Saturday, November 30, 2013

More secrecy (Day 148 KEDfaY)

One sekrit project might be done but I still have another to do before I start too seriously on my next commission. That's all I did today, sekrit knitting.

Boring, I know.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Finish line (Day 147 KEDfaY)

It's done. It's finished, completed, done. I'm done with Supa Sekrit Project #1. I didn't think I was going to do it but I did it and now it's done!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some spinning calling my name.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Test run (Day 143 KEDfaY)


Knitted more on a hat for my stepmom today. I should probably worked on Supa Sekrit Project #1 but I didn't want to. I'll leave that for tomorrow probably.

I'm doing this pattern from Leethal Knits because I've wanted to knit it for a while and I figured a "test" run for my stepmom would give me a good idea of how it's made for when I make my own eventually. It definitely has an interesting construction and it's fun to knit. It does take longer than a normal hat but only because it's more involved than "k1p1 forever and ever and ever..." and it's nice. I'm really bad at reading/following directions so I had to restart the brim once but everything seems to be going well now. I definitely recommend this hat if you want something a little challenging but still a quick knit. And because it's a Leethal Knits pattern, the instructions are super thorough and easy to understand if you're paying attention, something I tend not to do. 

I've been working on an essay for about a month now and I still can't figure it out. I'm having a problem with it because the topic has a lot of emotion behind it so it's hard to get all of my thoughts and feelings out and in the right order. I have a lot to say about it so I want everything to be included but I think I'm at the point where I need to cut things out and get rid of the superfluous. It's one of those topics that I'm so close to and it's still relevant so it's hard to separate the fact and truth from pure emotion. 

Writing is hard, you guys. 


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Flying (Day 142 KEDfaY)


I got to a good milestone today with the Supa Sekrit Project and so I decided to reward myself by starting another project. This is going to be a hat for my step mom I think. It's going quickly so hopefully I'll have it done before Christmas. 

Our plans for Christmas are currently up in the air. Hopefully we'll figure it out soon. I like to know when I have to be forced to fly in a plane. I hate flying and it definitely takes a lot of psyching myself up to get on one. Flying is scary. I do not like it. 

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Boring (Day 141 KEDfaY)

You know when you get to a point in a project and you know that finishing it won't take you long but it's just so boring that you don't want to work on it and you'd rather play Words with Friends all day instead?

That's where I'm at.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Fears (Day 140 KEDfaY)

So I've been working on the supa sekrit project trying to finish it for my OWL for HPKCHC which is due next Saturday and something I've feared but thought I was just being over anxious. But then here I am, relatively close to finishing it and I'm going to run out of yarn. Luckily for me, it's on sale this weekend. So yay! But boo! But yay! I hope to have it done in time and I think I will, just have to get more yarn first.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Hat (Day 139 KEDfaY)


I finished the last hat that I need to make! Whoo! I would've finished it yesterday but I forgot to bring my dpns when I went out. I also knit more on the Supa Sekrit Project. It's at a part that I feel shouldn't take long but is going to take longer than I'd like because it's boring and sucks. But it's easy. So yeah. 

That's all I've got for today. Nothing exciting really. Whoo. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Profession: Writer (Day 138 KEDfaY)

Ever since I was a little kid, I've been writing. I've written comics about ducks and teenage crime fighters. I've written stories about shadow people and elves. I've written about personal memories and things that are hard to talk about. It's one of those things that I've always done and never thought much about it. Sometimes I would dream about writing a novel or a comic or a memoir but most of my writing was term papers and assignments for class. After graduating and leaving school, I still wrote, mostly Tweets and half formed ideas for a possible essay later on. I've changed my mind about what I want to be when I grow up and I still haven't really decided what I want to do but one thing I always do is write.

Writing has a wonderful way of helping you solve problems and show you what you were too afraid to face.

I have scads of essays that were started and never finished or lines that I thought sounded interesting to be saved for a later date. Sometimes I go back to them and try to finish them but more often than not they get ignored.

