The Right Direction

Hello all. Suddenly, it's been almost a month since I made a post. I haven't been knitting much, because my job's been keeping me really busy. But, I've made a lot of changes in the past few days, including leaving that job, and now I'm moving in a direction that is much better for me.

So, today I did pretty much nothing but work on my Mara. I watched two of my favorite movies to knit to, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley.

The garter stitch is taking a long time, but I know I'm going to love the finished product. I have four balls of Palette, which I was originally going to use to make 198 Yards of Heaven. However, that project stayed in hibernation for a really long time, because the pattern was driving me insane. I had named that shawl "Welcome to Blue Heaven" in reference to the anime Outlaw Star. After frogging the shawl, I decided that I still wanted the anime reference, so the Mara's name is Melfina, after the main female character from the same anime. I named it after her because she is pretty much identified with the color blue for most of the show:



I'm not sure if I'm going to use three of the balls or all four, but I plan to make it big, almost cape-like, so I can wear it as an outer layer. I'm about a quarter into the second ball, so I have a while to go. I'll take a picture outside tomorrow, while Ben and I enjoy an adventure-filled day in town.

More soon! I have a feeling I'll be knitting a lot.

So, I'm back.

Wow, it's been a while. I have been so busy with performances, papers, and exams, that I've hardly had time to make anything, much less write about it. I frogged a few things, and made both Ben and I gloves. I plan on having a post dedicated to that alone, so more on the gloves, soon. I have a silver-dollar sized portion of a hat done, and most of a sweater shaped iPod cozy. If I get the show on the road, I can get the cozy done.

However, this is what I am concerned with at present:



This is (a crappy picture of) an Autobots chart that I am making into a pillow for Ben. I started it over the summer, with no particular plans as to when I was going to finish it or give it to him. As of right now, I'm considering it as a Christmas present for him. I'm pretty confident that I can get this done in time. As a matter of fact, I think it may be time for another round of creative burnthrough--maybe even tonight...

Doing Things Right

It has been so long since I've posted on my blog that I almost couldn't remember how to log in. When classes resumed, my life got so busy and stressful that I haven't finished more than a couple of projects. However, last night I realized something that really reset my perspective. I usually knit to relax, help relieve stress, and to enjoy myself. However, I have been turning away from my knitting over and over again because the lace is too complicated for my tired mind and eyes. Last night, we were passing by a Michael's, and I suddenly decided that I needed something. I went in and bought a ball of wool and some aluminum straights, and cast on a garter stitch scarf on the spot. After knitting about ten rows, I had everything all figured out.

I am officially resigning from the Ten Shawls in 2010 Challenge. When I started working on that scarf, I had red flags waving in my brain, telling me that I'd never get the four remaining shawls done if I wasted my time making something else. I beat myself up about it for a while, and then realized that the whole reason that I knit has gone out the window for the past few months, all because I've been pressuring myself over this challenge.




This school year has been the most stressful one yet, and I certainly don't need to be spending my free time freaking out about having to knit four more shawls before midnight on New Year's Eve. Also, I'd rather work at my own pace on complex shawls that I love than churn out four more simple ones just for the sake of completing the challenge--that's not what it's about. So, instead of trying all the way to the end and failing, I am acknowledging that this is what is best for me and my mental health, and I am making my garter stitch scarf. After that, I'm dreaming of mittens and socks and maybe a sweater. The moment I gave myself permission to stop stressing over the shawls, I remembered why I love to knit.

So, I'm going to return to the stress-relieving creative outlet that knitting is supposed to be. I don't know why I took so long to figure this out. I feel better already.

Look for some posts soon with older projects that haven't made it up yet. I hope that everyone is well, and that at least a few people still check my blog!

Off days

It has been over a month since I last posted. I simply...haven't been knitting that much. *gasp!* I'm not sure if it's been the fact that I am inspired in other artistic areas right now, of if it's because I often knit to relieve stress...and I'm just not stressed right now. Either way, I'm going to have to get back on the ball sooner or later, because I'm nowhere near done with my Ten Shawls for 2010.

In other news, I spent the day with my friend Anna and new friend Rebecca when they came to New Orleans! She's back in Australia now, but we had a great time, including going to a yarn shop! I have pictures of things that need to be posted, but in the meantime, I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm alive. Be back soon!