Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Weekend Hilarity
Saturday we had our monthly knitting meet up/pot luck.
And really, although there was wine available, I did not imbibe. That's just me all the time. LOL
We had lot's of fun. And lot's of great food! Leah made some awesome Cuban dishes. She made a great rice pudding and if I didn't have texture issues I would have eaten the entire bowl.
I also finished Lorelei's socks. Finally! It was supposed to take me a week or two. But no-it took me two MONTHS!! Sigh, I think sometimes I knit so slow, I actually knit backwards.
Lorelei loves them! She told me she wanted to wear them forever-day and night.
She almost wore them all day (which would have meant I wasn't going to be able to show them off at my knitting group), but when she went to put on her running shoes-they wouldn't fit in the sneaker. They are brand new Disney Princess sneakers she got this past week. Princess trumps Mommy's homemade socks. So she settled for thinner socks.
I had lot's of fun making them--I am almost tempted to make myself some--but really, I want to do something different!! Maybe in a few projects. I have lined up a test knitter and I expect the pattern to be released early summer. Fingers crossed.
This weekend I also finally started work on painting the name badges for WHIBSIB. I am making them out of those thin wooden shapes you can get at the craft store. So far the sheep look awesome--the other's well we're working on that.
Okay, sorry for all the cricket chirping here at Birdy's Knits. My Father in Law arrived Wednesday and so the preceeding days were consumed by last minute cleaning.
I added pics to my prior post--here's some more of the shop.
Here's a close up of my cool sign, courtesy of Jamey. He liked the look of wooden shapes to my more elegant (yet sparkley) bee and flower stickers.
Here's a close up of my pattern display.
We have a bit of bare space underneath this shelf. I still need to finish knitting up some swiffer cloths for sale. I also am knitting up a few of my own patterns for sale. Busy busy bee. I do WISH I could knit faster. I still have knitting bunnies that I want to create. Can I do both? Argh!
Anyhoo--I am casting off on Lori's second heart sock!! Yip Yip! I am finalising the pattern for my test knitter (which reminds me I need to email her). Pictures tomorrow! Hopefully.
I also have my monthly knitting group meeting tomorrow. So I should have pictures from that on Sunday or Monday...and of course stories.
We set up our new brick and morter "shop" today (it's a wee booth-a wall really-at a local popular craft mall). I wish I had pictures for you (I did take bunches--I am very proud), but Jamey needed the camera for Final Four happenings (really how is a dumb sporting event more important than my blog!). To be fair it is his camera. But when I see him next and tackle down for the camera (which may be tomorrow evening)--I'll add pics to this here post.
I also finally finished knitting the garter for Anne. I blocked it and starched it and Anne approves. Then we both realised Anne's fingers weren't going to be up for the Anne sewing involved. So I'll be putting it together as well. Give me a cookie!
Lorelei's second sock is coming along well...4 more repeats to go.
This week is going to be very busy. My FIL is coming into town and once again the house is a mess (busy working elsewhere--ignoring it completely), so gotta clean up. I have neglected the badges for WHIBSIB and all of a sudden I have just two weeks or so really to finish them up. YIKES! Then there's the knitting bunnies. Seriously they are stressing me out. I have all these new ideas, but I still need to reknit some old ideas for the shop. I just want to do it all--that's my problem.
I guess all I needed was a break from Lorelei's heart sock.
There was no mistake. I had just miscounted. Simple as that. So I am back to the sock and hopefully poor Lorelei will have socks on her feet.
Oh and I got a neat suggestion for a name for the sock, "Love Me Tender." Interesting. Any one else? Remember: Who ever gives me the name of the sock that I love will get this sock pattern for free. (It'll be sized from toddler to adult). Although it will be a while till the adult sizes are ready...not a while, maybe more like a month.
I finished the garter last night. And I blocked it and starched it just now.
I appeased some Knitting Bunnies yesterday as well...unfortunately nothing came out of it. The pattern itself is beautiful in my minds eye, but the yarn just didn't work with it. I even tried it on two different needle sizes.
This yarn, Alpaca Drops from Garn Studio, is just odd. It "says" it's sport weight. But it's seems to me a fingering weight --a light one at that. Even the recommended needle size 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm (1-4 US size)is tiny. But it's has a bout 190 yards to a 50 gram ball--which says it's a heavier weight--is it the alpaca, is it heavier?
In any case it's not doing what I want it to do.
I am not sure if I am going back to the silk or if I am going to forge on with Lori's sock. My head and neck are feeling weird--so I am also tempted to just veg and watch Torchwood.