I fantasized about being a writer when I was younger. I thought that I was fully capable of stringing together a string of words and make them sound halfway interesting. As I grew older I thought better of it because it's hard work and not many people find their audience. True, I write for me but I also write because I think I'm interesting enough to be heard, even if that does sound narcissistic.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I have a halfass assembled set of skills that aren't really marketable for any job that exists right now. So I've been writing.

I know my blog posts are sometimes short and sweet and seem more like to-do lists than any semblance of narrative or vignette or anything remotely literary. Writing is hard. As one writer said, writing is easy. Just sit at a typewriter, open your veins and bleed. Replace typewriter with computer and you have me. I love to write. It's in my blood, as it were, and yet it's one of the most exhausting things to do. It's tough being that creative and not getting distracted by the shiny aspects of the internet.

But I've been writing. Sure my blog posts haven't always been the most illuminating or exciting but I don't share everything I write. I've got tons of pages and Word documents and Post It notes to back it up. I've spent the evening going back and reading finished essays, half started ideas and ones I decided best kept as a string of random thoughts. I do this from time to time to remember that I do love writing. I love sharing my stories and my idea of a witty anecdote. I like to read my old essays that I've forgotten I'd even written and fix them and edit them even though the assignments have long since been graded and I don't really know what to do with besides move them from hard drive to hard drive, the band of roving gypsies that are my essays.

Today, an essay I wrote and got paid for was published online. I don't know what did it, what clicked, but tonight I feel like I went from "unemployed" and "trying to figure things out" to "writer." This is honestly the first time in a very long time that I haven't felt helpless when debating my future.

I write all of this and then a friend of mine writes a tweet that's more beautiful than anything I've written in years. Bastard.


----

I knit today, too.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Lazy (Day 137 KEDfaY)

No picture today because I'm lazy. So lazy that all I did was finish the second sleeve of my sweater, something that I think, in total, took about 2 hours but for some reason took me most of the day. I blame the weather, the normal sunny skies have been replaced with grey ones and while I normally wouldn't' complain, it isn't really making me want to do anything.

Tomorrow is a busy day. I get to go have my blood drawn for tests to make sure my anti-anxiety meds aren't completely messing with my body and then my ride, Jeannine and I are gonna go get brunch. From there, who knows. Possibly a nap before knitting with the ladies and possibly meeting my next commission in the afternoon. Or I could just load up on coffee and hope for the best. The worst is that I can't eat anything before the appointment so I'm going to be starving and grouchy because I have to get up early and can't go back to sleep.

I think I might've also figured out what is causing the rash on my face but time will tell if I'm right or not.

I have about 10 days to finish Supa Sekrit project #1. I think I can do it as long as I'm not a lazy bum like I have been the past two days. I don't know why I've been so slow at knitting lately.

Monday, November 18, 2013

And the winner is...(Day 136 KEDfaY)


Now I know what you're probably thinking, "But Leigh! Aren't you done with that sweater? I thought you finished it ages ago!" Well I did. Kinda. I finished it in time to submit it to the local fair but the sleeves were too short so it was finished...kinda. To be finished-finished, I need to lengthen the sleeves about 4". The yarn didn't stretch as much as I had anticipated after being washed. And for something so simple, it really has taken me all day. I don't know why but I think it has to do with the fact that it's Monday and I'm scatterbrained today.

And the fair you ask?


It might not be first place but since this is the first year I've ever submitted anything of mine to be judged, I'm going to take it! My purple shawl I knit and the purple and blue handspun I did also got ribbons, a general "well done!" and another third place respectively. Since that was my fourth or so handspun ever, I'll definitely take a third place ribbon! I'm very excited and I even got some money from it, enough to buy me a coffee next time I go to the coffee shop, if I don't get a fancy one and I just get plain coffee but hey! Free coffee! 

I think I'm mostly excited because I can now say I'm an award winning knitter and spinner! Not many people can say that! 

I know yesterday's post was short and sweet. The truth is that I almost didn't post. I was *this* close to not posting because I was in bed almost asleep when I remembered, hence the one sentence post. 

