And again….

Blogging from the library today – yes, there is still no computer around and won’t have one for a while yet. Other priorities and all…. although school is very high on the list and obviously requires one.

Anyway….. I’ll be posting pics of the roll top purlies, green fraternal twins (socks, I got bored, they are ‘matchish’ rather than matching), along with a couple other projects. Socks for Soldiers is still a high priority although I’m hybernating the original pair and working on olive ones now. The first pair is still giving me fits so the logic is, go to the second one.

I’ve moved into a house with several roomates, constantly changing roomates, lots of coming and going. It’s really not working out that well, unfortunately so will be doing something differently soon. Oh, and the current diagnosis is lupus. Not exactly thrilled but it’s the only thing that makes sense to the various doctors so am moving forward.

Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. She’s handling things reasonably well but Dad’s taking it very hard. We’re trying to show him the statistics on how treatable it is when caught early but he’s a bit stuck in the death sentence it was a few years go. It doesn’t help that she had to postpone double knee replacement surgery to go to her oncology apt. Yes, I’m concerned.

DUH! and DUH!

Since work is sometimes slow in the evenings, I often knit between calls. (I work in Pharmacy Benefits Management for Medicare Part D providers.) I tried working on the regulation socks for soldiers but picking up, putting down, picking up, putting down constantly throws my gauge off. It’s not that big of a deal for most of my projects but those babies need to be perfectly on gauge. This has really been bothering me. Until the light bulb FINALLY went on. I can do leisure socks to be sent while working and do the regulation socks at home. DOHHHHHH! (Can you hear Homer Simpson?!)

So, I cast one on last night and got most of the ribbing done – Originally, I’d planned to do men’s socks but after asking several age 20-30 male colleagues if the yarn color was masculine, switched to female. It seems the ‘red’ is a bit on the pink side and if those guys wouldn’t wear socks with pink, I’m guessing a soldier wouldn’t be so thrilled wearing them either. One even commented the green was a girl shade of green… never thought about that one. I’d always figured anything darker than light minty baby green was gender neutral. It seems that I was wrong. Good thing to know!

This morning I had a court hearing, the judge was very fair. I’m happy. I also wrote a letter to the judge in a related but different matter requesting she allow socks for soldiers to be included in community service hours. No, I’m NOT a habitual offender. I just made a rather stupid mistake last summer in trying to get away from a verbal attack by 4B. Yes, I’m the one who drove after downing a couple of beers and a shot. At the time, ‘fight or flight’ took over and I chose flight. Fortunately, there wasn’t an accident, no one was injured. I take full responsibility for that idiocy on my part and am trying to take care of all the ramifications from that act.

It did serve one good purpose though, it was then that I resolved that I am not going to allow his alcoholism to invade my life any more. It hasn’t been easy to break some of the patterns, I don’t go take him oxygen anymore, I stopped feeling responsible when he chose to drive after drinking heavily, I’ve quit feeling guilty when he goes on one of his verbal and/or physical rampages, and I’ve disengaged emotionally. If he chooses to call and ask for a ride home, I will do that. I’d far prefer picking him up than having him drive drunk but he rarely calls and only once in a great while gets a ride from someone else.

Last night he chose to go drink at the bar he works for tips – after calling in sick. While there drinking, he asked for the rest of the week off. He was let go. He sees it as inherently unfair and is hurt and upset. I do feel badly for him on one level, he has made that his life and ‘family’ and now has lost that as well as his real family. On the other hand, it takes a special kind of stupid…..again, DUHHHHHH!

And he drove home. He was all ready pretty wasted when I saw him about 7:30pm – had to switch vehicles and needed the keys from him. Why did he drive? Because he was pissed off. Ohhh, okay. That works. NOT.

I’m financially concerned as that was part of his ‘drinking’ money as well as whatever he spent out of ‘our’ money (he perceives everything as his). He’s been spending around $1200 – $1400 per month on drinking and related activities.