I's been all around yucky since this weekend. And I am not knitting as much as I like. I feel like I am knitting so slow I am knitting backwards. I don't feel Like I have made progress on anything!
WHIBSIB (awesome Knitting Retreat I go on every spring) is coming up (24 days!!) and I can NOT wait. I am hoping I can get my Neverending Socks finished. 'Course that means I need to finish the garter and Lori's socks first. I have 5 more repeats on the garter to go. Lori's socks are in time out--once again I doubt my ability to count and reason. But I have been working on the Neverending socks for so long--they ought to be finished. They are actually my first pair of socks that I started...but some how they will end up being the third I complete (4th if you count baby booties).
I've got pics--give me a few hours and you'll see some. Edited to Add: yeah it's a lame picture of the dreary sky--no knitting.
I never mentioned that this week was supposed to be a VERY busy week. I also spent most of the week with Anne helping her with HER super secret project.
Tuesday we took the kids to Chick-Fil-A and then to Barnes and Nobles where I got the Spring Vogue Knitting magazine.
I like about half of the patterns inside--which is reallysaying something.
And this calls to me (the green one--the others are eh). The green sweater is something I could see myself wearing without a problem--esp. here in S. Texas. It's super cute and it might even give me the illusion of hips. Unfortunately it won't be meeting my needles any time soo, not while I am being attacked my knitting bunnies!
I found this bugger in the clearance basket at HEB for 75 cents--booya! Soon my bunny collection will outnumber my bee collection.
I had a terrible time sleeping Wednesday night, mainly due to knitting bunnies--but out of the sleeplessness came my theme for my super secret project II (Super Secret Project I--is still blooming to fruition). I found all the stitch patterns I want to use and oooo I want to start it NOW!
And how?! HOW can I say no to a face like that?
I have had to stop knitting Lori's sock yet again. My stitch count is wonky and I don't know why. I have a sneaking suspicion that I might be over thinking this. So I have been working mainly on the garter for Anne...which I have to get finished in two weeks--at the latest. I still have a foot to go.
As promised picture of the finished sock. I really need to find a way to get a proper close up of the bind off. It's real cute but kinda hard to make out the stitch definition. Since I am going to sell the pattern (remember the offer still stands if someone send me a good name for this sock pattern they'll get the pattern for free), I want to have a good detail shot of this cast off.
This bee row counter I made is fantastic! It's really making the increases a lot easier to manage. And it's cute to boot.
The two pairs together! I am almost to the heel...I am hoping (against hope) that I will finish by the end of the week. Woot! With Lorelei riding my back though, I might be one even earlier.
I finally figured out how I cast off on the heart socks (this past Thursday right before Mic's soccer practise). I had half made up this fun cast off. (I really need to figure out how to take a good close up of the cuff.) It's sorta picot but it also resembles waves. In any case it's a lot of casting on for binding off, nice and stretchy. Now I am just beginning the arch increases for the second sock.
I am refining the pattern as I complete this 4th sock. Trying to explain the bind off is proving challenging--will it make sense?? I am having a friend test knit it for me (well she volunteered I need to re-ask her). As much as I would like to knit an adult size (for ME!), I am not sure I have it in me to knit the same sock again especially with all the other knitting bunnies that are fighting for brains scraps. (I will I think someday, I have the perfect yarn for it too...)
I did take picture of the completed sock--but the allergies are still kicking my butt and it's_just_too_much_effort.
I swear I have been going to my local yarn shops (lys) more often than I thought I ever would--thanks to Anne I am going at least once a week. Sometimes just to look or support, but more often than not something comes home with me. Yesterday was a bumper day: we went to BOTH LYS here in SA (yeah it's a tragedy we only have two). I held out at the "Yarn Barn (I've been there so often this month I have already bought what I wanted), for some yarny goodness at Yarnivore.
Behold!!
I bought silk--pure 100% silk--finally. I have been terribly afraid to buy some. It is a tad expensive and I am terrified the kids or me will destroy it.
When I saw this sitting in it's little cubby at Yarnivore I knew it's destiny! And perhaps it'll be a super secret destiny!
My quandary? I want to start it NOW!! I have the pattern envisioned (mostly-I am still trying to figure out an edging--oo a clue!). But I am still banging my head against the wall with Lori's sock (still can't remember my special cast off) and of course theres all the other beauties hanging on to my needles (see that side bar--it's enormous!)...never mind my Leafy Spring Stole! I am dying to start that one as well. Of course I could start it once I finish the garter for Anne--and I really need to hurry up an finish the Swallowtail Shawl.
