Nov 18 2009
reality? check.
Sometimes, as mentioned in the last post, you get what you wish for. Sometimes, in strange ways.
One of the things I am most often lamenting about is a lack of ‘personal’ knitting time due to other obligations (like work and boys needing their mother’s support and a need for sleep).
I knew coming into this fall, things were going to be walking a fairly thin line between meeting obligations and commitments and going off the rails at breakneck speed. I managed to experience both. Sometimes simultaneously. However, there was not much to be done about it other than work through it. I really did not have much control over the timing of so many things and I really became quite disappointed as to how I was unable to keep things rolling along at a more reasonable pace.
Thankfully most folks have been understanding and I truly appreciate everyone’s consideration and patience over the last few months.
My fall came on blasting. Aside from trying (sometimes in vain due to a majorly wet September and October which increased drying time substantially making dyeing quite problematic) to fill orders for wholesale, clubs and retail, I was dyeing to prepare for two shows only weeks apart. In between the shows I managed, like I do most falls, to pick up a flu bug which knocked me out for days on end. Our youngest was diagnosed with asthma in late September after a scary abrupt respiratory illness, probably related to the same bug. In mid-October, it became pretty clear to me that the ‘little things’ irking me physically were not so little anymore and I should probably take note and get checked over. This evolved into attending multiple medical appointments and tests, some hours away, which really take their toll on a work schedule. I am still working through the medical system to really define what’s going on in this department. A few weeks ago, my dad had heart surgery (he is doing excellent).
So, after feeling quite over-extended, finally things have settled down to a point where I feel I am once again in control and I’ve worked diligently to get to such a point. This, after everything, is quite a blessing.
The other blessing (aside from my incredible family who step in when needed and the support of friends), amongst all the chaos of September and October and early November, was a sudden surge of ‘personal’ knitting time (hence, what I often wish for, I now had); I found myself in the passenger seat on long car trips, in waiting rooms and just generally unable to work due to many factors, leaving me with time on (in?) my hands. So, out came the spinning wheel and the needles. An oasis which I could focus on when I wasn’t forced to be resting. And, glee, because, not being very prolific in the FO department - I tend to be a process knitter and lose focus with other obligations - I actually had things flying off the needles. :) Yay!
So, this (Waterloo Wools South African Wool, purchased at the KW Knitter’s Fair) -
became this:
Which became these (Whistlpea Knits Basic Cabled Mittens) -
I also managed to churn out two of these -
in four different colourways of Noro Silk Garden Sock (two colourways each). The pattern is Dianna. It is a rare thing for me to knit something twice, but I loved how this pattern works up and the process was rather soothing. (The border on the first one is the border from the Half Square Shawl, Victorian Lace Today).
This one has gone to live with Anne, who I’m sure has sore email ears (eyes?) a lot of days due to someone’s harping on a regular basis (I wonder who? ;)). I also finished up quite a few bobbins of handspun (as of yet unphoto-ed) and managed to sort of figure out the workings of my new-to-me CSM (this one is going to require quite the learning curve but I’m starting to get it).
So, with any luck, and hopefully not at the same expense and stress level of the past several months, the FOs will continue. We will see.
