New beginnings

So I haven't been upkeeping the blog very well the last few weeks. In part, it's because I had a pretty exciting end to 2008. I've been dating this really cute and super nice guy for a while now, and on New Year's Eve he asked me to marry him. I think I can get a pass on the knit blogging because I've been too giddy with laughing and drinking champagne and generally doing nothing but work and kissing ever since.

A week later, I'm only just coming back down to reality. I don't think I've knit a stitch since December. So it's definitely time to get back to work. I have a date with a friend of mine to quilt on Sunday (which means I need to find my Storm at Sea quilt and get it ready). And I am definitely ready to get back to some knitting. I have a belated holiday/birthday gift to work on, I signed up for the crazy 12-sweater challenge... and of course I need to fit in wedding planning and moving and all the incredibly exciting couple stuff, too, in between craft projects. Heck, I'm hoping to DIY a fair bit of this wedding- which is still crafty, but in a whole new way for me.

G started a blog for us on New Year's Day, so we can kick 2009 off right and document this whole crazy wedding experience. You're welcome to check it out- I figure maybe this way I can keep the strictly wedding stuff off of Handknit by Mikaiya, and reserve this blog for my knitting and craft obsession. But I bet they both bleed into each other a fair bit. How could they not- one of the first discussions regarding living together was how I'm going to fit all of my yarn and sewing machines and craft supplies into our home! At least I found the right man. He doesn't mind the fact that I'm going to have yarn in the coffee table for the rest of our lives, and potentially dangerous knitting needles all around the house. What a darling.

Knitting Content! No Kidding!

It's all in the headline. I decided to give up NaNoWriMo for NaKniSweMo, and boy am I ever cracking along on it. I finished the back already. Want proof?



Disregard the crazy coloring- it's not sage, it's actually hunter green. But that is really a finished back to the Perfect Sweater v2, knit in Ella Rae Amity. I know lots of purists get all fudgety about using wool/acrylic blends like the Amity, or Wool-Ease (pills a ton) or my general Plymouth Encore. But so far I'm loving the Amity, and the Encore has held up great in the past. My only issue with the yarn? Why would you bother with 220 yard wound skeins if they have at least two knots in them? I have terrible luck with knots. Those sneaky Ella Rae people. I hate weaving in ends, and I hate having to backtrack nearly an entire row even more. Grr.

On the plus side, this sweater got to go on a field trip to see the Capitals whup up on another hockey team. Sweaters just love field trips. Check the Flickr for more Capitals game fun. My sister, who you may remember is the real hockey fan in the family, texts me the same thing every time I go to a game: "You suck." Thanks, sis. I love you, too.

The knitting photos are pretty bad from the game- I kept laughing. It must be that old man I've been hanging around with.



That, or the beer.