Where is my blog mojo?

I've got my knitting mojo going somewhat with Christmas looming closer, but blogging has been WAY on the back burner for me lately. I've always thought it was kind of sad and wondered why people just abandoned their blogs, or decided to say their "blogland farewells" when I'd be browsing. Now I understand. I'm tired. And time gets away from me because of other things going on.

But I got the push I needed today because Dawn in CA is having a contest on her blog. I'm adding your button Dawn.

Gotta keep up with my knitting at least. Here's some of the latest:

Pattern: Embossed Leaves
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Select Semi Solids
Colorway: Lotus
Size 1 needles magic loop
Heavily modified: Long tail cast on used, not as many repeats on leg, didn't cut yarn for heel, and I did a regular toe as I didn't like how the star one looked. All in all, I changed it quite a bit! But I got a sock that was more fun for me to knit.

I really liked this yarn worked up in simple stockinette but thought "LEAVES would be GREAT with this!". Sometimes it's better to leave things alone. So what do you do when you change your mind after the fact? Dye them.
I used my Knitpicks acid dye to make them a deeper emerald green. I think patterned socks look so much better in a solid color and now these make me happier. Now I can see the leaves and the pretty details even with some slight varigation still.

Next:

Pattern: Merlot
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden
Colorway: #8
Needles size 7 & 9 (I always use a smaller needle for the brim of hats).
This is a Christmas present for my Auntie in CA. She loves, loves, loves Blue. This was a cool pattern, I'll defiitely use it again. The yarn is such a pretty, bright, and vibrant blue (even though my picture doesn't portray that as much) so I made her these to match:


Pattern: Cranford Mitts
Yarn: Knitpicks Bare Superwash Fingering - Dyed with Sapphire Acid Dye
Size 2 needles

Loved this pattern but they aren't very warm! I may make her a plain set as well for a bit more coverage. It's funny, my hat picture is too dark and this one is too light! These are a deeper blue than they appear here. Someday I need a digital photography class!!!

A few more things have been in the works. Not always working out to my satisfaction. I just finished a cabled scarf for The Big Guy for Christmas but it turned into a big, fat UGH! I used Caron Simply Soft in Black (because I've always been happy with this yarn) but I could tell even when I was knitting it up that there were fuzzy issues already happening. I should've just STOPPED, but I thought maybe with a wash and some de-fuzzing it might be salvageable.

NOT.

He's getting a store bought one this year. I'll try the pattern again one day in a different yarn. Fathers Day 2010?

Happy Knitting!

My Socks Reflect My Self

I know I've had experiences where my knitting reflects my own health/issues/feelings at the time and these are an accurate picture of how things have been lately. Just the usual stuff really - but sometimes I can work around it better than others. This wasn't one of those times! This project really tested my love of sock knitting. Finally -I ended the misery - even though one is slightly smaller than the other, they seem to fit okay. A miracle after many mis-starts, wrong cast on's, dropped stitches, tinking back rows, and sheer frustration. I know, that's life in general. We all have those times. I just wish my brain would function like it used to "pre-fibro". When my doctor's nurse asked me for my phone number yesterday: I couldn't remember it. Not at all. Now that's pretty bad.

Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Old Rose
Size 1 needles
C/O 68 sts - Picot Edge


I gotta say, Cherry Tree Hill turns out some SOFT socks in my opinion. They can get a little ratty and pilly if you wear them around the house like I do, but they're just so comfy I hate to take them off. If you've never tried this yarn, do so. You'll be pleased.

I found out today that my ANA-autoimmune blood test is still positive so I'll be sent to yet another Rhuematologist in the near future. I hope this time I'll find one that will believe me and help me figure out what this means. I tried Cymbalta recently (30 mg) and it really didn't agree with me. I know the beginning of any type of SSRI is tough (nausea, etc.) but this was terrible. I had anxiety, my throat felt like it was closing up, I couldn't sleep. I think this was what speed must be like, I was totally wired. I think it was too strong, 3 nights was all I could handle and I quit. The only good thing was that I had no pain while I was on it. I may try the 20 mg if my Doctor can get me samples though. It also helps with migraines so that would be a plus. I am a little freaked reading about people's experiences with stopping it though, it causes severe withdrawal symptoms for some people. Scary stuff. We'll see.

Back to the needles: I'm working on my other Gretel still and have wound up my Lorna's Laces Purple Club for yet more torture socks. Happy Knitting.

PS. What does your hubby do when the power goes out (read: he has nothing else to do) and you don't feel so hot??

Mine winds my yarn for me.