Intervention Needed
So, it's a new year. In my head I had all these plans and goals for everything. I suck at sticking to things like that. For example, I was supposed to start saving more money. To do so I was going to cut back on the Starbys. Toffee Nut Lattes everyday add up, you know. Well, I was making myself coffee in the mornings and stuck to my plan for three days. I went to set the coffeemaker for the fourth day, and it was broken. Needless to say, I didn't cry about it. I just drove myself to the Starbucks and am still going there more often than I need to.
But what I really want to talk about is the whole yarn thing. I was supposed to post my intention of joining
Knit From Your Stash 2007 . But I waited and waited knowing that I would not last. I kept it to myself so I wouldn't feel silly when I had to announce to the world that I couldn't stick to my commitment. Well, World, I didn't stick to my commitment. I thought it was only right that I rat myself out. Maybe this way I could get some encouragement from anyone out there. (Although I only have 1, maybe 2 readers.) Anything will do.
Want to see my haul? It's good stuff I tell ya!
- The green yarn is Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Grande for a scarf that's halfway done. Not so bad. At least the project had been started.
- The Noro is Silk Garden in 84. Also not so bad because I was gifted some by the Coach a few Christmases ago. I wanted to make the Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style with this yarn, but read somewhere that this color was discontinued. So when I found some at YFY in SM, I had to buy five balls.
- Here's where it gets crazy: I bought the Jitterbug sock yarn in Velvet Plum from the Black Sheep.
- I also got Brittany size 3s to make some socks.
- Then at Noble Knits I bought some Plassard Merinos, and Ann Norling Sock Pattern, and more needles (size 5s).
Yeah. Crazy. I know.
But wait...There's more!
- Ambrosia for the Endpaper Mitts
- Silky Wool for the Endpaper Mitts becuase I decided I didn't like the Ambrosia too much.
- Needles for the Endpaper Mitts
- And Patons Classic Wool for my brother's hat.
Oh, and the best part of it is...
I got a Mango Moon bag to hold all of it. This bag is the best.
I have been knitting, though.
This is Lady Eleanor at four tiers. I love how it's turning out. I've been knitting backwards to avoid having to turn the whole piece. How far do you think I'll get on this project?
So now that the cat's out of the bag...Why don't I just say that I'll try not to buy more crafty stuff, I'll try to finish more projects in order to kill the stash, and that I'll try to post more often. Now that sounds more like my kind of commitment.
Oh, and I better try my hardest to stick to it or the Karate Dog will be after me.
Get It Done
I wanted to make sure that I finish my goals this time around. So even though it hasn't been too long since I posted them, here's a recap:
Finish: red felted shoes, sweet mary janes, roll brim colinette hat, klaralund, anthropologie capelet, flower washcloth, green felted shoes, newsboy cap, baby ear flap hat
Frog: suss boatneck, little black tank, ballerina top, hurry up spring armwarmers
Yahoo! Slowly crossing them off my list!
Lookin' Good, Mr. Kotter
Title reference: Friends episode where they're all watching a home video of Monica and Rachel getting ready for prom. They show a shot of Ross from back in the day, and Joey (I think) lovingly says this to Ross. I laughed really hard and the boy didn't. I had to look up Mr. Kotter for him before he laughed. Man, I guess two years really does make a difference.
So I met with a financial planner this week. Me and money? Not a good combo. I was really embarassed when I had to spill my guts about my goals and then compare them with reality. Needless to say, he left me with some homework. (I thought I'd point out that he said we teachers are the worst when it comes to homework. I'm not going to argue.) Before we meet again in two weeks, I need to have my budget written down. Which brings me to the yarn content...
I have A LOT of yarn, and not enough time, speed, or concentration to get through it all in this lifetime. So I need to take some action. Here's the goal:
*I am going to knit more items using stash yarn. There's a lot of good stuff in there that can go toward projects that I want to do.
*I need to cut back on the amount of yarn that I purchase. I will try to only buy yarn if I need to supplement what I already have to finish an item.
*I need to destash some of the yarn I'm not in love with anymore.
I think it's doable. Is that a word?
