My yopping update is small:
1) Body of sweater is finished and I am knitting the sleeves two at a time and have finished two lace repeats (17 to go).
2) I spun an ounce of Blue-faced Leichester, and 2-plied it. Fingering Weight - Yay!
3) I spun a fat single out of some unknown brown fleece I had lying around. I think I will spin more of this to make a child-size sweater/jacket.
4) I donated some worsted yarn to my friend who is teaching in a one-room school and wants to teach her five students how to knit.
5) I found my orifice hook that I thought I had lost when I transported my spinning wheel to and from the school last week, and it was making me very sad - but it was found on the driveway the next day, under the car, wet from the rain, but no worse for wear. Phew.
Lastly I have joined an Advent KAL on Ravelry called the Peace Project 2016. The designer will release four rows of the pattern every day of Advent. We will knit peace all around the world. Join us if you want. Here is the link to the project page. If you are not on Ravelry you can find out more details here.
Earlier this week I posted on facebook:
It's ok to not be ok, tell someone you're not ok. It's ok.
So ok.
I am not ok.
Well some of the time I am ok, but lots of the time, lately, I am not ok.
I am doing all the right things: swimming, yoga, sleeping, working, seeing friends, knitting.
But I can feel it when I wake up in the morning.
First thought?
In sixteen or so hours I can come back to bed.
It's nothing in particular.
It's nothing in general.
I just feel down.
I have felt this way before and it has resolved. Sometimes through a change in medication. Sometimes through talk therapy. Sometimes just time.
I know it's not just me.
I think the world is feeling this way too.
I think many of us just want to go to bed and pull the covers over our head for the next four or, God forbid, eight years.
So why don't I?
Because of the glorious hugs I get from family and friends, students - past and present.
Because of beautiful sunsets and fantastic moonrises.
Because of the joy I get from teaching.
Because of all who need hope
Because.
Because if I go back to bed, it means the bad guys have won.
And I can't have that.
Because deep down, underneath my sadness I believe what Samwise Gamgee believes.
So let's knit on, soldier on, keep on going forward together.
Shall we?
Yes, that is a very good things to live by. Samwise is a wise man.
ReplyDeleteLove the lacy sleeves, looks such soft and cuddly yarn.
the yarn is so soft and cuddly. Once it is finished this sweater may never come off me!
DeleteI must say, I'm very impressed with your spinning extension of this ancient and totally relevant craft. Next thing you'll be leasing a few sheep!
ReplyDeleteWell it seems I don't have to lease any sheep because fleeces keep finding me...four to date.
DeleteFingering weight, yay indeed! Good for you. I tried spinning - and enjoyed it - but I never had the patience for plying. And you have to ply it to get yarn. So I'm always super-impressed by spinners who create knittable yarn :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your struggles; I hope it lifts quickly!
I love plying - so much simpler than the actual spinning because you don't have to worry about the thick and thin part. Also you could just spin singles and knit with them - it is totally a thing.
DeleteThe sleeves are so pretty. I am always impressed with anyone who spins. I am doubly impressed when it is fingering weight.
ReplyDeletethe sleeves are pretty but it is a challenge for my left/right brain farts when I have to do the purl rows and read the chart backwards! Especially with the increases and keeping them in pattern. I shall persevere though.
DeleteSo glad you found your dropped orifice hook. But you do know now I'm very curious what it is used for. I could look it up, but it's so much more interesting learning from my YOP buddies.
ReplyDeleteIt is used to draw the thread from the bobbin you are spinning onto through the orifice where you attach the fiber you are spinning. It is an antique wheel and the hook was the original so I was upset with myself for being careless and dropping it during the transition from home to school and back again.
DeleteI'm sorry you are feeling down but so pleased that you can recognise it and also not give in to it. Keep up the knitting!
ReplyDeleteYes, knitting and spinning and talking about it all help.
DeleteYes we soldier on, but sometimes it's ok to admit to not being ok. I hope it lifts soon, and we are here in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteYour spinning is lovely, I can only dream of spinning fingering weight!
Thank you Lucy. I know my ravelry and blogging friends are here. I have dreamt of spinning fingering and doing the tour de fleece this year and spinning everyday really helped me get to it.
DeleteI can relate a lot to all you said. It's harder to deal with than many realize. Glad you keep fighting and keep winning.
ReplyDeleteThe Peace Project sounds wonderful... impossible for me to participate, but nonetheless, wonderful. I am not OK either... I'm exhausted by trying to be brave every day and packing my life into boxes... and I'm not sleeping or eating properly... and the blanket squares I'm knitting are worse than wonky... they're dodgy as hell... but I'm keeping going with it every night...Even last night when we had a 35 degree day... Because Marvellous Mary-Anne is my inspiration and I know she's sitting right there next to me (on the other side of the world)... Thank you xxx
ReplyDeleteYes we are sisters, kin, supporting each other from across the waters. You can do this. We can do this. One fucking box at a time!
DeleteI am sorry that you are not feeling ok at the moment, but you will come through it soon. You are a fighter :-)
ReplyDeleteyes, I am a fighter, but at the moment I feel like I am in the tenth round with no end in sight. However it will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end. right?
DeleteIt must be november combined to world news. I feel down too. But I don't have your fortitude.
ReplyDeleteAnd the world needs more peace indeed.
You have more fortitude than you know. We all do. Peace.
DeleteI feel sorry to have been out of the blogosphere at a time when you were needing some extra support. Please forgive me. I do hope that you are feeling better by the time you read this. It is good to keep doing the things that have always worked but I wonder whether sometimes a little change occasionally, even the tiniest one, can re-ignite a spark. Your heart will know what is right. Keep talking and getting out of bed every day! xx
ReplyDeleteDon't apologize. I know my blogging friends are there. I hope you are doing well too. And you are right about changing things up. Once this bloody incessant rain stops I want to start walking in woods daily - even if just for a little bit. Come to think of it, why let the rain stop me? The cedar trees will offer some cover. I so appreciate your support and comments.
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