My Latest Project

OK I have been knitting furiously to finish this latest project because I need to make sure there's nothing on the needles when I go visit my daughter (I need them for something I want to make her). I still owe pictures of the tiny amount of ribbing I have done on the sock. I'm also finishing up the Reno scarf. I am also still awaiting the call saying the thread has arrived at my LYS to finish the doily. And, I confess, I am feeling the urge to make another doily for myself because while I was searching for my sock needles (which I ended up not using - smaller needles if I ever decide to do this again but first time I needed something bigger until I get used to the small stitches!) I found some colored thread I had purchased for myself and put aside. Well, it's been found. But I will finish the Reno scarf first and work more on the sock. I am going to spend the weekend working on the scarf and sock. That is if I can resist the pull of the thread. Yeah, I know The Yarn Harlot talks about the way of the string but the pull of the thread can be addicting, too, when you like making (and using) doilies. So few people make them these days and they're pretty.

Oh yeah... what have I been working on? This...

Crafty Friends

Boy am I lucky or what?!? I mentioned to Kaylee that I am having a bad day. Wonderful crafty friend that she is, she sent me this to cheer me up...

Is that a friend or what?!

BTW, haven't picked up the socks since the night I cast them on again... probably not even a quarter inch of the ribbing done. Too busy working on two other projects which I hope to have done this weekend. Will post pictures then. And back to the sock then, too.

A Picture and A Boast

OK, here's a picture. I am mostly done with a doily that I promised to Jo. I ran out of thread. It is on order. I hope it arrives this week so I can finish it. Makes this one look tiny. Anyway, this pattern is called "Crystal Fan" and I used "Mexicana" which is bright primary colors. I know it's not a close up picture but you'll get the general idea. (If you click on the picture, you'll see the big thing up close and can see the pattern more closely.) I didn't want Jo to have to wait and since it's being gifted, I wanted to make sure she at least had *something* to gift. I admit I am proud of this but that is not the boast.

Here's the boast... Yesterday Linda and Roni started me with my first sock. As I said, I really screwed it up. I took a good look at it and wanted to cry. It appeared the only thing I could do was rip it out. Vicky agreed.

I came home from work, opened a diet Coke and resisted the urge to cry. Instead, I ripped it out totally. I cast on again, putting them on individual needles as I went, managed to join them in the round and am working on the 1.5 inches of ribbing. The stitches are so tiny! I can't imagine using the size 2 I purchased. I am using size 3. I will have to make an entire pair or two on the 3's before I dare to try the 2's. Just too darn small!

I am proud of myself. I had the courage to rip; the courage to start over; the courage to not give up when it would have been so easy. So if I have the courage to do that once, if I have to do it again, I can. Granted, I am not working on it as much as I should but I have one other project I really need to get done within the next week and a half. OK, OK, I haven't worked on that yet tonight... too busy re-starting the sock. I am using the Stargazer Lily beautiful pink/yello sock yarn that Kaylee sent me (thanks Kaylee!) and so far I am figuring out how to maneuver around those DDPNs. I try not to remember that this is the easiest part. :)

When I get the entire 1.5 inches of ribbing done and start on the next section (I haven't read past the ribbing yet! Don't want to get even more intimidated than I already am!), I will take a picture to post. In the meantime take heart Linda and Roni... I'm still at it! And Brooke, I want to see that gorgeous pink sock you were working on! That is more my size needle! Where'd you find the pattern?

I will finish a sock even though I will be kicking, screaming, crying and nay-saying the entire way. Yes, Roni, I know... practice and patience. Well, even doing the wrong stuff and having to rip it out gave me the practice to cast on and knit the tiny stitches again. No, Brooke, I am NOT converted... y'all from the KC know that I hate learning new things and going out of my comfort zone and yet again you have dragged me there. Have I said thank you yet? Thank you. No wonder I love you all!

Pictures to Come

I will post pictures tomorrow if I have time. I finished something but I don't want to post a picture of it until the lady I gave it to sees it in person.

I started a scarf on the Reno trip. I will take a picture and post it to show. It's the feather and fan pattern.

And with the wonderful help of Roni and Linda who took the stitches I cast on for my first sock and started it in the round for me (I am petrified of small stitches!), I am working on my first sock. And yes, I've made a mistake already! And no, I have no intention of ripping it out. The thought of trying to with these tiny stitches scares me... I'll live with the small imperfection and fix. Well, unless it turns out looking WAY wrong. I will take a picture of what's started for history in case I can't do any more so at least those of you who read this will know at least I did try.

Counting the sock I have 4 cast on projects in the air and one crochet. One of the knit projects is a dishcloth I haven't touched in two months (more complicated pattern) so maybe I'll take that with me on my next trip south where I *have* to knit in the airport or go crazy!

Pictures later.

Oh wait... in the meantime, have a look at this picture... Yes, I still think he's gorgeous.