Well, That's It, Then

The Resolution? Kaplooey!

As you well know, I haven't really been working on those Dulaan hats.

But I keep plodding along with the other knitting. (I think I'm finally down to 10 ongoing projects, although I won't swear to it.)

And I got to thinking, "Gee, whenever I *do* finish Posy, I'll want to start a new sweater for me."

And although I have *plenty* of yarn for about a billion (okay, okay, 30. yes, seriously, 30) sweaters already in the stash . . .

Well, the sweater that I really want for myself right now (and have wanted for a good two months, so I figure the love is real) isn't something for which I have stash. (Probably because the yarn, she is not cheap.)

And I've held off and held off and held off on ordering the yarn, you know, because a.) not cheap, and b.) I'm supposed to finish those Dulaan hats first.

But still I don't knit the hats!

I give up!

I ordered the yarn.

(And then, floodgates open, I ordered other yarn that I've been thinking about forever, too. Kureyon 170 . . . delicious!)

This time around, I just not feeling the resolution. (Probably because I'm working hard on that new "will you just *try* exercising, damn it!" resolution.) So it really is over.

But I'm going to see how much headway I can make on those hats before the new yarn arrives.

Certainly, I won't be done with them.

Unless my bad karma strikes again and the yarn is stolen? (*WHY* did this not occur to me before I ordered it?)

Think I can refrain from casting the new stuff on until the hats are done?

Hrm.

Anyway!

In other news, those Hokusai socks are almost done. I rushed through them because I was afraid I would run out of yarn (same yardage as Socks That Rock), and I wanted to buy that last skein at the LYS if I needed it. But if I didn't need it . . . well, this yarn too is not cheap. So they're all done except for the kitchenering and the ends . . .




And LO! I'm sick of them. Back to the project pile with you!!!

In *other* other news, its probably time for you to meet the cotton garter squares baby blanket.




This is an off-and-on project started last fall during all the crazy. Now it only needs sewing together and borders. And ends woven in. So it might be a while yet.

Guess how many "ongoing projects" I have in the hopper that only need finishing details and their ends woven in?

THREE.

(Unless I've forgotten something, which seems likely.)

Practicing Fidelity

On two fronts, even.

First, it occured to me while plodding through the green Weasley and That Scarf that just *maybe* I would be happier if I didn't have have so many large knitting projects weighing down my to-do list.

And maybe the reason I have so many of those is that I keep starting more of them while never really working on the old ones.

(Unless forced to.)

On the one hand, I am addicted to that cast-on rush.

On the other, there are several projects that I really want to have finished.

Moreover, I keep thinking about how enjoyable it would be to work on them.

Yet I don't.

Haven't for months now.

This has got to stop. (Maybe.)

I am not changing my ways!

Not, not, not.

But I am going to *try* out a little project fidelity.

See how it feels.

For one project.

If I don't like it, so be it. I'll go back to being a slut.

But for now, you're going to be getting a whole lot of Lizard Ridge.

Hope it isn't too boring. (For me. I don't care about you!)

Squares 10-13 of 24:

In Kureyon 183, 95, 180 and 153 (clockwise, starting from the upper left).



Second, I got me some over the weekend, and the resolution says I must blog about it, so here are some salacious pics:


Stripey Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock from Purl, and a skein of Cascade 220 -- probably for the edge of Lizard Ridge.


Koigu KPPM from The Yarn Company.


And something called Vignette by Nashua Handknits, also from the Yarn Co.


I am very excited about the Vignette -- it is a chainette superwash wool with relatively long color runs. Here's my thinking: chainette = low pilling; superwash = easy care; wool = warm; long color runs = striping not pooling.

Full of possibilities.

But I've got to think small. (Or maybe I've got to think "swatch.")

I've got just two skeins.

You might think that this is because I am phenonmenally strong-willed, and having already picked up the Koigu, I knew that I was only allowed two more skeins from that store under the Rules of Acquisition.

Ha!

They only had the two skeins. (Yes, I asked.)

Maybe that "higher power" was looking out for me, keeping me on the wagon awhile longer?

Sort of like on that episode of Wonderfalls.

You haven't seen Wonderfalls?

Who *are* you?

Okay, okay, so no one but me saw Wonderfalls.

Probably why they cancelled it.

Tragic.

That was some fine T.V.

(Available on DVD!)

Slip Up? Make Up! (Yarn Giveaway)

So, if there were any bets out there regarding when I would slip up on that yarn resolution, whoever picked yesterday would be our winner.

Webs got me again, with an evil sale on Tahki Cotton Classic. I even recalled my resolution before I ordered it, but I could not be stopped. (I'm invincible!)

Do I even need any more Cotton Classic?

No.

I just wanted it. (I still want it.)

And I am finding it hard to regret my order of 30 skeins. (Though evil, it is a great sale.)

