2007: A quick review

I've been seeing the year in reviews out there in the blogosphere where you post the first line of your first blog entry for that month. I thought I'd only have a few lines because I haven't had this blog very long, when much to my surprise, I've had this since March!! Amazing. So, without further ado:

March: I've decided to start a knitting blog.

April: So, I got my yarn in today for Kate, the cat with britches, my first knitted toy for my little girl.

May: Still no Kate? Sadly, tis true... I've just now finished the stuffing part.

June: So, I've been busy. Knitting. Taking care of baby. Working. Attempting to get some sleep. Getting involved again in intellectual discussions... you know, re-engaging.

August: I'm ashamed to see that its been since the end of June since I posted. (I'm seeing a theme)

September: FO: Kate. Overall, I loved this pattern. (wow, it took me quite some time to get this toy finished!!)

November: I am not such a great blogger, many apologies... I blame it all on Ravelry. (since I didn't get my invite until early October, though, we know it's more than just Ravelry.)

December: All that blogging for NaBloPoMo has just worn me out, but I DID it! ;) Just goes to show you I have plenty to talk about and plenty of time to sit down to do it, so long as I have someone holding me to it.

Clearly, my theme for my blog involves some thought as to why exactly I have it if I'm always feeling guilty about not posting. As I found out in November, blogging every day is simply an exercise in discipline, just like exercising (not that I'm doing that either!), and gift knitting (which was completed successfully and on time!).

I hereby resolve to make blogging more of a priority in this next year. Part of that involves me being in Project 365; the other part being that my daughter is more independent, which leaves me more time during the day to get everything done that I need to get done. There. I've written it out and published it for the worldwide web to read. So now it must be done. But wait, one more thing. What does making the blog more of a priority mean? Quantitatively, making the blog a priority means (to me anyway), that you will have at least as many blog posts as there are working days in any given month (around 22). Alright. There it is :)

Hope you all have a safe and happy new year. We are planning on a quiet dinner party with a few friends, and then spending a nice relaxing birthday working on my monkey socks. See you soon!

FO: Fetching

DSC_0011, originally uploaded by hannah8ball.

As promised, photos of a finished fetching. I used WoolEase again with this one as it is a gift to my office mate (who loved them BTW).

Mods: I did this without a thumb, mods as follows:

Replace the instructions from Work 18 rounds in 4x1 Rib to Work 4 rounds in 4x1 Rib with the following:

Work 16 rounds in 4 x 1 Rib. For the next 8 rounds you will be working back and forth to create the thumb opening. Use your circular needle/DPN as if they were straight needles. Be sure to knit the knits and purl the purls.

At the end of round 8, join work and continue working in the round.

When I make these for myself, I intend to make them a bit longer and may take out a repeat so that it fits closer on my hand/arm. This was my first time doing something other than the long-tail cast on and I must say I was impressed with the cable cast-on's stretchiness. I'm definitely adding that to my repertoire.

One more day of work, and then I'm off until day after Christmas, but there are some pretty large projects in my way between now and the end of the day tomorrow. Let's hope Little Bit takes good naps again tomorrow so I have as much time as I need.

I'm still here

All that blogging for NaBloPoMo has just worn me out, but I DID it! ;) Just goes to show you I have plenty to talk about and plenty of time to sit down to do it, so long as I have someone holding me to it. I'm thinking a reasonable amount of blogging would be every week day. Stay tuned for that.

Work has really become rather busy. I have two open positions to hire for, end of year stuff to wrap up, and christmas vacation in the middle of all of that. I'm slowly digging out of my inbox, but phew, it's hard work! My bloglines reading has seriously suffered, I haven't recovered yet from my weekend off... keep writing though! I'll read it eventually!

In knitting news, my Shedir gift is 75% done. No, you're not reading that wrong, it wasn't on my original list. Washcloths get boring. Cables are fun. 'Nuff said. I would have been done sooner except I made a decrease error that I had to frog back to... YUCK!

Washcloths are loping along. I'm thinking I'm going to have to do some serious, head down knitting next week and just finish them all up so they aren't hanging over my head.

Mitts: I finished the second fetching, pics coming soon. I'll be casting on for my 3rd pair tonight. Hope to have all office gifts done by the end of this weekend.

Thanks for all the nice comments about Rannoch! They are a fabulous knit, the cables are lovely, and the garter rib is a nice touch. Be sure to visit Corinne and congratulate her on her first pattern.

Break is done... I'm back to work. Have a great day!

Rannoch: FO

Rannoch: FO, originally uploaded by hannah8ball.

Loved the pattern, the cables look great and I think this will be a big hit with the recipient. I ended up not doing the thumbs because I still have a laddering problem and didn't want my gift to look so much like homemade. I used the thumb technique as described in the pattern for Handwarmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I really like these mitts, I must say, I'm having a hard time wrapping these up. I'm sure I'll be casting on a pair for myself just as soon as I finish all my gift knits.

Speaking of, my stats are as follows:

Waschloths: 5 done, 1 shipped, 1 on the needles (6 of 11 completed)
Mitts: 1 pair done, 1/2 done on a second pair, patterns picked out for the last 2 pairs. (3/8 completed.)

Not too bad for the end of November.

How are you doing on your gift knits?

What's your design style?

