Work In Progress

Anatomy of a Mud Run and sneak peek

Sorry for the long silence. I intended to post right before leaving for a work trip. Unfortunately I got a migraine that morning that sucked away several hours and so I just jetted away, without posting. But here's a gentle re-entry.

ANATOMY OF A MUD RUN

1. Sign up for 1/2 marathon during late Winter/early Spring.

2. It's more fun with friends. 

3. Run up exposed hill, but after all the fast runners, so it's nice and slick.  Try to get to a 'dry' ridge.  Miss.   4. Crawl under downed trees.

5.  Repeat.

6. Find running buddies. 

7. Attempt to run three abreast on a wet, two-butt trail.

8. Realize staying dry it futile. Unleash your child heart and run through puddles. 

9. Everything is better with aid stations and a support Partner. :) 

10. Commemorate occasion with friends.

11. Get ready for a shower.

12. That it... Repeat! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now, for something completely different... I may have been quiet on the blog, but much knitting has been happening.  Proof:

Girls Weekend

Last December I was already thinking that I didn't want to buy any yarn in 2012.  A good friend asked me about going to Stitches West. Obviously, I could demonstrate self restraint and just look and enjoy the weekend.  However, being honest about my lack of self control, I just knew that wouldn't happen.

So, instead we decided to do our own knitting retreat. Her SO is out of town for awhile, so I left Partner and Boy #2 to their own devices (which involved sloppy joes, pizza and John Carter) and headed south for three days.

This yarn went to it's new home (because yarn is my kind of hostess gift!) 

We are both nerds of extraordinary proportions. So, while we did some window shopping in her town, we spent most of the weekend knitting and watching Harry Potter. You can see our Saturday Evening of Indulgence:

I got a lot of knitting done, though I was slowed down by our nerd-tastic drinking game: a sip of wine anytime any character said "Snape" or "brilliant." Fortunately it was only for part of the 3rd movie and we aren't completely lacking in judgement, so it wasn't (quite) as bad as it sounds.

We started the visit at dinner so I cast on for a Beyond Puerperium for a little one that is arriving soon. By Sunday noon, when it was time to drive north, I had this: 

What a great pattern! And I have a story about the pattern I'll tell later.

Also, in an amazing achievement, I took my Mom's birthday present south and one more row than you see here: 

Became a sea anemone worn by my friend's kitty Merlin.

See all those stitch markers? 29 repeats. I haven't done nupps since my ill-fated adventure with Swallowtail.  In two days, I did 145.

Hurray for knit weekends!

Update on resolutions

Forcing my way back into the saddle. :)

Thank you for sticking with me for 30 days (more or less).  It was kind of a fun exercise, but I felt like I couldn't blog and answer everyone's comments.  So, I doubt I'll do something like that again, any time soon.  On the plus side, I had fun coming up with new ways to stage stuff (taking hat pictures in the dark) so hopefully some of that will influence later blog posts.

I've decided that one way to keep honest about my 2012 goals is to provide little updates here. So, here goes.  You may remember the list, I numbered everything so it will be an easier reference. 

1, 12 - Minimizing and reducing has been slow. We did a lot of cleaning inside the house, but kind of stalled out after that. We were going to do a garage sale this weekend, but we weren't ready and wanted to run yesterday.  Our garage frustrates and stresses me.  I really want it to go away.

2, 10 - Stress and anger - I don't know. This has sadly been a tough one for me. I know that there are some things in my life that keep me at a heightened frustration level. I am not sure what to do about that when it spills into other parts of my life. I've become the person that mutters (or yells, if there is nobody around) at the mistakes of other drivers. I'd like to be a more compassionate person. I'd hoped my word for the year would help with that but.... ehhh... kind of mixed results. Partner did send me a quote in January and I've made a copy and put it on my page finder in my organizer since it captures the benefits of calm so well -

When we are angry we are blind to reality. Anger may bring us a temporary burst of energy, but that energy is blind and it blocks the part of our brain that distinguishes right from wrong. To deal with our problems, we need to be practical and realistic. If we are to be realistic, we need to use our human intelligence properly, which means we need a calm mind.
~ HH Dalai Lama 

3. Shredding paper - pretty good. I try to go through the mail each day and either put in in a bills or file folder and then throw the rest in recycling.  I've kept paper from building up, but haven't done much to fix the backlog of paper we've accumulated.

