Snake Socks Complete

I finished Shawn's Snake Socks last night. This gives me time to work on the Charlotte's Web. (The one that I accidently dropped a stitch two rows beneath and am now having to unknit two complete rows of 191 stitches...of LACE.) But that's ok. I really am trying to stick to working on one big project at a time. My WIP's are, (finally), decreasing.

Snake Socks for Shawn

Yarn: Koigu KPPM (the stuff I bought from the 50% off sale last month)

Gauge: 8 sts to 1" on US 1's

Pattern: I attempted to do that Basketweave pattern from Charlene Schurch's "More Sensational Knitted Socks", but it was wrong, (and I have to say that Charlene emailed me! and sent me the right pattern which will probably be the next pair of socks I knit). So I used her template and just did stockinette stitch over 80 sts in the round, Easy Toe and Short Row Heel, with a 1x1 rib for the cuff.

That's pretty much it.

We ended up not going to the Strawberry Festival, due to finances, which was kind of a bummer. But I did have a chance to sleep in this morning, Shawn made a fantastic breakfast, I went swimming with Jem, and now I'm making manicotti and chocolate cupcakes. (Even though my TMJ flared up, again, yesterday...I'm willing to risk it again with cupcakes. I just won't open my mouth too wide.) Yum!

Other than that, I am going to do Ann Budd's 2x2 Toe Up sock from IK Summer 2007 for my Hogwarts Sock Pal in her House Colors and maybe make some headway on the Rowan Flood Sweater since it's been sitting in the bin for a while.

Ciao!

Happy Mothers Day

So I kept telling everyone, and myself, that I would not knit the Charlotte's Web that everyone has been getting so worked up about. I've heard nothing but complaints, (and then the occasional "how beautiful is that" comment on finished shawls). But I made the mistake of jumping right in last night.

How beautiful is that? (If I don't say so myself.) I started this around 5 p.m. last night. I worked 44 rows so far. And except for a typo that caused a little frustration on the first YO row, I've had pretty smooth sailing. (Oh, and for when Shawn said, "What's this?" and I accidently dropped a stitch when showing him...then there was smooth sailing.)

This is the skein of Koigu that Jillian traded with me. Originally I thought I could find a matching skein and then I'd make a pair of socks. Well woe is me. I ordered the same color, only the dye lot differed greatly, (let that be a lesson to you), so I decided I'd do the shawl in a variation of Koigu blues.

I'm thinking it's working quite well so far. What do you think?

I also finished a sock. Not a pair, yet. But one sock for Shawn. Just plain old stockinette stitch in Koigu. Took a little while longer than expected, but I suspect that's because I'm using size 1 needles and getting about 9 sts per inch.

One more sock to go.

I've finished the back to Scout's DB Diamond Sweater. But since I've diligently been working on Shawn's socks, I haven't had time to cast on for the front. It's a quick knit, so I don't worry about it taking forever like some projects. In fact there are two WIP's that I've decided to give up on. One is the Sweet Pea Sacque. Scout is too big for it now. I think I'm going to rip it and make her a sweater instead. Three skeins of Rowan Cashsoft will suffice. The other is a blanket that I'm not really happy about. The texture doesn't help show the pattern, so what's the point of that?

That doesn't mean I don't have other things to work on. Slowly I'm making progress with the Cabled Tunic. But not enough to have me believe it would be ready to wear by October. I'm really going to try.

In addition to those things, I also need to cast on for my Gryffindor pal's Hogwarts socks for the Sock Swap. But I can't do that until the yarn gets here. Give it a day or two and I'll be a sock striping queen! And I can't wait to send her the stitch markers I got her. Those should be here in a day or two as well. I'll post pictures when I get them. (Shhh, don't tell her!)

The family is doing well. It's Mother's Day, (Happy Mother's Day to all), and it's been a pretty good day. Shawn made me pancakes and bacon for breakfast and gave me a 1/2 lb. box of See's candy. (Yum!) He's also having our family pictures done too. Can't wait to get those! Oh, and the kitten. He found me a black/white kitten that his coworker is raising and giving us in a couple weeks. I'm pleased!

