A Little Yarn On The Side

Yep, that's BARE FLOOR you're looking at there, folks. You guessed it.  I have been cleaning--or taming--the sewing room.   See? Er....well, you might have to take my word for it that the closet looks better than it did.  Not that this is the entire stash or anything.  If there is ever a day when my ENTIRE stash fits into this closet, there will probably just be a big picture of an open bottle of champagne on the blog.  BUT, the feltable yarn has now been able to fit into the closet, so all the cold sheeping is FINALLY making a difference.  Had I not been buying fabric steadily the entire time, you might even be able to see the difference..... My sidekick did agree to hang out with me for most of the cleaning though he's a bit peeved that there was no actual sewing.  He's probably just thankful it wasn't more knitting.

The white scarf is done: and I've almost finished the next pair of pajamas: having just the sleeve & bottom hems to do.  I was going to wait to post until it was done, but yesterday I was waiting until the scarf was done to post, and you can see how well THAT worked out for me.  The pants are already done, and I have used this pattern before to make a pair of flannel pajamas that are probably my favorites ever.  Because of the long tunic top, I thought they might be nice in a really lightweight material, so I'm using some I bought on clearance at Joanns.  I thought it best not to invest a lot of money in this idea just in case I prove myself to be really freakin' wrong about that idea.  I'm getting better at working with material that slides around.  Yesterday there was so little swearing happening that Theo found it safe enough to join me though I can't say that I have exactly reached HIS level of calmness.....

I actually had quite a bit of stuff to get done this week (amazing how far one can fall behind in two weeks), so I actually didn't spend much of yesterday crafting, but I did manage to get this sewn together:  and since this part is now "finished," it sort of counts for yesterday.  One of the lines little triangles didn't match up exactly--and is off about 1/4", and it was bothering me enough that I had resolved today to make an entirely new block and replace it, but looking at the picture of it, I can't even find the problem, so I might leave it as-is.  I know--quilting is not really the ideal project for a year when I'm trying to finish an insane number of projects, but this is actually part of my new "project containment" policy.  As you might have noticed, things can disappear with rather alarming frequency in the sewing room, and I'm going to bet that it will be harder for me to lose an entire quilt TOP than one or two blocks, so.....N...

We were a little more tired after the Ravelympics than I originally thought, but everyone is fully recovered now.  And even making a little progress.  The March Project of the Month is something lace with beads.  Obviously, I thought out some of the project bags a bit more thoroughly than others.  HOWEVER, I've been thinking for a long time about making a mobius scarf/cowl/whatever.  You know how regular scarves have ends that dangle, and a lot of cowls don't lay around the neck very well?  I'm thinking--what if, just for once--you actually ALLOW your stitches to stay twisted on circular needles?  For one, it would be really fun to do once, and I think it might work.  So that is the plan. Of course, the plan has lost out to some major cooking, housecleaning & yardwork so far this month, but I have high hopes for sometime in the next 27 days.  And--I hate to admit it--I did have a bit of a knitting fling during the Ravelympics: It is...

It's March 1, the end of the Ravelympics, and it's time to get back to normal on the blog....or as normal as it ever gets.  Thanks to everyone for the cheers and support.  Knitting that much put me behind on almost everything else--including catching up on everyone else's blogs--but I'm slowly catching up. Since yesterday was the end of February, checking in on the monthly tallies:      Projects finished:  3      Yards of fabric used: 1.5 (quite pathetic)      Yards of yarn used:  2108 (YAY!)      Skeins of yarn used:  18 (SCORE!) So Year to Date:      Projects finished: 13      Yards of yarn used:  3550      Skeins of yarn used:  25.25      Yards of fabric used:  10.58 To make my goal of 100 projects a year, I have to average just over 8 projects a month, which puts me sl...

      Bob:   Well, it's been a tremendous couple of weeks, but it's time to say good-bye to the 2010 Ravelympics.  With tonight's closing ceremonies, the games and the knitting frenzy come to an end. Ron:  Hard to believe it's only been 17 days.  What a tremendous woolly output we've seen from the nearly 10,000 worldwide participants.  Bob: We're here with one of the participants.  Tell us, Ms. Sutton, how do you feel now that it's all over? Toni:  Well, Bob, I think I'm still a bit shocked to have actually finished. Ron:  So you weren't sure you would finish? Toni:  There are just so many things that can happen--a design flaw, running short of yarn, broken needles, a freak moth invasion--nothing is a given in competitive knitting. Bob:  Now that you've come this far, what are your plans?  Are you considering turning pro? Toni:  Well, Bob, I did consider it briefly, but the life of a professional kn...

Bob:  We're back at the 2010 Ravelympics, and after 15 grueling days, Ms. Sutton has just crossed the finish line for the Sweaterboard Cross. Ron:  Well, I don't mind admitting that I never thought she would pull it off.  And entire sweater in 15 days--and by a woman who actually set aside a nearly-completed sweater for almost 2 entire years before sewing the sweater seams. Bob:  You certainly make a good point, Ron.  This is well outside of Ms. Sutton's usual knitting behavior.  She has really been pushing hard during the games. Ron:  She certainly has.  And her support team has truly been phenomenal.  Theo was on hand for the entire final push.     and her very patient husband has been cheering her on during the entire event.   Bob:   Do we have a shot of him as well. Ron:  No--apparently he has left on an "emergency white chocolate martini run," and is unavailable for comment. Bob:  How about...