Dilemma, Secret Pal and a HUGE mess

I know, I know, I haven't been around, but I've been desperately trying to get some knitting done!

I finally finished Dad's Garter Rib Socks on Sunday after solidly knitting on them all day.

Pattern: Garter Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Sirdar Town & Country Sock yarn

Needles: 2.75mm dpns

I tell you, I will never knit these dudes again. For such a simple pattern they have given me hell all the way through. From stitch counts to unbalanced ribbing after doing the heel to just plain mistakes I have redone these socks 3 times. I tell you, my Dad better love these babies for Christmas!

So my hourglass socks have hit the wayside and will stay there I think until after Christmas. Just no time for them I'm afraid. Still, I'll enjoy them all the more when I get back to them.

Alice's communion crochet cardigan is coming along very slowly. I've decreased to the first shoulder and need to do the same for the second and then do the back. Once those are done I need to figure out how to do set in sleeves. I dunno if I'll ever get it done as I can't attend the last class of the course tonight. Hubby has school Parents Association meeting and i can't bring Alice to the class. So, it's with a very heavy heart that I'm going to go back to my knitting girls again instead. Woohoo!!! I've really missed them I have to say. Plus, becuase it's in a coffee shop I can bring Alice. Can't wait to catch up on all the gossip!

Right, on to the dilemma. My Mam's hairdresser in in the same crochet class as me. The week before last she was admiring my beautiful handmade socks (snigger) and of course I lapped up the praise. Last week, she came over to me and asked if I could knit a pair for her daughter for Christmas! hahahahaha. I tried my best to be polite in my refusal, saying that I had to finish Dad's socks, hubbys jumper and the crochet cardigan and I really didn't think I'd have the time. Her reply? "Sure that's ok, I can give them to her after Christmas if they're not ready"!!! I nearly choked to be honest. No mention of money for the yarn, not even I'll give your Mam a free hairdo. Plus, there's not a snowballs chance in hell that they'll be done.

What should I do? I don't want to piss her off too much in case she says anything to my Mam or dyes her hair orange or something.

Next up is Secret Pal time. This is my first one, and it's organised by the brilliant dmaxi from the Irish Knitters group. I won't say too much about my swap pal, but I'm having fun shopping for her. Have you done pals before? What did you get them? I'm a bit stuck for small things to put into the parcel.

Lastly, the disaster. I saved this for last as it's a doozy. Put down coffee in case of spillage.

Hubbys jumper? Have a look:

Remember Sesame Street? What's wrong with this picture? Have a guess.

It looks like I'm progressing nicely no? ummm no. In my infinite wisdom and all fired up by Elizabeth Zimmerman, I converted this baby into a seamless all in one sweater. No biggie, I recalculated the pattern and off I went. Except....

On either side under the arms there a band of ribbing instead of the cable pattern. Grand I said, and put the ribbing at the beginning of the round, then the pattern and then the other ribbing. See what I did wrong? Yep, that means I have one large band of ribbing where the beginning and end of the rounds meet and all pattern the rest of the way. The pattern now goes under one armpit, or there's a big band of ribbing all up the back.

DUH!

I only copped this at the end of Bones last night. Hubby nearly fell out of the chair at my outburst of ****! and other juicy tidbits. When I explained my problem he dissolved into fits of laughter. He'd seen me knitting like a lunatic all week and knew how much I wanted this done for Christmas. And he laughs! At my face, he says. yeah. I was nearly crying I was so annoyed at myself for being so stupid and then at him for being such a meanie. I think he's getting coal this year instead of a jumper.

So, it's off to the frog pond with me and some more sums. A weeks frantic work wasted!

boo hoo.

Lots of activity, not much to show

I've been really busy this week, chasing my tail. This always seems to be the way when you return from holidays, doesn't it? It's been a cycle of washing, ironing, cleaning, work (which is mental) and trying to squeeze in some knitting time too.

I made my Christmas puddings this weekend which was a bittersweet occasion. This has always been something my Mam and I did together and it was a day of great fun. This year she wasn't interested at all even going so far as to (gasp) suggest we buy one from a shop!(/gasp)

So, I took matters into my own hands and made them on Saturday. I was up until 2am steaming the first two, so I got this finished while I waited!

Pattern: Toasty Hot Water Bottle Cosy

Yarn: Donegal Tweed Aran

Needles: 5.5mm

This knit up in no time and Alice is thrilled with it. "It's so huggy Mom" she said last night taking it to bed. Aww. I used two colours as they were essentially scraps I had left over. This picture doesn't really show the cables very well, but it turned out nicely I think.

