Trying to knit with 2 kids

I'm coming out of the holiday and new baby fog...well, sort of. I took a short hiatus from writing as my due date drew near so I could focus on my family and the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I finished some knitting projects, frogged a few, and worked on some that I'm still slowly wading through.

The end of the year was a busy one for us: new baby, parents and in laws visiting, holidays, and we bought a new house and moved in time for Christmas. Needless to say, my knitting took a back seat some of the time, not that I mind.

Now, with school back for the remainder of the year, my oldest heads off to his school and the baby and I head to run errands or go to the local coffee shop and knit. More often than not, we end up knitting. I'm finally figuring out how to balance my time better and give everyone the attention they need and want while still having some time for my stitches. 

So, with my resolutions in mind, I have my 2 pair of socks on the needles. My progress at this point, is one sock of each pair is halfway complete. 

Currently on the needles:

1.Socks On A Plane socks in Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Berry Tart. (Update: I decided to frog these because I want to knit them on a smaller needle)

2. A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C. In Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Malachite. (Update: finished!)

3. The Twigs and Willows Cardigan from Botanical Knits by Alana Dakos. I'm using Madeline Tosh Vintage in Begonia Leaf. (Update: in hibernation again)

4. I just started a project from a club I'm in. It's a pattern called Loslassen by Shannon Cook using The Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Sock in Fells Point color way. (In hibernation)
5. A cowl for my Mom called the Cassu Cowl is also in progress using The Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted in a beautiful charcoal color and I can't remember the name. (Update: in again time out!)

To be updated later as I progress. I hope to complete a few pair of socks this year for #operatio sockdrawer. I also hope to complete a few sweaters this year. Some will be for the kids, so those should go a bit faster.

just keep knitting....

Distractions

See the problem with distractions is....oh look! Yarn!

I seem to have my hand in too many projects. I'm not on any deadline really, just my own made up "wishful thinking" timeline. I may or may not finish projects by my deadlines I make up, but I'm not worried anymore. I used to rush myself while I knitted, hoping to finish as many projects as quickly as I could. While I always have enjoyed and loved the process of knitting, it was always the starting something new, picking a pattern, choosing yarn, beginning the process that really drove me. I enjoy that part immensely, but with two kids, I have less time to knit. I love every minute I get, but I'm taking my time. 

That said, I will hopefully reach my year end goals for this year, but I'm not stressing about it. It also means I've been letting my etsy shop sit a little bit. I was hoping I'd have a few small custom orders coming in on a more regular basis, but I am also enjoying that I can spend more time with my family and our new little farm and less time working on things for my shop.

Oh, did I get distracted? Yes. 

So I have far too many projects in the needles and several in queue and ready to go. Patterns and yarns are picked out and set together. It's time to step back, take a look, finish a few, then get back on track!

Easy Knitting

November 2014:

Pretty soon, we will be holding our new baby in all of her hand knits and I'm sure I will be sad to see how quickly she will grow out of everything. I know my knitting time will be less than it is now, so I am trying to finish up a few more things and set my project list up for things that are "mindless knitting." These are things that don't require very much brain function for me, lots of garter or stockinette, very little row counting, chart reading, and lacework. These are perfect projects for social knitting groups as well as sleep deprived Moms who need something easy to be able to pick up and put down without the fear of forgetting what I'm doing.

These items will be posted and listed soon. Stay tuned.....

Resolutions

My knitting resolutions or goals for 2015 are to become a proficient sock knitter and make a couple of sweaters.

To begin this, I pulled my Socks on A Plane out if hibernation. I had put them on holders a few months ago when I lost my place at the heel turn. One of my lovely friends in my knitting group frogged my worked back and got me where I needed to be while I nursed my sweet baby. The socks are in a gorgeous hot pink and purple self striping yarn by Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock called Berry Tart. I'm halfway through one and hoping to finish them soon. I'm knitting those on two sets of circulars, which is a newer technique for me.

To compare techniques, I started another pair of socks using the magic loop method. I'm not sure which I will like better or which will be faster, but I will be paying attention to that as I knit. This second pair is a simple ribbed sock done in Hazel knits Artisan Sock in Malachite, a beautiful, dark green color. 

Also on the list is to FINALLY finish my Twigs and Willows cardigan from the Botanical Knits book by Alana Dakos. I'm using Madeline Tosh Vintage yarn in Begonia Leaf. I only have the sleeves and

Button band left, so hopefully those will go quickly in worsted weight yarn.

I have some yarn in my stash from frogging another cardigan I made a few years ago. It's a charcoal Cascade 220 and I also have some of the same yarn in hot pink and a similar worsted weight yarn by Mountain... In green. I'm thinking of purchasing some cream wool and using the combination to make the Hiro pullover. It has some gorgeous color work, but I am not very good at stranding, since I've only done it twice. I plan to practice on a baby hat first, then dive into that pullover this spring. 

My plan for sweaters is to complete at least 2 sweaters for me, one for my mom, and one for my son, as well as start on one for my husband, all by the end of the year. 

My plan for socks is to complete at least 2 pair for myself this year and one for each of my kids. If I can do that, I will make my husband a pair for Christmas.

I better get knitting!