I'm just going to come out and admit it. I dislike exercising. I love the way I feel AFTER a workout, but the getting there... ugh. I'd rather scrub bathroom tile with a toothbrush....OK, maybe not, but you get the picture. This realization baffles me, because 10 years ago, I felt almost exactly opposite. Sure, a lot has changed over the course of the past decade. I suppose one of those changes has been the exchange of exercise for slower, calmer, leisure activities, (i.e. knitting, sewing, etc...) in direct relation to the change in pace of my daily routine. But, that's probably a pretty unacceptable excuse for being so sedentary.

I mean, certainly, a person who finds time to knit in front of the television (almost) every night after work  could squeeze a couple/few hours weekly to dedicate towards working on her fitness. Yet, despite having a 24hr gym across the street from my home (literally, you can see it out the windows), at which I am a member, it's never convenient to actually go there. 


I've tried home workouts, but the familiarity of my surroundings are too great a temptation, and I am quickly coaxed into cuddles on the couch with my flavor(s) of the month knitting project.  It (I) seemed hopeless. 

Not to be defeated by laziness and self-sabotage, I dove deep into the depths of the internet in search of a solution. Behold.

Why, yes. I am knitting in front of the tv WHILE pedaling. 

The novelty of this latest conquest hasn't worn off yet; not only am I willing, but I'm actually quite eager to knit for a spin (heading into week #2...let's talk again in a month). I figure I'm good, as long as I continue to feel like I'm somehow cheating the system and getting away with something.  Of course, I won't be working on anything overly complicated while I'm trying to ride, so I've chosen a special cycling project.  I'm thinking socks are going to be perfect riding material in the future. We'll see how it goes.  

I want to extend a most gracious THANK YOU! to Truly Myrtle for nominating Will Knit for Food for a Liebster Blog <3 award! I've never won an award before (I'm pretty sure this is the point where I'm to thank my family, friends, fans, country and god... or just give the bird).

The Liebster award is chain award passed from one blogger to another, in order to spread the love and promote each others accomplishments in blogging! It's awarded blogs with fewer than 200 followers. The recipient of the award is to:

1. Thank and link to the lovely, talented, generous blogger who nominated him/her. In my case, Ms. Truly Myrtle, a skilled seamstress and knitter!

2. Proudly display the Liebster Blog award (See Above and the Side bar)

3. Pay it forward by nominating  3-5 blogs to receive the award and letting them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

I can't keep my mind off sewing at the moment, so all my picks are sewing blogs. My nominees, in random order: 

1. Kitty's Drawings (and sewn creations) Kitty sews stunning vintage inspired garments, takes beautiful photographs and has a real knack for styling (seriously! The SHOES!) These are a few of my favorites: 1 , 2, 3, 4.


2.Zibergirl Sews: Zibergirl sews INCREDIBLE outfits for herself and for/with her family. These are a few of my favorites: 1, 2, 3.

3. Mokosha: Mokosha has a terrifically fun/fresh approach to sewing and style and vintage/thirft store finds.  Her pictures are really fun to look through, because she's got a great taste for bright colors. These are a few of my favorites: 1, 2, 3, 4.

OK. I hope you have fun linking around! And, again, many thanks to Truly Myrtle!

Two down, one to go, and another step closer to starting my MadMen Inspired ensemble! I think I finally conquered my my complex of wearing oversized sweaters with this project. Navajo has an interesting construction. It's a sweater/shrug fusion; enough structure to keep me in my comfort zone. 

I really wanted to knit something Cowichan-esque. I was a little surprised and bummed to see patterns for doing so were limited, but also glad to find a compromise with Jo Storie's pattern, Navajo. A quick Google search shows how much of a stretch it is to consider the colorwork in this design "Navajo", but it definitely has a Native/Tribal vibe to it, and it is somewhat blanket like.   

