When you wish upon a star

Apparently Jiminy came through for me. I've made a baby sweater and I'm almost done with a pair of socks. Thrummed mittens (and Latvian mittens) are in the works. I feel more and more like a "real knitter" every day -- and today I moved into a new realm: spinning. I have been tempted for ages, and on a rough day a week ago I finally broke down and ordered myself a drop spindle and some beautiful merino roving. (4 oz to start with, but don't worry, I have more on the way). It's handpainted and I got it from the lovely ladies at Paradise Fibers. The beginning was rough. I couldn't understand the directions very well and I just seemed to be making twisted roving, not yarn. I couldn't seem to get pieces to come out evenly and I was resigning myself to having to find a pattern that somehow could incorporate super-bulky singles and lace-weight singles without looking terrible -- when all of a sudden it fell into place. Now, I'm not claiming that the finished yarn is great, or even that it's anywhere close to all the same size... but the range is probably closer to dk up to bulky, and the changes aren't every single freakin' inch. If I had more of it, I could make a decent scarf. As it is, I'll probably make a hat. I still have an ounce or so of this merino, and a whole batt coming. Hmm. I'm lusting after some laceweight.

Jiminy, make me a real spinner?...

Jiminy Cricket, make me A Real Knitter

Having only recently discovered the Yarn Harlot, I have been, up until now, blissfully unaware of the fact that I am a poor excuse for a knitter. (What can I say? I love hats and scarves). In order to accomplish my dream of being A Real Knitter, I have decided to 1. make a baby sweater; 2. make a pair of Latvian or Estonian fair isle mittens; 3. make a real pair of socks; 4. finish my lace shawl (we know I can do lace, now we need to see that I can finish some lace).

The baby sweater is on its way. I'm using bamboo. It's gorgeous. I love it. I haven't quite brought myself to work on #4 or #3 yet, though I do have all the materials for both. #2... well, it may be a while before I'm a real knitter, all right?

Though I fear it may bore everyone but me to tears, I am planning to do a rundown of current projects soon. I really don't know if I'm up for this blog thing yet. We'll see.

Maybe I will use this.

I've never really had any desire for a blog -- it seems weird to talk about my life to complete strangers on the internet! -- but I already have a hard enough time sleeping at night without having to go over every project I'm working on seventeen times before I'm satisfied. (I suspect I may display some obsessive behavior here.) Who knows? Maybe telling complete strangers about what I happen to be knitting or sewing or cooking or planning will help. Or, you know, not.

I love to do most things artistic and/or crafty, although I'm pretty sure I'm terrible at pretty much anything that falls under the latter category. I'm also a pretty terrible musician, except when I'm singing. I think I'm okay at that. And, well, I can't promise I'm any good at writing either, really. Or knitting. Or sewing, for that matter. Whatever I cook usually tastes pretty good. One out of many hundreds -- not bad, right?