DK the Nautical Knitter

I have been gifted.  I was so excited yesterday when we picked up our mail and there was a package for me.  NOBODY, ever surprises me.  So, while I could not stop giggling, I opened the package and this is what was inside.

The contents included a package of needle holder springs that will hold my needles together when I put my project down to go make a cup of cocoa.  Of course, my Santa included a huge tin full of yummy hot chocolate mix and large coffee mug to make it in.  Then Santa read my mind, or perhaps my questionnaire, and included a wonderfully pumpkin scented candle to light while I use the bubble bath called “Calm One, Calm All”.

I am overwhelmed!  Thank you Secret Santa, whoever you are.  If you all don’t hear from me for a few days you know where I’ll be.

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Sarah, of the Front Porch Swing, has come up with a an interesting “new” technique for knitting in the round and still being able to place additional colors within your knitted piece. Somewhat like intarsia, but not… It is an interesting technique and although I haven’t tried it yet, it looks like it has loads of possibilities. Check it out and let me know what you think.

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Just a quick post to let you all know that the new Kim Hargreaves book Heartfelt: The Dark Horse Collection has just been released. Oh man, there are at least three patterns I already have my eye on; Emily, Elizabeth, and Aislin. Which ones do you like?

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This is just one of the cutest hats I have seen in a long time. It was so easy to knit up and the directions were pretty clear. I used a size 7 needle and worsted, acrylic yarn (for ease of washing). The pattern has directions for small (baby), medium (child), and adult (Large). Since William just turned two I went with the medium size. I wish I had gone with the large instead. Regardless, it is a one or two night knit and very fun to watch the candy corn grow to the white tip.

I am going to take this opportunity to coin a term, “Pass A Long” or PAL. Since I won’t be knitting this hat again in the foreseeable future, and therefore have no use for the yarn or pattern anymore, I would like to “Pass A Long” the three skeins of yarn and the pattern to the first person to comment on this post who would like to make this hat. Unlike a KAL, all you need to do to participate in this PAL is comment on this post and let me know you would like to have the yarn and pattern and I will “Pass” is along to you. What I would request of you is that you make the hat, and then “Pass A Long” the remaining yarn and pattern to the next person who would like to make the hat. This way the yarn gets used and several of you get to have fun with this pattern. You can PAL the yarn and pattern using whatever format you like. A blog entry would probably be best so others could see your hat too.

The next quick knit I am doing will be a hat with the same pattern in a silver/gray color to look like a Hershey’s Kiss. When I am done with that one I will PAL the yarn and pattern for it likewise. Who knows, perhaps we will start a trend.

On another note, Mr. K and I went out this morning to the park and shot some photos of the Secret of the Stole for the cover shot of the pattern and the web image. I wish so badly that I could show you all how beautiful it looks finished. Oh well, only 4 more weeks to go and then, if you are a member of the Secret of the Stole KAL group, you will have one of your own.

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While I was sitting here eating the crust off my fish sticks for lunch, (ya, that is how I eat ‘em) it occurred to me that it is almost November and is time for NaNoWriMo to begin again. This made me start to think about whether I really wanted to try to enter and win this year, or if my entering again this year would only be an added stress agent and unattainable goal in my life that I would regret not being able to finish.

If you continue to follow me down this road, at a respectable distance, you will see where I eventually ended up. That is right, I found myself asking “Self, how many things do you really want to accomplish and realistically, how many will reach completion status?”.

Here is my answer, and it is quite simple really. I can do it all. No, really, the issue is not whether I can do what I want, the issue is what do I really want to do. This is a freeing concept if you actually look at it realistically. Let me explain. If I have a pattern that I am knitting and it is going slowly, periodically I have to look at that project and ask myself “Self, why are you working on this project? Do you still like the pattern, yarn, etc.? When you do finish it, are you really going to wear it/gift it?” By answering these questions I can figure out if I want to continue working on the project or not.

This sounds easier than it is in practice. Here is why. I think many of us, knitters and others, make things too hard on ourselves by thinking things like “I have already put so much time into this project, I must finish it” or ” I paid $$ for this yarn, and I have to use it”.

As far as the time goes, do you really want to spend more time on a project that is just not floating your boat? If you decide you don’t want to continue the investment of time any further in a project, here is an idea. Chalk the time already spent on said project as good time spent gaining experience in a particular technique, learning about a particular designer’s pattern presentation, or even as just a block of time that you were able to sit and knit. All of those are great ways to spend time. Then hold your breath, and frog it.

Money spent on patterns, yarn, and tools is another thing all together. I consider myself a collector. The patterns I buy, way more than I will ever have time to knit by the way, are sources of inspiration for me. I purchase them with the intent to make the project. However, once I have purchased a pattern, it is mine to do with as I wish. I can just set it on my shelf and never touch it again. I own it. Knowing this ahead of time, I try not to “waste” money on patterns that are just going to “sit there”, but if they do, that is ok. I buy patterns that appeal to me and thus add to my collection of available possibilities. I do not wake up at night hearing a little voice calling “You bought me, you should really make me….” Besides, that would be way too creepy.

