Been A While

It's not that I can't manage having two blogs.....it's that I haven't been knitting or crocheting since January. Just in the last few days have I picked up my needles again.

I think I put so much pressure on myself at Christmas time, that I just needed a break. I took a much longer break than anticipated, though. I have four started projects that I have yet to finish. I started those in January. I have one baby sweater I'm working on now....the woman had her baby in December. Yes, I'm making the 12-18 month size instead of the 3-6 months. I would like the little guy to be able to wear this sweater once or twice....

I just don't know how to balance. I love knitting, and I love crocheting - I love these crafts that require my attention, develop skill, and challenge me. I love making something useful and pretty to look at. However, the rest of my life seems to suffer from neglect when I have these needles in hand.

This morning I loaded the dishwasher and started a load of laundry. A load. One. Does that even count as housework when I easily have four or five loads of laundry left to wash yet? And there are dishes stacked up that need to be handwashed, because they're not dishwasher safe? My floors need mopped, my bathroom needs a pick-me-up, but by golly I want to finish this sweater by Monday!

I don't know how you people balance life and knitting. I'm consumed by it and it prevents me from doing other things. I tried to set up a "reward" system by telling myself, "Okay, I can't knit until X, Y, and Z is finished." Then I would say, "But before I do x, y, or z, I'll just knit a couple of rounds....."

I need to go....my sheets need to be changed on my bed. But I'm almost finished with this sleeve.....

Crochet Crankiness Part II

So! I finished the project. I delivered it. I received the pay.

A few days ago I received an email that the hat didn't fit - at all - not even close - and would I please make it again, bigger this time?

Ohmygoodness.

I don't mind it, I don't. But I'm so tired of that material and of that pattern.

And now I might be tired of large-headed-babies.

This is where I consider subcontracting....

Crochet Crankiness

I have been working on a baby ensemble (jacket, booties, hat) since October. It is a project I'm doing "for hire" and I did the booties and jacket, and now it's up to me to finish the hat.

The stinking, annoying hat.

I have started and restarted and restarted this hat. When I get one bug worked out, I find myself messing up another way.

I have three days to get this hat started and finished without any mistakes.

I think after I'm finished, I will put the crochet hooks away for a while. It's making me cranky. No more for-hire work before the holidays....

The Next Generation

My sister sent me some pictures she took while I was in Portland visiting her and nephewpoo. I thought I would share, since they do have relevance to knitting!

First, another picture of him perfectly content in one of the sweaters I made for him:



Second, a picture of him doing awesome at learning to knit ~ he's such a quick study:



And lastly, just one of my non-knitting favorite pictures of the two of us, because our outfits are so coordinated, it's hard to tell where he ends and I begin. The funny thing is, we both had to change clothes shortly before this picture was taken thanks to a humongous spit-up episode.....

The Cutest Little Man In The Universe

I couldn't resist posting a photo of my nephew in one of the sweaters I knit for him. It's a little big, but he's still so stylish. I manipulated Fran's Hooded Baby Sweater...this one has no hood, and I changed just a few things about the layout of the body. I could've used a burlap sack and it would still look so stinkin' cute on this little guy...



I had a marvelous time visiting my nephew, sister, and brother-in-law. I didn't get hardly any knitting done, and therefore fell behind in my fair isle class..... It was worth it, though. That sweet little boy was more thereapuetic than any knitting I could have done. Except when his diaper leaked in my lap.....



He's going to be so spoiled....and I'm going to love every minute of spoiling him. Look at that sweet little face....