hi blog, I miss you!

Well, it's been a while since I spent some time around here. {Wipes a few cobwebs away ...}

I keep thinking of posts in my head, and then wondering how I could possibly catch up on everything I've done in the months that I've missed. Well, I guess I have to start somewhere.

So where?

Let's see ...

I taught myself how to crochet for the potholder swap!

After a four+ year hiatus, I started swimming again. And lost ten+ pounds. (Many more to go!)

I knit a sock.

And made some other stuff too.

I'm up to Day 191 on my Project 365 over on Flickr, and I'm having a ball with it. Drop by if you want to see what I've been up to! I do miss blogging, though. Mainly because I miss all of you who aren't on Flickr. I read your blogs, but I also like to tell you what I've been doing :) So, I'm going to try to pop in here a bit more regularly.

on blogging ... and knitting

Welcome, 2009! How ya doin'? Me, I'm good. I've been enjoying a nice few days off this week, and not looking forward to restarting life-as-usual soon.

In the meantime, I noticed that this here blog has been rather neglected (only 5 posts since October!). I've instead been spending most of my internets time reading your blogs, and playing on flickr and ravelry and twitter.

I mentioned a while ago that I've been doing a project 365 over on Flickr. I'm having a good time with it, and have finished the first 3 months or so. I've also started to write a whole lot more on my pics over there. Mini-blogging, I guess.

And then, despite my best attempts to avoid it, I got sucked into twitter too. Micro-blogging.

I really don't have enough time to be quite so socially-networked, or enough discipline to walk away when I shouldn't be playing around online.

Anyways, back to this blog, which is ostensibly a knitting blog. So, what have I knit recently? Lots of good stuff! (FYI, I'll spare you the details, and just post pretty pics. But if you want more info, it's all on my Ravelry projects page.)

I've been test-knitting Elinor's Grow Like a Weed Jacket, and it's almost done!

At my mom's request, I made her an eggplant hat. Of course, now she wants mittens to match!

Dad got a pair of socks for Christmas:


My FIL got a single mitten. I still need to knit the other one!


My MIL got some socks ... well, a promise to knit socks. She picked the Conwy pattern from Knitting on the Road, and I think it will work well with this yarn, although I'm already afraid of running out when I get to the toes.


I'm swatching for a sweater for my dad. I'm designing it myself, so it's not going anywhere fast.


I also started a pair of socks for my sister-in-law, with some yarn that MiniKate gave me for my 30th birthday last year.

Whew! I guess I have actually been knitting! I have lots of other projects calling out for attention, but I want to finish these ones first. Then, in 2009, a stranded yoke sweater for me, and some more socks. That's as close to a knitting resolution as you're going to get.

can't talk, busy knitting

Silly me decided to knit Christmas gifts for all 4 parents this year. I'm not sure how that's going to work out, but here are some sneak previews:

Socks for my dad:

A lined hat for my mom (click through to Flickr for details):

Socks for my MIL:
I think I need to buy yarn for these. See, she's a sock knitter too, so I want to make sure to use something really nice. And then I need to choose a pattern! Hmmm...

Mittens for my FIL:
These ones were a well-received gift 3 years ago, but apparently he doesn't wear them much because he's afraid of ruining them! I'm thinking of a pair of simple stranded mittens. Maybe these, no pompoms? Any other suggestions?

a triple win - you, me, and those in need

Around the holidays each year, my thoughts turn to charitable giving. I am blessed to live a comfortable life, and I am grateful that I have enough discretionary income to knit, spin, take photos, and travel to see my fiber friends. Yet I know that there are many who struggle to afford even the basic needs of life.

This year, with especially difficult economic circumstances, food banks are anticipating greater demand for their services this winter. In lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts, my extended family is donating cash to a food bank instead.

I thought this would also be a good opportunity to do some destashing. I've gone through my stash to see what I can part with, and I will donate 50% of the asking price to a food bank.

This is a triple win!

• A win for you, because you get some new yarn but know that half of that price will go to feed the hungry.
• A win for me, because I get to clear out my stash and make a bigger charitable donation this year.
• A win for the food banks, because cash is the most valuable donation they can receive. With cash, they can buy food at wholesale prices. Not only can they get more "bang for the buck" at wholesale prices, but they can also buy items that they need the most.
  

Take a look at what I’ve got for sale in my stash for sale page on Ravelry, and remember that half of that price will go directly to a food bank to help the hungry during the holiday season!

Lots of good stuff is there ...


And more!

PM/email for more info or shipping prices. Thanks for looking!

last seen on September 23 ...

... the Orange Julius socks.

I'm pleased to say that they are now done!

These are part of my rainbow of socks:

And I'm onto the yellow ones now ...

rockin' the vote

I voted today, and I hope you did too. I won't say much, because Carolyn and Carole said it better than I could.

At 7:15 this morning, we waited in traffic that stretched for nearly a mile. (8/10 to be exact).