4. Straightening each day - I am doing well on this one.  A few weeks ago, I tried setting a timer for 15 minutes and cleaning something extra each day.  Usually I do okay, but I get derailed easily during the week.

5. Weight - ugh! I ran my second 1/2 marathon of the year yesterday and I'm 5 pounds heavier today! I've been weighing myself on the 1st of each month and I am down 0.5 pound since the year started. That's disheartening.  I know this would be easier if I could reduce my stress level. I have also tried to exercise 5 minutes a day, if nothing else. This I have NOT been consistent on.  I'll try harder this month.

6. Sleep - Nearly every night I get 7 hours sleep. Hurray!

7. 1 project a month, 4,000 yards this year - I didn't get any projects done in January, but finished 3 in February.  My yardage is only at ~400 so that needs to increase. I cast on for a project this morning. It's for my mother's birthday so I need to get it done this month. All I can say is the only good thing about casting on 363 stitches is that at least I know the rows will only get shorter! 

8. I've read 3 books this year! They are all mind candy (read: simple) mysteries, but hopefully I can keep it up and step it up.

9. I will cook and bake more.  Nope, no I won't. Partner has picked up a job with more hours, so I'll likely be doing more cooking, but I've been resisting baking. It's hard to make the decision to do more work for food we don't need - cookies, etc. - when there is always so much else that needs to be done in the house.

11. Yoga - we took one class in January and then... nothing. Hopefully we can do better.

13. House - we haven't made a move on that

14. Run a trail marathon - nope, not yet. I really need to improve my fitness, get more consist in my work outs - I have to run more than one long run every other week - and I think losing the extra 20 pounds would all help considerably in meeting this goal.

15. Write a professional article - ugh.  Not yet.  I've had the idea in my head for years. But can't seem to buckle down and do it!

16. All paper in the filing cabinet - Nope, that would involve cleaning the garage.

17. I will not buy any "wants" in 2012. I had a couple slip ups in January, but February was truly a month of only buying what we need - food and things for the house. I've been very critical and have stopped myself from justifying "nice to haves" for the house.  I hope I can keep it up.

18. Job - well, I've shared a bit of our struggle, and things have not been decided. I probably won't talk a ton about that here, just to be on the safe side. However, I thank you all for your encouragement and good wishes.

Sweate Shoppe update

I know I've promised wedding pictures, and hopefully I'll have time this weekend. Unfortunately, the elves have been keeping me up to my eyes in yarn.

Last week I was up in Vancouver, Canada for work.  So close to Kate, but it ends up there was too much water in the way for us to meet up.  Perhaps next time!

While I was there I had a few extra days with my Mom. Here is Mom at the Museum of Anthropology.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to show you some pictures from our adventures.  No time tonight, I hear the elves wondering where i'm at already!

Since I knew I'd have a few days with no chores (tragically, all waiting when I returned), I knew I could make some serious progress on Christmas knitting.

I got hanks into cakes. 

I know it's a lot, right?  When I added up my possible Christmas yardage, I realized that I intend to knit about one-third of my annual yardage in about three weeks.  We'll see what drops off the table.

So, after six days in Canada, I did manage some progress!

Only one actual FO - a loofah for my brother.  It was so fast and I like the result so much, that I've changed up my sister's gift and she'll be getting a loofah as well.  I may, or may not, have knit on it a bit while taking a bath today - haha.  I'll tell you more about the pattern when my sister's is finished.

Works in Progress - July 2011

 So, in order to find my last WIP post, I had to go back a year! So much for that once a month 'keep me honest about what is on the needles' post!

1.  Mystery Stole #3: 
This: Has become:

The first time I've frogged a major project! You'll see in a bit what it has become...

2.  Crocheted blanket.  I still have yet to fix this hole.  Partner probably has given up hope.  Maybe keeping it here a bit longer will get me to fix it...      