Even though we’ve been separated since last summer we’re still sharing the apartment. I’m leaving as soon as humanly possible so am trying to get things in order to make that possible. I’ve made a new life and am happy with it. Just getting the details sorted, so to speak.

D’s decided to stay at his dad’s for a few weeks, although it’s difficult for me, I agree with his decision. He can’t be around 4B without wanting to do damage – he’s 15, it’s an appropriate response for his age. Choosing to remove himself from the situation shows maturity when he would rather stay.

Socks for Soldiers

One of our members lost her son in Iraq a few days ago. It’s hit us all pretty hard so… Brooke… next pair is in memory of Blake.

I’m working away on a pair for S4S, created a new pattern for a pair of my own socks, and ordered/ordering more yarn for additional things. This is wonderful!

I’m mailing in the long overdue female leisure socks as soon as I can get to the Post Office (looks like it will be Monday); and I’m renewing and extending my commitment.

Work is crazy right now, we have a new account that refuses to give us anything but extreme minimal information… I’ve been having a boatload of technical issues… it goes on and on but, I’m employed again and very thankful.

Finished! and started…

WRT socks are finished and gifted!!!  And apparently liked!  I’m so glad.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a pic of the finished pair so here’s just one –

The toes turned out okay but the grafting is a bastardization of Kitchener, I was at work when I did the second one and had no way to look at instructions. oops!

This evening I’m casting on a pair of gauntlets for myself and a pair of socks.  I’m re working the Grylion socks, too.  And… I’ve been asked to make a couple pairs of fingerless gloves for friends at work.  Cool!

The tree is up and knitting away

The great leaning tree is now up and semi-decorated.  It’s actually starting to look like the holidays in Hollyland (aka Redfear’s place).  Last night was spent talking with my former roommate and knitting – it was relaxing and wonderful!

The scarf for 4B is now about 7″ long, WRT sock 2 is nearly 5″ long but have a great deal more to get done in the next few days.  Wow….  if I knit straight from now until midnight Christmas Eve I would possibly make it.  It’s not going to happen.  hmmm….   what to do?!

I’ll be making several more pairs of fingerless gloves in January and may even be able to start on a sweater for myself.  That would be delightful.  Other projects are lining up as well.

This morning I knit for about 45  minutes while waiting for our training finals to be graded and got to the heel.  I thought about starting it but didn’t think it would be a good idea knowing I’d have to stop shortly.   Although I was a re-hire rather than a new-hire, I hadn’t been on the job all that long when I had to temporarily quit.  And… I passed the final with flying colors.

Need Holiday Cheer and Inspiration

I FINALLY got the call yesterday saying I’m scheduled to go back to work on Monday!!!!!! The relief and gratitude is nearly overwhelming.  They’re starting me in on new training (as opposed to new hire training, it’s for a specialized division) right away.  This is cool.

However… I am in serious need of some holiday cheer and inspiration. I haven’t even put up the tree yet – bad Redfear/Holly. I might possibly do it tomorrow.

WRT socks are going along decently well, have about 3″ done on the foot now. I’m going to try to get D’s fingerless gloves finished tomorrow and start on something else.

My wardrobe is in serious need of some sweaters. What’s a knitter to do?! Oh duh! There’s really only enough in the stash for something out of Caron’s Simply Soft in light green so that’s what it’ll be. Now I have to figure out what… any thoughts????

Basic Sock Chart Socks

After ripping out WRT socks yet again, I decided to switch over to the Basic Sock Chart by Linda Peck offered for free.  It’s straightforward for sizes baby through men’s 9.  WRT socks are size 10.5 so had to do some knitting math but think it’s working out far better than the toe up I was trying.  Mind you, the toe up pattern I was using is a perfectly good pattern, it just wasn’t working with this combination of yarn and gauge I was getting.

Why do I like the Sock Chart so much?  1) I prefer using 4 dpns not 5 whenever possible but typically do gusset pick ups and subsequent next row with 5 then drop back down to 4 needles;

2) the top of the sock and over the foot can be done however you want – lace, cables, ribbing, plain – you just have to divide whatever stitch pattern you want to use into the number of stitches for your size/gauge;

3) it’s easy to adjust for wider/narrower feet and ankles;

4) you can do whatever heel type you like.

