I had been mulling it over, and then when you cut your hair, I knew I had to take the plunge. Let me say I feel liberated! I will be sending the shorn locks (which the stylist curled up on the shelf for the duration of the haircut — looked like a small animal sleeping) off to Locks of Love…excepting the few for Joan’s capote and Cricket’s fly tying. (We did get the signed agreements not to include in any voo doo activities, right?) I am saving at least 20 minutes a day now…it takes about 45 seconds to wash and rinse and when I step out of the shower a quick towel-dry and finger comb are all that stand between me and being fully styled. Yay!
This freed up sufficient time for me to finish the knitting and seaming on A Stitch Away from Genius. If you read the Ravelry notes, you’ll see I botched up some ends-weaving. (A real D’OH!!! moment!) As a result I’ve been inspired to extend the project to include some embroidery. I’m going to get a nice rich red and chain stitch a pattern on the two front pieces…maybe add some accents to the hem areas as well. Then I’m going to find some great red and purple buttons. I think it will not only solve the problem, but will make it that much better. I do love red and purple together.
I also made good progress on both Not So Naive and Sea Glass. In fact, this picture of Not So Naive is out-of-date as there is now about 4 inches of yoke added to that collar. The collar will fold down to the inside and be sewn in place. This gives it some firmness and it will stand up nicely. I’ve tried it on (I’m 
loving that about the top-down approach) and it gives me just the right amount of freedom for my neck. As I mentioned before, the yarn is from Narcissus, pictured here with his owner’s daughter Avery. I checked with my source at Table Rock Llamas and Fiber Arts to verify and she pointed out that although they had produced the yarn, Narcissus was not one of theirs. He was one of their friends’. Sadly, she also shared that Narcissus was older and is now deceased. He was much loved and is missed. I thank him for his fiber as I knit in tribute.
I’m pleased with Sea Glass, though it is definitely a knit to save for moments of alert knitting. It’s not that the pattern is so difficult…it’s not…but for some reason I am finding myself wanting to reverse the directions of the decreases. Maybe this was a phase. With one completion of the basketwork pattern (62 rows…really??!) it is hopefully out of my system and I can stop the tinking. I go on travel this week…this project will stay home for sure!
Sock Wars V starts up this week, so all my projects will go on temporary hold while I knock out a pair of socks for competition. The pattern releases while I’m on travel. Hopefully I can find access to a printer so I can work on it in transit home. Wish me luck!
Love, Jan
P.S. I’m glad we hired that Dr. Yarn guy…he’s not bad!
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
January 11th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Feeling a little pang that I didn’t cut mine as short as yours. But my longer horse-like face doesn’t wear the pixie as well as you do. Mine may shorten a tinge though, as it already feels like it has grown out too much.
Awesome knitting progress. I’ll go read your project notes and learn from you - sometime I intend to knit that pattern, too.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
LOVE IT!!! Love It Love it!!
January 12th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Wow! That is a HUGE shift, and I bet you feel sassy! Whenever I cut my hair short I always feel extra feisty. (It might be all that time I’m saving on drying and styling…?) Very cute!
January 12th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Oh, Jan, it’s wonderful! The new cut looks great on you — what a great way to start the new year (and I know that Locks of Love will so appreciate it, too). I recognize the feeling of liberation that comes with five minutes of futzing time, it makes me happy every morning to have no more hair. Who knew?
January 12th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Looking good! You look so young, fresh and ‘open’ with short hair… and shorter styles always make those awesome lips even more lushly lippy.
You KNOW my no-more-dyeing-’cause-I-am-going-gray New Year’s Resolution… and how concerned I am over the drastic “chop” that it might take to get me past the skunk-line transition. Well, your photo makes me much less worried about the cut to come.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Great haircut! The projects look great, too. Sea Glass will probably fall in line now that you can really see the pattern in your knitting. I love the design!
January 14th, 2010 at 1:00 am
Super Duper Love it!!! Super hip, fresh, young, hot….babeeeeeeeee!
January 14th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Thank you re Locks of Love.
And I’m chuckling: when our first was a baby, I left her with Daddy while going off for a haircut. It did not please him that she screamed nonstop while I was gone–and she kept screaming after I got home.
All the sudden she stopped–she LOOKED at me!–and then was quiet. That IS Mommy!
(Kid…!)
January 17th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
You look fabulous and at least 5 years younger. Shorter hair really gives attitude (positive of course) and we all need to make life easier… I bet your man likes the “new” woman in his life!