Yesterday while the last pudding steamed (7.5 hrs) in between making breakfast, dinner, tea and Alice's swimming lessons I got cracking on this:

It's going to be a communion cardigan for Alice, allegedly. My crochet instructor says so anyway.

I measured Alice up and am going to make this an almost bolero style cardi that just comes to under her "bust" as her dress has a high waistline.

It's bloody difficult! I'm using a 2.5mm hook and some cotton thread held together with some lurex "for sparkle" the instructor says. Gotta have some sparkle apparently. It's so slippy I keep dropping the thread and my tension is all over the place.

This was the progress made by lunchtime yesterday. By bedtime last night I had finished the 4" up to her armpits to split for the sleeves. It's really hard to see the pattern here, the cotton is so stiff it kinda needs to be spread out to show it properly. Alice doesn't like it, she thinks it's too hard to the touch. I reckon washing would sort that, but tbh, I'm not feeling the love.

I think I might see a sneaky knitted alternative hiding in the wings.

Another FO, my first ever crochet project!
Crochet Tea Cosy, no pattern.

Yarn: Misc Acrylic
Hook: 4.5mm

Sorry for the crappy photo, taken on my mobile in Mam & Dads kitchen.
This was my test piece in class where my instructor taught me how to crochet. She took it home when I had finished and joined the front and back and wadded it for me. I gave it to Mam & Dad as chez moi is strictly a tea bag in a mug type house and Dad loves it!

This is a crochet scarf that I have no pattern for and no idea what stitches to use. I'm just doing trebles at the moment, but must see if I can find a nicer stitch than that.

Absolutely no progress on the second garter rib sock for Dads Christmas present, I must get going on that soon.

Hourglass Sock 2:

Again, nothing much doing. I was determined to get the crochet cardigan and the hot water bottle done so everything else seemed to suffer a bit.

I'm almost glad to be back in work today (I said ALMOST) for the break! What an exhausting weekend.

Yipee

I am so hyper it's unbelievable. I am sitting at my desk, starting my last day at work before my holidays! whee! I don't think there's going to be a wink of sleep had tonight...
I have my knit picks basket filled and ready to checkout today when I get home to make sure it arrives when I'm there. I am a bit stuck on other yarns to get this year though. Without a specific project in mind, it's a bit hard to know quantities either, so I may have to wing it a bit when I hit the lys(s).

I've no pics today, but project progress:

Garter Rib Sock - one down one to go. I finished the first one last night
Crochet Tea Cosy - my class practice piece is done. The instructor is going to wad and line it for me.
I have cast on for the Hourglass Socks for the plane. Just a round or two done, enough to get past the fiddly first stage when needles are likely to fall off and roll under the seat in front and my nice and skinny daughter has to go scrambling to retrieve them.
I have begun a crochet scarf for the class now. I've no idea how it's going to turn out, I'm just going to try lots of different stitches out.

On a side note, the things we women do for vanity (and laziness in this case). I got my legs waxed last night so that I wouldn't have to shave on holidays. OWIE. I've had them done before and no biggie, but this time it was really sore. I have hairy toes. So, I'm sure do a few others (humour me that I'm not bigfoot). Getting them waxed is SORE. 'nuff said. Last night in bed they were still throbbing like a Looney Tunes cartoon hand after it gets hit with a hammer. But, I'll have shiny legs on holidays! yep. It's worth it.

I doubt I'll get any blogging in over there, but you never know. If not, sayonara!

Cheshire Cat

I feel like the cat that's opened the cream fridge, found the large tub of cream and swallowed it all down in one gulp!

I hit the Wollmeise shop this morning and got these:


Pfefferminz Prinz medium

Red Hot Chili Medium

I had been lurking (stalking) arount the Wollmeise site knowing an update was on the way today.
I am such an advertising sucker. I never thought I was, but I have been totally sucked into the hype surrounding this dyer. I was actually squeeing (if that's a valid word) when I clicked the checkout button ordering these. I am thinking another try at the Pomatomus socks for the peppermint one and I'm unsure about the Chili one.
I also swore I wasn't buying anything before the holidays, but I figure I better get them while I can!

Not much other knitting news really, I had to totally rip back the Garter Rib sock for Dad, as the rib wasn't lined up properly on the instep. It looked really weird. So, I'm back at the point where I ripped originally, about halfway down the first foot. Slow but steady my friends, always wins the race eventually.

