Multiple Craftonalities

Lost Afternoon

 

I finished the first Ocean Toes sock on Saturday night.  Sunday was busy, and I had a little one with a cold and fever so there was no knitting going on 'round here.  This afternoon after I came home from work, I was just hangin' out on the couch with my recuperating little patient so I cast on for the second sock.  Ha!  If only it was that simple.  I don't know if I was too tired, too distracted, or just too learning impaired today, but I would have been ahead of the game if I had just spent the afternoon thinking about casting on the second sock.

The cast on method requires you to cast on twice as many stitches as are needed for the sock because after the cuff, the stitches are decreased to half.  On the first sock, I made a newbie mistake of only casting on half of what I actually needed because I couldn't see where the instructions were headed and I ended up having to do a do-over to end up with enough stitches to knit a sock big enough for an adult human.

I was not going to make THAT mistake again.  I made sure I doubled the number of stitches I needed to end up with.  I looked at the instructions for this particular cast on again and made a start.  Well, I kept losing count.  I was distracted by the invalid.  Repeatedly setting the knitting down to get her a movie, or some 7-UP, or her "Sack of Potatoes" (Mr. Potato Head), or...  well, you get the idea.

This time the cast on was seeming to take so much longer.  I just couldn't keep the count straight and had trouble counting the stitches on the needle.  I don't even know how many times I started over, but finally, after (let's be generous to me and say) an hour I thought I had them all on there.  Then knit three rounds.  Wow, this is taking so long.  I don't know how I did this the first time.  Why does this seem like it is taking so long?  An hourish later (I had to feed her soup "like a baby"), the first three rounds are done and it is time to knit 2 together to decrease the number of stitches by half.  

Wow, this is taking soooo long.  How did I ever get that first sock started?  I must have been having an extraordinarily good day.  Must have had a good night's sleep the night before I guess.  Hey, whoa, this cuff is looking quite wide.  This looks like it could edge the neck opening on a... sweater?  How many did I cast on?  I doubled the number right?  Two needles with one hundred twenty eight on each side (that is sixty-four stitches that I want to end up with doubled).  On each needle?  Wait-  that is two hundred fifty-six stitches cast on!  Aghhhhhh!

Overconfidence at work?  Sheer stupidity?  I just don't know.  At around five o'clock I started over again.  My yarn was starting to look a little overworked and fuzzy.  Twistless and listless baby, just like I was feeling.  I did keep at it until about nine tonight.  I have successfully completed the cuff and worked about twenty-five rows of the leg, but I had to give it up as I was really feeling the body fatigue which was probably more from the stress of it than the actual knitting.

Good times.

 

This is a part of a gift from one of my quilting friends.  It is fabric and instructions to make a wintry pillow case and it also came with this...

 

little coin purse.  This bag of goodies really made my day.  Something hand made and something to hand make.  I don't think there could be any better combination.

Meanwhile, I have not wrapped one single Christmas gift yet.  It is only 10:45 pm on December 22nd.  What's the hurry?  I just don't know how I will keep away from the sock knitting tomorrow.  Maybe wee wrapping elves will visit my house while I am sleeping tonight so I can spend tomorrow afternoon knitting away in leisure.  Hmmm?  That is my pwn personal version of "visions of sugar plums danced in their heads". 

Christmas Interference

The days have been flying by and I feel that I can't keep up.  The decorating and all the other holiday bustle is keeping me hoppin'.  The busier I am, the crankier I get.  It's ok if I choose not to knit or quilt or scrapbook or whatever I don't feel like doing, but when all the things I have to do get in the way of what I want to do...  Well, let's just say mama is not happy.

Tuesday night I went to an ornament exchange party at my sister's house.  I had fun, and I received two very beautiful hand beaded ornaments.

Some friends and family and laughter.  My sister's house is beautifully decorated for the holidays.  I think I counted at least five Christmas trees.  She has a four year old and works full-time.  I just don't know how she does it with out going completely nuts. 

I have gotten a bit more done on the first Ocean Toes sock.  I am up to the turn of the heel which I think I can handle alright, but the next bit may be a bit sticky for me.  The directions are written for double points or two circulars, but I am working the magic loop on one circular and even putting that aside I am not certain I understand the directions.  I'm going to look at it again when I am not worn out.  I know better than to attempt something new when I'm tired. 

I have spent the last two days working on getting some Christmas cards in the mail.  For six or seven years I rubber stamped all our Christmas cards every year, but last year I broke tradition and had portrait cards made at a photography studio.  This year, to economize, and because I ran out of time, I just took a snapshot of the girls and then spent all day yesterday wrestling with Photoshop Elements 7 trying to come up with something decent to put in store bought cards. 

All I can say about the end result is that it will just have to do.  I mangaged to get them signed, addressed, and mailed out today.  It is done and I am going to try to put the entire painful experience behind me until next year when I hope it will work out better. 

