Summer Daze

There hasn't been a lot going on in my knitting world lately. Or I should say, not as much as I wish there was! (Preemie hats are on temporary haitus). It would be nice if I could say it's because I've been out skydiving, water skiing, or mountain climbing, (I WISH) but it's only because of my usual health issues, having a harder time with some inflammation, and trying new meds for some relief.

I definitely have a few things on my "to-do" list for the holidays and want to get a jump on things, but that may have to be a "let's wait and see" thing. Slowly but surely I did manage to get my Red Heart Socks done:


Red Heart Heart & Sole Sock Yarn - This says it has Aloe but I personally didn't notice it like I did in another yarn I used a long time ago.
Colorway: Spring Stripe
68 st cast on
I just love this colorway for some reason. I only wish it had more of that bright pink in it. I just washed them and haven't worn them yet so I'm not sure how they'll wear. They aren't as soft as I was hoping, but I still love the colors.

The scarf I started for my Mom has been on vacation too. I've had a hard time trying to find just the "right" pattern for the yarn I chose (Malabrigo Sock). I've printed out tons of patterns, but when I try knitting a swatch, I change my mind again. I know the right one will come along, or I'll have to switch yarns at some point.

I didn't make my last knitting hookup date, I had completely forgotten it was Father's Day weekend!! We went to the in-laws so I hope to make the next meeting.
So, better late than never:
Happy (Late) Fathers Day Big Guy!!! We love you!

I Lasted Half a Year! WOO HOO!

Being on a yarn diet wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I'll most likely continue after this little blip. Lasting six months is something I'm proud of because I'm a total "impulse" buyer if there ever was one. I can happily report that I've been on STR's site, ebay, and others over the past months and I've actually put things in my cart and been SO tempted to hit "buy now". Then I stopped. Yep, I just stepped back from the laptop and no one got hurt.

It felt good to really ponder those (wishful) purchases and realize "I'm not going to die if I don't get THIS color RIGHT NOW". Yes, I survived to knit another day. It was like when I was little and my brother and I would scour the Sears catalog for all the toys we wished we could have. And boy would our list be long. But, out of site, out of mind. Life goes on.

I got some of this (been wanting to try this - color 1812) THIS is so SOFT:


And some of this (Happy Feet Color 4):

And some MORE of this (I needed more Smooshy like I need more chocolate):

And this (which is really a lot prettier in person. It's Rio De La Plata Merino Sock):

The trip to visit the in-laws was really nice. Although it was typical Tennessee weather on the way there:

We were blessed that the storms went around us.

My In-laws are really a lot of fun to be around and we love to catch up on what everyone else is doing since The Big Guy's family is very spread out. His Mom & Dad are the "hub" where everyone checks in and gives updates (gossip! LOL!). His sister from Indiana was there with her son and we all went out for dinner at The Outback. Yum. I didn't order any cheesecake either. I was so proud of myself! (Okay, so I had three brownies in the car, I made them last several days!!)

One of the reasons I don't mind the drive there is because my FAVORITE yarn shop The Yarn Patch is on the way!!! These are absolutely the nicest ladies I think I've ever encountered and I've been to maybe 20 different shops in three states. I don't know how to explain it, other places are nice too, but this shop just has that "special" somethin, somethin. I wish I lived around there so I could knit with them. It's such a nice, comfortable atmosphere and they always make me feel welcome. I give this LYS 5 stars. They're the best.

The ride home was nice even though no yarn shop stops were made. Although, I was pooped from a little girl kicking me all night as we slept on a sleeper sofa. Well, SHE slept, I couldn't. The mattress was too soft for me and I always fancied myself like the "Princess and the Pea". I guess I can only do "soft" to a certain extent anymore. With this beautiful day in hand, I went back to sleep when I got home.

