calming down

Things have certainly calmed down since my last post. My dad is doing so much better than he was, and is getting stronger every day. It's amazing and I hope I have that much ambition if I ever get to 92 years old. He is slowing starting to get strength in his legs and is walking using a walker only at therapy. In his room he is still in the wheelchair or in bed, with a nurses assistant. It is even getting better getting my mom back and forth to rehab. I have been sending out emails and everyone is helping out. It's amazing how things bring people closer.

I finished my second February baby sweater, plus a hat and booties to match. They are adorable and I can't wait until the Miller baby is born to give them the outfit. I am now starting a pair of socks for myself using up some stash. I need to get rid of some yarn before I can buy anymore.

Stressed!!!!

Since I last wrote, my dad has been in bed and is in so much pain he can't move. It is so hard to see him so frail. We finally convinced him to go to the hospital and called 911 on Monday morning. Since then, he has been admitted and had a bone scan. They are pumping him up with morphine, so now we are not sure how much he tells us is true. No matter how early someone can get to the hospital, we always seem to miss the doctors. Hopefully, we can find out in the next few days what the results of the tests were. He does have arthritis, and hopefully they can control the pain.

Needless to say, I haven't been knitting the February Baby sweater I started because I don't want hospital germs on it. I have completed another square from the Great American Aran Afghan (that makes 12 complete). I just started another one at the hospital on Monday.

Hopefully, my next post will bring better news.

Too Cold!!

Well, I went to the Phillies game and it was too cold to knit! It was not just too cold, it was freezing! So, I brought the February Baby sweater to start, and ended up watching the game instead. It was not that great of a game, they lost. We left early because it was so cold.

I started the baby sweater after we got home from the game. I am doing two buttonholes this time, instead of snaps. I am just starting the pattern. This should go pretty fast, and I just love this pattern. This time, along with making a matching hat, I am going to make booties too.

What to do!

Since my last post, I have completed the binary cable hat for my husband and I am working on socks for a co-worker. I have one sock completed and the second on the needle. I am planning to finish this sock in the next few days. My dilemma is, what to do next? I have plenty of projects in my queue at Ravelry, I just don't know what I feel like working on next. We have tickets to the Phillies baseball game on Saturday, so I am planning to take a project. Since there will be alot of distractions, I hope to take something I can make without alot of thought or counting. That leaves out working on the aran afghan squares! I was thinking of starting the double knitted baby blanket. The problem with that is that I don't have the yarn in my stash and I have to find time to buy it before Saturday. Well, I guess time will tell and my next post will reveal my next project.

February Baby Sweater finished!

Well, I finished the socks and have since worn them twice. They wash nicely and all the complaining I did (to myself) while I was making these socks were in vain. Even though I felt the yarn split very easily, the socks are so comfy and I love them. Thank you Grumperina!

The very next day I cast on the February Baby Sweater. I finished it on Saturday, March 8th. I also finished a matching hat last night! I just love how this sweater came out. It is so cute and was not complicated at all. I thought it was going to be hard, but I just followed Elizabeth's pithy directions and I was fine. I know I will be making more of these sweaters.

Now, onto my next project. I think I am going to make a hat for my DH. I made him mittens (my first try at that) and he loved them. He wanted them in case it snowed he thought they would be warm for shoveling snow. Well, we didn't get enough snow to shovel! Maybe next year. But I have some yarn left and he needs a new hat. I am thinking of making the Binary Cable hat from Firefairy. I got the pattern on Ravelry and it's very DH. His old hat needs to hit the trashbin, but I know that won't be happening until he gets a new one.

Still Trekking

Well, it's almost 2 weeks and I am still working on the Jaywalker socks. I definitely thought I would be finished by now, but I never worked with yarn this fine before. I am almost finished, working on the second toe today, so I should be able to wear them by tomorrow. I am planning on starting EZs February baby sweater next. Not for anyone special, just because I think it's so pretty and I think it will be a challenge for me.

To the Frog Pond!

Well, I was so excited with my new Trekking XXL yarn! I couldn't wait to cast on the Simply Love socks for February. I managed to make almost 3/4 of the sock and wasn't loving it at all. I don't think the yarn was the right choice for this pattern. I couldn't see the hearts, unless I was doing something wrong. Anyhoo, I frogged those socks and started them again making Grumperina's Jaywalker socks. I originally started making them with size 1 bamboo needles but I felt like the needles were going to break in my hands so I went and bought size 1 metal. I am loving the way these are looking. I am now 3/4 finished the first sock and can't wait to try it on!

New Yarn YEAH!

Well, in the past few weeks, I finished baby mittens (I almost love knitting mittens as much as socks!), and a helmetliner for the marines. The Marine website is trying to get 100 helmetliners donated for the month of February. My lunch knitting buddies and I decided to make one each and send them off. I finished mine and I am thinking of making another one. In the meantime, I got some Trekking XXL yarn and started the February socks from the sockamania KAL. I never worked with yarn this fine before. I am working them from the top down, so I have 1 inch finished of the ribbing. So far, they look OK. Hopefully, they will turn out OK. This is my first time changing a pattern. I am going to not only work from the top down instead of toe up, I have to reverse the chart for the hearts. This is my challenge for February!

Always something new!

Well, I am always learning something new! I recently knitted my first pair of mittens and I loved knitting them almost as much as socks. But of course, you can use socks all year 'round. I am already on my second pair of mittens. I will have to post some pictures. I also finished another square for my aran afghan. I am not very happy with how it came out. It doesn't look quite like the picture in the book. But, I really wasn't crazy about this square anyway, so I am keeping it as is. I have already completed 10 squares so I am halfway finished. I have to post those pictures also, as soon as I take some.