3.  Green Tea Raglan.  I need to get some pictures up here and let you experienced folks tell me if it's salvagable.

4.  Felted slippers (rav).  I don't know where the single slipper is! These were supposed to be my Dad's father's Day gift.  Welll, actually, they were supposed to be his Christmas gift.  Ugh.

5. Next up: A toe up sock! I'm nearly done with the first sock and I could probably get the second one done in a day or two, but I need to, you know, knit.

 

6.  Mountain View Cardigan.  This has barely moved since last year.  Maybe I'll take this with me on a business trip I just found out I need to attend.

7.  Fall went by and I never did get this fall blanket together... maybe THIS should be my mindless project, instead of dishclothes. Really, how much easier can you get than miles of slip stitches or mattress stitch?

8.  I am finalizing a version of my first design.  It really isn't all that exciting, but I'm hoping that it works out and some people like it.

9. This little scarf is nearly done.  I started this three years ago and then ran out of the ribbon yarn which has also been discontinued. At Stitches West this year I discovered a bag of it and was able to pick up another ball for $3 (originally $12!).  I'm going to fringe this up and send it off soon.

10. Another scarf, nearly done. In fact, it probably is done, it just needs to be blocked.  I cast off on new year's day and have even warn it a few times.  But, at some point I found something that looks suspiciously like a dropped stitch. I think I dread blocking it and finding a dropped stitch nearly half way down the scarf.

11. Mystery Socks 2010. Really, letting these languish is a crime.  It's another great pattern from Kristen and more of Karin's amazing yarn. [tangent - I am so excited that I will get to meet Karin at Sock Summit!] I started these when I was sick on the plane back from Australia and became worried they were too big.  I now know that they fit just fine, I only need to finish them. Though, as my first pair on sz 0 needles and a 72 stitch cast on, it is slow going. But really....

12. Camilla. I frogged the mystery shawl when I was finally honest I was never, ever going to finish it.  I also realized that if I held it double, I could stay on my yarn diet and have the other yarn I needed for this:

 

My first colorwork!  Unfortunately, these seem a bit short.  I really really don't want to tear the tip out.  Will they stretch?  The thumb also sees a little off for my hand.  Perhaps I would have the sizing down better if this project wasn't also my first pair of mittens.

I did the entire first mitten in February, but the warm weather has added to a case of second mitten syndrome, a lesser-known affliction than its cousin, second sock syndrome.

13. I also have homework for Sock Summit.  Basically, knitting up the start of some socks for some of my heel classes.

Coming off the August 2010 list is: Ron's scarf.  I've also finished various projects that have been started and finished without ever making it to this list.  Maybe if I posted about them more than once a year....

Works in Progress - August 2010

**edited to remove some text... in case people have subscribed, this isn't a new post**

I haven't done this in a few months so I thought I'd see where I was at.

1.  Mystery Stole #3:  I moved this to a cable to retrieve the needles for my Mountain View cardigan.  I think more and more that I'm going to rip this out.
2.  Seascape.  Done! 

3.  Oakland Athletics supporter scarf.  I've been making a lot of progress on this.  I want to have it ready for September's games so I've been working on it between games.  There has actually been a lot of progress since this picture was taken two weeks ago.

4.  Gnomes tripped in the forest (these socks).  Done!

5.  Crocheted blanket.  Do you know, as I write this, I'm not sure where it's at.  I think it's a good thing that wool felts, as I have a feeling that's the only thing keeping this from being a worse disaster.  And since some of you ask, no, the hole is not part of the design... it's the problem that needs to be repaired.   Which means ripping out about 40 rows and the fringe from a queen size blanket.  

   
6.  Sag Harbor Shawl.  Done!

7.  Green Tea Raglan.  Do you think if I reblock it, it will fit?  Probably not.  I may have to frog it.  Maybe I'll keep the sleeves and just try to reknit the body?  What do you think?

8.  Mystery project #1.  This was the Luminous Scarf and it's done!

9.  Mystery project #2.  This became partner's successful Christmas Koolhaas.

10.  Mystery project #3. This was Koolkaas for Boy #2 and is done!

11.  Mystery project #4.  See WIP project 9 above.  Dum da dum.  Nothing to see here.  Move along.

12.  Sue Trout hat. - Done!

13.  World War II watch cap - Done!

14.  Felted slippers (rav).  Well, the one completed slipper is still around.  So, apparently there is a person that will fit in these.  I really need to get on these... of course, our washer seems to have gone on strike today, so it won't be felted any time soon.

