Rocky, Cold Start

There is one thing knitters love and that is cold weather.  At no other time do I feel as useful as when it is bitter cold outside and I can make something that can remedy that. I find people appreciate the knitted (and crocheted) arts much more in sub-zero temperatures because really, there isn't much to appreciate about sub-zero temperatures.  This past week, my daughter had two days off for windchill. My college even closed one day. So we found ourselves with a bit more vacation time on our hands after a long vacation.

Last weekend I finished these mittens.

I love them. Great yarn and great pattern. I figured that this would be my last project for a while since I was going back to work. But with the extra day off, I got some more knitting time.

I made two things.  A cowl and a hat.

Both of them are all wrong.  The cowl I can deal with.  The cowl pattern is called Gap-tastic and I have made it before for my sister so it was a familiar pattern.  When I saw this yarn, I knew it was destined to become a Gap-tastic Cowl.  I was over half way through when I noticed that there was a twist. When knitting in the round, the pattern always says to be careful to not twist your stitches.  I was really careful.  I even pulled it all out once and restarted but I got another twist. This is the first time in almost 6 years of knitting that this has ever happened to me.  The blame goes to not having a long enough cable and me trying to shove too many stitches in to too small of space.  The good thing is is that there is a name for this type of scarf (mobius) and instead of it being a totally disaster, it is a new design feature. You can't tell that it looks different from what I intended.  It is still a cowl and it still does its job.

The hat is not so lucky.  This hat will fit no one and I blame it on (1.) not having the correct size needles and attempting to do it anyway and (2.) the pattern being totally wacko.  I knit another hat from this pattern with the right sized needles today and I still cannot get this hat to fit.  I pulled out a bit and am making it longer.  I really don't believe a hat only needs to be 4.5" before decreasing for the crown, even with super bulky yarn. I'm going to go at least 6" this time.
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While sub-zero temps are kind to knitters they are brutal for runners. Since my gym closes when the college closes, I couldn't run on the indoor track on Wednesday like I had planned. On Thursday, the gym was open and I was the only participant for spin class, so I got a lot of one-on-one attention. Friday, I played in a Faculty/staff volleyball tournament (we got second place) and ran on the track.  It was actually one of the best runs I've had in a long time.  Now this may sound weird, but I got inspiration from watching an episode of Psych on Netflix. (I watch Psych as I go to sleep at night almost every night. I love that show.) In the episode, the protagonist, Shawn, is on a elliptical machine and he is really working hard because he thinks if he doesn't a bomb will go off.  Thought it is all a misunderstanding and he is in no danger, it got me thinking about my running effort.  I have been running more regularly for a few weeks now, but I have been doing what is called "easy runs." Easy runs are an essential part of running and yes it should be the majority of runs, but not all of the runs.  I decided to try to go faster and harder on Friday and it really paid off.  I ran 3 miles in 27:17.  This is no where near my fastest, but it is closer to my old easy run time than what I have been running. It made me feel good that even though I didn't get to run on Tuesday (due to packing error) or Wednesday (weather), I could come out and do a harder run. The good mo-jo traveled on to today and I hit the pool with my friend and swam 1000 m.  Tomorrow, I have pick-up basketball at church. I feel that even though this week got off to a very rocky start, I am starting to make progress.

I also finished my first book of the year, Like No Other by Una LaMarch and I think it is "meh." The premise is that a Hasidic girl meets a non-Hasidic boy and falls in insta-love which challenges her religiously obedient life and family. My favorite book of all time, The Chosen by Chaim Potok, is about Hasidic Judaism so I was hoping to like it but I think Potok's works are much, much better. 

So for 2015, I only need to: run 494 miles and at least 98 more times, read 24 more books, and make 10 more large projects (the failed hat doesn't count until I get it right). Not to bad, right?

Is your new year off to a rocky start?

