When Things Don’t Feel Quite Right

Seems to happen when I feel like I’m being stretched too thing…ironically, I’m the one who does the stretching! No one else…

I was talking with my husband last night about it…my brain just seems full all the time. But it’s full of things that coming and going. I can really only focus on the task at hand. I can’t seem to spend any time outside of the present focusing on what is going on in the present.

I know that I need to spend more time planning for school…how do you think I know that? I’m dreaming about lesson plans and things going right but mostly wrong in my classes. I’m starting the panic again that I’m not doing enough or good enough. That kids aren’t learning. That we’re getting behind.

But when I leave school I just can’t seem to find my way back in my mental state. When I leave school, I also seem to leave my school thoughts there. When I left my friends this weekend, I feel like I left my friend thoughts there. Thankfully they were prolonged a touch by my friend, Brenna, who drove back with me…but I can’t seem to spend any time thinking about them otherwise. When I talk to my mom in the mornings, my thoughts are there, but I can’t spend any other brain power outside to mull over other things.

I’m perpetually stuck in the present.

This also comes up with knitting. I can’t seem to think about other knitting except for when I’m actually knitting. I’m having a hard time making the time to do that. I’m coaching and teaching and trying to be a good wife, daughter, and friend.

I’m not sure my brain could handle both the knit stitches and all the other perpetually present thoughts. I may short out a circuit or something.

So the knitting right now is the Decemberist by Melanie Berg. I’m using Cascade Eco Duo in the most beautiful gray and tan…it’s heavenly soft and I can’t wait to wear it…except that it’s warming up here…but maybe not for long. It can’t seem to make up it’s mind. I think I’m ready for spring though. At least some flip flops.

Yarn Along :)

I thought as a way to get back in to the habit of talking on here, I could try a little Yarn
Along.

First of all, let me say a big thank you to you guys who reached out and gave me such kind, encouraging words. I knew going back would be a challenge, but I never anticipated this big of a challenge. I guess that’s how challenges go 🙂

On to the knitting & reading…

I started reading St. Augustine’s Confessions. I am talking about him in my 8th grade Church History class and I personally wanted to know more. This is a piece written by him and details his spiritual journey. He was initially a pagan living in North Africa. His mother was Christian and prayed fervently for his conversion. I’m almost finished with the introduction 🙂

I’ve also been knitting on yet another baby blanket. This is the Baby Joe stripes blanket…it’s really Tanis Lavallee’s Baby Shane blanket. I’m using Cascade 220 superwash and it’s. so. bouncy!! I love it. I should be knitting on this with more urgency since Baby Joe has already arrived 🙂

Linking up with Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along & Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On 🙂

❤
Jenna

All Baby Blankets All the Time!

So since last we spoke, I was casting off the beautiful Akimbo blanket for a friend…I learned have also learned that there will be 5 new little ones by the time January gets here. So now it’s all baby blankets all the time!!

My sister-in-law is due first in October. I’m still deciding on what to knit for her little one. They are not going to find out if they are having a boy or a girl so I need to do something gender neutral and fun to knit. Here are the patterns I’m thinking about:

The Garter Rib Baby Blanket by Orange Flower Yarn
The Baby Shane Blanket by Tanis Lavallee
The Walt Painted Chevron Baby Blanket by Danielle Romanetti

But for now, I went ahead and cast on an Autumnal Equinox Blanket. I’m using some Lion Brand Yarn Ice Cream Big Scoop in the Lemon Swirl Colorway. I added my hand in for scale…there are 1117 yards of DK weight yarn here!!

The construction is really cool. I started by casting on in a corner and increasing on one side to create a triangle. After I knit the first triangle, I will pick up along the hypotenuse and knit another triangle. I’m interested to see how the striping will develop.

Also, its a free pattern on Ravelry.

After these two I’ve got to figure out what to knit for a set of twins due in December and another baby due in January. Hopefully my needles will feel speedy 🙂

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm & Craft On and Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along.

❤
Jenna

One Giant Cast-Off Done, One in the Works

I am so thrilled to be back here!! I’m finishing up my online class…this is my last week! I’ve found a teaching job that I’ll start in August…YAHOO! 6th, 7th, & 8th grade math with a couple religion classes as well. I will be busy! But back where I need to be 🙂

Until then, I’m trying not to melt in this heat! The hard part is wanting to knit all the things, but I can’t bear to sit under them while I do so. I guess it’s very lucky that I cast-off this monster the other night!