The pattern doesn't call for it, but I decided to pick up and knit along the front bands and collar. I did ten rows of double seed stitch over 275 stitches. I'm pleased with the way it turned out; without it, I think it would border on sloppy...maybe push me over the wearability edge. I knit the smaller of the two sizes provided. I could have benefited from eliminating ~half a chart worth of length, but I'm not disappointed with my finished sweater. 

I really love the distribution of texture and pattern throughout the process of knitting this project; it helps keep things interesting and gives a break to tired fingers during long sections of colorwork. And, after many messy battles with seaming, I'm finally starting to get the hang of it! *VICTORY*   

Pattern: Navajo by Jo Storie
Yarn: Wool of the Andes Bulky: 6 skeins Wallaby 2 skeins Porcini  (~1,100 yds.)
Needles: US 10 and US 11

I know I'm among many eagerly awaiting the fifth and final season of AMC's Mad Men. Impeccable plot lines, script and character development aside, I love tuning in to adore the costuming genius of Janie Bryant; it's vintage sewers' eye candy. Among those enamored with the series, self-proclaimed, Mad Men Obsessed, Julia Bobbin has proposed a thematic SAL challenge to choose and re-create your favorite wardrobe piece from the show. This project was just too exciting not to start researching immediately... I've promised myself no actual work will begin until I've finished February. 

Submissions are due Friday, March 30 (fits the bill perfectly for my monthly project!). If you want to participate, jump over HERE to get detailed information. I've got a tough decision on my hands.  Which do you think I should go for?  

Valentine's Day was all sorts ofsweet. 

These socks are so fast, I blinked and they were done. 

These are my first Jaywalkers. But, I have a feeling I will knit this pattern again, dozens of times. The two row repeat makes these mindlessly enjoyable. Of course, I made modifications so they would fit. I only cast on 60sts (the smallest size in the pattern has the knitter cast on 84).  And, I accommodated the reduction by knitting the second round as:  *kf&b, K5, DD, K5, kf&b*. Last, during the gusset, I decreased to 54 sts.  

The yarn is Crazy Zauberball sock weight. It's pretty funky. My curiosity got the best of me after seeing these wildly wound orbs in a basket near the register at a LYS. It was a lot of fun to watch the color changes as I knit. The fabric knits up into a lightweight material, and is generally comfortable, but the most remarkable quality is definitely the coloring. Other knitters have noted knots in their balls, but I didn't encounter any, at least not yet. I can't wait to get my hands on more color varieties! 

This pattern used VERY little yardage. Surprisingly, I still have 71 grams (roughly 325 yds) left to my Zauberball! I'm not sure how that worked out (I typically use ~300 yds in a pair of socks), but, based on my math, it should be enough for at least another pair! 

I'm pretty pumped to have my first monthly project finished. Even with the extra day we gain during leap year, February still steals a day/two away from D-Day and adds a little pressure to deadline knitting. My sweater is sitting ready, awaiting kick-off. I'm only watching for the commercials, being as there aren't any good teams playing this year. :-P 

How's your project progress this month?

I have a tendency to become fixated on things. It's a major flaw; I'm working on it. Most recently, I got completely fixated and couldn't move past January without finding a way to make peace with my socks. It made me SO ANGRY that my Pointelle socks sucked SO MUCH. It was very reassuring to hear from others of you who have the same struggles and issues with               sock knitting/small feet, like a little virtual support group. :-D 

Still, unwilling to accept demoralization, I decided to show these socks who's boss. I ripped them back. Every last stitch. And, started some  Hexengarten socks in their place. Sure, they're no Pointelle, but they have a very easily modified stitch pattern, have some similar attributes, and are pretty in that "you're the smart sister" kinda way. I knit them two at a time. I used the appropriate chart for each sock. I was knitting with extreme speed and making wonderful progress. I was making Janurary socks regret the day they ever decided to mess with me.   

I cast off. I closed the toes. And I lay the socks on top of each other, feeling pretty smug and triumphant, and I saw it. 

Here I stand, waving a white flag in surrender. January Socks-2, Michelle-0...  they fit, at least. Better luck next month.