Busy Month

We'll almost 2 months into the year and I have knit 1,814 meters.  Having converted it to miles, I have knit 1.127167 miles.  That does not count the progress I made on the sock I made since yesterday.  I've completed 2 shawls, put together an afghan (with a little help from my roommate) out of squares I had around, and started again on the socks that were started in October of last year so far this year.

Hopefully the socks will be done by mid-March as they will be a good birthday gift.  Otherwise I will then have a Christmas gift already knocked out.  Birthday gift would be preferable though as I will have more time to come up with a Christmas gift.  They will be for my grandmother. 

The afghan was a big hit with "T" by the way.  He absolutely loved it.  When it was brought to him a couple other people were visiting and they loved it too.  The time before while visiting he saw the pattern for the shawl I was working on and liked it (talked about it in the previous post).  Had to steal the pattern back from him.  Well I emailed Jojoland (the yarn company putting the pattern out) explaining the whole situation and asked for permission to give him a copy.  They were wonderful enough grant permission to make a copy for him.  After giving him the afghans he was given the pattern.  It's hard to tell which he was happier over, the afghan or the pattern. 

The second shawl that was done, just talked about the pattern, was a Ravellenics project so that was a success.  I increased the edging though from one stitch count by 75.  I still have a little pouch like bit at the bottom point, but can't do anything about it that I know of.  That was finished yesterday. 

I have now been asked to make a pair of mittens to my mail lady's son.  I gave her a pair for Christmas and now her son would like a pair.  Funny how things like that work.  All this has gone on while carrying out my non-knitting life.  Speaking of which, I need to go take care of some of that.

Fun Times

Note:  I'm not complaining at all.  I'm just posting.

It's been a fun week (please note the sarcasm) around here!  Earlier in the week I found out a good friend (I'll call "T" has brain cancer.  On top of that is is inoperable.  I wouldn't know a lot of things without having knowing "T".  Because of him I have a lot of funny stories.  My roommate knows him too and she found out at the same time.  We went to visit him the following day.  He always likes to know what we are doing with our hobbies so I showed him the pattern for my latest knitting project. 

This project is for another person I know.  Another person was going to do it, but they had trouble with it so I am doing it.  "T" loved the photo or rather the colors in the photo.  He has never asked for something to be knit or otherwise be made for him and we have never been able to figure out what to make for him.  "T" wouldn't ask for something to be made, but seeing how he liked the item and the colors he was asked if he wanted a blanket.  He smiled.  So now the push is on to get an afghan made as fast as possible.

That is on top of making the other project without slowing down.  thankfully I already had some afghan squares I had already made for another project just waiting to be mailed.  That project can wait while my friend cannot.  So the days of  my roommate and me are being spent on putting this afghan together while the nights are going to my other project.  Hopefully the afghan will be done for when we visit him next week.

I also have a report unrelated to any fiber arts to write and will have to write it after the afghan is done.  I just don't like having reports hanging over my head and will just have to grin and bear it.  Like I said, it's been a fun week.

Oh, I have somehow given my elbow rug burn too.  That's from spending so much time on the floor putting the afghan together.  A little pain to take for a friend that has given so much.

Learning new Crochet Technique and having fun

I started crocheting between Christmas and New Years Eve of 2009.  Last year or the year before my grandfather gave me crohooks that he made himself.  They are wonderful.  The other day I decided to try Tunisian or Afghan Crochet. 

So far after checking with a book, the internet, and my mom I am off and going.  I have made a couple 6" squares.  I have been making a lot of crocheted squares of late.  They all go into a box and make their way to a lady that puts them together with other peoples squares to make some beautiful afghans.  Those afghans then go to Pine Ridge Reservation.  There is a wonderful Ravelry group that I do this all through.  This month 99 squares went.  They were made by me, my chapter regent, and one by my roommate. 

I have so much fun doing these squares and now that I have learned a new technique even more fun.  In fact I am having so much fun I am having trouble pulling myself away to do other projects.  Projects such as the second sock in a pair, my holiday knitting for family and veterans.  I keep telling myself that I must take a break from the squares, but I keep getting lured back.