Hodge Podge

I'm making my first attempts at design right now. I decided I wanted to make a blanket for my cousin's baby and since I couldn't find a pattern that really spoke to me I decided to create my own. Seriously though, leave it to me to decide that my first original design should be a circular blanket with lace when I have never a) made a pattern or b) knit something that is a circle. I think I've got the chart mostly figured out and now I need to master the circular cast on. I may need to make a trip to the LYS for that because somehow it's just not working out for me.

I've got a serious case of senioritis right now. In my head I finished school two years ago when I took time off to travel. It was supposed to be a semester, maybe two but then I got a full time job and a semester turned into 5. I have 4 courses left, 2 this semester and 2 in the summer and I am just not interested. My usual I have to get an A or I will DIE attitude is gone, not necessarily a bad thing but I'm much less motivated than usual. I'm going to have to get my butt into some serious gear though.

Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary since my first surgery. It was sort of bittersweet. The chances of recurrence go down significantly after two years. I'm still mad that it's happening again. But that just means that there will have to be a huge celebration when the next surgery happens.

Anxiety knitting

I knit half a sock foot today, mostly waiting at the doctor's office. Most of the time I appreciate public health care but when I spend an hour waiting to see a doctor when I have an appointment after waiting 3 weeks to see them in the first place it's hard not to be frustrated. But look... SOCK!



I'm almost ready for the two decreases so that's a silver lining.

In other news, and I hesitate to post this because it is a knitting blog and all but hey, it's my blog, I learned today that the phyllodes tumor I had removed just under two years ago has returned and I will need more surgery. From what I've read the options are either a wide local excision or mastectomy. We'll see what the surgeon says when I see her but I'm leaning towards mastectomy.

I'll be okay. As things go, it could be a lot worse and I'm more prepared for this time around.

And this time I have knitting, which I think is going to keep me sane.

I hope my few readers don't mind if there's some more personal stuff on this blog for the next little while.

Happy Valentine's Day.

FO: Socks for the sister

It is a true show of love to knit socks for someone you know will abuse them. There will be no careful handwashing of these. My sister is not really a sock person normally. She's the type to wear barefeet and sandals unless there is actually snow on the ground (and there have been times...) so it was nice that she really wanted handknit socks.

I am such a project knitter. I have been dying to finish these so I could start on a pair of Colinette Jitterbug socks for myself. I can't stand having more than two, maybe three projects on the go at once and they have to be different types of projects, ie I can't have two pairs of socks on the go at once. My other project at the moment is the Storm Water shawl out of Seasilk. This is strictly at home knitting because I am too paranoid to bring it anywhere.

I'm also trying to design a blanket for my cousin's baby, which is due in March so I need to get going. I don't expect to finish before it's born but I'd like to get within a few months at least. It's my first attempt at designing so I hope it works out.

Swapping

There were a few articles posted on Ravelry this week about swapping, including some pros and cons. In my brief time as a knitter I have participated in 2 swaps and am moderating another more ongoing one.

It's been a stressful few weeks. I've had midterms and deadlines at work and on top of that I'm waiting for results from a medical test. In other words, I needed a pick me up. A skein of sock yarn and some chocolate would have made me very happy.

But sometimes you get really lucky. I had my package delivered to my office because fedex always picks the two minutes no one's home to be at my house. Here's what was inside:


When my mom saw it she commented that it rivaled her Christmas present to me this year, and she's right. Among the many wonderful treats stuffed inside a gorgeous knitting bag were 6 (six!) Addi circular needles, 2 skeins of sock yarn, a fingerless glove kit, 4 skeins of Mauch Chunky and so much more that the mind reels.

It's not exaggerating to say that I was almost in tears. And while the quantity of stuff is wonderful, the response had more to do with the fact that someone I don't even know, took the time and effort and thought to put this together for me. To me, that is the great thing about swaps.

So if you happen to be in Wisconsin, please look up Maisyknits Yarn Shop. I would if it weren't so far away.