Two steps forward, three steps back (Day 82 KEDfaY)

I wasn't planning on working on this today but after working for two hours on the supa sekrit project and then having to rip out everything I had knit today, I decided I needed something that was much easier to knit and not as difficult to do so I pulled out this again and worked on it a bit. I'm a bit frustrated with the supa sekrit project but it's because I want it to be awesome and perfect so I need to fix things that I would ignore if it were for me. So today was less than productive to say the least. 

Not much else to talk about. I've found my new favorite band because they're awesome and adorable and rock hard. 

I've might've listened to this song and a few others by them on repeat all day. They make me happy. I might have the urge to dye my hair blue again...Or get bangs. I've been told that I shouldn't get bangs because my face is too round. I think because I live in Florida where it's hot and humid all of the time, the last thing I want is hair on my forehead all the time. 

And now you have experienced all of the exciting things I've experienced today. Today's been a slow day. 

PSA from me to you (Day 76 KEDfaY)

Finished a square! Whoo! I know my knitting right now isn't very exciting but it will be soon, in about 10 days or so, at least knitting I can share with you. 

I plied my yarn today at knitting! That was super exciting. It's currently drying in the bathroom. I forgot to measure the yardage before hanging it up but that's fine because my swift hates me so I have to re-skein it and then I'll get the yardage. My consistency was much more...consistent? I was very happy about that. I got I think about a sport weight with some spots of DK because I had to deal with the cat attempting to help me but really just making things worse. Those spots are gross but not that bad. And then of course there are spots that I just plain messed up and couldn't fix at the time.  

I don't know what to work on next. I hope to get yarn for the sekrit project soon so I can start the swatches and then submit it for an OWL hopefully because if I'm going to make this sekrit project, I want points for it, dammit. 

Tomorrow is a very exciting day of going to the doctor and getting my annual exam. It's never fun and mostly just uncomfortable but it's a necessary evil and I need to get it done. Have you gotten your annual exam this year? Go. Do it. Now. 

Feline (Day 75 KEDfaY)

The Boyfriend was getting ready for work this morning as I was groggily laying in bed, looking through my twitter feed like I normally do, catching up on the news that happened while I was asleep, when he walks in with a sheepish look (at least I’m assuming it was sheepish because I didn’t have my glasses on).

“I think Pebble (the cat from hell) decided to play with your fiber last night,” he said, knowing full well that she was playing with it and that I wasn’t the one who left it in the state he found it whatever that may be.

It's too early to be mad or to get worked up. I brace myself for the worst. Leslie from the KnitGirllls had her dog felt large portions of a batt once so I could end up with that.

I walk out into the living room where the wheel and fiber were and in front of the wheel, not in the bag I had put it in, was my fiber, definitely fluffier than when I had put it up last night. I looked at it, still groggy and half asleep, tried to make some sense of the mess and calmly put it back in the bag. I made sure to zip the bag this time.

While fluffier and not as well groomed as when I went to bed last night, it was still useable. It made for an interesting challenge, trying to sort out the various fibers going in every which direction. There are some spots that aren't as smooth and pretty as the rest of it but it's still my third thing I've ever spun so I'll just use that as an excuse...

I knit some today too. I finished the one square I was working on yesterday and started another one today. I'm pretty happy with how this blanket is turning out and it's working as a palate cleanser even though I haven't really been working on anything big lately so I guess it's really more just entertaining me until I can work on my big projects. I should be getting yarn for the sekrit project soonish and I can start my sweater in about a week and a half. So I'll go from no big projects to two fairly substantial projects. I'm excited though. I want something challenging to do with my time. Hopefully after I finish my two substantial projects, I can add those to a website and then start getting commissions! *dreams happily*

Time keeps on slippin'...(Day 74 KEDfaY)

Today was one of those days where I was fairly busy but I didn't get anything accomplished. Not really anyway. Sure, I got a couple of loads of laundry washed, but they're not folded. The dishes in the dishwasher are clean, they just need put away. I only barely got dressed and I definitely didn't shower (even though I really need to). I barely knit. That's all that I've knit today and that was only in the past hour or so. Today is one of those days that has seemed to just fly by me and I'm sitting back, grasping at the time, trying to get something done to show my accomplishments for the day. 

