Knitting: Another finished pair

I'm quite proud. I finished another pair of socks. The feeling of a finished project is always a great thing and feels pretty good (most of the time) however there is something about socks that is more unique to me. And makes me feel infinitely better. Not only did I make them... but I made TWO items. See I think that is where I get snagged a lot of times. I'm the type of person that doesn't like to repeat a pattern. Once I've made it, it's likely that I will not make it again. Enter the sock... you HAVE to make 2. Unless you are a person with one foot or leg and don't need another... that's acceptable as well. I however have 2 feet and wish them both to be dressed accordingly and matchedly (not a word?!?)

So when I actually finish 2 of the same sock and have a complete pair, I'm overjoyed and want to shout it from the rooftops. This pair I had mixed feelings on early on. I enjoyed knitting the pattern for awhile. But then I got irritated. I really hated the finished toe on the first sock, so before completing the kitchener, I let it marinate. Then I started the 2nd sock and after completing about 2 inches, I went back to the first sock and ripped out about 4 inches! Again... this is something very new to me. In my previous knitting life, I would typically fudge something and make it work. No way was I going to unravel all those lovely little stitches... I would do what I could to MAKE IT WORK.

So maybe call it improving or growing up or whatnot, but now, I actually pause and think about knitting consequences. For instance, if I just "deal" with this toe and leave it... will I like it? Will I wear these socks, or better yet, will I actually make a 2nd sock. With those thoughts in mind, I decided the best thing to do would be rip. If I ripped and remade it, I knew it would fit better and feel better and ulitimately I would have a nice pair of socks.

So I finished the NEW toe on Friday and immediately went back to Sock #2. I would have finished it Saturday night, too except I was too exhausted and for fear of making errors, I put it down and went to bed. But I picked it back up on Sunday and got that foot and toe done and kitchenered both toes by 11AM!

Then I had a photo shoot. Have some others on my camera that need downloaded as well.



I then wound up some yarn for the next project I had planned, Charybdis. The pattern is named after a greek sea monster. It's basically a simple pattern that starts from the Toe and spirals up the leg.

I decided something nice and soft was in order and that I REALLY should use some of my ridiculous stash and also use something I've not knit with before... so bugga it is! Something I've heard a lot about, but have never knit with. Although it's very similar to one of my fave yarns, Casbah by Handmaiden. The color is Blue Emperor Dragonfly and reminds me very much of water and whirlpools, like Charybdis.

Here's the toe.



The goal for this one is to be finished with the pair by 8/29. Better get knitting!

And 20 years later...

I think last week was one of the longest of my life. I may be exaggerating a bit, but with all the anxiety and trepidation of the weekend to come, it seemed the days just drug on by.

Of course I jam packed each day with doing OTHER things... instead of doing what I should be doing, like washing and packing. But I didn't do any of it. I did get my hair cut and a pedicure, a must for sandals, ya know.... then I made plans with Brandy and had a fantastic night out, which led me to taking off Friday. I didn't get to sleep in like I wanted to because I forgot to disable the alarm. Then I packed, showered, ran errands. I bought 3 pair of sandals at Target and a cute stylish dress for $7!! I had planned to wear it on Saturday, but wore a different outfit instead.

If you've talked to me over the last couple of weeks or so, I may have mentioned some anxiety about this class reunion thing. Well... I guess I was being silly because I had such a fun time. It was so amazing to see so many people from the class. I didn't talk to everyone, but did get to chat with most for a bit. And it brought a little regret back, like why did we all lose touch? We could have easily talked over the last 20 years, but we didn't. Well, some people have remained to stay close and there are many that still live in our hometown.

Friday we hit Kelly's Island and I can't talk about all the hilarity that ensued. There were strawberry shots, Brandy Alex Milkshakes, dancing, singing... puking in the lake (not me), writing on those that passed out and just general hanging on the boats. As soon as we made it down to the boats (2 friends were docked), Scot and I were greeted by a bunch of our old friends. I swear, those 20 years, just dissipated and it felt like we were back there, back when, like no time happened between then and now. All lines were erased and we laughed and hugged and it was so much fun. I don't know why I was so worried. Heck in 10 minutes, I swear, my stomach was in pain from laughing so hard. I could barely stand up because I was just bent over with laughter. Awesome!


(the boaters that arrived early: Cory, Brent, Kristen, Tina, Tracy, Jodi, Erica, Lisa, Amy and Tonya

We made the 12:30 am (last ferry) back to Marblehead with a bunch of the gang. And then off to the hotel, where I was so tired and exhausted and still excited that I couldn't even sleep. We took Scot's mom to lunch and went to Big Lots. Then lounged around until the "official" reunion, which started at 6. That was a nice time also, we saw more people that didn't make the Friday outing and some that came Friday didn't come on Saturday.

We parted ways around 9:30 and headed back to Columbus. I sincerely hope that 20 years doesn't go by again before I see some of these people. It made me realize how much I missed those friendships. So glad we have the internet now though, it will make it so much easier.

Not the greatest photo of us, but one of the best ganked from Tracy's facebook page.
Here we are, the Clyde High School Class of 1990.