We cast our votes. But stickers were not given out at our polling place. I think I'm the only knitter who didn't get a sticker.

Maybe I should follow Maritza's lead and make my own.

{Oh, breaking news, Obama just projected to take Ohio! Back to CNN ... see you tomorrow, to celebrate, I certainly hope!}

you would think ...

... that with a shiny new camera, I would take more photos of the knitting, yes?

Sadly, no. I've been taking lots of photos of myself, but not so much of the knitting. I've finished a sweater and a pair of socks that you've seen in progress, but no photos. I also whipped up a quick hat for charity and started swatching for a sweater, but no new pictures of these either.

I'll make it my mission to get some decent pics in the next few days, but these dark days are such an obstacle ... (Hey, a photo of me modeling an FO counts as a self-portrait too, right? It's a two-fer!)

What else have I been up to recently?

Well, laundry, for starters ...

And yardwork ...

And a bit of quilting ...

Tonight, I'm off to go knit with friends, and I am SO looking forward to an evening of friends, food, and fiber. Ciao!

bleargh

So, you were all looking for a Rhinebeck wrap-up, right? Here's the quick version: I went, I saw friends, had drinks, bought yarn, and came home. Last year, I was all about the fiber buying, as I had a new wheel at the time. This year, it was about seeing friends and perhaps making a few new ones.

I had a fabulous time. And now I'm paying the price ...

... home sick with a cup of tea.

Thank goodness for Flickr, Ravelry, and Bloglines to keep me amused, because daytime television is crap.

Oh, and what did I buy? Not much! I'm fairly restrained at festivals.

These skeins from Zeilinger's are destined to be a stranded yoke sweater, along with another darker color for the body.

I also got a single skein of some yummy, squishy soft merino from Punta Yarns:

And some sheep:

Also, although not shown, 4 ounces of natural colored merino roving to practice woolen-style drafting.

Now, back to loafing on the couch. I think it's time for another cup of tea.

stand up and be counted

Yeah, so I guess I never mentioned that I'm going to Rhinebeck this year. I have a sweater that is incredibly close to done (as in, just a few buttons to sew down), and I'm hoping to finish it tonight. Maybe photos tomorrow?

Who else will I see? I know from conversations (irl, or over email) that many of you are coming, but I'm not exactly sure who. So, leave a comment if you'll be there!

I told a colleague about plans for Rhinebeck. I may have mentioned that there would be yarn, wool, and adult beverages. Her comment was

Sheep and booze don't mix well. Be careful.

In the meantime, I've been playing with these ...

Details later, or click over to Flickr for more pics.

And, umm, did I mention that I decided to join Project 365?

wrapping up the Mafghan

A long time ago, I told you about a project that I started for a friend. An afghan, made with love by friends near and far. An expression of support during a tough time. A Mafghan, if you will.

It was supposed to be a surprise, but I gave it to her before it was finished, because she needed to know about it and about all the people who cared about her. I think she liked it. Then I took it back to complete.

Well, I finished the Mafghan a long time ago, but never posted. And I never thanked all of you who contributed to the project. The final result was a huge blanket (and 2 pillows!), and it is more beautiful than I ever could have hoped. Yes, I think she really liked it.

A big THANK YOU to all of the following wonderful people:
Erin Abby Debbi Annie Suzanne PatchesMom1973 Manise
Bertha Suzanne Kathode Ray Tube Sparkles Alison Becca Deidre Anne
Maryse Thorny Jess Mel somebunnyslove Beth S. Wenders Sneaksleep
Elinor DeltaDawn Maryse Pam Femiknitter Kelly Suzanne Julia FC
Lucy Chris Q Laura Sharon Haddy Etherknitter Emily Karen
Kelly Kathy Lucy Alex Lucia Kat Claudia Britt Suzanne
Suzanne Katie Christy Cetta Alison no-blog-Rachel PumpkinMama Cynical Knitting Gal
Brenda Ruth Kit Britt Amy PiGrrrl LauraC Erica
Katie Lisa Annie Francesca Kate Danielle Julie Kim
Sara Mary Lindsey Knitopia roro HoneyBee Rhonda the Stitchingnut Linda

In case you are wondering about the order in which the names are listed ... they are arranged according to the layout of the squares. So, Erin made the square at the top left, Manise at the top right, Linda at the bottom right, etc. If you click the photo, it will bring you to the Flickr photo -- leave a note with which one is yours if you want! (Also, there is a Flickr set with photos of each individual square up close.)

And thank you also to PainterWoman JulieFrick and Julie S. who weren't able to knit a square, but sent yarn for the borders and seams. And to Cheryl, who taught several of us a new way to seam :)

Indeed, she liked it.

Some of you have asked me recently about the Mafia and wondered how she was doing. Some of you were concerned because she hasn't been around online very much. Rest assured that things are going well for her! If you want to leave her a note in the comments, I'll nudge her to stop by and check them out.

So, with this post, I now consider this WIP to be a FO.

Mafia, with best wishes for much happiness and good health -- enjoy!