The Knitting Police

Ever feel like you just have too many WIPs on your needles?  While most knitters will laugh and say "There's no knitting police!" or "There's never too many",  I still feel some days that maybe I'm overwhelming myself with projects.

Today is one of those days, as I sit back and look at all the projects I have started and realize that the odds of finishing them all by Christmas is a pretty lofty goal.

First on my list is the cowl that I am designing with my handdyed yarn in the colorway "Fallen Moon Drops".  Featuring staggered double-yarnover holes and a feather and fan border, this is coming a long nicely.  I'm hoping to write up and publish the pattern before my first festival showing. 

Something inside of me felt an impulse last week to knit some dishcloths for a friend who just moved, despite the overwhelming load of knitting/art/work things I already have on my plate.  Luckily, these are fast and I should be done with the set of three by tonight.

I need to return to my Breathing Space sweater soon also, as I would love to have it done in time to wear when it finally gets cooler here.  However, all these other WIPs seem to be calling me instead.  I do enjoy the beauty of the teal paired with the green though and will hopefully return to this come September.

Started at the beginning of the summer as a crochet tank top, I ran out of yarn after the first side and gave up.  And then a miracle happened and one of our Guild members had some of the same yarn she was destashing.  I grabbed that up and went to town, turning this tank into a tee that I can hopefully wear to work.  Right now I'm just starting the back side, crocheting it all in once piece and then folding it over to seam.

Last, but not least, is something I NEED to start, but haven't had time to.  The year of socks has come to a halt, as I haven't done any for August yet and even if I start them now, probably won't be able to catch up to 12 pairs.  However, I do know what my next pair will be! I participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters and my little turns 11 next month.  She always envies my knitting and I just know she'd love a pair of socks.  So if all goes according to plan, this yarn will become a new pair for her. ;)

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Whats on your needles right now? Too many or not enough? Has the knitting police found you yet!? 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll see you on the flip side.

~Lisa

3KCBWDAY4 - Dishcloth Mania

Random Blogs for the Day:

Fresh Stitches

The Crafty Adventures of Yellow Purple Zebra

Annie Bee Knits

Mrs. Thomasina Tittlemouse

The Kettle's On...

(oh and by the way, my contest is still going on until Sunday!)

Once again, today's topic was a bit of a push for me. I really am a knitter for all seasons, because I tend to knit depending on the season I am in. I wish I could be reversed - knit winter in summer and summer in winter - so I have the stuff to wear that coming season, but that'd drive me crazy. Anyways though I spent the day trying to think of what I really wanted to talk about with this topic, and realized that I could mention my dishcloths, since they are a versatile project.

As many of my regular followers now know, I am heavily involved with Relay For Life. I made stitch markers that I was selling (and still am....) to raise money, but before that I was on a dishcloth mission.

My aunt, who lives nearby, had suggested that I set up a table at the local Farmer's Market. We had planned to do this last summer, but this never actually happened. Between Scotland and summer school and not enough product it just didn't work out. I will hopefully get the chance to set up this year though, if I can wake up early enough.

Back when this plan surfaced the idea was to think of thinks I could knit to sell. The first thing that came to mind was dishcloths, since it was farmer's market, they are small and easy to knit, and the yarn is cheap. I started knitting them back in March of last year, and have been working on and off ever since.

The great thing about dishcloths (and how it relates to today's topic) is that they can be knit at any time, anywhere and any season. I made about 10 that first week I started since it was Spring Break. I made a bunch this summer during my breaks at work, and also have been making them off and on this previous fall and winter when I didn't feel like anything else. I have learned so many amazing stitch patterns and gotten so many done in the process.

The other nice thing is that I haven't had to buy hardly any of the yarn. If you haven't heard of the Random Acts of Kindness board you should check it out on Ravelry. I posted on my wishlist a few times about my dishcloth mission and have since gotten many skeins of cotton sent from amazing ravelers all over!

(there's a lot more than what you can see in this photo)

So looking back, I guess you can say I'm a knitter for all seasons, because I have a great project to do during any season!

Happy Thursday! Knit Night Tonight!

~Lisa

It's FINALLY Summer!

It's very hard to believe that another school year has past and that I will soon be a JUNIOR (gasp!) in College! Wow. Alot of things have happened this semester, so I'm going to take some time and reflect as well as share my recent creations.

First of all, Relay for Life came and went. I expected so much, so I guess I had high hopes. Sadly, we got rained out and were only able to stay until 10 :( But we still kicked KU's butt on funds!

Second, ART! I went through C.A.R. (Concentration Admissions Review) this semester, hoping to get accepted into the Painting Program, and guess what? I DID! I was so happy when I got the acceptance email! However, I still have this crazy dream of working for Disney, SO I am going to go through C.A.R. again next semester, to try and get into the Digital Arts. This means that if I get in I will be doubling in Painting and Digital Arts, and I will probably be stuck with atleast an extra semester of school But this is what I truely want to do with my life, so I think I can handle it.

As for the summer, well I plan to knit like crazy, mostly dishcloths (Explaination below) but also socks and all the projects I didn't finish over Christmas Break. Also though, I will be in SCOTLAND! Yep, I am taking a study abroad trip with a class for 3 weeks to Scotland! I'm really excited, I've never been outside the USA.

Besides Scotland, I will be working 40 hrs a week all through June, then taking another class when I'm back as well as working, so I don't honestly know how much free time I will have, but it will still be better than normal school.

Ok so here are some of my recent projects:

Multi-directional scarf for my friend Rachel, who turned 21 in February. I just always like making things for my friends if I can! This is a nice heavy scarf made with Deborah Norville yarn.

Headband and Scarf I made for my friend Lynnsey's Birthday. She loves pink and I knew she'd love these! I feel bad because I used "cheap" yarn,but I was on a budget and I knew she wouldn't mind. She loved them btw.

Blue headband I made with leftover yarn from that hat. I LOVE this! I have even had a few people ask me to make them ones also. Maybe if I ever have time I'll set up an Etsy shop and sell them. :)
So I am making dishcloths. Not my favorite project, and I sometimes wish I had more time to make things for me, but it's for a good cause. I plan to be selling these, as well as homemade dish soap and other things, at Farmer's Market to raise some money for Relay for Life next year. Yes, I'm insane. Whatever. I think that the profits are going to be pretty good, because cotton is super cheap and the amount you can make with one ball is nice too. Wish me luck!

Besides all of these, I also have a lacy purple scarf started, a pair of socks with just one done, and I also learned 2-at-a-time socks, so that pair is about half done. I'm really excited to get some time to knit, even with work and summer school, hopefully there will be time! I've also learned how to spin on a drop spindle, but I'm no where near good enough to feel good about it yet. Maybe once I am I can make my own yarn!

Hopefully I'll update this more often as the summer goes, I can't wait for it all to begin!

~Lisa