Alas

D does not have a new Christmas sweater or new socks. I am a bad, bad knitting wife. The sweater just needs a collar and ends tucked in. But I still have more than half a sock to go. Guess that is why I received no yarn as a gift this year. If you can not finish what you have, you can not have any pudding yarn. (I jest, you know my yarn basket is very pleasantly plump.)

I did however get a couple of knitting related books and some DVDs to watch while working out. It was a lovely day. My workout was a personal record (PR) too. It feels so good to get up on that machine and pound out some milage.

I'm going to be reading about Adventures in Yarn Farming by Barbara Parry. I'll also be honing some new Knitting with Two Colors skills. I love expanding my library. Books just make me happy, especially when they talk about knitting. I'm using a new bind off on D's sweater. It is from a book I received for Christmas a couple of years ago, Cast On Bind Off by Leslie Ann Bestor. Let's hope D notices the new bind off.

My poor boy Gus had his pancreas flare up starting on Christmas eve. So today we went to the vet and we get to go back tomorrow for more fluid and meds. He just does not understand how his body could turn on him like this. Getting old is Hell according to him. But he is a fighter so off to the vet we go.

I hope your holidays were lovely too.

Seriously, nimble fingers

Oh, we are working so hard getting Daddy's sweater knit. You see that we're working so hard we can barely keep our eyes open? Well one of us, that is.

D's Christmas sweater will be a close one. I have most of a body and most of two arms. I'll do another try on session, but I matched it with on of his other sweaters and my future looks like a whole lot of ribbing till Christmas. I'm thinking that may have been a mistake since I have a limited tolerance for ribbing.

I have my first equipment failure to report. This sweater broke one of my cables on my interchangeable needle. Good thing I have more cables right?

I was thinking of getting some fixed circular needles to try out. But if this had happened on one of those it would have been total equipment failure, instead of just swapping cables.  Does anyone prefer fixed circular needles over interchangeable?

Well I am off to dream about knitting never ending ribbing on a sweater. Sweet dreams.

Turns out

It turns out that even though there is only one knitter in our house, everyone wants to be included in the process. 

Here is D giving me his "I'd really like to wear a new sweater on Christmas" look. Who could say no to that face? Bonus points for wearing a sweater I've already made you.

Jack is working the quality control angle. See how he tries it out on different body parts? Belly warm? Check.

Whole body warm? Check.

Gus believes his position is more of a supervisor/inspector Gustav. He plans to inspect the sweater under the Christmas tree. Add a few Gus hairs to make it luxurious.

So right now I have most of the body done, most of a sleeve done and a really good start to another sleeve. I took it with me to trivia last night and met a lady that appreciates wool. This is a rustic not soft yarn. She felt the sweater and said Ooo that is going to be warm. It is nice and thick.

I've had non-knitters recoil when they feel a sweater I knit myself from the same wool. Seriously she snapped her hand back with a look of horror on her face. People, what can you do?

The socks may be doable since I carry them around with me. I'm finishing up the second heel flap, after that just a foot to go.

Back to the knitting, or should I go exercise first?

Nap while the sun shines

Gus says he has never heard "Make hay while the sun shines."

No mom I am sure it is "Nap while the sun shines.

How else am I going to contribute to Dad's new sweater? Do you have one of those "Inspected by Gustav" labels? What am I if I am not quality control? Do I get paid in Greenies?

I don't really ask that many questions. Mom misquotes me a lot, but not as much as I expected when she moved in. Seriously Mom get some Greenies.

Nimble enough?

My little finger have been getting a workout. I decided to give D a homemade Christmas. (It is OK he already knows it is not a surprise.) I am working on a sweater and a pair of socks. In that homemade I will include a lovely dinner and I may even let him win a hand or two of cards. (maybe)

The problem with the knit portion of my plan is that the knitting may still be on the needles once Christmas comes. But I am doing my best to have at least one item done that day.

If I changed the sweater into a vest I would be almost done. But at this stage in this pattern it just looks like a really weird 90s wooly crop top. Nobody wants to live through a crop top phase once they're out of high school. So I'll keep on working. I did manage to add 2-3 inches while at the movies with Kisknit and little Kisknit.

I also managed to wind up some of the yarn D's sweater will need. I just had to make a leaning woolman. You know like a snowman but made of wool balls?

Yes indeed we did get our tree up this weekend too. Gus and Jack just love rubbing their faces on the tree. I just though you should know that.

As far as the sock goes I have one done and around four inches started on the second one. The sweater seems like the most likely one not to be on the needles come Christmas day so much of my attention is focused there.

Wish me luck in my knitting adventures would you? I certainly could use a bit.

Confession

I hear it is good for the soul so I think I will tell you all a few things today.

1. I am considering knitting a Norwegian sweater for Gus. It is just another crazy step in my plan to get practice knitting color work. My goal is to eventually knit one for myself. I have the books now I just need something relatively small and not seen in public to practice on. We all know how knitworthy Gus is in my eyes.

2. I am knitting a sweater and a second sock for my Hubby for Christmas. This is even though I've had a sweater on the needles for me since early this year. Dog -gone-it I just love knitting that one plain raglan pattern over and over it is like a big sock to me. And we all know how I love knitting socks.

3. I don't get why picking out gifts is so hard for me. I have three Christmas parties where cute little gifts are required. I have no clue what to give. Well one person is getting a bottle of alcohol but the other two???? I'll take suggestions if you have any.

4. Gus wants to give the vet's office Greenies for Christmas but I told him no. He keeps telling me they are the best snacks ever, no really the best.

5. Jack agrees that they are the best things ever but he wants Gus to give him the Greenies instead.

6. I spent part of the weekend updating my knitting journal and it is still at least a month behind. I have not even written about Rhinebeck yet. D had to find the journal for me. I think it was opposite day because I usually have to help him find things. Thanks Honey.

7. We watched the movie Fargo last week and we both got homesick for the frozen prairie. And the accents, Doncha know Hon?

8. I had Cheetos and edamame for lunch today. I don't even feel guilty because they staved off a migraine and upset stomach. Who knew they would do that?

9. I still love listening to audiobooks when I drive. My Audible account maybe my favorite thing I've bought myself, except for yarn of course. And knitting needles, and Jack. Well it is up there.

10. I am still exercising every day. I had a personal record (just over a mile and a half in 20 minutes) on Thanksgiving and it made the food taste even better.

11. I make excellent pumpkin pie and dinner rolls. My pie crusts are store bought but my dinner rolls are homemade. Both are very tasty if I do say so myself.

12. Our Christmas decorations are not up yet. There was a time when I had them up the day after Thanksgiving but not this year. I used part of that day to relax and knit on D's Christmas sweater. I don't regret it either.

13. It is time for bed if I am to keep this migraine at bay. To all a good night!