You've come a long way baby

Normally I like to take some time New Year's Eve to reflect on the past year. I didn't do that last year because frankly, 2006 sort of sucked.

To be honest, 2007 didn't start off any better, if anything, the first half was pretty ugly, ugly enough that at times I'm still sort of surprised I survived it. I guess that's why this year it is more important than ever to look back on how far I've come because it's a long long way.

A year ago I was fighting with everything I had to hang on to a friendship I'm now not sure ever really existed. I was fighting to hang on to something else to: hope. I lost it for a while there, hope that things could ever get better. I learned that when you're at the bottom it's hard as hell to be able to see the way out again.

I learned that some people will always disappoint you. I also learned that some people will come through for you when you need it most. Maybe most importantly though I learned that sometimes even the hardest things we go through are meant to bring us to the places we're supposed to be.

This is supposed to be a knitting blog right? I wonder some times if I would have started knitting if I hadn't been through what I did. Then other times I wonder if it would have been so bad if I'd had knitting to begin with.

My resolutions for 2008 are simple. In life, I want to never forget the journey 2007 put me on but I also want to move on from it. Time to close that chapter for good. I also want to remember that it is both okay and natural when friendships fade and to try not to let them go out in a cloud of resentment and hate.

In knitting, I want to knit everything I have in my stash today before the end of next year. I can still buy yarn but it's meant to encourage me to use what I already have too.

So here, at the end of 2007 I am grateful to be here and thankful that I am happy and healthy and hopeful that the dark corners of 2006-2007 are behind me.

Happy New Year.

Fo: Charlotte's Web

I knit a Charlotte's Web shawl as my first project. It turned out all right but it wasn't perfect so I wanted to make another one, applying the things I'd learned.

I had hoped to have it done to wear on Christmas Eve but despite waking up early and knitting all day and I didn't finish in time to have it blocked and dry.

Here's a blocking shot


The prerequisite fence shot



I'll post a photo of me wearing it this evening.

Mods:

I used a US 7 this time around to make the lace pattern looser. I also used 6 colours instead of 5 and did an extra 12 rows.

I'm not a fan of fringe so I tried a picot bind off. It took forever but I love the effect.

I'm just loving this piece.

A Wooly Christmas

I got yarn for Christmas! I knew I was getting yarn but I didn't expect this much of it. I'd originally asked my parents for a gift certificate from a yarn store but later my mom and I agreed that we'd go to the LYS, I'd give her some hints and she'd go from there. I'm not very good with gift certificates. I never want to spend them. Weird huh? It worked out in my favour.

First up: Some Manos del Uruguay in a blue colourway destined to be Cherie Amour. I'm going to need to more skeins so it's off the the LYS tomorrow.



Up next, my first skein of sea silk in a nameless purple-gold colourway. This is a nice treat since I love Handmaiden Yarns



Some unidentified cashmere in a very dark navy. I think this one is going to be another Odessa.



Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester to make a felted tote. I've never felted before so that could be fun.



And some Jitterbug sock yarn in pinks, blues and purples. Totally my colours




Oh and some more Manos in a different colourway. This one will be the Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hat




And last but certainly not least, a ball winder! So I spent the better part of Christmas Day winding yarn. Fun fun fun.

Here's the box it all came in.



A Gathering of Lace was from my sister. Her actual gift to me is a set of Harmony circulars and some metal DPNs but there was a delay and they couldn't come on time so I got the book as a bonus gift.

Introduction

I think this is the part where I tell you about myself.

I'm Megan. I've been knitting since September of this year. More than one relative tried to teach me as a child and I had no shortage of knitted things but it never stuck. Then I started commuting by train and hour each way and wanted something to pass the time. Keeping my hands busy keeps me from falling asleep, missing my stop and waking up an hour away from home with no way of getting back.

I love a challenge so I am drawn to projects which are almost guaranteed to cause some frustration. My philosophy is that no one was ever killed taking risks in knitting. I love knitting lace and I'm itching to try my hand at sock knitting.



Currently on the needles:

Charlotte's Web Part Deux
Mom's scarf

Next in the queue

Cherie Amour
Hanami?
Another Odessa?