Day 451 Of The Lurgy

Okay, really only Day 5, but it feels like I've had this for a year so far...

The Damn Socks have a home, one way or another, and will not face extinction by frogging or endurance-smoldering in the fireplace.




Now up are the fingerless mitts that I'm knitting based on that pattern I told you about in December.












Now off to take that nap I was jonesing for earlier today.

FO #2 of 2011

The damn socks are done.

And they're too big, by 1/2 a size it feels like...crap.

Here, go look at the photos while I contemplate the pros and cons of disposal methods (shredding, burning/smoldering (wool doesn't catch fire easily), frogging):








It's bloody difficult to photo one's feet:








Since I'm so disgusted with my inability to knit myself a pair of socks that *I keep trying on as I'm knitting them* and they still don't fit, I'm going to my copy of Knitting Rules to see if the Yarn Harlot can help me.

For now, I'm going to have an ice pop and go take a nap.

Damn it.

* * * *
The down and dirty details:

Yarn(s): Malabrigo Sock, in Solis

Purchased: Simply Socks Yarn Company

Needles: size 2

Time: for me - two years, one month, two weeks (off and on); for most knitters, 10 hours

* * * *

The Lurgy Continued

For most of the population, watching someone knit is as exciting as making a day out of watching paint dry on the side of a barn.

Watching someone knitting a sock and turning a heel may put them into a coma.

But I'm willing to take that chance and post the great Plague of 2011 Turning of the Heel!

Getting set up to turn the heel - I used a circ so I don't think I'm continuing to knit in the round:




Said circ in action (notice lack of anticipation of action):




The heel turn I do, because I prefer to do toe-up socks if I'm going to knit any at all, is the short row heel. However, since I rarely knit socks, I need to brush up on the technique. Thank the knitting gods for YouTube!




At this point, I was getting bored with it and my throat was starting to get more painful...




I thought about getting into my throat lozenges...




Instead going for the ice pop:




And since it's practically impossible to knit and suck on an ice pop, I decided the sock and I would do some internet browsing:




After finding out that kd lang may or may not go on tour in 2011, I thought a movie might help me in finishing the sock's heel:




Hello Netflix instant viewing!




We now have a heel:




I have to finish knitting up over the ankle and then the cuff:




Meanwhile, it's more naps and ice pops hoping the antibiotics start kicking the lurgy ass soon.

The Plague

Still feeling the cootie fest, except it's now a party that includes my sinus and ears. Not groovy. So while I wait to go see my doctor today, here's some knitting for you:




That is my second sock of the pair I've been knitting/ignoring since 2009. I'm about to turn the heel.

I'm a little concerned that if I start this sock knitting on a more regular basis, that it will take the plague to get me to (a) turn the heel on them and (b) finish the pair.

I'm going to try to turn the heel tonight, if I'm not having fever dreams again of knitting unraveling while I'm with Keith Richards as he's tearing across a dirt road in a convertible flying high out of his mind. (I'm reading Life on my Reader when not in a coma.)

Meanwhile, some Tank cute to round out this post:


Cool! You're up! Can we go for a walk?



Why are you leaning on the wall like that? If I do it, will I get a treat?!



Wow. You really don't look so hot.



I'm just going to sit over here so you don't fall and hurt me.



Please don't die...I don't know how to get into the freezer for the stash of marrow bones.


* * * *
UPDATE

Officially it's the plague, my test came back positive for strep which also explains the other aches and pains I've been having - so it's time to hit the gods of antibiotics.

Also: another day at home napping and knitting for me (wish I felt better to enjoy the time off more) and no SnB tomorrow evening (boo).

Cooties

Stupid cootie fest has begun right on time...I'm home with a fever, sore throat, headache, and raspy cough. That's the sexy that brings the boys to my yard...



And you only feel good for about 12 minutes between bouts of sleep where you have feverish dreams of Judas Priest - and *not* good dreams, Salvidor Dali-type ones.

I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to read or post this blog and feeling like crap makes me cranky to boot...no fun at all. Just ask Tank.




She's not kidding. She shows up at home way earlier than she normally does during the week, and I'm thinking, "Woo-hoo, get to go run around at the park!" I. Was. So. Wrong.

(Run away! Run away!)

FO #1 of 2011

Holy hell.

Finally.

Finished.














* * * *
The down and dirty details:

Yarn(s): Morehouse Farm Merino, 2 ply sport in Royal blue

Purchased: Alligator Scarf pattern

Needles: size 7

Time: for me - I don't even want to think about it; for most knitters, 24-36 hours

Happy New Year - 2011

While the Sweater of Potential Shame does need a bit of alteration...my friend who sews told me an easy fix for it, if I can get Tank to cooperate...it does keep the girl warm.

We went from gorgeously sunny and warm weather yesterday (50 F degrees)...







...to windy, cold (17 F degrees) and potential snow showers today. And this makes wearing of the SPS hardly a burden for the girl, although her expressions seem to say otherwise...



Again with the photos?




Fine, I'll work the cute for you...




Side view? It looks the same from every angle: I'm still cute and I still loathe the idea of wearing clothing.




Actually, it's kind of cozy...

Adios, 2010 - Hola 2011!

In reviewing projects I knit this past year, and actually finished, and believe me there weren't that many of them...this is probably my most favorite item:




It's the Tulips Baby Cardigan but done in 100% silk for that special girl N. up north.

In fact, this year has been so wild and weird, I knit very few items to completion. I think the grand total comes to, hmmm, six: baby sweater, baby blanket, hat (2 of them, as I had to start all over), pug knitted toy, rat scarf. Guess it just shows you that I'm more a knitter of the process than resulting project.

I hope those of you celebrating the New Year's arrival do so safely, and wish you a healthy, prosperous, and happy New Year!

Tank's just hoping to get her marrow bone treat allotment up from one bone per day to two bones per day in 2011.

Sweater Of Potential Shame

Poor Tank, she has no idea the new sweater has arrived...




Looks great in the package!




Hmmm, seems a bit long.




So, nothing ventured, nothing gained I put it on the Tank.




What the hell is this?




This is retribution for those nights I was sleeping on your head at 3 am, isn't it?


I have to admit, it's baggy in the belly even though it fits her shoulders, neck, and chest:





Time to pull a Gandhi! Passive resistance, she can't put any more crap on me...








I'm going to ask a friend of mine who also sews about how to alter this sweater so that it fits in her belly. Otherwise, I'm happy with it even if Tank feels I'm tormenting her...she's lucky I've not ordered that hot dog costume.