15.  January dishcloth KAL.  Done!  

16.  Mountain View Cardigan.  

What?  You didn't really think I'd bury a true progress shot in this post, did you? This is a shot of the back that I took while we were in Mt. Shasta.  I'm pleased with the lace definition.  Don't worry, there is more progress than this photo, but work has slowed considerably.

17.  So this WIP should have been in here back in January, but I had forgotten all about it.  Back when I crocheted, I used to take part in the occasional square exchange.  Basically, the colors and size of square was set and each person makes 16 - 24 squares and mails them out.   There were usually about 6 colors and there was no requirement on using all the colors, how much to use et cetera.  The only required color was the outside edge so the squares could be easily put together.  This was the square I made:

I was reminded about this when we were cleaning the garage and I found all my squares from the last exchange.  A fall blanket, all I need to do is crochet my squares together.  Of course, the squares are 12x12 inches square and this was a 24 square exchange, so there is a bit of yarn involved... This is the stack of squares on a kitchen chair.

18.  I'm traveling to D.C. next week.  Third time this year.  I used to get a lot of reading done during airplane flights, but now it's knitting.  I'm going to take two different patterns.  One will probably be a shawl, if I can get gauge.  I really want to make Wandering the Moors.

19.  The second project is a small design that has been rattling around in my head.  I think I've figured out the last bug, so I'm going to try to do it while I'm in D.C.  It's in a cotton yarn, so I think it will make sense in humid D.C.

So, a surprisingly few number of WIPs.  I think I've actually completed about as many of my WIPs as new projects I've started. 

Not that I'm under illusions it will stay that way.  I bought the Fall 2010 Knitscene.  There are so many great patterns I want to knit.  I love the thalweg socks, bryophyta cowl and mitts - which I'll admit are gorgeous but I doubt I'll ever knit, the typha scarf, xenocryst hat, brise soleil cardigan, northumbria cowl, oscilloscope shawl, dorflinger tee, gwynedd hat, quantoid hat, and balsam jacket.  Seriously, if you have Ravelry, it'll be faster just to follow this link and click around. Yeah.  All those for eight dollars.  A friend just sent an email  that she's having a baby girl.  She lives in Florida, but I'm seriously considering making the gwynedd hat for a little girl.  That's not crazy, right?  And, since I started this update, a guy at work found out his wife is pregnant.  I guess I'm getting the random pregnant woman I asked for!

Works in Progress - January 2010

I've been trying to decide how to do this, and so, I've decided that I'm just going to do consecutive numbering through the year and mark things done as I get there... I think that will work.  I have not been photographing my yarn... I can't decide if I want to group by weight or type.  Okay, that's an excuse, I've just been lazy.

1.  Mystery Stole #3:  No progress.  Zip. Zero. Nada.

2.  Seascape.  Done!  Woot! (<--- whatever that means, I just know it's an exclamation of joy)

3.  Oakland Athletics supporter scarf.  See item #1 above.   

4.  Gnomes tripped in the forest (these socks) I ripped.  I did it.  I started working on these while we were coming back from Mt. Shasta.  It was a little painful, but I made it through.  I did an extra repeat on the one sock and then started restarted the other one.  I'll have a picture update next time.

5.  Crocheted blanket.  Uh hum.... I don't think moving this blanket from room to room counts as progress...  

 
6.  Sag Harbor Shawl.  Okay, I finished the fringe... about an hour's worth of work.  Then I washed it... and forgot to block it.  So, it needs to be wetted again and blocked.  I'm a horrible friend. 

7.  Green Tea Raglan.  We will not speak of this project.  We'll pretend it doesn't exist.  Trust me, we will stay friends longer.

8.  Mystery project #1.  This has been designated the April project for 2010 knitting goals.  I can therefore ignore it for a bit longer.

