cozy's place

You Are Now Leaving Sleeve Island

by del Posted on November 17, 2011

Good morning, miss, what can I do for you? You’re ready to check out? Already? Seems you just got here. Why, I have knitters here who’ve been on Sleeve Island for weeks, months, sometimes years. And you say you’re ready to go, huh? If you say so. Where you headed next, if you don’t mind my asking? Sweater Body Bay, huh? Nice place. How long you plan to be there? Not long? Why, you’re in some kind of hurry, aren’t you? Yeah, it gets busy around the holidays, don’t it? It was nice having you here, but I understand — Sleeve Island is a temporary stop. Just leave the key on the desk and I’ll get it. Good luck at The Bay — weather’s perfect for knitting.

sleeves

Buh-bye, Sleeve Island! On to the body!

Posted in knitting, sweaters | 14 Comments

Sunday Evening

by del Posted on November 14, 2011

family

trees

fire

: : S’mores to eat
: : Stars to count
: : Stories to tell
: : Games to play
: : Laughs to laugh

It was the best Sunday evening.

Posted in family | 6 Comments

The Work We Do

by del Posted on November 9, 2011

sleeve

book

stripes

You knew I couldn’t resist, didn’t you? Ah well, another project in the basket. In this last photo, you can see where I’m using a jogless stripes method — I don’t like those jogs that come from knitting stripes in the round, and so far, the Traveling stripes version detailed at TECHknitting has been the best way for me to avoid it. I think after blocking, it’ll look pretty neat.

Taking part in small things’ Yarn Along today, so I’m re-reading Stephen King’s On Writing. It’s subtitled “A Memoir of the Craft” and although many writers I know list it as a writing manual of sorts, it’s his personal story that interests me so much more. I needed some motivation since I’m still not working as much as I’d like since my layoff this past summer. It’s led to all kinds of self-reflection, deep thoughts, a few dark days here and there. All in all, kind of an uncertain time, which led me to wonder how we all define ourselves. Are you “the work you do” or are you something more?

What’s a writer who doesn’t write? A nurse who has no one to care for? A stay-at-home mom whose children are grown up and moved out of the house? I’m more than a writer, and now more than ever, I have to remind myself of that. Just because I’m not fully engaged in the work I was meant to do, I know I’m still important. The work we do doesn’t necessarily define us, and make us all we are, does it?

Posted in books, knitting, thoughts, WIPs | Tagged knitting, yarn along | 18 Comments

Binding Off: Where I Am

by del Posted on November 7, 2011

Many of you probably remember my “Binding Off” challenge I issued to myself and anyone else who was interested at the end of last year. It was a way to motivate me to finish some long-standing projects. Before I tack a big FAIL onto this challenge, some of you have done excellent on the challenge, so yay you! I, however, have finished only two of the original eight UFOs I tagged for it. This leaves six, and of those six, I do feel I can finish four of them, including two cardigans. The scarf, however, is not exciting me in any way, and I still need to buy more yarn for the Lizard Ridge Afghan. But you know what? If I can end this year with just two UFOs, I’ll be pretty happy (maybe one if I frog the scarf like I keep thinking about doing).

There is just one wrinkle with my diabolical plan. I’m a startaholic. I had an idea last night for a new something and it keeps swirling around in my mind like a dangerous thing. It’s full of colors and it would be a surprise Christmas gift for #1 Girl. (Bonus points: I can use up yarn that I already have on hand, some of which has been around for years.) I’m trying to resist casting on, but I know I’m weak; by the time you read this, I may already be on round two.

yarn

Anyway, speaking of Christmas, this past weekend, two radio stations that I listen to in the car started playing Christmas music 24/7. Is it just me or is that completely psychotic? I love Christmas, absolutely love it, but IMHO, it’s a certain time of year, not a complete season (like winter!), and although I can deal with the retail decorations that go up in October, I’m just not ready for the music in early November. Did I mention they’re playing it around the clock, 24 hours a day? It stops being special when it lasts for two whole months, you know? Maybe I’m just being grinchy, but I’d love to hear what you think.

Unofficial Poll

Yes or No: November 5 is way too early for Christmas songs all day, all the time.

Posted in binding off 2011, Christmas gifts, future projects, holidays, yarn | 8 Comments

Scenes from a Weekend

by del Posted on October 31, 2011

sink

sock

pumpkin

jack o lantern

:: from old, yucky sinks to new ones (Can I admit here how overly excited I am to have a new kitchen sink without anyone thinking I’ve lost it? If you’d seen and operated our last one, you’d know why I’m so happy. It’s almost like Christmas.)

