When does the spinning stop?

I've been home a month now, and I just have to stop and say hi. I want to create a space for myself with this blog but I'm still working on finding my space in my life. I am transitioning from the military to the civilian and it's pretty anxiety inducing. The knitting comes and goes... My projects are currently rebelling. No pictures to document the chaos, I apologize.

bye for now!

Over-whelmed.

I got home just less than a week ago from my deployment in Afghanistan. Other than being deliriously happy at being home, I am just overwhelmed from acclimating myself back to my 'real life.' A deployed life is lonely, and pretty focused. Work is the number one priority, and I found ways to fit in school and a bit of knitting. But now I'm back with my husband and 2 new kitties. Back to a full size house and my own kitchen and bathroom. I missed all these things, but having them back just makes my head spin!

Aside from that, I have much knitting to write about - but I am currently over-whelmed by that too! I'm gonna make me a list of everything that is bouncing in my head and get it put down here... Oh, and I got my Ravelry invite just as I got home too! I've browsed it briefly, but my focus is, well, unfocused. So, once I get my bearings I'll be back with knitted goods and knitted dreams.

:)

An Intermittent Update...

Ah! Taking a breath . . . .

My initial burst of post took place shortly before I returned to taking classes online at University of Phoenix. These classes are *hard.* I was previously working on a psychology degree. It may have been some work, but the reading and writing came easily because it was interesting. I recently changed my degree to Information Management with a focus on Software Engineering. I can only find so much to say about business systems and such... But this is the degree that will assure me a better job.

Truthfully, I like the challenge. As much as I hate it, I like reaching the end of the class and knowing that I accomplished something. From what I can tell, out of a class size of 18, between 3 and 4 people just don't get through it. They just fade away.

I like knitting for the same reason. I can actually see where my time went! I can find a dozen other ways to waste my time, but I usually return to those that show progress or result in tangible things. :)

Anyways, Here's the update, sans pictures:

The Flower Petal Shawl - coming along nicely. I think i am 4-5 hanks into it (out of 7) but I can't be sure until I figure out where the other balls are at! I'm enjoying the process and I'm looking forward to doing some more complicated lace projects.

The Black Caron - abandoned the Origami Sweater, completed about 1/4 of the Yarn Harlot's Poncho. The yarn's too bulky for it though. :( I also cast on for Ysolde's Illusion Skull and Crossbone Scarf. Only crossbones completed at this time.

I successfully knitted while watching a movie with subtitles! It was very good - called Pan's Labyrinth. I didn't know what to expect and it was very dark, but beautiful and creepy all at the same time.

I have found time here and there to knit. I still have another 4 weeks of class, and hopefully I'll be back by before then! And then one more week or so and I'll be on a flight back to the States. Yay!

Like Mana from Heaven

In my deployed location, decent yarn is impossible to find. I fear ordering any because I am already waiting on packages mailed over two months ago. I have ordered from Elann and Knitpicks, but I've found that I'm not the very best at picking out yarn from pictures. It's like ordering shoes online - impossible to tell exactly what you are getting and if it will fit.

So, imagine my happiness when I found this Caron One Pound just laying there, waiting for someone to claim it. It's not something I would have picked. I've heard of the nightmares of knitting in black. But, I am happy with it.

The yarn has a bit of chunk to it... I'm still searching for the perfect pattern. It seems to be the right weight for the Origami Cardigan in the Summer Issue of Interweave Knits. I liked the sweater at first glance, but the longer I look at it, the less I like it.

After some surfing I've seen pictures of the back, but this picture just makes me wonder what the side looks like. I'm also considering something poncho-ish. Hmmm. I'm off to search for more patterns!

The Death of the Flower Petal Shawl

First attempt at pictures - so bear with me.

This is the Flower Petal Shawl as it was seen last week... It has since been pulled apart and re-appear as the same shawl, but better!

Here is a close up of the stitch work. I have a big boo boo in there - can you see it?

In the upper left corner - a little ridge of garter stitch. I apparently knitted on the purl side for no good reason for about 10 stitches. I noticed it AS SOON AS I was knitting back... and I left it. I really didn't know what to think about it. "Hmmm," I said. "I don't know how to fix this, and I don't want to frog, so I'll just keep going and maybe the mistake won't bother me."

I was so wrong.

And this little ridge wasn't the only mistake... there were little boo boos all over the place: psso's forgotten, missing stitches. I got creative to maintain the stitchcount, but a close inspection revealed several wonky parts in the pattern. And to top it all off - this is supposed to be a lace project (although a very simple one) and my knitting was so tight that the Yarnovers were nonexistent. I wanted to get the open look as seen on Elann.com.

So, I popped that sucker of the needle and eased my knitting anxiety...

I'll update with progress on the new and improved Flower Petal Shawl very soon.

Introducing... Me!

A quick post to place this blog at a location and time.

It's Independence day and I'm in Afghanistan. I have served in the Air Force for 3.5 years and it has taken me places and taught me lots of things. BUT, this blog isn't about that.

This blog will mainly be about my knitting. And whatever else crosses my fancy... I picked up a generic "Teach Yourself to Knit" kit as I prepared for my deployment. I've grown quite obsessed with the craft in a short time. I know my husband hopes to gain his previous status as my top priority when I return home, and I imagine he will. Oh, but the plans I have for when I return home: visiting yarn shops and fiber festivals and even learning to spin!

I brought with me an assortment of acrylic and cotton yarn and I've made a purchase or two from elann and Knitpicks, even got me a set of Denise needles (pink ones for breast cancer)! I've devoured Knitty.com and a few notable blogs. I'm still learning to swim in this ocean of possibilities. Right now I am just trying to FOCUS. I have one project - the Flower Petal Shawl from elann.com in Camila. But, I just keep dreaming about casting on something new... I feel that this will be a constant battle.

So - let the blogging and knitting commence!

Ms. Piggy says it best...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.