Because, you know, someday I might actually want to make a Psychedelic Squares Afghan.

And as we all know, when that time comes, there will be no yarn left for purchase (not for blood or money) anywhere on the planet.

(You see how I got into this mess with the stash. I can justify any and all yarn purchases with that old "I'll need it during the post-apocalypse" line.)

Anyway, generally when I break a resolution (like that one about eating healthier, or the really short-lived one about never again imbibing alcohol, the one about meditating every day . . . ), I pretty quickly come to one of two conclusions:

a.) that the resolution was a mistake, that I was trying to be someone other than who I am, and that I should just stop that because it will never make me happy, or

b.) that the resolution was not a mistake, and that I should keep the goal in my mind (which, of course, I ultimately do not) but that probably "never" or "every day" is a *bit* excessive, and I should just chill!

Either way, I forgive myself, move on, and ultimately just forget about the whole thing.

It is interesting to me that this time -- while I cannot regret the purchase of the Cotton Classic (yet) -- I'm having a hard time "forgetting about the whole thing."

Maybe because the resolution involved doing something for others rather than just for myself?

Seems a little unlikely, because I am just not that nice.

Anyway, so I want to keep on keeping on with this resolution.

It is oddly important to me.

To keep doing this thing, I need to move on from this lapse.

And to do that, I need to do something to make up for it.

The easy way to make up for it would be to give up the Cotton Classic.

(That's not happening.)

Alternatively, I could make up for it by giving up other yarn -- in the amount of the Cotton Classic times four.

That I can do.

(I do have, er, quite a lot of yarn, much of it acquired in the same manner as the Cotton Classic: Online / Great Sale / Intense Greed / Vague notion that I'll *need* it someday.)

Ergo, YARN GIVEAWAY.

If you want some, drop me a line (anonyknitsATyahooDOTcom).

Let me know if you have a preference (or, for that matter, if there is yarn you just do not want), and give me your name / address.

I apologize for asking for this in advance (I promise not to use your contact information for anything other than sending you yarn), but I want to be able to do all the shipping in one go, without waiting for all the "winners" to get back to me re their direction.

I'll ship it to you gratis, to anywhere in the world. (All part of the penance.)

I'll keep this offer open for a week(ish). If there are more takers than yarn, I will pick by some random means to whom the yarn should go. If there is more yarn than takers, then I'll send the remainders to a local charity thrift organization.

Also, recall that I have cats. (They're not allowed in the yarn, but you know how that goes.) So if you have allergies, etc., fair warning.

The yarns:

Elann.com Sonata, 4 separate lots.100% cotton.

LOT A.15 skeins grey/gold/brown variegated (colour #9789), plus 2 skeins dark grey (colour #8972, not shown).

LOT B.15 skeins blues/tans variegated (colour # 9747), plus 2 skeins blue (colour #2499, not shown).

LOT C.15 skeins (less the yardage for a small swatch) rose/brown/greenishbrown/cream variegated (colour #9776), plus 2 skeins greenishbrown (colour #5310, not shown).

LOT D.15 skeins lavender/brown variegated (colour #9712).


Schachenmayer Crazy Cotton, 2 separate lots.100% cotton, self-striping. 50 g. 26 sts / 10 cm.

LOT E.10 skeins green/tan/cream (colour #80).

LOT F.10 skeins (less the amount for a large swatch) rainbowy colours (colour #89).


Lot G. Elann.com Canapone, Green, 5 skeins less the yarn used in one swatch. 100% Hemp. 50 g / 156 m / 180 y. 24 st / 10 cm.


Lot H. Elann.com Canapone, Orangey-Red, 7 skeins.


Lot I. Elann.com Canapone, sort of a dark Rose, 7 skeins.


Lot J. JoJoland Melody, Mostly Pink / Light Red, 10 skeins.100% wool, ombre/self-striping. 7-8 sts / inch.


Lot K. Schaefer Anne, 1 skein. Handpainted Merino/Mohair/Nylon blend. 4 oz / 560 yards. 7-8 sts / inch.


Lot L. Opal, 1 skein.Rodeo, colour #1151.


Lot M. Meilienweit Cotton Spirit, 1 skein.Self-striping, browns.


Lot N. Meilienweit Megaboots Stretch, 1 skein.Variegated, reds.



If I have the maths right, that's 119 skeins, less some yardage for swatches.

So to top it off (30 times 4 = 120), Dishrag Cotton, not shown. I have way too much, even for me. If you'd like some, let me know.

Catch Up

Hey, how ya doing? Long time no blog.

Have answered the question of "Y." ("Because!"):

The increasing and decreasing method blocked out very nicely, but in the end wasn't really what I was looking for. Backstitching looks particularly crappy. But a chain stitch 'round the edge looks real nice.


Have figured out Great-Grand-Mum's afghan:

It was, indeed, double-crochet between the stitches in the row below. No chain stitches between.