9.  Mystery project #2.  This became partner's successful Christmas Koolhaas.

10.  Mystery project #3. This is going to be a Koolhaas for Boy #2.  Because a sixteen year old boy asked for a knitted item!  Here is the yarn and pattern book:

Oh, pardon me.  Beckerman thought it would be a good time to jump in the chair, apparently.  Here's another attempt:

 

I already have the original project magazine, but this new Accessories edition is packed full of patterns... some awesome patterns that I've coveted for awhile.  So, if you missed Koolhaas the first time, it's in this magazine.  If you want a lot of nice, small projects, this is a publication you should seriously consider.  Oh, and the yarn is actually more tweedy and sage than this.  It's City Tweed DK Splash yarn.  I'm gambling that I did the math right on the last one and only need one ball!

11.  Mystery project #4.  See WIP project 9 above.  Dum da dum.  Nothing to see here.  Move along.

12.  Sue Trout hat. - Done!

13.  World War II watch cap - Done!

14.  Felted slippers (rav).  Here is an update:

What is that you say?  Three guesses. 

You'll never guess. 

It might be more familiar as the toe of this:

You see the size comparison?  Yeah.  I have a size 8 foot.  I'm pretty sure my friend's foot is the same size or smaller.  That thing on the right has been felted seven EIGHT times.  Partner independently took it to the laundromat, washed it and put it in a very hot dryer.  I think it helped.  But not enough.  The thing is, I don't know if it's the yarn or my knitting.  A friend asked if I had enough space between stitches.  But I got gauge.  So maybe it's the yarn.  But the spinner said it was feltable!  Either way, I think I need to start over.  But I don't know if I should try with this yarn again.  Thoughts?

15.  January dishcloth KAL.  What a fun idea, a dishcloth a month.  This is a KAL with which I can keep up.  And check out her other really awesome dishclothes.  Fun, practical knits.

So, I've also decided to keep track of yards knit.  Because maybe it will reign in my purchasing.  Though, probably not.  Especially considering that I gave in and ordered another 880 yards of sock yarn.  Check it out, a free skein of sock yarn with purchase!  I love Karin's colors!  They are so beautiful and interesting and I've seen some great projects with her yarn.

So, yarn count for 2010 includes Sue Trout, World War II watch cap and 20% of Seascape... 467 yards.  Huh.  Well, it's been a satisfying 467 yards...

Until next time. I'm off for the weekend for a mystery date... the plane leaves in 8 hours.  I guess I should sleep before then!

Works in Progress - December 2009

Alright, so it's time to come clean (and remind myself) about the works in progress.  I'm thinking that this will become a monthly feature, but if it becomes too repetitive - read, if I continue to knit slowly and start other projects while ignoring others - I'll lengthen the timeline between updates.  Please excuse some of the bad pics... indoors during the winter.

1.  Mystery Stole #3:  I'm a little ashamed to admit that this is still on my needles.  If only to recover my only set of Addi Turbos, this three-year-in-the-making project should be finished.  This was my first "real" lace project and I suffered.  Well, I thought I suffered, but after Swallowtail nupps, I'm thinking this isn't as bad as I remember.  I believe I set this down three years ago in an ill-fated attempt to make a pair of socks for my Mom.  I really need to get a picture of those socks... there is a lesson for other sock makers in that knit, folks....  But, back to the current longest work in progress....

I think one reason that I've not picked this back up is that after the final clue was posted with the alternative, two-wing version, I regretted that I hadn't done that version.  Others would think I'd barely started so I could just rip it out and start over.  Not me.  I knit so slowly that I'm loath to rip any project.  I don't like to admit that I've made a mistake. I'm also a little ambivalent about the full pattern for me.  Would I wear it?  Is it worth the effort?  All that said, I actually think this knit is ingenious and even with only one wing, it would still be pretty stunning... I love the various details...

2.  Seascape.  This knit was started last October.  I think this yarn captures the idea of stormy seas which is why I paired it with this pattern.  Partner bought this yarn because, I "seemed like I'd been sad lately and [he] thought this would cheer [me] up."  874 yards of handpainted Misti Alpaca.  Yeah, he's pretty awesome.  I think the local yarn stores love him too.