Yesterday I spun a bit while watching the F1 race with the Boyfriend. He enjoys watching the races and I've started watching too. It makes for great background noise while I'm spinning. I finished the first braid of the fiber I've been working on and now I have another one in the same color and fiber content. I hope to get a 2 ply fingering out of it so I can do a pi shawl but I'm a little worried now that I won't have enough yardage. I might have to do a smaller shawl or something else with it. We shall see, won't we?

Sometime this week, one of my essays is going live, online! I'll of course plaster this blog with links as soon as I get them because it's my blog and I can do what I want, harumph. Also, I reread the essay that I think is going up first and it was actually really good! I surprised myself with how good it was. I definitely suffer from the traditional creative cycle of "This is awesome. This is good. This is crap, I hate it. This is amazing." I think everyone has experienced this and I do quite frequently with my writing. I think I'm great, it's just finding an audience that likes me too.

You guys like me, right?

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Check check 1, 2 (Day 134 KEDfaY)

More knitting on Supa Sekrit Project #2 today so here is a picture of the other test knit I did for Lee Meredith. You should check out her new collection. It's pretty cool!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Test test (Day 133 KEDfaY)

Did some knitting on ssp#2 today so here's a picture of one of the test knits I did for leethal knits.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Plans (Day 132 KEDfaY)


New hat! It's the last(?) hat I have to make I think. I haven't knit on anything else today. I spent a good portion of the day in bed cuddled with the blankets because it was finally cool enough to do that and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND I DON'T REGRET IT AT ALL. 

I also spun a bit today. This fiber is taking a long, long time but I expected it to. If I continue to do it in little bits then I think I might get it done by Christmas so I can hopefully start the pi shawl I want to make with it by the new year. Exciting things, planning and such.

Also might get to go back to Indiana sooner than originally planned. The Boyfriend has to make a work trip right before we were planning on leaving and blah blah blah, I might get to go back early. I'm excited because it gives me more time with my family and friends. We will see though. 

Thinking about restarting Supa Sekrit Project #2. I have an idea forming that I think I like better than what I'm currently doing. We shall see. Supa Sekrit Project #1 hasn't been touched today except to move it but I'm still comfortable with it's current due date even if I am going back to Indiana earlier than planned. I like being on top of projects. It makes me feel productive. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

I'm a creep (Day 131 KEDfaY)


I accidentally finished this last night. I was going to try to make it a two day project but that didn't happen. I also got A LOT done on Supa Sekrit Project. I am very happy to say that one big portion is *thiiiiiss* close to being done which makes me happy. I feel confident that I might actually get it done on time so WHOO! 

But now bed. Had a night out with the gals which was something that was greatly appreciated after being cooped up all weekend. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Today I learned... (Day 130 KEDfaY)

Before I go to bed every night, I have a routine, like many people. I brush my teeth, wash my face, then cosy into bed and play Words with Friends or solitaire until the light goes out. The light goes out when the Boyfriend finally falls asleep or asks me to turn it off. It's on my side of the bed so I get to deal with it, an argument that we've had many times because we are both inherently lazy people and it's just so far away...

But then I read Wikipedia. I usually also listen to TV shows on my iPod because the only way I've found to fall asleep is to be overstimulated which sounds backwards for most people but it really does help me. Don't judge.

Generally my Wikipedia routine is to go to the main website and just hit the random button, read the article, sometimes it will be a foreign minister in a very small town in a country smaller than the city I currently live in, sometimes it's a random world event, more often it's an athlete for a sport that I don't pay attention to. I skim it if it isn't interesting or read it if it is and then either hit "Random" again or I find a link and fall down the Wikipedia hole. My favorites articles are the ones about nature. Simple things that you would take for granted are fascinating. Have you read the Wikipedia article for apples? How about the sea? What about kiwi birds? For example, the other night I started reading about rattlesnakes. I will say that I didn't random myself to this article, I had watched an episode of Mythbusters with a rattlesnake in it and I wanted to know why and how they made their rattly noise. And then I fell down a Wikipedia hole. Did you know that pit vipers are called so because they have pits in their face that allow them to sense heat? I thought they were called pit vipers because they enjoyed living in pits, a simple but easy to follow train of thought. These are things that we don't learn in school and I think that we totally should because what's more badass than a rattle snake that has extra holes in its face to smell its prey? I would've paid attention in class that day.

