Too many projects

 Yes, you read that right. I admit that I might have a few too many projects on the go. Have started another 'cull' of UFO's, and am freeing up some needles. And no, I am not starting anything new. I know - amazing!!!!! Some of my projects are long term ones, so I am not too worried about them. They will get completed, some time. There are others that I really need to get to work on, because they are just sitting there for a little too long being ignored and are starting to be heard - only by me it must be admitted. 

For my birthday, which was on Saturday, my wonderful husband got me a gift certificate to the local yarn store. How can I be that good when he has so kindly done that?!?!? At least I have 12 months to use it , like it's gonna take that long to use it???? I don't think so. 

Talking of my birthday, I really don't feel like a senior citizen, yet that is exactly what I am considered. I will admit to being a gold card carrying person, but senior?!?!? Hmm...I think of seniors as older than me - and no not my husband. What age do we get to before we call ourselves senior? Or is it all about perspective? I don't feel senior, so maybe I'm not there yet? 

Anyway, back to knitting, and reading. Gotta keep up both. Reading because it opens a whole world up for me, and knitting, well; because I must? Although, I do find it also helps to relax me. As long as I am not knitting during an exciting game, or movie either. Then my tension goes haywire, and I can make too many mistakes. I wonder if that is normal? I know it is for me, because it has always been like that. Anyway, I can hear my knitting calling out to me - quite loudly.. So I must attend to that noise.  

Bad me, but not worried.

 I have been naughty, and started a few new projects. I reckon I have ADHD when it comes to knitting. I really do have trouble sticking to just one project. I think I've started another four - I think that is the number. Of course, most  have been from stash, but one I actually ordered the wool for this project, and that is because I knew I didn't have enough in my stash. Lets see how long these projects last, before I decide that I really don't want to do them anymore. I'm not going to say what they are called, just because they might not last. Only time will tell. 

Stash diving

 I have started something new - actually a couple of new projects. I just can't help myself. Anyway, on the good side, I did go stash shopping for both projects, so there is that. I know I still buy yarn but for the most part, I buy for particular projects now. One of the new projects is called Glimfeather, and I am knitting it with pure alpaca. What beautiful wool this is to work with!!!!! The pattern has been a bit of a challange to start with, but I seem to have got the hang of it now. This is a project that I have been looking at for sometime, so it is good to finally have it started. 

Something completed

 I can finish projects. I really can. I know I have way too many going, but hey, I do work on them. I have just finished a project that actually hasn't been on the needles for too long. It is a pattern that I had wanted to do for some time, but finding the right wool has always been the challange. Anyway, the name of the project is called Metamorphose by Lucy Hague. It is a cowl, knitted as a long tube, then both ends are connected. I have actually enjoyed making this, and I know it is going to be nice and warm for this winter.

I used just over two balls of Fleece Bluefaced Leicester DK, colour Quarry. Nice colour, and nice to knit with.

Sore hip

 This getting older lark is really not for the young!!!  My hip has decided it really has had enough, but I am trying to just keep going. Going up any stairs is not possible without some sort of support, something to hang on to. Even just going for a short walk is painful. But, I keep on keeping on. I know I should go to the doctor, and probably have my name put forward for a hip replacement, but I also know that is not going to happen any time soon - the replacement I mean. So, I live on painkillers. Some days are worse than others, and nights can be really bad. Good thing I only work two days a week. I truly don't think I could cope with more on a regular basis. I do volunteer for extra days, but not too often, and I do know my limits. At least I am still able to go for a walk, even if it is a short walk, it is still a walk. 

And on the knitting front? Hmmm...I've started a new pattern. I got a book from the library, and like pretty much all the patterns in it. It is a lace knitting book, which, next to cables, is something I enjoy doing. Good thing I have stash I can use for most of the lace knitting, aye? 

Reason for this blog

 The reason I created this blog was to try to keep account of my WIP's, and UFO's. I'm not really sure it is working. I thought there might be some input from people who might read this, and comment? I don't know, just hoped someone out there would help keep me on the straight and narrow? Crazy I know, but there it is. I do try to not start too many projects, but there are so many good patterns, and I have enough stash - mostly. I do still buy wool, but most of what I buy is now for projects. Some sits there, and waits for the right project to come along. When it comes to knitting, I have a short attention span. It can be a case that I do like the project, but after a while I start to question why I started it in the first place. But, most of the time, I start something new because I see a pattern that I just have to do. Never mind that I might really have enough on the go already - and anyway, who said you can only have so many on the go at once? That's probably why I actually have so many needles, - I need to get more when I already have most of them in use. Anyway, I am not sure how much longer I will keep this blog going. I don't post here very much, anyway. So I know it won't be missed. I should just accept that it is really only going for me, and try to keep myself on track to get things off the needles.  I know I am trying - very trying at times- to get things done.  Just keep going - one stitch at a time, one row at a time. Can't say one project at a time - or it's that particular project I am currently working on. 

