Ky-oh-no

So, please focus on the weirdness of the sweater and not the weirdness of my facial expression, because sometimes red eye removal on the computer = crazy eyes.

Actually, in this photo it doesn't look half bad compared to what I see in person. But I'm sure you can see that the shoulders are super boxy and that the neck is a little, uh, huge. I think the smaller gauge of the elann.com Sonata vs the Tahki Cotton Classic made for a heavier sweater because there was more yardage used (and Sonata is much more dense). I love the colors and in fact, I would definitely consider going back to this sweater in a different yarn with similar colors (just, not anytime soon).

I was disappointed that this sweater didn't look good on me, and truth be told, I've been a little depressed that I didn't even have a "Finished Objects 2007" album on Flickr. No, I've really not completed anything besides this.

But as I thought about it, I made peace with my Kyoto failure. This is resilient yarn; it will frog well. The colors are great and with a few more added in, will be a good little blanket (remember yesterday's mitered square preview?)

Also, it's not as though I NEEDED that sweater and made the SACRIFICE of spending so many hours working on it. I knit because I love knitting, truly. I like to finish and use things, sure. If I never made anything useful, I probably would fall out of love with the art pretty quickly. It's not all about the product, though - the company, the support, the feeling of being a little more productive when I sit down to watch tv, the amazing feeling of thinking something up and actually creating it (or...sometimes not) - that's why I knit. Who doesn't have a failed sweater in their history? Who knits everything perfectly every time?

I figure I can feel even more justified in that (admittedly bargain) yarn purchase, too. I get twice the expected knitting time out of it!

So here's the real question: Do I buy a ball winder and swift before I begin to take this thing apart?

>: )

I Love Knitters!

Yeah yeah, it's been a bit since the AIDS Walk. Oops!




I am so proud! Not everyone who signed up could make it, but those that did (L to R Jen, Michelle, me, Marissa) had a really good time. We raised some money, did some knitting, ate some free granola bars, and suckered some poor volunteer into taking this photo (the sun was in our eyes pretty bad...). And yes, that's a little mitered square I'm holding. Long-term project. I needed something portable. I am definitely looking forward to next year when I won't get so incredibly swamped with important events and duties in the months leading up to the walk.

See you in 2008!

Next came Stitch n Pitch at the SF Giants. We had so much fun last year that I brought my brother along this time (and he and my boyfriend kept their totebags...too cute).



The only thing I love more than knitters is the people who love knitters :)

The Gigantes gave the Diamondbacks a good game, but this year the knitting mojo wasn't quite enough to get a win (or a Bonds home run! on his birthday no less!) I did get some work done on my Gee's Bend Blanket, though! I am most of the way through the 3rd of 4 main squares, but I am almost out of grey yarn and I really need to go to Goodwill and find something that will work.

Tomorrow (ugh, I hope) I will post, finally, about Kyoto and it's sad fate. I want to rip it but I think all that work deserves at least a public vetting of that sweater's extreme wrongness first.

AIDS Walk or Bust

Yes, the AIDS Walk is this Sunday. I have not NEARLY met my fundraising goal, I JUST NOW e-mailed the team with meet-up instructions, and I CAN'T BELIEVE it crept up on me like that.

I meant to make totebags. Maybe they will be post-walk thank-you prizes.

I meant to have a yarn contest. Maybe I will bring some goodies to the walk.

I meant to hound more yarn stores. Not much I can do about that now.

I'm really proud, though, that a few of us will be out there this weekend, walking for a cause. As a pilot run of the first Knitting AIDS Walk team I know of, I think this is a damn fine turnout!

Now, for the resolutions (who needs new year's...)

I WILL post an honor roll/donation total after the walk. Everyone deserves recognition!

I WILL bring my camera...and find my usb cord.

I WILL knit while I walk. Though maybe not the whooole time :)

I WILL talk to everyone that looks at us funny about how awesome knitters are.

I WILL be grateful for the support of this community as we support our larger (geographical) community.

***

I went back to my $1.50. Yes I did. It's back on the front burner, baby.

Job

My new job rocks, but oh my god. It's 7pm and all I can think is, Thank god I can go to bed in three hours.

:)

The AIDS Walk is in ten days. PLEASE sign up if you are in the Bay Area, or make a general team donation! I completely underestimated how insanely busy I would be in the months leading up to this event, so I want to thank everyone who has helped me out at all with it. If you are signed up, rest assured I will e-mail you with pertinent info...as soon as I catch up on some sit-on-my-ass time.