Another example: Today, I was curious about the bar exam that lawyers have to take and after reading all about that, I somehow ended up reading about the Talmud. Fascinating and stuff that I never would've learned if it weren't for Wikipedia. I know Wikipedia gets a lot of flack for the fact that anyone can edit it (with restrictions but no one cares about those) but I honestly love it. It's my second favorite website (seconded only to Ravelry.com because Ravelry is amazing) and I feel bad whenever I visit Wikipedia's page and they ask for money. I love Wikipedia and I use it pretty much daily. There's a long list of things I plan to do once I have a steady income and possibly extra money and donating to Wikipedia is definitely one of them. Even if Wikipedia gave me a job (something I don't know how to go about getting but I'm damn sure I would love working for Wikipedia because who wouldn't love to do research and fact check various things all day?) I would donate a part of my paycheck.

So, Jimmy Wales, if you find this in your random google search of your name, I would love to work for Wikipedia because pit vipers are badass.

----


In knitting today, I just worked on another hat for Christmas, my 2nd to last one, I *think*. I might do one more just in case I've miscounted or forgotten someone. This one is going to be a Creeper hat for my youngest brother. He likes Minecraft (or at least did the last time I saw him) so I'm hoping he likes it. If not, tough. I'll just take it back! Harumph. After I finish this hat, I will only have 3 more presents to knit which I'm pretty excited about since it's not even December yet. Look at me, all ahead and everything!


Monday, November 11, 2013

Breakthrough (Day 129 KEDfaY)

No picture today. I forgot to take one while the sun was still out. Silly thing is setting earlier and earlier.

I sat down today and decided that I needed to work on Supa Sekrit Project #1. I needed to figure out this one stupid part, so I went to Ravelry and looked at various patterns for inspirations and two hours later, I was fixing that stupid part. I am even almost done with that stupid part now, a part that is a much bigger hassle and chunk of the project than I foresaw. But it's looking great. I am finally happy with it again. Yesterday when I wrote my post for the day, I was so frustrated with that stupid project that I didn't want to finish it. Now, I honestly think I will be able to get it done by the end of the month so I can get full points to HPKCHC, because I'm a nerd like that. But I'm happy and I've been productive on it. I'm looking forward to finishing it now. Sometimes you just need a bit of inspiration to hit even if it does take it's time to get to you. It isn't lightning, it travels at its own pace.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Procrastin....I'll get to it later (Day 128 KEDfaY)


I am about 2/3 of the way done on another Christmas present. I figure I have 2 more hats to knit and then other assorted presents to work on. I'm pretty happy with how many Christmas presents I have done at this point. It isn't even December and I feel like I can go to my family Christmas gathering and not use the excuse of broke ass college student as the reason why no one got gifts. Since I'm not actually in college, I don't know if I can use that excuse any more.

I also have gotten some spinning done. I got a lot of the same color and content fiber from someone's destash and my hope is to get a 2 ply fingering weight out of it so I can make a huge shawl. That's the hope and so far it's going well. There is A LOT of this fiber so I'm going to be spinning it for ages. It is definitely in the "long term project" column. 

But really I'm just using these two projects to procrastinate. I REALLY need to be working on Supa Sekrit Project #1 but I'm still stuck on one part and I don't want to. I have 20 days to finish it. I know I can do it, I just need to figure out a problem first. Ugh. 

Saturday, November 9, 2013

If you can't say anything nice... (Day 127 KEDfaY)

No picture today. I finished the test knit and I am very happy with how it turned out. I was afraid at one point of my color choices but I like how it looks now and I'm happy with it. I've had a very stressful weekend, something I don't feel like I can talk about because talking bad about people is wrong and I'm trying to be a better person.

