FO: Mama's Birthday Hat

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. I picked up this skien of Malabrigo about a year ago, not knowing what I was going to make with it but I knew it was perfect for her. 

When I found Melissa LaBarre's Crooked Paths hat, I knew it was a fit.  Just a little slouchy, with a great lace pattern, I knew my mom would love it.

It came out great. The crown shaping didn't really come through but that was mostly because I was a dum dum and didn't clearly read the pattern. The body of the hat looks great though and it was nice to see how fast it knit up on size 8 needles. It's been awhile since I've worked on anything in worsted weight! A nice change from my size 4's I've been gripping onto. Luckily she loves it and I know she'll get some use out of it - we still have a couple more months of winter here in Minnesota!

Sunday Snapshot

Success

I've been thinking a lot about success recently, as is likely to happen when one moves back in with their parents at 27.

Ever since I was little I've had the habit of comparing myself to other people. Gauging my success or perceived lack there of in relation to others. This is a bit of a slippery slope when one has the talented, yes, successful, driven and hard working friends that I have. And I am so thankful for the people I do have in my life. I realize I'm lucky to be in a position to have a home to return to, to have people to live with. It's difficult to think of these things without feeling like I'm being a brat and not being gracious about the things I DO have.

I find myself in a funk, not having things go the way I thought they would of, expected them to, or wished they would of. I look at other people's lives around me and wonder, why can't I have what they have?

Yet, I have to remind myself that they have their own struggles, they may have started in a different place than I did, may have wanted different things than I did, and maybe even, feel like their life is different than they expected or wanted.

I was talking with a friend the other day who was struggling with some of the same issues of comparing themsleves to others and she said something along the lines of, "yeah, it's a baby step, and maybe not as great or good or wonderful as what that other person over there is doing, but it's MY baby step god dammit"

and that's stayed with me. Floating around inside me.

It's mine. 

and that's what matters. That's what counts. It doesn't matter how it looks compared to someone else, or to someone else. It's mine and I need to own it.

No one else is going to decide what my life should be, or make it what I want it to be. I'm looking outside for the answers I need to be looking inside for.

So, here is another resoultion for 2013.

Look in, not out.

Try to stop comparing myself to others. Because it doesn't do me any good, it doesn't do them any good. It keeps me from truly being happy for my friends and those around me, because I'm focusing on myself, and that's a shitty feeling. It's wrapping my stuff up into their stuff, and that doesn't need to happen. It's scattering my sense of self, looking at others lives when I have a perfectly good life here in front of me.

in, not out.

Sunday Snapshot

Vintage Baseball Knits

Allyson, of Sweatshop of Love and Holla Knits just had a new BOOK released by Knit Picks. Focusing on vintage baseball knit this collection features 4 women's tops, a blanket and an adorable baby onesie.

My favorite by far is this ADORABLE baby suit. Stripes! Little feet! What's not to love?? It will come in handy since multiple friends have babies on the way!


The blog tour starts next week so be sure to follow along to catch all this cuteness.

Mon Feb 18 – Magical Grammar
Wed Feb 20 – Under the Red Umbrella
Fri Feb 22 – The Yarniad
Sat Feb 23 – Voolenvine
Mon Feb 25 – Canary Knits
Wed Feb 27 – Adaly Myles Place
Fri March 1st – Subway Knits

Happy Valentines Day!

 

 

Happy Valentines Day Everyone! 

Hopefully you'll eat some cookies, or cupcakes, or chocolate today. (I think I'll try to hit all three!)

Sunday Snapshot

Christmas Round Up: Shark Scarf

My nephew. (Cutest nephew in the world) is really into sharks. Like REALLY into sharks. When his mother asked him what he wanted for Christmas this year his response was: Shark Boat. (if you have any idea what that means, you're a step ahead all of us.) 

photographic evidence of his cuteness. 

When I found Rian Anderson's Shark Scarf I knew I was in business. This was a fun and fast knit. I banged most of the body out at our all day family a-thon Thanksgiving celebration. 

Once I added on the teeth and eyes it got EVEN CUTER.

Over all, a smashing success. I choose not to put the side gills on because I was short on time. But it's still so stinking cute wrapped around that already adorable neck.

Sunday Snapshot