Ahh Christmas

We had a nice relaxed one here and I still managed to get a bit of a migraine. So more rest and relaxation are on my schedule. We are expecting snow here so who knows what the day will bring.

I did finish my grey alpaca shawl and will be enjoying it soon. Now I am facing a common knitter's dilemma. What to work on now? Do I finally suck it up and find a way to finish the blue sweater so I can finally start another sweater for D without guilt or do I just jump into the lovely green woolliness that will be D's next sweater without thought? So how should I start the new year without guilt or without thought....wait that does not quite sound right.

My library is experiencing its normal post Christmas growth. I love getting books for Christmas. I rarely can decide to buy on my own but for others to buy for me is awesome. I now have Knitter's Book of Yarn to go with my copy of Knitters Book of Wool. I had held off on getting that one but after I checked it out of the library for the 5th time I added it to my amazon wish list. I received two sock knitting books and a mitten book.

I also received a bread book that will probably make D just as happy as me. Hey Kisknit they have a recipe for bialys, you interested? (See comments from post 'Don't Blink) I will be able to try out my new Danish dough whisk and my new dough scraper. I do so love the feel of bread dough in my hands, it makes me feel like I accomplished something with my day, I made bread I can sleep tonight! Yes, I know I am weird, thanks.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking was added to my library by my Mom, Thanks Mom! D is not as happy about that one but I'm sure he will see the light after one of the meals. He is not a big fancy food guy but does not realize that it has basic food too. Although I don't think the aspic chapter will see any use. Aspic is a savory jelly, often made with meat stock, used as a garnish, or to contain pieces of food such as meat, seafood, or eggs, set in a mold; according to my computer's dictionary. I think of it as jello with non marshmallow or fruit items in it, or 'just plain wrong'. Some of us are not adventurous when it comes to eating.

I leave you with the view from my lap on Christmas eve. My now finished shawl is in the foreground, the back of Jack's head is just beyond, and finally my tree.

Merry Christmas!

I have Russian Yarn!

D's coworker went to Russia and now I have Russian yarn! I debated about asking for it. She has benefited from my knitting and seems to truly like it. I thought it might be asking too much. Many people do not appreciate wool like knitters do. Although I would think that Russians would be able to appreciate the insulating properties of wool.

Yes, I am excited. My yarn is 100% wool yarn, and a color I like too (a rusty red.) So I will be looking on Ravelry for a hat pattern. It seems to me like it wants to be a hat. Ooo what about Knotty from Knitty. I bet D would look really good in it. I will post pictures when it is light enough for me to get a decent picture.

I frogged the shawl this weekend. I came up with non matching numbers so I decided to pull it all out and get it right. In theory I will be counting every few rows so I will be able to tell when I make a mistake.

I started another sock but am lacking photographic evidence also due to lighting issues. It is that time of year that I forget to take pictures till the sun has set. Anyways I started another plain knit sock for me. I am using some springy colored Socks that Rock yarn. It is quite girly. Green, rose, and a touch of lavender. I kept thinking that I should save it for February or March when winter is in full swing and has been for a bit. It was calling to me, so I cast on and have been happily knitting along.

Since it is a nice simple knit it has been promoted to my purse knitting. It gets worked on when I am waiting and at lunchtime. So I am a happy knitter.

New socks for us

I finished second socks for a pair for each of us. So we both wore new socks to D's birthday dinner. That is not totally true, I wore mine.

Zauberball Socks

Socks that Rock "Chestnutty" socks

D wore his Chestnutty socks from Portland. His new Spinning Bunny socks had an adventure earlier in the morning and were resting. I had sprayed a spot on the carpet with carpet cleaner and his comment ten minutes later was, "Why is the floor wet? Oh yeah you sprayed cleaner there". Poor dude did not know why I tackled him and ripped off his socks. I ran to the sink to rinse them and could see a soapy area. This yarn dyed my fingers and needles while I knit with it, so I was really worried about what something I had applied to remove a stain, would do to it.

Spinning Bunny "Bark" Sock

Some dye did rinse out when I gave them the initial dip in the bathroom sink. I ran some water in the kitchen sink but they did not seem to be bleeding dramatically. I added a touch of vinegar to rinse one and two. I think they will be fine. But I bet D was really happy I did not ask him to wear wet birthday socks out to dinner in November, in New York. That is a bit too much to ask of the person you love. 

My alpaca shawl is torturing me. I got close to the start of the lace portion and decided to do stitch count so I could be sure to place a life line. I came up with two more stitches on one side than the other. So I unknit a row and still had the same problem. I put it in time out and came back to count a couple of nights later and still had the same issue. I frogged back several rows and unknit two more rows and still had the same problem. So it went back into timeout for the night. The next night I recounted, hoping it was just a counting error on my part. Nope. I toyed with the idea of frogging it and starting over but I have knitting group this weekend and want to have something to show off. So I did a knit 2 together near the start and end of that portion. I don't regret it at all. Perfection is nice but a couple of K2tog in dark grey yarn on garter stitch will not ruin my day today.