Since we're on the subject of goals, here's more fer ya. I have a lot of projects in the works in all different stages. Some are just waiting for buttons or weaving in of ends. Some are still on the needles, and some just need to be reincarnated. I would like to get this done before my Thanksgiving vacation ends. Let's have a look, shall we?
Almost Done:
Felted shoes - need buttons and non-skid paint for bottoms
Sweet Mary Janes - need straps and buttons
Roll Brim Hat - weave in ends.
Klaralund - This thing makes me look super chubby and does some weird thing at the armpits. However, it's proof that I can make something that fits over my head, right? So I just need to weave the ends and block.
Anthropologie Capelet - I need to put in a buttonhole with my sewing machine, but I'm scared to. Then weave ends, block and wear.
On the Needles:
Flower Washcloth - need two more petals and center
Felted Shoes - I wanted some that weren't too tight, so I thought I'd try again. I need to seam, make the other one and felt.
Newsboy Cap - In my new favorite Queensland Kathmandu
Baby Ear Flap Hat - Needs ear flaps
Chevron Scarf - In Silk Garden Lite
To frog:
Suss Boatneck Sweater - I started the body in the round when I despised purling. I thought it would be faster. I got bored and it sat around for awhile. This summer I knit a sleeve, but picked up the wrong sized needles. So I'm going to frog and try again some other time. But I'm not giving up on this bad boy.
Little Black Tank from SNB - I started this so long ago that I've lost the notes on where I was in the pattern. I want to restart this sometime in the spring.
Ballerina Top - I think. What the hell was this called again? Who knows. We don't need to find out either because this yarn is just too heavy for it. Wanna buy it? Anybody want to trade for this yarn? I have lots.
Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers - Too bulky. I won't be able to wear them inside my sweatshirts like I wanted.
Success:
Lace Edge Cap - from Headhuggers.org.
Yikes!
Wow! I haven't posted since June! Well, I'm still alive I tell ya. I was thinking about this here blog, and decided it was pretty boring. I need to check in more often, doncha think? With that said, I'll be back this week to post some goals I have for October. At least, I think I'll be back....
Week Three
Yeah! Week three of summer vacation. Today started off semi-bad. I woke up early so the boy and I could get to the Spanish class we signed up for. It doesn't start until Wednesday. We picked up my bro to go to the county fair. It's closed on Mondays. They let me go to the yarn store that was nearby. It, too, is closed on Mondays. We ended up at the outlets by the border, which was good because I was able to pick up some stuff for my trip to Florida. I still need more shorts, though. It's going to take us all day to get there, especially since we have a two hour stopover. So I need to pack some projects suitable for FL weather. I'll let you know which projects are the lucky ones.
Week Two
Yes, I am now in week two of my best summer ever! Last week I sat around and did notihng. I made plans to still go to school to make copies of M.V.C.'s notebooks.(which she lent me since she won't be teaching next year - she's going to be a mommy!) I haven't gotten around to that yet. Nor have I gotten around to: organizing all my paperwork, fixing up the little playhouse, finishing up my room, getting ready for the Florida trip, or excercising like a madwoman. I have gone back to dance practice, though. I guess that's one good thing. I keep getting lazier and lazier. I love it!
Just Droppin' In
Hey! I thought I'd take a few minutes to say, "Hey!" Right now I should be working on grades, writing a test, and putting together a portfolio. But since I'm the queen of procrastination, I'm doing this! In just a few short weeks I might be blogging and knitting more often. See, I'm planning on having the best summer ever to go with my best spring break ever. I'm not going to teach summer school! Yahoo and Boohoo at the same time. Why? Because that means I won't have any play money for July/August. Ahh, the joys of being a teacher. Anyways, I'm ready for summer.
Klaralund Update: It has been seamed. (Is this correct English?) It wasn't as bad as I thought. The only problem is that it does this weird thing around the boobie area. I'm going to block it and see if it solves the problem. Even if it doesn't, I think I'm pretty cool. Pictures after blocking.
Oooohh...and they'll be better pictures, hopefully. The boy and I got a new camera, and I found out that he takes super cool pictures. I sure did pick a talented one! I'm one lucky girl.
Enough procrastination! I need get some work done.
