One Year, One Sweater

A year.

We've been at this for a whole year. 

It's been forever.

It's been no time at all.

I remember casting this on because I needed something to do to try and keep myself calm and grounded. 

Shawls felt useless. Where would I wear one to? There weren't any events for the foreseeable future, so why bother making lace and pretty things?

No, what I wanted and needed was something I could wrap myself up in and hide away.

So I cast on Writer's Block.

I'd already planned on making it at some point and already had most of the yarn, so why not?

I just needed two more skeins of the Malabrigo Rios I used, so I ordered it from Harps and Thistles. 

It felt so weird, to order yarn from them online. Every other time, I'd happily go to the shop to get what I needed. Just so I could spend an hour or two with my fellow yarn friends. 

Cindy brought my yarn out to the car. No going in, no chatting or browsing.

That's actually the last time I've been to the shop in a year. 

I can't even begin to describe how much I miss it. And the people. Oh god, do I miss the people.

I've caught myself crying quite a few times when I start thinking about all the pj parties we've missed.

I haven't gotten to share my accomplishments with them, the new things I've made. Instead, I only see the social media posts of others. 

No chatting or discussing, really. No in-depth back-and-forth conversations about what went right, what went wrong, laughing and joking and actually TALKING.

I crave that human interaction. Especially because just seeing and sharing strictly through social media can make me doubt myself and my talents. I rely on the social cues from person-to-person interaction to understand and make sense of myself. To help combat the voice in my head, telling me that I am somehow lesser.

Watching other knitters crank out sweater after sweater after sweater during the lockdown made me feel inadequate. Like my knitting skills weren't up to par. 

But time seems to be irrelevant now. It's no longer linear. Things ebb and flow in different ways for different people.

I thought this sweater took me a year. 

Cast On Date: March 26th, 2020

Cast Off Date: February 9th, 2021

Finished Date: February 12th, 2021

But in actuality, this sweater only took me 47 days to knit. 

Perspective can really change things, can't it?

That's what I'm trying to hold on to. That looking at all this from a different view can help me make sense of the world. To not fall completely to despair.

Isolation and distancing have been hell.

But it's also forced me to change perspective.

I have learned and changed and grown and discovered just how strong I actually am.

I have learned secrets about myself, wonderful revelations that are shaping me into who I am supposed to be.

I've learned what I can actually accomplish if I am given the tools and resources I need.

We're not out of this yet.

Not even close.

But I feel a little more hope than I have in quite a while.

Guess I just needed to change my view a bit.

Pumpkin Patch Pickins'

Fall is FINALLY DANG HERE!

Cool weather, crunchy leaves, ACTUALLY GETTING TO WEAR MY NEW SWEATER, I'm embracing it all. Especially the pumpkin part.

I finally took the time to knit myself a new Fall basaur since I gave the original away.

And yes, you can just see it poking out there, but he also has a tiny scarf. too.

I'm also particularly proud the pumpkin. I wanted one of those knobbly ones that always get left behind at the pumpkin patch, so I used bobbles to give this one some texture.

And if knitting one pumpkin wasn't enough, I also had to make one for a special neighbor's birthday.

And OF COURSE it had to be pink.

I used up the last skein of the pink bulky yarn I had used for her sweater. And I mean I USED it. There's nothing left.

The leaf is completely improvised (like, I grabbed some needles and just went full free-form on it) and felted. I thought it'd add a nice little contrast to all the pink.

And if that wasn't enough pumpkin for you, we ALSO added this dude to the front porch.

And because I had to clean off the table anyway, I thought I'd snap a few pictures of the yarn I'm planning on using for a Knit Along.

Yu Ra, the amazing person who hosted the Quiet Queers Craftalong, has been releasing so many new and amazing patterns lately.

Her newest, Bojagi Shawl, is just lovely. I've been eagerly awaiting the release date AND IT'S HERE!

Even better? She's offering it for FREE!

A KAL is being hosted from now until December 14th, so y'know, you should totally join us for that.

And make sure you donate to her Ko-Fi account as a thank you for such an amazing pattern.

Now I'm sure you're ready to see the yarn, right?

Guess what, though?

It's NOT GREEN!

This is Valencia from Destination Yarn.

Jeanne had a trunk show at Harps & Thistles over the weekend, so I HAD to stop by for a visit.

This was like THE COLOR that jumped out to me.

(I don't know what the sudden obsession with pink is, either...)

