Bibbidy Bibs!

Excitement! A friend is having a baby! YAY! The shower isn't for a few months, but I had to start knitting the new baby's gifts as soon as I got my invite!

I earmarked the Baby Bib O' Love for a long time ago and am happy to finally have the opportunity to buy some cheap-o cotton yarn and knit up a few cotton bibs.

I finished this yellow one Monday and am planning on making two more...one purple [the parent's preferred color to pink] and natural. Leftover yarn will become striped Baby Genius Burp Cloths. My grandmother also had the brilliant idea of crocheting edges to plain terry bibs, so I may throw in a few of those too.

This bib was so fast and easy. Y'know, I almost forgot what it was like to actually finish a project. can you believe it?

The Road To Organization, Part II

I have a large stack of printed patterns.

Some are single leaflets.
Some are working copies from books and magazines.
Some are patterns from kits.
Some are printouts from websites.

All of them, however, have been sitting in the corner collecting dust and being an eyesore.

I made a plan this week to get them organized and put away. So, I purchased four 3-ring binders and some tabbed dividers, borrowed a hole punch from the job and got to work.


Dividing the patterns up wasn't too hard...cardigan or pullover [further divided by short or long sleeve], scarf and shawl, accessory, etc.

The problem I'm running into now is organizing the patterns I've printed from my books and magazines. I'm wondering if, rather than included the working copies I've made into the notebooks, I should put those sheets into the book/magazine from which they came. My thinking is that I may go directly to a book for a pattern and not cross reference the notebook and make yet another copy. Not exactly Earth-friendly.

So, I put this question to you, citizens of Superstarra-ville - is there any method to your particular madness when it comes to organizing your printed patterns?

It's Alive!

Since moving into my own place a few months back, I've been really trying to be more proactive in the kitchen. I've always considered myself more of a baker than a chef, as I tend to make stupid mistakes when I cook. I'm inspired by all the wonderful foodie blogs I read, basic cable food channels [since I can't afford watching premium channels] and just being hungry on a regular basis. Why do they all make it seem so easy? I suppose it is...and I'll never know until I try, right? Since deciding to make an attempt to find my inner Emeril, I've been really wanting an little kitchen herb garden. It would be so nice to just pick herbs off the plant right?

Well on a recent trip to Joann's I found a little herb garden starter set. I couldn't resist. I got it home, opened it up and started planting. I think the waiting for something to break through the surface is the hardest part. I looked every day, but nothing seemed to be happening.

...sigh...

Then last night, while making some subpar pasta sauce, I looked at my little garden and guess what I saw?!?!

Sprouts! Little basil sprouts! They're so cute!

And three little thyme sprouts too!!!

The sage is giving me nothing. I'm being patient though.

Sigh Of Relief

I actually finished knitting the Waves of Grain scarf this weekend. Sunday. Sunday afternoon. Early Sunday afternoon, to be exact.

Tell me about it. I'm flabbergasted as well.

It needs a block and a seam and it's totally done. Can you believe it? I know, I know...I can't either.

It's supposed to rain the next few days her in LA, so I'll probably leave the blocking for when it warms up this weekend.

Now what do I work on?!

Weekend!

Here we are! It's the weekend again! It's been a pretty uneventful week, to be honest with you, but I'm still thankful for the beginning of the next two days away from the office. I don't have many plans, other than eating badly, being slothful and maybe breaking one or two more of the 7 deadly.

I'm still knitting away at the Waves of Grain scarf...I've been very spotty with the knitting, but I still feel I've made some really good progress on it. I knit until I get tired then I set it aside until the next time I find my ass firmly planted on the couch again. Which, let's be serious, is the following evening. Maybe I'll try to push through this weekend just so I can get it finished. In between naps, of course.

I'm Knitting!

I know! I can hardly believe it myself.