So that's it. I hope to get some spinning done this weekend. I have plans for some fiber that I think will be awesome but I have to actually spin it first.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Uuuugh (Days 125 and 126 KEDfaY)


Started a new test knit last night and I am REALLY enjoying it. I'm enjoying it so much that I forgot to do a post so here I am doing another two days in one. Trust me, I did knit last night and I have knit today. I don't know how much more I'm going to get done since today is the Boyfriend's birthday and there are plans for today but I hope to get this section of the test knit done. It is really fun and I'm really enjoying it! 

Okay, that's all I have for today. 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Another one gone (Day 124 KEDfaY)


Finished the hat I started yesterday. Everything was in such a hurry to get done that when I finished everything yesterday, I sat for a minute or two and tried to figure out what I needed to work on next. Supa sekrit project #1 still needs to be worked on but I'm still mad at it so it's in a bag. SSP#2 needs to be worked on but might change depending on a possible test knit coming up. We shall see. In the mean time, I have at least two more hats to knit for Christmas presents, both of which should be at least a little fun because they're more entertaining than k1p1 forever and ever ad nauseum. I hope to spin a little bit this weekend but since the Boyfriend's dad is visiting, I might not. I don't know what the plans are yet if there are any at all aside from fancy dinner Saturday night.  

But another present is done! I only have 4 more to go which I think is pretty impressive! Now to just get the yarn for the one and decide what to do for the other one.....

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Drug induced cleaning (Day 123 KEDfaY)


Started another hat for Christmas. I also finished my one project for HPKCHC and got that turned in so WHOO! I also spent the day cleaning and organizing for the Boyfriend's dad's visit this weekend. Nothing is dirty per se, just disorganized. We also have an excess of boxes but I blame the cat. She loves her boxes and won't let us throw any out. (Actually, the compactor for excess garbage is on the other side of the apartment complex and I don't feel like walking all the way over there to throw them out. It's a long ass walk and I am tres lazy these days.) 

I had a fun adventure in cleaning today though. I took a benadryl after the Boyfriend left for work because I have become super tasty to the wildlife around here and have a mosquito bite on my leg that has swollen to the size of a large orange so I was hoping it would help (it did, kinda). I then forced myself to get out of bed much later than I want to admit. I spent the next hour in a drug induced fog and haze and when I finally woke up there was a load of laundry in the wash and my desk was clean. In conclusion, I should take benadryl more often. 

That's it for me though on my side of the world. Nothing too exciting yet. We'll see how this weekend goes. Should be fun! 

Sunday, November 3, 2013

One less thing to do! (Day 122 KEDfaY)

Completed sweater! Sorry for the crappy pic. You will survive.
Whoo! Sweater is done and has been submitted to the fair along with some of my handspun and my lace shawl. I REALLY want to get at least one ribbon because I think it would be super awesome to win something for my awesome knits but I don't expect to because there are a lot of other people in my knit group submitting stuff and they are also really good.

This week is major cleaning of the entire apartment week. Boyfriend's dad is visiting for the Boyfriend's birthday this weekend so I have to make this place presentable for someone besides us. It mostly involves doing all of the laundry piled up and actually putting away dishes but it gives me a reason to do something! I also have three more washcloths to knit for HPKCHC. I have started one today but I haven't gotten much done on it. I've been busying dicking around the internet which is a lot of fun, in case you didn't know. In fact, I think I'm going to go do some of that now!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Done (Day 121 KEDfaY)

My sweater is done! I'd show you but it's in the washer and I'm tired so it's gonna be washed then thrown in the dryer then I'm going to bed. I haven't knit with a lot of wool but I do have to say that acrylic is awesome in times like these.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Lookit that body! (Day 120 KEDfaY)


I got the body done on my sweater today! WHOO! I am very excited. I started the one sleeve and I'm about 2" above the elbow on it right now. I want to get it done, finished, washed and dried tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to get there. As long as I stop running into problems then I should be fine but things like forgetting how to kitchener are causing me issues. I should know how to do that by now but it still alludes me half of the time. 

But in the mean time, I'm going to continue watching the Norwegian knitting marathon. You might call me a nerd but I'm going to be too busy watching them to care! Maybe I'll do a review of it tomorrow. Hmm.