Spring break!

The weather is finally lightening up a little here. Actual sunshine and temperatures above freezing. Unfortunately, this is not helping further my progress on the KIP. Add to that a new project with a deadline in two weeks and you can see how not a lot of knitting has gotten done. For now, this is just a placemarker post. More knitting to come.

Noodling along...

Winter seemed to loosen its icy grip a bit today in our corner of the universe. Although the cold weather has helped my knitting production, I was happy to see the sun for a little while today. We are also supposed to have a better-than-average weekend as well.

I just looked over the resolutions. One month out and I have already fallen off the yarn diet somewhat. Last weekend, I visited a LYS and came out with some new stash fodder. Almost all of it was for gifts to be. I have managed to finish a gift in plenty of time to take pictures (although I haven't yet -- that would be too easy!) and start a new project. But the year is still young and I have time for improvement.

On a separate note, I do feel like I have improved in using Ravelry. It is very useful for keeping track of the patterns I like and intend to knit. Keeping the yarn and the pattern together is also helpful. And it is encouraging to see that I do finish some things (even if it is not as much as I would like.)

A clean slate

A new year, new projects, new yarn and a new purpose. All good aspirations and all seem attainable at the start of January with the whole of a new year laying before us. For me, I think I will stick to a few new craft resolutions:

1. Learn to spin. I have a good start on this because I bought a beautiful ceramic drop spindle at SAFF. A friend was kind enough to give me a lesson in the mechanics, so now it is a matter of practice. The initial foray from the practice bump of roving is still in progress, so we will see what happens.
2. Finish some projects. This one has been in process for a little while now. There has been a good bit of progress in reducing both the "frog pond" and the WIPs, but there is still improvement that can be made.
3. Reduce the stash. Yes, this one will probably prove to be the most challenging. I have a stash that threatens to grow whenever the new e-mails or catalogs from my fiber friends come knocking. It will be an effort to restrict new projects to using the stash supplies on hand instead of hitting up the LYS on a whim.
4. Take pictures. I am often running on the last few stitches just before a project needs to be delivered. So, I think I need a little more time built in for finishing and pictures. I've enjoyed being able to have a visual record of the things I have worked on. I just need to be more diligent about it.
5. Limit the queue. Probably the least likely resolution to succeed, just because the queue is sort of like the "what if?" or the "wishlist" if you will. The queue helps you to remember why you knit in the first place. But a list of five resolutions is a little more rounded than four, don't you think? Ok. It stays.

That's it for now, faithful readers. I will also try to post on a more regular basis. Happy New Year and happy knitting to all!

All the leaves are brown....

OK not really, but I did just notice that it is the first of October, so it really can't be too far away. Fits of knitting have continued over the summer and I am just now able to have something to show for it. But not just now. The chill in the air is inspiring me to work a bit more and there are a few things that are thisclose to being completed. And (sigh) I need to take some pictures.

One problem that I have during the fall is stash management. I enjoy shopping for yarn, both on line and in my LYS. I try to curb the urge to buy yarn that I don't have a current project for or just because it's on sale. This is pretty easy in the summer down south because it's really too hot to knit much of anything larger than socks or more substantial than lace. But when fall comes around, it tests my reserve. There is the influx of catalogs that suddenly find themselves in my house. Boxes start showing up with yarn that I don't remember ordering. Knitting patterns that were not part of the queue of projects to be wiggle out of their hiding places and find strategic places around the house. Before I know it, I am standing outside the yarn shop with a bag full of yarn, a rogue pattern and a credit card receipt wondering what the hell just happened.

The up side is that the cool weather makes me want to knit more. Like every-second-I-am-awake more. It is good for my finishing, but I also start a few more projects. I look forward to this time of year for both those reasons.

Mr. Foo

Bunny FooFoo is finished! And I have pictures to prove it!!!!!

Trend for '09?

Looks like May slipped right out the door too, sometime between coaxing tomato plants not to die and building a garden plot to house their squashy and cucumber-esque kin. Happily, there has been knitting. I am putting the last touches on a knitted bunny for a new little girl. She arrived before the bunny is finished, but I hope to unite them soon. Pictures to follow, once Mr. Foo has all of his lapin-appropriate parts. At the present, he is minus an ear and a tail. More to come....

Late spring also seems to be the time to clean out the craft room. I am discovering bits of my stash all over the house. Unfortunately, there are a couple of really good on-line sales, so the stash may be destined to grow a bit more.

Rites of Spring

Well, it looks like March blew out of here before I could get anything posted! Only one project really got finished last month. The Boogie Vest, which I opted to knit without the cable pattern, was finished in time to wear for St. Patty's Day. Paired with a pale green shirt, it worked out really well.

I am hopeful that April will be a time of growth and new beginnings. We are planning a vegetable garden for the summer. The location and dimensions have been decided. Now we just have to do the work. I also have teeny seedlings in the sunporch that are ready to move outside as soon as the frost clears out for good.

The knitting landscape is hopeful as well. There are new colors coming out in all of my favorite shops and websites. With the weather improving, it is easier to pick up a small project and take it outside for a bit of sun and fresh air.

I have also done some stash exploration in hopes of completing a project to wear for the spring and summer. More about that later. First, I will have to finish a pending baby project (since the baby arrived at the end of March.)