Underestimating Myself...and I like it

I'm still alive and I have still been knitting as non stop as possible. Lately with knitting and doing what I do at work along with being a computer addict I have been having some finger joint pains. Specifically my right thumb which suffered a very minor injury last year from using scissors everyday. It seems the more things I do with my thumb the more it hurts. I've been trying to take it easy with knitting but it's hard. How can you stop or greatly decrease something you love to do. I get so anxious when I can't knit. It's like my  fingers are telling me they NEED to do SOMETHING. My mind too will be screaming at me to stimulate it.

Lately I have noticed that I underestimate my knitting skill. Often when looking at patterns I will fav them on Ravelry but not because I want to knit them but because they look awesome and I will probably never knit them. Also it seems when i knit for others I will knit more complicated things. For some reason when I knit for myself I just don't think I am capable of knitting something that takes a lot of different techniques. This is coming from the girl who's first thing she knitted was a sock. I have knit a sock since them because I fear I can't knit the socks with gorgeous details. A plain sock bring it on but ....not a Cookie A sock OMG.   Now that I recognize what i am doing to myself I need to stop it. Only after i finish knitting my plan ole garter stitch scarf.

By the way i have been on a yarn buying spree. I budget out my paycheck so I can fit in a nice yarn buy every two weeks. I have bought two Plucky Knitter yarns, Yarn from Eat Sleep Knit, and others that i just can't remember right now. I'll update with my yarn buys once i remember to take some photos!

Underneath the Moonlight the Moonlight!

(Under the Moonlight Scarf -ravelry link)

I started and finished some knitting last week. There was a Stitch and Bitch meetup at my place on a Sunday. It went well but teaching other girls how to knit was far more difficult then i had anticipated. It was not my intention to have to teach all the girls how to knit. There was one that knew a bit but not enough to help others. There was some teaching of crochet by other girls. I had purchased some yarn at Hobby Lobby in case there were girls who didn't bring any yarn with them for any reason. Everyone bough yarn so I used the Caron Simply Soft Shadows as a demonstration. I really loved the color of the yarn so kept on knitting this simple scarf. It's short but I still love it. So soft and the colors and just my style. I'm really tempted to knit another one that is longer and in a loop. Yums. Just thought I would share one of my projects. The rest of my knitting projects are in limbo land. I would like to keep on knitting but i'm having trouble with my thumb/right hand. The things I constantly do everyday repeatedly is beating up my hand. Keyboard, mouse, propagation plants, using scissors, knitting...it's all taking a toll on me. I wish I could give my hand a break but there just isn't any way of doing that.

My Joints Feel It

(Vlastas Cowl)

Oops, I have been neglecting this blog. I've been so preoccupied with knitting all these cowls and being addicted to Ravelry that i just forgot about updating my blog too. Lots of stuff has happened that includes non knitting stuff also. Like right now I'm typing on my brand spanking new iMac. Love this computer to death. My old one was a pc and it was just not up to par. My husband built it but he knows I have a love affair with macs.

(Sophia's Cowl)

There has been a total of 6 cowls finished. I was really wearing myself out with all that speed knitting for two weeks. My thumbs and knuckles were just killing me. I need to learn how to loosen up when I knit, plus it don't help that I hold scissors all day long at work either. Lately I have been taking a break and number 7 has been on my needles for far longer than it should. It's almost done though then i have 2 more left. After those two I don't feel like knitting 3 more for 3 women I hardly see.

(Beginning of Summer Funnel Sleeveless Top)

On Monday I started to knit my first garment. It is also my first sweater for IntSweMoDo2010. I'm hoping it comes out the right size. I ran into an issue with the yarn weight that I did not notice in time. There was lots of calculations to try to make it fit me...hopefully in the end. I'm not experienced with editing knitting so this might end up badly. i did notice yesterday that others of the same project that were complete had used aran weight yarn and did not mention it not fitting. This is a learning process that is for sure. If this ends up badly then maybe the next will be better.

(Yummy Latte made by me)

I almost forgot to mention that i got an espresso machine. I've been on a roll making lattes everyday and hot chocolates with espresso in them. Love to make these it's so fun.

1 FO, and 11 Presents To Go

(Winter Lace Cowl)

I finished a knitting project! This was made for me and I love it. I wish I had made it longer but I still have plenty of yarn left to make another one. The Winter Lace Cowl was a test knit and the pattern is great. I used Nashua Handknits yarn Ivy in the color camel. The yarn is super soft and has some tinsel or something it is so it sparkles.

(Betty's Cowl, the beginning)

There is one finished Christmas Cowl. Jean's cowl is finished and is currently blocking. I do have a photo of it being blocked but I'll wait to post the finished product. The cowl came out great and I'm so proud of it. I loved the pattern I used off ravelry which was Peach Petal Cowl. The color of the yarn is gorgeous but I always love blues. I might have to make one of those for myself. Knitting it went by fast, it would have been faster if I wasn't watching TV for half of it. Betty's Cowl is taking me forever and both of my hands are locking up from holding the smaller needles and doing k3tog. K3tog are the devil I tell you! I wish there was a way for me to change them to k2tog and make the pattern come out the same. Also for Betty's cowl I'm doing it on smaller needles and makes it feel like it's taking AGES. By the way I'm using the Burnished Leaves Cowl pattern. I messed up when I started and didn not do garter but stockinette stitch..I don't want to torment myself and start over.

I'm off to knit that cowl now before hubby gets home and I have to start cleaning.