:: from sock-in-progress to one down, one to go

:: from pumpkins to Jack-o-lanterns (missing a tooth due to someone’s…urm…sloppy carving skills)

Getting ready for too much sweet stuff — hopefully all treats, no tricks. Lovely day wishes to all.

Posted in home, knitting | Tagged scenes from a weekend | 6 Comments

Please Vote for Me! (Please!)

by del Posted on October 28, 2011

I’m sorry for this drive-by posting (sans pictures!), but imagine my surprise and delight to see that my Girasole post was chosen as a finalist in the Stitched in Color Celebrate Color contest (yarn category) for October! People, I am beyond excited, especially considering the prizes offered. Please consider voting for me — I would love to win (who wouldn’t?). Voting closes on Sunday so if you could visit the blog (just click the link) by then and cast your vote, I would really, really appreciate it! Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Posted in begging, knitting blogs | 7 Comments

Something Simple

by del Posted on October 26, 2011

As usual when I finish a big project, I long for something simple. So I’m currently knitting a vanilla pair of socks in some Lorna’s Laces yarn that I’ve had forever. As many socks as I’ve knit, can you believe I still don’t have a pair of LL socks, although I have a few skeins in my stash? Criminal, I tell you. These are my take along project of the moment — basketball season is finally over, but soccer starts up soon. *sigh* What do parents who don’t knit/crochet do at practice?

book and sock

I’m joining the Yarn Along at small things today, so while I work on these socks, I’m also reading This Burns My Heart, a novel about post-Korean war South Korea and a young woman who tries to defy the customs of the time and make a more independent life for herself. My mom grew up in this era, so it’s interesting to me to read about how her life probably was before she met my dad and came to America.

I’ve read about 40 books so far this year, but this big reading output has put a damper on my crafts. I wanted to do so much more in terms of crafting this year, but since I don’t do audio books, I always have to choose — do I knit now that I have a minute? Read? Knit? It’s not easy making a decision! What do you do? Just give in to the audio book? Or should I just be happy that I can make a choice and do what I want whenever I have that spare time?

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Posted in books, knitting, knitting time, socks | Tagged knitting, yarn along | 13 Comments

Girasole. Finally.

by del Posted on October 18, 2011

girasole

Goodness, I can hardly believe this day is here. Yes, I had to start from scratch when I messed up at one point, but still. Nearly three years in, and she is finally done. Bunched up as she was when I finished binding off, I had no idea, but as I stretched her out to block, I said at one point, “Wow, this is beautiful.” I can’t remember the last time I felt like that when looking at a project, just to see the metamorphosis from squiggly yarn to lace beauty — it was pretty incredible.

shawl

girasole

shawl

Pattern: Girasole (shawl size)
Needle size: US 5 (3.75mm)
Yarn: Alpaca Ware Superfine

In looking back, any issues/problems I had were all user error. This, like all of Jared Flood’s patterns, is so detailed and well-written. Also, I decided a while back that whenever I finished this project, I wasn’t going to keep it. It’s going to my maternal grandmother, who I don’t see that much because she lives on the other side of the world. I hope it keeps her warm and cozy during the snowy winters.

I’ve had my share of issues with alpaca, but I think this yarn was perfect for this project. I was able to stretch it to its limit while blocking and it held up like a champ. Thanks so much for sticking with me on this long, but rewarding journey. This was one of my Binding Off projects for the year, but I need some time to get a post together to discuss what’s going on with that.

In the meantime, I’ve entered it into the Celebrate Color pool going on at Stitched in Color. It’s just right for fall, no?

Posted in FOs, gifting, knitting, lace | Tagged girasole, knit shawl, knitting | 16 Comments

The Last

by del Posted on October 13, 2011

girasole

Is it strange that I’ve had a longer relationship with you than I have with some people? That you’ve been there through all seasons, traveled with me from place to place, always a comfort? Yes, we had a few hiccups here and there, but in nearly three years’ time, who hasn’t? Maybe I just didn’t want to let go, though I knew the result would be exquisite.

girasole

Yes, maybe that was it. I knew I’d miss this yarn, these needles, the soft weight on my lap as I worked and worked and worked those many stitches. But at some point, we have to let go, don’t we? We have to bind off that very last stitch and set them free.

empty needles