Here I am again feeling the need to apologize for not updating. I’m not sure why I feel that way really. It’s my blog, I should be able to update (or not update as the case may be) when I please. That said, I’m going to make an effort to catch up on what I’ve done the last couple of months.

As far as knitting goes, I seem to have lost my drive a bit. I want to knit. It just feels so time consuming these days. I suppose that’s why I have about five unfinished projects going. I’ll start something and then lose the drive to finish it. I guess that’s why I prefer hats, scarfs, and other quick projects as opposed to knitting sweaters.

Just before Christmas, I decided I wanted to give some handmade gifts. I was a little too ambitious with my plans and didn’t get them all finished, but I did actually complete a couple of knitted items. Hubby’s mom had requested a pink scarf a while back when she saw me knitting the pink Grace Beanie last summer. So, I pulled out my leftover yarn and knitted her up a quick scarf. Then, for lack of any better ideas, I found some camo colored Red Heart yarn at Michael’s and decided to knit my father-in-law a hat to keep his noggin warm. He’s big on hunting so I thought the camo colors would be perfect for him. (Yes, I’m aware the picture quality totally sucks and you can’t really make out the colors.)

With all of the holiday rush, I barely finished those items in time to get them mailed out. Instead of fooling myself into thinking I could actually get anything else knitted in time, I decided to do a little sewing for the third gift.

My sister-in-law was due to give birth to my niece about a week after Christmas, so I wanted to make her a nice tote bag for all that baby stuff she would soon be carrying around.  With my procrastinating, I ended up staying up until about 4:00 Christmas morning finishing the bag up.  The pattern was actually very easy, but apparently sleep deprivation is not very helpful when you are trying to follow even an easy pattern.  I love how the bag turned out am hoping to find the time to make myself one soon.

Projects that I will hopefully finish soon:
Baby blanket started nearly a year ago! (um, baby will be here hopefully in 7 weeks or less!)
Baby bib started last summer sometime (not really sure what the holdup is on this one, just bored with it)
Baby hat (should seriously have finished this one already)
Birthday gift for a birthday that has already passed (started, um, yesterday)
Scarf for myself (not yet started)

And if I can ever get all of those done, I picked up some really cute chunky yarn (Yarn Bee Mosaic in Sunrise - for $.99 a skein!) last night at Hobby Lobby that I’m just dying to play with.  I’m thinking it would make some cute hats and/or ponchos for my baby girl and my two new nieces.

The last few days I haven’t felt much like being on the computer. That means I’m not getting some of the things done that I should be doing, but it also means that I’ve been doing more knitting.

Zach stayed at his aunt’s house last night, so hubby and I took the opportunity to have a nice child-free dinner out and then a quiet evening. My plan was to get ahead with some of my blog posts at Tot TV Watch as we’re going to be vacationing soon, but I just couldn’t motivate myself to write. After a couple of hours of staring at the screen, I finally put it away and pulled out the scarf I’ve been working on.

Before I knew it, it was 11:00. I was tired and my eyes were aching, but I was so close to finishing it I just couldn’t stop. I finally finished the scarf up. It was my first scarf ever and I am totally in love with it. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. It is beautiful and soft and fuzzy. I love it so much I’m going to have a hard time giving it away. I suppose I can always make another one.

While talking to my sister last weekend (about the beautiful scarf that she is getting) she said, “You know you could make something for yourself some time.” When I started thinking about it, the only things I have ever kept for myself were Zach’s baby blanket, the first afghan I ever crocheted, and a couple of hats. Everything else has been given away as gifts. Now I’m wondering, how many knitters and crocheters out there actually keep the things they have made. What percentage would you say you give away as gifts or donations?

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