Em-KAL-CAL-Tober Fest Update!

This month has been rather insane with projects...but that's not going to stop me!!

/Begin RANT
What IS going to stop me is a particular Raveler who is taking far too great an interest in every single person's project. This person has been trolling the 114 projects that are participating in the MKAL and making sure no one has posted pictures. I know this because she messaged me directly asking me to remove the picture. I simply responded with 'removed' and left it at that. I'm not happy about my decision but it's Ravelry and I don't want issues.

A few minutes later I got another message. Just a quick 'Thank you' in reply to my previous message. I thought, ok, fine. Done. But I was also thinking that I would probably put my photo back up. Here's the thing.. yes, I know it's a Mystery knit a long, but you've given us a pattern already. Moreover, you gave us a CHART of that pattern. AND the instructions tell you to use that chart over and over until you get to 56"! So... the pattern is basically known. The only part you're saving is the stupid 4" edging which, frankly, I don't care. If you want it to be some big secret, don't give a chart. That's the only way to make it unknown. 

After the last email I assumed that was it. Eventually I'd put my photo up anyway (not sharing to the group, mind you) and finish the project. Not so. This Raveler took it upon herself to message me again giving a dramatic reason why I was to take my photo down and then give me advice about my colour choices and placement. Uh, really?! TROLOLOLOLOLOLOL! GO AWAY!

So, fuck you "stitchnerds", I'm all set. Project frogged, group unjoined. I don't feel that micromanaging over a hundred people and their projects is right. If Stephen West doesn't care, you shouldn't either.
/Rant

Ok, so today I'm working on the #SWMKAL13 since the last clue came in last night!! I got the first three rows done and cannot wait for the bind off. He gave us three that he thought we'd like but I don't really like any of them, so I'll be using Jenny's super stretchy bind off instead. 

I feel a little better...but the knowledge that I'm probably going to get messaged by her again is grating on me. I've deleted my own posts in her group but I don't know if she gets some kind of notification of that. Given her track record of trolling, I would imagine that she's going to go to my project page and see her's removed and wonder why. Gah.

KNIT ALL THE THINGS.

Ok, so this isn't  ...more like  ...

Tripartite: need to cast on side #2
Scallop Hat: Started last night, through one repeat of the pattern; needs 4 more and decreases.
Chadwick: This is for #ChadwickKAL and is getting cast on today...
#SWMKAL13: I still need to finish clue 3.... but it's getting shorter. I'm hoping maybe today, if I can hide out from work someplace..
Lonely Yarn MKAL: Really? I'm going to start another MKAL???? (DAMN YOU +Fiber Babble )

....NONE of that is crochet. You know, the craft where you can get shit done really fast? Yeah, that. Nope. All knitting. I'm running out of needles...

Oh wait, I did start Geoui. But I don't really like it as much as I thought I was going to. It's coming out a little too feminine and I already know it won't block out like I want either. 

Let's see... pictures?

Scallop Hat from last night..

What will eventually be Chadwick by Stephen West

Ok, so...like I said in a comment on a post, I have STARTITIS. I just want to knit EVERYTHING and my fingers actually twitch at the thought of time with my needles. Crocheting right now just doesn't seem plausible. I've got #Rhinebeck coming up with +Sara Marks in October, too! Whew. Someone save me from myself..

Eat.Sleep.Knit

Just going to put this out there that this is my second favourite place to get yarn!

http://www.eatsleepknit.com

Ok #Fiberatti, honestly, this is awesome. For anyone not paying attention to some of my previous posts, EatSleepKnit has a fabulous program: for every yard you purchase, you earn yardage towards their Yarn-a-Thon!!

This means that you earn prizes just for buying yarn. Like points at CVS or other programs! This site was brought to me originally by +Susan Weaver and I've been hooked ever since.

So if you're looking for a new place online to get yarn, great prices and REALLY reasonable shipping, check out EatSleepKnit run by +Erin Walker . Or, just click the link above/below and GO THERE!

Side note: I hope you use my links as they get me a little bonus!!
Take care, Pleeps!
-Kobuu



*Please note, the images on this post belong to EatSleepKnit. I am not taking credit, just using them to promote their image. If anyone has an issue with that, please let me know and I will remove them.

Project: Make My Queue Update!

This project is still going...sort of. Things keep getting in the way but ultimately I know that I can do this. I have 4 months remaining of this year!

I've spent about an hour going through my project binder today sorting out which projects need to get done now versus next year. I'm happy I did since they were kind of messed up and jumbled together. Now I just need to get them done!!

That said, I've been commissioned to make a couple of customized Christmas stockings. Those have obviously taken the front seat of my project to do list. For the first stocking, I worked on it basically non stop for a week.

Nearly complete, I put it down yesterday in favour of working on Tripartite which has taken the #33 spot on my queue. Today I'll work on that while I'm at work but when I get home it's all about the stocking. I really want to turn these out in only a couple of weeks so I need to get back to the grind.

In terms of numbers, remember, I started with 47 projects on January 1st. The beginning of the year saw me really cranking out projects and getting things done. Now, however, I feel that I've slowed way down. Out of my original 47, there have been MANY changes. I can't even remember some of the things that I had as part of my queue that I've since deleted. After so many substitutions, today was the final clean out.  So, final count:

Works in Progress = 5
Queued left to make this year = 7
Total = 12!

