Knitting Realization and Stash Management

Even though I had plenty of time this weekend, I have had a hard time finishing these projects. I think it may have something to do with the fact that until Easter, the only yarn I have with me here in Boston is the yarn for my blue socks, the gift, my cousin's mittens, and Carlos's lime green hat. As you can see from my new progress bars, I am not too far from completing each of these four projects. In reality, I am probably closer to finishing than I represented, but due to my dislike of weaving in the ends, sewing seams, and basically any tedious finishing technique, I have left a greater percentage toward those tasks. Anyway, once those few projects are finished, I have no other yarn here with me and will be greatly tempted to buy more. So if I drag out these projects, I can have something to knit for the next 17 days without spending more money on yarn.

It's taken a great deal of discipline, but I am trying really hard to keep my yarn-buying to a minimum. Every time I mention I want to buy something, Carlos asks me "Do you want it? Do you need it? Do you love it?" and if I can answer all three in the affirmative, then I should buy it. If even one answer is a "no", then I shouldn't buy it. When it comes to yarn, I can always answer the want it and love it with a resounding YES! But the need it question - that's a bit iffy, especially if I have comparable yarn already in my collection.

Particularly sock yarn. I have several sock patterns bookmarked, including the ever-popular Jaywalkers by Grumperina, these winding cable socks from Interweave Knits, and many others. I don't have the yarn here to do these projects. I do, however, have several skeins/hanks/balls of yarn for these projects at home in Connecticut and do not need to buy more.

Let it Snow!

Yes folks, on Tuesday I posted that I hoped the nice weather would stick around so that I could put away my mittens. But, no, it is snowing pretty steadily out there today. Wednesday night I didn't need a coat and today I needed a hat, scarf, and mittens. Being a native New Englander, I should have known better. I believe Mark Twain said it best: "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes." and also, "Yes, one of the brightest gems in the New England weather is the dazzling uncertainty of it. There is only one thing certain about it: you are certain there is going to be plenty of it -- a perfect grand review..."

But with the inclement weather comes motivation to stay in and complete some of the projects I have OTN. Currently I am 1/2 done with the heel flap of my second sock, 1/3 done with Carlos's new (and hopefully better-fitting) hat, and then there are a few others as well that are at various stages. Now I just have to pry myself away from the computer, grab a hot cup of tea, and curl up in my comfy chair with my knitting.

Spring has sprung

Sunday I returned to Boston to finish my last semester of school -- exciting, scary, and bittersweet all at once! Break was nice, but too fast. I didn't get as much knitting done as I had hoped but I did take care of other things, so it was still a productive 10 days.

I bought some new yarn to add to the stash: Cherry Tree Hill in the Blues/greens colorway, and Sockotta color #'s 364 and 367 - orange & pink and purple & pink respectively. Can you tell I am now obsessed with sock yarn? Did I also mention that I haven't yet turned the heel on the second sock of my first pair?

Over break I did finish a pair of mittens for myself - just basic stockinette mittens with a K2, P2 cuff, nothing fancy. Take a look:



Hopefully this nice weather will stick around and I can put them away for next year :-)

As a third year law student, most of my reading is for school, but once in a rare while I have the chance (or the desire) to read for fun -- this week has been one of those rare occasions. In addition to all the knitting I have been doing over break, I have been able to finish an entire book that was not law related -- it was knitting related, of course! Claire LaZebnik's Knitting under the Influence is a great, fun, light-hearted book about three friends in their late 20's who share the common bond of their Sunday morning knitting circle, even though their lives are very different from one another. I absolutely could not put it down!


Not much to really update on the knitting front -- especially since I've been updating like crazy this week. Today I frogged Carlos's lime green hat because I realized after about 4 inches that the K2, P2 rib was not going to stretch as much as I had hoped. No biggie.

New needle case

Knitting needle case 1
Originally uploaded by ndjen04.

My mom helped me (or I should say, I helped my mom) sew this great roll-up case for my knitting needles - pattern from Debbie Stoller's SnB Knitter's Handbook. Notice, of course, the many empty spots. No, they are not all for new needle purchases. Most of them are for needles with current projects on them. I guess that's a sign that I should get back to my knitting - ha ha.



Below is what the case looks like closed: