Socks and Shores

Unlike last month, this month's unfinished project was cranked out at an unbelievable speed.

I ended up finishing up the lavender socks I started last September. I had one sock fully done, and had originally started the second one right after, but I realized that I had screwed up the color repeat. And I was NOT about to have fraternal socks, damnit. So they got shoved into time out until a few days ago.

I was actually waffling a bit between finishing the socks or finishing Mystic Star, but laziness won out.

So I pulled them out, and got right to work.

And immediately had to rip everything out and start over AGAIN.

There was a knot in the yarn in a spot that would likely rub against my toe.

So after much swearing and cursing and frogging, I ACTUALLY got started. And I just started flying through it.

 It took me just two days to finish the second sock.

And now...

I've got TWO PAIRS OF SOCKS JUST FOR MEEEEE!

And as a bonus treat, we took these babies on the road with us to Cleveland on Saturday.

We went up to hang out with Mikayla at River Colors Studio, my yarn shop away from home. Her and Steph had so kindly gotten me a gift card for my birthday (it totally wasn't an excuse for us to go yarn shopping..... nope, not at all...) and I had a hankering for some yarn for a new project.

We'll get to that later, though.

First, I have to give an ENORMOUS thanks to the ladies at River Colors for having the patience to deal with this.

We were going to the bakery next door for lunch, so I asked if they would mind winding my purchases while we ate.

When John and I came back half an hour later, we saw that mess and I felt SO BAD!

Whoever tied the skein at the place where it was manufactured didn't do it right and it just turned into a giant mess as soon as the ladies tried to wind it.

It took over two hours and three different people working to untangle and hand wind it into a ball.

My other two skeins took like 3 minutes to do.

So, thanks again, you intrepid, wonderful women, for sorting that mess out.

After that, John and I checked out this little place called Rocky River Park which was a 5 minute drive from the yarn shop. It was just a wee little place, but you could walk right down on the little beach there beside Lake Erie.

There was so much driftwood washed up on the shore, it was incredible. And not little pieces. We're talking huge logs and branches. And in some cases what looked like the whole damn tree.

It was the perfect spot to grab a few (and I do mean only a few. It was freezing!) pictures of my socks.

I hadn't brought a coat because it was a little warmer that day, but that was a huge mistake. I nearly froze to death.

But just for you, dear readers, I suffered through it.

Really though, I was completely enthralled with the whole place. I had never actually gotten to be that close to the lake.

We even took a few pictures of Mermaid Lair because the scenery was so beautiful. (What? I HAD to wear a shawl to the yarn shop!)

I also brought home a few little treasures I found.

Yarn, friends, time with John, good food, and a trip to the lake... it was a pretty spectacular day.

Oh? You want to see the yarn I bought?

Now, the blue in the bottom is from the stash, but that bright pink and gold came home with me.

I know, they're not my normal colors. But I was absolutely blown away by a shawl I saw on Instagram by Pepperminta and the inspiration bug bit hard. (Go show them some love!)

View this post on Instagram

Blocking. I’d like to think I know what I’m doing... 🤔 #letsseehowthisgoes #knitting

A post shared by Diana (@peppeminta) on Feb 28, 2019 at 10:24am PST

I'll actually be doing the same Teroldego Shawl pattern as in the picture, assuming that I can get this icord edge to work out.

Anyway, there was another ball we ended up buying while waiting for the Great Untangling, but I don't have a handy pic of that. And I have other things to do, like show off how good my makeup game was over the weekend.

Guess I'll sign off for now and go play with my new pretties.

---------------------------------------------------------
Like my writing? Why don't you buy me a coffee!

You can do so through my ko-fi link HERE: ko-fi.com/blackgoatknitting

Or donate directly through my paypal HERE: https://www.paypal.me/blackgoatknitting

In Which I Make a Crappy Pun

As I have said so many times before (hundred of times by this point, I'm sure) 2018 was a Bad Year.

Me in January of 2018:

Bright eyed, smiling, ready for a new year!


Me, now:

I'm pretty sure I've forgotten how to smile by this point. And we won't discuss the airport's worth of luggage under my eyes that show up even with my beauty filter turned up high...

