Motivated Monday

Number of buttons sewn on to new sweaters today: 9

Number of lacy sweaters blocked today: 2

Number of officially finished objects to wear or gift today: 2

February Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Knit for baby neice (due in May!)
Yarn: handspun by me!
Henley Perfected from Interweave Knits Winter 2007
Knit for self!
Yarn: Handspun by me!

Okay, so you might have noticed that I haven't blogged in a while. Actually, I haven't done much in a while. For the past two weeks I've been feeling lame and groggy and not doing much of anything. Since my weeks start on Monday, I decided to start this week with the motivation I've been lacking. I cleaned my house (including the bathroom which I've been putting off for an embarrassingly long time). I cleaned my cube at work (which is amazing because I collect junk in my cube for work and it was getting way overwhelming). I went running. I did the dinner dishes RIGHT after dinner. I'm telling you... my week is looking up!

So, now that I'm done with my sweater (and yes, by the way, I spun the yarn for both of these FOs today), you might be wondering, "What amazing thing will she knit next?" Well, I bought yarn to knit some socks for my dad while I was at the yarn store buying buttons. He's been asking for a sweater, but I've never seen him wear sweaters in the past 10 years, so I'm thinking socks might be a safer bet (I have seen him wear socks).

I'm also planning on knitting a sweater for myself! I saw the preview of the Summer Interweave Knits and fell in love with the Apres Surf sweater (coincidentally by the same designer (ravelry link) who came up with the pattern for the Henley Perfected that I just finished). My mom-in-law bought me a gift certificate to her local yarn store, so I've been emailing them to get the Rowan Cashcotton 4 ply in the "Pretty" shade... The pattern is for sale May 13, so hopefully I'll have the sweater knit up by mid-July!

More Baby Goodness

So in addition to the cat, I've also been knitting some other delicious baby items for my unborn niece. There are, of course, baby booties (that match Kate the Cat):

And I'm still working on a sweater (February Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmermann, in yarn spun by me!):

In more selfish knitting, I've come to a halt on my sleeves for the Henley Perfected. I ran out of yarn. I am spinning away and hope to be back knitting it next week.

Hubbie and I are going over to hang out with his parents this weekend for few days, so I'm hoping I can sneak in some spinning time while no one is looking... it's a good think my spinning wheel is so portable! Oh, also, my sweet mother is buying me another bobbin, so I should hopefully start making 3 ply yarn soon!

Look for mini-vacation pictures next week! I'm also in the middle of picking my next project, so look for that update as well!

Body Moving

After an intense week of knitting, I've finished the body of my sweater! I tried it on, and this may be my best sweater yet (although I think I say that every time I knit a new sweater).
During my extra knitting time (okay, I might have been a little anti-social this week...), I am also busy knitting a little something for an adorable fetus (okay, I obviously can't verify the adorableness of said fetus, but I'm making a logical assumption). Hopefully I'll have it all done by next weekend, so look forward to random baby knitting!

Spring Spin

I finally knit all of the yarn that I spun and am ready to spin some more this weekend. Luckily hubbie has to work all day tomorrow, so I should get plenty of spinning in. Of course, I should be knitting hubbie's neck on his sweater, but a girl needs her priorities, right?
I can't believe how far my spun yarn went! I'm almost at the armhole shaping.

I've also been taking advantage of our spring weather by sneaking in some (light) gardening. Hopefully we'll have pretty pictures to show before too long!

The Tortoise Springs Forward

My daily minutes of bus-knitting have finally added up. I have seamed (a little poorly, but it's done!) hubbie's sweater. All that is left is the neckline and a good blocking. Hopefully I can make it a little longer and more slender... I don't know if my blocking is really that miraculous.


Since hubbie's sweater is on the downhill slope, I began my own sweater. I chose the Henley Perfected (thanks for your opinions!). I'm already at the bust increases. I'm carefully rewriting the pattern since my gauge is different, so once I get closer to the lace, I'll have to slow down (and probably spin some more yarn).


And a sign of spring time:
These are our starts for our garden. Hubbie and I planted them on March 1st. Our salad is huge (comparatively), and the cabbage is looking good too. Almost all of the starts have, well, started. Hopefully it warms up and we can plant them in the ground soon. I've also been stalling on some serious weeding until our yard waste bin was up and running, which should be in 6 business days, and then we'll be full garden ahead!

Micro Progress

After all of my spinning excitement, I decided to spin yarn for a sweater! It's a big project (2 lbs.) that should take a long time.

I bought some great super cheap roving ($.81/ounce!) that is a merino/alpaca blend. I'm planning on knitting the Henley Perfected (ravelry). Of course, while I'm not near my spinning wheel, I'm still diligently working on hubbie's sleeves, but it's a slow (and boring) process.

In an attempt to remain energetic, I am beginning the Self Challenge '08. I think this is my third (or fourth?) challenge, but I usually peter out around month 2 (it' a 3 month challenge). Wish me luck (or feel free to talk some trash to help motivate me)!