Real Snow

It's been a chilly week, because we finally got some real snow. Real snow is defined in our home as enough snow on the ground to play in. Here's a pic from about a week ago:

Of course the kids were so happy. I was kinda hoping winter would mysteriously pass us by this year. If my husband walked in the room this very moment and told me we were moving permanently to Hawaii or Florida or California, I'd run upstairs and start packing!

I've had to rethink Christmas gifts this year, because my desire to knit hasn't really come back. I'm going to knit my mom some gloves, a scarf for an aunt, and a dog sweater, and that's it. That seems like a reasonable list to accomplish.

I finished my aunt's birthday socks, though a little late. This is the second time I knit the Embossed Leaves pattern from Favourite Socks, which I really like.

The yarn is Lana Grossa Meilenweit Marmi in Lime, and I chose this one because it can be both machine wash and dry. The yarn was pretty thin, so I used 2.25mm and did four repeats on the leg and 3 on the foot, switched to 2mm and did 1.5 more repeats. This made an 8.5" sock.

I blocked the socks with blockers I cut out of dollar store plastic place mats:

There is a shape template on this tutorial, but I just free handed mine. I will definitely be making more of these!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for all of your congratulations! It's so nice to finally be able to share the news with people. I wish you could have seen the looks on my kids' faces when we told them. They were really devastated when I miscarried. Josh was so happy he was in tears! That little guy...so sensitive like his mommy!

I'm now 10 weeks (due June 16), and the nausea is slowly getting better. Still tired though, which means no knitting. And I don't think there will be much baby knitting until I know the sex. I'm not too crazy about yellow or mint!

I did finish one project last week, only because it's so cold and I really needed it:

Pattern: So Called Scarf

Yarn: Manos Del Uruguay, #113 Wildflowers, 2 skeins

Needles: US 11

I used the tutorial from Mason Dixon, which helped a lot.

About this Manos...I know this yarn is really popular, and I really like supporting yarns that help certain communities, but I really don't get why this yarn is so big. The colours are pretty, and it's fairly soft for wool, but the way it is spun is horrible: it varies from bulky to lace. I can't imagine a garment make from this yarn; you would end up with threadbare spots!

Also, one skein had one knot, and the other had five. I guess with yarns not made in a factory, there is little quality control. I won't be buying this yarn again, but I still really like this scarf. 2 skeins came out to a long scarf that could be wrapped twice around my neck.

Big News

Hello! Is anyone still there?

I haven't come to give you knitting updates. Since my last post, I started a new scarf, and that's all.

The time is right to share some big news. Lately my need for knitting has been replaced for an overwhelming need for sleep. And when I'm not sleeping, I'm fighting nausea. Can you guess it?

I'm pregnant!! Praise God!!

This year began with a miscarriage, and I learned a huge lesson on trusting in God and His timing. I figured, lesson learned, now I can have that baby. Obviously I didn't REALLY learn my lesson. The Lord had me wait and learn to be patient. I finally realized it doesn't matter what I want, because if it isn't what He wants then it ain't gonna happen. When I finally got that in my heart, lo and behold, I became pregnant! I had an ultrasound this week, and everything is developing normally. I hope once I start feeling better in the 2nd trimester, my knitting will get back on track.

Gotta go...I need food! I could eat a horse!

I've Lost My Mojo

My knitting mojo, that is.

Because of some changes here at home, and me battling fatigue every day, I've had no desire to knit. Or blog. Or look at knitting blogs. Sigh...

Everything is just stalled:

Esther is still stuck on sock #1 because this pattern is soooo slow-going; reminds me of when I was working on Bayerische.

Minimalist Cardi is stalled because my ball of yarn ran out, and I don't feel like winding a new one. Plus, the moss stitch was so torturously boring.

I did start some new socks. I was knitting at my aunt's place (the same aunt that volunteered me making the 2nd Transformers sweater), and she happily declared that she would like some socks for her birthday. Her birthday is in two weeks. Sure, no problem.

I had two yarns that were both machine wash and dry, so she can take her pick. Or take both.

Don't mind me; I'm just in a little funk. I'm sure every knitter goes through this.