Yarn Rambles

This is much more like it!

I am happily playing in my knitting world. Today has been particularly satisfying in terms of freedom to wander from project to project. Last night I realized I didn't have "dinner" knitting for this evening when we go out with Bob's cousins. I was at the toes of my socks and certainly couldn't drag around Dylan's baby blanket. Clearly I needed to get back to having a decent amount of variety in my life in order to accomodate the activities of my days.

Today has not been much for actual work. I finished my socks as I sit in my office listening to an A Murder is Announced by Agathie Christy. They are my basic 40-stitch, plain knit with hand-dyed yarn socks. Always have a pair in progress for emergencies. 

My next challenge was to choose a pattern for a washcloth. I have a friend whose husband is involved in Oregonian politics. I'm sure her life is a bit hectic these days. We received a sample of Linen/Cotton yarn we will be introducing next summer. It is not dyed and I like that. I bought a bar of handmade soap thinking the washcloth and soap would be a nice pre-election, stress reduction gift. The pattern I chose is the Dragon Scale lace washcloth from Knitter's Stash.

After I got the washcloth cast on, I started a pair of these absolutely wonderful socks! I'm going to use Gloss in Pumpkin.

Can you see why this has been such a perfect day! A finished pair of socks and three new, small projects on the needles. Variety!! Happy, happy knitter!

Airline Travel Concerns

Not one to worry too far in advance, I've spent most of the day fussing about my carry-on luggage for our Christmas trip to Austria. First, I checked the Lufthansia site to be sure I could still take on Xena in her carry bag. Second, I wandered around Internet Land trying to find the "perfect" little bag that would have just enough room for a pair of socks, iPod, small bits of medicine, passport, credit cards and money. I am desperate to keep things as simple as possible.

My iPod is the key to my simple traveling requirements. Between the TV shows, books-on-tape and nature sound collections I can easily entertain myself while I knit happily for hours.

I have two bags arriving from L.L. Bean. I can't tell if they are too much for the purpose until I see them in person.

Happily Knitting

What a joy last night! Watching Monday Night Football while I knit on the Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting. No work knitting at all! No deadline haunting my thoughts. Just one stitch after another.

 

I have a few more rows on the brown and dark blue blocks at the bottom of the photo. Then a thin edge along the right with light blue and dark blue. The edging will be cream. I had to wait to get started on this blanket until we got our inventory of Swish yarn. The quilters in the office helped me choose the colors. When I visited my niece this weekend I was thrilled to see Dylan's room decorated in all four colors!

 

And, a pair of socks that are nearly finished. They are my "carry around" projects so I have high hopes that I will be wearing them soon.

Nestling in for the autumn

The Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics was my last hurrah in terms of personal knitting and blog posting. Since then I have been completely swamped with "work" knitting. We have been short staffed in terms of knitters so everyone has been called up to service. The good news is that we are now in much better shape in terms of staff so I can look forward to indulging in knitting all for myself.

The upside to so many months of knitting on a strict schedule is that I have gotten used to finishing projects. Since I have several unfinished projects, I am looking forward to reaping the benefits of my new knitting attitude.  The Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting that I am knitting for my 2-month old, great-nephew is nearly finished. Just the thing for Monday Night Football. It has gotten a bit bulky to carry around so I have been keeping it at home.

Next will be Rob's Sweater. You remember, the grey all-over cable pattern sweater. I'm going to bring along the pieces to our knitting/quilting group Wednesday night to get my bearings. I remember finishing off the body and starting the sleeves. Well within finishing reach.

It feels so good to be wallowing in my own projects!