Gotta Focus

I have a problem. I am easily distracted. Very easily distracted. I want to work on the next project even when I'm not done with the one I'm currently working on. Or rather the several I'm working on. Just check out the works in progress on the sidebar to the right. There's a lot of stuff in that list. And that's only the stuff I am even remotely kinda sorta actively working on. At least the ones I'll admit to. There are really more than that.

It's not like I don't enjoy working on the current projects. They're great and I want to get them done. Really I do. If I didn't, would I track their progress? Let alone track it publicly. For all the world to know I never finish things. That would be like failing a test on international TV. Did I tell you my parents were both educators so failing is not allowed? Especially publicly.

Yet, I am anxious to start a new project. While attending the MI Fiber Festival I bought a kit to make the Fiber Trends Huggable Hedgehog. It's so cute. Isn't the hedgehog cute? You gotta admit he's cute. I really want to start it. Wouldn't you want to start it? And it's felted so it knits up big and it should be fast. Right? I can finish it over Labor Day weekend with no problem. By the time I add it to my works in progress list it will be done. So I should just go ahead and do it, right. Where's an enabler when you need one?

But I have so many things already in progress. And they're all scattered on and around the sofa in the living room. It's a large sectional sofa and there's no place for guests to sit because of all the projects. What's a girl to do?

Accidental Meeting

Back in May I went to Borders to buy a knitting book. There were at least three books on the list. All of them were on the shelf. I had a coupon. I didn't buy any of them. Do you want to know why?

Sitting on the table was a book I had heard a little something about but it didn't seem to be my style. I decided to thumb through it anyway. There was a section titled "In defense of the warshrag". The caption for the picture on the facing page said "If the Anti-Dishcloth Coalition targets you for making dishcloths, resist peacefully and start singing Bob Dylan songs." I was hooked.

This book was not only about knitting but it made me laugh. Out loud. For long periods of time. In public. The book had to go home with me. It's called Mason-Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne.

I discovered Ann & Kay have a website, Mason-Dixon Knitting. There's a great blog there too, Mason-Dixon KAL (KAL stands for knit-a-long). I started knitting dishcloths warshrags, and I can't stop. Must give them as Christmas gifts since I don't really cook, and therefore don't have dishes to wash.

My house is bursting at the seams with Sugar 'n Cream dishcloth cotton. I keep buying it even though I have enough to last me a few years. Tomorrow, I'm going to the tent sale at Mary Maxim to buy more. There's always another color to buy, another warshrag waiting to be made.

Once I discovered Mason-Dixon Knitting, I found dishcloth patterns everywhere. Criminy Jickets has a wonderful Garterlac dishcloth pattern on his blog. It's entrelac but done in garter stitch. Then I discovered a Monthly Dishcloth KAL Yahoo group and had to join. I need a support group to save me from all this. I've considered cooking so I can create dirty dishes so I can use all my wonderful warshrags .

Many people tell me they're too nice to use. They'll get dirty. wah, wah, wah. Your sponge gets dirty too. When the warshrag gets dirty just throw it in the washing machine. What's the problem? Tell someone you're knitting a warshrag and 9 times out of 10 they say, "you're making what?" which is quickly followed by "why would you want to do that?" Yet, every once in a while someone says "I love those. My Mom always used them" to which I respond "I'll add you to my gift list".

Renee


P.S. This isn't the usual list. The one where your name gets added at the bottom but nothing ever gets made for anyone on the list. This is the list I actually work from.


P.P.S. The Mason-Dixon Knitting book has lots of great items, not just warshrags. There are baby bibs, burp cloths, a cute baby kimono, a nightie, curtains, and more. If you haven't taken a look at the book, you definitely should. It's a great read even for non-knitters.

Interesting Swaps

I signed up for two "swaps". The first is ISE3, the 3rd International Scarf Exchange. It's an opportunity for me to knit a scarf and send it off to someone I've never met. I've selected the pattern and the yarn. I hope my pal isn't averse to fall colors or allergic to wool. And someone out there in the world will be sending a scarf to me. I can't wait. I love gifts. I love surprises. Come join the fun. You have until September 7th to sign up.

The other event is part swap, part challenge. I've enlisted for Sock Wars. According to yarnmonkey, who's hosting the event, "... you will be emailed a top secret file containing the details of your target and a pattern. To kill your target you must knit them the pair of socks in the pattern and mail it to them..." If you are killed you mail your unfinished project and your target's info to your killer. The sole survivor is the winner. I wonder if I am up to the challenge. Are you? If so, sign up by Spetember 8th.

Crocheting caps for a good cause

In July, I attended Chain Link 2006, the national conference of the CGOA, in King of Prussia, PA. During the annual meeting, they discussed a new partnership between the CYCA's Warm Up America! Foundation and Save the Children called Caps to the Capital. Knitting and crocheting hats is a simple, low-cost practice that could save newborn lives in developing countries around the world. We were told "the goal is 500,000 hats (applause from the crowd) but we can do 1 million, can't we? (thunderous applause from the crowd)". The group of crocheters sitting in the room loudly declared we were up to the challenge.

I am constantly making something and find it very satisying to make items and donate them to worthy causes. So when I heard about Caps to the Capital I went right home and searched my stash for stray balls of yarn. My personal goal is to make at least 50 hats by Thanksgiving. I crochet or knit most days in the cafeteria after I finish my lunch. Usually I can complete at least one hat during my lunch hour. The other day I finished two. Please don't tell my boss. You can keep up with my progress by glancing at the bar over on the right.

Hello and Welcome to my Blog

My name is Renee and as you might have guessed Sticky was my father. Actually his name was James, but Dad's college friends all called him Sticky.

I am a craftaholic. Primarily a fiber person. Crocheting is my first love but I am a big fan of knitting. In prior crafting cycles I have done beadwork, teddy bears, porcelain dolls, quilting, polymer clay, and basketweaving.