This is getting out of hand...

We're getting ready to move and I've started packing by assessing what I have on the needles. Seems like a reasonable place to begin the process.

I've discovered that yet again, I'm a terribly unfaithful to my projects.

Let's begin with what's been on the needles the longest....

Laurel Jane's Cap (ravelry link), designed by Deb Barnhill, published in Beyond Toes

This is the second time I've knit this exact cap. But when I knit it the first time I didn't put the plastic in the brim and the result was that the brim laid flat over my face. Not terribly attractive. Or practical, since the brim covered my eyes. I tried to undo the kitchener stitch to insert a brim, but managed to unpick the wrong thread and had to rip back to the beginning and start fresh. It stalled out because Cotton Fleece is really hard on my hands. I only have the decreases left and I can't yet bring myself to pick it back up since it makes my wrists ache to look at it. I'll get back to it. Eventually.

Next up is Geodesic Cardigan

Not very far into this one I'm afraid. It's another re-knit. I had knit this yarn (Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light) into a simple top down raglan cardigan but got as far as dividing for the sleeves and realized that the needle was just too big and fabric too loose. This has fallen by the wayside since I had other knits to take care of.

Another sweater...this one is mystery knit along I was doing, the pattern is called My Honey.

I'm knitting it with knit picks shine, which is a cotton blend. So while I'm working on it almost every day, there is that element of hurt that comes with knitting cotton. Grace is eager to have her sweater, so hopefully I'll have this one done soon.

This next one is my "Purse Project", basically what I carry with me for moments when I have to wait or I have some random down time I can get in a few rows

It's knit with Schoppel-Wolle Sockenklecks basically it's been dyed after being knit into a scarf. You unpick the cast off edge and knit it from there. My goal is to knit up the leg until I hit the mid point of the scarf and then I'll start the second sock. I might pull it back a few stripes though to add more stitches per row so they'll fit my calves a bit better. They're fun and bright and I love them.

Also quite bright is my Hitchhiker

Knit with Wollmeise in the Flower Power colourway, it's bright and lovely. The knitting is simple, so it's great for tv watching. The colour is crazy, hence why a simple pattern is the way to go here. I think it will be lovely to wear in the grey winters we have in Nova Scotia.

On top of those pictured above I also have a colourwork scarf, a pair colourwork mittens, a pair of socks I'm sort of working out the design of as I go, and gloves for my brother that I've been working on for two years (gloves are fiddly as fuck).

So I really had no business casting on something else yesterday out of these yarns

Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight in Atlantic (grey blue), Tidal (light blue) and Peacock (tealish blue), and it's on it's way to becoming a Colour Affection, which judging by the number of projects and times queued (2551 and 5767 respectively as of this writing) this the new viral pattern. It's simplistic and addictive and I'm already done the first section. I can't wait to see how the colours I've chosen come together.

I justified starting this new one because I finished these

Rogue Roses knit with Socks that Rock lightweight in "Gertrude Skein"

I'm practically sitting on my hands trying not to cast on for a sweater with the Cascade 220 in a lovely shade of blue that I have waiting in the craft room. I think if I'm to stand a chance of getting any of these projects knit I'm going to have to pack up all the stash and patterns.

If anyone out there has Finish-it-up-itis would you kindly find some way of passing it on to me? If not, maybe you could come over and pack my house because clearly I have entirely too much knitting to do.

One Year

My twins turned a year old on Thursday, May 10th. On some level I'm still processing the fact that I am someone's mother, let alone the mother to 5 children, and my mind warps whenever I contemplate the fact that I have twins.

It's taken me a while to write out this post, mostly because I wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. I wish I could breeze into it and say "Oh their first year was so marvellous I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I could", but that simply isn't true.

Last year I had a c-section and recovery from that major surgery sucked donkey balls. My muscles are only now starting to work again. I have a scar from where they cut into my body and that freaks me out. Not that I had a c-section, that doesn't bother me. I needed it, my twins were in a very dangerous position and vaginal birth could have been disasterous. I had a great team who worked very hard to bring my babies safely into this world and who went above and beyond to make me feel at ease. No, it's the actual cutting that troubles me...a hole was made where one was not before. I'm still processing it.

Right after my twins were born I was hit with literally every single symptom Bell's Palsy can throw at a person. I had the paralyzed face, the weird effects on my voice, the watery eyes, the painful echo loud noises would make in my ears. My neurologist was almost impressed by it all, he'd never seen someone get ALL of the symptoms.

