My Shawl Complete

I have finally completed my shawl. I started this on January 1, 2011. This is the first thing I have really ever made for myself. I have made some dish scrubbies but how do you enjoy those? In October or so I purchased about $60.00 in yarn to make this shawl and an infinity scarf from www.NaturallyCaron.com. Last night I finally finished this shawl! The only thing left to do is block it. However, I do not have a blocking board and we do not want to use a mattress. One of these days I may have a blocking board... or Jeff will finally make me one.

I did have a booboo when I was almost done with the silver part of the lace bottom... I realized that I was using the wrong color. I had intended for the lace to be green... and I switched the colors! I now have 2 skiens of green to use elsewhere! Enjoy my photos!

2011 Goals

I have been thinking about what should be my goals for this year. I wanted them to be things I might actually obtain and things that I would not so easily cast aside. I want to work hard and learn. So here is a list of some of my 2011 goals.

 - Learn to knit: as you saw in my last post, I have started this one. I have knitted 3 squares and am now on my fourth. I get frustrated because if I lose my place in a pattern I have a very hard time figuring out where I am. Yesterday I frogged the whole square and started over. I cannot knit something that requires many different steps and stitches while Jeff is talking to me, I am chatting or watching TV.

- Do more charity work: if this means being a volunteer, making a dozen blankets or donating money... I want to be a part of it. I want the chance to be part of something I strongly support. I've told you all how I love Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse. I want to do more than we did last year. I currently have 3 blankets... 4 if you count this knit one... for the "Be a Santa for a Senior" tree at Walgreens; that is double 2010.

- Be more organized: this one will be very tough for me. I do very well at being organized at work but at home I am a mess. I have knit and crochet projects piled on my desk, yarn sitting in random places and clutter! I don't want to start too many projects at a time. I know I will have 2 crochet and 1 knit blanket going all year as I am using squares from the BAM CAL and the BAM KAL  for the blankets.

- Get serious: I've learned to maintain my weight... but I am overweight. I cannot be proud that I have maintained my 265lb weight. I go to Curves at least three times a week, and I try to follow Weight Watchers. I really need to get serious about my weight. That may mean using my blog or making a new blog to write about my struggles and successes. Would you care to read about that?

-  Have a giveaway: my sister and I are working on a special project that I believe will end up in a double giveaway this summer. Spread the word!

- Figure out my camera: I want to learn to take better pictures. I don't want to be a professional photographer but I would like to take decent photos!

I may add to this by starting another post when I come up with more. Right now I think I have created enough work for myself!

Where Have I Been Wednesday

You all may be surprised that I have, in fact, not fallen off the face of the earth. Actually, I have been working on one of my goals for 2011... knitting! My Granny tried to teach me to knit when I was young... she was successful in teaching me the garter stitch and how to cast on and off. I was never able to expand in my abilities to knit... mostly because I didn't know about how helpful youtube is with these things... but also because I cannot read written instructions on how to do a stitch! I put my knitting needles away and only used them when I decided to knit a scarf with some novelty yarn.


I have gown in my crochet abilities thanks to youtube videos. Learning that I am a visual learner has helped me immensely. So this year I decided will be the year I learn to knit! I joined a Knit Along group on ravelry that does three different squares (easy medium and hard) each month. I am happy to say... knitting (so far) is not as hard as I thought it would be... I have completed all three squares for January and I am starting a fourth square of my choosing! The photos below are not the best as I took them with my cell phone out of sheer laziness. Enjoy!

This is just a plain garter stitch square. This was, of course, the easy square. 

This was called "Grandmothers Favorite" and it is also garter stitch with the exception of the yarn overs and knit 2's that you use to create the holes... it is worked from corner to corner... I really enjoyed this one... it was the medium square. 

This is the hard square titled "Lizard Ridge" This one contained knit, purl, wrap and turns. I learned how to rip out work and correct mistakes after I realized I missed a knit row and ended up making one of my ridges backward!

Hope you are all having a wonderful January... I am ready for a vacation! I am working on a couple beanie hats with the giant flowers... Maybe this weekend I will list all of my 2011 goals for you! Have a great day!

Snow Day Arkansas 2011

It started snowing around 3pm yesterday and stopped sometime in the middle of the night. Needless to say, Jeff and I stayed home from work.

WIP Wednesday: 2011 Begins

Its January 5 and I have already begun several projects for 2011! I have started 3 blankets for the charity at Walgreens for Christmas and 1 blanket as a type of swap with my sister. I have also started a shawl for myself. Here are photos of the blankets!

These are part of the Block a Month CAL on Ravelry. These are my January 2011 6" squares.

 This is my 12" square for the Block a Month CAL on Ravelry.

I love this green ripple!

These are my squares for the project with my sister.

Paula's Fabulous Birthday Giveaway!

Go check out Paula's fabulous birthday giveaway!