Squared (Day 73 KEDfaY)

Another blanket square done today. Nothing exciting. I am joining them as I go because fuck sewing things together. I also have been recruited for a sekrit project so there might be some posts in the future that have no pictures but just a reassurance that I did in fact knit. Or I'll try to get pictures of the cat that way people can be distracted by that. She is a very pretty cat but she's mean. She's like the worst person. 

I also spun some today. I did yesterday too but I finished up the first half of this braid. I'm quite excited about it because my consistency has gotten much better. Right now I just need to work on treadling which is proving to be more difficult than originally thought. Part of me wants to have it finished and plied for knitting on Wednesday so I can show it off but then another part of me wants to wait since I do have such a limited fiber stash right now. DILEMMAS! 

That's about it in my world right now. I am insanely jealous of everyone talking about their beautiful fall weather that they're getting. It hit about 95* here today. I was sitting in my air conditioned apartment, sweating. I really do miss Indiana right about now. 

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to (Day 65 KEDfaY)

There's my very first handspun! Ain't it purty? My dinky camera phone made it look all grey and black but it's really a dusky purple and black and very pretty. I got somewhere around 140 yards although I want to measure it again once it's dry. My swift has a tendency to bow funny when you get a few rotations of yarn on it so since this is probably going to be a gift, I'm going to remeasure it using the ever technical dining room chair method. 

I also knit today. I started yet another washcloth and a blanket square for a charity blanket that I'm eventually going to donate. Not a whole lot going on there. I'm waiting to get my BROOM approved and then I get to wait until the 28th to start my sweater but I am excited about it still. 

But for the meantime, I am going to resist spinning all of the fiber I have. I really quite enjoy spinning. It is nice. Really nice. I enjoy it and I'm not even that good at it. 

And I might even have a commission coming my way! It's for a hat but a commission is a commission! Now to just get more of them! 

In which I wish I could say I did something productive...(Day 49 KEDfaY)

But in all honesty, I didn't. Sorry.

There's some knitting for ya!

EDIT: I just finished a section of that blanket only to find out I need to redo it. Whoo. 

Blame the weather (Day 48 KEDfaY)

Went to knitting group again today and I had a blast. It's so great to get out of the house. I didn't realize how cooped up I was getting. Who knew that going and getting the mail once a day just sometimes isn't enough?

Worked on that baby blanket I've been working on. I figured I should work on it next. My plan is to get it done sometime in September so I can count it towards HPKCHC, if I've read the rules correctly. It should be eligible for detention, I *think*. Who knew an online knitting game could be so difficult?

That's all I got for today. I'm trying to keep it lighter and happier instead of dwelling on things that make me cry. I'm not usually much of a cryer but the dumbest and littlest things have tipped me over lately. I blame the weather. 

Inspirational and shit (Day 33 KEDfaY)

I always hope that when I sit down to write my daily posts that I'll have some sort of inspiration and then talk about something insightful. Sometimes I have an idea of what to write about but more often than not it's just, "Here's what I knit today. Yup." 

Maybe one day I'll tap into that power that some writers seem to have, where they can sit down to write a post and write something amazing and thought-provoking. Until I get bit by a radioactive typewriter though (because that's how you get that super power) I'll just hope for the best.

Thinking of knitting a sweater next. I don't really know why since I now live in Florida where the head index today was over 100* but I figure it will give me something to do. I have a couple sweaters worth of yarn, I just have to find patterns that can use this yarn. Hmm. Maybe I'll go looking on Ravelry. 

Monday Monday (Day 32 KEDfaY)

I feel like I have a lot of "those days" where it's a bad day for no real reason in particular or how something small can ruin the whole day.

This morning I woke up from a dream that put me in that mood. I know it's a ridiculous dream and I know it wouldn't happen but it still made me basically relive situations I didn't want to remember for a while or ever and now I'm in a crappy mood because of it. I've tried to get out of this mood. I worked out, I showered, I knit, I watched bad daytime TV, I watched goofy Youtube videos and yet, I am still ready to yell at whoever I talk to next. I probably won't because the Boyfriend will be the next one I talk to most likely and I'd feel really shitty about yelling at him for no reason.

I worked some more on that blanket for charity. I'm liking how it's turning out. It's fun and colorful. I hope someone likes it eventually!

In cyberspace, no one can hear you report to the proper authorities (Day 31 KEDfaY)

This post is going to be a little ranty so if that isn't your thing, probably best to ignore everything and just take to heart that I did knit today (ONE WHOLE MONTH! WOAH!)

