Small Update

The socks are finished, washed, blocked, and dry. Now all I have to do is wrap them up and give them to Kelley. She wasn't able to see Pirates with us on Friday, so I'm hoping she and I can get together soon to do something and finally finish with Christmas '06. I really hope she likes the socks.

Right now I'm in the process of moving all my stuff back to my parents' house. It makes me realize how much crap I actually have. An insane amount. So far I've taken back a lot of clothes, most of my dvds and books, most of my yarn, and some other stuff. I think I'll be pretty ruthless when it comes to the rest of what's left at the apartment. Get rid of a bunch of it so I don't have to deal with moving it all around.

Not busy

I like being busy. I know that when I am actually busy I complain about how busy I am and how there's not enough time in the day. But I do enjoy it. It prevents those moments where you think of other things you could be doing and that you'd rather be doing (like yarn shopping or knitting). It makes days you dread speed along and you don't even realize they're over until you're home and finally catching your breath. I like stress to a certain degree. Not to the point where I'm so stressed and frustrated that I start crying, but that stress that keeps you awake and moving. That's the kind of stress I like.

The problem is, I don't have enough of that going on at work. January to April flew by because it was one project after another and there wasn't enough time to do everything. And while I hated certain moments (working on weekends, for one), looking back on those 3-4 months doesn't fill me with extreme relief that it's over. It makes me want something like that to work on now.

For the past 3 years I've learned that my job has cycles. I'll go from being really busy to having almost nothing to do and no desire to do what I do have. I have months of boredom sometimes. I'm hoping that that won't be the case now that I have a new manager who seems interested in me being involved with things. But right now I'd love something time-sensitive to do. Just so I need to move faster and elevate the stress levels a little.

Maybe that's why, no matter what I tell myself, I always seem to have multiple kntting projects going at once. All I had left was to finish Kelley's socks. But then I needed a break from tiny needles and decided to start a Clapotis in laceweight on US 4s (looks lovely so far). And why I finally gave in to that skein of Malabrigo to make myslef a wonderfully warm and soft wool scarf. In May. I need the excitement and the variety of new things and multi-tasking and deadlines.

Of course then I go overboard and take on too much for the time I have. And I end up still working on my friend's Christmas present when it's 80 degrees outside and Memorial Day is right around the corner. And she has absolutely no need for wool socks in that weather. And I've got two baby blankets to make this summer. It'd be nice to find the middle ground.

I think next Friday (well, probably Wednesday so I can wash and let them air dry) will be the deadline for the socks. We'll probably see Pirates of the Caribbean on opening day and it would be a good time to give her a present. I will probably even wrap her socks up in Christmas paper, because I'm a huge dork that way.

Sheep and Wool

WIP - Kelley's Socks
Originally uploaded by LaurenKnits.

I went to the MD Sheep and Wool Festival this past weekend. It's so much fun going there. I love touching everything and looking around. I need to remember for next year though that I should go to the inside booths first because by the time we got to them midday, it was insanely crowded and I got pretty claustrophobic. It meant I didn't buy anything, at least inside, but it was uncomfortable for me. Oh well.

I did get some lovely 50/50 wool/silk yarn (about 650 yds sportweight) that I have to find something to do with. I want to do something pretty and lacy, so I'll be looking around at patterns and may even venture to a library sometime to look through pattern books. I won't use it until I find the perfect pattern.

I also got some Merino roving to spin. It's dyed in pretty blues and purples and I can't wait to see what the yarn looks like. I've never actually spun anything before, despite having a drop spindle for a few months now. I'm thinking this will be the inspiration to learn.

Above is a WIP picture of one of Kelley's socks. I've since finished that one and have started the next. Hopefully they'll fit her. I took some measurements the last time I saw her, but it's not the same as having the person right there to keep trying them on as the socks progress. I'll keep fingers crossed that they do fit and that she likes them. The colors in the picture aren't really true to life--they're actually darker and richer and that brown-looking color is more of a mossy green. I think they're very pretty and I was glad the colors didn't pool too much.

I'm excited because Christine comes back to work today! I'm sure it'll be weird for her, but I hope she's excited to come back because I know the rest of us are excited to have her back. yay!