Yarn diet. Schmarn diet.

I think I just did the yarn equivilant of eating my way through a whole box of Girl Scout cookies and THEN running out to buy another box!

Knit from Stash sounded like a great idea at the time, but sticking to it.... needs improvement.

I broke down, big time. I will try to blame it on stress from finals and finally receiving a belated birthday check from a family member (note: my b day is in October so this was a long time coming), but really, it just boiled down to me not wanting to miss an opportunity. Either way, I am really questioning if I should even be trying to knit from stash for the next 6+ months because I'm just unwilling to play by my own rules. I'm a knit-from-stash failure, but I'm going to try to stay on track. At least one more time.

I don't know why it is so soothing (and tempting) to go look at yarn pictures when I want to pull my hair out. They should not let stressed out people shop from home. I guess it should be said that I broke in the wee hours of the night and then this morning, I ADDED to my order before it shipped.

That being said, I was just tormented by a physical trainer for 75 minutes and forced to move in ways I don't think my body would normally go... plus I PAID them to make me hurt on top of my aching hips from rumba-ing last night. So maybe there are not-so-hidden consequences for my actions.

A little frustrated.

My Afghans for Afghans socks will not be done in time. I stayed up last night till 3 a.m. in a knitting frenzy and am halfway through the gusset, but I have 2 final projects due, one of which I swore to finish today to give myself a week to focus on the other one. And as much as I really want to finish these socks, I just can't let myself knit with that looming over me.

Plus I completely forgot I am starting a class in latin ballroom dancing tonight, which G just reminded me to be ready for tonight.

I feel badly about missing this deadline but I will finish them ASAP and send them in for the Afghans for Afghans' next shipment out, or I'll send them off with my Dulaan knits. I am proud that they have no mistakes and that I was able to make them from a fairly vague pattern (I'm still at the point where I need everything spelled out for me).

So while they won't count for the current project, at least they will find their way to someone who needs them, and the Lamb's Pride is making an incredibly warm, snuggly pair of socks.

I just wish I had more hours in the day, or that I knit faster.

Upcoming projects

I've come to the sad conclusion I am not making my deadline for the sock a month KAL for February (which was tonight). I'm pretty sure I could have finished my sockret pal socks if I had kept going (I'm nearly at my toe decreases on my first sock) but I stopped that and started some socks for Afghans for Afghans out of worsted weight Lamb's Pride. I'm on the second sock, about to start the heel flap. I'll update with pictures tomorrow.

But with two final projects and assorted other homework due before March 12 on top of organizing an event at work for March 18, I'm going to have limited time. So instead I will focus on finishing these socks to mail out by Monday so they can arrive by the March 7 deadline, and then switch back to my sockret pal socks to finish before March 31. I think I can do it! Sadly, they aren't blue, grey or white for Project Spectrum but they are colors my sockret pal will like, and in a good quality yarn.

I was looking at Project Spectrum's upcoming colors:

April / May
Green, Yellow, Pink

June / July
Red, Black, Metallics

August / September
Brown, Orange, Purple

and I think I have my next few socks mapped out. Starting in April, I am treating myself to the Socks That Rock Watermelon Tourmaline from my awesome Sockret Pal (I can't wait to get closer to starting this... I've been coveting this yarn bigtime!!)

I'm not sure what May's socks will be, but my June ones will most likely be my Foxy Lady SuperGlitz (red, black AND metallic- how cool is that?)

And much farther down the road... either August or September will be the Lorna's Laces my secret pal sent me (in Irving Park) which seems to match the orange/purple/brown theme pretty well!

So I still have some flexibility in the upcoming months, but some idea of what I'd like to make to match the Project Spectrum colors.

This could be a fixation....

I was rummaging around in the stash looking for items to donate, when I noticed my stash of Cascade Fixation I bought some time ago when I found the Cascade Fixation Ankle Sock KAL

I loved the idea of cotton ankle socks that knit up quickly on size 3 needles (especially ones made out of only one skein)! I especially love cotton socks for after pedicures, etc... wool just seems strange to wear.

A lack of willpower (and goodies)

I found out this morning that one of the yarns on my "to try" list is being discontinued in the particular colorway I wanted (Trekking XXL, color 107). I finally decided I liked it enough to order it, and went shopping.

I feel a bit bad about my lack of willpower but I've wanted that colorway since I started knitting. So I'm terrible at sticking to a yarn diet with discontinued items.


I received some awesome packages yesterday, courtesy of the exchanges I'm doing on swapbot.

This is handdyed wool (Cascade Eco Wool) in absolutely gorgeous rose, creams and greens. It's perfect for spring- it reminds me of flowers and gardens. I don't have anything like this and I'm going to really think this over before I use it. Thank you, Paula!

I also received a package from Singapore (!!) for my international sassy sock yarn swap. My swap partner sent me some Patons Patonyle, which is incredibly soft and the colors are really pretty. I know I'll enjoy wearing these socks! Thank you, Chrissie!