Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. 
We always have things to be thankful for, but this year I'm especially grateful that my wrist is healing, (though I still don't have full range of motion or all my strength back, but it's coming) and that I am back to knitting and crochet full time. I really missed it while I was incapacitated; what a bummer that was. But now I'm back to business as usual, and enjoying it as much as, if not more than ever. So much so, that my project ideas are growing faster than I can keep up with them.

I've started working on my Wrap Me Up Shawl again, squares for the 2009 CAL/BAM Afghan, (I only need 1 more before I can start putting it together. I'm really anxious to see how it will come out, and how it will look on my presently naked Family Room couch), and have begun work on Vested Interests, my version of Jane Thornley's newest design: Small Investment. This one will be a pretty quick knit, and I'm looking forward to wearing it soon, as I love vests. It will be nice to wear one I've made instead of bought (I have a bunch from thrift stores, as well as some designer ones, none of them knit or crochet)

I'm also grateful to have found a great knitting community, both online (Ravelry in general, and Jane Thornley's group and the 2009 CAL/BAM bunch in particular) and off: Tucson Yarn Co., Kathy Withers, and some other knitters at Knit Nights (also known as Stitch 'n Bitch)


And, this afternoon, when we have our Thanksgiving Dinner (probably al fresco as we have almost since we first came out to Tucson) I'll think of all these things, and the wonderful Arizona weather, as well.  I hope you all have much to be thankful for, too, and enjoy this great day!

Monday, November 23, 2009

I'm Back

Well, it's been a long time since my last post, but I've been busy with Physical Therapy for my wrist, and working obsessively on my Road To Taos Wrap; which I have finally finished. The orthopedist had said that knitting and crochet would be good exercise for the wrist; so I interpreted that literally, and feverishly worked on my wrap, and the squares for the 2009 CAL/BAM Afghan. The wrap is looking pretty good; I'm just not sure if I like the long tails. So I photographed it with the tails hanging loose, and with them knotted. Let me know what YOU think.
Front View, with tails untied

Front View, with tails tied

Now that I've finished, I'm ready for my next project (not to mention other projects waiting to be done) which is another Jane Thornley design: the Pasha's Investment, a scarf/vest. I love vests, and have a few other vest ideas in the works, but this came along all ready to go. It's an ingenious idea, turning a scarf into a vest, and I have the perfect yarns for it. It's a quick knit, and if I have a chance, I may make up a few as gifts, as I did last year with Schaefer Yarns Feather & Fan short scarf.


I recently read a post on Techknitter's blog that says it all about why we knit. I could never put so eloquently how the act of knitting (or crochet, for that matter) makes one feel. I've been thinking about it quite a bit lately; and now that I can knit and crochet again, I realize how true these thoughts are.