So.....how are you?

 Better than earlier this week I hope?  A little less stress this weekend?

I've been knitting on projects that require bits and pieces to be knit and then sewn together.  Progress always feels slow.

I did finish a pair of replacement hats for a friend.  Now I just need to get them posted out!

The pattern is the Invader Zim GIR knit hat.  I am really hoping I got them right.  Ten years is a long time between projects!

With snow predicted, I went stash diving and knit a pair of non-felted slippers.

They are not the most elegant looking project, but as the predicted snow showed up right on time, thick wool slippers are quite welcome!

I also designed a mati pillow.  I found one in crochet, but it didn't look like the ones I grew up with and my grandmother is fond of...and my crochet is not that great. Now I just need to test the pattern I wrote out.  The urge to make buckets of little ones and just hand them out to people is strong...but most people look at you funny when you hand them an eyeball and tell them it's for their protection.

With this as the landscape already:

I think I need to get back the the Nott cowls for the family and the knee high (at least), DK weight, boot socks I am cobbling together; bits and pieces and protective eyes may take a back seat for a bit.

In my defense, clothing is important for many reasons

 The agitation is back with a vengeance, complete with "all laundry must be done at all times" side effect that even I find a bit odd (and my family kindly puts up with).

So I once again took up the seemingly endless quest to Get My Wardrobe Sorted Out.

Could I find something practical, possibly historical yet (slightly) more elegant than my much loved cargo pants?  Lo, and behold, there is a 1910 Cycling Skirt pattern, that will have added pockets, in the Hoarde (it is an all encompassing type sort).

  I have a v-neck henley, bought months ago, that I finally put on and promptly proclaimed it perfect.  Why couldn't I draft a pattern from it to make shirts in colors I actually like?  Ditto with sports bras.  (Haven't worn a proper underwire since....April?)

Shapes picked, my brain moves on to colors and textures, nothing too sleek or shiny.  Sales pages are combed through; a wool blend here, a cotton in Tim Burton-eque black and grey stripe will be ridiculous and practical.  Black stretch linen?  On sale? Please and thank you!  (Not all the fabric is here yet.)

Close to three months of pondering pieces, collecting materials...mustn't forget bra hooks...and I  almost have things pulled together.

And these are just the sewing projects.

With Fall making itself felt, hinting at the bite of the Winter to come; I started daydreaming about (at least) knee high, hand knit boot socks.  Visions of cabled cardigans and coordinated winter sets ( hat, cowl, and mitts [Moonlit magic and Raven Queen]) dance across my minds eye: one Haunted Mansion themed, all purples and acid green; the other gothic/celestial in black and cream with pops of a bright cornflower blue.

The patterns, all acquired on one whim or another, do not all match, (the hat for the Haunted Mansion set is a recipe by me cobbled together using charts from the cowl). They do harmonize, either through the theme of the pattern itself, or the colors chosen to work the piece.  

The real thread that connects of all these bits and bobs?  I like them. They they make me genuinely happy.  And if I am busy working on all these projects...I  am probably not doing laundry.

Things that take the edge off...sort of...at least temporarily

 Unsurprisingly, I knit another sweater.  Another Felix pullover, it's my third.  This one in some Lion Brand Fishermen's wool I had in the Yarn Hoarde.

I started another Chuck sweater, this one for Daughter's birthday.  Also in yarn from the Hoarde; Northampton in the nebula colorway, edged in black Deerfield.  I realized yesterday as I was casting on that it's magpie colors.  When I mentioned that to Daughter, she squealed and grinned from ear to ear; Magpie is one of her Critters.

I've been drinking even more tea than usual, non-caffeinated by 5pm.  Usually a combination of Tension Tamer and Rose mint; by the quart.  Alcohol consumption has pretty much stopped.  Husband and I would split a bottle of wine or have a beer once, maybe twice a week (if it was a feeling fancy week).  Honestly, I drink mostly in social situations because it's an excuse for me being odd or weird...and people tend to stress me out.  It's not a great solution, but it is a socially acceptable one.  Knitting works almost the same way, though then a lot of people get the impression I am not paying attention. *sighs*  I'm not being rude, I am just not poisoning myself on your behalf and managing to make a sock at the same time while holding a conversation.  

The other thing, that has worked as long as I can remember, is reading.  Burying my nose in a novel grants (decidedly) temporary reprieve from my clenched stomach and agitated state.  I started the Magical Midlife series by K.F. Breene a couple of days ago.  Is it great literature?  No.  Is it nice to read about someone who is not in the same age range as my kids have exciting paranormal adventures and a magical house?  Yes!  (The main character is a 40 year old woman from California, who also happens to be an Aries with hazel eyes, making her much more relatable for me personally).  Sadly, there are only two books out and I am 65% through the second one already, in three days.  I did stop to read a Halloween novella in between them, just to try and stretch things out.  The third won't be out till November. *sighs*  Do I have more books to read?  Of course!  I just dislike waiting.

I'm tryin' y'all

 

My stress levels are through the roof the last few days.  Today, for some reason unbeknownst to me, is exceptionally bad.

Spent the morning shaking like a cold, agitated Chihuahua without a sweater.  Stomach clenched for three days straight.

My house is getting highly ordered and clean.  And my Halloween wine holder arrived today!

The Cassandra thing is loud and unnerving right now, shouting that the week won't end well, worse than previous ones apparently.  Other people are involved though, so it could just be me being ridiculous and a little too highly strung.  Here's hoping!  Take care of yourselves everyone!

Finally getting things rearranged

Lately, I've been getting out more. While this is a good thing, it brought up an issue I have not had for quite some time, worrying about what to wear.
My typical attire is decidedly frump-tastic, old, and really downright boring. Fantastic for a day of dishes and futzing in the garden, not so great for when Darling Husband announces, "Oh, by the way we are going out." (It's festival season around here, frequently involving food and drink.)
The latest pronouncement of this statement sent me into a bit of a tizzy. I went digging through the back of my closet looking for something appropriate, as this was a more adult evening outing. I found things I could wear, just barely. I may have panicked just a touch. In my head, it doesn't matter if the item in question has not been worn in almost 17 years, it should fit. Right? (Yes, I have clothing that old in my closet. Yes, I probably need new clothes.)
Faced with what I deemed, "the attack of the squidgy", and a deadline eleven days hence, I set to work. I have not yet been brave enough to try some of the offending clothing back on, even though things have started to rearrange themselves more to my liking.
While what I look like in my clothes is decidedly a dip in the shallow end of the thought pool, it is at least a minor, temporary distraction from the current events that cause me, (and tons of other people), no end of worry.