Thursday, February 28, 2008

A Finished Pair for February...

I finished the Austermann Step socks last weekend, but then promptly forgot about them.  It was only this morning that I realized that I had not documented their finishing here, and I had to wait until I got home to get a picture.

Let me tell you, a ball of Austermann Step goes a long way!  I had about half the ball left when I finished these.

I love this yarn.  It is so soft.  Slightly splitty, but totally worth it.  

Yarn: Austermann Step in color #21 purchased from Twisted in Portland on our trip at the beginning of this year.

Pattern:  No pattern (I made it up as I went).  Toe up with short row toes and heels.

Needles: Inox 6" 2.5mm dpns.



I spent the day at a WCB (Worker's Compensation Board) seminar, which covered WCB, Employment Standards, and Canada Revenue Agency info.  I feel like my brain has been shoved full of information.  

If your looking for me, I'm the one with the glazed over look in my eyes.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Portland Nostalgia-ish...

I've been hankering for another trip down to Portland, Oregon for a few weeks now, but since it's not really feasible to go right now, I opted to knit with some yarn from there.

I picked up this yarn at Twisted.  The yarn is Yarntini DK weight and the colorway is Twistini, which is dyed specifically for Twisted.  


This was also a really good opportunity to try two socks on one circular.  I'm only using a 3.25mm 32" Addi and it's a bit tight.  Another time I think I might opt for a 40", but the needle size is about right.
(Redd says "Hi" from his sunny spot on the coffee table)

How I Split the Yarn Into Two Balls---

I wanted to split the yarn in half so I could knit two at a time, but I didn't have a scale or anything, so I had to improvise.  I would all the yarn with my ball winder and swift, then I began winding a ball from the center pull.  Once I thought I was nearing the half way point, I started another ball from the outside end, and wound that until it was about the same size as the first ball.  Then I went back and forth until I had two same sized balls.  

This method worked really well for me, and I will definitely do it this way again.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

It's a Sock!

Did I mention that I have been running?  Did I also mention that I managed to really screw up my ankle last Saturday?  Not the one that just happened, but the one that happened over a week ago.  I am still limping, and keeping it elevated whenever I am not at work.  This led to a weekend in bed, and a new sock!


It's toe up using a short row toe and short row heel.  Both are double wrapped, so there are no holes.  I can't remember where I got the no holes recipe from.  I just did this from memory.  


The rest of the sock is plain stockinette with extra long ribbing at the top.


I used this sock as a good excuse to learn a new cast off technique.  I used Elizabeth Zimmermann's stretchy bind off.  It was really easy, and I am extremely pleased with the result.

I am hard at work on the mate for this sock.  

Oh, before I forget ---- The yarn is Austermann Step in color #21.  

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I hope everyone is having a great Valentine's Day.  I know I've already eaten too many chocolates and cinnamon hearts - but it's been full of yumminess.

I woke up to a great surprise from Stu (I'll let the pictures tell the story) - 

I very subtly hinted at these earrings last week when we walked by Ragnar Jewellers in Oakridge.  They are 14K white gold, but they aren't too heavy.  I think they are just perfect!
  

In other goings on-

I know I've been gone for  a while.  I really haven't been feeling myself lately, and I haven't been knitting or doing anything I wanted to talk about.  It's been all I can do just to get my butt to work in the morning.


For many years I've struggled with um, let's say low-mood issues.  I shall not use the "D" word here even though you all know what I'm talking about.  I've been great for several years (since '02), but as I said to my doctor yesterday - "I seem to have fallen off the good mental health wagon".  So, if I have not seemed like myself for the last 6 months, you now know why.  

Anyhoo -- I'm dealing with it, and things should start improving in the next little while.  I'm looking forward to my knitting obsession to reappear.  

It's really hard for me to even mention any of this to anyone, so there will likely not be any more about it here. 

Did I do a good job distracting you with earring pictures while I talked about other things?  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Getting Better...

I managed to knit about 1.5" of a sock on Friday.  I know - very impressive!  I decided to knit another pair of Diagonal Cross Rib socks (the same as the teal colored ones that I made for my Apres Christmas Sock Swap pal).  

I'm using Dream In Color Smooshy.  Such scrumptious yarn!  

I managed to get out for a workout yesterday.  I was feeling pretty bad yesterday morning, and I got out for a 4k walk/jog before I had to stop --- I just didn't have the lung capacity.   

Over the course of the rest of the day I ate way to many chocolate covered coffee beans, which seemed to give me enough energy to try to go for another walk/jog last night.  I did a bit less running than I usually do, but I managed to finish my usual 9k route.  

I'm feeling pretty sore today, since yesterday I had thought I wouldn't be doing any more cardio so I hit the weights pretty hard in the afternoon.  Oh, and the lunges and squats!  Needless to say, I'm pretty sore today, but I have high hopes for a good jog this morning.  

It's true - if you start slowly, you can get yourself in better shape to jog.  I never thought it would be possible.  

Friday, February 01, 2008

Day 2: I Want to Go Out and Play!!

2 days of blogging in a row?  That can only mean one thing --- I'm still pretty sick.  I really thought my day of rest yesterday would lead to a miraculous recovery and I'd be feeling a lot better today.  

Unfortunately, it looks like this cold doesn't want to leave no matter how much rest and vitamin C I throw at it!  

I'm trying one more day of rest because I'm afraid it's going to get worse and end up as bronchitis, and I'd really prefer it if that didn't happen.  

I did spend a large chunk of yesterday sleeping (I was awoken by a phone call from some older lady with a thick accent asking me if I was concerned with the events of the world today, and did I ever ask myself why all this was happening.  No kidding.  Then she started going on about God, even after I told her I couldn't talk.  I had to hang up.).  

Does anyone remember the old days when the good looking Jehovah Witnesses would come to the door dressed up nicely in suits?  Anyone? Maybe they should be asking if the state of the world and their being reduced to telemarketing concerns them!  It's just not an effective marketing strategy.

Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I am sick, I don't want to be sick, I am not enjoying my rest, and I will be very happy to return to work and running as soon as possible.  

PS.  It's possible I will knit today, and will therefore have some good eye candy for you tomorrow.