A Little Yarn On The Side

The "reward" yarn I ordered for myself on January 1 arrived yesterday and.... I haven't yet cast on. I know--I am shocked as well. I thought I'd probably have the first loop on the needles before the UPS truck even pulled away! I don't know what has gotten into me! Instead, I worked on the January aran blocked the moss scarf, which I am actually pleased with--and I think this is my favorite stitch pattern variation so far but I am not sure everyone would love a variegated yarn scarf. Then I spent some time working on a block for my friend's Warm Up America project only to discover my gauge goes to hell when I'm bored. The blocks are supposed to be 7 by 9 inches. This one is 8 by 9, so to the frog pond it goes. That will teach me--I did a seed stitch block at the correct gauge, so I didn't bother to recheck with garter. I dared smugness and was smote by the knitting gods! And over a garter stitch block of all things! My new block is my own variat...

Today I went down to take some pictures of the first part of his therapy session. What a good sport he is! First he walked on the treadmill, then went up and down the stairs and ramp, then into the water tank! He won't walk on the treadmill in the water tank any more, so they just keep picking him up and setting him down in the far side of the tank and have him walk to the door. I think it would be a stretch to say he actually enjoys this but he's such a good sport--he does it anyway. He has more exercises to do, but after this it will be just a matter of rebuilding strength in the leg and finally getting all his hair back. And learning to forgive Andy and I for our part in all of this......

I just got back from teaching a friend to knit. To be fair, she was able to knit 30 years ago, so it was just a matter of remembering, so I don't really deserve much credit here. I did show her some of the sweaters I've made over the years to inspire her, even though we're actually working on squares for the Warm Up America project for her stepdaughter's Girl Scout project and 49 squares is going to take some time. But I wanted to open possibilities for her and inspire her to stick with knitting after the blanket is done. Or I think I did. The other possibility is that it would be easier to justify a room full of yarn if all of my friends ALSO had rooms full of yarn..... Exactly when does "helping" end and "enabling" begin,,,,,,,?

This year I have high stash-burning goals. What am I working on? which doesn't qualify as either yarn or fabric. I have become completely obsessed with the darn thing. I guess I was finding lace knitting just a bit too speedy or something. This is what it will look like when done and that little green tag explains why I have more than one. Mark anything in the craft world 50% off and I'm a lost woman. Theo is completely unimpressed by the new hobby and Calisto is uncharacteristically lobbying for a new sewing project and she's right, of course. This is Andy's Valentines gift. Luckily, the box he's making me for my knitting needles isn't finished either, so we will be spending Valentine's Day making gifts for each other. It sounds a bit like an O. Henry story, but I promise I have not sold all my knitting needles to buy flannel to make pajamas for Andy. I love him dearly and everything, but my rosewoods???????

So the bad news is, the cold is still hanging on. The good news is the February Project of the Month is DONE!!! I'd be gloating about getting it done in the first two weeks of the month if it hadn't actually been languishing in the craft bin for about 5 years. But, it's done, washed, and ironed. Now I just have to figure out where I put the other one. It's probably off somewhere with the pajama top having a terrific laugh about my organizational skills.... I even did a little work on the baby blanket I did say "little," didn't I? Actually, there's a little more done than it appears--the blue I've been working with tonight is almost the exact shade as the ink used for stamping. A little scrounging in the sewing room has revealed that for some inexplicable reason, I have 3 copies of this blanket kit. Three--of the exact same blanket. I vaguely remember buying this on clearance, so maybe it's not just yarn sales that make one take tempora...

Those with good memories will remember that on January 1 I allowed myself to order yarn for one project for myself--along with a couple gifts, one of which the yarn is still out of stock so it might be ordered on January 1 of 2010--to make the Kauni cardigan (free pattern PDF here ). The rainbow colorway has been on backorder, but I placed the order anyway. I just received an email from WEBS today--the yarn is in and on it's way to me!!!! New yarn is coming!!!! New yarn is coming and it isn't for gift knitting!! In a few days there will be a box on our doorstep containing yarn and it will all be mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, knitting only from stash doesn't always bring out the best sharing tendencies in a knitter.........

I don't have a picture yet, but the pink blanket is done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can now work on SOMETHING ELSE!!!! I spent yesterday in bed with a cold which gave me plenty of knitting time. You know you might be an obsessed knitter when you get sick and your first thought it, "Yippee!!! A day of rest and knitting!"