Progress

I don't have any new pictures yet.  I am working away on my sweater.  I got the right front piece done and then had to frog it.  So I counted more carefully and started over on that.  Finished that during the Super Bowl.  Today I started the left front piece and am working away on that.

I also am still at work on the pillow covers.  I have the front of one at least 1/2 way done.  The yarn is so soft and such a rich color.  Loving that.  The yarn doesn't hold together super tight which makes knitting it a little more difficult.  I keep getting the needle stuck through the yarn or I leave a little piece of it somewhere it ought not be.  But the overall look is fine.  I won't know if I'm keeping it or frogging it until I get done basically, so...

I haven't worked any more on either pink doily.  So 1 out of the 6 projects is done and 2 more are making progress.  Not too bad.

It's my week off from teaching my boys.  I had a lovely lazy day of reading a book and watching My Fair Lady.  I did also dust my living room.  My wonderful husband helping me do the shopping this evening.  I found my youngest son a new coat for $5 and a hat for $.50!

My primary goal this week is to relax.  My other goal is to get my house clean by doing 1 or 2 rooms per day.  This allows me to get it done without actually overworking.  Hopefully I can stick to my plan.  I'm always happier going back to school if the house has an overall cleaner feel to it.

Knitting with Yarn - Me?

Well Ladies, not only did I NOT reform,

I BOUGHT NEW YARN

(yes, I said YARN)

AND

I'm not even crocheting with it.

(Lion Brand Homespun acrylic yarn is SO soft!)

I'm ATTEMPTING to KNIT!

(yes, I said KNIT)

I am way out of my element here!!!

And I guess it is better to have

yet ANOTHER new project

sitting here on my doily than this:

Grrr!!!

And yet, I don't kick her off.

Why is that?

Anyway, I want to make a cover for some of my sofa pillows, and I wanted the weave to be close.  So, I decided to blow the dust off my knitting needles.  I reviewed the basic steps, picked a simple pattern called 'seed and stockinette stitch ribs', and dove right in.  I didn't let my rudimentary skills stop me.  ;)  (I figure that if I don't do it well enough, I can always frog it and start over again in crochet.

My First Crochet Project

My mother has crocheted for as long as I can remember.  She works with yarn and thread equally well.  She is a retired school teacher and actually taught middle school science to me.  But my favorite thing that she taught me is, of course, crocheting!

I tried crocheting a few times as a child but didn't have enough perseverance.  Then, when I'd been married a year or two, I decided to try again.  And, of course, I can't do anything small.  I always seem to leap in with both feet.  So not only did I decide to make a full-size afghan for my first project, I also decided that I was going to plan my own color scheme and pattern (even though I'd never done that before either).  My mother saved me by giving me a very easy stitch pattern to learn.

Well, this time, I did have enough perseverance.  See:

Since then, I have made only 1 other afghan.  Not too long after I began to crochet, I decided to try out crochet thread instead of yarn.  And I fell in love with it.  It started with clothespin angel Christmas tree ornaments.  Then on to other crafty items.  Then, to doilies (which are among my favorite things to make).  And, needing inexpensive baby shower gifts, I was spurred on to making layette items (booties, bonnets, sweaters, etc.).  I do creep back over to yarn occasionally, and usually briefly, before I leap back to my beloved threads.  I don't know why my preference is so set.  But it is. 

As my beloved husband knows, 

I just like things the way I like them!  :)

I think, with so much to do in other areas of life, the projects I make with thread are fairly quick going and I get more immediate results.  I'm a list maker and I love crossing things off the list.  Booties and doilies are done in a few evenings.

 Afghans?  Not so much.