Jem had his psychiatric evaluation and was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. He's started on meds and we can see a noticable difference in his attention and with his fidgeting. Scout is doing well. We started giving her cereals and baby foods the past two weeks. The bottle just wasn't enough. She really likes bananas. And pears. Not so much with the green beans. Maybe peas?

Yeah, she's my little pea pod. Oh how I love her.

Wouldn't you know?

I'd say that I've been busy, that would be my excuse. And to some extent it's been true. But the real reason I haven't posted, (or knit much for that matter), is that I've been extremely tired. This whole week has been draining. But this weekend was excellent and here's why:

After finishing the Little Bunny Foo Foo socks, (which I have to say thanks to all of you for your nice comments, I appreciate them), Shawn requested another pair. So I cast on for his socks and lo and behold, the pattern from Charlene Schurch's "More Sensational Knitted Socks" was, dare I say, wrong! The picture didn't match the stitch pattern. Instead, Shawn asked that I make them plain. As in Stockinette Stitch. Sounds good to me.

I had to use Scout's Dino for a model. I couldn't find anything else. We are going to call these Shawn's Snake Socks. The Koigu reminds me of a snake. Thus, Snake Socks. I have no complaints about these socks, except that I may have cast on 6 sts too many, but I found a way around having to rip them out and start over. Stay tuned for that!

I started Scout's Diamond Sweater from one of my many Debbie Bliss books. I'm using the Lana Grossa Elastico that I got from the 50% off sale that I got last week. I love this pattern. It's the third time I've knit it and it's never gotten old.

And a close up to show the texture.

And I bet you wouldn't believe it if I didn't have a picture huh?

Yup, that's Shawn knitting!

You see, we kind of made this deal about him racing his r/c's every Saturday night and me going knitting once a week for a few hours, (at night). Well after reading, "Babyproofing your Marriage", I realized we really needed to make more attempts at spending more time together, rather than apart for our own hobbies. So yesterday, I went to see him race at 5:30. We stayed til about 8:30. And then today, he said he wanted me to teach him to knit. Now mind you, he's not interested in knit/purl/dec/inc...he is just doing garter stitch. He says he'll make me a scarf. I said I'd wear it. I'm really proud of him for a.) asking me to teach him and b.) that he took to it so well. Are you jealous? LOL.

This afternoon I made some cupcakes, (which would later turn my craving into my demise), for May: Yeah, I brought out the piping tips and all. I felt creative. Unfortunately, eating a cupcake caused my TMJ to flare up. My right jaw is extremely sore after having it locked up for about a half hour. The biggest problem is that the dentist really can't do anything. They can send me to an oral surgeon, but short of surgery all I can do is take Tylenol and wear a mouth guard at night, (which I'm doing anyway). Surgery isn't in the cards at the moment. Cold compress it is for the time being. *sigh* Were the cupcakes worth it, you ask? Yes. They were.

On the homefront, Jem is doing his State Testing this week. He also has his Psych Evaluation this Wednesday. It's looking more and more like ADD/ADHD. We'll find out the details on Wednesday and go from there. I must say, he's been a pretty good kid the past couple of days. After he got called out on the attitude though. *boys*

Scout is doing well, as always. She's eating cereal and baby food now. She ♥ Sweet Potatoes and Bananas.

She also ♥ her toys. She loves to suck on them.

As you can see.

And on a final note. I'd really like to know what you all think about swaps. I'm a bit disappointed in the Sockret Pal Swap. Not in the person who spoiled me. But in the person I spoiled. I sent off the first package, no problem. The second and third, I put into one box and had Shawn mail off for me. Stupid me for not having him get a delivery confirmation. Apparently the box hasn't gotten there yet, and it's been weeks. Now, I understand her disappointment BUT she's posted about how she's been "jilted" (mind you she doesn't post my name), even after I offered to knit her another pair of socks and replace the things that I bought her. But I'm irked. It really bothers me that some people can't be grateful for the things they do get. I tried my best. In fact, in my first package alone I went above and beyond the "minimum", not to mention I constantly emailed without many responses.

I suppose my expectations of swaps are a bit more than the "post a blog twice a month, contact your pal on the 1st and 15th", kind of thing. I do a lot for my pals and now I feel like I am being outted because the lousy Post Office lost her package. *sigh* So anyway, I just want to know how you feel about swaps? Do you join them or stay away? What have your experiences been like?