I just realized that the last time I blogged was back in November, and I was sick. Then the holidays happened and that seemed like a blur because I was constantly playing catch-up because it took so long for me to get over my cold. After the holidays, I tried to get back on track with my exercise routines to get back to my racing weight (um, yes, have put on a few pounds since the holidays). I was able to get into a good rhythm, saw the scale drop a bit and then BAM! I got hit with the flu.
Sigh... this has been my routine since September. I've had the flu twice and at least two colds. Needless to say that I'm planning to start my next exercise regimine very slowly.
Note to self: get a freaking flu shot next year.
But on the bright side, while I've been napping and recovering on the couch, I have been able to get a bit of knitting completed.
I did finally finish the Noro Striped Socks. They were a gift to a good friend in England. I wanted to give her something bright, vibrant and beautiful-something to compliment her wonderful personality. I did find the second sock too dark and ended up frogging it. (For my nonknitting friends, this is knitter talk for taking apart a project. The word "frogging" comes from the idea that a knitter is ripping the knitted fabric apart. Basically you rip it, rip it, which sounds like "ribbit, ribbit" hence the frog reference.)
Anyhoo, I started the second sock with a new skein and got a lovely bright sock to match the first:
The top of the sock is a bit more heathered than I would have wanted, but I think they do look great together. Here's the final pair:
They were fun to make. I had so much fun watching the striping that I ended up making a scarf out of the Noro Kureyon worsted weight wool.
It's still a work in progress, but this is my mindless knitting project. Something I take to the doctor's while I'm in the waiting room or on long drives. Nothing that needs too much attention while I knit and can be put away rather quickly if need be. It's basically the 1x1 rib pattern made so popular by Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed fame. Here's a close-up:
Then I made a pair of socks for just me. That's right. I made something for myself. The scarf doesn't count because it isn't finished yet, but to make something for myself is monumental. Most knitters can attest to this. I have noticed since the holidays that everything I've casted on has been for moi.
These were knitted using Sockpixie's merino sport wool. I call them my Cafe Au Lait socks because the colors look like a swirling cup of coffee and cream. They are extremely comfy and are a delight to wear.
Then I went ahead and knit a pair of lovely wristwarmers in The Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga! yarn. (And yes, the exclamation mark is part of the yarn's name.)
This could be my absolute favorite yarn right now. All the colorways are inspired and named after bugs. I'm going to have to blog about all of the cool colorways I've been able to snag because each skein is a work of art.
The yarn is made up of merino wool, cashmere (yum) and a bit of nylon for strength. Check out some colors here at The Loopy Ewe because Gryphon sells out of this stuff all of the time, and you can't see any pics currently on her site. The wristwarmers were knit in a colorway called Robber Fly.
These were also fun to knit and they are extremely warm. These will be especially helpful in the spring, when it is too warm for gloves, but too cold for spring wear with 3/4 sleeves. I want to knit a darker pair to wear while I cycle, but not sure if that will be comfortable while I ride. We'll see.
And this is my current project:
Currently, I'm working on two graduate courses right now (while juggling work), and I've been working on these a few rows at a time each night. I usually knit about four rows and then fall asleep on the couch. I'm actually using the two-socks-at-a-time technique, so I'm hoping that this will pay off in the end (meaning I can knit more socks faster, of course).
So with a bit of luck, I'll get more knitting done, get back into my exercise routine, and finish these courses without too much stress. Not too tall an order, right? Now where's my vitamin C?