The heel is turned, gusset stitches are picked up and am working on the gusset shaping now.  That’s what happens when you are awakened at 2am for the third night in a row and can’t get back to sleep.  Not happy about the annoying wake ups and ridiculous conversation but thrilled at the unexpected extra two hours knitting time.

ohhhhh… and guess what I noticed yesterday!!!!  My son has a nekkid iPod…. hmmm….. wonder how he feels about cables done in blue.

Sock Summit 09 and frog pond visit

WRT socks were still giving me sizing fits so I took them to the frog pond and started over again.  This time from the top.  I’ve been doing more research on the yarn (ONline Supersocke 100) and it seems my experience isn’t that unusal.  I like the yarn, I like the self striping and the firmness but it lacks the stretchy qualities of the other sock yarns I’ve worked with.  I was used to more ’spring’ requiring slightly smaller sizing with some negative ease rather than a more true sizing.  oops!

So….  after working several inches beyond the first unraveling, I decided not to risk socks on the floppy side and go for a more standard fit.  Fortunately, the recipient prefers fairly short socks.  This is good!  Christmas is around the corner, this is very very good!  I was able to do about 1.5″ 2×2 ribbing late last night and hope to get to heel on first one today.  Being the silly sort  it’s one at a time on this pair.  All the other same sized dpn’s have other projects hanging on them.  Mental note – freakin’ learn two on two circs and magic loop in ‘09.

Has anyone gone to Sock Summits before?  It sounds like an awful lot of fun – I’d love to hear your experiences.    Although it’s doubtful that I’ll make it this year….  it’s in the back of my wee brain!  Seriously, I’d LOVE to hear comments on this.

I’m not a sock maniac, just knit socks but it seems like a great way to learn, meet other knitters and have some fun.  Perhaps I’ll put it on the docket for 2010.  Yeah, that’s it!

What are the project plans for ‘09?  Relearning cables, I want to do a proper Aran Pullover as well as a few other cabled projects.  Expanding my lace knitting skills and have at least 3 shawls done.  Make some to die for sweaters.  Oh, and most importantly, relearn continental knitting.  That’s the only way I’ll get everything done.

And… in other news… I seriously need chocolate.

Converting Circular Sock Knit to DPNs

In socknitters there was recently a brief discussion on how to convert sock patterns written using the two circular needle method to using double pointed needles.  The result:

1) put half the stitches from circular needle #1 onto dpn #1 then the other half from circ. #1 on dpn #2.

2) put half the stitches from circ. #2 on dpn #3 and the other half on dpn #4.

3) read pattern carefully and remember which dpn corresponds with which circular needle.

But… what if the stitch or motif pattern isn’t exactly the same all the way around causing mathmatical migrains?

1) Again, read pattern carefully

2) Take the # of stitches the pattern/motif is worked over and divide by 2.  That’s how many stitches you need to have on each dpn.  (If stitch pattern is a 40 stitch repeat, you need 20 pattern stitches over 2 dpns.)

NOTE:  If stitch pattern is a 40 stitch repeat that is not the TOTAL number of stitches you need, simply the number of ‘pattern’ stitches needed. You still need ‘x’ number of total stitches.

For example, if you are working a 64 stitch sock with a 40 stitch cable repeat you need 64 stitches divided over 3 or 4 double points – your preference.  You will need 20 stitches of the cable repeat on one dpn and 20 stitches of the cable repeat on the other dpn.   If you are working a 60 stitch sock with an all over 20 stitch pattern repeat you could do 3dpns with 3 repeats per needle.  Just do whatever makes most sense to you with the pattern.

I’m just starting a pair using this method.  We’ll see how it goes.  So far the math looks right but due to my sporadic counting skills…. uh…. well, ya know.  Once I feel a bit more comfortable with it, I’ll post progress notes and pics.

