Sorry, I didn't give up on the game, but rather got sick the day I was coming back from my business trip. Unfortunately, time wouldn't wait and I kept moving when i should have slowed down. I'm feeling better today but planning a very quiet and slow day.
So, to catch up, a bit of a cheat. Two pictures of similar things for Day 15 & 16.
Not quite a new skill, but definitely one still in need of much practice and work.
Intarsia -
and the texture that results
I talked a little about my crafting chair on Day #1.
When I graduated college and had no furniture except a bed and desk, our long time neighbor offered me a chair "until I got stuff of my own." It was "an old thing," "not too nice, but sturdy" and was "dirty from being in the garage." Years before her husband had fallen asleep and dropped a cigarette on the footstool.
Basically it was worn out and dirty and looked kind of grungy.
I think the nubby fabric doesn't help so it's just gotten dingier and dingier. I thought years ago about replacing it, but it's super sturdy and I can curl up in it. About 4 years ago when I didn't have a bed for a few weeks, I slept on it and it was super comfy.
Partner has talked about re-covering it, but we've never gotten around to it. He says the burn looks tacky. I'd say it gives it charm - which it does - but I do agree it's a tiny bit tacky. And it's gotten worse now that the cats play with the filling.
But, when you're sick, there is no better place to curl up with soup and a book. Or knitting. Or to just surf the web. Or watch a movie.
Here is The Chair in all it's glory.
Bring on the nerd, the type A, the control freak, the neurotic.
You know what puts me 'in the mood' indoors?
A clean house. I don't feel the guilt of conflict of should I knit or clean? I should move that before I work on that sweater. I should do... something other than relaxing and knitting.
I feel guilty knitting when I can see a mess. But when the house is clean, I knit, knit, knit.
I think it's one of the reasons I do so much knitting when I'm traveling for work. For one thing, it's only one room. And two, someone else does the cleaning.
It's so nerdy relaxing.
And Beeyore just makes me smile and feel at home, even when I'm traveling.
I have a friend that has recently taken up knitting.
You'd really find her annoying if she wasn't so nice. Because, she's only been knitting 18 months and she's working on Kate Davies Boreal. And that's sweater three, or something like that. That's not normal, not in my world. But she spreads her love of knitting so far that you can't help but find her and her crazy-good knitting wonderful.
A few months ago, she realized she needed some stitch markers. And, being the multitalented person she is, she of course decided to make some.
And send me some as well. Handmade skull stitch markers. And giraffes. I think they are so cool.
Right before Christmas, Lily France gave away a cute little knit. I wanted to knit it but was bogged down in Christmas knitting. I promised myself it would be a treat when I was done with holiday knits. Little did I know about The Neverending Mittens of Doom.
And at Christmas my Mom gave me some 100% alpaca and I knew I wanted to pair the pattern and yarn.
About a week ago, I couldn't take it any longer. Screw TNMofD! I did manage to finally finish the mitts. But this it a work about WIPs, not FOs.
Today we were up running - my first 1/2 marathon of the year and I finished in under three hours! Partner was nice enough to film my finish.
Clearly some celebratory knitting on Altounyan was in order!
I own six (at least) craft bags. Of course, several are zip loc bags! I think I have four purses.
I think my priorities are right!
The elephant bag is my oldest and favorite bag. It was a gift.
My hands. My wedding rings and my Tibetan Om (ohm).
My hands. Complete with kitten scratches.
My hands. Knitting.
More hands here.
I went looking for a particular WIP that shows a technique that is very challenging. I asked Partner to move from The Knitting Chair so I could go through the basket so I could grab it. I pulled out bag after bag after ball attached to needles after rolled up ball of knitted material. And then I realized it.
You know what is challenging for me?
Finishing
This was was a hard one for me. I don't sew, except to repair holes. And really little ones at that.
And I just did tools a few days ago. And I just did a big picture of yarn. Sooooo...???
So I kept trolling the Flickr Group for some ideas. I also checked out Kelly's blog, hoping she'd figure it out for me.
I give up.
Here are a lot of materials I use to knit (and crochet). We're engineers, really.
From upper right: 1) my carrier for all a lot some of my needles; 2) Small scissors I use most of the time; 3) a nail file for when my nails catch on my yarn; 4) fancy pretty scissors a friend gave me; 5) a DPN - not just for knitting, but for fixing and catching; 6) cool Lantern Moon strawberry stitch holders; 7) flexible tape measure; 8) crochet hook - it's about 20 years old, that one; 9) needle gauge; 10) tapestry needles; 11) yarn cozies; 12) safety pins.
And, at the top, a trivel I bought while in Vancouver. Completely unrelated to knitting, but I like it.
So much color and inspiration in the stash! It just makes me happy to look at (this very small representative part of) it!
What colors excite you?
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| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |