Reveling in Ravelry

Greetings fellow knitters.  I am having a wonderfully peaceful Sunday "morning".  I use quotations, because it's nearly noon, and I've only been awake for about an hour.  Busy day yesterday, and the fibro kicked in along with the tail end of my chest cold.

Part of the reason yesterday was so busy is because I began rearranging my soon-to-be Knitting Knook.  We got the over-stuffed chair my mom so graciously donated into the room, and I stored the sewing machines.  Turns out, I didn't have to break down the table the machines were on, so I can use that as a crafting table, if the mood strikes.  I'll also be able to pull out the machines if/when I want to use them.  There's still quite a bit of work that needs to be done, but it's more than usable -- I'm sitting down here as I type -- and it's quite comfortable.

I've spent the "morning" sifting through Ravelry.  My login is TheFiberNerd, for those interested in befriending me.  The woman whom I hired to clean my house just -- a month ago! -- had a new baby boy, and I want to do something for her.  So, I'm thinking of knitting him a pair of tiny little booties.  December/January babies -- all babies, in fact -- need warm feet, so I thought I'd start there.  Oddly enough, I'm not finding "the perfect" pattern.  Does any one have a perfect baby bootie or baby sock pattern that is their go-to?  I'd love to see them.  I'd like it to be DK or Sport, if that helps/hinders any.

I haven't forgotten about my tutorial.  I just have a few more pics to take of the process, then I'll write it up.  Probably tomorrow or Tuesday.  I know, I know, I keep pushing it out.  Cope.  It'll get here when it gets here.  Hehehe...

Alright, Happy Sunday,
~j.b.

A quick hello...and a book review.

So, it's been a while.  And it's been a while since I've needed to write that pesky little sentence.  It's been a fairly crappy couple of days weeks here.  And while I have been trying to live them gracefully, I am worn the heck out doing so.  I've been getting migraines basically everyday for the past...well, nearly 8 years, if you must know, and the last six months have been really taxing.

Because of this health-forced hiatus from all things crafty, I have resorted to reading and watching TV.  I hate TV.  Let me be a little more clear.  I hate commercials.  I yell at them, bad mouth them, and pretty much make watching any sort of program with me very uncomfortable for any and all innocent bystanders.  I don't mean to.  But because of this, we don't have cable.  I watch TV with Netflix and Hulu.  I know, Hulu does have commercials.  I can deal much better with one to two commercials per break than six or seven.  The anger scale stays within tolerable levels.  As does the yelling.  And my marriage is saved.  Which is good.  I like being married.  Specifically to Jon.  But he only likes me when I'm not yelling at commercials.

So, watching TV, I have discovered Downton Abbey.  It's a great period piece set in turn-of-the-century England.  The costumes are amazing, and the acting isn't bad, either.  I'm also not allowed to watch period piece with other people, but that a different story, all together...

I've also been reading Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book Knitting Rules.  It's hysterical.  She does an amazing job of making me feel creative even while I'm wasting away hours watching Netfilx.  I highly recommend her blog as well.  The Yarn Harlot.  Her writing is amazing, and her sense of humor seems to be what gets her through her roughest times.  Which is very familiar to me.  If it weren't for my sense of humor, the past eight years would have ended me.  Or, I'd have ended me.  Either way, not so good for the crafting.

Speaking of crafting, I recently found The Master Hand Knitting Level I correspondence course over at TKGA.com.  I found this a couple of weeks ago, and just signed up for it two days ago.  I'm so excited I could run around the house like an amped up on sugar two year old singing at the top of my lungs.  Fortunately -- for my marriage, and sanity -- this is not possible given the current fibro-flare.  Maybe this is a blessing in disguise?  I'm going with that.  Yeah.  That's it.  A blessing.

So, I received the course requirements via email yesterday, printed them all out -- after searching for twenty minutes for the ream of paper I knew we had -- and ever-so-gently put them in a binder I had lying around from my college-days.  Now, the task is to create daily/weekly goals so as to actually finish this program in the year I'm given.  Sixteen swatches.  In one year.  Plus loads of other fun stuff.  I believe I can manage.  Yup.  Can't wait!!  Now, back to the running and singing.  Even if it is all in my head.