We watch this show if/when it comes on and if/when we actually have the TV on, called Design Style on HGTV. The first step is for everybody to take this quiz, then the designer gives them some tips and the couple designs their own room (with A LOT of help, mind you). Similar to What Not to Wear, minus all the comments about someone's horrible wardrobe and hair. And for your house. Not really similar, I guess.

My design style is not surprisingly, Hip. "No overstuffed chairs or anything frou frou (unless its the band). You're drawn to clean lines and a minimalist palette (think black, white, neutrals and a few bold colors that "pop" against the background - like orange, red or turquoise)." Yes, that's me. :)

For your viewing enjoyment a video from said band Frou Frou. She's hip!

First Sweater

I'm off, originally uploaded by hannah8ball.

Little Bit can finally wear the sweater I knit her when she was just a belly bump. This was my very first sweater, and near to my first project. Being a Debbie Bliss pattern, there was no drawing showing me how to put it together, so it took me a little while to figure out how one ought to attach the sleeves to the body and in what order.

I'm thinking its time to knit her another sweater, one that has been finished well, and one that will fit her the rest of the winter...

lucky for me, my contest yarn from Theresa of Knitting Underway arrived today with just the right amount of baby sweater yarn. Now, I just need to find a pattern.

Back in the day

Today has been a fun day of igniting old acquaintances. I got a meme from a dear friend in IL that I actually responded to *gasp*! I can't be counted on to respond to your email in less than a few months, but I'll answer questions about myself... har... anyway, I sent it out to a few people who I've been close with for a while, but have sort of lost touch (I'd blame the baby, but its not really her fault). Its a great way to say "Hey" and to maybe get something back.


Well, I've heard from 3 blasts from the past in the last few hours and my goodness is it cool! Its fun to see where they are, and their likes/dislikes and how similar we still are even though we've been separated by time, distance and experiences. Here's to reigniting old friendships!

Here's the meme:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30

2. Diamonds? pearls? Neither. I'm not really a jewelry person, unless its handmade :) I like jewelry with a story.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Casino Royale… that was before Little Bit was born… sheesh…

4. What's your Favorite TV show? Hmmm, a tie between Battlestar Galactica and the Office

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Granola and hot tea

6. What kind of soap do you use? Handmade soap by a friend

7. What is your middle name? Marie

8. What food do you dislike? Bell peppers, and its more of a hate than a dislike… I can't eat anything that has even been in contact with bell peppers :)

9. What is your favorite CD? Right now, the soundtrack from the Fountain. I like the alternating intensity and tenderness of the music.

10. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Civic SI

11. What characteristic do you despise? An unwillingness to learn, stubborn ignorance

12. Favorite item of clothing? My handwarmers – they keep my hands warm in the office, or playing in the band, or knitting. Love them!

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Right now, I'd go visit my dear friend in Africa; but normally, it'd be Costa Rica.

14. What color is your bathroom? Dark, deep blue

15. Favorite brand of clothing? Whatever fits and isn't terribly expensive

16. Where would you retire to? Mexico

17. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My 22^nd birthday, we went down to Waco to spend time with Jason's brother and a few friends, and his friend cooked us a 7 course meal that was fabulous, we drank delicious wine and had deep conversation long into the night. It was perfect.

18. Furthest place you are sending this? I'm sending this to each coast

19. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? My mom (now she'll send it back because I called her out) :)

20. Person you expect to send it back first? Hmm, not sure on that one either, but I'm sure Nick will spend some time making it fun at least :)

21. When is your birthday? January 1

22. What is your favorite scent? Lavender

23 Are you a morning or night person? Before baby, night, now I go to bed early because she is a morning person.

24. What church do you attend? Mosaic Fort Worth

25. Favorite sandwich? Jason's gourmet grilled cheese… mmm

26. What are you listening to right now? NPR (the Diane Rehm show specifically), and the quiet baby monitor

27. What is the last thing you ate? Some of Little Bit's applesauce

28. Do you wish on stars? No, but I do go out and look at them every night.

29. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red

30.How is the weather right now? Cool, but sunny… I think its supposed to warm up some more this week.

31. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My cousin Lydia

32. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Oh yes. She is such a role model for me.

33. Favorite soft drink? Pepsi, but I have to be in the right mood

34. Favorite restaurant? The Keg

35. Hair color? Red

36. Do you have a Sibling? Yes, a sister and a brother

37. What is your Favorite time of the year? Fall – I love the cooler weather, it is such a relief from the unrelenting TX heat.

38. What was your favorite toy as a child? A stuffed animal named Susan.

39. Summer or winter? early summer (April/May) and late summer (October) – hey, I'm in Texas, its summer most of the year!

40. Hugs or kisses? Both.

41. Chocolate or Vanilla? Dark chocolate

42. Do you want your friends to email you back? Of course!

43. When was the last time you cried? Last night.

44. What is under your bed? Nothing! Unless it's a cat.

45. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Jennifer – I have known you since I was 9!

46. What did you do last night? Knitted, watched What's Eating Gilbert Grape, comforted Little Bit, gave creative advice to Jason who was designing a handout for church

47. Favorite room in your house? The study

48. What are you afraid of? Being alone

49. Plain, buttered, or salted Popcorn? Buttered w/salt

50. How many keys on your key ring? 6

51. How many years at your current job? Going on 4

52. Favorite day of the week? Sunday

53. How many towns have you lived in? 10

54. Do you make friends easily? Depends… I guess if that's my answer, then I should say no.

55. How many people will you be sending this to? 11

56. Do you like your job? Depends on the day, some more than others.