Trying to learn photo editing software on December 17th, to get cards mailed out in time for Christmas was just never a good plan in the first place.  It is however very typical of me to find myself in just that sort of situation.  Big plans, procrastinate, stress out, and then settle.  It's always so good in my mind.  It always starts out like the smell of good coffee brewing in the morning and then ends up like, well, I just don't even want to go there.

The big storm is supposed to be starting soon.  They are calling for between 8 and 13 inches of snow tonight, so tomorrow just may be a snow day.  I am cuddled up under my new best friend, the down throw, the past few weeks of extreme cold in our drafty old house have me huddled under it whenever I am not running around like the proverbial headless chicken.

I am very afraid of losing power.  I find the news footage of winter storms taking out the power terrifying.  We do not have fireplace or woodstove and I can't imagine what people do when the power goes out and it's only 2 degrees outside.  Aside from that possibility, bring the snow day on.  I have presents to wrap anyway.

A Turtle in a Hare's Race

 

Saturday was a girl's night of knitting at a friend's house.  Three of us got together for snacks and cocktails and knitting.  Historically, our trio has gotten together for rubber stamping/card making, but by mutual consent we changed gears for this gathering.  I had said I would help one friend get started on a Ball-Band dish cloth.  I have been hooked on knitting these for some time now.  They caught my eye in Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures, and then for a while they stole my knitting soul.  Eventually, I began to knit other things again, but it took at least a dozen of them before they were done with me. I don't use them myself, but lots of people seem to really like them. I keep knitting them because they are so simple annd so much fun, and then I give them away. 

I offered a little help and advice where I could and I knit a round or two on Ocean Toes, but gabbing and cocktails got the best of me that night.  Sunday I was a little worse for the wear (shameful at my age) so the day was almost a complete waste and the week was just bound to start off hectic.

 

So this is as far as I got on my first Ocean Toes sock before my life spun out of control this week.  And by out of control, I mean, too busy for me to scrape out a little crafty time or too tired to lift needles and yarn by the time I got a moment to sit down.  Monday, I stopped after work and bought a real Christmas tree.  We have had an artificial tree for at least the last eight or nine years, but for some reason I wanted a real one this year.  I find myself wondering, as I have for the last few years, why did decorating for Christmas become such a chore?  I used to love decorating for Christmas.  I used to decorate for all the holidays, but every year it gets to be more and more of a drag and just another nagging chore.  I do think part of the problem is just the sheer volume of Christmas decorations that I have accumulated over the years.  All those seasons of ornament exchanges really add up.  Each year I tell myself I am going to sort through it and pare it down a little, but it never seems to happen.  Maybe it just isn't time yet.  Maybe this year after Christmas?  Stay tuned, we'll see...

Tuesday and Wednesday were mostly consumed helping my mother with a project for her gift shop sprinkled with trying to get the lights and garland on the tree and hauling boxes of schtuff up from the basement.  Thursday was cleaning up and putting boxes of unselected decorations and packed-up everyday knick-knacks back down in the basement.  As a sideline, I reorganized a little in the basement (a catch-all pile had accumulated at the bottom of the stairs and had to be disbursed), and made another little trip to GoodWill with a few more items.  Oh, and don't forget flu shots for the girls and I Thursday afternoon.  I am often left wondering how mothers working full-time do it all.  I only work 20 hours a week outside the home and sometimes I struggle. 

So today I am using a vacation day to stay home, catch up on the laundry, and possibly find a little time to work on my sock or quilt.  However, I have this little voice in my head telling me that what I really want to do is cast on a scarf project.  I saw the Foxy Bob Cratchit scarf at Mason-Dixon Knitting but I believe it was mentioned at The Runcible Bin, This scarf , previous to that.  I have some yarn in mind that I picked up in a crazed yarn buying frenzy a couple of weeks ago.  Three yarn stores and all kinds of goodies.  Good times.  The best.

Back to Ocean Toes, I love the pattern.  I learned the new cast on and new cuff and was very proud of myself for being the old dog learning new tricks.  Especially so because I had put it off for so long because I was so intimidated.  Despite having to flip to and fro in the book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One by Cat Bordhi,  the directions are actually very good and the results are well worth the page turning.  I realize for personal use I could photocopy the pages I need, but my scanner quit working a couple of years ago, and it is just one of those things I have never cared enough about to replace it. 