BUT lest you be worried that I am forgoing green entirely, I'm pairing this with a deeply muted sage that is IMPOSSIBLE to photograph.

I tried in bright sun.

And pairing it with the pink.

NONE of them even come close to capturing it.

Oh well.

All you need to know is that:
1. It's pretty
2. It's stash yarn
3. It's lace weight held double

So, now that we have that out of the way, I'm going to go knit, okay?

"BUT WAIT!" you yell. "WHAT ABOUT THE VOW RENEWAL SHAWL?!?!?!!?!?"

Listen, I HAVE been working on it.

I'm through the first chart. And I've estimated that I have roughly 15 working days left on it. So it WILL get done in time, I swear.

Look, I'll even show you my progress!

Aww, dangit, seeing this makes me want to work on it right now, too.

Maybe I can do a two-at-a-time shawl?

Hey, it works for socks...

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List Up Catch Post

It's been a hot minute, hasn't it? This time of year always gets so ridiculously busy between Trails, birthdays, the start of school...

Soooo.... let's catch up!

1. First and foremost, I want to say a tremendous thank you to Debbie for the incredible gift she gave me at the last pj party.

I've already waxed poetic about it on instagram, so I won't subject you to my emotional overload again. (I may also be avoiding making myself cry again...)

2. I ALSO want to thank my aunt Jeaninne for the gorgeous pitcher from a potter local to her.

I also cried when I got this, too.

Apparently, I'm just a crying mess lately.

3. I made another journal!

This one is just for me for more traditional journaling.

It's a little rough because I was trying to remember how to make the dang things as I was going.

4. I've also started on my new bullet journal! And to start it off, I'm doing a Harry Potter themed month!

5. Em and I found a new, fun store to spend all the moneys in.

6. We went to the beach! At Lake Erie!

It was actually the first time in my life that I'd been to the beach. And I fell in love. As did Alex. And now we want to go every dang weekend.

7. We went to a couple other places in Cleveland, too. I managed to get this adorable picture of my darling spoose.

And I found a yarn bomb.

8. I've gotten two more shawls done, but haven't had a chance to write them up yet. But here's a teaser of one.

9. I FINALLY STARTED MY DANG WEDDING SHAWL SO Y'ALL CAN STOP YELLING AT ME NOW!

11. My mantle looks really pretty right now.

12. I don't know if you noticed, but I've kind of given up on the whole "get a project done every month" thing. It was just too much to try and do with everything else going on this year. 

13. And to round this out, I just want to say a huge thank you for being here and reading and supporting and loving and laughing with me. It's been 4 years now since I started this blog and your support has been incredible.

Here's to the next four years.

PS. This post marks my 200th post on here!

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Frustration Station

You ever have one of those mornings (okay, well, it was after noon when I woke up, but the point still stands) where you just get flooded with frustrating/overwhelming/upsetting news all in one go?

Yeah, that's how my day's started off, so instead of the more thought-provoking and serious topic I HAD wanted to talk about, you get a list post instead.

1. First and foremost, the guy who was fixing my phone has entirely disappeared. Kiosk is gone. The mall office can't even find him. So... we're out the $160 we paid for the part. At least he didn't have my phone, right?

2. I don't think I ever showed off the second Destination Yarn subscription color I got.

It's called Carnival in Venice. It's hard to see, but there's gold sparkle in it.

2. We went to Local Yarn Shop Day at Harps and Thistles yesterday and my makeup was looking pretty dang good,

3. I came home with two skeins of Malabrigo Mechita in Carnival.

Look familiar? It should. It's the same color from Carnival in the Castle that I made last September.

4. I also went out with Bethany yesterday for a bit of shopping and by far my favorite find was a washi tape organizer.

5. One of the very first cactuses I ever got, Prickles, ended up getting blown over from wind. When I went to put him back into the pot, the plant separated, so now I have Prickles and Pickles.

6. My snowflake aloe are looking super happy and healthy, which makes me so happy. I was worried about them when we first brought them home.

7. All my babies in the bedroom also seem to be pretty happy.

8. I started on the shawl I want to wear to Great Lakes Fiber Show.

Yes, it's something lacey and beaded. Because that's all I know how to do apparently.

9. I really don't have much else to say, so have a pet picture to take us out.

10. Wait, no, I lied. I redid my shrine to Henry, so have a pretty picture with all the candles lit up.

Okay, NOW I'm actually done. Toodles!

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