The Slog

There comes a time in all knitting careers where the knitter stops and thinks to themselves, "I will never finish this damn project". Since I'm the kind of knitter who needs to see the end of their project before they can cast on anew, this is particularly hard for me. I call this time of doubt and agony "the SLOG".

The slog is when you're muddling through something, just grinding out to get it finished. You hate the yarn, hate the pattern and hate yourself for ever thinking you could knit this in the first place. You're somewher between the start line and finish. Usually the finish line is just becoming visable- but you just feel as though you can't go on, as if you cannot possibly wake up tomorrow and knit anything else. You desire for new! and! exciting! projects/yarn! is at your highest. You want to do something else, knit with something else, ANYTHING ELSE, instead of carrying on. The slog is when I'm most tempted to buy more yarn- because anything shiny and new is more exciting than what I'm working with.

Ladies and Gentlemen, (yes there's one of you- HI DAD!), we're in full SLOG zone.

Slog #1: The Pink Powder Sweater of NEVER.ENDING.STOCKING.STITCH.


I want to finish this so bad. I'm going to Cuba in two weeks and I think it would be the perfect light sweater to wear over my bathing suit or in the cool of the evening. (Does the "cool" part even happen? I'm highly doubtful.) The thing is, I'm sick to death of this project. I hate the yarn (HELLLO splitty!) and I'm pretty convinced that no amount of blocking is going to even out the stitches in some parts. I know I just need to keep going but I seem to only be able to knit a few rows and then my brain threatens to completely shut down in boredom.

What I'd rather be knitting instead: The Holiday Sweater. (Ravelry link- sorry non Rave members) The pattern isn't even out for this yet- the designer is still "tweaking it" but I want to make this so bad. The only thing getting me through the boredome of the pink sweater is the idea of the Holiday sweater.

Slog #2: The Rise and Shine Socks of I JUST WANT TO KEEP SLEEPING I'M SO BORED!

Yes. I'm still working on them. Yes. This is all the progress I've made. Yes. The color did pool rather nicely didn't it?

To be fair- these are my "travel" socks. They get worked on random flights and lunch hours at work and I'm not expected to knit them up in 20 minutes. But I'm just done with them already! What kills me is this is only sock 1- I still have another sock to go! Oh the evil slogginess!

What would I rather be knitting? The Endpaper Mitts. I feel like I'm ready for the fair isle challenge. My office temperature varies between "North Pole" and "Meat Locker" and I can't help but daydreaming how toasty my hands would be all wrapped up in these fancy little delights. Hell, I even have STASH YARN to use! But no. I slog on with the socks of boringness.

Slog #3: Baby Hats Total or WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING PLANNING TO KNIT SO MANY?!?

Bringing the process of slog to a complete snail's pace are the baby hats. I'm behind the tally. My goal was to be at 39 hats by the end of September. I had to put down my needles and grind some of these out or I was never going to be able to meet the year end goal of 1 hat per week. What kills me further is that there are so many hats to go... whenever I think I can just grind the pink sweater out I remember that I need to devote some of my time to the hats and catching up. The hats are my goal for the year. I want to get to 52. I need to say I did that!

I will give the hats a little kudos... they're depleting the acrylic stash slowly but surely. I've long wanted to get the stash down to yarn I'm not ashamed to show off to people. The more hats I grind out- the more acrylic stash space I acquire.

What I would rather be knitting? These mittens. Again- I've got stash yarn to knit them in red and I want to make a matching scarf. I know someone who would love this for Christmas- and they'd be quick too! But no... hats first. I have to catch up to the hats. Maybe I'll make mittens next year?

Slowing the slog even more: In a moment of pure insanity, I promised to knit my entire Breast Cancer Team pink ribbon cuffs for our walk this coming Sunday. All projects have been put on hold until I churn out 9 of these puppies! (Thankfully they go quick, I knit 3 today!) There will be pictures when they're all done- but YEESH how do I get myself into these slog situations!?

So that's where I'm at- in full slog zone- praying to the knitting gods to grant me speed and clarity (because the last thing I need to do is get to the end of a project and realize I need to rip back the whole thing for an error), so that I can just hurry up and finish already.

And so- without much to show for myself in this post- I return to the slog.... where I live on the faint hope that someday I'll be posting finished photos of these objects and we can all rejoice together about something new for me to talk about!

Wollmeise Frenzy - WARNING SOCK CLUB SPOILERS!

**This post contains Wollmeise sock club spoilers- if you wish to not see what will arrive in your truely wonderful Wollmeise package- stop reading this post now.**

It's here! The knitting version of the holy grail- the first shipment in the Wollmeise sock club.

Look at those colors! How does Claudia do that? The Wollmeise is gorgeous to behold. That is hand dying people! It's REALLY REALLY hard to get color like that in hand dyes!!! This is stuff I've been trying to get my hands on for months... MONTHS- hoping that I could catch a sneak up at the Loopy Ewe.

