Knits

Well, I had sort of hoped I could finish up something before the new year, but it ain’t gonna happen. My Marigold Socks have been giving me grief. For some reason I keep offsetting the pattern by a stitch or two and at first I thought I could ignore it, but I can’t; at least twice now I have knit two full repeats of the pattern only to go back and rip them out. I really had hoped that I’d push through and then finish these off. It didn’t help that even though I had a solid five days off before heading back to work, three were taken up with Christmas and Boxing Day socialising (not that I wanted to be a total hermit).

I really planned my annual leave badly this year. I don’t really feel like I took any huge amount of time off bar the trip to the US in November (our leave year is from April - March, the fiscal year) so it is disappointing to find out that I only have five days left otherwise for the cost of three days I could’ve had ELEVEN days off (that’s including weekends). Man. Well, next year it should be okay since the university is actually closed between Christmas and New Year. And the five days I have I will have to take before I finish my current job (haven’t officially given notice since I’ve not received an official offer yet) and those days may have to go towards leaving the country to re-enter.

Knitting-wise

Anyway, other knitting related things… I’ve cast on for the Textured Tunic from Fitted Knits. This is my answer to the boat neck sweater I envisioned when I bought the Malabrigo. My gauge is completely off from the pattern, but I already knew that would be the case. I didn’t like the fabric when I got close-ish and because I hear Malabrigo wears better if you knit it at a tighter gauge to combat the pill factor. I’ve separated for the sleeves and started on the chest pattern, but it’s too big. I should have trusted my instincts that the chest fit was right, but I needed more increases in the arms. I’ve left the chest alone for now, but will have to rip it back and add some decreases. I’ve moved on to a sleeve so I can see how the weight of that may pull down on the yoke.

So on the needles I’ve got the Marigold Socks, the Textured Tunic, and a hat I sort of forgot about (and I know I’ll run out of yarn for, but I found someone with a partial ball via Ravelry so yay!). Not bad really. In terms of my knitting overall this year, well I think I’ve done pretty well. I knit my first sweater, a couple of scarves (also my firsts), plus Clapotis, and lots of little things. The total number of finished objects (the list there isn’t quite complete yet) is definitely higher and all of them have been functional versus the handful of disasters I knit last year (hats that could fit a premie when they were supposed to fit me or hats that could fit about seven heads in them).

I’ve definitely become more confident in my abilities, learned new things, made several new e-friends, participated in a few swaps, and Ravelry was invented. For next year I want to try to work through my stash more and not buy things just because without any plans. I will probably go through my stash again and be more realistic about what I’m going to actually use as it’s somewhat deceiving to look at one of the many single balls of yarn I’ve got, browse Ravelry and find a project when it’s not really something I want. It’s only a way to use that yarn up and why have something sit around knitted up that gets no use instead of re-homing the yarn? Part of this is also because of moving — I’ve already started the great pre-move clearout.

Resolution-ish

Non-knitting “resolutions” include being truer to myself. I need to quit questioning my abilities/instincts in everything and just get on with it. I mean it’s probably funny for me to say I need to take more risks (and by that I mean getting out and meeting people so my move north isn’t a repeat of life in Oxford) since I packed up my life and moved to England, but oddly I never really considered that a vast majority of people would never do that — to me it was just sort of natural; it was only after I moved and was here a few weeks that I realised that. *shrug* I just need to treat myself better in general. Relax more (which is hilarious because, in general, I am probably too relaxed), feed myself better (I do fine in the spring and summer, but winter sucks), do the things I want to do, surround myself with supportive people, and have fun. Live. Create things again (outside of knitting). Get out in nature more since I love, love, love it. Make sure I make time for my friends as sometimes I get too hermit-like.

Now, where’s the new year so I can break out the page-a-day knitting calendar my Dad got me for my birthday? (He also sent me two books on digital photography for Christmas so that’s excellent since I want to improve my skills and see if I can’t make a little pocket money. Thanks, Dad.)

Have a great night and see you in 2008!

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