Knit Once, Purl Forever

Finding Time

Back in the days of the poncho craze, the Martha Poncho craze to be exact, I read an article written by her. Martha had just been released from prison, just started two TV shows (Apprentice and some daytime show), and she was freely dispensing tips to help women find time in their busy lives so they can be even busier and achieve more. One of the tips was to sleep for no more than three hours each night.

I don't remember the other tips because I probably threw the magazine across the room after that one little tip. I don't know about you, but I would not be able to function on so little sleep. I've been there before due to sick kids and whatnot and its not a pretty sight. Not. Pretty. At. All.

And the thing about time is that you really can't "find" any more time in any given day as it just isn't possible. Time is a limited commodity. There are only 24 hours in a day. Yes, you can manage your time better, but you  just can't find any extra. I would like to find a way to stretch a day to 30 hours or more, if only it were possible.

Sorry to go off on a tangent there, but I had this whole time analysis thing going in my head while I was racing across blogland reading my favorite sites and commenting when applicable. I wish I could read and comment more, if I only had the extra time.

I do have time to post my latest FO as it won't take long.

Meet the Opal socks.

Pattern: Basic sock pattern with 40 stitches cast on.

Yarn: Simple socks in Opal sock yarn in colorway 1200 (I think).

Needles: Size US 4

Time: No idea, but they didn't take long. I knit these on the road mostly or when I couldn't focus on a complicated knit. I think these socks could definitely be knit in a week or less if a knitter were to focus on this project alone.

Here are a few more shots for the road.

Oh, I forgot to mention this earlier, but like the time I'm always running out of, I almost ran out of yarn as well. So close.

Finished Mystery Baby Blanket

Woohoo! The blanket is finished. To say I was obsessed with knitting this thing would be an understatement. I was completely and totally obsessed. I dreamed about knitting this project. I raced home so I could work on it.  I might even have changed plans once or twice just so I could knit this thing.

I was driven by the vision in my head, blurry as it was at times.

Side A

Side B

Here's how I did it:

Step 1: Select Materials for the Blanket
I only have two requirements when selecting yarn for a baby blanket. It must be machine washable and I prefer it to be soft. I selected 12 balls of Fiddle De Dee cotton in shades of white, pale yellow, and green. It meets both requirements. For this blanket I also purchased batting (pre-sized for a baby blanket or wall hanging) and 2 yards of flannel cloth for the quilt backing.

Step 2: Square Size and Stitch Selection
All squares will be 6" x 6". I like the simple elegance of plain, textured fabric, so I decided to use simple stitch patterns for my squares. I decided on stockinette, garter stitch, and seed stitch.

Step 3: Knit 30 Squares
At this point the blanket was still a mystery to me in terms of what the finished size would be. I ended up knitting 30 squares. Weave ends for all 30 squares and press each square with a hot iron. (Note: The First-Time Quiltmaking book had specific instructions for pressing versus ironing.)

Step  4: Arrange the Squares
At first I had planned to arrange the squares in random order. However, all of the quilts in the book were arranged in clear patterns and I decided that looked a lot better than my random squares. I actually had to knit three of the squares over in different colors to establish a pattern, but the end results were definitely worth it.

Step 5: Stitch the Squares to Form the Quilt Top
Use the Mattress Stitch to connect all the squares. I stitched each square together to form horizontal rows and then attached the rows to form the blanket. Seam all ends.

Step 6: Assemble the Quilt Backing
Cut the batting to the same size as the quilt top and cut the backing material so that it is slightly bigger to allow for seams. Stitch the two together by hand or with a sewing machine.

Step 7: Attach Quilt Top to the Backing
Hand sew the backing  (with right side facing you) to the wrong side and inside of the quilt top. Note: Be careful to leave the very edge of the quilt top available so you can pick up those stitches later to complete the border.

Step 8: Knit the Border
Pick up stitches on one side of the blanket and knit every row for three inches. Repeat three more times. Seam all ends.

Step 9: Tie all Layers of the Quilt Together
Attach one safety pin to each square of the blanket to hold them together. With yarn in a contrasting color and a darning needle, thread the yarn through all layers of the blanket at the corner of each square. Snip the yarn and tie with a square knot. Trim all ties to the same length. I decided to add ties to both sides of the blanket instead of just one.

Time: I knit this in three weeks from start to finish. Of course, the whole obsession thing probably contributed to the early completion.

