Crafty Ponderings

I've been better about updating the wedding blog- and let's be real, that's where most of my energy is centered lately. But I've been crafting a fair bit these past few weeks since the move, as well.

Progress is slow and steady on the baby blanket. I've finished 6.5 repeats, and more importantly I finally am at the point where I don't need the pattern at all. I have finally memorized all six different stitch patterns, and their repeat lengths, and can knit blissfully away on the metro and around the house without relying on the pattern! I am almost done with the second ball of yarn, and it's getting big enough that I have to stuff it in my backpack or a separate bag now, in order to knit during my commute. The baby is due in late May. If I were trying to knit a full 14 repeats, I'd be worried! But this blanket is already coming out so large that I think I'm over half done already. As long as I fit in some serious knitting time over the next few weeks, I should be able to gift it well in advance of the baby's arrival.

In between working on the blanket, I have been remembering that crazy challenge I signed up for, pre-engagement. I (in my infinite wisdom) thought it would be cool to sign up for the sweater-a-month challenge that flew around Ravelry after the Ravelympics and National Knit a Sweater month in November. Why I thought I could knit twelve sweaters in a year, when I average one or two, is pure delusion. But the least I could do is try and at least knit on a single sweater! Like ... maybe the one I started during NaKniSweMo (November). I was already working on the sleeves, two at a time, at the end of November. So I picked it up again, and am now... still not done with the sleeves. In my defense, I really am working on the sleeve caps! I thought I would be able to finish them this weekend, and possibly even start seaming it together, but my optimism was (as always) misplaced. My major work stoppage this weekend was really the fault of the move. It took me some serious searching to find the last ball of yarn for the sweater- it was separated from the project at some point, and was mixing it up with my wool blend yarns in my shelving unit. Living the high life, I tell you! Now that it's been reunited with the rest of the balls of yarn, in sweater form, I am hoping that I may finally get the darn thing done and sewn together by next week.

Of course, now it's April. It's unlikely it will be cold enough for me to wear the sweater more than once or twice before next fall. But hey- knitters are not about instant gratification! It's all about the sweater you'll be able to wear next year. Or you know, possibly the year after that. Once this great big green thing is done, though, all the next half-finished sweaters on my list are summer-weight. I might even finish one before the wedding, and they're forced into November retirement.

But I doubt it.

Don't get whiplash

I just can't do it. I knew this might happen, and it seems to be happening.

I wrote almost 2000 words already. And then I just... cracked. I can't write a novel this month. I have work commitments that need to be completed (in fact, that's what I'll be doing quite a bit of Saturday, I suspect). I hadn't realized the full extent of my commitments to GesherCity this month. We're talking 2-3 events each week.

And I got more than a little bit of a guilt trip from certain friends of a significant nature.

But don't think I'm stepping away from the challenge completely. I still may try to sneak it into my schedule. But darnit, I'm going to go to my knitting group tonight. And afterwards (or maybe there) I'm going to swatch Autumn Rose if it kills me.

You, you sweater you... you WILL be done in November. Cue the evil laughter.

I think my sudden change of heart may have been spurred by realizing I already hate my protagonist. I don't want to get to know her better. Why not quit while I'm ahead?

Oh, and here's my pretty little washcloth! Do I smell holiday gifts? Please disregard my apparent inability to weave in ends. This took longer than it should have- I watched an episode of House, two episodes of Rome, and the season finale of Battlestar Gallactica, season one. But I suspect the next one would be much faster. It would also be helpful if I could locate which project is using my size 7 KnitPicks Options needles, since I was required to do the whole thing on DPNs yesterday. It worked, but it was a bit tangly.