I love blogs--I just talked my self down. I will be patient and start the SSP after I finish the garter. And I NEED to finish that shawl. Heck I need to finish everything on that pesky side bat of mine.
On funny story from Yarnivore. I am not sure how long we spent there...a far amount. Lori enjoyed playing with the dollies and legos provided at the store, but then got bored and started running around giggling like a mad thing. Finally we get the hint and pay. And knowing us yarnies--it still takes a while to leave cause we're still talking. Meanwhile, I am chasing Lori around and scoop her up in my arms. And she's chewing on something. I never gave her gum or candy?
"Lori what are you eating? Open up!"
"COTTON CANDY!!"
Yes folks, I pull a wad of roving (pink and purple unspun merino and possibly silk) from her silly little mouth. I guess the child need more fiber in her diet.
I offered to pay for the ruined wad; but Melanie told me not worry about it and tossed the icky wad into the trash.
Last night, we had our March San Antonio pot luck and knit fest.
Great fun was had by all...if I mention half of what happened I would have very very interesting and inappropriate ads on my side bar. I brought Texas brownies with some Irish baked in (Irish Cream--oh it MADE the brownies.) I put the recipe in the pages at the Ravelry ACK group.
I showed off Jamey's stitch markers and sold three sets. Woot! I also showed off my bee row counter. Seriously get yours now...in total I have sold 5 sets.
I have requests for this too...I got the idea from TurtleGirl. Added my own touches and voila made just for me. Wendy things I should make some for lace charts that have 20 repeats. I love it because it's got bees!
I made reference to the chocolate Jamey brought me when I was in desperate need of it. I finally got it out of my camera...I ate the lady bugs and beetles, but the bees had to have a photo op. But even then in the end they got eaten as well.
On the heart socks front: I am having serious issues with my cast off. I can't remember how I did it. I wrote it down...and now the instructions make no sense. Le sigh. I'll get it eventually, but right now it's ever so slightly aggravating.
Almost forgot: I finally have my caralets on sale on the shop as well.
Just a taste...
All of them are also available for me to knit up for YOU custom in any color you want.
Once again I forgot to properly document a lace surgery. I didn't think of taking a before picture of the lace with all the dropped stitches, until I was nearly finished fixing it.
I am quite proud of myself though--this is my friend Anne's shawl and I have never worked with this pattern before or studied the pattern before today. Yet it's all fixed and looks beautiful. I don't think you can tell where I re-knitted the dropped stitches. (They are the ones that are on the needle--about 3 or 4 rows down).
I am still working on Lorelei's sock--rather staring at it and thinking about working on it. It's annoying working on the fix without being about to lie the problem flat.
I am wondering if I have totally lost it. I've been ignoring Lorelei's sock ever since I laddered down...I have to be in the right mood and it has to be very quiet in my house for me to repair lace work. I am wondering if I bit off more than I can chew--especially when I counted the rows I laddered: twelve! Ack!
I think part of the problem is that I can't really stretch the area out flat....so it's easy to loose the "rungs" of yarn.
I am also hungering for some reallace. The kind with itty bitty airy yarn. Sigh, but I have to sneak it around Lori--she's quite the task mistress.
And I totally forgot to tell James to upload the Swiffer Cloth pattern when he came home. He setup the shop and I have NO idea how he uploads the patterns.
Back to the mine of lace sock repair--actually I lied--it's off to bed. I am still getting over the stomach bug and I am wiped.
Spring Cleaning and then the Big Bug (yeah I know excuses)got in the way of me posting the pink Heart Socks pictures like I promised for Thursday.
The pattern is not quite ready yet, but I have details.
Pattern: Soon to be available...I used Cat Bordhi's Riverbed sock-itecture Yarn:Knit PicksEssential in Petunia and white superwash wool and nylon blend in a yarn I can't remember. I got it at WEBS about 2 years ago. I used up nearly every bit of the KP Essential. Needles: Size 1 (2.25 mm) bamboo dpns by Clover Notes: It was a pair of socks for my niece and my first pair of real socks to be completed (my knee highs are still not quite finished). I really enjoyed this pattern and it's creation and I am quite happy with it. And I LOVE the Riverbed Arch increases--I can't wait to use it for socks of my very own. These are socks for a child shoe size 12-2.
Urgh. It's been sick-ville at Birdy's house--consequently no blogging and very little knitting.
