Knitting in Newmarket

I suppose one could say I am making progress on my Christmas gift projects....

I am working hard on some very colourful bags and a lovely book cover not too mention the Lizard Ridge Blanket *happy sigh* and a painful shawl. I have JUST over a month and I am seriously doubting my ability to get things finished!

I have been having some serious focus problems and I am supposed to be travelling this month to all of the stores so I just dunno if I'll actually finish! Luckily I am enjoying the knitting and switching between projects, except for the sahwl, I find the shawl, and knitting with laceweight on big needles a pain!

With all of this comes guilt. Stress. And further procrastination because I feel guilt and stress!

I suppose I should stop typing and get back to knitting to avoid the guilt and stress! :-D

Love for Lizard Ridge

If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

That first square for my Lizard Ridge blanket was hard, confusing and left me feeling like the blanket was going to be one of those projects I'd dawdle on and moan and groan. But as I did the last pattern repeat I suddenly found a rhythm that worked and needed less concentration as I'd gotten used to the flow of the short rows.

Now as I work on each square I can't do enough! They go quickly and easily and as I switch colours I watch the pattern develop and get excited about the next colour coming!

Part of it might be the Noro. Who doesn't love Noro Kureyon? It is so beautiful the way it knits up and the way the colours flow as they change. It just makes the ridges of the short rows pop!

I'd carry on more but I'll just start repeating myself. Besides, why blog about the blanket when I could be knitting it!!!

Sunday Thoughts

It is a gorgeous sunny, not too chilly Sunday and though I'm kind of sleepy, I'm very content and making some progress on a couple of projects while I work on clearing off one of my PVRs to ready it for an upgrade.

I have found I do best when I have 3 or 4 projects going at once. I'm sure I'm not the first person to make this discovery... I'm just pleased at how well it works. I am still knitting all of the time but I switch it up a couple times an day.

I'm really enjoying the Fake Isle Hat, it is easy as pie but because it is my first time doing any type of fair isle I have to concentrate on what I'm doing. Oddly I am finding the Lizard Ridge Blanket squares less fun because they require more concentration than I usually give to knitting. There is a nice feeling of achievement for keeping the count right though LOL

I have yet to start the Shawl for my mom but I am kind of intimidated by it while still being excited. I will start it at some point very soon. I should start by planning my striping and lettering the yarn colours and copying a workable version out of the book. I wonder if my mom realizes she was finishing the last colour choice for her own gift, it did make things easier. I told her it was for a high end throw...

I also need to get more of my socks done. I can't keep wearing the same pair of my heavy socks or I'll wear them out quickly. I'm at least working on my Christmas socks.

Christmas Present Prep

Well the decisions have been made, a lot of the yarn has been bought and the knitting for Christmas has begun. Now I just need to focus.

True Blood is keeping me far more distracted than it should.... I'm obsessed...

Life Goes On

Well it took me almost 20 extra days but I finally finished the sun hat and boy I am disappointed in how it turned out. Because of some mistakes on the cast off my tube didn't turn out proper all the way around and thus has incredible trouble getting the cord threaded through. The hat looks really cute when it's in blocking position, sitting on a flat spot with the brim spread nicely....

But because I had to pull the cord out of the tube and then decided to wrap yarn around the cord instead, the cord wasn't pulled taught and the whole edged became heavy and VERY rippled. Even with a lot of starch and some ironing, the hat looks more like a bonnet then a sunhat.

I make a second attempt at the hat after Christmas and this time REALLY concentrate on the bind off, not try to do most of it while keeping watch over a franchisee removal.

But yes, life goes on...

I am working on a plan for a messenger type bag. It will be a combo of so far three patterns.

I have also finally found the yarn for my mom's shawl!! It was very exciting! I just have to plan the stripe pattern or get another colour so I can follow the pattern better.

Not bad for a day of travelling!

July Assignments

My own record of finished assignments for my July HPKCHC classes...

Astronomy: Handed in!

Herbology Complete as well! Well actually it is counted as started only. I need to spin more and if I feel up to it I'll knit something for it as well.

Potions: My tiny little good luck charm bag is done and handed in now too!

Charms: Duplicate bookmarks handed in!

First Spin

My hands, arms and thighs are still sore and I'm exhausted. I need to practice more!

But all in all I'm rather pleased with my progress at spinning for the first time. I'd have been better off just working with the roving that came with my spindle and learn to spin kit but I wanted to try for a colour mix so I ended up with two different textures of roving and trying to learn to blend and such on my first attempt was a mistake. But I am hopeful it will get me full marks in my Herbology assignment.

Hard work though. I'm not totally disheartened and will try again. I think it's good I didn't try dyeing too LOL I'd probably have shot myself by now!

I suppose I'm not helped along by my need to be perfect and seeing that my yarn looks too tight in some places, way too loose in others and goes from near thread weight to super bulky has me a bit twitchy but I'm being good and not giving up or unraveling it and/or pitching it out. It's like therapy!