Things I like

1. Fall is here. This means I can wear some of my scarves, long-sleeved shirts and light coats. Digging them out of storage is like reuniting with old friends.

2. Knitting progress to report
2.a. Brother's wooly hat: check!

Modelled by: Lamp

Now it is just waiting to be fitted with a soft piece of (other) brother's flannel shirt, but that will have to wait until Christmas. My job is done here.


2.b. I made a few more squares for the granny blanket, AND managed to weave in all the ends.


I am discovering, however, that I don't really like the way it looks with the squares in different sizes. Once all the smaller ones are made the same with the rest, I will count again and post a percentage. So far, I will still consider it as of my 15% estimate.

2.c. Blue and green sock # 1 is at the stage of turning the heel. Once this is done, I can count it as 25% done.

3. Kitty company. As I write, all my girls are curled up around me, grooming and enjoying the peaceful company. Being with them is always in my list of 'things I like', whether I mention it or not.

4. Quick and yummy snacks. Today I made a smoothie by mixing a handful of almonds (skins removed), soy milk, and a banana. It was very filling and tasty, but not heavy.

The maturity of knowing when to give up

Reading back on my Alphabet posts they remind me of primary school essays. That may have something to do with the time of day that I write them, or the lack of interest in talking about myself. Didn't take that long, did it? Truth is, I 'd rather talk about knitting and sewing (and occasionally the cats). This structured and ordered sequence of self-imposed topics certainly did not stimulate my creativity. I am impressed with all those people who manage to do it, with much grace and perhaps little effort, but I am obviously not one of them.

No problem with that - I have a list of projects that I 've been working on for a long, long while. I don't know how this got so out of hand, as I never had more than 2-3 projects simultaneously. Longer projects, though, would reach a point where I 'd be too tired to work on them at the moment, or I 'd be watching some fancy Japanese or Indian film where I 'd have to keep my eyes on the subtitles. Then inspiration would strike, and I 'd start something new before I knew it. So here 's the list of unfinished projects:

1. brother's grey hat (90% done)
2. Beachcomber Tunic (65% done)
3. Granny Squares blanket (15% done)
4. Lizard Ridge blanket (80% done)
5. Red Sweater (destined to become 9 balls of yarn)
6. blue-green socks (15% done)
7. Noro Clapotis (30% done)
8. Dots bedspread (15% done)
9. red skirt (perhaps destined to become pillowcases?)

The funny thing is that I really want to finish all these projects, and use them. So I will try my best NOT to begin anything new, except the occasional bag (I may need my instant gratification fix every now and then) until I bring the list down to two projects, one of which should be portable. I plan to start with those that are close to finishing, so I can knock them off my list - because that's what us experienced listmakers do. Wish me luck!

Good luck, Katerinaki! Here, I 'll hold on to those until you're done!

For lack of project photos

Have I mentioned how much I hate sticking wires to my (new and wonderful) camera and computer and downloading photos? I don't know what bothers me so much. Is it the minimal effort of finding the wires, which usually are within arm's length in a drawer? I can't really tell. But I have a feeling that if my computer had one of these slots where you stick the memory card in directly I 'd do it more often. Or maybe I 'm just saying that because my computer does NOT have one of these slots, so it's safe to complain.

In any case, today I 'm all about making lists. ("today?"!!). So here's what I did today on the crafty side:

1. decided on the pattern of the next 2 bags I want to make. I have recipients in mind

2. made a drawing of an image I 've been holding in my mind for several days now. It is what I consider already my favourite spot in my future house. In this beautiful daydream, I am curled up knitting on a cosy sofa, looking at the lit fireplace (indeed!), and looking out the glass panes on the door to my left. The white fence shields me from the neighbours, and all I can see is the rain falling. In the grey light my plants and potted herbs are shining and bright green. -- Of course I have no photo of this. Believe me, your imagination is doing a much better job

3. paid bills. (o.k., this is not crafty, but it had to be done, and I had to mention it)

4. cooked an ingenious combination of what needed urgent use in my fridge, and I 'm quite pleased with the result. Fried onion and bacon, added broccoli and carrots, then orzo (κριθαράκι), water, salt & peper, and some tomato sauce. Boil for 20-30 min., turn fire off, add cheese.

As for the photo of the day, I 'll go with the usual moto: 'When In Doubt, Post Kitty Photo'

Who wants her photo posted today?

I do! I do!

Lists

Today after work I met with a friend whose enthusiasm in knitting is inspiring. She is just learning to make socks, and we had a little workshop on short-row heels, my prefered method of making heels. I have tried a flap heel as well, but I have very thin heels and they don't really fit well, so that's what I showed her. If it doesn't work for her, I 'll show her other options (I 'd have to review them first, but that's not a bad thing, is it?).

Although she picked up on wrapping stitches with remarkable ease, she kept getting lost at which stitch to wrap. So I hershowed parts of my own, obsessive (and very detailed) system of marking each and every step of the process. I developed this system about 25 years ago, and it is an essential part of my knitting experience I can't (or do not want to) do without. It is useful for those patterns where 'make two' is mentoned, but I do it for every project, just because.

Snowflakes count for 5, checks for 2: knit and purl

I mean it, EVERY project!

In knitting news, I am almost halfway through the half of the second sleeve on the Beachcomber Tunic (for link, see sidebar), and eager to start the crochet sections.

Also, a while ago I started the ever-so-popular Clapotis, in Noro Kureyon 128. It has been like that for a while, though, as I am now focusing on abovementioned project.

I am following the pattern without any modifications, but for my logging method I have the special assistance of this!

Antique counter, originally used by my mum's uncle, who was a customs officer -I am guessing for the Ottoman government, but I must double-check that. He 'd press the button for every sack that would pass before him. How cool is that!

Things that make me smile...

Today, it's the new photo on my desktop at work: