Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Knit On

"Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises". - Elizabeth Zimmermann

The only problem is, I don't. It is nearly a year since my husband lost his job and our lives changed forever. We lost our home. We were literally one step away from living in our car. Wondering where our next meal was going to come from. I questioned why I was even alive. Life was, well...unraveling.

And I didn't knit. I was surrounded by tons of yarn from years of stash building. I have everything from Red Heart Acrylic to beautiful Koigu and Cherry Tree Hill. I have all the needles, measure tapes, markers, and all the other knitting necessities I built up over the years. And I couldn't pick up my needles. And every time I tried, all I'd do was think about how I couldn't afford more yarn for this project or that project. And wondering why the hell I spent so much money on yarn in the first place when now I didn't have enough to eat. It was such a conflict.

I started dabbling back into knitting as my husband finally found a job last April. After a very long winter. And I noticed I had lots of yarn. For lots of projects I kept meaning to do.

Now my husband has a nice job. We have insurance again. We have food in the cupboard. I have a nice job that is only a few hours a week. I had a job where I worked many more hours a week, but I was away from my kids too much, and they were becoming terrible brats. We don't have as much money as we once did. We don't own a house anymore. Our cars are not great, and it's a struggle to keep them running.

But we have each other.
And a roof over our heads--a NICE roof. With a big fort for the kids.
We have plenty of food in the cupboard.
We have warm, dry clothes that fit.
I have 3 healthy, beautiful, smart children and a husband who loves me for some reason.
I don't have a lot of friends, but I have one very dear one who is far away but close in my heart and saw me through the bad and the good.

And I have lots of yarn.

It's Thanksgiving next month, and as down as I've been about life, I woke up this morning being thankful for what I have. I am a "glass half empty" person if there ever was one. I always will be. But even I can see that life goes on and sometimes it isn't so bad.

And hey, the $250 blind we got for $10 over 4 years ago for the living room window in our house (and that didn't fit that window) fits perfectly in our bedroom.
And I fit into my old jeans for the first time since I had my youngest daughter, who just turned 2.

My wish for you is may you always have money in your pocket for just one more skein, and if you don't may you have enough yarn to see you through! :)

Monday, October 29, 2007

Forest Canopy Shawl

This is the best picture I could get of my Forest Canopy Shawl by myself:

It's getting there. Note the lifeline. I was further than this the first time I made this shawl. I didn't use lifelines the first time I made it. I was brave. I was confident. I had just read "At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much" and found out that lifelines were for chickens. I was ready to go--and then I messed up.

Big time.

And I couldn't figure out where to fix it. So I set the whole mess down for weeks. I finally took a deep breath and ripped it out and started over. So far, so good. It's turning out beautifully..it's a lovely pattern and gorgeous yarn, so that helps things!

Special thanks to Thora for the kit, the book and the rubber-band-as-a-stitch-holder idea! You rock Girlfriend!

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Another BSS done

I finished another Baby Surprise. I am always amazed by this pattern. Amazed that a blob of knitting:


Can become a baby sweater:
I am also amazed that every time I make it, I forget how to fold it up and it takes me like 10 minutes to figure it out.

This one is a gift for my Uncle's Wife's Daughter-in-law. Sort of my cousin? I don't really know her, but I couldn't resist an excuse to make a baby sweater!

It's getting cold, which means mitten time. Anna has picked out all the pairs she wants me to make her in Knit Mittens. I am making each child a pair of felted mittens, and then we'll see what comes about.

Next up besides mittens--I finished ripping out the Forest Canopy Shawl last night (Lifelines are for chickens....HAHAHAHAHA) and I am restarting it. Wish me luck! I love shawls...they just don't love me.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Test Post

Alright, I think we've got it. I don't like this new blogger thing, and had to enlist an expert (My DH--hey, that's what he went to school for...) to help. But I think I like this blog, and these colors...I just need to tweak it to fit, upload some pics, and start posting!!!