Fitness Friday

So, if you follow me on Facebook or Plurk you know that along with knitting, I have a few other hobbies. I am preparing for a number of charity events, all of which involve running riding or walking. I have started looking at Fitness in a different way recently. It's amazing how many opinions there are in the world of biking, running, and even walking. . . okay, you are in the knitting world, of COURSE you know this.

So, I got a bike. her name is Elphy. Elphy and I have been getting along great. She is awesome.

Okay, why did I name her Elphy. I a the theatre knitter, she is Green, and if you look closely you can see the logo for my LBS (Local Bike Shop) is a witch on a bike. soooo Elphaba it is.

So, After my first long training ride, I decided to give "clip less" pedals a try. If you have read the Yarn Harlots new book, her entire first chapter is about learning how to ride this way. It is not easy, it is NOTHING like riding a bike. It is totally different. I spent 3 weeks trying to learn how to use these "superior" pedals.

Well, I decided to say screw it. I put my real pedals back on my bike, and now life is great. What made me change my mind? I got ahold of this book. Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding your Bike.  This book is brilliant. It takes all of the crap out of riding. There is one thing he says is the best. it's not about distance, it's about the time. so today, i spent 30 minutes on my bike. i didn't ride 10 miles, i didn't ride 20 miles. i rode for 30 minutes. i focused on which gear i was in. I focused on looking where I was turning so that i could see my destination. I focused on enjoying my ride for the 30 minutes that i rode my bike.

I plan to think the same way about running. I REALLY hate running. But I know it's good exercise. So every day this week, I will run for 10 minutes. thats it, just 10 minutes.

Elphy and I had a great ride today, and that is all that mattered.

OH, i'll bet you want to know what I am riding for !!!

I am riding the Best Buddies Challenge. Currently, my goal is to ride the 50 mile ride. Feel free to donate, I can certainly use all of the help that I can get.

Weekend WIP

I had to put one project in hibernation, really for two reasons. 1. I totally screwed it up and started knitting in the wrong direction, and 2…. I bought a new dress so then I had to find a new project.

I have 2 projects on the needles right now… WEll, lets be honest. I have 2 projects on the needles that I am willing to make public.

First project is my new favorite hat pattern. I LOVE this pattern!!!

Butterfly hat pattern by Sofiya Cremin. I LOVE this pattern. It is versatile, it is pleasant to knit, and it is super simple. I have made 3 of them. A friend from choir asked if I could make a hat for her new niece, and I couldn't resist.

So, this is how I spent my Friday night. Who could disagree with THAT night. 

Since I bought a new dress for the cousins wedding, I had to find something new to make to go with it. The original plan was peach and grey, and I was going to knit Chevrette. I was having trouble with the pattern. I decided to look for something else. 

I decided to cast on Clara Park's One skein Shawl  . I decided to use some yarn that has been in my stash for 7 years. The yarn was given to me as a gift from Nutmegknitter , probably after her baby shower? 

I love the simplicity of this pattern, and it is flying off the needles. It will be done in plenty of time for the wedding and it will be a GREAT color for the dress. 

Throwback Thursday - when was the last time YOU knit a Clapotis

I was looking through my project page, and it was sort of neat to remember those past projects. So I've decided to start "Throwback Thursday" project style.

Who remembers the Clapotis ? I've knit it twice, and probably cast it on about 4 or 5 more times.

I really loved knitting this project. I remember the fear of dropping the stitches for the first time. I was Terrified that the entire project would completely unravel. Who drops stitches on Purpose!!!!!!!

I also love who received these projects. I gave my first Clapotis to my aunt Christine. My aunt Christine is the other knitter in the family. I remember watching her knit a Beautiful fisherman's sweater while we took a ferry over the Prince Edward Island, Canada.

I knit this project out of Bamboo cotton.

The next one I knit was for my sister Rebecca for her baby shower. For some reason, I do not have a picture of that shawl in my projects (WHAT!!!) But it is really beautiful. I'll find a pic sometimes for you. 

So, what are your #throwbackthursday projects? Why did you love working on it?