Finally the camera was dusted off an pictures were uploaded of the many recent objects I have finished.
First up, the Stacked Eyelet Cowl knit in handspun yarn from CCSmile2006. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this handspun yarn by Kathryn. It is incredible! I have more of her yarn in my stash and am currently deciding on another project.
Next up is Makalu, pattern by Brittany of Bohoknitterchic Spins and yarn handspun by moi!
And a very fun version of the Unbiased Serendipty cowl in yarn from Kitty Grrlz:
Also in yarn from Kitty Grrlz… a hat of my OWN design! I’m still tweaking, so no pattern, but I wanted something quick and fun for some bulky art yarn:
Currently on the needles I have a sparkly Ishbel that I hope to finish, block and share Sunday week. We’ll see…
XO
~L
Many people speak of things like work/life balance. When you add in a hobby that you really enjoy, it seems to get even more challenging.
When it comes to balancing my knitting/spinning in with my free time for family, I try to keep it somewhat after hours. The kids go to bed, the knitting comes out. As of late knitting is much easier in the evening as the projects are portable around the house, no dragging of the wheel up and down the stairs. If it’s a weekend and I’m taking a little time to knit for myself when they are awake, I try to find a project that they can interrupt and I can walk away from. Perhaps this is why I knit a ton of accessories 
However balancing spin time and knit time is tough. It’s one or the other, I can’t let them both take up all my non-work time. Not to mention, Jack and the kids wouldn’t let that happen. They must have the time split between them. There are times it is tough, like today when I finally found my spinning mojo again, but have a shawl project I want to finish. Other times there is no contest as I find myself drawn to one or the other. It is rare, actually, that my knitting and spinning mojo both show up at the same time, it’s almost always one or the other.
That said, during TdF, stay outta my way… I have spinning to do!
I do wish I had more time for crafting. There are so many other things I want to find time to do, such as weaving or crocheting, but for now I prefer to knit and spin so I don’t continue to diminish the time I can dedicate to one craft. I would rather do a few things well, in this case, than a lot of things, very little of the time.
Are you drawn to multiple crafts? I know many of you also sew. How do you balance your time when you have multiple crafts, and a life beyond? Do you also tend to stick to just a few, or do you stretch yourself?
This is the last day of Knit and Crochet Blog Week. I likely won’t be posting daily ongoing, but I hope it has helped me establish a need to blog more. I enjoy sharing and hearing back from my readers.
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
XO,
~L
ONce of the things that keeps me hooked (needled?) in knitting are all the options. Sure, I can knit cowls for days, but there are so many other options. I love referring back to my knitting checklist, posted oh so long ago to see what I have accomplished (in bold), what I plan to accomplish (in italics), and well, to see whether or not certain techniques will ever grow on me because I don’t currently plan to do them.
Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire (attempted, but not finished)
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down (started but never finished)
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book (I don’t want to publish my own, but would love to be part of one)
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit (this WILL happen)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Household items: dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…
knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
Dyeing with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn (want to do so much more of this!)
Steeks
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener Cast Off
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac Knitting
Purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewellery
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Still so many things I need to do/try. How about you? What does your list look like? What do you think is missing from the list? I’m going so see if I can get a few on the list ‘ticked’ before the year is out.
And as a knitter, I would add to the list of skills to learn : spin my own yarn and learn to be proficient at crochet.
~L
Ever wonder what it looks like when I spin a yarn? Well, here is an idea of what at least this yarn looks like as I work through my process. End result: a Super Bulky 2 ply.
Fiber from Storied Yarns in the color ways “Prim” and “Capitol Crazies” (inspired by ‘The Hunger Games” books). Jess is the sweetest, so you should check out her shop for so many more inspired color ways.
Beter pictures of the yarn once I have a chance to wash it and find my camera
XO,
~L
Are you a seasonal knitter/spinner? Do you find that you knit or spin more in the cooler months and as the weather heats up the projects drop off?
I find that more often than not I am not a seasonally affected when it comes to my crafting. I’m more driven by time/availability than the temperature outside. Granted, a year ago I moved to Ireland and the weather changes here are moderate, but even in the heat of the summer in Ohio I would still find myself knitting or spinning in my spare time. The only reason I may see a slow down in warmer months would be the fact that I am actually out doing things, not a conscious “it’s to hot to knit” type reason.
As a mater a fact, one of my busiest months for spinning is in the summer due to Tour De Fleece! Last summer I spun 15 yarns in the month of June, fiber from 10 different sources and multiple new to me techniques were tried:
The Ravelympics every other year in July/August also tends to increase my knitting in the warmer months. In 2010 I finished up a large wrap and a baby blanket for my little Muffin who I was expecting the following February:
And I’m already in planning stages for both events this summer 
The goal for TdF will more likely be 20 – 25 yarns, and I want to spin for projects I plan ti knit as part of the Ravelympics. Much planning afoot!
Now it’s your turn, are you a knitter for all seasons? Or do you find you change your projects by season?
xo,
~L