Fetching!:

There's another one of these around here somewhere . . . probably holding the camera. I have to say, I never really liked this pattern. Still don't love it. But WOW I was SO COLD! And Fetching is very, very fast.


And finally, yarn!:

Socks that Rock from Churchmouse, out on Bainbridge Island. Fantastic shop.


You have *no* idea how difficult it was to keep it under the resolved five skeins. I haven't ever seen Socks that Rock, at least not physically, in person. There was this one called "Kryptonite" that I just *had* to have. Only I had to have it slightly less than these other five. Five? Why did I choose five? So hard. But I did it. Nine days in, and I haven't broken the resolution yet.


And when am I ever going to get to knit these? NOW NOW NOW! No. (I am such trouble.) I'm telling myself that if I can finish those handspun socks (my oldest UFO) for Dulaan and one other project (knitter's choice), then I can cast on another pair of socks. Maybe by then, the urge will have passed?

In other news, Aran Knitting hasn't magically showed up. Working on the insurance angle now, although it isn't entirely clear that "theft off the porch, post-delivery" is covered. Am considering buying another copy, but maybe I should make some of those Dulaan Hats first, as a sort of a down-payment on the karma problem . . .

Rules of Acquisition

So . . .

I have been carefully considering this "Knit From Your Stash 2007" thing.

And it just won't work for me.

Not their way, anyway.

Nine months is such an arbitrary measure (unless you are planning some Fibre Festival reward at the end of it, which I'm not) that there's no way I could hold to it.

But there are very good reasons why I should try to do something like this.

There is the major problem of inadequate storage space for the growing stash monster, of course. My home is not going to get any larger, and somehow it seems just plain wrong to rent storage space to house the stash. I suppose I could rent storage space to hold the furniture instead? Getting rid of the bed would create a lot more room for yarn.

There is the even larger problem of inadequate time. I do very much want to make several projects for which I already have the yarn. But newer yarn purchases keep distracting me from them. (Yes, yes, everyone should have such problems . . .) Some of them I am sure will naturally fall by the wayside, but others I think I will actually regret if I don't get around to them.

But 9 months is just too arbitrary.

But there's another measure that I think could work for me: No new yarn purchases (outside of the exceptions below) until I finish the rest of those 66 (approx.) Cloud Hats for the Dulaan Project.

I really want to knit those hats.

But I keep getting distracted.

And while it is possible I could decide to knit them to the exclusion of everything else, completing them in the space of, say, three months . . . Well, that is unlikely. More likely, it will take me those nine months or longer. Because I just won't be able to help working through other categories of lovely, lovely stash -- e.g., all that Noro Kureyon slated for Lizard Ridge. (But if I do finish them in just three months, so be it.)

So I'm gonna try this.

No new yarn until I finish the Dulaan hats. (No new yarn, that is, for at least a month, which is generally how far out my New Year resolutions take me.)

So, here are the rules, my way:

1. No new yarn purchases outside the exceptions outlined below until the Dulaan Cloud Hats are finished. "Finished" includes all ends woven in and hats washed. (Some of that yarn, I don't know where it's been.)



2. Gifts of yarn are of course okay. (I really don't think that's going to be a "real" problem.)



3. Exceptions:

• Purchases of yarn required to finish projects already being knitted. (E.g., I know I don't have the right yarn to edge Lizard Ridge. When the time comes, I'm allowed to buy that.)



• Purchases of yarn required to make specific, requested gifts that I will start to knit *immediately.*



• Purchases of single skeins or sock kits in bricks-and-mortar shops and fibre festivals only (my main weakness is that I regularly buy sweater-quantities of yarn from eBay, Webs, elann.com and their ilk), and no more than 5 skeins from any single shop per season. ALL such purchases must be blogged. (That could keep me somewhat in check.)



• If I make it to Knitting Camp, I can buy whatever yarn I want in whatever quantity the budget will bear. Same rule re blogging as above.

Wish me luck!

Oh, Dear

You've seen this, right?

Knit only from stash (with some exceptions) for 9 months?

I really don't think I can make that sort of commitment. ("Read my lips -- No New Taxes!")

But there are two probable benefits:

1.) Reclaims storage space.

2.) Builds character.

I don't need more character. ("Not that kind of character, you dork.")

But I could probably use the space.

I did go a little crazy with the yarn purchases in October.

And November.

And December isn't over yet.

"Don't you think you've maybe had a little too much? Here, let me take your keys."

"What is this? An intervention?"

Ummmmm, anyway . . .

I think for me, it would probably end up being nothing more than a huge excuse to buy yarn non-stop for the next two weeks. (At the end of the day, I am way more "Mardi Gras" than "Lent.")

And I am not so good with the resolutions. (Hey, did you know that in 2006, I lost weight? And also exercised? HA!!!!)

But I probably should think about it . . .

Anyone actually, really doing this?