I guess the moral of today’s post is YOU CAN DO IT ALL, it just really depends on what you consider “ALL” to be. This knitter will not be pushed around by self-imposed deadlines, over-priced luscious yarn purchases, creepy voices coming from the yarn closet, or patterns that spoke to me long ago. Life is too short and I want to enjoy the ride.

You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.

James Allen

I will be “participating” in NaNoWriMo this year, but I have no desire to win. The program is a very good one and if you like to write or are just curious, check them out. You can write about anything you like and who knows, this might be the project you choose to finish.

Good Luck

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Mr. K and I spent a little quality time together yesterday welcoming in the autumn season by carving a couple of Jack-o-Lanterns. Mr. K collected various knives and scooping devices and set out to do his own thing with his pumpkin. He created a one of a kind, odd looking character. His pumpkin looks like it would like to eat you and would do it while smiling and making you happy to be there all at the same time. But, that is just my opinion. What do you think?

On the other hand, I took the more structured approach by using a template of a ghost that I printed from a pumpkin carving web page. It was smooth sailing for me after I wipped out the proper equipment for the job. Don’t you just love the dremel? It has so many uses. Blazer decided to hone in on my fun though. He appeared to be trying to help, but we all know he was in it for the pumpkin pulp. Yum, Yum. We all had a great time and really enjoyed the ushering in of the fall season.

Speaking of the fall season with all it’s various holidays. I have come across two free knitting patterns just in time for Halloween. You may have already seen these, but I thought they deserved honorable mention here. The first is a pattern for a scarf from the fall 2005 issue of Knitty. The pattern is called Yorick. It is felted, looks like it would be a pretty quick knit and would definitely make a great conversation starter at your next SnB or office party.

The second pattern is a pirate lovers pattern that has possibilities as a Halloween pattern as well. Do you like to do lace knitting? How about inserting a Skull and Crossbones motif into your next shawl, stole, or scarf? This pattern is cute and I think it would look good without being repeated. Think of the amusing looks and interesting questions you would get once someone figured out that your lacy stole contained an buccaneer element in the design. Too funny.

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One of the members on the Secret of the Stole KAL group asked about taking better photos of their knitting. Mr. K is a photographer so it never really was something I had to think about. However, I did find this photography lesson on the Daily Chum to be very informative.

Another helpful little thing I found while surfing this morning was this nifty little chart.  Download it and take it with you when you are yarn shopping.  Or, basically just keep it in your purse or wallet, because who is not always yarn shopping?  I only wish I had found this chart in time to post for those attending Rhinebeck this weekend.

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Kim Hargreaves has a new book coming soon.  I have my eye on several of the patterns from the previous collections as well.  Beautiful stuff here.  When the publishing date is announced I will post an update.  Stay tuned…

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Many of you are participating in the Secret of the Stole KAL. I am thankful for that, but I also realize that most knitters relish variety, myself included. So if you are a member of one of the German knit-a-longs (Knitting Delight or Secret of Chrysopolis to name a few)that are going on now, like I am, you will probably benefit from the new series Claudia is doing on her blog. She has been taking one knitting term per post and giving the English to German translation.

Being a member of the German knitting yahoo groups is not a new thing for me and I realized the other day while skimming the emails that I was actually reading them in German without a translator. How cool is that? Check out Claudia’s blog and tell her I sent you.

How about some eye candy? Check out what Fleegle just finished. She does such amazing lace work. More photos and details of her progression on this knitted lace shawl can be found on her blog.

Last, but not least, Mr. K has added a pre-purchase link to the Patterns page for the Secret of the Stole finished pattern. The complete pattern will be available in PDF format on December 1, 2007. If you would like to be one of the first to receive this pattern in your inbox or you would like to gift it to someone special, please visit the patterns page for more info.

If you would like to be informed about the next Nautical Knitter KAL you can join the yahoo group Nautical Knitter Designs and you will receive the latest updates on new Nautical Knitter patterns and knit-a-longs.

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I wish you were beautiful…. Actually, the weather is wonderful. It is cooling down, finally, and we found this fabulous tent thing at the dollar store. Can I hide out here forever?

Mr. K says no, so tomorrow it is back to the house and back to our day jobs.

When we arrived at the boat there was a pod of dolphins, about 50 to 100 individuals, there to greet us. They were chasing schools of fish toward the shore and having a feast. Fascinating!

Today we are off to the Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. Mr K. loves shrimp. Me, not so much. But I did spot a corn dog vendor yesterday while we were touring the arts and crafts part of the festival, so I’m set.

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