more when you can associate that thing with the company of friends. Over these last years I have made friends who otherwise would have been completely anonymous to me, but for the craft I would not now trade any of them for the world. Even when I do knit alone now, I am never really alone, because thoughts of the beautiful sweater that Tammy is making, or the funny joke that Julie told, or the heartache and hard times that unfortunately some are going through, but we lean on our friends and it somehow feels just a little better.

Knitting has given me the opportunity to make new friends, and feel connected to something larger than myself. And truly, that is what matters to me most about my craft. The connections.

So, please join me in celebrating just some of the hands that connect together and surround my heart. (As always, click to embiggen, click twice for full size)

Looking at these photos I can’t help but have the song “Hands” by Jewel running through my mind: “In the end, only kindness matters…”

And I hope for you that your knitting brings you also to that special place, whatever it is. For me, I’m forever grateful for the company of friends.

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Day One: A Tale of Two Yarns

March 28, 2011 By 3 Comments

So.

It’s Day One of Blog Week. Today’s topc? Yarn. I’m going to tell you about two yarns that I’ve gotten and attempted to knit the same project with them. Namely, the February Lady Sweater.

The first yarn I got for this project is TessYarns Raw Silk. I purchased it at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival several years ago. I got three HUGE skeins in a deep, navy blue:

TessYarns Raw Silk

TessYarns Raw Silk

Isn’t it pretty? I loved this yarn. It’s soft, and feels great in my hands as it is being knit. Which, unfortunately, doesn’t mean it’s a pleasure to knit with. I find it a little fussy and unforgiving. But it does make a beautiful fabric:

Raw Silk knitted up

Raw Silk knitted up

Still, I found it incredibly hard to work with. My first ball got all tangled up on itself inside and when I yanked on it at one point, three ends started coming out. Obviously, there’s a knot somewhere inside my giant yarn ball. I had someone working on it, but that was long ago and we gave up.

Also it was my first time doing buttonholes and they looked funny. Which wasn’t a reflection on the yarn as much as the knitter, but I think I will need to start this project from scratch and with another ball and then go back to my original yarn ball if and when I can get the knots out. Someday I will have my raw silk sweater. But, not just now.

Then I saw this other yarn on The Loopy Ewe website, and fell in love with it. It’s purple, of course:

Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Worsted, Purple Club

Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Worsted, Purple Club

I am finding this yarn dreamy to work with. It is wool, so very forgiving in the hands, and, did I mention it’s purple? That counts for a lot in my book.

Of course, I’m really bad at finishing anything. I’ve been working on it for more than a year, and it’s been on a serious break for about 6 months or more. I think I need to start working on it again if I am ever going to wear a February Lady. So, if this one is going so much better, why is it not done?

You know why? Because it’s not the yarn–it’s me. I’m bad at finishing anything. I think in all of 2010 I finished exactly one thing, and it was just a scarf. I’m coming to the realization that I like having knitting in my hands, love feeling yarn and playing with yarn, but I hate actually making things. Is that weird? I know that makes me a quintessential process knitter, but I’ve taken it to the extreme. And my own lack of stick-to-it-iveness has meant that I don’t have anything really to show for these two beautiful yarns. Except, I can tell you, they’re both wonderful.

Trust me on that. I guess maybe being beautiful is just enough for me. It doesn’t actually have to BE anything, except lovely to my eyes and soft in my hands.

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A Glutton for (Knitting) Punishment

March 26, 2011 By 1 Comment

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week is March 28 to April 3!

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week is March 28 to April 3!

It’s that time of year again! (What, already?!?) It’s time for Knitting and Crochet Blog Week! This was started last year by Mimi from Ravelry (Ravelry Profile Link), moderator of The Blog Hub group (‘nother Raverly link). I don’t know how or why exactly she started it, but I think that a) it helps people to get in the habit of doing more regular blogging, and b) it also promotes staying on topic while going in new directions on that topic, thus allowing people to get more creative with their blog’s content.

I mean, it’s good to have more than just the “here’s what I’m knitting today” kind of posts, isn’t it? Especially if you’re like me, a painfully slow knitter for whom the project progress photos all look the same if taken too soon one after another. Which is why I include family stuff and book reviews and occasional appearances by the cat on my blog. But Mimi has proposed topics that are all interesting and thought-provoking, so I’m going to give this a try again. I can’t promise a post every day, but I’m going to do my best.

Yes, I’m going to do it again, even if it kills me. Or rather, I have to find a way NOT to let it kill me. Last year, I did a post for every day of blog week (at least I think I did!) and by the time it was over, I was EXHAUSTED. Ever since that killer week I have, in general, blogged much less often. Now, as you can see, I’m making an effort to get back in the habit. I still won’t have daily project progress reports on this blog (“See that half row right there? That’s what I knit today!” Snore.), but it turns out that I do have lots on my mind all the time so I might as well share. Maybe it’ll be more family-related content from time to time, or more resources added to the other parts of this site. Whatever it is, it is my goal that you’ll be hearing from me more often again. And I shall try to keep it focused as much as possible on knitting, while at the same time not making it too boring for those who have never experienced the rapture of holding yarn in their hands.

A tall order? Maybe. But then, there’s Blog Week to get me started.

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Moving On…

March 20, 2011 By 1 Comment

You know, change happens all the time. You’d think that at 45, I’d be used to it by now, but I still find it hard. But, often it happens because it has to. Such is the case for my knitting group, which had been happily knitting away at our local Borders bookstore for the last three years.

Sadly, our Borders was one of the ones set to close with the company’s announced restructuring. We’ll miss it, for sure. The staff there was always friendly and accommodating, and there was never a shortage of knitting books and magazines nearby to encourage discussion or the starting of new projects, or the learning of new techniques. Over time our group grew from just a few regulars to more than 20 at most meetups, and no one on the Borders staff ever said we were taking up too much room, or too loud. In fact, another customer complained about us once to the staff, and that person told the customer in no uncertain terms that our group was always welcome and good for business! It was a rare and good situation.

But, move on, we must. So, we’ve started meeting in our local shopping mall food court. It has advantages and disadvantages. Food is a plus, or a minus, depending on which side of the scale you’re standing on; and the ability to spread out is also a plus or a minus. It’s easier to take up more room in the food court than it was in the cafe, which is helpful for working on larger projects, and there’s never a shortage of tables and chairs. But more space also means less intimacy, and I’m not as fond of feeling a little farther apart from my friends.

Then there’s the issue of the loud video jukebox in the food court, which I suppose is a source of easy cash for the mall (but does anyone actually use it, or is it just there, being loud?). I could do without that. But, the space is open and easy, centrally located, and free. Not to mention probably good business for the mall. I saw lots of our group making food purchases all throughout our meetup. So, while not our cozy little bookstore cafe, it’ll work for now.

I just hope, as someone who’s not a huge fan of change, that I’ll get used to it. At least I’ve got all my friends in it with me:

Speaking of change…

I’ve been playing with the format of the blog a bit. I was going to do something completely different, and I may still, but instead I upgraded my theme and redid the color scheme a little. I swear, one of these days, I’m really going to LEARN wordpress and how it works. It sure seems like the design possibilities are practically endless, and I’d love to challenge my brain a little. That is, if I could work up the energy…

Until then, I’ll just keep knitting.

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