Today, for those who might not know, is a silent protest that is happening on Twitter. Lately there have been a quite a few incidents where people have been threatened and there is no way, currently, on Twitter to report these people so they just continue to tell women to "get fucked to death" and various other threats. These abusive tweets have landed at least two men in the UK in prison. How wonderful would it be if we could get something like that in the US, huh? But that is a different rant for a different day.

The problem that is happening with #twittersilence is that many people think it is just making the victims of the situation shut up and not fight back. That's not what the purpose is.

You get bullied. You stay quiet. You try to fight back. You report to the proper authorities, except, for those following along at home, there is no proper authority to report to. This day of #twittersilence is a way to get the people who run and control Twitter to realize that there is a problem and they need to fix it.

"How does half a million people if not more not tweeting for a day make Twitter realize there is a problem?" you might ask. Half a million, this is just a rough number estimate, is a LOT of people, a lot of people YOU CAN'T ADVERTISE TO. Those who might use the Twitter website might be frustrated with "promoted tweets" or "sponsored tweets." If your customers aren't getting as many clicks and page views as you promised, you are in trouble. If something like this continued, they might lose their advertisers and that would be a bigger problem.

The easiest way to get a corporation to realize how something as seemingly harmless as trolls could affect them is to tell them how they're going to lose money. Having as many people as you can not use a website, a VERY popular website, for a day, will lose the company money.

So no, it isn't about getting victims to be quiet about the abuse they've gotten, it's about getting a multimillion dollar company to realize it needs to keep its users safe and happy if only so they can advertise to them.

----------------------

I went through my WIPs to try to find something that needed worked on or finished up and this blanket for charity fits the bill perfectly! I think I'm about halfway done! Whoo! I might run out of yarn, which seems to be a running theme for me and making blankets, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. I usually do!

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed (Day 7 KEDfaY)

Everyone has those days when they don't quite get enough sleep or their head twinges just a little bit, enough to be annoying but not enough to need to take medication, or you can't quite get your underwear to fit right. Because of this small inconvenience, the whole day you get annoyed by every minute detail that isn't quite perfect.

Today is one of those days.

Last night I went through my yarn stuffs and various projects because I got the urge to do so. I was debating on starting a Hemlock Ring blanket  and was trying to distract myself from actually doing that. It's a beautiful blanket and I will make it some day, I even have the yarn in mind right now, but I told myself I need to finish some projects first.

While going through my yarn and organizing my side of the hobby closet, I saw my log cabin blanket. I pulled it out to see where I was on it and how much more I needed to do and I realized that it was ugly. Super ugly. So ugly that I can't even pretend that I like it. Now I could frog it but it's really close to being baby blanket size and I do still have yarn that I've set aside for it so I decided to finish it and put it in the donate pile. I'm sure someone somewhere will need it for something, even if it's just a blanket to put on the floor for the baby to play on.

I got a good chunk of a strip done last night and finished it up this morning and picked up for a second one. But today I hate everything.

This blanket that I already didn't like, I hate more. The yarn that is OLD Red Heart variegated that I set aside for this blanket? I want to set it on fire.

Again, I hate everything today.

Of all the things I hate today though, I hate my bank the most. If you follow my personal account on twitter, you've read about my battle, 140 characters at a time. I was supposed to get a new card at the end of May because my debit card expired then. The last time it expired, I was sent a new one without me calling or asking and it was wonderful. This time though is VERY different. Four phone calls with a 5th coming up to challenge a replacement fee that I shouldn't have been charged in the first place, 6 weeks after I started this fiasco, and I still don't have a debit card. Good thing I don't have bills to pay or groceries to buy. They told me I could go to a local branch and have it all taken care of in no time. That'd be great except Jacksonville, FL, one of the largest cities in the US, doesn't have a branch of my nationally recognized bank. So I get to sit and wait for this card to hopefully show up this week and then call them again. And because it's a bank and not like a store or a restaurant, they can't do anything to compensate me for their massive fuckups. I get to sit and wait and call them and deal with their shitty service. It took four phone calls for anyone to apologize to me. Four. And all I got was an insincere apology that was hidden in a script for the customer service person to follow. I know it's not the individual's fault and I haven't yelled at anyone except myself in frustration because they get paid the same amount whether I'm nice or a complete bitch to them and really, who wants a stranger yelling at them? I know I don't, hence why I don't do customer service.

