Still Starting Socks!

As we covered a few weeks ago, I (like most people) only have two arms. I also have but two feet (again, like most people) yet I keep knitting new socks.. in fact, I cast on this pair just a few days ago... 

Perhaps it's the lure of single skeins, that occasionally come with too much personality for a whole sweater...

Perhaps it's the lure of a small project that can be worked on literally anywhere (though never in the bathroom, I do have limits) ...

Oil changes take awhile...

Perhaps it's the fact that's socks were my first knitting love! This pair has cables AND tiny, tiny beads, and I LOVED knitting them (in 2009)! 

But the most likely reason is probably that socks wear out...and although darning is satisfying, it's just not as much fun as casting on and knitting a new pair! 

So, here I go, here I go, here I go again...knitting socks and taking names while I get the oil changed.  What are you doing for fun today? 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

The Agony of de-feet

Sometimes, when you're working on a project, everything turns out all hunky-dory! Like this "Happy Spring," crochet banner I've started for my office! FYI, I only have N and G left, so it's actually almost done! 

Also almost done is the third pair on a trip of stripey socks, using one of my favorite commercially produced self-striping yarns,  Felici (by Knitpicks.com).

Unfortunately, as you can see, there is something wrong with my second striping skein of pinks...and sometimes this happens with Felici. It usually starts with a knot (which is where the trouble started onion this one), then the yarn changes. 

I've seen Felici shorten stripes, skip a stripe, or even change the order of colors, after a knot...but this is the first time I've used a skein that appears to have been mishandled by the dyers (mechanical or otherwise) after the knot.

I was a little upset when I first noticed the mistake. Truthfully, I'm still in a little agony now, but I'm probably not worked up enough to reach out to Knit Picks about it. I do love it when my handknit socks match perfectly, but I have not stopped loving Felici...and as I said before, knots do happen with this yarn...so I'll probably just finish these socks before moving on to the next pair. These pink stripes are not a gift, and they will still be comfortable and pretty, so no harm, no foul. I've got bigger fish to fry. 

After all, I live in northeast Ohio. Have you seen the news about northeast Ohio lately? This is my favorite of all the info graphics I saw on FB this week...lol! (Not sure who the OP is, but shout out to my buddy Karen for sharing on her profile!)

Yeah, 4 seasons plus a meteor in one week...and I've also heard that Bigfoot may be on the loose, so I'm just gonna stay inside and play with yarn this weekend. I hope you also have solid plans for the weekend. If yes, drop a comment to let me know what they are! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Marching (reluctantly?) Into Springtime

Springtime in Ohio is a fickle thing. Snow, wind, sunshine, mild and freezing temperatures, ice and rain... all the confusing weather messages, and the daffodils and crocuses coming up... Oh, and Amazon packages flying through the air! (Seriously, Amazon. If it is small and light, or flat and light, pop it into the mailbox rather than leaving it out in the open like a cardboard kite!) For what it's worth, the package we almost lost was recovered, and the wind continued through the end of the week!

In the beginning, Spring always seems reluctant to make a commitment. It is normal this time of year to see a clear, blue sky with 70°F on Monday (Hey! I can still write Haiku!)...

then light, drizzle-y snow and wind by Wednesday, building and building until power goes out at work on Friday (power was on at home, so that's where I went for the rest of the day)!

Thankfully, we took advantage of the great weather last weekend to spend some time at local playgrounds,

and going out to dinner with family...

and I had projects to keep me busy when indoors was the place to be! Look! A second Leprechaun!

Yes, I am so thankful for yarn friends (Irish and otherwise) and for warm, hand-knit socks! These two pair are finished,

and the third, companion pair (in pink!) is well underway!

Now that it is Saturday once again, and we are one, full week past the worst time change of the year, I think it's safe to say that we are going to make it through just fine. Whew! I think I'll do some knitting to celebrate! 

I hope that you have not blown away yet, and that you have some great things to be thankful for! Can't think of any? It must be time exercise that gratitude muscle. Think harder...I mean, you woke up this morning, so I am thankful for that! Oh, and you found an entertaining blog to read...lol! But seriously, I am glad to see you here. The world would be a little less bright without you in it. Sooo,

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Improvisation

Sometimes I just can't find the pattern I want, so I start to improvise. I usually start with a good idea of the shapes I need, but sometimes not much more. This week's projects were no exception... any guesses?

What about this one? 

Do you see Peppa's father, Daddy Pig? Lol...not what I was after, but now I have a sudden urge to knit a bunch of pigs...weird. What about now? 

This time, I see the 1970s "Little People" dad from my childhood...but that's not what I'm knitting either. Maybe the first accessory will give a clue...

or the legs, or the hat? C'mon! Take a guess! 

Did you get lucky? 

You did, if you guessed that this would be a lucky leprechaun! 

Ain't he something!?! And, wow!, was he fun to knit! So much fun that I figured I'd try my hand (and needles) at a semi truck that can drive over a plate of cookies next, because...well, maybe I'm just random that way? Random or not, that was the first pic of the post, and I think I have hit the mark!

What will Pretty knit next? Nobody really knows, and anything is possible. You'll just have to pop back to see next Saturday...I can barely wait, myself! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

You Know How You Know

You know how you know that you’re becoming your parents? Or your GRANDparents?

Thank you, Julie, but it has nothing to do
with the knitting-chicken mug...lol!

Well, I’ll tell you that I have had a revelation this week. It went a little like this:

Sweetie (after walking into the local warehouse club, needing, well he is never quite sure what we need, but he sure does like this place): Babe! Check out the coupons!
 
Pretty (poking through stacks of summer clothes on display, far too early): Yeah? Any good ones? Like for things we need?
 
Sweetie: There are lots of them! Do we need toothpaste?
 
Pretty: Not sure. Don’t think so, we each have a tube that’s not even half empty.
 
Sweetie (dejected): Oh.
(Then, with more interest): What about dryer sheets?
 
Pretty: We DO need those! Is there a coupon?
 
Sweetie: No. But we usually get the store brand…so it’s like a coupon…WHAT ABOUT TOILET PAPER? There’s a $2 off coupon, but we don’t really need it…but we have the space to store it. I just put up that shelf!!!
 
Pretty: Just because we have storage doesn’t mean we need to fill it. And won’t we save more if we just don’t buy it at all?
 
Sweetie: But what if there’s no coupon when we do need it?!? I mean, it’s a bargain. It’d be a shame to turn down a bargain, and the only way we actually lose money is if this warehouse-sized package of toilet paper outlives us…and I’m only 58!
 
You see where this is going? Yes. We bought the toilet paper (and some other things) and we used some coupons, but not for the dryer sheets. Our storage shelf is fuller than it was before this trip, but it could be full of worse things than toilet paper. Besides, if I didn’t give in here, how would I explain all that yarn in storage? 

Lol…Knitters, don’t lose your heads! I know, it’s different…after all, I don’t flush yarn. I knit sweaters and other things, right? Right.

I think that’s all I’ve got for today, except that I did take a break from the yarn to make some cookies, too…yummm!

I hope you have cookies and a stash of toilet paper and yarn that [probably] won’t outlive you.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

PS - By the by, if you are making roll-and-cuts,

and these are your leftovers, you win.