It’s my Inside Out blanket for my friend Krista’s first baby girl 🙂 It’s really Stephen West’s Akimbo Blanket pattern. I knit it out of Berroco’s Weekend yarn in 6 different colors. I followed the pattern for the most part until I got to the border. I just repeated each color twice.

Now for all the ends to weave in!

Then it just needs a good soak and it can go on its way to keep baby Palmer warm…just in time for summer!!

I also uncovered my Foggy Sunset shawl…also a Stephen West pattern, but this time it’s his Daybreak Shawl. I’m using some leftover Vice Yarns and the lovely, slow-changing Mini Mochi by Crystal Palace Yarns. I received this in a yarn swap I participated in a couple summers ago. It’s so soft and the color changes are so beautiful.

I have no idea how many stitches I’ve got left on here, but I know I need to knit one more row then I can cast-off. Wish me luck!

Then I’ll have to go dive into the other WIPS I’ve got…even though there are 4 more babies on the way that all need something from my needles!!

❤
Jenna

A 2 Year Blogiversary??

So it looks like I just missed my 2 year Blogging Anniversary…or perhaps a Blogiversary? I am saddened that I have had to take some time away from this space. I’ve been trying to keep up with this wonderfully digital fiber world on Instagram…a quick, little taste of what everyone seems to be working on. I guess that’s what happens when you start searching for jobs, interviewing, and taking an online class for continuing education.

Something’s Gotta Give 🙂 Just so happened that it was here that fell off. I’ve missed this place and my connections with you guys!

So I’m coming back! I think maybe once a week for now, but we’ll see!

I know what you really came here for…not these silly excuses and such, but the knitting.

Without further ado…

How about those socks from the Weekly WIP #6 post??

I finally did recount, redo the gusset increases and turn some heels! I did this on the trip down to Memphis for BBQ Fest in May…just took me about a month and a half to pick those back up! Now I’m in the home stretch! Working my way up the leg.

These are my purse knitting…as a quick reminder, they are the Strie Socks (Toe-Up version) from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture out of Zitron Trekking in the Tobago colorway.

Anyway, I’ll keep it brief and just know that I feel like I’m coming home.

❤
Jenna

Weekly WIP #6

I know I showed you some very fun projects on Monday…the Turia Sweater  and my Foggy Sunset Shawl as well as a Harvest Cardigan in the planning stages, but I’ve really been trying to get over the heel bump of these socks!

They are from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture (knit your library!!) and are the Strie Socks, Toe Up. I’m using some Zitron Trekking in this fantastic Tobago colorway.

First off, let me tell you this is my first pair of toe-up socks. I thought that if anyone could teach me something new in sock knitting, it would Lara Neel and her amazing book. This book is awesome! There are so many different combinations of heels and toes…she talks about how to get the best fitting sock known to mankind…she even throws in some history about where certain heel techniques originated. The book is a great read through, but on to the bonus time! There are patterns and most of them are written for both toe-up cuff-down construction.

Anyway, I started these bad boys a while ago. The Magic Cast-On went alright. The toe increases were easy. I knit a foot! Yahoo! Then came time for the gusset increases. I did them. Or at least I thought I did. I attempted to turn a heel. It was coming out wonky, but I persevered and had one finished…that took 2 tries…then I started on the second one. I got to the place where I was starting to knit the heel flap and noticed that the smallest part of the little turn was not centered on the foot…I ripped back, tried again…couldn’t get it right. I ripped back again. So I did what any reasonable knitter would do.

I put them in timeout! I’d been spending about 2 days worth of my knitting time wrestling with these heels and I couldn’t figure out why the second one was even more challenging to get right than the first. I thought that things got easier as you practiced! Then I had another reasonable knitter moment.

I counted. The second sock was about 8 stitches short…meaning I didn’t work the gusset increases long enough…I held up the first sock with a heel and had a lightbulb moment…this heel was off center too…probably because I didn’t have enough stitches to start the dang thing…

Here begins the mild swearing and unraveling of yarn…I ended up pulling out the gusset increases I originally did because I did one side in the wrong spot…

Needless to say this time I’m counting my rows. Like any reasonable knitter would do. Here’s hoping I get these finished soon! My friend Korey is working on a mitered square sock yarn blanket and is dying for my scrap!!

