Caution: Woman at Work

I know I have been quiet for the past couple of weeks, between physical therapy, birthdays, baby showers, weekend road trips and helping out family members there has been very little time for anything else but it has been a blast. Here is a line up on my works in progress:

Here is another baby sweater in the 12 month size for my friends that just had their baby. I figure it will just about the perfect size next winter.

This is a sample of my first commissioned knit. I am knitting a pair of polar fleece slippers for my boss to give to her husband. I have been dying to try this yarm but, boy, it sure leaves fuzz everywhere.

Oh Baby (sweater)!

My latest knitting adventure was taking a class at my local yarn shop to learn the top down sweater technique. The class coincided perfectly with the impending stork arrival expected by my step-brother and his wonderful wife as the feature project was a baby sweater. So since I was laid up and knitting like a fiend anyway I finished the project ahead of schedule.

The yarn is self striping Plymouth Encore with a Lion Brand solid that was just laying in my stash for trim. I am so proud of this project that this kid may get one in every size!

The Knitting Nest

Since I've pretty much laid up for the past several days I noticed that I have accumulated a 'nest' on the end of couch. All within arm's reach I have at least three or four knitting projects, a nice cool drink, the Tivo remote, my blankie, my pain pills and last but not least my ever loyal kitty cat Sullivan to keep me company.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.

Horrible week here in Indiana. There has been treacherous winter weather for a good part of the week, which I normally would gladly soak up if it hadn't led a painful turn of events.

Tuesday night as I arrived home from work in the midst of a winter storm warning, I noticed one of my neighbors having trouble backing her car out of the lot. So I went over and offered her a hand pushing it out. As I was trying to push the car out, I finally got a good grip on a piece of dry asphalt and then it happened....

The most intense, agonizing pain hit as I fell to the ground. In a brief moment of clarity it hit me, my kneecap is supposed to be in the front of my leg not on the side where it was currently residing. So with blind instinct I slid it back over and clamored away from the car that is still trying to reverse out of its spot.

As I sit there snow covered, shaking from cold and pain, and willing myself not to be sick, I hear "Are you OK?" at this point in time I am a lot of things but OK is not one of them. I have dislocated my knee and it is so painful I think I may pass out but am hoping to die instead.

Long story short after a lot of icing and a doctor visit, I have a lovely leg brace that I have to wear for a week and crutches to use for limited mobility. As a result, my couch has an exact indentation of my behind, I have been knitting like a fiend and experiencing extreme frustration with not being able go hardly anywhere because of slick conditions and stupid crutches. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't stop to help someone again, I would just be more aware of my own physical limitations.

It's a jungle out there.... take care of each other.

A sock is born...

Here it is! My very first sock. It was actually a lot easier than I had anticipated. The kitschner stitch to seal up the toes gave me some fits, but with practice it because a little easier but just a little.

Turning the heel.

Picking up the gusset

Finishing the toe.

First failed attempt at kitschner.

And the beautiful final product... ready to keep tiny tootsies toasty.

The Fib

Today I took the coward's way out of a commitment and told a fib of an exagerated illness, which as karma would have it totally back fired on me. I had made a commitment at the start of the weekend that I would go to a 'party' in which it is expected to make a purchase at the end of said party.

Then when I woke up this morning I just did not have the mind set to go. I started looking around the apartment at all the things the need done or I could get done instead. So, I called hostess with the compliant of a 'cold' knowing that she would insist I stay home.
Since she is a family member I knew I couldn't just pull a 'no-show' so I thought this was a kinder way to go. But what I didn't know was that someone I would really like to see came because they thought I was coming. Dang it! The news almost inspired a Monty Python 'Holy Grail' style miraculous recovery.

Karma, what an unrelenting tormentor. So now I'm stuck, feeling horribly guilty over my fib. Now the wind just go sucked out of my sails to actually complete what I had originally intended in the first place. Maybe this feeling is my penance for not sucking it up, putting on my big girl pants and honoring my commitment... but everyone lies, right? But I guess I just need to be more prepared to pay the price next time.

Cats Rule?

Here is an article proving that at one point in time cats did actually rule... I have suspected this to be true for quite some time. : )

An Audience with Prince Sullivan

I truly believe that there is a point in every pet owner's life when you begin to question who is in charge... you or the pet. I would like to put that question to rest right now, the one in charge... isn't you.

On a lark, a couple of weeks ago I took a large piece of scrap fleece and spread it out on the cushion of our chair and deemed it Sullivan's throne. Little did I know how prophetic that would become, now Sullivan doesn't want to be anywhere else. He lays in the chair, sleeps in the chair, and supervises human activity from the chair. If, on the off chance, one of us lowly humans asserts our right to use the chair (that would be hubby) Sully paces, prances, stares, and climbs in order to maintain a close proximity to his most valued throne. This continues until said lowly human vacates area and restores the throne to its rightful owner.

Prince Sullivan is ready to grant you an audience now...

It's Raining Babies...

In my world right now it is raining babies. A dear friend of mine and his beautiful bride are expecting the stork (because to me, that's how babies arrive) March 1st. And my stepbrother and his wonderful wife are expecting mid to late April. Both couples are expecting boys. So for the first time ever I am looking up and knitting baby patterns. Dear readers, I sure hope babies are not contagious!

Anyway, since "I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies, Miss Scarlet" it is a challenge for me to get my mind set toward babies. Even though I am actually a little scared of babies, I could not be more thrilled for these two couples because I know that these babies will have so much love and joy waiting for them when they arrive, unfortunately that is not always the case these days.

So ... I knit a hat and starting, can you believe it... a sock! A little tiny baby sock. I started to make those little mitts that go over their hands so the little buggers don't scratch themselves (one of the few things I do know) but survey says... it may be too big for a newborn.

Here is the mitt and the start of the sock. All knitted in Lion Brand Organic Cotton, pistachio green.

Here is the precious little hat... which may be too big for a newborn but is too cute to not give!

Not yo' Poncho

Here is my latest finished project:

It is the Cape Mod pattern from the 'Stitch N Bitch Handbook'. I was drawn to it because I think the model in the book looks like Lorelei Gilmore. I was convinced if I made this I too, would look like her. : ) Alas, even though I do think I am funky enough to pull this off, I think I want it a touch longer so I can wear it as a jacket.

A Year of Knitting

I just realized this morning that this Friday, January 15, will be my one year knitting anniversary. I remember walking into my local yarn shop for my first lesson. By the end I had nearly mastered the knit stitch but the purl stitch was so vexing at the time I am pretty sure the instructor was seriously going to slap my hand. When I went back the next week, having practiced until my fingers cramped, I could knit AND purl! Since then knitting has become such a large part of my life and the savior of my sanity I can't imagine life without it.

In honor of my sophomore year of knitting, I am challenging myself to share all my projects on this blog. I am also going to attempt... {drum roll, please} to learn socks! I love to wear socks but as far as knitting goes I am so nervous about knitting with tiny little needles and skinny yarn. AND to make matters worse... you have to make two and I'm pretty sure they are supposed to be the same. EEEKK!