Like many other things in life right now, I'm frustrated because I can't do anything. I get to sit and wait. That's what my life is right now, sitting and waiting, waiting to hear back about a job interview, waiting to get my debit card, waiting to get a job. Sitting and waiting. And it sucks. I am awful at waiting.

/rant

Bi-craftual (Day 6 KEDfaY)

I, like many of my fellow crafters, have dabbled a bit into the world of crochet. I am by no means an expert and it isn't something I make a habit of but every once in a while, I feel the need to crochet. 

So I did. Don't worry! I knit today as well. I worked a few rows on the sock prototype but today I just felt like crocheting. I finished a blanket that I've been working on for a while. It is a scrap blanket, made up of leftovers given to me mostly and some that I had left over from my own projects. I'm planning on giving it to charity because, while I do love blankets, I like mine to be big enough to cover more than my lap, especially since I now live in Florida where it doesn't get below 75* ever. (Don't try to argue me on this. I am now an expert on all things Florida. I have been to the beach and live in a swamp [sorta]. Seriously, there was a wild boar big enough to eat me killed less than two miles from where we live and there is a hurricane that is coming [nowhere] near us later this week. I think I can call myself an expert now.) The lap/baby blanket is going to be donated to a local cancer center because I figure they will find someone who can use it. I think I'm going to do an edging on it because, like I said, I'm no expert and my edges look atrocious. 

The hexagon blanket that's also pictured up there had some work done on it the other day. I'm about 7 hexes away from finishing it! Whoo hoo! 

So here's my proof! 6 days in a row of knitting and I didn't even fake it! I did like 10 whole rows of this sock! Whoo! (I had coffee late today so excuse the extra excitement.) I'd like to finish this sock this week and start writing up the pattern and possibly start the third sock in a third yarn to see how it works with variegated yarn. I think some of the patterns will work but the cables might get lost. We shall see! 

Malaise (Finished Friday of sorts)

Malaise probably isn't the right word but I haven't found a good enough synonym to replace it.

I haven't felt...right this week. Not sick or depressed really just...off. Okay I did feel sick that I have reached that age where if I don't get a good night sleep, I feel sick the next day. I've also had a couple of head aches this week but I blame that on the constantly changing pressure systems here in Florida. Sure, it's all sunshine and rainbows most of the time but talk to any Floridian and they will tell you that it rains every day. It might not rain a lot or for very long but it rains every day.

If you can name the show I was watching, you get 50 Internet Points

This malaise, for lack of a better word, hasn't stopped my knitting though which makes me believe further that I'm not sick or depressed. I knit a sock (but not the one that I needed to work on), I've worked on a blanket to donate to charity along with some baby booties that took me less than two hours to knit, and I've been working on my Inheritance shawl/scarflette thinger. I've also found another scrap blanket that I want to work on but I'm forcing myself to finish at least one other blanket, preferably one to donate to charity, before I start it. See, I'm showing restraint on making another scrap blanket. Possibly only because I don't know if I actually have enough scraps to dedicate to another blanket. I have a lot of scrap blankets in the works...I am definitely not a monogamous knitter. Being a monogamous knitter is boring.

I did learn some new techniques this week. I learned how to do an afterthought heel with was really fun. I paired that with a crochet provisional cast on and this might be my new favorite way to make socks. It was fun and easy. The afterthought heel did make it difficult trying the sock on though, especially since I am constantly worried that somehow my count gets off or I accidentally change needles or something and the fit gets all messed up.

There hasn't really been much excitement here really. I think the cat is trying to kill me but I haven't discovered her secret plans yet so I can't confirm it. Once I can confirm it, I'll let you know, mainly so I have witnesses if I happen to go missing.

You'd do that for me, right?

Best not shared right now

I just spent the last hour writing a post that I felt needed a different audience.

I recently inherited a lot of baby colored yarn, pastel blues and greens and yellows with a little bit of pink. The woman I inherited it from was one of the truly good people I have ever met, no matter how awkward that sentence sounds. She regularly donated to various wildlife funds and would always stop to ask you how your day was and was actually curious about it.

I would never personally use this yarn. I don't plan on having children for a very long time and I don't know of anyone who currently is waiting to give birth. But I do know that she would've wanted me to use the yarn and give the resulting item to someone who needed it. So that's what I'm doing. I'm knitting up various baby accessories to donate to local charities. Premie caps, blankets, maybe a sweater or two, all of it will be used by someone who needs it.

It's what she would've wanted.