Coming Soon

I finished the Bleeding Heart Raglan at 2:30 this morning and now it's blocking. I can't wait until I can post pictures for you - it really is a great sweater. It's extremely comfortable - warm, a good size without being baggy, the sleeves are just the right length - I could hardly be happier.

Now it's time to start thinking about what I've got coming up.

In progress right now I've got:

• Flamingo Pie Socks
• Rustic Rib Socks
• Hey, Tomato
• Christmas Tree of Life
  
• Two sweaters for custom work

I want to start soon:

• En Vino Veritas Socks
• Alpaca Sox Socks
• Anastasia Socks
• And, inspired by this thread, another Heartwarmer (for which I already have yarn.)
• MG Saddleshoulder Sweater for my dad
• Colorwork sweater for my mom
  

I also want to make a hoodie cardigan out of Dream in Color Classy, but I'm not sure which colorway. We don't have enough of anything at the store right now, but I know the bosslady would order me some if I asked.

Of course, there are other random, unfinished things in this house, but I couldn't really tell you what or where they are. Off the top of my head I can think of a scarf and a pair of gloves, but that's about it. I'm hoping to ride the exhilaration of finally having finished a sweater for myself straight to finishing all these other projects.

We're going on a big trip this summer so we're trying to be a little more careful with what we spend. It's keeping me from buying Classy and a bunch of Socks that Rock. That's a good thing though - I actually have a pretty small stash, but it'll do for the time being.

I love my new sweater!!

Things I Love About the Internet

I was reading Slog just now and Paul posted a preview for a new Lord of the Rings movie. A bunch of fans got together in the UK and made a movie based on the appendices in the LotRs books. It takes place before Fellowship, and it's basically the Rangers trying to hunt down Gollum and get him before the enemy does. You can watch the (amazingly well-produced) film here: The Hunt for Gollum.

I'm not even really that into Lord of the Rings - my brother is screaming a silent scream of dismay just hearing me type that - but this looks pretty sweet. I quite enjoy the Peter Jackson movies (watched all three this weekend while working on the Bleeding Heart Raglan) but haven't ever been able to finish reading Return of the King, despite what I would call a great effort, if not a Herculean one. This 40-minute movie could convince me to try again though, even if part of it is just that I'm impressed with the people who banded together to make it.

This is what I love about the internet - it gives creative people a voice and a way to do their own thing: all you have to do is be cool enough and the people will come. To cite some recent high profile examples, The Guild and Dr. Horrible. Both of those are things that could never have come to pass in a traditional format and they are amazing. It's inspiring, and it's one of the things that keeps me from despair over my own hopeful knitting career - if you are passionate and awesome and willing to work hard, you have a real chance to reach people. Based on the examples I cite, it also helps if you are a big geek.

Fortunately for me, I've got that geek part covered.

New Obsession!

After making all of the pieces to the sweater mentioned in the last post, I held them up to my body and realized, with some dismay, that I was going to look and feel like a chunkster nugget* if I sewed them into a sweater and attempted to wear them. Since that defeats the purpose of knitting for oneself, I am now unknitting that sweater into a brand new sweater of my own design - a sweater I am loving more and more the farther I get into it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the Bleeding Heart Raglan:



I began my unknitting on Thursday night and I expect to finish tomorrow or Thursday, making this a week-long sweater. And I even stopped to work on my Flamingo Pie sock for awhlie today. Ecstatic knitting at its finest.

*I stole the term chunkster nugget from my friend moknitting. It makes me very happy somehow. I think of Chris Farley in Tommy Boy singing "Fat Man in a Little Coat."

Obsession

Eight days ago I finally bought the yarn for the Sideways Cardigan that I've been dying to make since Classic Elite Autumn came out. It is truly beautiful Waterlily yarn and I have been knitting like a maniac ever since. I took a two day break after I finished the skirt, but now I'm well into the arms/bodice and I'm just knitting at the speed of light and loving it.


Jorah is on a trip for work right now and won't be back until Thursday night. I have delusions of finishing that sweater and the Christmas Tree of Life sweater I started for him in December. It was supposed to be a Christmas present and now I"m thinking he'll be lucky to get it by Valentine's. It's my own fault for picking a small gauge with repetitive knitting.

I just cruised over to the Fox website a while ago to double check what time Dollhouse is on Friday. I have to admit I'm SUPER excited. I watched two clips too. My devotion to Joss is unparalleled. I have my fingers crossed for another great show. I also love Eliza Dushku - both Faith and Tru were awesome and I can't wait to love Echo too.

I'm dulling the pain of anticipation with doctor-ordered high doses of Angel. I'm into season 3 right now - Birthday is next.

Time to make some dinner, walk some dogs, and knit while I watch some vampire-with-a-soul and his merry band of sidekicks. I also may watch Poirot. Or Zach & Miri Make a Porno.

It's going to be a lovely evening.