Ten Years In The Making

Tonight, I finished a project that has taken me ten years to complete. Honest! This is a relic from my junior year of college. I’ve been slowly chipping away at the mess that I call my craft room, and I found this project only 150 stitches short of being done. Actually, I’ve found this project every single time I’ve organized my craft supplies, and I’ve put stitches in it each time.

Obviously, it’s a really large, complicated project, right?

Do you really want to see it?

Are you sure?

Then click below:

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Late Summer Harvest

devon_left_frontTN.jpgDoesn’t this look a bit like candy corn? Devan is just flying off the needles, and I love it! It makes me happy just to look at it.

But for those of you who love the ladybugs, never fear: I’ve been sneaking in a row here and there and only have 10 rows left on the second sleeve! The plan is to spend the rest of Carrie’s naptime knitting those last few rows, and then to hide ends at Sit & Knit tonight. There are approximately one million ends though, so I’m going to bring Devan for when I get bored of that. (I’d guess that will be after hiding approximately 2 ends.) But if I can keep the momentum going, it might mean a steeking party this weekend – assuming I can dig out enough of my craft room to get to the sewing machine!

I Caved!

Devan is on the needles. Project page and pictures…tomorrow? Maybe. Suffice it to say, it’s incredibly cute!

And I was ->this<- close to finishing the second sleeve of the ladybug sweater, too. I mean, really, 42 rows - what's that, just 4000 stitches? No self control. None.

Not Knitting.

Nope, I’m not knitting. I’m procrastinating. I hate second sleeves. And I can’t find the pattern for my sock – which is a lame excuse, because it only needs a couple more inches of ribbing on the cuff and that really doesn’t require a pattern. But then again, it’s the first sock and I can’t find the pattern so I actually can’t knit the second sock. And I think I need to use the needles that I’m currently using for the ladybug sweater to swatch for Devan instead of the ones in the sock anyway.

So, all of that to say that despite being in the car for 3 1/2 hours today to visit my grandparents, I only got 20 rounds done on the sleeve – instead, I mostly napped in the car. Instead of knitting this evening, I mucked around with the template code on my blog. Instead of knitting now, I’m blogging.

This sleeve will never get finished at this rate!

Must. Knit. Sleeve.

OK, I have serious second sleeve syndrome. It is taking every ounce of willpower I have not to swatch for Devan and instead finish the second ladybug sleeve. I’m not sure how long I can hold out. In fact, the only thing actively keeping me from swatching right this minute (aside from the fact that I’m blogging right this minute) is that the needles I think I need are currently residing in an almost-finished sock – which is the first of a pair, so finishing it would just cause second sock syndrome!

Must.
Resist.
Temptation.

…tune in tomorrow to see whether our intrepid knitter succumbs to the lure of a new project, diligently knits the second sleeve, or compromises and finishes the ribbing on the sock…

Lots of Ladybugs!

Look! I’ve actually updated the project page for the ladybug sweater! The body of it is done, and I’ve only got about 5 rows left on the first sleeve. Wait, what happened to the original first sleeve? The one I knit ten whole months ago? Well, I didn’t have the right length needles back then, and the sleeve I just knit looks so much better than the first one that I’m just going to knit another one and rip the original.

I think if I don’t get sidetracked (I have the yarn for Devan, but I swear I’m not going to start it until this one’s done) I can probably get this finished by the end of August!

August Cross-Stitch

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Can you believe it’s August already? I can’t. And who would’ve thunk it – another cross-stitch done on-time! And I’ll tell you a secret. Ready? September’s done too!

When I went to drop off September and pick up August – I’ve been getting them stretched and mounted to fit in a single frame and I just switch them out at the beginning of the month – I bought a needlepoint canvas. Although I’ve done many of the stitches, I’ve never done an actual painted canvas project before. It’s three angels, one each in red, green and purple, and if it comes out well I think I’ll hang it in Carrie’s lavender and green room. But I’m not starting it until I’ve gotten a handle on some of the Christmas gifts I have going. Well, probably not.

I Really Do Knit!

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Look! The second band of ladybugs is done! I’m about halfway up the body of the sweater now I think, or close to it in any case. The colors aren’t quite right, it’s not quite so blindingly turquoise, but it’s close enough. (For truer colors, check out the very old picture on the project page.) The next few bands of color are yellow and green, so I think the overall effect will be a bit less blue.

I hosted playgroup today, which was more like a playdate because only one other mom and baby came, but the two girls had fun and we went in the pool for a bit. Tonight I’m going to make peach freezer jam, banana muffins, and some baby food – I wonder if pear and papaya would puree well together?

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas gift projects?

Go ahead, wipe the coffee off your computer screen, I’ll wait…

I actually have plans for almost everyone on my list, and materials for most of those projects too. I knew there was a reason that I built such a large fabric and yarn stash while I was working and could afford it!

Aren’t you jealous that I even already have a list? I’m giddy with excitement. New projects! Yippee!

July Cross Stitch

Aha! I finally have one done in time to display for the entire month!

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Actually, this is my favorite month so far. I like the muted reds and blues. It’s still patriotic, but it doesn’t scream “I AM A PATRIOTIC CROSS STITCH! LOOK AT ME NOW!” like some patterns I’ve seen.