Ripping things back

 I have been visiting the frog pond quite a bit lately. My wonderful husband has actually done the ripping back for me, for which I feel very glad. Metamorphose has once again come off the needles, and again it was because the wool was just not working, and plus I had made a huge mistake that I just could not fix. I know, just unpick the last couple of rows I hear you say, but even that was not easy - I know, I tried. Wow, the only solution was to unpick. I have ordered more wool just for the project - yes I am determined to get it done. Don't they say third time is the charm? I sure hope in this case it will be so. I also had another complicated pattern visit the frog pond. It was another cabled pattern that really needed something on it that I had decided not to add. Now I see my mistake, and again, just ripping back wasn't an option; simply because it was gonna be a lot of ripping. So, again, it was just a better solution to have it ripped right back. I might do that pattern again, but not at the moment. Not like I really needed to do another blanket. 

On a completely different note, I have been taking turmeric supplements, and boy, do they disagree with me!!!!!  I am not going to be taking them again. The results have not been good, let me tell you!!!  Diarrhea is no fun, and leaves me feeling quite worn out. I'm already trying to cope with a bad hip, a bad insides really is not something I need right now. I tell you what, this aging lark is not for the young!!!  And it really is not a lark. At least I can still do my knitting, and my reading. I would be so lost without them. 

Mussel Festival

We went to the Havelock Mussel Festival today. It started off a bit drizzly, but started to clear up as the day went on. Not as many stalls as in past years, but at least I was able to get my licorice, and earrings. Of course I also had a whitebait sammie - actually two of them. I just love whitebait, and don't get them very often. We didn't stay for the whole day, as my hip was starting to hurt a little too much. I think more people were turning up for the main act which are Shape Shifter. If my hip had not been quite so sore, I would have enjoyed them. At least we went, though. It's the first time in a few years that we have gone.

Now, as to Metamorphose, I have had to restart it. The wool I was using was just wrong  - I know, right. And I had done so much of it, too. But this time I am hoping I wont make quite so many mistakes. Also the wool is much better for this pattern. It is a long tube, until you finish it, and then I am not sure what happens. It sure don't look like an infinity scarf at the moment. Time will tell - I hope. 

Little needles.

Who knew working with itty bitty,teeny weeny needles could be so interesting?!?! I am working on 10cm - or 4" - 4.5mm needles, on cables that are only 40cm (16"), long - or in this case, short. I've never worked on such short needles before, and am finding it, as I said earlier, interesting. The pattern is Metamorphose, by Lucy Hague. It is a pattern that you can do for either a Cowl, or an Infinity scarf. It is knitted in the round, hence the short needles. Of course it is cabled, and the ends are sewn together at the end. Am I crazy, or what?!?!? I had to order the needles especially, as I didn't have any this length. I'm not even sure how I talked myself into doing this pattern. Oh that's right, I didn't actually read how it was done. I just saw something and thought, that looks cool, and I also saw it was by Lucy Hague, so knew it would be different. You'd think I would have learnt by now. How many Lucy Hague patterns have I done? Of course that is no reason to not make another one, right? And it will look,and feel so nice once I have it finished. Will be lovely and warm come winter. Onward and upward. I'm sure it can't be too diffcult, really, since I've done this much. 

Picture of Dunfallandy

 As I said in an earlier post today, here is a picture of Dunfallandy. Where the diamond starts to decrease is where you actually turn the work. It is those instructions that you just have to blindly follow, and trust that it will all work out in the end. Which, of course, it does. I remember the first time I did the first diamond, I was really worried that I wasn't working it right. 

Really old UFO

 I can't believe I have found a UFO that may (or may not), have been on the needles since 2015. Yes, that is right - 2015!!!!!  I didn't even know I still had it on the needles. I actually thought I had given up on it. The pattern is called Dunfallandy, by Teresa de Roulet. It was in the Knitty issue of that year. I can understand just why I hid it all this time, it is NOT a project for a beginner. Take a look, and read the instructions!!  You turn the 'diamond', and stay on a right side of work, and it is complicated. You really need to just follow the instructions, and trust that everything will come out right in the end. Talk about a challange!!!! It is going to look really nice once it is finished, but I gotta get there, and try to stay with it this time. Will put up a picture later. Dinner is about to be served.