One down

Two to go.
I got the first of the three cream-colored scarves finished today, and have already cast on the next one.

Progress

Here's my progress, so far on the One Row Handspun Scarf.
The pattern is so easy to remember, and fun to work, that the first scarf (of three I'm making) is already at 20 inches.
To the left is how far I've come in knitting socks for DH; the yarn is Encore worsted, and I'm using size 6 dpns. I'm making the leg 8 inches and this one's at 5 since I started them this morning. This time, I'm making sure to reinforce the heels so he doesn't go through them in a month!

So many projects .....

Okay, it's here: time to get moving on making Christmas presents.

I've already made one pair of socks for DD, and have another pair OTN. She loves and takes very good care of them. Nothing for DS; last year, when he saw the wrist warmers I was making for charity, he insisted they were great and very useful and awesome, and would love some. He still hasn't used the three pair of wrist warmers that I made him for his Christmas gift that year. DH loves the socks I make other people, so I made him three pair in worsted weight that he could wear outside in his boots in the cold, or to keep cuddly in the house. One month TO THE DAY after I gave them to him for a Christmas gift, two of the pair had major damage in the heels. I'd even gifted him with new slippers to go with, so holes wouldn't happen as soon since I know carpet eats holes in socks.
Well, one pair was totally wrecked and had to be pitched in the trash, and the other two -- one with minor damage -- are going to be repaired.
I'm also going to knit him another pair identical to the dearly departed ones, with major reinforcement in the heel and toe.

Add to the sock-making:
three identical scarves. One each for his two sisters, and one sister-in-law. I got one of them started tonight, and will work on the rest between or during other projects. The pattern I'm using is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf. I made 2 for myself from my handspun last year and love them, and the pattern.

Consequently, much of my personal knitting will be getting less attention for a while. I've got one pair of socks OTN for me, currently working on the toe for the second sock -- hoping to have it finished tomorrow. Then, I'll cast on the Leaves on the Path Scarf again and SLOW DOWN; try not to let excitement over the pattern, and overconfidence, shoot me in the foot again. I love that scarf and can't wait to wear it. And a friend gifted me with gorgeous sock yarn that is waiting to be my next pair.

If I have time lol I want to make a couple mini-sweaters for some special people for their Christmas tree, with yarn I hand carded and spun the wool for.
Oh, and of course one for OUR Christmas tree. :-)

..... so little time

but I love it!

scarf that doesn't want to be

Fell in love with the Leaves on the Path scarf from Knitting Daily, and decided I'd make it for myself with the Cascade 220 I bought as my "anniversary" present. I've never knitted from a charted design before and challenged myself to do it. The person who rang up my yarn suggested I enlarge the graph so it would be easier to see.

I breezed through 2/3 of the chart, and left it mid-row while eating dinner. Came back to knit more and a couple rows later saw a gaping hole: I'd done a double yarn over! So, I meticulously took each row out and erased the mark where I thought I'd knitted it. And lost my place.
Ribbit.

Well, yesterday I restarted my scarf (I even used lifelines), and used the cable cast-on instead of long-tail; it looks much nicer. Went back to it after eating lunch .....
and found not only an oversized stitch four rows down but a split stitch halfway down from there.

Now it's totally off the needles, in a tote bag for who knows how long.

I don't know if it's overconfidence, the color of the yarn, or maybe even the remains of the tropical storm coming up this way, but this scarf is the most contrary, troublesome thing I've ever tried to make!

My anniversary

Today is my anniversary.

Not a wedding or anything some greeting card company has cards, wrapping paper, and gifts for.

Six years ago today I found out I am diabetic; Type 2, no medication -- I take care of myself with diet and exercise. I also test my blood sugar five times a day, to make sure it's within the limits my doctor and I agreed on. And yes, it is, 99% of the time. :-)

I don’t know why, though, after all this time this day seems so important to recognize.

Went to Diabetes Knit & Crochet group at Ravelry to see how others "celebrated" their anniversary. Some went to Krispy Kreme and indulged, but others had a much better idea: buy yarn. What a great idea! So, after dinner I went to my LYS and bought 2 hanks of red Cascade 220 to knit myself a scarf.
Oh, and a Milky Way latte at the coffee shop next door. :-) Coffee, chocolate, and caramel; yummy -- and it doesn't even mess up my blood sugar.

So, the day turned out great and I plan on celebrating with yarn again next year, a reward for taking good care of myself. :-)

Sorry I listened

I just realized that last week was a very important anniversary for me: I've had my Ashford Traveler wheel for three years! :-) It was only two months before that, when I'd learned on a cd drop spindle. How time flies, and we grow.

One of the first finished projects I made on my wheel that I was proud of, was a single of Shetland lambs wool from a local friend's flock. It's black and so so so soft, and I couldn't wait to get a project on the needles for myself with it. It took a while to find just the right thing: the Branching Out Scarf.
I took my work-in-progress to the Wednesday knitting group, where it was oooh'd and aaah'd over.
Then, someone said it was too dark, and no one would see all the work I put into it.
Just what you want to hear, right?
Two days later, when I picked it up to knit more I looked at it, a third of the way finished

And frogged it.

Why do we listen to some people? I'm so mad at myself for undoing all that work, and listening to someone I don't even consider a friend. Shoot, why would even a real friend say that?

Well, now I'm ready to cast it on again. I've always loved that pattern and wanted a scarf out of my handspun yarn -- perfect fit. :-)

Here's what the scarf looked like before its untimely demise:

I'd temporarily blocked it on a sheet, to show the pattern. Sorry you can't feel how incredibly soft the yarn is.