Just a Quick Note

Still Searching
I may have had a longer, more interesting blog entry tonight if I hadn't spent the last several hours searching high and low for the Classic Elite Premier yarn I planned to use when casting on for the Skinny Scarf from DIY's Knitty Gritty. I searched everywhere, but no yarn. And I know I didn't dream up the on-line purchase of said yarn, although I have been dreaming of using it since I first touched this stuff.

I searched the stash in all three places I currently stash yarn and fiber/craft related goods. I even searched through the luggage we took on vacation back in July in the event that I had tucked it away in a zippered compartment. It was all for nothing as I cannot locate that yarn to save my life. In searching the stash in all those places, I found myself reflecting on the lack of organization that results from stashing yarn in so many places. Stash consolidation is now at the top of my To Do list. When I find the time, of course.

I'm sure I'll be searching for that as well.

Moving Along
After hours of searching, I finally gave up the hunt and wound up ordering more on-line. I'm sure that the other yarn will turn up once the replacement yarn arrives, so I selected different colors the second time around. I'm okay with reordering the yarn because I love knitting and wearing scarves. The Skinny Scarf, in particular, has definitely captured my fancy because I love the woven stitch look about it. Lovin' it!

Oh, and I really love that yarn as well, in case you didn't pick up on that.

Finishing Projects
I have two finished projects to show as soon as I get around to it. I finally finished the Mystery Baby Blanket yesterday and I finished the basic Opal socks at the soccer game today. Two finished objects in two days. Pretty exciting.

Partying It Up
We did quite a bit of partying this weekend--something that is totally out of the ordinary for us lately--and I have a few amusing observations to share later.

The Project That Ate My Blog

I didn't realize I was predicting my future with my whole "Nothing to Say" post. Actually my silence here isn't a result of nothing to say, instead it's the results of having no time to say it.

What have I been up to? I've been up to this...

And this...

And I'm not finished yet. There will be more.

Nothing to Say

The Oldest Son, "Blah, blah, blah (repeating something he's already stated twice.)"

The Youngest Son, "Dude, you already said that two times..."

The OS, "I know. I want to talk, but I don't have anything to say."

I know this feeling well. I want to blog, but I don't have anything to say. Or I had something to say once, but now that I'm in front of the monitor with fingers on keyboard, I no longer remember what I wanted to say.

Such is the case tonight. I can't remember what it is I wanted to say, so instead I will look to the comments for blog fodder.

Marina recently asked whether the Opal sock yarn used for my simple socks was 6 or 8 ply. That's a very good question. Now, I looked at the ball band, but I can't read German to save my life (ahem, even though I lived in Germany for three years). Instead, I separated the individual strands that make up this yarn and I counted 4. So, I think the answer is 4 ply. 

Gina asked, "Doesn't it feel great to make some progress, even it if it's just letting go of a project and saying goodbye?" Yes. Yes, it does. Sometimes ripping is the best way out of a big mistake.

About the Diet Coke thing. Thank you for all the supportive comments in regards to my Diet Coke addiction. I've been off the diet carbonated beverages for over three weeks now and I don't miss them at all. Oh, and it's easier to fall asleep and I sleep more soundly at night now. I'm never touching that crap again!

About knitting mistake #3: knotting yarn when joining a new ball. I guess this is not considered a mistake by some and it is perfectly acceptable to knot yarn in certain situations. Personally, I prefer to twist the old with the new and weave the ends later. I think it's a personal preference.

That's quite a lot for someone with nothing to say. Dontchathink? Hopefully the words will come easier tomorrow.

LOST

A while back I participated in that "One Word" meme where you invite your blog readers to come up with one word that best describes you. It's probably no surprise that the word "contemplative" came up. I don't disagree at all, but I have to say that I winced a little when I saw it.

I winced mostly because I didn't see the word "contemplative," instead I saw the word "contemplate". As in contemplate your navel.

I winced because I know I do a lot of navel gazing here at the old blog.

I winced because, while I know I spend entirely too much time contemplating the navel and navel gazing in general, somehow I think that no one else knows this.

I winced because the truth really DOES hurt sometimes.

I winced because I've been feeling kind of lost lately. And I'm chalking the navel gazing up to that. It's my way: I'll mull this around for a while and then I'll find my way.

I winced because I might be lost more often than I am found.

*******************

   

Speaking of lost, we got the LOST Season 2 DVDs and that's where I've been ever since: lost watching this show and knitting the Mystery Baby Blanket. I only have four squares left to knit and then it's time to stitch the squares together.

