Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Not-So-Good News

My friend is not doing very well. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance yesterday morning, then admitted. He's doing much better than he was but they have not yet released him.

Since I'm sure he could use a pick-me-up, I'll be trying to finish this project a little earlier than I had first planned. His brother says he likes browns, so I'm on a yarn hunt now. Depending upon what I find, I may have to add another complementary color to the brown pallet but that decision is one that will have to wait until I have assessed the various shades available in soft, washable, reasonably priced brown yarn.

Thank you to all who have volunteered to help.

I still don't have all the details worked-out yet but I'm hoping to have clear specs by Friday. So far, I believe the decision to make 8x8 squares will stand.

I'm hoping to check with my LYS in the next few days to see if they can recommend a joining method that is sturdy and aesthetically pleasing.

When I talked to my friend today, he sounded tired but not defeated. What a trooper!

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Blankets and the Socks

Chez Kimberly has quieted down a bit now that Thanksgiving has passed. As thankful as I am for family, I am also thankful for peace, quiet, and privacy.

I have not been able to get my friend's situation (Hodgkins) off of my mind. I have placed a call to his brother to find out if he thinks a Healthful/Hopeful Throw would be well received or if my friend would rather have something else. I have not been able to catch up with him, which concerns me, so I have left a message.

If I get the green light for this project, the blanket will be made up of 8x8 squares. Although the final color decision is dependent upon an answer from either my friend's brother or mother, I'm thinking that navy blue will be one of the colors used.

I have had some volunteers from online to contact me about making squares. You don't know how much I appreciate this. As soon as I have some real information, I will post it or contact you!

The few locals that I have contacted have agreed to make squares and I'm a little hesitant to contact too many more until I know the blanket is "approved."


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The other blanket, of course, is the blanket for my husband. I have estimated that if I knit four rows each day it will be finished in time for the requested date. With each row consisting of just a few stitches less than 300, it is taking me longer to knit than I anticipated. Fortunately, the cabling process has become more smooth for me and those rows are taking about half the time they were when I first started knitting the project.

The blanket is now slightly over 20 inches in length and slightly over 60 inches in width.

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I finally decided I'll be knitting the Honey of a Hurricane socks. Had it not been for my crazy life, I would have cast-on for them already.

I had planned to try the figure-eight cast-on but now I'm tossing around the idea of using the Magic Cast-On. Hopefully there will be pictures of a started sock, or at least tales of an attempt tomorrow.

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Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Letter "H"

Today's Message is brought to you by the letter "H."

H is for Horrible.
H is for Horrendous.
H is for Heartbroken.
H is for Hurt.

H is for Hodgkin's Disease.

My friend who was doing so well has had relapse. He's now undergoing intense chemotherapy. He sounds very discouraged this time. I'm feeling quite helpless.

I need to remember that H is also for Hope.

I working on being positive for him so that I can be encouraging. I've asked what he needed and he just said he wanted prayers and for people to be positive and upbeeat so he could be positive as well.

I want to try to give him something tangible, a visible sign that people care. I'm considering asking a few people I know if they'd be willing to knit and crochet squares for a Healthful Throw. I'm just at a loss for what to do now except pray and keep contact with him.

I HATE CANCER.

I need to remember that H is also for HOPE.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

First Toe-Up

Back in January I set up a few craft goals for the 2006 year. Among other things, I said that I would try to:
  • crochet something,
  • knit a shawl,
  • knit socks top-down,
  • knit socks toe-up,
  • knit mini sweaters,
  • knit a bear for my son,
  • and knit a blanket for my husband.

So far, I have knit the socks top-down and started the blanket for my husband. Other than that, I'm not doing very well in with accomplishing the things on the list. I'm thinking a few things will end up being goals for 2007.

In order to be able to check of at least one more thing on my list, and because I enjoyed knitting the first pair of socks so much, I have decided to make the next pair of socks in a toe-up pattern. Currently I'm looking at Honey of a Hurricane Socks, Sherman Socks, Wendy's Toe-Up Pattern , Toe-Ups for the Family and Anastasia. I'm leaning towards the Hurricane Socks.

For a little support and for the useful information posted, I have applied to join the My First Toe-Ups KAL.

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I'll probably practice the figure-eight cast-on tomorrow and possibly the provisional. Hopefully I'll be knitting the new socks by Saturday.


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In the Fall Cable KAL news, the blanket is now a little over 15 inches long. I guess this makes me a little less than 1/4 of the way finished. I think I can have it finished by Feb 14, hubby's requested date, while I knit small projects on the side.

Speaking of small projects, once the toe-up socks are under way, I may have to try a few mini patters. I've seen them for socks, hats, mittens, and sweaters. I promised my mom a mini sweater ornament to hang on her tree so I'll definitely be making that.

Unfortunately, my health has been less than stellar. Knitting has been a comfort to me. Hoping to get stronger to get some things done. After all, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I did want to bake something.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Two for Tea



















That's right, I finished the second sock.

There are now two and I'm planning to have tea, probably Tazo tea or Harney and Sons.

The second sock would have been finished long ago. Much to my dismay, however, as I was about to start knitting the toe portion, I noticed a glaring error in the beginning portion of the foot. Of course I had to pull out all of those stitches but as I did I kept dropping stitches. The task kept growing and growing.

These socks are definitely fraternal twins. Although I measured as I went along, somehow one is a wee bit longer than the other. Also, one has a little heel/gusset hole that is more visible than the other. I'll probably go back in and try to close it up with some creative stitching.

It was still worth it. Now I'm just wrestling with which sock pattern to try next. Until I decide, it's time to work on the blanket.

















...unless I decide to just put on my socks and dance!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

No Second Sock Syndrome Here

After finishing the first sock, I couldn't wait to cast-on for the second. If only I had more time to knit I might actually finish the current sock so I could actually wear the pair.

I've finished the cuff and knit several rows of the heel before it hit me that I had forgotten something. I took a peek at the pattern and found that I was supposed to slip the first stitch in each row. I debated about leaving it but decided that it would probably help to have the slipped stitches for when I have to pick up stitches later.

Sooooo....

I've ripped out those stitches and I'm now back to knitting the heel. It won't be long now before I'm wearing my first pair of hand-knit socks.

I'm already trying to decide on the next sock pattern to try. I don't think I'm quite ready to try to make up my own just yet but I'm feeling more confident about the idea. After a little more reading in Maggie Righetti's Knitting in Plain English I just might be ready.

I need to ge back to knitting the blanket for my husband. I'm sorry that I have left it with very little attention for so long. Much to my chagrin, that last time I did knit any stitches on the blanket, I messed up something so there's correcting to do...again.

At least I'm knitting. Through struggles, through crisis, through pain, I'm knitting.