Knitting in the Shadows

A New Year's Resolution - for Next December

New Year's Eve approaches (at least for those following the Western Gregorian calendar).

That's the time when lots of folks get all excited about "resolutions."  We make these grand plans about doing something differently in the new year.

Well.

I've made a grand plan for 2013.  Unfortunately, I can't implement it until ... oh... October at the earliest.  (Perhaps I should set a duplicate of this post to re-publish itself in October as a reminder).

I plan to go on strike.  Well, not completely, but in a general sense -- but only as it relates to all the holiday hoopla.  Why?

It's all because of the list.  You know the list -- that thing you create when you realize that there are too many details to leave to chance?  My list for the holidays has gotten out of control.  Worse, it seems to indicate that I am the only one in my house for whom this is true.  And that means that while I wasn't watching, I took on the responsibility for all the tasks (this does not mean that everyone asked me to take this on... I just sort of did).  This is not a good thing (nope, not even for the folks who are basking in the glow of having it all taken care of for them).

Let me show you what I mean:  Here's a more or less detailed breakdown of the prep for the Thanksgiving Feast

Task to Be Done	Person(s) Who Could Do It	Person Who Actually Does It
Clean Dining room and Kitchen to prepare for the feast	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Shop for Groceries for the Feast	GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Prepare the Turkey and put it in the oven	Kitty, Bookworm or GolfPro with training or instruction; Shadow	Shadow
Do the Prep work (cutting potatoes, apples, slicing celery, etc.)	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow - this year with help from Kitty
Make the Waldorf Salad	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Make the Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Beans, etc.	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Set the Table	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Bake the crescent rolls (Pillsbury... not even from scratch)	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Carve the Turkey	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Golf Pro
Do the prep work for the gravy (chopping gizzards etc.)	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Varies - sometimes Shadow, sometimes Kitty, sometimes Golf Pro
clear the table	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
strip the carcass	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	GolfPro
Kitchen clean up - (dishes etc)	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Make the turkey stock for soup	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Make the turkey soup	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow

You get the picture. It get's worse for the Season of the Gift Giving Frenzy. The feast part looks pretty much the same.... though I did all the prep work except the gizzard cutting this year.  But there's more to it all than just the feast.

Here's an outline, in broad strokes, of the stuff that gets done in our house.

Task to Be Done	Person(s) Who Could Do It	Person Who Actually Does It
Clean the First Floor to prepare for the Solstice Party	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Send out invitiations to the party	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, AND  Shadow	Shadow
Shop for Groceries for the Party	GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Prepare the food for the party (including marinade for the famous flank steak)	Kitty, Bookworm or GolfPro with training or instruction; Shadow	Shadow
Vacuum the stairs	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Golf Pro or Shadow
Purchase Holiday Cards	GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Write Holiday Newsletter	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, and/or Shadow	Shadow
Address, sign, stuff and mail Holiday Cards	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro and/or, Shadow	Shadow
Shop for Holiday gifts for Kitty and Bookworm	GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow, with confirmation or approval by Golf Pro
Shop for Holiday gifts for extended family	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, and/or Shadow	Shadow with some input from Golfpro
Wrap, Pack and ship gifts for far flung family and friends	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow
Purchase Holiday Tree	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, and Shadow	GolfPro, Shadow and Kitty and Bookworm
Decorate Holiday Tree	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, and Shadow	Bookworm, Kitty, and Shadow
Set out other holiday decorations	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow (when it happens, which it didn't this year)
Put up holiday lights outside	Kitty, Bookworm, GolfPro, Shadow	Shadow, sometimes with help from GolfPro (when it happens, which it didn't this year)
Make gifts (knitting mostly)	Kitty, Bookworm,  Shadow	Shadow
Find and acquire stocking stuffers	Golf Pro, Shadow, and... now that they're older, Kitty, Bookworm	Shadow, and Grandma (yes, even from afar!)
Fill Stockings	Golf Pro, Shadow, Bookworm and/or Kitty	Shadow
Prepare Holiday Breakfast	Kitty, Bookworm, Shadow and Golfpro	Shadow
Clean up after Holiday Breakfast	Kitty, Bookworm, Shadow and Golfpro	Shadow
Prepare Holiday Feast	Kitty, Bookworm, Shadow and Golfpro	Shadow, with a little help

Oh yes, and clean up after ....  that's me too. 

I note that there's only one place where Shadow doesn't show up in the far right column.  That's stripping the turkey carcass before it goes into the stock pot.  (Although, truth be told, I did do some of that this year - then again, so did Kitty's boyfriend).

