Summer Knitting Goals

I am a huge fan of lists. This is probably why I have a "hard copy" planner in addition to my PDA from work and why I document everything I feel I need to do in both places (sometimes I love MS Outlook. Until it flips out on me - then my love is diminished)

So when I saw the Summer Knitting Goals on Dim Sum Knitting, well, I had to join in. Extra motivation because there is a contest, hosted by Skeins Her Way in this post. Head over and sign up, and be sure to let her know you jumped from my blog if you do.

So, without further ado, my summer knitting goals:

1. Finish Wicker and the Hourglass Sweater - the 2 languishing sweaters I've started. I know it's summer and I should knit summery things, but these 2 need to get finished.
2. Make another Razor Cami. I have some Rowan Wool Cotton and some Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton (BSK, how I love your sale) that could be used, it's just a matter of choosing.
3. Finish all those socks that are taking up my dpns - Trekking, knee socks, manly socks, Jaywalkers...I'm probably forgetting a few. Since I joined Summer of Socks, this is pretty appropriate.
4. This may be overshooting my abilities - the mitered blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. We shall see....

Knitting content

The last few weeks, in addition to bringing a ton of emotion and change, have also been full of alot of knitting. I started another Lady E shawl, as a sort of meditative/prayer shawl for my first visit up here (I'm back in Napa for the weekend). I started another Clapotis from STR in Lucy, after seeing the Clapotis Teresa knit in a weekend (the gift of the Clapotis she made for me sort of slowed down my progress). Some baby gifts have been made, and two Black Sheep Knittery visits have completely decimated my resolution of being on a stash diet.

This is the point where I say rules are made to be broken.

I did take pictures of most of these things, and left my camera at home. So I'll have to ask you to imagine all of this for the time being :)

Aside from knitting, I'm doing alright. I believe this stage may be denial, anger, or something. People tell you it takes awhile to understand what happened, and I believe it. Most days seem fine - I started going back to work last week, which has been nice. I haven't seen much of people outside of work, but for now that's what I want. Knitting, writing, and just thinking.

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments. The blogging community never ceases to amaze me - you guys are great. Take care everyone, and have a good weekend!

The Golden Gate

May 8th, an 18 year old boy got up and printed out directions to the Golden Gate Bridge. A few hours later, he was dead.

I was 9 when my little brother was born. He was my excuse to start babysitting and to learn all the Disney movies by heart. He grew up while I was away at college and grad school. He got taller and taller every visit home, and had grown to appreciate the Daily Show and cynical comedy.

The drop from the bridge is 240 feet, meaning jumpers reach a velocity of 80 mph by the time they hit the water. Only a tiny percentage survive the jump. Most die as their organs shred (inertia at work), others drown. Apparently, almost all jump towards land. The San Francisco Chronicle cites many statistics in a series they did on suicides from the bridge.

Is my brother another statistic? If you watch baseball long enough, you realize almost anything can become a statistic. He was 18 and hadn't graduated from high school yet. He will never vote, he will never go to college. He will never legally drink or go to a frat party. He won't cram for finals for lectures he skipped. He won't get married, he won't have children, he won't get a job, he won't retire.

He won't read the final Harry Potter book.

In many ways, it seems too extreme to be real. I haven't lived in my parents' house for 8 years, so I feel like I didn't know him very well. I missed so much of his growing up. It seems now that none of us knew him that well. I'm just numb - my boyfriend asks me daily if I want to talk, one of my best friends offered to spend the night this weekend. I turn them down because I don't know what to say. How do you talk about something your mind hasn't accepted yet? How do you deal with the fact everyone around you is watching you closely, trying to figure out if you're ok?

I have good memories of my brother, I only wish there were going to be more. Thank you all for your kind comments, cards, and phone calls.

An absence

This will be my last post for a little while. My brother passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, and I'm back in Napa now with my parents trying to sort through everything. He was only 18, and it's incredibly hard to look in his room, with his new computer for college in the fall, and try to understand why he left. Everyone is holding it together for the time being, but with the memorial and funeral coming it's getting harder. So, keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

New!

A little while back, Jordana Paige had a contest on her website, offering 5 free bags in a drawing. I won, and found this on my doorstep yesterday! I've been happily organizing my current WIPs in it ever since :)
Speaking of new projects, Manda's post about her Swallowtail Shawl inspired me to pick up my own started Swallowtail. I got 8 spools of red wool off the Destash blog awhile back and this seemed like a good opportunity to use it. I've got mixed feelings - I love the color, but the yarn has been a little stiff an even broken in some places (I'm concerned moths may have gotten to it at some point). Plus I have a ton of it, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the rest of it....

Only 11 more repeats of the first chart to go....

:)

WIP Wednesday

Actually, I haven't been doing so much knitting as I have been driving lately. I have, however, been stocking up on the sock yarn. I bought some STR this weekend in Lucy, to make another Clapotis (after seeing Peggy and Teresa's, I couldn't resist) I've also bought some Lorna's Laces in somewhat solid colorways to make socks with more emphasis on stitch detail than color. I have seen a few examples of socks that have both color varigation and stitch pattern, but for me I really like one or the other.
I have been making excellent progress on the baby knit and my knee sock. Last night I also finally picked up Wicker again. This month, as I say every month, will be about finishing things. And hopefully less yarn shopping :) After a lapse in the yarn diet (though sock yarn technically doesn't count), it's time to get back on the wagon. My checkbook will thank me later.


I've added a few new links to the side for stores and tutorials. Check out Abby's Yarns post about making a tweed blend! And Ravelry - another way to organize my WIPs?

ETA: Amazon is having a Kitchen and Home Mother's Day Sale.