I really have no idea what I'm doing as I've never made a quilt before, but I found an excellent book that's going to get me through this project. The book is First-Time Quilt Making by Becky Johnston and I love that it provides step-by-step lessons complete with step-by-step photos. I'm actually contemplating making another quilt in addition to the baby blanket. The book describes each step so well that I don't think I can possibly get lost.

Making a quilt for the first time? Don't get lost, get this book!

The Long and Winding Projects

Exhibit A
When the Hubby saw the above photo, from my July Trek Along entry, his response was, "You could get there a lot faster if they would just straighten that path."

Of course, it's important to understand that the path above is an exercise trail located near my office building. The point of an exercise trail is, obviously, to get some exercise--we're not interested in shortcuts or getting to a destination at a certain time. The Hubby doesn't get it because he is allergic to this type of exercise--he only takes part in organized sports and plays basketball, softball, and football throughout the year.

Exhibit B
Ten squares out of a total of 30 planned for the Mystery Baby Blanket. When the Hubby saw the squares and learned of my plans to weave ends and seam the squares together to form a blanket his response was, "Wow. That's going to be a lot of work. It will take forever."

Clearly, the Hubby is a man of action and results. He's also short on "the patience".  Now you know what we have in common because I'm typically short on "the patience" as well.

However, I'm not short on the patience as far as the Mystery Baby Blanket goes. I'm really loving the process. Some of you may recall how I struggled with the first baby blanket I ever knitted. Somehow this doesn't seem like all that much work right now even though I know I have a long way to go. I've completed one third of my squares, by my preliminary estimation that is, and it seems as though I've barely begun. There's something about changing things up after each six-inch square that keeps my interest and enthusiasm for this project alive.

The "artsy" shot.

I know I'm only at square 1 step 3 of many squares steps with the knitting of the squares, but I don't see myself losing interest in this project anytime soon. I think the long and winding path is good for exercise and some knitting projects.

Oh, and I think the Mystery Baby Blanket is a good project for those of us with the ADD.

Finishing Woes

I was just peeking in on Norma's finished project gallery and I see that the wench* has already completed 33 projects this year. Then I peek into my gallery and see that I have a mere dozen. And not even a baker's dozen, which is 13, but a real dozen. Sure I could maybe count the baby booties and hat as separate projects to bump me up to 13, but that would be lame and, trust me, I'm already feeling lame enough as it is.

Surely, with all the knitting that has been going on around these parts, I would have managed to crank out more projects. And how does everyone else do it? What's your secret? Tell me now--I gotta know!!!!

I'm going crazy over here. Like Gina, I'm a bit on the competitive side. (Love her post about competitive knitting--it's a must read if you haven't read it already.) And I know it's not a contest, but when another knitter is cranking out 33 knits to my 12, something has to give. 12 completed projects is not a respectable amount when compared to 33.

Freakin' over-achieving knitters! I'm fired up to finish something now.

* Please know that I adore Norma. She is fabulous and not at all a wench or any other bad word. I'm green with envy at all of her completed projects and it just gets the best of me sometimes...

Simple Projects Don't Suck

Simple socks in Opal sock yarn in colorway 1200 (I think).

While I like to challenge myself with my knitting and otherwise, sometimes I'm all about the simple project. I like the simple, mindless knitting a simple project provides. When every row is knit, it's easy to just pick it up and go. Simple projects can be knit while chatting with others at soccer practice or wherever, and there's nothing like squeezing in a little simple knitting time while riding in the car late at night or knitting in a dark movie theater.

The Opal socks above are particularly simple as they consist of 40 stitches on size US 4 needles. This is what a call a quick knit. They're really flying off the needles even though I only knit them in fits.

Rainy Season

It's been a bit of a rainy season for us in the Midwest this summer. Yes, we need the rain so that's not really the issue, but it's just unusual. Some days I've wondered if Noah wasn't on to something with his whole ark-building idea.

Here's my version of the ark. I started this cross stitch project 15 years ago. I found it while organizing my closet a while back and set it aside--I obviously put a lot of work into this project all those years ago, it's a shame to have it go to waste. Then, I found out that one of my best friends is decorating their baby's room with Noah's Ark decor.

So, I revived this project, search high and low for the pattern instructions, and bought new embroidery floss so I can finish the ark for my friend's baby.

There are a few (5) animals missing, the roof and clouds need filled in, and everything needs to be outlined. I have no idea how long it will take to complete, but I don't think it will take all that long. It's hard to estimate as I'm so used to estimating knitting time now and I think I'm even a slower cross stitcher than I am a knitter. Any guess as to how much time I should give myself to complete this? Any fellow cross stitchers out there?