This is not to say that I don't enjoy all (or at least most) of that stuff, or even that I harbor resentment for doing any of it.  But it is getting pretty exhausting to do so much of it without much help. And I don't think I'm doing it without help because the others in the house would refuse to help if asked -- they've just gotten used to my doing it. Furthemore, if I do all the gifting, no one else gets the fun of finding a perfect gift, and sitting secretly with the knowledge that the recipient is going to be so pleased!

By the time the Great Gifting occurs, I'm wiped out.

So... Next year.... I'm hoping to remember to write up a sign up sheet instead of just a list, and to solicit help from my family members.  Then, I won't feel frustrated when someone asks me "what did we get for...."  Because then, that sentence won't mean "I assume you took care of this even though I never mentioned it, so.. .what did you buy on our behalf to give to this person, cause I didn't buy anything".

So, that's my resolution. 

Sunday Satisfaction -- on Eleven

Progress is being made all over the place.

Alas, I can't SHOW you any of it.  Words will have to do. <grin>

First, I'm pleased to announce that the State has come through, and I'm not a fully licensed massage therapist.  This is wonderful -- but has been eating into my knitting time.

Despite being distracted by giving massages to clients, I've made progress on all sorts of holiday related fronts.

1.  I've finished and mailed the gift project using these yarns:

and .

(and I have some left, just in case I decide to make something more).

2.  I finished and mailed the gift project using this yarn:

3.  I finished the gift project using these yarns:

and . 

Alas, I sent it off to its recipient without photographing it.  :-(

4.  I finished the gift project using these yarns:

and

5.  I took my family to do this

and mustered two gifts for others out of the process.

6. I cleaned the first floor of my house, and got all the pretty candles set out.

7.  I wrote the family Holiday Newsletter -- and got it approved by the GolfPro for dissemination.

8.  I found, purchased, made personal notes in, signed, stamped and mailed the Holiday Cards.

9.  I found, and purchased, the required annual ornaments for the girls.

10. I hosted a lovely party to celebrate the Solstice (and the fact that the end of the Mayan Calendar did not, in fact, coincide with the End of the World).  AND, got it all cleaned up after....

11.  I've started the last required knitting gift project, using this:

and and possibly .

There are now rumors afoot that I may add to the holiday gift knitting with two additional small projects.  Only one need be done by Tuesday.  (Alas, I fear it really wants to be done by Monday night.)

I will now return to knitting....

 

It's Beginning to Look A Lot like.....

We tried for the traditional tree cutting trip, but evidently waiting too late in the season.  Luckily, there were four pre-cut trees left, and this one pleased all of us.

It awaits the tree trimming ceremony, which requires the WHOLE family.  Here's hoping we can keep the pile of gifts small enough to avoid blocking the tree until it's trimmed.

A Bit of Crazy Progress

The clock is ticking.

The calendar pages are flying away.

But progress IS being made!  We will not discuss that said progress is a tad disjointed...

What you see there includes three in progress gifts, and a bit of mindless knitting for ME.

There's also a completed gift. 

The gloves would be oh so close, except for the part where I forgot that I used different sized needles for the part of the cuff that folds over.  I'd finished the whole cuff, when I had to frog == it really did make a difference in the way they feel.

The Black Circle suffered a similar problem. 

I had a couple of inches done (168 stitches per round), when I realized that in this yarn, I really needed to go up a needle size.  Luckily, that has meant a reduction in the stitch count -- but that meant a bit of adjusting for the pattern.  I'm back on track, and things are going swimmingly.  Alas, it's delaying the mailing of a package.  (Sigh, Priority Mail here I come).

More soon.  I've got knitting to do.

Back to the Legs

You may recall that I posted last motnh about a Leg Warmer pattern that I worked up when I knit our Band Directors' daughter some leg warmers to help her stay warm after leg-lengthening surgery?

Yeah.  So, it all started with a simple pattern -- 1 child leg warmer using Aran Weight Yarn.

It grew into one basic pattern, in four sizes.  For three different yarn weights.  Which means it's now one it's way to being a booklet (three different patterns, purchasable individually for $1.00, or as part of a booklet for more.)  But I still couldn't leave well enough alone.

First I added some variations -- simple textured knit/purl patterns that one could use to liven things up a bit.  Then, I decided to use up some nice leftovers from other projects, and added color-work to the mix.

This means that I'll have a color-work variation to add to the booklet.  It takes a bit more fussing on sizing, and thus may not have all four sizes in all three yarn weights, but it's still going in.  And, because you know me and leaving things alone .... I'm likely to add some variations there too.

