I can't be the only person to get ideas this way can I?

Last night, as I was drifting off, it occured to me.

A pattern idea. Using stuff I already know.

Thankfully I keep a notebook by my bed, because my mind finds just as I am drifting off to be the ideal time to insert ideas in my head, which I often forget if I don't write down. This one I wrote down.. but I haven't forgotten.

It's a good idea I think.

I'm looking around at similar patterns and don't see the exact same idea there.. so I think I shall work on it next and if it works out I'll share.

A cool September day

On this day, my mind turns to warm knits. It's definitely September, cold, chilly and grey. I even heard the dreaded word on the news last night!

Snow.

Not for us, but for the west of us, in the mountains.

I've got lots of things on my needles though, so I'm actually making progress on the second sock out of Jitterbug that I started ages ago (linoleum floors, they're quite chilly and I'm wearing my slippers but they are kinda heavy for the weather yet so I look at the one and a half socks and think.. 'Those would be perfect to wear..' so I'm working on finishing the foot). But I'm also pondering what to do for winter knits.

Velociraptor will be getting a pair of mouse mittens for winter, and I'm thinking Mom needs an Irish hiking scarf and a nice hat made out of Misti Alpaca (in the light blue to match her jacket). Those will knit up fast. Maybe one for Dad for Christmas too.

I'm also slowly making progress on the cardigan, thanks for the tip of colouring in the squares Gina that did help and it at least looks right now, though it is slow going. Once I hit my stride it'll move faster though.

I'm also pondering a Here and There Cables scarf from Scarf Style, which my friend showed to me when she was here on Wednesday. So I'll have to find something to make that out of. But that isn't an immediate concern, I have a scarf already so it can wait.

I'm also eyeing some finger puppet patterns as presents for Christmas. With all the toy recalls I'm leery of what I will buy for Velociraptor, he might like finger puppets and they can easily travel with me on the bus. (They're crochet too, so I'll get to learn to read crochet patterns since I only ever did what Grandma told me or made up as I went along!)

Lots to do, lots to plan and hope I have time for. But for now while my boy has his nap I'm knitting socks and watching a romantic movie. It's been a nice week off for me, but soon it'll be back to the usual grind.

ETA: and I just discovered (remembered?) I had 5 balls of Patons Shetland Chunky in a very nice blue-grey colourway. Enough for 2 Irish Hiking scarves, or one and other stuff. Since I don't have enough of the Misti maybe I'll make one for Mom out of this, it's still blue just a darker blue than the other..

I don't think I like charts..

Today I have started, and frogged back, the start of the front left panel of A Cardigan For Arwen 4 times. The first time I realized I was reading the chart wrong, the other times once I got going it just looks wrong like nothing is really lining up as it should.

One more attempt tonight, then I'll go work on something else before I drive myself betty. But this time I photocopied the charts and am writing in k, p etc on the darn squares. Maybe that will work better.

Things are moving again!

Last post was just a tad self pitying.

Things are moving, albeit crazily at times.

Got things straightened out with the college (I hope, I really want this to be my last class for diploma, then maybe I can get a slightly better paying job).

Got the sock moving again, I managed to finally get around the heel with the tutorial from Cosmic Pluto Knits! and lots of patience and audiobooks on the bus. I added a couple more rounds and then did it and the heel fits fine.

Here's my big foot in it:



Now I just need to find some time to work on the sweater. At least the classroom portion of driver's ed is almost done, so that'll be two nights a week back to myself again. Maybe I can get some rearranging done and then manage sit down time with some dvd's (I STILL have yet to watch all of Buffy and Angel) and work on the sweater.

Oh! And at least one completed sweater :D

Life goes on.. whether I want it to or not.

Sooo update.

Knitting? Not so much. I keep trying to do a short row heel on the Saturday socks, and it's not working so well. I've ripped back a few times, searched and printed off several tutorials and am working on it again. I swear, if this doesn't seem to be working this time I shall just do as the pattern says. Thing is, I want to try and do a reasonable short row heel, and just see if it would work for my feet (big feet, I think it might end up not working for this pattern.. high arches you see).

I've also decided I need to do my Arwen cardigan before the retreat. And I've stalled as I realized I'm adding length to it because I am TALL. I need to add at least an inch to the sleeve and an inch to the body so it'll fit nice. Been going over my calculations and praying it's right.. and then I never have time to knit because..

I'm taking driving lessons. I don't think knitting and driving work together at the same time. And I've been doing stuff around the home and doing crazy things.

Oh, and I'm going back to school to, so I can just get this diploma done and have that be DONE.

Maybe I'll get more knitting done when driving lessons are done and I can go back to Stitch n Bitch night every so often.. I was getting comfy there.

So much to do! Not enough time!

Maybe I need some lessons in time management?

Maybe this is good for something after all..

Yesterday was such a nice day I took my son to the park.. and I twisted my ankle.

So today I've been sitting with ice on it, up on a pillow.. and getting some knitting done. Browsing on Ravelry also gave me a little push to work on my Cardigan For Arwen, so I'm now just over halfway done the back panel. As I was working I also realized.. I'm going to have to adjust. eep!

What? Well I'm going to make it longer, so it actually stops at the small of my back like it's supposed to, not above my kidneys like it almost would be if I followed the pattern exact (I can hear Grandma's voice in my head 'You'll catch a chill and get sick!') I'm going to have to add on to the sleeves too, make them a little longer so it actually covers my wrists.

This is going to be fun, I did measurings and math.. I just hope it works out right. *bites nails*

Ravelry

I made it! I'm one of the cool kids now!

Is it bad that when I checked my email at work and found my invite I [i]immediately[/i] signed up and then proceeded to spend the rest of my day hanging out there when I had a spare minute?

It can't be bad that when I got home I wanted to run to my stash and start taking pictures of absolutely [i]everything[/i] to put up, right?

Right?

I'm not addicted I tell you!

ps I joined the second sock group, because it called to me.