Knitter in Progress

Reminder: (The one and only)Free day is midnight to midnight on Valentine's Day(February 14). I have noticed some comments from around blogland(not from anyone in the group--which baffles me as to why someone not participating would care, but that's neither here nor there) questioning the rationale of a "free day". I didn't think it was a big deal; like I said last week, it's the midpoint and I thought it would be a nice treat. It is by no means a requirement, I, personally, don't plan on buying anything. I realize that I have tweaked the rules a little from the beginning, but it's my first time hosting a KAL and I'm trying to perfect the rules for when I move it to it's own blog in April. I would appreciate any opinions or suggestions from all of you who embarked on this first three months with me. My original intention (for me) was to acquire no yarn in three months and I'm sticking to that, and I think that I have stuck to the ori...

On the workout front, I have actually worked out every day this week--alternating cardio with abs--I'm still sore but it's not as bad. I'm soldiering on :) I took my first trip into a yarn store yesterday. I had two Knitting Pure and Simple patterns I was looking for and String had them. I put my blinders on--looking at nothing but patterns and books, went in, grabbed the two patterns, paid for them, and ran out--seriously. Have a great weekend--Stashalongers, I'll be popping through starting tomorrow(as usual)! Booking Through Thursday I'm thinking here of any story that is split into more than one volume, stories such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Rowling's Harry Potter volumes, Eddings' Belgariad, to name just a few. Christie's Hercule Perot stories do not count, nor do Gardner's Sherlock Holmes stories, as the reader can consume them in any order. Savvy? Do you enjoy reading multi-volume stories? Oh yes, as long as the story maintains so...

This is totally not knitting or stitching related, but I really enjoy working out to exercise videos although admittedly I'm coming off a year of next to nothing in that department(with the move, the fact I can't find which box contains a majority of my dumbbell collection, factors beyond my control, and life in general). My favorite, and pretty much only, video instructor is Cathe Friedrich ; her workouts are ultra tough--tougher than most gym workouts I've done. Anyhoo, knowing this you would think that I would ease into getting back into my workouts. I bought Kick Max recently and it didn't look too tough when I previewed it--at least nothing like the sadistic Boot Camp(I get sore just thinking about that one)--well, I was sorely(literally) mistaken. I did the workout and about halfway through my legs were really burning by the cool down they were ready to give out--anyone want to take bets on if I'll be able to walk tomorrow? But even with all the pain, you ...

First, the news you're all waiting for--- Norma stays :) For the record, I did not want to boot her out. I agree with what everyone said--it's charity knitting, who can argue with that. I was just grappling with the whole "bending of the rules" thing. I didn't earn the title of "pledge monster" in my college sorority for my flexibility as far as rules are concerned. This is why I put it out to the group--after all, we are all in this together, I think we should all have a say in the way things go. That being said maybe some clarification is in order. (1) If you are buying yarn in order to finish a charitable project(to be completed within the Stashalong time frame), it's okay. (2) If you have to get a ball of yarn to finish a project already on the needles because you ran out of said yarn and you intend to finish said project by the end of Stashalong, that's okay. (3) If you have to buy yarn for a Secret Pal or gift(for someone else), that...

Sorry, my fellow Coloradans, but I was born and raised a Steelers fan(both parents are from Pittsburgh): Go Steelers! I love Bill--he always looks so ticked off! And I got a lot of knitting done during the game--although my tension may be off from stress--LOL. Pictures on Tuesday.

Would you like to participate in an Olympic KAL but you don't want the pressure of having to start and finish in such a short time--you just want to enjoy the process? Well, Margene has the answer--pop over and check it out! I saw this somewhere yesterday and thought it was worth mentioning here. Onto my weekly memes: Today's SBQ is: Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that talks about it.) If not, when do you predict it will be? I have not had a happy dance this year but I hope to next month when I finish a page from Storykeeper(hopefully). Unfortunately, I will not have a finished product happy dance for a while--everything I'm working on qualifies as a big a** project. Booking Through Thursday We're just wrapping up the third week of January. Wow. Already. Time to check in with your reading report. Have you finished any books yet? Yes If you have, how many, what were they, how did you like them? Two, I rer...

How is everyone holding up? Those of you with gift certificates or who were the recipients of gifts are very lucky--I saw some neat stuff people got this week. We are almost a quarter of the way through the Stashalong and almost everyone is staying strong. I know that we all can do it! I'm really looking forward to that last post on April 4th, when I get to let everyone know what we all bought after our three month diet :) Happy knitting! Little Diva's Scarf Rage's Unseamed Sweater Kim : Not a lot of progress this week with the sickies(which returned to Little Rage with a vengeance on Sunday night) and DH on vacation. I did finish Little Diva's novelty scarf--she's six and very much into novelty yarn whereas her mommy is definitely not. I finished the hood to Little Rage's sweater(10.5 inches of stockinette); it's great for knitting in front of the TV. This week will be a sparse knitting week for me as I am giving in to my desire to stitch and therefor...

