A brief blurb about 2011

Shortly 2011 will be here and I've been thinking of things I want to accomplish in the coming 12 months. Not resolutions, because I don't subscribe to coming up with a list solely based on a new year rolling around. These are projects for myself, my growth that I'm already working on for the most part, just tweaking and expanding a bit. Here is what I'm going to focus on:

• Being more consistent with my knitting, finishing more projects (at least 11) and trying my hand at a few more techniques (two-at-a-time socks, entrelac, my first sweater).
• Learning how to crochet using the four classes I have left at my local yarn store.
• Losing weight. A common enough goal which I've already started (14lbs. since November). I'm thinking of at least 30 - 40 more pounds slowly would be very good for my health.
• Along with the weight loss goal, increasing my physical fitness. I walked my first half-marathon in October and my plan is to finish two in 2011 along with a few 5K runs and fun walks with Alexis. So consistent exercise is going to be a must.
• Playing casual games for relaxation...and finishing some of the backlog of games I have for my DSi.
• I want to read more in and I'm planning on participating in about four book challenges to keep me movitivated.

Those are my goals mainly relating to hobbies, there are others, keeping a cleaner house, etc. If I focus on the above I'll be plenty busy in 2011!

The Ravelympics Are Here!

Wait, are there any of my two readers who don't know what Ravelry is?

Ravelry - Ravelry is a free social networking website. It functions as an organizational tool for a variety of fiber arts including knitting, crocheting, spinning, and weaving. Members share projects, ideas, and their collection of yarn, fiber, and tools via various components.

Basically it's an addictive, social site that sucks hours of time from you. Not just with chatter, but with endless patterns to browse, yarn suggestions and help forums, etc. It's loads of fun.

Alrighty then..

It's the opening day of the 2010 Winter Olympics and I'm waxing nostalgic. My daughter was born during the 1998 Winter Olympics and I fondly remember watching the events all day while I was in the hospital.

So what are the Ravelympics? It's a time where knitters are invited to challenge themselves by starting and finishing projects during the 2010 Winter Olympics. How you decide to challenge yourself is entirely up to you. There are teams to choose from and events to participate in, with many knitters joining in on the fun and supporting one another. I'm signed up with three teams, Team K'nerd (the nerdy knitters), Team Michigan and Team City Knits (my local yarn store of choice).

In a previous post I mentioned the problems with my wrist, which has affected my project/event choices. Since I rested from knitting starting Monday, iced and exercised, it feels better, but not 100%. Therefore, my alternate projects are much smaller, but that's OK I'm happy to compete and will be challenged just by completing these without hurting myself.





Here's Bob, the overall Raverly mascot and ambassador of this year's Ravelympics.

I'll be blogging about my first experience as a Ravelete as I progress.

My interview with the Knit Dangerously Blog

In a previous entry I mentioned joining a great Ravelry group called A Year of Knitting Dangerously. Its purpose to encourage timid knitters to put on their "big girl pants" and face those challenging projects which according to the description "there's no crying in knitting"! Thanks to my bestest cyber-buddy, Tilandra, I have the super-sweet 2010 Vogue Knitting calendar in which I've organized and detailed the knitting adventures that I will embark this year...yay!

I was interviewed by one of the mods from the YKD group, AmyGlassNeedle. Check it out and "meet" me. :)

http://knitdangerously.blogspot.com/2010/01/dangerous-knitter-interview-meet.html

P.S. Her blog is very cool, btw. :)

2010 is the year of knitting dangerously!

In a previous entry I mentioned how my knitting projects revealed that I am, in fact, scared of two sticks and some yarn. I've come to the realization that fiber plus needles does not equal vaporization and the most that will happen is I'll have to, gasp, frog a project. In my determination to accomplish much more in 2010 I joined I joined a wonderful group on Ravelry for support.



There are lots of wonderful knitters, who like me, want to tackle an unfamiliar technique/project and just need encouragement. There will be "resident experts" to offer advice and challenges throughout the year to keep everyone on track.

I've already chosen some projects for the challenges. Mind you, none of these patterns are earth shattering, but considering I've been sticking to projects the equivalent of plain hats in the round, I think they're pretty good.


Sweater Challenge

"Wicked"- a top down sweater with a cabled pocket


Sock Challenge

"Monkey" - the popular pattern by Cookie A.



Chart Challenge

"Springtime Bandit" - a very pretty, worsted weight "lace" scarf. (I've already tried to figure out the chart...I'm sure it will be Spring before I understand it.)

That's it for now. Like I said, these aren't the most advanced patterns but I want to pace myself. Right now I've got some super easy projects to finish. Plain gloves, a garter triangle shawl...oh, I'm casting on my first beaded project soon. I'll post pics of the progress.