Just today have I been up to knitting or blogging. It all began Thursday: while I indulged in some Spring Cleaning--Mic was coming down with the first signs of a nasty stomach bug. He went through 4 pairs of under wear and pants before 2 pm. Despite all that we got the dining room cleaned up and Mic's room totally cleaned and even washed the carpet.
I knitted a bit that night and got to use my finished swiffer cloth (finished it Wednesday night). (I took a picture that afternoon).
The bobbles work great and the seed stitch is a great scrubber. And it's reversible--you can poke the bobbles through to the other side.
Okay--after I tested my new cloth on the kitchen floor I sat down to knit on Lorelei's sock. Both kids had passed out on the floor and i was enjoying the quiet...it had been a very loud day with Seth over (as Anne was helping me with the SC). I don't recall how much knitting got done, but suddenly from a dead sleep, Mic violently tossed his cookies all over the carpet and over some knitting books. Poor thing, would have gone back to sleep if I let him, but I walked him to the bathroom for a clean up and then ran back to rescue the knitting books. Luckily, the books were fine with a quick clean up. The carpet on the other hand was another story. Sigh. A good half hour of scrubbing was in my future.
Thankfully it was a quick bug (for him) and I actually thought it might have been allergies. He was a bit congested. Not so...
Friday was the last delightful day for this household (more in another post)...for Friday night I got violently ill. Then Lorelei got violently ill. So in between tossing my cookies and cleaning myself up, I was cleaning up Lorelei's tossed cookies. My stomach has settled (sort of) but Lori's did not--we've both been eating the BRAT diet and laying forlornly on the couch. Saturday, I managed to upload pics into flickr and that's about it. I slept most of today--along with Lorelei. And made sure to be quick with the vomit bucket for Lorelei. I did feel up to knitting today (finally) and am just turning the heel on her sock.
Jamey has convinced me that putting the swiffer cloth into a PDF is a good idea. So I'll work on that tomorrow.
I know I have been baaaad...all knitting and no blogging.
Now I have three posts worth of knitting news and pics. I should spread it out over three posts. Maybe I'll just spread it over two. So stay tuned tomorrow for sock socks socks!
Today! Is WIP day.
I jumped my queue and started a swiffer cloth.
I have been on a eco binge and I am tired of throwing things away. Remember when we were kids (I am talking to the 30 year olds now), it was all about reduce, reuse, and recycle...now we have all sorts of things we are encourage to put in the trash. Swiffer cloths (both wet and dry), toilet bowl mops, handy wipes for the counter, dusters--I could go on and on. So on my eco list? More swiffer clothes and a shopping bag.
The pattern for the cloth is quite simple and I'll put it on the blog once its finished. It's too easy to even put it on a PDF.
I got the mojo for Lorelei's sock! So that has been plowing through full steam ahead.
Only thing that is stopping me now is the fact that I have been consumed by the swiffer cloth.
I am knitting on the Celtic Tote (I am almost finished the back end--one row away from BO and the handles), Lorelei looks at me and screams: KNIT MY SOCK!
Argh! I don't think I've been able to remember to decrease when I am supposed to on my Celtic Tote. I got to the bind off part--and oops I forgot to decrease two rows before. THUNK THUNK--so I get to tink back!!
Woohoo!!
I was so disgusted with my self, I started Lorelei's Heart Socks today. Lorelei was so excited--are those for ME!?
Happy Valentine's y'all--my sweetie got me our traditional chocolate dipped strawberries--this time a beautiful bouquet of a dozen of them--that he helped make.
See the "B" and the bee?
Jamey always gets me something the night before on his way home and then leaves it for me the next morning so I get to wake up to this:
Amazingly the kids didn't get into any of it. They LOVE chocolate dipped strawberries and frequently decimate my stash before I can blink. Two years ago I woke up to this:
And sorry no finished pictures. I'll put some up after they finish blocking with all the specs. I have a few people that have volunteered to test knit adult and toddler sizes (these socks are child sized--I keep thinking my niece IS a toddler but she's not--if I had my way my kids and niece would be babies forever). So in the coming weeks the pattern will be available for sale...with all sorts of sizes toddler to adult.
I had five yards of yarn left (you didn't think there wouldn't be any pictures--I am not that cruel).
It's a lot more than I thought would be left--I was fully expecting to run out of yarn. And I certainly did not have enough yarn for ANY extra repeats. I am very happy with the sock--although I do need a break and will finish knitting the back side of the celtic tote.
CONTEST! If some one submits (in the comments) a rockin' name (that I actually use) for these socks you'll get the sock pattern for free. I am not naming the socks "Sweetheart Socks" as the name is already taken.
Sorry for the no Tuesday Tip. Maybe I'll make it a bi weekly thing (I am all out of tips--sad huh?) I have now knit two pairs of socks for other people and the socks i started my self to teach me to knit socks are still unfinished (almost done though).
In this case the elephant is the ever dwindling ball of yarn.
I am done with the heel and I have 4 more repeats of heart motif.
And that skein is ALL I have left for this sock. I've never tried completing a pair of sicks with one skein--all I did with the Neverending Sock was to knit until it was all gone--so the end of the skein was exciting--it meant the sock was almost finished. Now I am sweating bowling balls.
Here's more cute little pictures:
Not to worry right? Granted the yarn skein looks more substantial than it is--it's pretty hollow...
I am working the heel right now on the heart sock. I have officially become tired of these socks. Not sure if it's the frogging or the fact that sometimes I seem to knit so slow that I am knitting backwards.
In any case: woot! I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Although I am nervous about the amount of yarn left. We shall see.
I worked on the celtic tote last night--tinked back, fixed the mistake and now I am back to where I was before all the mess. I felt guilty that I was ignoring the sock so back to the sock. I may work on finishing the back of the tote after the socks are done, rather than jumping on the purple heart socks for Lorelei--just to give myself a sock break. I don't know if it's the pattern (you know the mind numbing sameness) or the pink that is chaffing me so.
I have a confession: I am beginning to wonder if there are sock knitting elves. Seriously, I am NOT joking. I swear I'll put down the socks at night disgusted because there is an issue or something and I just don't want to touch the thing. And when I go back to it--the mistake or whatever is GONE. It's happened a few times...and I am beginning to think about putting food out for my nice wee elves.
Yesterday when I collapsed on a sofa at the museum (while the kids explored the science tree house), I pulled out some knitting. First my heart sock since it is terribly late. I was only able to do a half round because I lost my special tooth pick cable holder. (It IS only a tooth pick, but it was sanded just right.) So I put the sock back and pulled out the celtic tote. I hadn't worked on it in a good two weeks (more sock love) and then I realised I had forgotten a decrease row two rows back. I was too exhausted to fix it (I told you I had collapsed on the couch.) In my knitting bag went the tote. LACE! I'll work on the swallowtail. Yeah for Birdy lace equals relaxation. I miss knitting with lace weight. I am hoping to get back to it soon. After all I knit all the socks I promised.
I still don't know how I am going to knit up Micci's tiger socks. Not sure what sort of heel and if I do a flap I need to decide on a gusset increase. Thank goodness I decided to do plain stockinette! Or I would be in another circle of hell trying to decide a stitch pattern.
I am still ignoring a small error in my gusset increase in this current sock. I am hoping the one row diff won't make a big diff...
I am feeling as dull as a butter knife. I was trying to come up with product descriptions for things in my shop. Nadda...but it did remind me I needed to get some dimensions written up.
I also need to come up with a Tuesday Tip. Not feeling particularly clever on that count either.
So I am knitting on this sock (guess which one) because it's late, very very late.
Well, Wednesday I checked the mail and I found a PACKAGE! My Opal Rainforest yarn in Tiger had come in! It's so wonderful and I can't wait to start these socks for Micci.
Now my conundrum...good girl or naughty girl. Lorelei's socks are next in line--it means knitting the same socks--albeit in a smaller size. I am SO tempted to skip these and start on the Tiger socks. I already know I am going to do a plain stockinette sock...what I don't know is heel construction. Short row or one of the fun sock-tectures from Cat.
I JUST started the arch increases on the second Heart Sock...(yes a bit slow--we were doing errands on Thursday)...so I have plenty of time yet to think.
I know if I do go onto Lorelei's heart sock--it'll give me a chance to proof the pattern for smaller sizes. And because it's smaller--it shouldn't take long.
I am looking forward also to a sock break--I might take a day or two to knit OTHER things besides socks after these pink socks are done. I am also dreaming of a pretty liner for the Celtic Tote--hmmm blue or green...
I had Micci model them--they are a tad long, but Ivy is growing fast so I think it'll be perfect.
I really am pleased how they turned out. Even though I got no response from my white trim question where ARE you loyal blog readers, I went ahead with the white trim and it looks AWESOME.
