The Mitt Marathon

In my Christmas list are five pairs of fingerless mitts.  I had such a success with the gray striped ones for my mom that I've decided that the nieces (4) and my daughter are getting a pair for Christmas.  This number may jump to seven: one for my sister and I wouldn't mind having a pair for myself.  I noticed another Ravelry sister had added an additional little charm to the Montgomery mitt:  She added the beginning section pattern again at the wrist.  I am also thinking that on the mitts for my nieces, I'll even add a little fun fur in the wrist section.

So what I've decided to do is have a mitt marathon:  7 mitts in 7 days.  Can it be done?  Let's face it, if you've known me for more than a day you know my attention span is not substantially greater than a second grader. Frankly, I am betting against me.  It would involve starting Thursday, November 3 (which is today) and completing by Wednesday, November 9. Gee, I also need to hem four pairs of pants in there somewhere...yes, I'm short.

First to collect the items:

Then to make a schedule:

Giftee	Yarn Color	Yarn type	Pattern Variation	Due Date
Lexi	Pink Camo	Bamboo & Infatuation	None	Thursday
Lauren	Deep Blue	Acrylic & Fun Fur (wrist only)	add the eyelet at the wrist	Friday
Megan	Purple Vari	Acrylic & Fun Fur (wrist only)	add the eyelet at the wrist	Saturday
Elle	Hot Pink	Acrylic & Fun Fur (wrist only)	add the eyelet at the wrist	Saturday
Kelly	Red Black	Red Angel with black fur at wrist	add the eyelet at the wrist	Monday
Sissy	Red Black	Red Angel with black fur at wrist	add the eyelet at the wrist	Tuesday
Me	Burgundy	Something with no label	None	Wednesday

Next, to stick to the schedule (eep)!

On Another note, I've added a new blog to follow (see the list to the left).  Its called The Lovely Crow.  If you like crochet (especially for children) then check her out.  She has some really beautiful patterns.  I am so excited about some little baby Christmas Mary Janes. I plan to make a pair for my friend's daughter (the one I made the baby surprise sweater for) but not until the mitt marathon is over.

Wish me luck!

Knit Therapy

I am finding that knitting soothes the soul even more now than when I began almost a year and a half ago.  I had to sit on a plane for two and a half hours to Chicago and two and a half hours back to Dallas yesterday.  I was cramped, my legs ached and by the end of it I was thoroughly exhausted.  But I continued to knit, cast on another, knit, cast on another and knit.  I had a very productive 18 hour day.  I hope in the end that the job I went to Chicago to interview for is going to be offered to me.  I guess we'll see.  I know there was another candidate.

So I began the trip with the crown of the Black Angel hat already cast on and started. When I finished it, I cast on a Mille Colori hat to match the scarf I'd made out of the same yarn. Finally, I cast on another Black Angel which is 75% done. 

Also, this weekend I finished a couple other things:  The Soldier's Watchcap and my mom's Fingerless Mitts.  Ordinarily I would not have gotten these two done but I committed an injury to myself which put me on bedrest for two days.  Yes, I'm an idiot.  If I'd had shoes on like a normal person the injury would have been slight or non-existent.  I was putting some shoes into nice boxes and then stepping up on the step stool to put them on the shelf and I was barefooted at the time.  I didn't "center" my foot on the stool and flipped off of it while attempting to step up.  So I sprained my big toe and cracked a nice bruise to my shin.  We put ice on it but a friend of mine said to just go to the ER and have it looked at.  Not broken (good), severly sprained (not so good). Must keep it elevated above the heart and iced down for 48 hours.  So and hence my good knitting fortune.

So the gray pile now looks like this (with a little Mille Colori added in):












This is a good thing.  Still so much to do.

In the Gray Zone

I am in a strange place.  I call it the gray zone. This occurs when the various aspects of my life start to change and move without my permission. So I'm waiting for a final job interview next Tuesday where I have to fly to Chicago.  it involves leaving at 5:30 AM and arriving home around 10:30 PM.  I'll be on a plane, meeting 7 or more new people and then flying home.  I feel like I can't look at other job opportunities because I'm so thinking about this one. At least I don't have to change time zones. 

I'm also at odds with my housework.  When my house is out of order, I feel out of order.  I have been out of work for two months and have only cleaned out the "yarn room" closet which, granted, was a huge task.  I feel...uh...discombobulated (yes, that's a real word). When the Texas Rangers decided to mess up not just one, but two opportunities to clench the World Series of Baseball last night, I had to jump up and DUST for goodness sakes!!!!

I am even off in my knitting.  I made those mittens for no one in particular.  I spent the afternoon yesterday with my mother and ended up with another thing to make for her. And then for no reason whatsoever, I started a swatch of a pattern I saw online. I purchased some gray variegated wool to match her Sassy Scarf that I made her for her birthday in order to make some fingerless gloves that she would like to have.  I also purchased some hat wool for my niece and nephew.  He's in the army so I thought a soldier's black watch-cap would be good and then hers is a soft black and grayish white with some antique buttons to go with his hat. 

So here it is, the gray zone in yesterday's yarn purchase, visual proof.