Not supporting my LYS

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I know it’s bad form but I just couldn’t resist the prices on a certain online auction site (rhymes with leeway). I have been very good in buying locally for 95% of my projects but when my friend put in a bunch of bids and asked if I wanted in, how could I resist.

The damage?
32″ Addi lace turbos for about $6 each with free shipping. I got 10. I paid $25 each for the ones I bought locally.

Bamboo circulars, 18 of them for $6.99 for the whole set (32″), again with free shipping, instead of the same price for 1 locally.

It can only increase my productivity, right?

 

Another shawl project started

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Don’t know why I was on a shawl knitting kick. Started a second one also. I was inspired to use this yarn which had been sitting in my stash, mostly because a coworker bought very similar yarn with an almost identical colourway and made Still Light.

I started this shawl, seen here:

Print O’ the Wave Stole

I’m Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine. It might take me a while. I always need to use stitch markers when knitting lace and every couple of rows they need to be shifted one stitch either to the left or the right and it slows down my rhythm.

Progress on Potato Chip Purse

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When I first saw this craft, I thought it was less labour-intensive than knitting. Ha!

Many many hours later, this is what I have to show so far:

Rectangles cut and pre-folded.

 

Body of the bag.

 

Top view.

I’m still trying to figure out how to do the bottom. I also have to find a place to get purse feet and handles.

It really is solid though! People are still giving me their empty bags – I haven’t told them to stop yet.

11 in 2011

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Unable to quite make it a round dozen sweaters for a true sweater per month for the year, nonetheless I was determined to complete my 11th one before the countdown to midnight. Goal achieved, just!

Finished knitting the last stitches Dec. 31 around 11 am then started the daunting task of doing all the seaming for my Farmer’s Market Cardi. At 11:45 pm I was still mattress stitching the sleeve caps.

At 5 minutes to midnight I asked the kids if we could pause our game (Settlers of Catan – my daughter got us addicted) so I could finish. I literally drew my darning needle through the last section while the countdown was on!

Now it’s blocking nicely:

This one didn’t need to go down to the wire. I had started it in April, but other projects seemed to get in the way. But, done!

12 sweaters in 2012? Bring it on!

 

2012 Intentions

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Well, guess it’s time for my 2012 intentions. I’m still not calling them resolutions.

Upon reviewing my 2011 list, found here, I can see I was only successful in:

  1. knitting everyday – because I was really trying to achieve this, sometimes it was a drudge (gasp!). So, this is not how to make knitting more enjoyable.
  2. knit 6 sweaters just for me – I knit 7 for me, 11 in total for the year (not all posted in Ravelry yet).
  3. getting more sleep – think that’s working, up to 6 hours a night usually, instead of 4.
  4. blogging more regularly

So my 2012 intentions. I am not increasing to 12 from the 11 last year. In fact I only have 7.

  1. Knit everyday – I think it’s an ingrained habit now so I might as well carry on. I’ll always try to make it enjoyable though.
  2. De-clutter – my family likes to hold onto stuff. We just have too much of it. We don’t really need all of it. Fibre doesn’t count!
  3. Get more sleep – I’ll aim for 7 hours per night.
  4. Spin spin spin – my wheel is very dusty. Must reestablish my relationship with it, perhaps it/he/she will even be named this upcoming year.
  5. Ukulele and piano practice – these instruments are also quite dusty.
  6. Exercise
  7. Pattern design

So here’s hoping that 2012 will be the best year yet. I wish everybody a safe and happy New Year’s. Keep your crafting alive and well and spread the joy.

Cat vs. Knitting

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So my cat, Nibbler, whose personality is characteristically standoffish, as cats are wont to be, occasionally strays from the norm and decides to offer herself to be petted, barging her way onto my stomach while I am lying in bed knitting. She doesn’t hesitate to nudge my WIP aside and then assumes the most comfortable position, usually right in front of my nose, impeding my hands and blocking my view of the TV.

The other night she went one step further and daintily placed both her paws on my right forearm. I tried to reach over her for my camera, but I disturbed her and she moved. I tried to get her to repeat the position but then she took offence and left in a huff.

Here are my attempts at capturing the shot. Just imagine her two little feet in front of her on my arm.

BTW, I’m also making great progress on my Spiral Cowl :)

Work Christmas Party

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We’re having a Christmas potluck at work this coming Thursday. How did it fall to me to:

  1. Organize refreshments?
  2. Come up with games that fit the format of people dropping in anytime within a two-hour time frame?
  3. Feel obligated to purchase prizes for said games out of pocket (albeit dollar store items)?
  4. Delegate person in charge of music?
  5. Help set up/clean up room?

I also organized the decorating of our department. Nothing had been done until I returned from vacation Dec. 12. The decorations? – purchased by me a couple of years ago.

It’s not that I am totally gung-ho over the holidays. My own house is not even decorated to the level that work is :) I guess it just bothers me that nobody is willing to take the initiative there.

Ah well, I don’t really mind. It’s something else to do when I have a spare minute here and there. As the expression goes: If you want to get something done then give it to a busy person.

I figure it all evens out when I occasionally photocopy the odd recipe at work :)

Potato Chip Purse project

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Ever since I saw this video, I’ve been obsessed with duplicating it. However, I don’t have access to unlimited candy bar wrappers so I’ve substituted using potato chip bags.

After rounding up any available kids to help wash and dry the bags, I cut them into 2″ x 4.5″ rectangles using my rotary cutter and mat.

I remember making gum wrapper necklaces with the same method in elementary school but have never seen the art elevated to this level.

Here are what my rectangles look like so far.

I’ve cut and folded probably 500 rectangles already. I’m still asking friends and coworkers to save their empty chip bags for me so that I can have a larger selection of colours. Once I have enough variety, I’ll arrange them into some kind of pattern. I want to make the large purse as well as the binder cover. I’ll just make them for me because I don’t think it’s worth all the effort to sell items from this.

It’s also handy to have a ziploc bag full of rectangles handy. The kids, and even coworkers have been coaxed into folding while watching movies or having coffee.