Sunday, October 10, 2010

Covering Up

I finished my socks. They are unremarkable and I'm hoping to improve on this new short-row heel technique I've learned.

Nothing Fancy.

The New Heel
These socks were knit with size 2 dpns, which are easily my favorite size.  I just cast on 64 stitches and knitted a cuff of 12 rows of K1, P1 (but you knit through the back loop of the knit stitch).  The foot and leg are simple knit stitch all the way around.  The socks don't have a good fit, probably because the garter stitch does not have very much give.

I've started a new pair of socks, but this time I'm going to do the leg and cuff in a rib pattern, to (hopefully) insure that the fit is more snug.  The color pattern of this yarn is also variegated - this time it is greens and browns and gray and turquoise.  I'm planning to knit more of a knee sock.  We will see how this first sock goes.

I have completely given up on trying to do cable patterns in my socks.  I used to love knitting cables, but with socks, I find it too aggravating.  I tried to do cables in my newly cast-on sock, but I frogged it back to the cuff after about four rows.  I'm searching for some patterns that are based on rib stitches but create interesting patterns.  I have a couple more skeins of solid colors (purple and pink) that would really show off cool stitch patterns.  I am relying on Ravelry searches to find free patterns.

I'm trying to distract myself from some real problems at homes by concentrating on my knitting.  So far, all I have been doing is pushing them to the bottom of the pile, but those problems have a way of creeping back up to the top.  I'm not sure what do to; I'm only sure that when these problems come to light, I'm going to be in trouble.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Typing This Post Is Distracting Me From Snacking

I finished Sock One of the variegated sock yarn.  Of course, true to my knitting prowess, it's a bit on the big side.  What makes this one special, to me, is that I learned a new heel technique called short row heel.  While I'm not sure that I applied it correctly to this sock, I'm going to knit the second of the pair and then do a search on the internet to see if I did make a mistake.  The wonderful thing for me is that I actually learned this strictly by reading!  I didn't cheat by watching a video, which is not technically cheating, but I feel smarter being able to read and understand knitting instructions.

I knit socks on double-pointed needles, top-down.  The generic heel pattern is one in which you knit a heel flap, and then knit back and forth on it with a short row technique that causes the flap to take a cupped shape, and then that gets connected back to the sock itself by you picking up stitches.  When this technique is done, there is a clear delineation between the heel and the sock itself.

This mitered heel, short row technique creates a heel that is, in my opinion, less obvious but more just a seamless part of the sock.  Now, where I think I screwed up is that I did not do any decreasing once the heel was finished.  As a result, my sock looks really wide and fits that way too.

Seamless Heel!

That's Macy's butt in the corner.
I started Weight Watchers, as I mentioned last time, and I have lost a few pounds.  I am eating so much better these days and making me accountable via the Points system is really the reason for my success (so far).  Some of the replacements, substitutions I've made:  turkey and veggie burgers for hamburger, whipped cream cheese for mayo, sandwich thins for regular bread; I've also added fresh vegetables to lunch and dinner.  I've learned the key is to get low-point but filling foods.  My next step is to increase my activity level so I can start maximizing the weight loss, which is currently due just to me cutting back.

I'm still looking for a house. I have two contracts on homes, but both are short sales.  Therefore, there is really no timetable but instead I have to just sit and wait for the seller's lender to determine if the price is acceptable. What could potentially be terribly frustrating is if after waiting for months, the bank comes back and rejects my purchase price.  However, I try not to dwell on that and instead there is a little part of me that is so excited to consider being a homeowner for the first time in almost ten years.

The latest cat news is that Delilah and Macy are still living separate but equal lives.  However, I haven't figured out if Delilah is trying to get closer to Macy for good or evil purposes.  Delilah does push the boundaries, sometimes, by getting as close to Macy as possible until Macy starts growling.  Macy will eventually slink away but Delilah stands her ground.  It could be a case of Delilah stalking Macy (I notice Delilah rubbing up on a lot of things lately - marking her stuff) but it could also be that Delilah wants to get close to Macy and is less afraid and more curious.  Macy's still too fearful to be receptive to Delilah, but Macy has been very good about always sitting near us, whether it be on the couch or under the table.

All that being said, what is more cute than a sleeping cat?

Delilah stole Steve's heart and now his favorite chair

I'll tell you what....a cat in a laundry basket.

Caught!

She's had it with all the pictures.





Finding My Treasure

Now that my shawl is complete (yarn purchased during the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl in March), it is just hanging out in my foyer until I de...