I can hardly wait to finish this knit.  I'd hoped to have it done by this Christmas.  Okay, let's be honest.  I'd hoped to have it completed by last Christmas.  However, I don't know if it  is going to be possible to get it done this year.  I decided to do 7 repeats of the center pattern instead of 5.  I'm on repeat 6, so there is a small glimmer of hope.  I would like to wear this for the holidays.

3.  Oakland Athletics supporter scarf.  Basically, I stopped working on this when my team stopped working at baseball.  We could debate if that was April, June or August, but the last serious knitting was September.  I started this at the beginning of the season and worked on it faithfully during every game that we attended.  But it still wasn't done before the end of the season.  I hope that it might be done by next season.  This is a modification of the Domiknitrix Thin Mints scarf.  I'm using (rav) cashmerino that I got at Stitches West a couple years ago during the last day.  About 800 yards of cashmerino for $12.

4.  Gnomes tripped in the forest.  I am both very happy and very unhappy with this project.  I started these socks in Australia.  Somewhere in the past couple months I've turned a corner and the speed of my knitting has picked up.  In 3 days - vacation days, mind you - I got this far:

I was knitting from both ends of the cake to reduce SSS.  But I began to realize that one half of the skein was very different from the other.  Look:

One sock has beautiful, deep gem colors.  The other is adequate with pretty colors. 

Some will say , "that's handpainted yarn."  I say, it makes a big, deep pile of disappointment.  Especially when you don't like the second half of the skein.  But the pattern if fabulous, shows off the colors well, and is super quick.  The plan is to rip the sock on the right, do the leg in the pretty colors and then do the bottom of both socks with the yarn from the end of the skein.  Yeah, there's that word again - rip.  So they've sat, untouched, since October.

5.  Crocheted blanket.  There was a time when I crocheted.  It would be the time from when I was eight until I was 30.  Then the wicked women of my crafting group sucked me into knitting.  This was the very last thing I ever crocheted.  

Unfortunately, it has experienced a tragic encounter with a cold mouse. 

I can only hope it was a pregnant, hungry mouse with many mouse mouths to feed.  Because if this was just a lazy mouse, he doesn't even understand the work that is involved in this fix. 

6.  Sag Harbor Shawl.  All that remains is the fringe.  All that's remained for about 3 months is the fringe.  It should be wrapped around someone's shoulders right now.  For personal pride, if nothing else gets done, I will make sure this is done before the next update.

7.  I may need to cry.  Okay, that may be a bit too dramatic.  But I started putting this post together yesterday, thinking I'd get the list done and then go to bed.  Which I did.  And then remembered this project.  My very first sweater.  My first ridiculously expensive yarn purchase.  I was SO EXCITED about this project.  I modified the pattern, I substituted yarn, I hunted for almost 6 months for the yarn I wanted on sale.  I cast on immediately.  I ripped out 5 inches of the body and started over when I realized that I was still not good at patterns and so, missed that I was supposed to be decreasing twice on each side.  I worked seed stitch for 21 inches.  And this is what it looks like now:

And what it has looked like for nearly 9 months.  Because, you see, when I blocked this so it would be easier to join the sleeves, I discovered that blocking had turned this from a fitted beautiful sweater into some bizarre travesty of a sweater dress.  A sweater dress for a cold prostitute because it's just long enough to not be a sweater and just short enough to get most people arrested. 

I have been unable to decide what to do.  Do I really rip a year of planning, swatching (I'd never swatched before -fat lot of good it did me), and tens-of-hours of knitting?  Do I reblock it to see if it can be saved?  Bah.  Can I cry just a little? Or at least whimper.

8.  Mystery project #1.  This was supposed to be a Christmas present, but I think know that it has shifted right on the calendar.  For a second year.  Sigh.

9.  Mystery project #2.  It's Christmas time, after all!  This is all I can say at this point.

10.  Mystery project #3. See WIP project 9 above.

11.  Mystery project #4.  See WIP project 9 above.

Okay, so there they are.  Wow!  I didn't even realize there were that many!  Now you know what you have to look forward to in the coming months.  Oh, except, I'm not that disciplined in my knitting.  I have a tendency to start random projects while other, more pressing projects, wait.  And in the new year, I have some plans.  Mad knitting plans, I tell you.