I think the next sock will knit up fast since I worked all the kinks out with this sock--so here's to having it in the most by the end of the week!!
Lorelei is clamouring for her own and I got an email that Micci's tiger sock yarn is in the mail. I will be up to my eye balls in socks in February I think.
So I was thinking yesterday--"Birdy, why don't we cast off the sock in white. It might make a cute trim on the cuff." I am planning either a picot cast off or a sea anemone cuff, and instead of casting off in pink; I would cast off in white.
What do y'all think?
I have about 3 more inches to go (4 heart motif repeats) and then I'll make the cuff (1 x 1 ribbing-'course that begs another question regular 1 x1 OR twisted 1 x1 ribbing--is the twisted too tight to fit over the heel??)
Only a knitter would get yarn for her son for his birthday.
Granted it IS tiger stripe yarn. Yeah like I need a another UFO! I've got knitting bunnies jumpin' out my ears here!
Aside: Yet another one started gnawin' on my grey matter during my massage yesterday.
I've been having Micci model the heart sock since they (Him and Ivy) both have (sorta) the same feet--so naturally he wants some socks too. I talked him out of Zebra socks (which they are out of) to the prettier and more interesting tiger pattern.
Speaking of my Heart Socks--the heel is done!! And I am working on the cuff. I've sketched out most of the pattern and will I do the second sock I'll finalise the pattern.
Been out all day. No knitty pic so here's a kitty pic.
This is where Gina spends her time when she's not laying in my lap, ignoring my knitting or my blogging fingers. Even though this snappy is a few weeks old, we still have our tree up. What it's not like it's Valentine's Day yet...besides it's pretty.
We got massages today--felt wonderful but I think I'll need A LOT more than one massage to get all untwisted.
Sock update: Almost done with the short rows...soon I'll be working the heel flap. If I get it finished before it gets too late tomorrow I'll snap a picture of the complete heel. What did you honestly think the whole sock would get finished? HA!
Knit PicksEssential really holds up well to multiple froggings. Just so you know.
I knit all the way to the first row of the heel turnings (I had already short rowed the heel) and did a re-read and a stitch count (making sure I was on track). And lo' and behold--I can't read or do math. So I frogged back to the arch increases and I am adding the two increase rows that I neglected to knit.
Okay okay, it wasn't blogger's fault it was my server's fault. The hosting company was playing fun and fancy free with the servers and changed the FTP access on me. All fixed and now you can see all the posts I have made this week. I haven't abandoned you.
Sock woes: I ripped and ripped and listened to that horrible horrible sound of stitches being ripped out. Shudder. I figured out what I did wrong in my sock math. Yeah we all know I go all wonky when it comes to math. I calculated the arch and heel length instead of the toe length...so the toe was a inch too long before the arch increase. All torn out and already have 3 increase rows done.
Let's all pretend we are frogs and rrrrrppppppiiiiitttt!!! Sob.
Yes, the heart socks are too big--a good inch unstretched too big. I had a bad feeling for a a day that these were too big, but I had hoped the heel would work it out...nope. I want this to be worn and fit nicely this year. So I tried it on Mic.
And they are obviously waaay to big. But guess what?!?!
They fit me just fine!
Just dandy!! But they aren't supposed to.
Now the toe is too short for me--but after all they ARE toddler socks. So a frogging I will go...all the way down to just above the 3rd heart repeat. I had so much fun knitting the arch increase and the heel--and I will have fun knitting it all_over_again!
Quick update: I am starting the heel on the heart sock. Woot! Did I mention this is my first heel flap? It'll be fun!
Today will be busy--I have some baking and cleaning to do for a knit club meeting (it's not at my house but I am getting picked up so let's pretend I am not a total slob).
My heart socks weren't that bad off--I just mistakenly worked a patterned row on a non patterned row on ONE side of the heart.
Aside: Sometimes I think I have a knitting elf. I swear I have had mistakes before I go to bed and when I wake up poof there is NO mistake. Wooooooooooooo...
And the mistake on the Celtic Tote? The judge has ruled it a design element. Upon the light of day I was going to ladder down AND take pictures. Thankfully reason intervened and told me in no uncertain terms:
Birdwell, YOU are nuts! It's 7 rows down a complicated cable. But that isn't THAT big a deal really, because you are knitting the BACK piece of the tote and NO ONE will EVER see that tiny mis-crossed cable. So breath. Put those stitches back onto the needle and just calm down.
So all it well in my knitting world and no knitted thing has suffered as a result.
This was going to be a tutorial before I came to my senses.