Summer seems to be flying by. We really want to get the girls rooms painted before school starts in August so that's been nagging at us. We have totally good intentions, let's just hope it happens. If I felt better most of the time I could do it no problem. The other main problem is picking out colors. Why is it so HARD?? It's like buying yarn, sometimes the choice of colors can make it impossible to feel "right" about what I've bought. Except with yarn I can go back and buy MORE! I actually wanted PURPLE sock yarn, and look what I brought home...well, there's always next year.

Happy Fathers Day Big Guy (You're the BEST!)

From the very beginning: you cut up the tiny apple slivers I needed to get thru morning sickness (in the evening). You helped me get thru the complications from my first c-section (I couldn't have done it without you). You were there to change (many, many) diapers, rock them to sleep, take feeding shifts even when you had to work and I didn't, chauffeur them to daycare (and check on them on your lunchtime everyday), be the nurse when bad tummies happened, put in pony tails, take them for their immunizations because I was too scared, make school lunches (and MY lunch!), do bath time and.... SO, SO, much more I'd have to write for the rest of my life.
You give them so much love every single day, they'll always know their daddy is their rock. Solid.

We luv you Daddy. Always.


Luv, Your Girls


PS. His socks came out "decent" and will be super comfy when winter time rolls around. In sport weight they turned out squishy and soft. Total comfort socks. Thank goodness these were salvageable, I was ready to give up! Gasp! He does have cute legs don't cha think?

I QUIT.

Recipe for Disaster:

1- take one tired, pain-ridden little girl
2- let her knit socks for her hubby.
3- expect her to read a pattern correctly.

Mix together and this is what you get:
Hmmmm. What's wrong with this picture?

Do you ever get that achey feeling in the middle of your head when you begin to wonder "why does this sock seem longer?"


I had started on size 3 needles, but then switched to size 2's after working it up for a bit. Well, I DID do the ribbing on the first sock on the SIZE 3's..... But.....something happened on try #2...I completely and totally skipped it all together. Why? I have no idea. I guess in my tired, pained head I was thinking "I already did it".

Sooooo.....do I frog these? No. I'm too disgusted with myself for NOT NOTICING until I was almost done with half the foot part of sock #2. (I POSTED PICTURES of the first sock and NEVER NOTICED it was wrong - and I hadn't even started sock #2 yet !)

I can't rip back that far, I just can't. I don't have the strength. I'm going to just pick up stitches at the top of sock #1 and do some ribbing, No, it won't line up "perfectly", but OH WELL, It's time to move on. If I don't I'm gonna cry. Anyone have any good Father's Day gift ideas?

The pattern (Monogrammed Gentlemen's Socks) was in the February - April 2007 issue of Cast On magazine. I couldn't find the link in Ravelry by doing a search for the pattern but checked with Chrissy Gardiner and she said I should be able to add it when I post a picture (big IF on that one now!). Hmpf.


Pink...I think I need something Pink.

Father's Day SOCK

One Father's Day sock done. Full of cat hair and a few snags (Sophie got a hold of it! Bad Kitty! Grrrr!) but it's done and going to be washed (again!).

This pattern turned out a little big unfortunately. Yes, I had him try it on because I was having a hard time knitting these at nighttime and I was crossing my fingers hoping it would fit. It's a 72 stitch cast on which is BIG - but for a guy I figured I'd be okay.

The yarn is Lorna's Laces Sport Weight (I should've used fingering I'm thinking) in Charcol and I used size 2 needles rather than size 3 that the pattern called for. I don't much care for the Cheshire Cat stripes on these I must say, I think I would prefer a solid yarn. Ok, they aren't "that" noticeable in truth, but they make them seem more like "fun" socks than fancy dress socks to me. Good thing The Big Guy rarely has to dress up for work, his standard outfit is jeans, nice shirts, and tennis shoes (being that it's a manufacturing plant), but every so often he has to suit up for meetings with customers. It was so funny the last time we had to scramble for a suit for him...he had to borrow a tie because we had given them all away years ago!



Well, he just informed me I have to make the other one so I guess I will. He can wear them around the house and let the cats lay all over them (they LOVE them!) It just sort of bummed me out because I usually make his socks a little too snug!! Oh well, someday I'll get it right!