Do you Tweet?

I just signed up for Twitter.  It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun and a quick way to keep in touch with my bloggy friends between posts.

I'm slowly adding friends (or what ever you call them on Twitter), but for now they are all diabetes pals.  So, any knitters on Twitter?  Let me know so I can add you.  I'm Karen_mst.

Fast or Fun?

I belong to the Knit Picks e-mail list. Actually, I belong to a bunch of yarn and knitting e-mail lists, because I like to keep up on the latest sales tips, tricks, cheap yarn and patterns and yarn specials. *ahem* Anyway, recently one of my Knit Picks emails arrived. It linked to a video tutorial on speed knitting. I clicked over to watch it . . . . but then I closed out before it even loaded. You see, I'm torn on the idea of speed knitting.

On one hand (or perhaps "one needle"), the idea is very appealing. There are so many things out there that I want to knit! I think about starting and finishing a sweater before the heat of summer hits. I imagine actually knitting a pair of socks each month. I dream of cranking out little things like mittens and cowls and hats (oh my) when ever the mood strikes. It all sounds pretty great.

But then I thought some more. I thought about what knitting really is to me. A process. Something relaxing (most of the time) and enjoyable (usually). Do I really want to turn knitting into a quest in which I must go faster and faster? I push myself an awful lot. My house must be spotless. My dinners must be scrumptious. My diabetes must be in control all of the time (which is impossible, but that doesn't stop me from beating myself up on those inevitable bad days). I put a lot of pressure on myself already. How happy will I be if I now pressure myself into speed knitting? Not very happy, I think. I want my knitting to be something I look forward to. Something that releases the pressure. Something I enjoy. Even if it takes me two months to finish a pair of socks. Or almost a year to knit a sweater. I can live with that. I feel so proud when a project gets finished. Wouldn't that pride fade if I was churning out projects right and left? I suspect it would.

The one opinion I don't want about speed knitting comes from my stash. The lace-weight, cotton, baby yarn, wool and sock yarns.

Or the pile of worsted skeins.

Or the bin of sweater yarns, sandwiched between more baskets of lace-weight and a big bag of acrylic.

If you ask them, I don't knit fast enough. They worry that I could never live long enough to knit them all. They may have a point. But I think I'll knit at my own pace anyway.

What are your thoughts on speed knitting? Are you inspired to give it a whirl? Or do you find it a stressful thought, like I do?

Back home again . . .

Sadly, our little kitty house guests had to go home yesterday afternoon. They were the best guests we've ever had and we were so sad to see them go. (Okay, yes, I did cry a little after they left.) To help them remember the fun we had over the past two weeks, I sent them each off with a little gift.

Whale Cat Toy

Cast On: 1 January 2009

Completed: 1 January 2009

Yarn: Bernat Super Value and Cascade 220

Needles: Clover US5 (3.75mm)

I stuffed them with fiber-fill and quite a bit of cat-nip.

I'd say they were a big hit. The crazy kitties chased them all around the house, until we finally had to pack them away so they could take them home.

After they were gone, I spent about two hours getting the house cleaned up and  un-kitty-proofed  put back in order.  From the amount of hair I vaccumed up, it's a wonder they didn't go home bald!  (Thank you, Mr. Rox the Long-Hair).  It may be much neater and cleaner here now, but I can't stand how quiet it is without those two fuzzy bundles of love. Looks like it might finally be time to find another little kitty who wants to come stay here forever!

Finish or Frog Friday

Jennifer over at Major Knitter has started a new KAL for 2009 called Finish It or Frog It.

On Fridays you take a good look at what's on your needles (and in the bottom of the WIP basket) and make the choice to finish it or frog it Then you post about it on your blog or in the Ravelry group. You don't have to do it every Friday, but I think it's a great idea to get into the habit of evaluating my projects every week so they don't spin out of control.

So, to start the year off right, I decided today would be a Finish It Friday.

I buckled down and finished the Felted Clogs I was making Pea for Christmas.

And then, I even felted them and put them through the dryer!

Fiber Trends Felted Clogs

Cast On: 21 November 2008

Completed: 2 January 2009

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers

Needles: Knit Picks Options US13 (9mm)

Perfect fit. We even threw away the last pair of slippers I had knit him, since the soles had holes so big his foot fit right through. And next Friday, hopefully I have another knit finished to show you! This KAL is just the inspiration I needed. If you need a bit of inspiration too, let Major Knitter know you'd like to join us!

Good-bye 2008

Here we sit, on the cusp of a brand new year. Many people like to look back over the past 366 days (it was a leap year, remember?) and do a little recap. But as I type, my stuffy head and scratchy throat seem very fitting. For me, 2008 was a pretty crappy year. Not to say it was all bad, but a lot of it was and ending it with an icky head cold seems fitting. So instead of doing an end-of-year recap, I've decided to end the year by blogging my completed Christmas knitting. Look for two more Christmas projects in early 2009 - since poor Pea's gifts are still on the needles.

First up, a scarf for my mom.

Dangling Leaves Scarf

Cast On: 22 November 2008

Completed: 11 December 2008

Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted - Vetiver

Needles: US8 (5mm) Addi Circ

This gift was quite a special knit for me. While we were in Louisiana for my uncle's funeral, my family humored me with a trip to The Yarn Nook, which was less than a mile from our hotel. While there, my mom spotted this scarf, which was knit up as a shop sample, and commented several times on how pretty it was and how much she liked it. At the time I barely reacted (to make her think I wasn't listening), but as soon as I got home I set about finding the pattern. Thanks to the wonders of Ravelry, I found it was a Yarn Nook shop pattern and soon after I was knitting it up for mom. Although our trip was a sad one, I hope the scarf always brings her warm and comforting thoughts of her brother.

Next up was a gift for my god-son Zach. He's now 8 years old, so I thought he might be past the knitted stuffed animal phase. My best friend said he'd love a hat, so I whipped this up in his favorite color, BLUE.

Turn a Square

Cast on: 24 December 2008

Completed: 25 December 2008

Yarn: Lion Wool - Midnight Blue and Patons Classic Wool - Wedgewood

Needles: US6 (4mm) and US7 (4.5mm) DPNs

This was such a fun pattern! I can see myself knitting many more of these as gifts for next Christmas. I only cast on 80 stitches and increased to 88, hoping it would fit Zach's head. It was a perfect fit, and he seemed really happy with it.

Last up, a gift for Zach's brother. Camden is 2 1/2, which means I can still get away with knitting toys for him for a few years. This year, I chose Sheldon.

Sheldon

Cast On: 20 November 2008

Completed: 6 December 2008

Yarn: Classic Elite Four Seasons - Green Print

Brooks Farms Four-Play

Needles: US5 (3.75mm)

I freaking love this pattern!!! So cute!

The Classic Elite yarn I used for the body was won in the very first blog contest I ever entered! It's just perfect for Sheldon. In fact, he knit up so cutely, I have to admit I thought about just buying a gift for Camden and keeping Sheldon for myself. That's not really in keeping with the Christmas spirit though, is it? So Sheldon has been gifted. Luckily, I think I have enough yarn left over to eek out my own Sheldon, if I use a different yarn for part of the shell.

That wraps up my Christmas knitting (so far) and my last post of 2008. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe night, and that all your dreams come true in 2009!