Happy Crafting,
~j.b.

Big foot...

I can't tell you how frustrated I am currently.  Not only have I not published a blog post in what feels like weeks, I don't even have anything non-bloggy to show for my absence. 

With X-mas hurdling very quickly in our direction, I have been swamped with present wrapping and migraine fighting (Yes, I'm aware these are not technically holiday related).  Plus, I've been helping out my mom who has been fighting the flu for the past week and a half.  We are unfortunately not going to be able to do X-mas dinner at my parents' house this year.  Fortunately, we have two huge lasagnas we can bring over to the in-laws for dinner and catch up with family there.  Not the same, but still fun.

I have been doing a bit of knitting the past week or so.  Started a pair of socks for Jon, and discovered that the yarn that was sold as a sock-weight is actually more of a light-fingering weight, and does not work well as sock fabric.  So, I ordered this:

from knitpicks a couple days ago.  I've never ordered from them, before.  I genuinely believe in supporting my LYS's, so ordering online for yarn was not the easiest decision for me.  I look at it this way, though.  I have only so much energy.  Period.  And once it's gone, it can take me quite a long time to regain it.  With all the X-mas shopping I've been doing, and the prep and the migraines!!!  Well, I just don't have time to run down to my LYS to buy a skien of yarn.  However much I may really really want to.  So, I ordered it.  Yes, they undercut the local shops.  Tremendously.  And no, I don't like that.  I also don't like having Fibromyalgia and chronic daily migraines.  So, let's not get too picky here, okay?

I also found some lovelies for myself. 

The color name is Guava and it's a wool/silk blend that looks amazing.  The only issue is that I do not currently own a swift or ball winder.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these will be under someone's tree for me. 

And last, but not least, I found this:

It's name is Sasquach.  And no, this was not the inspiration for the title of this post.  I'll get to that in a minute.  lol.

So, These lovelies and a couple pair of 2mm DPN's will be arriving around the 29th of December.  I personally can not wait until I get this box.  Yarn, arriving in the mail.  What a concept!  I could get used to this!  What's that noise?  It's my bank account crying.

Now for the whole purpose of this post.  I started my sock, last night, actually.  And I have managed to get quite a few rows done.  I was just over at my MIL's house a couple hours ago and she mentioned that it looked awfully small and she didn't think it would fit me.  I came home, slipped it onto a long cabled circular and found this:

I, apparently have gigantic feet.  Who knew?

Happy Frogging,
~j.b.

Holiday Dress-up and Day five.

I know.  I didn't write last night.  We got home super late -- for me -- and I had a bit of a migraine, and just wasn't up to it.  So, I figured I'd post this afternoon and tonight. 

Dressing up was so much fun.  I got my make-up and hair perfect, and the dress looked stunning, if I do say so myself.  Jon even dressed in slacks and a nice shirt.  And allowed my mom to take a picture of the two of us.  Jon hates his pictures taken.  I am a ham.  I have always loved my picture taken.  Figures I'd marry someone who doesn't.  The most current photograph we have of ourselves in our house is from my cousin's wedding over six years ago!  We don't even have our own wedding pictures hung up anywhere.

Anyway...here's the photo my mom took:

 

 

 

the lovely couple dressed up...

I know you can't see the dress too well.  Maybe I can get a photo of the dress by itself today and post it tonight.  Photographing an all black dress is rather difficult at best, and it was dark last night.  I am really happy though with the way the photo turned out, and we had an absolutely wonderful time last night.  I even received the most amazing compliment.  I was told I looked like a movie-star!  By this woman who was so beautifully dressed she looked like a movie-star, herself!

All in all, it was a wonderful evening.  Met lots of really nice people, and now I finally know who Jon's co-workers are, so I can picture them when he talks about work.