That's really doable if I try. There are some pretty big projects in there though like the Deco shawl, Diffraction, and Chadwick. With luck, Chadwick will be done in September as +Cailin MacKay has made me promise to make it the Sept KAL for the Knit-Wits community. We'll see how I do on that. September 13th starts the latest Stephen West Mystery KAL and I am absolutely taking part in that as well.

Overall I'm confident that I can do 12 projects in four months. Excuse me, 13 projects in four months. Provided nothing else captures my attention between now and December 31st. The truth is, though, even if I don't finish my entire queue that I started with, I can feel pretty damn good about completing the 27 projects that I've done already this year just for this project!! AND the other 10 projects that I've completed just because or on commission!

~Kobuu

Merit Badges

So here's an interesting concept, +Knit Picks , in their infinite amazingness, puts out "merit badges" for knitters and fiber-enthusiasts AKA #Fiberatti. That said, their latest one is basically me. As made clearly evident from my Ravelry stash page, my stash is pretty much out of control...

Yes, yes it has.

For more proof, I'll even give you the link:
Pat's Stash

See? 233 unique yarns and growing...

::stands up::  Hi, my name's Patrick. I'm addicted to yarn.

Also, I just found this one, and it's also true.

Yup. I did last year. Not yet this year though...but close enough.

Project: Make My Queue and other Updates

I occurred to me the other day that I haven't written a blog post in a VERY long time. Life has a way of creeping up on you just when you think it's settled down a bit. I really do need to be better at actually posting though.

Over the past few months, I have had to deal with a lot of personal things. Loss, grief, sadness and stress. Most of that is over now and I'm looking forward to going on a much needed vacation with my partner, +Victor Woodroffe . This will be a chance for us both to get away, relax and rejuvenate ourselves. Of course I'm bringing knitting, even though I said I wouldn't. But chances are there would have been a time where I didn't want to read, drink or swim and I would have been craving the feel of yarn and the click of my needles. So I'm just bringing something basic and if I get it done, great. If not, that's ok too. The objective is to not have to deal with stress for an entire week.

Regarding Project: #MakeMyQueue, it's moving along. On Jan 1 I started with 47 projects in my queue. Goal? To make everything in that list. I currently have 7 projects out of that started and in progress, 9 to make that I haven't started at all, and 26 completed projects!! I also have frogged 4 projects which, if you do the math, gets me to 46. I've edited, added, swapped, my queue so many times that the original 47 have been sort of lost. But, even 46 is still a big task. The projects that were frogged will probably not ever be completed. That said, it's a small percentage of the overall Project so I'm still comfortable.

My objective moving forward, at least for now, is to finish what I've started. Projects like Stringband and Hitchhiker, though not part of my original queue, will keep me busy during vacation. When I come back, I need to put those projects down and finish up some others. If you'd like to see all the different things that I've made, feel free to check out my Project: Make My Queue page on Ravelry. Each project is numbered as I finish or frog it so I know where I'm at in the queue. Of course, this also means that things happen where project #15 isn't done yet but #35 is. Such is life! HAHA!

I'm going to try to be better about posting. I was going strong at the beginning of the year but it's pittered out a bit. Thanks for reading!

Take care,
Kobuu

The "Knitting Scale": And idea that needs input!

I was recently inspired to compile this and I'll add to it as people chime in. Thanks +Dave Bennett for the idea!!!


The Knitting Scale:

On the "high" end, that will be all the stressful situations. Like, as Dave said, midnight on Xmas Eve and you're trying to get that cashmere scarf to dry and block correctly. Let's call this #crisisknitting.

On the "low" end, we'll need the equal and opposite. The kind of knitting that you can fall asleep doing, lose complete track of or not even put any energy into. We'll call this #boredknitting.

Somewhere on this line needs to be #drunkknitting which doesn't really need an explanation.

I'm thinking I'll come up with an Infographic of sorts eventually.

What are your thoughts, Fiberatti?!

RECENT ADDITIONS:

#sickknitting (thanks +Erin W ) - when you're in bed and should be sleeping but you can't help but knit. Why? You don't know.

#plannedknitting (c/o +Dave Bennett ) - this. never. happens.... well, mostly never.

And a direct quote from +Zen Alpaca " #illicitknitting - (AKA #moonlightknitting) When you are cheating on the project you told everyone you are working on to cast on a new project, or You are so overwhelmed by your#stressknitting  that you need to do something else to get your mind off of the #crisisknitting project."

These are gettin' good guys!!

Another new one:
#meetingknitting - reserved for all those moments of conference calls or large-scale meaningless meetings. Maybe even during Webinars or training seminars because, really, this is cutting into your knitting time. Thanks to +Karen Bodil Pii Svane !

+Karen Bodil Pii Svane is kind of on a roll!!

#procrastiknitting - "when you really ought to go to the gym, but you could just do a few rows first..."

#focusknitting - that you can't do with too many people around - as opposed to #socialknitting 

Then +Zen Alpaca came up with #zombieknitting - the act of doing the same thing over and over again, for example:  knit one row purl the next to the point that you don't even have to pay attention any more. VERY closely related to #boredknitting

And also #warpspeedknitting - The act of being so involved in your knitting that you didn't realize what time it is until you look up and find that it is really late. Or  the last time you said just one more row and 40 rows and a few pattern adjustments later the sun is starting to come up again