This is absolutely not an original idea of mine – thanks goes to ‘Elizabeth in Norway’ ‘Trek’ for answers and ‘Irene’ for asking the question.

Frog Pond for WRT socks, Progress Socks for Soldiers

arghhhhhhhhhhhh (and a whole bunch of swearing).  Woke up with a serious head cold this morning complete with eye swelling.  Supposed to meet a friend later, going to have to cancel – again.  This sucks.

Know what else sucks? I have about 4.5 inches done on toe-up WRT socks and they are freaking HUGE.  If a sock is wide on my foot it will drown someone elses.  I even swatched and everything!  Frogged, dropped down to sz 1 for toes and 2.75mm (2) for body.  Recipient can try them on soon just to be sure.

freaking wide sock

My sincerest apologies for subjecting you to a pic of my left foot – it is displayed comparison purposes only.

Son is going to his dad’s for a few days to socialize (loving the flexibility of home-school).  Roomie (hubby? nearly ex hubby? what IS he?!) is shooting pool so will be gone until late tonight or perhaps tomorrow sometime.  Bright spot of the day is this translates to knitting time, frenzied knitting as fast as I can because Yule, Christmas, Holiday Season is sneaking up on me rather quickly.

The Big Tan (Sand) Socks for Socks for Soldiers, however, are coming along nicely.  You’ll notice that this time I am knitting far more concurrently than I was before.  How does such a random person accomplish this you ask?  By timing – knit 20 minutes(ish) on one, switch to the other one.  Yes, it’s true, I’m both clock watching AND paying attention.  My mother would be so proud!

Slight progress has been made on sister’s stole…..

Grylion’s socks will be up in a bit, it’s supposed to be a surprise so no peeking just yet!

And… tada…. I’ve managed to decide on a pair of socks for me!  I’ve been quite impressed with Ioumms year of socks.  The cheater’s tip is a definite ‘must try!’  Thinking will do in lavender, quite possibly the singing in the rain socks.  Of course, casting on shall have to wait until I have other projects a bit more under control but am doing happy dance that a decision was made!  Still not quite sure what to do with the Kollage Brilliant as there are so many choices and I have 200 yards.  Leaning towards a glam scarf/cowl to go with my not even close to glam jean jacket.

Oh, oh oh oh oh oh…..  Something I must have…. knit corset.  Check out SarahPurls.

Yep, frogged WRT sock, starting over… can’t count, browsing ravelry instead.

Finally Happened

Dh has been avoiding scheduling his hernia surgery (has 2 of them) since he a) hates hospitals; b) knows that since he is on oxygen 24/7 anyway that it is likely he’ll have to stay longer than 7 days; and c) doesn’t want to do it.  I totally understand in many ways, in others it’s completely beyond me how a person could choose to be in pain knowing it can be fixed.  It’s not convenient but it can be! 

Anyway….I’d planned on going to my knitting group last night but one of our close friends was over and after watching him holding his lower sides while coughing and obviously in a great deal of pain, panicked and called 911.  He wasn’t happy, of course.  He refused to go to the hospital although the emt’s agreed that it would be a good idea for him to go in etc etc etc. 

Hate to admit it but the stress of dealing with a rather wide varieties of health issues, ‘life’ issues, and insomnia really got to me after they left and we got into a rather nasty disagreement – in front of said friend.  Oops!  Okay, it’s far more than an oops, and am working on how to increase my capacity for dealing with the situations since I can’t change anything other than how I handle things as they are and will continue to be. 

At least I was able to finally cast on his b-day socks.  I’ve got 9 days to finish them.  I’m liking the Knit Picks Essentials!  Not thrilled about the navy blue colour but it’s about as adventuresome as he wants to get with his feet at this point lol.  Can’t wait to see how they turn out.  Maybe after those are done I’ll do a bit more exciting self striping wild socks for TJ.  Who knows, maybe he’ll like the ones I have in mind enough to let me at least do a simple cable or something on his next pair : )