I hope that everyone is having a good start to their new year. Me? If you hadn’t noticed completely unable to managing posting in the month of December. Now that international trips, family visits, holidays, and drunkeness are behind me I hope to get back on the blogging horse. Many things to share, too, if I can get around to uploading my photos.
I finished my Gretel hat a few days ago and it is currently blocking in the bathroom. I’m working on a pair of basic socks for The Husband and I’ve got a surprise on the needles for The Loopy Swap Round 3 on Ravelry. So, why is it that I keep looking at my stashed yarns and thinking of the various things I could cast on?
I’ll admit that the things I’ve been eyeing are mittens, which would be handy to have for Canada (it’s snowing and cold there, ya know) but I don’t have enough time, and a sweater vest, which slightly confuses me because I’ve never really been a sweater vest wearer. Both these things are probably on the forethought of my thinking because it’s finally starting to look like winter around here (I actually had to turn on the heat for the first time Sunday).
The startitis really doesn’t make sense when I haven’t been knitting. The last few nights, when I would normally sit on the couch watching TV knitting, I’ve not. It’s sitting right next to me. Instead of knitting the projects I have going and need to knit, I just plan all sorts of other things I could be working on. *sigh*
I meant to post this sooner, but the cold knocked me on my butt hardcore.
Finances are tough all around, which means that as more people need the help of their local food banks, people donate less. If you are able, please consider donating to a local food bank — if you’re in the US, you can check the Feeding America website for a list of local banks that will be grateful for anything you are able to give.
Okay, public service announcement over, onto knitting. I cast on and finished my Gretel hat. It is quite nice and warm, which will be great for an upcoming trip to Canada. Now I need to figure out how to block it since it has a tam shape. The question is whether to block it with a plate in it or not.
On the sad knitter front, I was forced to go out and buy a couple of sweaters to make up for the great lack of sweaters in my wardrobe and the coming of the voyage into the cold. Can someone please explain to me why I go to the store and all the women’s sweaters are mostly cotton and acrylic with a little bit of wool and the guys get the 100% merino wool sweaters? Aren’t women supposed to be the ones that are always cold? Cotton just doesn’t do it in the warmth department for me and it has the unsightly tendency to grow in length. It’s a good thing I knit, cause it’s a pain in the butt to find basic, classic wool sweaters.
I cast on Gretel last weekend after picking up another ball of the Rowan Purelife British Breeds yarn from Purlescence Yarns. I was just about to finish the first chart when I realized that I had missed the note 10 rows back that said that the beginning of the row moved by 6 stitches. That would certainly explain why I thought the row after that looked a bit funny. So, I ripped back and am now slowly making my way through the chart.
Meanwhile, I think I’m coming down with a cold.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
I am so proud of the United States at this moment. As I read various articles this morning, I still found myself on the verge of crying with happiness. I am unable to truly express how I feel. Thankfully, Cherie Priest said it much better than I ever could, but then she is a writer. 🙂
Meanwhile, I am sorely disappointed in my adopted home. I do not understand how millions of people could go to the polls and vote discrimination into the state constitution. I have friends and know of friends of friends whose marriages are now in jeopardy and may not even exist in a few weeks. How can we deny the right of any 2 consenting adults to be happy in life?
If you’re in the United States, please remember to vote today (if you haven’t already).
If you’re in California, please consider voting No on Prop 8. Californians should be above codifying discrimination in the state constitution.
Thank you.
Happy Halloween! Many thanks to everyone who came to check out the new digs. 🙂
The random number generator just spit out 32, 24, 5, and 26.
So, the winners of the yarny prizes are as follows:
1 skein of Mountain Colors Mountain Goat in the Mountain Twilight colorway – Hanna
2 skeins of Himalayan Yarn Tibet Wool/Recycled silk in a pretty green color – Gladys
2 skeins of Shibui Knits Sock in Sky – taelixev
1 skein of Socks that Rock lightweight in Korppi – Adrienne
Yay!
Now that I’ve handed out yarn, it’s time to get ready to hand out candy!
A pair of socks finally done. May I present the Sock Knitters Anonymous September Mystery sock. Very fun pattern; it was the first time I did a toe-up with a heel flap rather than a short row heel. The sock had to be knit in orange yarn, so this gave me a reason to use some orange wool/mohair sock yarn that had been languishing in my stash (orange isn’t anywhere near my favorite color). First time making socks out of a wool/mohair blend, and they are quite warm, fuzzy, and squishy.
If you’re lurking around, don’t forget to post a comment on my Housewarming post by 5 pm PDT this Friday to be in the drawing for yummy yarn prizes.
In knitting news, I actually got quite a bit done this weekend. Only about 40 rounds left and I’ll be done with my Mystery OJ socks. Now to decide if I want to try casting on for the October challenge (I have until Friday), or to just go on to next month’s challenge (casting on Nov 1).