Things I love

1. My Husband.  His birthday is this Friday!

2. Knitting socks.  I'm slow at it, but they are so much better than many other projects!

3. This post

End of an Era

Yesterday I finished my first pair of socks.  Yes, the socks I began last June...

The first sock was done on June 19th, and only 10 days later I finished the second one.  Here's what I learned from the process:

Each sock took about 12 hours of work.
Or at least, that's what I figured that sock 2 took.  I'm sure sock one took more, but for the future, I need one full day to finish each sock.
My gauge has changed over the last year.

When I began knitting, I knit really tightly.  Now I'm much more relaxed.  Consequently, sock two is a better suited for cankles, not my "tiny little tweety bird ankles" (to quote the husband).

I can successfully Kitchener stitch.
Nothing like learning a new technique :-)
Boring patterns make me want to give up on a project.
What I liked most about this sock pattern was the picot hem.  Once that was complete, I became disenchanted with the process because all I did was knit around and around and around and around until I got to the heal.  Once that was done, more knitting around to the toe.  Then it was done!
I like challenge, but I dislike the unknown.
I only recently acquired a tape measure and gauge chart, so when the sock process started I had no way of estimating how many rounds made up each inch.  So not only was I bored with the pattern (knit 60 stitches, repeat until you have six inches of sock), I had no idea when it would ever end.  Once I could figure out how much was left, I quickly finished each section!

So, in short, I just needed a few more tools to finish the job.  No knitter should ever be without a tape measure at the very least!  I remember my grandmother having several lying around her sewing machine with her fabrics and supplies.  I never thought the same would be true of me!  I also cannot live without my gauge checker, a tapestry needle, a crochet hook (for picking up those darn dropped stitches!), and a good pattern.

What's next?  Why, some more sock yarn and a new pattern, of course!

Organizing

After an enjoyable trip to a few yarn shops today, I am once again inspired to organize my yarn stash.  This might be quite the task because my yarn is all... over... the... apartment!  Yikes, let's go find it.  Once I get it corralled into one space, I may as well take some pictures of the skeins for my Ravelry stash page and update that.  This all needs to happen soon, though, because I'm heading to DKN to get some help with WIPs and maybe start a one hour scarf to match my two hour hat!  If we're lucky, I'll post the pictures on here too.  Don't wait up :-)

Instant Gratification

I like to-do lists.  What I like about them is checking off the items.  I don't have a particular fondness for the actual tasks, I just like completing them! 

So what does this have to do with knitting?  I like projects that can be checked off the list in one or two sittings.  Today, I found that project!  I was at Depth of Field spending my birthday gift, and decided that remedial knitting needles were in order.  I picked out some size 15 dpns (that's double pointed needles for you non-knitters) and asked for some yarn suggestions.  The woman helping me showed me a few chunky wool yarns, and some acrylic blends, and then said that she knew a great pattern that knits up in only a few hours.  So here's my creation for the day!

Now that I have this project crossed off my list, maybe I can actually get around to finishing my multiple other WIPs (works in progress)! 

Strengths Finder 2.0

I have been reading new blogs today like the internet is going out of style!  I'm beginning to think that my 6th strength is input! 

Speaking of strengths, here are my five in a random order:
Achiever
Consistency
Maximizer
Communication
Relator

Resolutions

I am a bad blogger :-(  When was the last time I even posted anything?  Since then, I've made a pair of fingerless mits for the bff whose birthday I forgot (I am also a bad bff!), gotten second sock syndrome on my first sock, and made slow progress on Sheldon the Turtle (oh the irony!)

My resolution this year has nothing to do with posting more.  Actually, my only resolution is to cut myself some slack, and not feel guilty about not posting.  I'm just going to keep reading interesting blogs, knitting when I have the time, and enjoying this great stage in life when I can hang out with the people I love and not have too many responsibilities!

So, see you when I see you knitting blog.  Maybe it'll be before next year, but don't hold your breath too long :-)