Linking up with these lovelies:
Knit Your Library with Emily at Snapdragon Crafts
Yarn Along with Ginny at Small Things
Keep Calm & Craft On with Nicole at Frontier Dreams

❤
Jenna

Weekly WIP #5

I’ve been clicking away on the Antler Toque in the Inca Gold…the stitch definition is amazing! I’m loving it!

I’ve also been reading The Little Black Book for the Lenten season. I listen to the readings for the day on my way to work on the Laudate app and then find time over lunch to read and reflect in the Little Black Book. The Little Black Book is put out by the Saginaw Michigan Archdiocese and can be found here.

Linking up with Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along, Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On and Beth at iknead2knit for Whatcha’ Workin’ On Wednesday.

❤
Jenna

The Weekly WIP That Won’t Quit

Where is my time going!? I guess with my full time job and the short daylight hours, I feel like each day has come and gone before I am even able to relax & knit. Maybe I should pick up my needles in the early morning hours instead.

And it’s Wednesday!!!! How did I get here! You may be asking yourself the same thing…almost only a week away from Christmas…The Skinty Stripe Scarf is still on the needles.

I’m second guessing exactly how long I want to make it…how much more yarn to put in…how many more black stripes…how much more time…how much more patience do I have for this project…how much longer I can resist other projects!?

Linking up with these fantastic ladies!
Tammy at Life & Yarn for Stitch Along Wednesday
Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm & Craft On
Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along
Beth at iknead2knit for Whatcha Workin On Wednesday

Hopefully this Friday will be fully equipped with a Freshly Finished Friday…it’s been a while so you should have a lot to link up with 🙂

❤
Jenna

Second Sock Syndrome…

I would guess that if you are a knitter of socks, you are quite familiar with Second Sock Syndrome. Even if you don’t knit socks and just knit anything, you can probably guess what SSS is…in most scenarios, Second Sock Syndrome occurs when one finishes one sock and delays/dreads/doesn’t start the second sock. It can happen when knitters are in fear of diving into a second sock of boredom or mistakes…I usually am afflicted with boredom.

I’m someone who does not usually enjoy knitting the same pattern more than once. There are exceptions like basic socks (oh irony), hats, and the perfect, quick baby blanket. Otherwise, I’m a one and done kind of knitter.

Thus I’m generally bored of the sock and delay starting the second one in fear of being bored.

However, I may have discovered a new form of SSS. I’m dying to start this second sock!!!!

They are my Bootstrap socks. I have been wearing the 3 pairs of wool socks I’ve made non-stop and I would love to have these finished too so I can add them into the rotation.

Except, I’m being stopped. By this:

Yes, it’s still the Skinty Striped Scarf. I’m trying to remain faithful but it’s hard. I want my sock. I want my finished pair of socks.

I made about this much progress last week, and I’m going to stick this out, at least through the end of the week. Then I’ll re-evaluate 🙂

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On…don’t know if I’m particularly calm, but we shall give it a go 🙂

It did help airing out a little frustration here. Perhaps tomorrow I can stare at all the other stuff I want to finish/start…

❤
Jenna

Weekly WIP #4

Yep, I’ve been missing you guys!! I journeyed to Louisiana for a quick Thanksgiving weekend. Jordan and I had the most wonderful time. I was able to spend time with my adorable niece Payton and of course her parents, my Brother & Rachel, and my Mom.

She’s the cutest!! Still has those gorgeous blue eyes…one of the blessings my brother inherited 🙂

So I’ve been clicking away on an oldie-but-goodie that has been languishing on my needles for far too long, The Skinty Stripe Scarf.

I was supposed to finish this a while ago…I talked about it when I first started my blog even! There was UFO Wars that was supposed to motivate me. However, nothing has inspired me as much as finishing all other projects for people other than myself EXCEPT for this one thing!

That’s why this week I’m exclusively focusing on this scarf. Giving it a good effort, undivided attention, resisting the urge to cast on a second sock to the Bootstrap Socks or to cast on a hat for Payton using this Squirrel Chart or even just putting any sort of row on any of my WIPs…

Linking with Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm & Craft On.

❤
Jenna