I know, I know, I'm as sick of saying it as you are of hearing it. But bear with me just this one last time. There will be actual knitting this time, I promise!

Back in January, I had said that I wanted to take the year off from doing a monthly knitting goal. I was just coming off of the Twelve Shawls project, which was intense and emotional and exhausting. I thought I needed a break.

Instead, I dealt with a year of aimless wanderings in regards to my creativity. It felt like every other week, I would start something, then immediately lose focus. I felt paralyzed and lost.

Don't get me wrong, I still managed to get quite a few projects done this year, some with some ridiculously tight deadlines. But it never felt quite as satisfying as it did with the Twelve Shawls.

So, this year, I'm back to a monthly knitting goal. But I think it's going to be A LOT easier on me physically, mentally, emotionally... not to mention financially.

Ready to hear about it? I thought so.

Beside my bed there lives a basket...

And in this basket, there are many, many, many bags...

And in each of those bags is a project that has fallen by the wayside.

You know where this is going.

The plan is to finish a project each month. Some of it will be easy AF. Others.... well, what's a year of knitting without some slogs?

Keen eyed observers may notice there's only 11 projects up there. That's because I do have to factor in some time to do The Most Important Shawl Ever this year.

Yep, John and I are on track for ACTUALLY HAVING OUR DANG CEREMONY THIS YEAR!

But that's still a ways off, so let's get back to the knitting stuff.

I think this will be a nice balance because I have so much more flexibility. I'll still have time to do any other project that strikes my fancy, while still having a set goal. Accomplishment and freedom? Sign me up.

I've decided to name this year's goal 'Knit or Get Off the Pot.'

:D

Alternatively 'Get Knit Done', if you're not inclined to potty humor.

I have another thing to discuss with y'all, but I'll get back to it later. Time's a little short at the moment seeing as I have to go get ready for the very first pj party of the year at Harps & Thistles.

So, toodles! Chat soon, yeah?

Good-Fucking-Bye

In a few hours, 20-I-HATE-teen will be a mere memory. Lost forever to time.

THANK ALL THE BLESSED BLOODY STARS

So, let's pour the champagne, put on the comfy pants, and take a quick look back at all the projects I managed to finish over the last 12 months.

First, my octopus hat.

My first blanket.

The first Rios Lace Tam.

Quite a few dice bags.

Cute little soft friends.

 

Soft friends wearing soft things.

The second lace tam.

A few odds and ends.

And most importantly, a few shawls.

The fact that I got so much done despite the absolute bloody disaster this year stands as a giant, defiant middle-finger to it.

So, goodbye, so long, and fuck you, 2018.

2019, you better be better. I'm fucking watching you.

Alright, friends. We made it. Let's kick ass next year.

Love you all. <3

*Creative Pun Filled Title About Presents*

So! Presents have been gifted and now I get to show them off!

First off are the socks I made for my grandma.

Pattern is Traveler's socks on Ravelry.

They were done in Sweet Georgia Worsted in color Mink.

You know, for hating cables so much, I actually didn't mind these too much.

Next up is the pillbug for Emmy!

He wasn't supposed to be felted, but I was in the mood for experimentation.

He's done in Wool of the Andes Worsted from KnitPicks, though I din't recall the colors off the top of my head.

I *nearly* ran out of the dark purple I used for the shell. I was DEFINITELY sweating on that one.

Also in the cute and cuddly category is the crab in a jar I did for Mom.

He was mostly improvised, especially as the original pattern had you using FRENCH FUGGIN KNOTS for the legs. And that is NOT in my wheelhouse.

He was made with the little bit of Rios I had leftover from my hat.

A hat for my grandpa was next, which if I'm honest, was pretty dang boring.

BUT! BUT! LOOK AT THIS COOL THING I MADE!

SEE IT?

IZ A LIL BLACK GOAT LABEL!

And on the back...

I used a scrap of leather and my wood burner. I'm pretty damn proud of myself.

And rounding out the presents for the year is this wee little scarf for my Hufflepuff husband's Christmas present: a little plush badger.

I *technically* have one other present, but I can't show it because it hasn't made it to the recipient yet. But you'll see it next month!

For now, though, I'm going to contemplate the like 80 different things I want to cast on right now before I inevitably end up doing another shawl.