So, I've now worked up an open ankled variation to suit the whims of my daughter Kitty (it did start with her band director...). I'm calling this one Central Style unless I hear a better idea. 

 

And that reminded me that last year, I knit up some cabled leg warmers for Book Worm.  And she's also in that band.

 So now, my little one pattern fund rasier has four essential designs-- each in multiple sizes,  going into a booklet.  Each  design will also be in multiple patterns -- since too many variables makes a pattern impossible to read, I'm not trying to work in both multiple weights of yarn and multiple sizes into a single pattern.

I feel like I need an army of testers!!  I've been doing well on the original set.  Of the twelve different leg warmers I need actually knit to fully test it, I've got testers for 6.  Of course, I can knit them all... but I really like having people who didn't WRITE the darned thing check it out to make sure it works.  I'm likely to just fix a glithch without noticing.

Now I'll need to find another dozen for the color-work, and another dozen for the open-ankle, and another dozen for the cabled design.  Egads!  Who could imagine I'd want three dozen testers for LEG WARMERS???

 

 

I've Succumbed to the Crazy -- It's Holiday Knitting Time

Sane people start their Holiday Knitting in the fall.  Early in the fall.

Sane people know that Holday Knitting takes more time than, say, Holiday Shopping.

Sane people don't order the yarn for doing their Holiday Knitting in December.

Clearly, I'm not sane.

On Monday, the BOX arrived.  It was a big box.  Luckily for my pocket book, it contained yarn for three crazy knitters (we all ordered yarn in December; and at least two of us ordered for Holiday Knitting).

On Monday, I cast on for Holiday Knitting project number one.  It's made from Rowan Wool Cotton 4Ply, in Inky.

Lurking in the box is a bunch of Valley Yarns Northhampton

  

And some Amherst

All that lovely yarn is going to miraculously become five more gifts.  If the intended recipients of those gifts weren't known to read this blog now and then, I'd tell you more.

Query:  Is it insane to plan to knit a half-dozen gifts starting on Dec. 10 when you imagine, even briefly, that each of five of those gifts will take no more than two evenings each, and the third is small ...

Possibly not.

But when at least two of them need to be shipped....

Sigh.

The Darkness Before the Light

The gloves are progressing.  But as with many things -- the knitting has hit that really dark spot before the dawn:

yep, the porcupine is taking over.

Luckily, this is the place where the last two fingers are separated at last, and after only a few rounds of really tight fussy work, where one has to avoid tripping over the four needles holding finger one so that you can work on finger two....  things simplify.

In what seems like no time, I'd gone from the above, to two fingers that are all but finished.  Having had Kitty try on the gloves, I'm ready to bind off the middle finger, and have but a few brief rows before finishing off the pointer finger. 

In the mean time, I've started the second glove.  Ahhhh, nice easy breezy ribbing.

Just Fooling Myself

Ya know those gloves I was whining about?  The challenge of knitting something that simple without taking lots of breaks for complicated?

yeah.

Not so simple anymore.

Oh, I've stuck to the rules.  I've not added one cable.  I've twisted no stitches.  I've just knit along, increased for a thumb gusset, like you do. 

And then I knit the thumb.  That was a little fussy, but not bad.

Now I'm facing the pinky finger.

I guess I've never knit half-fingered mitts from the wrist up before.  The fingers aren't significantly more difficult that the half fingers; they just take longer and must be decreased to tips instead of simply bound off. But suddenly, my knitting is one mass of needles.  I fear it will be worse when I get past the pinky.  It starts first (and thus can be finished first).  But the other three start pretty much at the same time. 

I'll keep reminding myself that I LIKE litte porcupines.

 

Challenge - Accepted (but definitely a challenge)

My kids sometimes feel like cobblers kids.

I knit all the time, but things for them seem to take longer than they'd like.  Part of this, of course, is because they never ask for something for which they're happy with a specific pattern.  If they want, for example, wrist warmers - they don't want wrist warmers from any patterns I can find, they want something ... different.

So, I wind up designing something custom...  And designing takes time.

Recently, Kitty has been swiping my gloves.  Like me, she has hands that aren't quite what women's glove makers have in mind.  I offered to make a pair for her, and she pointed out this delay issue.

I took that as a challenge (though she didn't mean it that way).  I bought the yarn within days, and began knitting.  Again, without a pattern in mind because, well, standard patterns don't fit us.

She has challenged me in another way.  She wants plain gloves.

Plain.

No cables.  No lace. No colorwork. No texture beyond basic ribbing for the cuffs. 

Plain.

That challenge is harder.

I'm trying to persuade myself that the fiddli-ness of the fingers will be enough.