The names are a bit zig-zagged and for the ladies, maiden last names.
Tracy Archer, Lisa Lamb, Me, Lavonda Boyd, Roni Dorobek, Jenny Andrews, Tina Biller, Amy Zilch, Jason Whaley, Joe Kiser, Travis Stuart, Kristy Miller, Beth Kreh, Lisa Durdel, Donny White, Shelly Perkins, Amy Harmon, Dave Cook, Cory Distel, Toby Ball, Scot Holmes, Jay Eisenhower, Angie Summers, Chad Keegan, Eric Level, John Farster, Troy Keegan, Tracy Miller, Kendra Sherman, Heather Miller, Rusty Jesse, Michelle Gonzalez, Brett Wott, Kendra & Dee Burdett (hidden), Tonya Combs, and Angie Tusing

All there is to do in a weekend...

Sometimes it seems like a whirl!

After work on Friday I headed over to Scot's to take a tasty dip in the pool! It was perfect weather, for lying in a chair in the sun and cooling off in the water. It was the perfect temp, cool, but not cold. No SHOCK at getting in the water, just refreshing. We also made plans for Saturday.

Up and at 'em early on Saturday, headed back to Scot's. We left there and stopped by Target to get more sunscreen and a hat for me and off to the fair we went. It was a lot of fun. We walked around and looked at the crafts building. I saw some hand knit stuff that I wasn't overly impressed with, thinking, I REALLY need to get my shit together and enter next year! I also saw some hand spun yarns. Some really impressive lace weights!

Then we checked out the quilts... oh my, all kinds of gorgeous. Most of them were VERY impressive. I would love to meet them women that made them. Awesome!

We looked around at other stands and such along the way. We went to see the Sheeps and Cows and Horses. Watched some of the judging, it was nice to rest the feet a bit. We ate fair food, I had ribs and cheese on a stick. We bought French Waffles and Kennel Corn on our way out. All in all a fun day.... how we spent 4 hours there, I'll never know, but it was good all the same.

And there were babies!!


There were also some goat babies that were super cute, but I couldn't get a good pic.

After the fair, I went home and showered the sweat and grime off, it was wonderful to do!

Then I knit, and knit and knit... So by Sunday, I was able to finish this sock.



I'm not crazy about how it looks when it's off my foot (very pointy) and it's a little snug on the toes, it should be about 4 rounds longer. I'm contemplating ripping back and re-doing, but still unsure.

We also headed back to Scot's on Sunday to swim again. What a great day for it again, it was such a beautiful weekend!

And in the meantime I still haven't knit anymore on my BSJ for the new niece that came as schedule last Friday 8/6. Her name is McKenzie (not sure on the spelling) and here she is with her big sister, Addison. Can't wait to see them!

Knitting: Baby style and sock fail...

I'll start with the fail, best to get it over with. I was chugging away on Vortex... and it was looking really great. I did all those increases for the gusset and stuff (it's toe-up) and then I started the back and forth of the standard slip stitch heel and then... wait for it....

Tried it on... holy slipper sock batman. Seriously! It fit fine up until then. The regular part of the foot fit well, a tad on the loose side, but not too bad overall. The increases for the gusset area seemed on target.... and the little heel cup was exactly in the right spot, from toe to heel, this looked great!

Then I started on that flap and NOW it's this blob of a slipper sock, way too loose and crazy looking. Well not crazy looking, it looks like a sock, but just for someone with 15 inch wide feet. I'm in a quandary now, should I rip it back and try and SAVE the sock, do I forge on and just have really biggish socks that will slip and slide around. The lazy part of me wants the latter. I just want to keep going and finish and be done with it... but in my heart, I really know that isn't the right thing. Here is what I wonder... If maybe perhaps, I started the gusset increases too soon because I have a medium-ish arch, not super tall, that maybe there are just too many stitches there. I also wondered if I shouldn't just rip back and do a different heel... and even if I do that, I will be taking out a LOT of knitting. For instance, this particular heel started at about 3 inches from the toe. The pattern said start the decreaes 4 1/2 inches from the total length. And I was thinking... that is really far, but I decided to trust the pattern. I do still trust the pattern, I just can't figure out how it was a perfect fit, to NOT being perfect at all. It's very weird.

So... took a break from that catastrophe and started the Baby Surprise Jacket with the Picnic colorway of Felici from Knit Picks. I had originally wanted this yarn for myself for socks, but it's a little TOO pastel for me, so it's great for a baby sweater which will hopefully get done quickly and given to the new addition to our family. Step-Sister Erin is scheduled for a c-sect on Fri 8/6. She's having a girl but I don't know what name they've picked yet. Since I'll be up in the area the following weekend, I'm hoping to have this sweater done. Thing is, it's one of those projects that SEEMS easy and mindless and it is mostly... but the counting... oh the counting. It's garter stitch, hence the easy part. But you really have to keep track of things like counting and such because you almost always have to do double decreases and then you have to do multiple increases. Anyway... I started it on Saturday and did some yesterday, but lo and behold it doesn't look like I have that much done at all. I'm using a US5 and am now thinking I should have used a 6 or 7. Ah well, it's all good.

And after this one, I have to make 2 more for a friend's twins and if I'm really feeling the BSJ love maybe even a 3rd for someone else. We'll see.