about my knitting.

...yes, finally, a proper post about my knitting. which started as a post "on knitting" but whoa, that's way big, isn't it. and then "the knitting" and uh oh, it's getting even bigger. then I tried "on the knitting" and of course that was no better. so finally, because this really is a post about "my" knitting, there we have it.

I used to blog pretty regularly About My Knitting and I mean to get back to that. because it's a big part of my life. and I think probably tells as good a story about me as the myriad photos and journaling cards I put into my Project Life album each week.

Annie Scarf (raveled here) - first FO for me of 2013

It's been ...months... since I last devoted a post to knitting (I'm not even bothering to find out how long, but the fact that I can't remember says it's a good while). during that time the output has been a bit slight and the FOs a bit fewer. bottom line - I've made a half dozen plus projects for charity and gifts, but until last week's Annie Scarf, I hadn't finished anything for myself since last August. and there are now days...I don't knit. former thought not so scary - I've made plenty of sweaters and scarves and cowls and socks and hats (to the point where I need a second closet to store it all) but latter thought. whoa. and this was just two days ago. yep, Monday, January 14, 2013, I didn't knit. (the stitches I worked in class that night for my students don't count!)

I do remember a post from last fall - early packing days - where I wondered if the three projects I'd kept from the boxes (two sweaters and something else I can't recall) would be enough to keep me busy through the unpacking. y'all were nice not to scoff then. the two sweaters have both been frogged and like I said, I can't recall the 3rd project. I did finish my 12 hats for charity. and managed to knit Sara's birthday cowl and mitts and the Christmas gifts, just barely.

Abigail, how she looked before and after we moved...and just before I frogged her!

...and after (this is going to become Thorn...yep, I ripped the whole thing today!)

All of which has made me wonder...is this ME?

and I've finally concluded "yes, but you've changed (a little):"

• I do still love knitting. the process. the product. ravelry. yarn. patterns. queues. favorites.
• I do still love teaching...maybe more since I'm spending less time at the shop and my students/classes are now my focus when I'm there.
• but I no longer feel a need to knit all the things or buy all the yarn. (right now anyway.)
• I'm taking it slower,
• and I think, enjoying it more.

I was also thinking I'd lost my sweater mojo - (sweaters have been my thing these past few years but I hadn't finished one since last summer and I can't remember the last one I made that had sleeves!) - until yesterday. when I spent the entire afternoon knitting this. (while I rewatched the Golden Globes and checked in on twitter). thank you November Knits and Tanis Gray. I'm feeling a little bit more like (the old) me (and that is very comfortable, thank you!).

Market Jacket, raveled here.