A friend of mine from work and I are sharing the sock club- because the price tag was hefty and with two skeins of yarn in each shipment, I knew the husband would not be happy with the excessive stash building. The package arrive containing the lovely skeins of yarn and you would have thought that it was Christmas the way we were squealing and sighing as we revealed the colorways. (This from people who spoiled themselves for the surprise LAST Thursday when other people got their deliveries in the mail.) I'm sure the office receptionist was just as happy to receive it as we were, even though she doesn't knit, we were harrassing her hourly for the last few days about "when's the mail get here".

But it's here now- and stunning doesn't even begin to describe it. And the pattern- I LOVE the pattern and I think I'll knit it. It's always a little scary to be in a sock club, what if you don't like the yarn or the patterns- but with this first shipment I am one happy camper! Since Viv paid for the yarn and it arrives in her name, I felt it was only fair that she get to choose the first colorway (I love both, there was no way I was going to end up disappointed) She's selected the green and I get the purple.

The colors in this stuff is simply amazing! So many colors all in rich jewel tones. And the yarn, it feels wonderful. It's very, very fine - I can tell it's going to knit up wonderfully, and they're going to be amazing pairs of socks! And no need to worry about running out- there's 574 yards in this. I could almost make two pairs of socks with that! (Note I said almost!)

I could continue to gush- but I should stop- because I want to knit with this stuff RIGHT NOW and I can't because I want to finish other things. I'm going on a vacation in October and I've promised myself and the Wollmeise that we're going to spend some quality time together at vacation time. Now I'm REALLY counting down the days!!

Feeling very lucky to have the Wollmeise. I'm so glad I'm in this club!!

Return of a Classic

The baby hats are back! This Sunday was very productive as I knit 3. (The other two I've knit on other days but I thought I'd finally get around to adding them to the count.) I'm really behind in the 1 hat a week plan so I thought I'd get back on the wagon and knit a few more.

Speaking about getting back on the wagon- I also picked up the pink sweater that had spent a lot of time in oblivion and while I'm still not feeling inspired by it, I'm at least working at getting it finished.

It's a good thing I'm working on finishing up a project- because there's a new yarn in the stash! I didn't buy this so it doesn't get put against me in how many days I've gone without buying something new. Below is the yarn I won, randomly for competing for Team Canada in the Ravelympics! There really isn't anything better than free yarn - is there?

That's the card it came with- it said "sorry it's not a gold medal, but hope you enjoy it anyways". Many thanks to the lovely Tammy who donated such a lovely prize! It's Zen Yarn Garden with heels and toes- so I can knit pink heels and toes to match the the pretty socks. She doesn't know it- but those colors are right up my alley. Thanks Tammy-- I love my "better than a gold medal" prize!

Gold Medalist

You're sitting at your computer, finger nails completely chewed, mid bite on your potato chip, waiting with bated breath for me to cross the finish line when.... when... anytime now.... um... HELLO?? Is this thing on? Nennie? Are you there?

Whoops. Life got a little hectic there and then I went on vacation, sorry you didn't get a full update at the time of the gold medal finish! Yes. I finished. August 20th was the magical date! They are to date the most lovely socks I've ever made.


Pattern: Cookie A's Maralinda socks
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in "Midnight Derby"
Needles: US size 1 Addi Turbo Double Points
Thoughts: Interesting, challenging and gorgeous! I want to knit Cookie patterns FOREVER now! What an excellent pattern, what dreamy yarn... all in all- very happy with this little successful FO.


Seriously, I could not be more pleased with myself! They just look so GOOD! What a perfect sock for the "Sock Put" challenge.

And now, Mom, go get the camera- the moment you've been waiting for my entire lifetime: my time to stand on the podium with gold medal around my neck representing Team Canada. All rise as Bobicus Maximus gives me my gold medal. (Pictured at right under the progress bars) (Please be patient with my mother as she takes 98 zillion photos...)


Do ya see it? Do ya? Well- probably not actually, but there it says "Sock Put Finish Line" and my little user name all linked up. (It says "jennipoo" for those of you without Superman style eyesight.)

To celebrate my little accomplishment- the husband agreed I needed to have the Ravelympic pin- so without further ado... my Golden Bob..... (that conviently arrived in the mail today!)


If that wasn't enough- I also randomly won sock yarn from a generous member of team Canada who donated prizes! (I believe they had entirely random draw, although I keep telling myself it's because my socks were the most beautiful... I"m totally delusional!) I can't wait to get my little Olympic treat and see what she sent!

And lastly- here I am, proudly wearing my Golden Bob for all to see. (This is only a semi-hideous shot of me compared to the WHOLLY hideous shots I had to choose from... clearly these photos should have been taken BEFORE work and not after!)

Yes. I am a gold medalist. I'm so proud of me!! What's next on the knitting horizon? I need to make a big catch up in the hat race... I'm so behind!!! I also need to finish my pink sweater, although sadly I don't think it will be in time for the Red/Pink KAL (knit-a-long) deadline I had hoped to make. Plus it's fall almost- but the weather here is already sucky which means LOTS OF TIME TO KNIT! Also getting closer and closer- the knitting retreat.... which I can barely wait for any longer I'm so excited!!

Lastly? A little teaser? Coming soon... The knitting equivalent to diamonds.... Wollmeise!