My body crashed and emotionally I went to hell. I dealt with horrible depression and anxiety, all while trying to adjust to my new role as mom to 5 children and all the extra work that comes with being a mother to twins.

But there were great moments too...my boys are gorgeous and interesting little people. My older children are amazing me every day. My husband is an absolute champion who pulled me up from the darkness and helped me through. I discovered that my friends really are there for me and love me for who I am. It was a real litmus test for those around me, and I was so happy and felt so cherished when the dust settled and they were all still there.

I did things I didn't think I would get around to doing...like finally getting my tattoo that I've wanted for years (a mermaid knitting. My husband designed it, it's beautiful), which was my reward for coming through to the other side of my depression.

I did things I never thought I would ever do...I cut my hair really short and dyed it a blue-black colour. I got into belly dance and at our student showcase got up in front of a room full of strangers and danced...with my belly out. Streth marks and all...and I felt amazing and beautiful and powerful doing it.

So while it would be easy to dwell on the negatives of the past year, I don't want to do that. It's over, we're moving on. But neither do I want to dismiss or hide what I went through. It shaped who I am now. And as I have said many times, talking about it keeps me accountable. I hid my depression for too long, and no one knew it was happening (I have a very good "social face"). By talking about it, I can't slip back into it, my support network won't let me.

I look forward to the good things the next year will bring. There are changes coming, and while they aren't the changes I was hoping for I feel good about them. Positive. I feel like I can handle anything that's thrown at me (Side note, confidential to Life...that was not a challenge).

Thursday evening friends and family gathered in our home to celebrate the twins turning one. There was food, presents, cake...and so much love.

And at the center of it all...babies covered in chocolate

About 4 or 5 years ago I bought a second-hand spinning wheel (a Louet S10, that I named Charlotte) and fell in love with spinning. I love how when the knitting gets too hard on my hands I can spin and be creative while using a totally different set of muscles. I love hand painted fibre and how it never spins up the way you think it will. I love looking over my handspun stash and seeing my progression as a spinner.

Oddly enough, I don't often knit with what I spin. It's almost as though the yarn is the finished product for me, needing no further crafting for it to be "done". I'm working on that.

Around 2 years ago my mom and dad bought a wheel for me from an antique shop. After looking it over, I realized it's probably not as old as initially thought, but the price was good regardless. Unfortunately, it wasn't something I could spin with as it was missing key elements, the flyer being the most important. I knew the wheel was in the Ashford Traditional style (probably not bought from that company, but built from those plans) and that I could purchase what was needed easily. While I half-heartedly shopped around for a flyer assembly, the wheel sat in the craft room...pretty to look at but largely useless.

Then a friend of mine got a homemade wheel with the same dilemma...needed a flyer assembly. She found one at a sort-of local yarn shop and got set up with her first wheel. Inspired by her, I got spinning on Charlotte and made some yarns happen. Then I got curious about her new flyer assembly. Not long after, my husband was scheduled to help his mom move, and his route would take him right past the shop. And we had just gotten our tax return...and mother's day was coming...

(side note...how awesome is my husband? He takes a side trip to walk into an unknown yarn shop and purchases a flyer assembly. I love that man)

Next dilemma...my wheel was a reddish-brown colour and the new flyer assembly was lighter natural wood colour. I always figured if I was going to get this wheel ready to go I would likely paint it. I considered stains and while talking to my friend Ann decided on blue. I headed to Home Depot and explained what I was doing to a very helpful staff member. He got excited about my project too and helped me choose all the supplies I'd need to make this happen.

And so began the spinning wheel transformation

Before:

I carefully took the wheel apart, taking pics of each piece and how it fit together and what screws went where. Even with the prep, seeing it laid out like this made me a little nervous

After an afternoon's and evening's work, all the parts where painted and sealed and waiting for re-assembly. The following evening I reassembled the wheel, assembled the flyer. I touched up the wheel itself and left it for another day to set.

And the result

is a beautiful blue wheel.

But I wasn't ready to congratulate myself just yet...what if it didn't work? Sure the parts all went round when I treadled but would it make yarn? My husband had said he was fine with me painting it and getting it ready, but I really shouldn't play with my new wheel until after Mother's Day since the flyer was my present But..he's not home right now I needed to test it.

Success!

So now I have two wheels and I am one happy spinner. I haven't named her yet, waiting for when I can really play. My wheel came with a lazy kate that I still need to paint (it should match after all). I have 4 old bobbins and 4 new ones to play with.

Happy mother's day to me!