the Akamai Knitter

First off, I want to thank all of you lovely people for being so supportive. You all are the bestest. Knitters truly rock.

I think the reason I’ve been so lethargic and whiny is because I was catching a cold. This past week has been spent getting over it and what fun it’s been! /sarcasm

Actually, I shouldn’t complain too much. Others have had it much worse off then I have and this virus has given me the opportunity to be kind to myself. Instead of spending hours at the spinning wheel and with the beads, I’ve been chilling with the needles. I managed to get the first Mingus sock done while watching season 1 of Supernatural.

I also managed to get some work done on the second sock.

I can’t remember the last time I was truly in love with a knitting project like I am with this one. I want to work on it day and night, but I promised a friend I’d make her some felted clogs.

I would have started the clogs a couple of weeks ago, except the yarn needed to be wound. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate winding yarn?

None of the furniture I have out accommodates my swift and ball winder so I have to lug out a folding table for the express purpose of winding yarn. It’s like having to take out the ironing board. No fun.

I also can’t find the joy in cranking the ball winder. Some people find it meditative, I just find it boring as all get out. Bleh.

The purpose of all this whinging is to convey the triumph I felt when I finally got all my crap out and wound the yarn for the clogs. I gave myself a huge pat on the back and started them last night.

Robin's Clogs

The size 13US needles tend to kill my hands if I work on them for very long, which is fine with me. That just means I get to switch off to another project, like my socks. I can live with that.

Another reason I took a break from the spinning is that my knee is bothering me again. It’s just being a cranky old bitch so a day of rest was in order. I’m having a hard time staying away from the wheel though.

I’m on the last bobbin of another 3ply spun from some merino by Hungry For Handspun. Here’s the first two bobbins.

Summer Meadows

Hopefully my knee will be better behaved today now that it’s had a day of rest and I’ll be able to finish the third bobbin today. I might even be able to use my nifty new chain nose pliers that I bought last week. The possibilities excite me.

It’s Friday everyone! Have a good one!

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Last week I had the house to myself and I had all these plans to get a bunch of work done. I was going to do a massive housecleaning. I was going to spin up a storm, bead like a madwoman, and do a massive shop update. (I was also going to go back to blogging regularly, see how well that worked for me?)

Instead, I was overcome with a case of lethargy and ennui.

To be fair, I did get a few things done. I managed to finish up this skein of yarn.

And I did manage to throw up some new stitch markers on the shop. I really like these charms. How could I not? Tiny spinning wheels!

*clickety*

As the long weekend approached, I revised my plans and decided that over the weekend I would clean like a madwoman, bead up a storm, and spin like a dervish.

Instead I got together with a few friends for some knitting time at Starbucks and dim sum for lunch.

I had a fantastic time and I figured that was only one day out of the whole weekend, right? I could still go home and get things done. Right?

No. Not even close.

Once I got home, I found myself knitting away on a long forgotten sock project.*

(click for Ravelry project page)

I couldn’t even continue on with my current sock project which is nearly done. Seriously, look how close to done I am.

(click for Ravelry project page)

I’m so over these socks. I cannot believe how sick I’ve gotten of them. It’s a good thing these are gift socks. Once they’re done they’ll forever be out of my life.  It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the yarn or the pattern, I just want them done and gone. (Of course I’m washing these before I pass them on.)

So basically, I’ve been a slacker. I suppose I have good reason to be, what with Pressie passing on, but I’ve always set high standards for myself. I don’t know how to stop beating myself up for not living up to my own expectations. I will say I’ve gotten better at the self-flagellation. Still, it’s a hard habit to break.

I’m trying to turn a new leaf. I’m trying to set realistic goals for myself. I gotta say it’s a daily battle with myself. Why is it I can tolerate so much in others yet so little in myself?

Hrm. Who knew this post was going to get so introspective.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Thanks for reading!

*I apologize for the ugly toe photos. I hope you all aren’t scarred for life. I really need to get me some sock blockers.

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Solace is spending time with good friends like Veronica.

Veronica test driving my Lendrum.

Solace is good friends like Becky who sent me my favorite new toy.

DeMarcus Ware Action Figure

She also sent me the cutest football bag.

Football Bag

What was inside the bag was even more delightful.

Goodies From Becky

Solace is the Hello Kitty mousepad that makes me smile whenever I see it.  Hattie was kind enough to send it to me.

Hello Kitty Mousepad

Solace is the gold medal I received…

…after I finished spinning this yarn.

Warm Amber - 100% Targhee Wool

Have a good Thursday and thank you all for the wonderful comments you left. I’m hanging in there.

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Today I had planned to do a demo with my spinning wheel at an event in downtown, but my health dictated otherwise. I was sorely disappointed in this change of plans until I received a package in the mail from our Cookie.

I can’t remember why she sent me the package. Something about being the so many numbered commenter on her delicious blog. I can’t remember because I suffer from Chronic CRS. Either way, I was ecstatic over all the goodies she sent me.

Wanna see?

Hello Kitty swag.

I loves me my Hello Kitty swag. I do. I really really do. And what swag there is! The stickers! The notebook! The cute little pencil bag! She even included glittery pencils in the bag! And there’s a utility bag that had a pencil sharpener inside. How clever is our Cookie? Of course she knew that I would not have a way of using the pencils without one!

I’ll stop with the exclamation points now.

She didn’t stop with the spoiling there. Lookie what else was in the package.

yum.

I’m particularly looking forward to trying the Wasabi Soy Almonds. Mm. Wasabi.

Aren’t the stitch markers sweet?  I’m a firm believer in the “You Can Never Have Too Many Stitch Markers” cult. It’s a spin off of the “Sock Yarn Doesn’t Count As Stash” church.

So thank you, Cookie. This package was timed perfectly.

I had one other perfectly timed package, which had another braid of merino from All Spun Up. Now, I tried to resist. Honestly, I did! It sat in her shop for nearly four days before I gave in. Four days shows considerable restraint for me, people!

merino from all spun up

It’s got all my favorite colors. Blue, green, and brown. I can’t wait to see how it spins up.

Finaly, I have a Saturday Sky to share with you.

Saturday Sky

Happy Saturday, everyone! Enjoy your weekend and don’t forget to enter my contest!*

P.S. Hint of the day for the contest is that all the answers lie within my Flickr pages.

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The Ravelympics started bright and early this morning. Like I’ve said earlier, I’m going to be doing the Handspun Heptathalon for Team Splurk and while I was awake for the opening ceremony, I wasn’t able to start a new project.

You see, I got overly ambitious and I thought I could finish a 3-ply yarn and finish off a couple of other projects in 3 days. All while battling a Fibromyalgia flare. Ha! I think the heat made my brain a little runny. Or was it the painkillers fogging up any rational thought?

Either way, while I have these two bobbins finished, I still have the third bobbin to complete. Not to mention the two sets of singles to ply. Bah.

No name yarn. Eek.

Still,  I have a Plan. I won’t say anymore then that, because my Plans rarely work out the way i want them too and I don’t want to jinx it. Instead I think I’ll flash you with some ECF fiber that I just received this week.

Merino from All Spun Up

Splash! from Hungry For Handspun/Moonlight Baker

Warmth from Hungry For Handspun/Moonlight Baker

As for the contest hint? I’ve already spun four of the rovings into yarn. I’d also like to clarify that you need to guess which of the rovings have become completed projects for full-fledged yarns.  Make sense?

Again, you need to enter by Sunday, August 10th, by commenting here.

Good luck to the contestants! Happy Friday everyone!

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