 

I love the texture.  I love the yarn which is Artyarns Ultramerino 4.  I have made two other pairs of socks with this yarn in different colorways.  The only drawback to this yarn is that I think the yardage is a little skimpy.  On both pairs of socks that I knit previously I had just barely enough yarn to finish.  Literally, mere inches were left over.  Now, I will admit that I am not exactly a size 6 in the footwear department, and that is all I am going to say about that, but I am making the shorter version of Ocean Toes as I do not want to run short.  I have a mortal fear of having to attach a second ball of yarn in the middle of a sock.  I know stating this may cause many other knitters to think I am a raving nut-ball, I have seen the fair isle and striped socks, the contrasting heels and toes, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  Maybe someday I will give it a whirl, but for now I will continue to eye my completed and many times worn hand knit socks with suspicion.  Always on the lookout for the renegade end sneaking out of it's woven-in condition.  I have never had an end "unweave" itself, but I still don't have faith enough to tie-in balls of yarn within a sock.  For now, I will wait and I will watch.  Hey, we all have our little quirks, right?

Sew, Snow, and Toes

I started out strong on the quilt front this weekend.  By Friday night, I had the quilt completely pin basted (if I am not mistaken, I believe there are 400 safety pins doing the job), and I had put the quilt on my sewing machine and started a couple of runs of stitch-in-the-ditch in both directions starting from the center out.  I do not have quilting confidence yet.  I am more in the mode of -well, I think this is how it's done so I am just going to have at it.  Friday night I got a couple of seams down, but then staying in the ditch was getting too difficult so I realized I was going to have to call it a night or hate myself in the morning. 

Saturday morning I woke up and made a cup of coffee and jumped right back into it thinking (dreaming apparently) that I could conceivably get the quilt quilted by weekend's end but after a couple of seams I was distracted.  I had one of those action moments.  You know, one of those moments when all of a sudden you just have to do some thing that you have been meaning to do for months and months but just never seem to think of at the right time.  Apparently, Saturday was THE DAY.  THE DAY that I thought of the right thing at the right time, and then, as if my life depended on it, I was in the basement hauling out no longer used baby paraphernalia like a madwoman and frantically loading it in the back of my vehicle because the consignment shop is only open until 2:00 on Saturday and I just had to get it there now or the world was going to end or something.  So I took the high chair, crib mattress, infant car seat, exersaucer (with additional doo-dads and wee-wahs), and the Fisher Price Learning Home to a local resale shop for children's items.  I have never taken anything to this particular resale shop before.  The shops sets the price and sells the items on a 50/50 consignment basis.  The owner has about zero personality, definitely not into chit-chat or warm fuzziness, but whatever.  The stuff is out of our basement and the basement heaved a huge sigh of relief. It really did.  I heard it.

Now it felt so good to clear out some schtuff from the basement that I just couldn't stop there.  Next thing I knew, I was in my closet throwing out clothes I hadn't worn since I can't remember when, and then the dresser, and then back to the basement for my eldest daughter's six or seven garbage bags of clothes and shoes that she had been getting rid of over the past year or so.  By 7 o'clock that night I was on my way to Good Will to drop off a donation. 

Since early spring this year I had been "planning" on having a big rummage sale.  The ruse is over baby.  There is not going to be any rummage sale.  There probably never was going to be one.  I don't have time to sweep the garage, set up tables, price the goods, and then deal with the eight year old hagglers.  No kidding, people never cease to amaze me.  One year I did have a rummage sale and some lady who did not speak English was haggling with me through her young child who did speak English.  Now I don't necessarily mind a haggler generally speaking, but come on, you don't speak English so you make your young child argue with a stranger for you?  And then there was the kid who bought a bike at a rummage sale I was helping with and brought it back wanting a refund.  What do I look like?  Wal Mart?

But I am digressing from my original digression.  Some of the stuff is gone.  It is no longer residing at this address.  Woo hoo!  And, now, I can even get to my Christmas decorations.

Sadly, this means the quilt is right where I left it.  It is kind of dangling off the table in a rather forlorn looking way.  Now I don't even feel like touching it.  I am a little fickle that way.  I started knitting a new pair of socks for myself.  The pattern is Ocean Toes from the book New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi.  I bought the book close to a year ago and wanted to make the socks even before getting the book.  I saw them somewhere I don't recall.  I would periodically pull the book off it's shelf and start reading the pattern, but the new techniques were too intimidating for me.  I had the yarn picked out.  I had two skeins of Artyarns Ultramerino 4 Blue Topaz already balled and ready to go.  It just wasn't their time I guess.  But now, now I have a quilt dangling from my sewing machine.  Now it is their time.  How could it not be?  I will have a photo and more detailed progress report next time.  I am loving them so far though.

We had our first substantial snow fall of the year here in southern Wisconsin and we did head out to enjoy it a bit on Sunday.  And by enjoy, I mean, try not to remember that the pretty snow is known by many other names (many other bad and dreadful names) by February or March when we have seen well over 100 inches of the schtuff like we did last year.  The snow bunny is my plea to mother nature for a shorter, gentler winter and an earlier spring for 2009.