Another month done and it's still hotter than balls out there.
Just saying.
Anyway, I am happy (sarcasm) because at best we only have two more months of this dreadful, humid, disgusting, drippy heat. And I will rejoice and dance and sing and pull all my wool out and roll naked in it once the heat is gone de gone gone gone.
Okay, maybe not.
But, man, knitting wool during a NYC summer heatwave sucks.
As I promised a craft update (in the small print) on Wednesday's post, I'll pony up but I have to warn that it will be pictureless because
a) work consumed me,
b) family matters (including illness) consumed me
c) the heat nearly killed me and
d) well, I just didn't get it together to take pics before today.
I did knit though, despite the heat.
And I will give you the real truth, which is quite different from what my Ravelry projects page decrees.
First off, I've got a new project which is on a strict deadline and will supersede everything else. A friend of mine and his partner have adopted a baby girl and, come hell or highwater, I will have a baby sweater for him when he arrives at the office... 8 days from now. Gulp. The sweater in question? The Jasmine Lace Edge cardigan from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms
Yes, I have made like a bazillion projects from that book. It really is THAT good.
I cast on this morning and am halfway through the back. Being strapped for time I have decided to make the 3 month size. That way the baby will get to wear it a couple of times before the sweater gets retired. I do normally knit the 1 year size when gifting, but time is super short in this case! Another surprise to those who know me is that I shopped my stash (that's fairly rare when I'm making a gift; I might make a prototype from stash and then splurge...) and am using some white Elann Sonata which had been earmarked for Kyoto. Since it'd been reserved since, oh, '03 for that sweater, it was really a no-brainer. Especially since I needed to start immediately in order to meet my deadline.
Now, you're probably wondering about this madness, but the guy I work with is, well, he's "one of the good ones." And they went through great emotional and fiscal expense to get this baby. In my book of karma, N & J deserve a handknit sweater to take their new daughter to brunch, the museum or whatever life may throw their way, in.
Next up, I am dying to finish Sivia Harding's Flippant flip-flop / thong socks before the summer is out. I finished the first one yesterday and kitchenered for the first time in my whole life. On the subway, no less. In five minutes. Go. Fucking. Me.
All jokes aside, it was a truly awesome "a-ha" moment. I finally got it, even though I still don't fully understand it. But I FINALLY kitchenered and feel there should be a Kniting Scout Badge just for that accomplishment.
Yarn? I'm using some leftover Fearless Fibers that I used to make Hunter a Baby Surprise jacket.
And, last, and most definitely not being worked on right now... I've got a balls-hot, heavy wool, super sweaty, lovely grey birthday sweater for Mark (Smoking by Jared of Brooklyn Tweed fame) that will probably be gifted to him by, oh maybe February of next year. Which is about four months after his actual birthday.
'Cause, you know, it's just too damned hot to knit wool.
As for sewing, don't ask. It's too fucking hot to sit in front of the machine too.
October can not get here fast enough for me.
One billion degrees
It's like one billion degrees
It's like one trillion degrees
From the hot parking lot
To the sand that is not so cool
Soooooo hot. And so much to say. Ugh. I'll try to get some of it out before I melt dead away...
Sorry for the long absence here. I have been refocusing on myself lately and that has led to a not insignificant period of introspection. I've been thinking about many things -- from losing the now 30 excess pounds that I am carrying to actively focusing on where my career is heading to diving fully back into crafting.
Rest assured, knitting has always been done. In fact, the Milan Jackets are at the most boring point of needing one half a sleeve to have all the knitting be done. Then I can move onto finishing them both. (This will probably be the LAST time I knit two of anything. Maybe...)
I knit every single day on my commute to and from work, so I always have some progress to show. As such, I have a bazillion projects in progress (oh my fickle heart) and in queue. Knitting satisfies me... but aggravates my carpal tunnel. And in the summer, I don't want to work on it at night in my un-air conditioned room. (The babies, bless their souls, have a/c in their room.) The yarns all stick to me and make me feel, well... gross.
So in keeping with wanting to craft and finish more -- and keeping my hand out of the proverbial cookie jar -- I have turned my eye back to a forgotten passion. One that, of course, necessitated buying even MORE furniture and moving stuff out of the kiddos' bedroom -- which was good, because they were starting to try to get into stuff they shouldn't be in...
If you can't tell from the picture above, at night my heart turns to sewing and quilting. (And, Tar-jay, as usual, rocks. Awesome sewing table, 15% discount and free shipping!) Oh, and yes, the cats do think the table was brought in just for them.
I know you're thinking, "but what about the stuff the kiddos wanted?" Well, Hunter nearly pulled the sewing machine on her head and Aden "walked" his jumperoo around the room -- putting him within reach of certain items (cough, scissors, cough) that his forgetful mom didn't stow safely away. (These items are ALL. GONE. NOW.)
I will admit that I can't sew a perfectly straight line yet, but I expect a summer of progress -- and a few purchased seaming guides -- will get me there. I've been working on a few simple pieces -- pre-printed soft books, coasters -- and will pick up on piecing quilts soon.
In other news, I've decided to fully go back on Weight Watchers (and to try to get on the boards at least ONCE a day when I can), update my resume -- just in case, you know?-- and spend more time trying to have fun with my kids and husband.
After all, they're my biggest passion...
The kids are just peachy keen thrilled to have both parents in the room with them:
My, what have we here...
Some actual crafting content. Anyone want to venture a guess on what that might be?
I'll give you a hint. It's a crochet (duh) little something for the kiddos' birthday. And of course I'm making two. No, I haven't quite learned my lesson on that one yet.
(Oh and this is still not in my projects list on Ravelry but it *is* in my queue.)