I doubt I'll get much more done before I go as I've a wedding to go to tomorrow, my parents to bring to the train station on Sunday (as well as dealing with a hangover no doubt), a house to clean before we go and packing to be done too! I've also got to wind the yarn for my plane socks and cast on the first few rows to get me started.

It's amazing how knowing you're going away makes getting up in the morning easier. This morning I bounced (not literally of course!) out of the bed with a happy grin saying this is the last Friday I have to get up!!

Happy weekend everyone!

Mission Mitten completed

Woo hoo! I've completed my Druid Mittens, and they are gorgeous if I say so myself. I'm actually surprised with how long they took, according to Ravelry I cast on Aug 23 and I cast off last night, Sep 21. It didn't feel that long. Still, I wasn't working on them the whole time. Plus, I have over half of the skein of Lisa Souza Sock! Merino left that I used for them. Perhaps another pair of socks for my daughter are on the horizon. I don't think I'd manage to downsize these mitts for her.

Pattern: Autumn/Druid Mittens from VK Fall 08
Yarn: Lisa Souza Sock! Merino
Needles: 2.75mm dpns

Sorry for the hands against the door pic, it was dark when I finished them and the white background was all I had to make them stand out!
These dpns broke on me halfway through mitt no 2. I was very disappointed with them. Still, my lys is becoming even more local today, with it's second shop opening up in the city centre, about 5 mins walk from my work! yipee, I'll be heading down there today at lunchtime to try and off load some of their stock for them and to replace my 2.75 dpns and get a set of 2.5 bamboo for the plane knitting.

Progress on my Dad's sock:

Not much I know, but I seem to have achieved very little this week. Hubby has been unwell and my Mam is very bad again, so I haven't really had much time.

I've also been feeling very down over the last few days. I sometimes get like this (don't we all), but my Mam has me very worried. She's just slowly sliding down the slope into total dementia and I feel so helpless.
She no longer knows what day of the week it is, whether she has eaten or taken her medication or not. The strain is really showing on my Dad too. I begged them to let me get a home help for them just to give a hand cleaning the house and to give Dad a break to go for the paper or a walk, but Dad said no. I totally get that he doesn't want to admit he can't cope and that he doesn't want a "stranger" in the house, but the house is getting really dirty and he looks exhausted with it all. I do what I can when I go round, but even Mam won't let me clean the bathroom or change their bed for them.
*sigh* it's all getting to be a bit much for me now to be honest. I'm almost dreading going away and leaving them on their own, as they have no-one else to call in on them and keep them company or do any jobs they need.
Still, my Mam is 80 on Oct 10th so I'm going to have a nice dinner in my house and invite Mams sister and Dads sister over too.

Sorry for the rant! I just needed to get that off my chest.

In spooky news, I know it's early for scary stories (Halloween and all athat) but I had the weirdest dream last night that I just have to share:
I'm adopted and sometimes thoughts of my biological father come into my head. Well last night was a doozy... I dreamt I was in the supermarket looking at vegetables when Sir Cliff Richard came up to me and said "Hi Sinéad, I'm your father!" !!!! Needless to say I woke up pretty quickly!

Photo Update

I'm a little bit delicate this morning let me tell you. Not too bad, but a little bit rough around the edges. Had a great night last night, but was ultra sensible and got the bus before the last one home! I don't think my husband quite knew what was going on, I normally stumble in the door sometime after 2am from a taxi, so I think he was secretly a bit pleased I was home so early. (He made me toast. A dead giveaway.)
Hence I'm up at 8am, putting up my progress pictures from yesterdays post! It's a nice sunny morning (uber surprise). My living room is like a little patch of heaven early in the morning when the sun shines. It bathes the room with light and I love it.

My Pi tablecloth:

At the 288 stitch stage, so it's become a blob on the circs and will remain so until finshed and blocked. But, I think it's coming along great!

My daughters crosshatch socks

She's delighted with these, especially because they are the same yarn as my Embossed Leaves. She thinks it'll be "really cool" for us to wear them at the same time. Em no.

This is how much Smooshy was left over:

I wasn't kidding when I said it was down to the wire!

This is my second Druid mitten. Nothing exciting here, just on the cuff.

And this is the beginnings of my Dad's Christmas present socks. I found the name of the pattern:
Garter Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks (Rav link). Nice and boring mens pattern that won't require any independent thought.


Thanks for the pattern and yarn suggestions so far, keep 'em coming!