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December 31, 2006
The annual wrap-up and resolution/wish list
Here is 2004's list and here is 2005's. Looking back... oh I'm so tired. What a year. What a week. Alright, I'm going to do this quick so I can squeeze in one last post for 2006.
What I did in 2005:
Projects for publication - Mommy Snug, Pea Pod (pdf), Silken Spencer, Equestrian blazer, Arwen, Jack, the strawberry bag (which is well hidden on page ? of the current knitscene and I swear it's adorable in person), Lise booties socks (finally!) plus one top, one sweater, one shawl and one hat that you haven't seen yet. And oh yeah, a bag too! And all those patterns I made for my classes. I wonder if I'm not forgetting something else. It's already fall 2007 in my world so it's hard to say.
Personal projects finished - I finally sewed up those two damned Lauras that were sitting around. Now if I could only get the stupid photos taken and publish the bleeping pattern. It's been 99% ready since I found out I was pregnant. I managed to design and knit a sweater for my daughter before she was too big to wear it.
Other stuff - I started spinning and bought myself a wheel. I finally made it to Rhinebeck and met more bloggers and knitters than I could even begin to list. I got some people into knitting and started teaching. I started about a thousand socks and finished not a single one. And last but not least, I have a beautiful and spunky 13 month old.
So I guess the list of things I'd like to accomplish in 2007 remains pretty much the same. I'd like to knit for my loved ones, especially Tadpole. I'd like one single freaking sweater for myself, for once. I'd like to learn lots and lots and lots. I'd like to finish up the things that are hanging around and be more devoted to the projects I start. I'd like to meet and mingle with more wonderful people. I'd like to find a little time to sit and knit or spin and relax just for relaxing, just for me. And not in the middle of the night. And I'm terrified to even say this one out loud: I need to break a major addiction I have. No, not to yarn, to sugar. My name is Kate and I'm a sugar addict. I spent the other day puking my brains out so I have no sugar in my system right now so in spite of the lovely chocolates I have sitting around the house, I guess I should really just start now. Wish me luck. We'll see. In any case I'd like to eat better and cook better and look better and feel better. I need a little more fabulousness (is that a word?) in my life. I'm sick of dressing like a frump. And sleep. Rereading this run-on filled, uninspired post and being too damned tired to fix it has reminded me I need sleep. Lots of sleep. Anyway, of course I hope for health and happiness for my family and friends and everyone for that matter.
Posted by kate at 11:05 PM | Comments (24)
December 22, 2006
Exciting and new
Cleaning for visitors, working, arrival of visitors, a sick mother-in-law, a sick baby, doctors, a dentist, yarn that arrived the very day a project was due and total exhaustion have all contributed to my lack of posting, but it's 6 am and I'm the only one who is awake (and showered even) besides Frog who hasn't even come home from work yet so I thought I might as well post for any of you who will be sitting around twidding their thumbs today until it's time to leave work and get on with the holiday festitvities.
I love the ocean. I love the sound, the smell, the way your hair and skin get kind of crusty with salt. And I love knitting (duh) and spinning and I love meeting knitters and spinners and convincing people that knitting is the best thing in the world. So when Mama E asked me if I would be interested in teaching a couple knitting classes on a cruise, I said, "Hell yeah!" So, hey, anybody want to come on a Fall Fiber Frenzy cruise with me? I'll be teaching two yet-to-be-determined-for-all-the-reasons-listed-above classes, plus a yet-to-be-determined workshop that will be available to the first yet-to-be-determined number of people who sign up for a yet-to-be-determined additional fee. So come aboard, we're expecting yoooooooou. Wool, lamb's sweetest reward, let it spin, it knits back to you! The knit and spin booooooat. Soon we'll be making our first run. The knit and spin boat promises something for everyone! (are you guys following that I'm singing a song here, or do you just think I've gone insane?) So back to the topic at hand: If you'd like to come and you'd like to take my classes, I'd be honored. If you have any brilliant ideas as to what said classes should be, I'm all ears. I've got ideas, I just haven't had the time to refine them. For cruise info, you can visit the link above and/or call Patricia (Julie, if you will) at 888-286-9827.
Hopefully I'll be back later with photos of my one and only (partially) knitted Christmas present.
Posted by kate at 06:09 AM | Comments (8)
December 11, 2006
Lise socks done!
'Tis the season for miracles - the lise socks I've been promising are DONE!
Lise Socks
$5.95
Booties for babies and funky slippers for adults, these socks use short rows both in the heel and toe. They're perfect for elves, jesters and genies. Finished sizes 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) inches (10 [13.5, 15.5, 18, 20.5, 23, 25.5] cm) foot circumference. Socks may be made to any length needed. Gauge 24 sts and 32 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in St st worked in the round
Posted by kate at 01:21 PM | Comments (16)
December 07, 2006
You'll never believe it
1) I felted the original clapotis by accident. It's still soft, but no longer drapey. Let's not dwell on that. Shit happens and so does felting. There are more positive things happening so let's look at those.
2) My sister's here. She's improving my life by painting my toenails and doing dishes and amusing Tadpole. And I'm trying to improve her life by teaching to knit. She actually asked for it. One of the first things she said to me was "Can I knit?". She didn't even care about knitting something. She just wanted to knit. I finally convinced her that a hat would be more fun than another garter stitch swatch. She learned to purl in 2 seconds flat and is happily magic looping her way to a 2x2 ribbed hat in RY Soft Tweed.
3) Believe it or not the Lise booties pattern is almost done. And it comes in adult sizes. If all goes well and the tech editor and test knitters give me the thumbs up, I'm hoping to have the pattern online tomorrow... Monday at the latest.
Above you see one on the foot of my faithful model, Tom, whose feet are actually much too small for this size. Tadpole. who has the right size feet is asleep (also a good thing). When she's awake and in a nice modeling mood, I'll take some better photos.
Update Above is my lovely foot model playing with her Dress Me Elmo*. Do I need to tell you about the technical superiority of the new incarnation of this pattern versus the old one? It's SOOOOO MUCH BETTER. The heel is better, the stripes are better. The toe is better. The cuff is better. You should be happy it has taken me two freaking years to finish these damned things. It may have been more than two, but we'll just pretend it was only two.
4) I'm in between deadlines so I actually spun for 5 minutes the other night. I'll post my progress one of these days. It's on the list of things to post.
*He says "Let's finish getting dressed!" but it really sounds like "Look! Spinach getting dressed!" I won't even tell you what her firetruck sounds like it's saying...
Posted by kate at 12:21 PM | Comments (26)