I went to Vegas with my mom and two Aunts last weekend and knew that I would need something to do on the long road trip. I have plenty of wips to choose from, but finding the exact right one was a bit of a challenge. I didn't want to have to deal with dpns, so all the hats I have on the sticks were out. I didn't really want to have to deal with a chart, but wound up bringing the Waves of Grain scarf along for the trip.

I had quite a few issues with the first half of the scarf, but after casting on I made quite a bit of progress and haven't had to frog my work too much. I'm almost positive that I jinxed myself with that last statement.

I'm going to try to dedicate some serious time to finishing this half and getting this project out of my hair. Wish me luck!

The Road To Organization

I bet you thought I was trapped under a mountain of yarn during my fiber organizational mission. Almost. Thank god Poppy was there to save me. Once I was able to get a look at all my stash, I was able to see that organizing by fiber/time of year was my best choice. All my wool related yarns went into one bin, and the cotton and misc yarns went into a second. I also decided to keep a third bin which would continue to house all of my remnants and singles.

I figured I'd put out some guidelines for those crazy enough to take on this project.

The Road To Organization

The first step is always the hardest. Step 1 requires admitting to yourself you have a stash so large, that in order to keep it manageable, it should be organized into like groups. Now that you know you could have gone across the world if you haven't spent all your money on yarn, you are ready to organize. Just put the block off a weekend day [or a month and a half, depending on the stash size] and get ready to make it all better.

1. Pull all of your yarn out into the open. Even those yarns that you hate to admit you have. Yes, I'm talking to you, bright green acrylic eyelash yarn. And those yarns that would cause your partner to drop dead if they found out the price point for a 50yd hank. Try to recall all of your hiding places and write yourself a note to bring home the yarn you keep at work.

2. Place all the yarn in the most inconvenient place in your home [optional depending on house to stash size ratio] . This could be the kitchen table, on the couch, in the middle of the hallway. The inconvenience of having to hurdle bins and bins of yarn will be your motivation to finish the organization process as soon as possible.

3. Check it out! This is the time when you remind yourself of all the yarns that have been hidden away. Open all the bins, bags, drawers, suitcases, space bags, pillowcases, etc and see what lurks within! I'm sure you'll be surprised and inspired by what you actually have!

3 1/2. Do not be seduced by a newly discovered yarn. You will find some gems. Trust me. Don't be lured in by this yarn. It will try to seduce you with its soft hand, and its deep color. It will convince you that you have to find a project for it immediately. Don't let it play you! Ravelry will be there when you get done.

4. Separate the keepers from the chuckers. Depending on how long you've been holding a stash, you may find that you have outgrown some of your yarns or maybe you finally realized that yellow really does make you look jaundice. It's time to pull those yarns from your collection and destash or trade for yarns you'll use!

5. Figure out your organizational style. Now that you have all of your keeper yarn before you, it will be easier to figure out your organizational style. Maybe you want to organize by color. Of fiber. Or finished project. Or quantity. Or maybe a combo of two! Organize by what fits your style and your stash.

6. Channel your inner Librarian. This is the fun part. Organizing! Sticking it all in bags and labeling. I can't say enough about how awesome those vacuumy space bags are. You will be amazed at how much space you have when you yarns are properly vacuum sealed [I found that I have quite a few balls of yarn that are on cardboard cylinders. These I put all together into an old zipper bag my comforter came in since vacuum sealing wouldn't do much].

It would also be a good idea to have a computer with your Ravelry stash page pulled up at this point. As you organize and group your yarns, you can be sure that your online stash reference guide is up to date also.

7. Store properly and label! However you decide to store your stash, be sure to make sure it's kept safe from all the things that mean to do it harm: moths, cats, dogs, dust, little children with dirty hands, other knitters, etc. And don't forget to label your newly organized stash so when you have to find those 10 ball of Rowan Calmer you don't have to destroy all your hard organizational work looking for them!

8. YAY! You're done! Stick your newly organized yarn back into its proper hiding place and call it a day!