Knitting: So yes, it's my first pair

Of finished socks.
Exhibit A:


Much to the shock of my kntting friends... apparently I must have seemed like I've done a billion pairs of socks... when in fact, no, I have not. :)

Most of this is due to the first MANY tries at socks were EPIC FAILURES. I took a break from them and got pretty serious about socks sometime late last year. I've been making progress and they are definitely at a point where they are wearable, so definitely a step in the right direction (no pun intended)

I have serious second sockitis. It's very bad. I have several single socks in disarray lying about yearning for their mates. Honestly I don't know what is wrong with me. I enjoy knitting the socks... but I guess after the newness wears off, it's like, meh... I don't like you anymore. Actually I've come to terms that. Me and socks, just need a break.

Here's a list... of the top of my head of my singlet friends (and I may be missing some).
1. Brian's sock the pretty blue/purple one I made from a More Sens Sock book
2. Friendship Sock (this was a temptation mystery sock, the color stranded one)
3. Starry Night (another mystery sock actually called Fade Away)
4. Yummy Twisted
5. Berrocco Twisted
6. My Hair Potter yarn sock

In various states of completion
1. Cookie A's Marlene
2. Butterfingers (Mystery sock)
3. SKA March Mystery Lace sock
4. Cablicious (mystery sock)

So I guess all in all it's not that bad... or maybe it is, but whatever.

Anyway, I'm working on another stripey sock with KP Felici yarn. It's coming along well. I really need to get back to the Baby Girasole... as baby will be here in July and I have no idea when the shower is supposed to be, so better to be done soon, than too late. Anyway, that's all. Back to your normally scheduled programming.

Knitting: The lost Schooner Sock....

Just kidding, it's not lost. Of course it was lost to me for awhile, while I was ignoring them darn socks. They are cute and pretty and I still love them, I just didn't feel like finishing them.

So with some nudging from a friend about getting something DONE, I picked 'em up this past weekend and did some work. I had stopped about 4 rounds before the heel. I picked up and knit on down through the short row heel, which suddenly made more sense than when I previously worked it. So this sock looks beautiful in comparison to the #1 sock. Who knows.... anyway, am on the foot and I have a few inches to go there. I'm trying to make myself do a few rounds each day. My guess is I will have these done by the weekend!



IOSN (in other sock news) I am a glutton for punishment. I stupidly cast on ANOTHER sock. What the heck was I thinking?! I don't know, I wasn't. But I was pulled in by the fabulous Cookie A and her designs and I stared and stared at the book and I had pretty yarn... and my resolve just caved.

However... the punishment DID set in and fairly quickly. The pattern I picked, which isn't HARD really, but it is tricksy that one. So I'm a little frustrated. It's definitely not a mindless knit sock. You def have to pay attention. I don't have a pic of that. I think it's good I did cast on for that though because through all my frustration toiling with that one, it's making me want to go back and work on the other sock projects I have hanging out there in limbo. :)

Anyway... that's all. Still feeling not so inspired, but I am trying to knit a little each day... my mojo will come back, I just have to work on it.

Knitting: How do you catch up...

So finding myself home alone on a Saturday morning is both refreshing and angsty. Refreshing because it's been a bit since I've had a peaceful, quiet Saturday morning. The angst is because I feel like I SHOULD be making use of this time. I did do a little WORK-WORK, but then I decided I was done with that. My kitchen is calling my name, actually SCREAMING at me to fix it up.

And then I stare at all my lovely yarn and projects... and while I DESIRE to be knitting... I'm still not feeling overly inspired by all the WIPS on the needles. And I SERIOUSLY REFUSE to cast on for another project. I've got 47 socks started and blankets and sweaters and bags and so on.... why is NOTHING tempting me?!

One thing I did do though was catch up on my reading list. I've missed several blogs for a good many weeks, so today, I read through all of them!! So again, I'm inspired to knit... but just not anything I'm working on. Maybe I should stick with cleaning and organizing, maybe that will provide a spark?!

Guess I better get to it!

Knitting: Sometimes you need a break

So I haven't been posting much lately, mostly because work has been getting me down for several weeks and I don't want this blog to be a whiny work rant. And while I've had a great deal to say knitting wise, I didn't FEEL good enough to write about it.

So me and knitting, we've been taking a break. My norm is to knit a little every day, usually at lunch and then usually again in the evenings... and I spend a good chunk of the weekends knitting. It's great and I find myself with a lot of projects but I make progress and all is well. However, lately... due to the nature of work, I've been keeping longer hours there, not taking a lunch most days, or grabbing a sandwich and eating at my desk WHILE I work. When I get home, I'm too exhausted to do anything but eat and go to bed, maybe watch a little TV and I KNOW my supporters out there are KNIT while watching TV... but I just couldn't. I would literally ZONE out while watching TV. I was a blobbity blob, sitting in a blob-like state in front of the blobbity TV. And my lovely friend knitting, has been sitting on the curb waiting for me to come by and pick it up.

So, thanks to Julane for a weekend rescue, I was able to hang, have good TEA and TV and KNIT. I made a little progress on my slinky ribs and Cath is WAY farther making great progress on hers. I still have about another 1/2 inch to finish on the back section before I do the NEXT part.

The Baby Girasole is also coming along nicely. It's getting bigger and bigger, still doesn't look HUGE but that's mostly because it's on a circ needle and you don't get the full effect when laying it out. But I LOVE the pattern. It's quite rare for me to make a pattern more than once because let's face it there's SO many great designs out there, but I could definitely see making this again. My first thought was to do just that. I'll do the baby one, then I'll knit it for myself and our living room. Anyone that knows me, KNOWS I keep my house very cool in the winter!

Anyway, I was hanging out on the RAV doing pattern searches and I really wanted to do another circular project. So there were quite few that I liked, but I did come across another BrooklynTweed, the Hemlock Ring. So I thought, why not. So I think after the baby blanket, maybe I'll try the Hemlock Ring as the first blanket for ME. And that will give me a break from the Girasole pattern.

In the meantime though, I currently have a lot of projects ON THE NEEDLES. So my knitting break is OVER!

OTN:
Baby Girasole-BrooklynTweed
Slinky Ribs-Wendy Bernard
Marlene (sock by Cookie A)
Cablicious (mystery sock from temptations)
SKA March Mystery sock (from SKA Rav Group)

Of course I have other WIPS, but these are the ones that are taking precedence over anything else. I DEF have to ket that SKA sock done, the pair needs to be finished by end of April if I want to be eligible for prizes. It's not hard, I just need to sit down and do it, perhaps that will be this weekend's work!

PS, work is finally calming down... still entirely too busy, but the days are getting better, the fog is clearing!