Blogiversary and a Seaming Monster

For those of you keeping track, today is my one year blogiversary and I've spent it thus far seaming the knitted demon that is Adam's Baseball Jersey. Now, I really don't mind seaming. Ever since I learned mattress stitch when I knit the Playful Stripes Cardigan I've been intrigued by the magic that seaming creates. It can look kind of scraggly and not quite right, and then you pull the ends and it all comes together perfectly. This however, it proving to be a test of my patience and skills. 

The sides of the body and the seam up the arm were easy, no sweat. But now I'm on to setting in the sleeve which I've never done and am kind of just flying by the seat of my pants. The pattern isn't very much help. The directions say something to the extent of: Set in sleeves, seam shoulders, good luck. This isn't just regular set-in sleeves either, you'll need to do the shoulder and saddle seaming as well. And with the amount of seaming that needs to be done, I've kind of called it quits for today. I've been sitting at my dining table for close to three hours and am starting to worry about blood clots, fatigue, and the crick in my neck setting in and becoming permanent.

 

I've only managed to set in half of one sleeve (in addition to the seaming of the sleeves and body). I was really hoping I'd put this all together today but I think I need a break (and a cup of tea).  I did tell Adam that he could just wear it like this. That we'd put in some safety pins to keep it together but that he'd be fine otherwise. He'd look great. It would be really breathable. He could just tell people his wife is from California and has a unique sense of style. Unfortunately, he's no stranger to my antics and just kind of ignored me.

So on to the required blogiversary reflection.

 

I've been kind of holding off on sharing any of my 2011 resolutions because I wanted to do so today. I tend to make only a few simple resolutions so that I actually keep them. In 2009, I resolved to try to live greener. I began recycling most of my trash (I haven't made it to composting just yet but then I don't have a garden and don't know what I'd do with the compost) and using green cleaning products. I also changed light bulbs and unplugged things we didn't use on a regular basis (toaster, stand mixer, etc). There were several other changes I made but I need to move on (the neck crick is acting up).

Last year I made three resolutions. I did not knit the Christmas stockings but I did do a pair of colorwork Totoro mittens. Since mittens are a smaller project, I think it was a good start. So we'll say this was accomplished. I still want to knit the stockings and I think I found a pattern that I like better than the ones I had originally planned on doing. We'll see. 

I did start cooking more often. I would say that I probably average 5 nights a week (pretty good considering sometimes I would start cooking when I got home at 7pm). The other two nights tends to be leftovers or eating out. Mostly leftovers though. We have definitely cut back on our eating out splurges (which got way out of hand one year) so I'm very happy about accomplishing this one. The good thing about it is that now that I'm in the habit of meal planning and freezing, I'm sure it will stick through this year too. 

My final goal was to update the blog more frequently. Done.

My goals for this year are pretty simple as well:

1. Fix the knitted garments that I don't wear so they are wearable or frog them. I got started in this on the last post but my goal is to be realistic about my knitting. I don't spend hours knitting a sweater not to wear it and there are a couple that I don't wear only because there's a small thing that needs to be fixed (like it needs to be lengthened or shortened, etc.). Specifically, there are three  garments that  need some adjustments (this, this, and this). 

2. Knit at least four pairs of socks for myself. Now that I have a pair of knitted socks all I can think of is the luxury of having an entire drawerful. They are so much warmer and more comfortable than regular socks. 

3. Knit at least two sweaters for myself. I love sample knitting and I love gift knitting but it's been quite some time since I knit anything for myself. When I think "well I last knit the socks for myself in September and that wasn't that long ago" I also have to remember that I have finished almost 15 projects since then. I want a sweater and I have the yarn for it so it is going to happen.

I think these are all pretty doable, don't you? And since you have stuck through this awfully long post, dear reader, I think you deserve a little something too. One of the things that I love about blogging is all the wonderful feedback I receive from my readers. If I need an opinion, I just ask and then there's two dozen people to act as a sounding board. Everyone is so helpful and kind. Thank you. 

Anyway, my point is, if you leave a comment under this post you will be entered to win a skein of Malabrigo Rios in the color Azules.

 

If you blog about this post, leave a second comment linking to your blog and you'll get a second entry. This giveaway is just for you readers to show my appreciation. I'll draw the winner using the Random Number Generator in the post where I share about the finished baseball jersey. When will that be? Well when it's done and photographed, that's when. And considering I start back to school tomorrow, it might be some time. 

So, here's to you, wonderful readers, and another year of blogging fun! Cheers!