Thursday, December 24, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Obsession

So I said in my last post that I need to start branching out and exploring more with my knitting.  Lately, I've been in the mood for knitting either a shawl or a scarf of some sort.  I've spent the last couple of days alternately scouring the web for the right pattern and obsessively crocheting afghan squares . . . plase don't ask me where the crocheting kick came from, I found a few of these squares while cleaning my room, and I've barely been able to stop.  That's them right there... chilling with my laptop...

But I digress, I've been scouring the internet for the perfect pattern, I've tried a few patterns with several different skeins of yarn, but nothing has been right.  I sat there staring at the computer screen, watching rows upon rows of patterns coming up and I decided that, well, the only way to get exactly what I want is to design it myself.  Bring in example A:

This is the beginning of my first try hanging out with Eragon here.  It probably won't last much longer.  I think I need to change my approach . . . I've decided that I want something somewhere between a shawl and a scarf--a sharf, if you will--something that's long and relatively narrow, but that has more substance than a scarf.  Something that I can pin with a shawl pin off wear like a scarf.  Or both.  I feel like I'm on my way to that ideal.  I think I need an overall pattern on it, though--either lacy or cable-y.  I'm not sure which.  We'll se how it goes.

You know, having this much free time is very conducive to creativity.  Even though I still haven't accomplished a whole lot, I've accomplished more now than I have over the course of last semester.  Maybe it has something to do with the lack of sketchbook assignments hanging over my head.  I don't know.  It just might . . .

Monday, December 21, 2009

Turning Point

I must say that today has been a very productive day.  I made and wrote cards, made brownies, went to two parties, and gained some very useful insight all in one day.  Thanks to a little support session for one of my high school friends who's having a rough time (we love you SW!!!), I realized a few things about what I want in a career, as well.  I think I have two things that I ultimately want to do in life: 1. teach, and 2. have an etsy shop.  To be honest, I'm not really sure what I want to sell on etsy, all I know is that I want to sell something.  I think it's the idea of blending fine arts and knitting that intrigues me.  Heck, I'll even throw English into the mix.  There are so many amazing artisans on etsy, from Baa Hurrah's amazing polka-dot knitting needles to knitting patterns and jewlery, and a whole bunch of stuff that I haven't even thought to look into yet.  It's all so awesome that I can't resist.  Even though I subconsciously try to talk myself out of it, I think I ultimately want to sell things that I make, whether full-time or not. 

I've also decided that I need to branch out in my knitting.  I need to move on from scarves and hats.  I mean, I'm not going to go to the other extreme and start knitting completely obnoxious articles of clothing--uterus hats, as another friend kindly suggested.  But, I feel like I've stuck to the safe path for too long.  I mean what can a few little knitting mistakes do to me?  Other than being strangled by a big, fibery mass that decided to revolt, knitting pretty much can't hurt me.  Or I could be stabbed by my own knitting needles, but that's a whole other story that we won't go into right now.  What're a few dropped stitches and a couple hundred rows worth of frogged* knitting?  I hear that you learn more from your mistakes than your successes. 

I think I've come to this relization at a good time.  I'm at the end of my second day of Christmas break, and I have almost a month ahead of me.  However, philosophical thinking must cease for the night.  I'm too sleepy to continue.  Stay out of trouble, folks, and have a good night.

*frog- (verb) to tear out multiple rows of knitting by removing the needles and pulling past the problem area in a piece of knitting

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Life in General . . .

  1. is unexpected, random, unplanned.  I try to live day-to-day because every day brings its own challenges I need to handle.  Every day has its ups and downs, from an inside joke brought up at breakfast to a bad test grade in the afternoon.  The future will take care of itself until I get there.
  2. is crazy, frustrating, confusing.  People give mixed messages about what they're feeling.  I'm never really sure where I stand with certain people.  I think we're on good terms, and then something happens and they seem mad.  In a single day, one must make many decisions from what to eat for breakfast to what kind of studying should be done.  Even though I try not to worry too much about the future, I still worry about career options, classes I need to take next semseter, the money I need to pay for said classes.
  3. is a whole lot more pleasant when you have your knitting.  I haven't had much time to knit lately, or blog, or write, or anything other than homework, really . . . I'm looking forward to having time to pursue my hobbies over the Christmas break.
  4. is much better with good friends.  I don't know where I'd be without my friends.  We've had some rough days this semester, but we always pull through in one way or another.  They get me through the stressful times and know how to get a smile on my face when I feel like I want to cry.
  5. can be lived long and happily without psycho professors.  I think everyone I know has had one in one class or another.  All they do is make life more difficult in the long run.  But hey, passing their class means that you can get through anything, right?
  6. could use more socks without holes in them.  No, seriously.  For the last month, I can't seem to put on a pair of socks without a toe poking out or my heel, or feeling the floor through the bottom . . . The world is a much better place when your socks are whole and hole-less.
  7. is very fun during Christmas-time, in spite of finals.  The cheerful music, the festive atmosphere at the mall, the bright decorations.  I couldn't imagine a world without Christmas, even in it's sickeningly-commercialized state.  But I love making/getting presents for my friends.  I like making people happy. 
  8. is good.  I've survived my finals with one left to go.  The semester's officially over tomorrow, for me anyway.  I successfully made it through my first semester of college, I've made awesome friends, and I've discovered that I can (for the most part) make it on my own.