Intensity Seeker Seeking Time Management

Recently, an authority on the subject of addictive behavior told me that I might be an intensity seeker. I’m not really sure what this means but there is the suggestion that I look for ways to increase the stress level in my life in order to perform at a higher rate. Although I disagree on principle, I’ve recently realized there may be some support for her claim. What is it about deadlines that makes us scurry to accomplish goals set before us that we otherwise wouldn’t attempt to meet with such deliberation? All I know is that I have a series of self-imposed goals to keep on track. I fill baskets with projects that have imaginary deadlines that keep me singularly focused until the desired outcome has been achieved. My daughter refers to this as tunnel vision.

However, sometimes the deadlines are real and when the postman reads the notes on my package incorrectly, sends my materials back, gives me the wrong opening times, and causes me to leave my house to pick up the package that should have been delivered to my doorstep nearly 24 hours earlier, I get a little frustrated. But even with the setbacks and delays, test knitting is rewarding. I get to wind hanks into cakes and knit cakes into cashmere/merino socks. The only drawback is I have to complete my task today – for real!

Eating Dessert

Although Jason and I have been married for 26 years, we’ve only been dating for about 15. Date night may include a movie or dinner, hanging out with good friends, or perhaps just a trip to Costco. It doesn’t really matter where we go but that we are going together. On this night we give ourselves permission to splurge on cheesy biscuits or breadsticks, split a dessert or munch on mounds of chips and salsa.

At knitting group this week, I was explaining to the girls that I had joined the “Stash down in 2012” group on Ravelry and that I hoped to knit through quite a bit of my acrylic yarn throughout this year. I’ve turned into something of a yarn snob and don’t enjoy working with it as much as the beautifully hand-dyed wool and sock yarn to which I’ve become accustomed. One of my lovely friends, Connie, mentioned there is some precedence for eating dessert before the meal, comparatively, working with the good yarn before the less than desirable because we are not certain of what is to come. Years of training and habit make this quite difficult for me. However, who knows what my knitting journey will bring this year. Perhaps I will try to balance the meal with the dessert and knit from acrylics and hand-dyed wool in balance. But for today, I will take my friends advice and eat dessert first.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Socks

As a knitter there is little that is as rewarding as giving a gift and watching someone's face light up with delight at the hand knit item in her hands. Better yet is when she takes a picture sitting in the snow wearing her "Go Irish" (Charade by Sandra Park) green socks and sends it to you. I love giving gifts and finding a recipient who appreciates and loves the gift. It is exciting and rewarding but the opposite is also true and a knitter or crafter of any kind learns very early in her explorations as a crafter/designer/gift giver who is worthy and who is not. When I was newly married (a long, long time ago), I crocheted afghans for baby showers and other gifts until I saw one of my labors of love in a yard sale of someone claiming to be a close friend. I realize that some of us are more nostalgic than others and value such items of the heart differently. However, Angela, the friend in the snow, will be receiving more hand-made gifts. The unnamed yard sale diva will not.

Day One

Okay, I am an English teacher and I know that Knitterly is not a word but it seems appropriate and I am going to use it. I love reading. I love knitting. Of course, there are lots of other things that I love doing but this will be the beginning of what I share.

I have a lot of yarn. When I say a lot, I don't think you really have a true picture of what I am saying but that doesn't really matter. You will learn quickly enough what I mean. I recently did a tally of the yarn in my stash and discovered that I have 157 miles of yarn that I need to knit. Yes, you read correctly - 157 miles. Trust me, I did the math without error and even asked my husband to verify how many yards are in a mile. That being said, I entered a challenge this year to knit only from my stash - that means not buying any yarn - cold sheeping. This term is new to me and it means something like cold turkey - going without, immediately - stopping abruptly. Okay, so I will knit this year only from yarn that I currently possess.

Here are my goals:

1. 12 mitts/gloves Mitt Envy
2. 12 cowls
3. 12 hats
4. 12 socks Sock Knitting Master Class
5. 12 baby sweaters Five Hour Baby Sweater
6. 12 baby booties
7. 12 baby hats Umbilical Cord Hat
8. 12 scarves
9. 12 knitted bowls Soft Baskets
10. 12 dishcloths
11. 12 ornaments
12. 12 charity items

So far I have knit three hats for charity and five cowls to be used as Christmas gifts. The projects combine used approximately 800 yards which is still less that half of a mile - 156.5 miles to go. Wish me luck and happy knitting!