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.