Entrelac Completed

Over the weekend, I got a new Netflix addiction: The Vampire Diaries.  I have always wanted to watch this show, but I don't normally watch CW shows.  I am not sure why I don't watch the CW because it is right up my YA-loving alley.  Plus, this series is based on a YA book series, as are Gossip Girls and Pretty Little Liars, both on the CW. I should probably be watching all these shows.  Maybe I should read the books, too...

Anyway, due to this new obsession, I had time to knit pretty fiercely at the entrelac scarf.

Finished.

I followed the Entrelac Scarf Tutorial by KnittyOtter

Yarn is Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock in Bryne.

I started this "little" project on March 3rd so I am glad that I am finally finished.  But, now what do I knit next?

Entrelac Continued

I am still working away at my entrelac scarf.  I even took it to a meeting with me this week.  I got a lot of complements on it and was asked if I could teach knitting classes.  So I felt pretty good about my knitting.

 I am nearing the half-way point.

Almost there, right?

So hollowing thought, if I would have picked thicker yarn and bigger needles, I would be so much closer to being done.  Every time I knit a scarf on thin yarn (this is sock yarn)  I promise never to do it again, only to do it again a few months later.  I am not sure what it is, but something drives me to the tiny needles and thin yarn paired with the really long scarf.  In fact, I have already bought yarn for my next scarf...sock yarn again.  I just do not learn!

Are you nearly done with a project? Halfway?

Steady as She Goes

I have been working on my entrelac scarf for weeks (since March 3rd).   It is not very long (about 21") and still a very long way away from being a scarf, but I am making progress and very happy with the project.  I feel so clever making the weaving pattern.  I love the yarn and how the colors are pooling together.  I love everything about it. 

This is my go -to project and it is still slow going.  Spring is just a very busy time of year.

Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Failed Shawl

I made a shawl.  My very first shawl.  And it is pretty cool.

It is called Wingspan.  I saw it on Raverly (it was trending) and thought, I could make that. Plus, I needed a shawl for my 2012 project challenge.

I used  a very cool yarn called Rhythm from Jojoland.  Love it.  The color change is amazing.

So, first I read the pattern wrong and made the first section way too big.  I re-read the pattern and re-made the first section, liked it and moved on (big mistake).

So my shawl turned out more of a scarf size.  I did wonder why it worked up so quickly.  I probably should have stayed with the larger knitting section I had first accomplished.

Oh well.  It was a learning experience.  I don't get to count this as the shawl in the challenge, but I do plan on remaking it in the shawl size in the same yarn...some day.  For now I am happy with the scarf or maybe D can use it as a shawl.

Have you had any recent "learning experiences"?

Three Hour Cowl

I was looking for something big, fast and chunky to make and I found The Three Hour Cowl.  It is made from super chunky yarn and as the title suggests, a quick project.  I should have timed myself.  I don't think it took three hours, but it may have.

I bought some yarn especially for the project.  This is Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega.  Nice yarn.  Washable, which is important for winter items not intended for me.  I know not everyone likes to wash things by hand and line dry (not that I like it either, but I do it for my yarn creations, if needed.)  Mega is 75% acrylic and 25% wool and machine washable.  I bought two skeins, but I did not use it all and I have some left over.

It did not start out looking like much.  It is basically just two inches of ribbing then seven inches of stockinette, which is just knitting in the round.  Then, it ends with two more inches of ribbing. Ta da!  Not much thought.

It turned out nicely.  I already have a recipient in mind, but it is a surprise so, I won't say who here.

The great thing about knitting is that the project make warm goodies.  The problem about knitting this winter is that no one cares about warm goodies because it is over 50 degrees in January in Central Illinois!  My friends and family that are more northern dwellers are having the same mild winter.  However, that is all supposed to change tonight.  Snow is coming; today's low temperature is tomorrow's high temp.  Finally some cold weather to appreciate the warm goodness that is handcrafted knitting.  I'm all set.

What about you?  Are you ready for some real mid-west winter?  Or are you happy with the no snow?  Are you all set?