Okay, on to my list from yesterday:

*  I was grateful my mom came home with me to help me get ready last night.  She helped me curl the back of my hair, because I couldn't quite reach it.  It ended up looking perfect in the back because of her help.

*  My doctor appointment -- for which I was very nervous -- turned out wonderfully.  I got what I needed from the Dr. and it wasn't a horribly emotional visit.

*  My dad, for driving my mom and I to the appointment.  I couldn't have done it without him.

*  Finally getting help with my migraines.  I feel as though I can breathe again.  Now, just to wait for the Botox appointment to really get these taken care of.

Okay, I feel good having done this.  I will post again tonight with tonight's list.  Thank you all for understanding the delay! 

Happy Saturday,
~j.b.

X-mas Elves...

My goodness, it's been forever since I've written.  Sorry about that, but I've been going through some pretty hefty health issues the past few months.  And I plan to be honest about that.  Because not only do I want to write a blog about my fiber addiction, I want to write about my health issues, as well.  And if people have an issue with that, well...they don't have to read my blog then, do they?  No one is forcing anyone to read this.  And, if someone is forcing you...Shame on them.  Hehe..

So, about three months ago, I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  Which, by the way, I just had to add to my dictionary.  Just thought I'd share.  It's been a long road.  I started showing symptoms over seven years ago.  But the doctors had no idea what was wrong until I started showing very Fibro-specific symptoms about four/five months ago.  It's still took three doctors to finally get a diagnosis, though.

I won't say it's been easy.  Even though with finally figuring out what's going on, the honeymoon period lasted about a month.  I've been dealing with denial, anger, depression, and every other emotion in the book.  I may have finally hit on acceptance, though.  I am finally able to look at the future with some semblance of hope and not only despair.  It's a good feeling.

My husband has been a wonderful support.  As has my mom -- who also happens to have Fibro and Lupus -- and my dad.  So has my mother-in-law.  She's been a huge support these last few months.    I think, though, what has gotten me through the most has been my unfailing addiction to all things fiber-related.  While I haven't finished much recently, my knitting and sewing have both kept me somewhat sane through all this.  Even just being able to start a new project as helped on days where the pain is horrible.  Fiber is an amazing therapy.  It has truly given me new insight into why crafts are so important in peoples' lives.  So, in this way -- and really only this way right now -- I am grateful for my experience with this condition.

Alright, enough of the serious.  It's time to get down to the fun!  I am currently -- finally!! -- working on a Fibonacci Scarf for my husband.  I found this pattern -- it's a freebe -- on Ravelry -- you may have to register to view the link I posted -- over a year ago, purchased the yarn, and started it.  I hated the way it was turning out.  My stripes were horrible.  They jogged all over the place.  And I didn't really like the idea of knitting it in the round.  A) It used a ton of yarn, and B) My husband doesn't really need a reversible scarf, does he?  No.

So, about three or four days ago, I frogged the original project and started over.  I don't know that I'll have time to finish it before X-mas this year, but I'm going to try.  I started with six rows of 3x2 ribbing.  Then, when it's a length I am happy with (husband is 6'6", so long is a good thing) I am going to pick up the stitches on both sides of the scarf and add in a 3x2 ribbing going horizontally.  I was going to knit that in as I went, but I didn't want the ribbing running vertically.  I think horizontal ribbing will look fantastically better.   Here it is, thus far:

The little dark line -- the one you can barely see -- is the first of the stripes in the dark color.  I'll knit 34 rows of the light, then add two dark stripes, and so on.  The other end of the scarf will be mostly dark, with some light stripes.  It's a really nerdy, really fun scarf.  In fact, right before I found this pattern, the husband and I had just been talking about Fibonacci number sequences.  So, I thought the timing was great, and I just had to make it.

I'll try and finish it before X-mas, and I'll post some pics as I work on it.  Hope everyone of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving -- I certainly did.  What projects are you trying desperately to finish before X-mas?  Want to share pictures??

Happy Tuesday,
~j.b.