The Novel Knit Girl Blog

It's been a long summer. I think it's because I now work from home and I have a six-year-old and a nine-year-old roaming around that it's felt almost unbearably long. They are usually with grandparents during the day, but it's still exhausting. Confession time : I've bought so much yarn it's *almost* a problem. I fell in love with Indie dyed yarn and had to get my hands on some - okay, too much. But I love it all. As a result of this huge lapse, I'm starting an accountability chart and hoping to not buy any new yarn for 400 days . That's a LONG time - over a year. But, I think I can do it. I have to do it. I'm out of hiding places for yarn in my house. If I rent a storage unit for my yarn then I'll know it has gone too far. I've also put on a few pounds this summer - so, it's basically been a summer of total gluttony. I'm starting a toning class through the rec department in a few weeks, and getting scheduled with a personal train...

It's been so busy.... I don't even think I can properly explain it. I have been knitting but I don't have a lot to show for it. I finished a blanket for my brother-in-law and new sister-in-law for their wedding, but I forgot to take a picture. I tried to make her a shawl, but it was a major fail. I'm trying to get a few things off my needles. There are a lot of things on a lot of different needles right now. Also, I have 3 babies to knit for. One will get more than the rest because he will be my new nephew, but  I'm hoping to give knit them all a little something. I don't think I've ever really knit successfully for a baby before, so we will see how this goes. FO's: Rose City Roller socks with yarn I bought in New Orleans.... Smooth Operator socks I made for my mom for Mother's Day....(they are prettier than they look in this terrible photo) And a campfire blanket shawl... which I love. Things I'm hoping to finish in the next...

By the time I'm actually getting around to writing this, it is, of course, the second of May. May 1st is always a special day for me. Nine years ago on May 1st I became a mom for the first time. Being a mother isn't without its ups and downs, but for the most part, I've been in love with both of my children since the moment they were born. After my daughter was born, I didn't believe I could love another child as much, but then my son was born and I've never loved anyone the way I love him. So, Kid 1 is 9. She is loving and smart and kind and beautiful. She had her first friend party at our house with crafts and we all survived. I'm not all that nice, so having such a sweet daughter always comes as something of a surprise to me. She was so gracious  and I'm just so lucky to have her. Happy Birthday sweet girl! I've managed to finish a pair of DK Comfy Socks and the Windswept Shawl. I should finish a blanket shawl this week. Then, off to...

All things considered, this actually turned out pretty sweet. I may, someday, make it again in a thicker yarn because I'm not sure how much use I'll get with something this dainty. But, it's done, and it's pretty. The colorway is Poppy and it is the Waterspout Shawl pattern by Anna Dalvi. Happiness is a finished lace shawl. In other news, I'm watching Thirteen Reasons Why on Netflix. I read the book and am finding the series fairly addicting. Heading to NOLA for work next week and hoping to have 2 more finished objects to show by then.

I just finished watching the Newton Documentary on PBS. On a rainy day. While my kids are at school.  This should not be done on a rainy day. However, it was beautiful and heartbreaking and horrifying and all the things it should be. I remember the day it happened: Friday, December 12, 2012. I had both kids home with me and I was working from home that day - maybe a day off school for my oldest, and my youngest stayed home with me on Fridays. I'll never forget hearing about the events of that day as long as I live. Safe, with my kids in Wisconsin, I wept for those families.  It's dreary and I'm tired. I finished a lace shawl yesterday and its being blocked in the basement as I type this. I'll have photos once it's dry. It's not perfect, but it's also not bad! I'm happy enough with the end result. Scrolling through my phone, here is a solid representation of my previous week... I made French macaroons with a white chocolate ganache for my f...

So, sometime last week I opened up one of my many yarn storage containers around the house looking for - I can't even remember what I started looking for- and found this pretty coral yarn and lace shawl pattern (my first) that I had a few false starts on and eventually abandoned sometime in the last year or two. I still have it in my Ravelry project listing as in progress, and for some reason, I felt my time would be better spent recasting on this shawl than following through with any of the other projects I was committed to finishing up. I got through the first 50 rows and had to rip out 3 times. The good news is that this was a good crash course in the garter tab cast on and I'm now an expert. And, now, I'm glad to say that I've made it to row 56 and have the correct stitch count and am happy with the progress. Each row is well over 160 stitches now, so it has become slow going. But, for some reason, this came up and spoiled all my plans for last week. Sometim...

After a very mild winter, we finally have a snowstorm in March. I've been lazy lately - not with knitting, but with life. I've been working out, trying to cook, and doing all sorts of knitting, but my house is not in order or as clean as I'd like it and I hate leaving the house lately. I think it's finally happening. I'm becoming a knitting hermit. Last weekend was a cleanse weekend. My husband and I gave up hard liquor for Lent (not that we are church goers, but we felt like it was time for us to give something up for a while (or, we're drinking too much and wanted a reason to challenge ourselves to drink less)). I had some vanilla beans and since we're not drinking vodka at the moment, I decided to make some homemade vanilla. Then, I organized the bottom (food section) of my pantry and tossed all the expired stuff and put some of my mason jars to use as organizers. (This is before Kid 2 went snack hunting). Meanwhile, Kid 2 found his baby hat...