Thanks for everyone's concern about the illness that hit the house. Both Little Diva and Little Rage succumbed to it, but they are fine now(knock on wood). DH is on vacation this week so not much knitting or blogging is getting done here--hopefully I'll have something to report at the next Stashalong update. You Stashalongers are a talented group---I love coming to visit your blogs and seeing what you're up to! Have a great day and stay healthy! Booking Through Thursday What do you think of celebrities who write biographies when they're only twenty-something? I think if you have done something that is book worthy in your twenties that's great, but usually it seems to me they are trying to cash in on their fame. Have you read any? The only "famous" biography I have read would be Marilyn Manson's and he's not that famous; I just wanted to see if his youth contributed to how he turned out. What about novels by people such as politicians? Are they ju...

How did everyone fair after week 1? My utmost respect goes out to all of you with the fortitude to actually enter a yarn shop and not buy yarn--as I have commented to others, you won't even see me near one in the next 3 months. I'm having so much fun popping in on everyone and I'm not pointing any fingers but I have read some interesting comments and some knitters can be very sneaky indeed--that's all I'll say. I want to introduce you to jillz ; she missed the sign ups so she is not a official member, BUT she has earned the title of "the Rogue Stashalonger". She is trying to take things one month at time. I know we all have our temptations, but she---wait for it---works in a yarn shop! As I told her, I would have cheated before I finished typing if I was working in a yarn shop(much like "The Bet" episode of Seinfeld). Little Rage's Sweater Kim : This week I have actually finished the sleeves for Little Rage's sweater and I have the...

Okay, so I have a question. If you look at Magknits, it says that a new issue will be up Tuesday, January 3. Isn't today the 6th? Hmmmmm. Stashalongers: I'll be starting my blog patrol tomorrow afternoon or evening. I have already visited a few and you have some great projects going. Hang in there and be strong! Booking Through Thursday Do you have a reading plan for the new year? Why or why not? I have an ongoing list of things I'd like to get read--does that count as a reading plan? I like to list stuff I want to read because I get a real feeling of accomplishment as I am able to cross them off. If you do, what is it? Just a list of books I want to read or reread--my biggest plan is to read Lord of the Rings and write up a cross-curricular lesson plan--I think it lends itself well to a large reading unit.

Jaywalkers I finished my Jaywalkers at about 1am last night--the first finish of 2006! I used the largest cast on and size 2 needles. The yarn is Steinbach Wolle Aktiv Color 100. This was really a fun pattern; they go really quickly. I couldn't put the second sock down last night until it was done--it's some kind of weird compulsion I have when I knit socks, if I get on a roll, I can't put them down. For the first time since September, today's SBQ was suggested by none other than yours truly and is: Do you do your stash shopping at your LNS, ONS, or both? Which do you like better? Why? Last year I would have said LNS without hesitation--I lived about 20 minutes from Shepherd's Bush and it's an awesome shop! I haven't found any real stand out shops here yet. As for online I like ABC and The Silver Needle. The Silver Needle is a great shop to go to if you're ever in Tulsa--it's nirvana for stitchers. I like a LNS better especially when you are ...

Here we are at the beginning of our 13 week odyssey. Will we deplete our stashes(or make a small dent)? Will new yarn mysteriously enter our midst--of course not, because we all of will power of steel(just keep repeating that to yourself)? Will we have some awesome finished(or close to finished objects) 13 weeks from now? Will we have more or less "on the needles" in 13 weeks? Stay tuned while 47 knitters grapple with these questions and more. Since we have a large number of members, I will be checking the blogs of the first half on Saturdays to see what's new to report and the second half on Sundays. You'll know I've been there because I'll leave a comment(if your blog allows it)--if there is earthshattering news after I have visited leave me a comment and I'll edit as necessary--the posts will be finished on Monday night to be posted on Tuesday morning. How does that sound to everyone? Let's meet the Stashalong Crew: Kim : Here's the curr...

What do I want to accomplish knitting, stitching, writing, and life wise this year? I have been putting quite a bit of thought into this. I think it will be very amusing to look back on it come December, so here goes. Stitching Wise: (1) Finish Storykeeper** (2) Finish one quarter of Arwen and Aragorn(64800 stitches)** (3) Choose and Finish 1 Quick Stitch **In doing the math for this I'm not even sure it is possible. On a fabulous day I am able to put in about 400 stitches; on a realistic day I'm able to put in 200. I also value my knitting time which tends to cut into stitching time, but these are goals not requirements, right? Knitting Wise: (1) Decrease my stash, by looking there first when I have something I want to start. (2) Get down to no more than 2 Knitalongs at a time(do the math on what I need to finish to accomplish that and I'm still not sure how I'll classify charity knitting and stuff) (3) Get my WIP list down to 5 or fewer things(easier said than don...