I went to visit Elizabeth (my knitting teacher) on Saturday. She is 92 years old and still going strong. She fell in December so her sons found an assisted living place for her. It is really nice and after 1 month she really enjoys being there. They do all sorts of crafts and activities. She finished a sweater for one of her sons. It really came out nice. I hope to one day be able to knit without a pattern too! I am still a little leary of going out at night in the winter (afraid of ice) so as soon as the weather gets nicer, I am going to go back to visiting her every week to knit with her. We both looked forward to those visits.

Good to be working

Well, it's been a little over a week since I went back to work part time. It really has been good to see everyone again and get back into the thick of things. I am still in therapy 3 times a week, and getting stronger every day. Going back to work was bittersweet. I have less time for knitting, but I get to knit with my knitting buddies at work every day at lunch. It's so much better to knit with friends!

Back to work?

Well, my dr. never really said I could go back to work, but he didn't say I couldn't either. His assistant left it up to me. I am going to attempt those steps (I really am dreading it). If it wasn't for the steps, I really wouldn't be worried. I am still a little stiff, but I am walking fairly well with a cane.

On a knitting note, I made my first pair of mittens! My husband wanted them so they will keep his hands warm while he is shoveling snow. I am really pleased on how they came out.

I am now working on a pair of socks for myself. These are my favorite things to knit, but I think mittens could come close! They are fast and so comfy to wear.

Happy New Year!

Well, it's a new year. It's been so long since I last posted. I have made lots of things while I was recuperating from my surgery. Scarves, a prayer throw, lots of socks, and I am working in between on the great american aran afghan. These last 11 weeks have gone by so fast! I can't wait until my doctors appointment next week to see if I can return to work. I can't imagine going back to work, it's a bittersweet thing. I want to go back, but I am also enjoying so much knitting time!

Where does the time go?

It's been over 2 weeks since I posted. I am finished with napping. Since I have been off the pain meds, I can't sleep at night if I take a nap. I finally finished the October socks. They came out beautiful, even though I missed the deadline. Thanks Anni!

I had a dr. appointment today and I am going to be home another 6 weeks. At least now I can go in a car, either as a passenger or driver. I don't think I am ready to drive yet, but at least I know it won't be long before I can.

I did finish a pair of socks for my son, and three felted bowls for Christmas gifts. Now I am waiting for the December pattern. I missed doing the November Ripple socks, but I am keeping the pattern for later. I love the design. I should be able to finish the December pattern. Can't wait to receive the pattern.

It's been awhile

Where does the time go? I have been home from the hospital for almost 2 weeks now. I still get tired fairly quickly. I feel like a baby and need to take naps. I am almost finished the October Elegance socks. I missed the deadline, but I really don't care because I just love the pattern. I have to start on some Christmas gifts, but I am definitely going to finish these socks, the gifts can wait. As soon as I am finished the socks, I am going to post pictures. They are really coming beautiful! Thanks to Anni writing such nice patterns.

I'm back!

I have been home a few days now, but just now feel up to going on the computer. I have been knitting a prayer shawl in garter stitch, because it still is a little hard to focus. I hope to finish the shawl, and then feel up to finishing the October socks. I don't think I will make the deadline, but the pattern is lovely and I want to finish them for myself.

October Socks

Well, I have been working as much as I can on the October socks but I don't think I will finish them in time this month. Anni extended the deadline until November 10th, but since my surgery is scheduled for October 19, and today is the 17th, and I still am working on the first sock, I can't imagine meeting the deadline. I will be in the hospital at least 10 days. Hopefully, I will feel up to knitting when I get home. If so, the socks may be finished. We will have to wait and see. I almost hope I don't like the pattern for November, because I don't think I will be up to knitting (but I know I will love it!). I have liked all of Anni's sock patterns since I started the club. Well, this will probably be my last post for awhile. Hope to be back soon!

Decisions!!!

It's been a week since I last posted. Well, my decision was to finish my mom's sweater. I still can't believe that is the decision I made. I have been knitting like a fiend, and I am on the second sleeve. I am hoping to be finished by the weekend. Then, I can finally start the October socks. I surprised myself. I didn't think I would keep my word to myself. HAHA I know as soon as the sweater is finished, I will have those socks on needles in no time!

October Socks

Well, I just got the pattern for the October socks. I am now in a dilemma. When I first started knitting about 3 years ago, I vowed to only work one project at a time. This was because all the other crafts I ever did, still has some projects not completed. Since I consider myself a beginner, I still like to only work one project at a time. However, I just started a sweater for my mom. I finished the back last night, and now have the front and two sleeves to make. The October socks don't look as hard as September's pattern, so I think I can make them pretty fast. Should I break my vow and make the socks and then go onto the sweater? If I really stretch it, I could say I don't have anything on needles right now because the sweater back is completed. Well, since I am working right now, I have until tonight to make my decision.

Just in time!

I finally finished my September socks. Just in time too, with one day to spare. I am so excited as this is my first time participating in a KAL. The socks were pretty challenging but I managed to get them done and I don't think they look too bad. I am going to give them to one of my knitting co-workers for her birthday. I hope she likes them. She hasn't started knitting socks yet, but maybe after she sees these socks she will change her mind.

Still knitting

I am still knitting sock number 2. Hopefully I will be able to finish it before the end of the month. I am just finishing the heel flap. Then just the gusset and foot to go!