It is good to be back after so long. I was ill. Not with the ‘Rona but with my usual tenacious illnesses which have plagued me for far too long.
Anyway, on to the exciting shit.
What has been happening during this time?
Nothing! Yay! Wahoo! Yippee! *round of applause*
Seriously, I haven’t been up to that much. I’ll detail what little I have been doing but it is nothing in comparison with what I would love to be doing.
During this unwanted vacation, I’ve been quite taken with knitting. Specifically Knitting and not just the whole art of yarn craft. Drilling down further, I have a particular interest in two-color Brioche knitting like you wouldn’t believe. So, with the help of a Stephen West video, I taught myself the basics of that stitch. I need to learn the increases, decreases and castoff but I think I just about have the ongoing knitting of it down provided I don’t make mistakes.
To further my education in this, I’m going to follow a pattern/class called Lockdown Brioche School I found on Ravelry. It is shockingly free as of the writing of this blog post. The designer asks that you donate money to a hunger relief charity in lieu of payment.
Aside from my Brioche madness, I have been enamored with my much neglected Antler Cardigan and have made great strides in knitting on it. I’ve trebled the length of the sleeves from where they were previously. I’m now ten increase rounds from straight knitting on the sleeves. Once I get there, or possibly before, I can add the next skeins of yarn and continue with this project until the sleeves are the length I desire.
I am crocheting but it isn’t at the forefront of my existence right now. I have things I owe people that are crocheted items, so as far as that, that’s where my head is at with regard to crocheting.
Right now, I’m working on doilies and Christmas tree ornaments for a pair of podcasters I watch on YouTube. I’m also making Daleks and a Lost Souls Skull Shawl for my long time friend. For my mother, out of the former sweater yarn, I’m making a C2C blanket, and on the distant horizon, I’ll be making a Neapolitan C2C Blanket for who knows who.
The Hobbes Dolls are also screaming for attention and completion.
I think I’m beginning to see why I’m so enamored with knitting lately. Eeek! Mind you, it keeps the chaos at bay, so I’m not complaining.
As you can probably see from the sidebar, I am taking up Spinning Yarn in addition to Knitting, Crocheting, Weaving, Sewing, etc. I have a Drop Spindle and some fiber with the full intention to use it at some point this year. I just need to get the basics in my head. I have books and a treasure trove of videos bookmarked on YouTube.
I’m also focused on learning German specifically. Though I do admit I will occasionally foray into other languages from time to time. Things are going okay, I suppose. I’ve taken up a challenge to read a book in the language I’m learning (German) along with others. This will be the first complex book I’ll have read in German. I just need to get the money together to get an English copy. It was suggested that we have both a copy in the language we’re learning and a copy in our native language. I got the German but not the English. *headdesk*
I am also growing Yellow Pitaya (Dragonfruit cactus).
Also just recently purchased a Swedish Ivy plant. Hopefully, it will live and be free of pests so I may have it in my plant arsenal once again.
Also got new glasses due to my eyes going 3-D visual special effects a few months ago and making me nauseous.
I haven’t been writing much but I hope to change that.
And of course, there are all the many Zoom classes, meets, and webinars.
I’m running out of things to say, so I’ll end it here.
Take care, be well, and have a fantastic day.
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