I'm thinking the pie will help

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I don't usually snack on chocolate pie in the middle of the day, but when the urge hit I thought, who am I to deny my body what it's asking for? Something's gotta work. It's day #13 with mono (my calculations the past few days were off--I blame it on being sick) and there's no end in sight. My brain is so foggy that by lunchtime I can barely remember putting the kids on the bus or if I packed their lunches right or if everyone left the house with what they were supposed to.



But, not to worry, Karen! Your sweater is coming along nicely. I just can't resist playing with Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton. I'm tempted to submit the pattern to Knitty for consideration, seeing as how I'm suddenly into writing my patterns down. The deadline for submissions for summer is March 1st, or just a week away, so I don't think I'll make that one. It'd probably be more appropriate for the Fall anyway and that deadline is June 2nd. If I decide to submit the pattern I can't show it on my blog first soooo, here's the only view you'll get for now:







And what blog post would be complete without including a shot of the kids decked out in last-minute-momhasbeensickfortwoweeks-homemade costumes for Famous American Day at school? Please take note of the crocheted beard (as promised) on Honest Abe.






And my sweet little Betsy Ross, clearly adoring her big brother.

She made me do it

Thanks to fellow knitting addict and willing enabler, Pam, I can now include myself in the group of slightly obsessed folks who...knit...socks! Having no idea what I was getting myself into, I innocently accepted the "universal toe-up sock" pattern from Knitty, dug into the free bag of yarn scraps Anne Margaret gave me, found a complete skein of sock yarn, and got down to it.


You would have thought I'd knitted a room-size blanket after only finishing the first toe. Quite the triumph. Not because it was so difficult or time-consuming, but rather because it was so darn COOL! It brought me back to one of the basic reasons I love knitting, because you start with a simple string and with a little wrangling can turn it into anything.


Here's what I have so far,





Purdy, huh? Like little firecrackers on my feet! Having only one skein I wasn't sure how tall I'd be able to make them. These will be perfect with slippers or to sleep in. Yes, my feet are eternally cold. They love this soft soft wool.


I never quite understood the obsession with socks, or why anyone would want to knit with such a fine yarn on such tiny needles when other bigger projects could be finished much faster with bigger yarn and bigger needles. But now I get it. I even think knitting with tiny double-pointed needles is much easier than with big ones. They don't weigh much and the yarn doesn't slip as easily. I have pulled out the granny reading glasses though.


Just keep me away from the yarn stores, and especially the sock yarn, I'm feeling an urge to make about 10 pair! Lookout next Christmas, everyone's gettin' socks!