Sock Woes

OK, so I've been working on Cookie A's, Riannon Socks for more than a year now. In all fairness, this has been my carry along project, and so not getting all my knitting time. Never the less, I'm ready to be finished with them.

After finishing the first sock, I had the recipient try it on. It fit perfectly, except for her ankle, where it was too tight. So when working the second sock, I corrected for the too narrow ankle, and was speeding my way down the foot to the toe. When I compared the two socks to be sure I was getting the toe in the right place, I noticed this:

The ankle shaping is better, BUT, the leg on the second sock is much shorter than the first. Could the change in ankle shaping make that much difference? Something certainly is not right.

Now I already know that I am going to have to take out the foot of the first sock and correct the ankle shaping. Now it looks like I am going to have to re-do some portion of the second sock as well. I had to put the whole thing aside for a couple of days, before I could face the problems, and figure out what went wrong. The length on the first sock was perfect, so making them both shorter was not an option. On closer inspection, this is what I found:

Each marker is placed at the first calf decrease on each sock. Oops, somewhere I either forgot to make note of where it was supposed to be, or I misread my notation. Either way, the error was all mine! Drat! I hate when that happens!! There is just nothing for it, but to rip back to the beginning of the calf decreases, and correct the length. I think I will put these in hibernation for a little while, and make a couple pair of easy socks! An then perhaps, I will be ready to take these on again.

It's funny. My relationship with the young lady who is the intended recipient of these socks is proving challenging as well. I wonder, do I have a case of knitting imitating life?

I'm not Alone

You know how sometimes you have the kind of days when no matter what you do it seems to be wrong, and you feel like you have one of those "kick Me" signs on your back?

It seems I've had a few of those lately. Just when I'm really discouraged, God gives me some kind of a personal sign, as if to say, "Julie, I know it's tough, but I am mindful of you" and I feel better!

I had one of those moments the other morning when I left the home where I work, and saw this beautiful butterfly! She even paused a moment and let me get her picture.
Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most!

Knitters are the Nicest People

My Jeanie is finished! Thanks to Erin! I ran out of yarn (Blue Moon STR, Blue Moonstone), about 2 inches before the end of the cabled edging. I was working on the edging and sweating the short amount I had left down at Purlescence, when it happened. I ran short, about two cable twists from the end. The shop had sold out of my colorway, and I was afraid I was going to have to rip it back one pattern repeat, so I could gain enough yarn to finish .

Erin to the rescue! She was kind enough to offer up her ball of matching Blue Moonstone, so I could finish my project! Desperate woman that I was, I followed her home to get it, and after using what I needed to finish, left it with the nice people at Purlescence to return to her. THANK YOU SO MUCH ERIN!

Yikes!

Since getting ready for SeaSocks 08, I've been on a finishing jag. I dusted off and finished my Philosopher's Wool sweater,the Jester Jacket. (in hibernation for 2 years) I believe it was the thought of being someplace cold enough to wear it that was a strong motivation there! I did wear it to! and was glad to have it.

I also dusted off and completed my Waves and Flowers top that had been languishing for about a year. (I can no longer find the link to that pattern) I started it for my daughters wedding, and then in the end, the formal wedding never happened, and they had a small ceremony at home.

It felt so good to be finishing stuff, I'm well on my way to finishing my
Jeanie Here in lies my problem.

Note the small amount of yarn left. It may or may not make it. If not, it will only be by a few inches. Hold your breath folks! Here goes nothin! Wish me luck!

Hello

Yes, I am now entering the world of Blog land. My name is Julie, and I love to knit. I work as a nurse in a private home. I love my job, and my client, though here I will mostly talk about my life outside of nursing. Mostly knitting.

I love to knit! I've been knitting since my mother taught me when I was 12 years old. While my Grandmother also knit, it was her good friend Gladys Zimmerman (no relation) who taught my Mother to knit. She was woman of German decent, and thus my Mother learned to knit Continental style, while my Grandmother knits in the English style.

I was 15 when my mother died in 1974. So for many years I've added to the knitting knowledge base my mother shared with me, mostly through Reading and deciphering patterns. I am blessed that I had a good solid base to start.

As knitting has regained popularity over the last few years, it has been really wonderful to become part of an active knitting community. I just returned this week from the SeaSocks08 cruise. 20years ago I never would have imagined I could go to Alaska with such a group of wonderful knitters! I had a great time, and I'd love to do it again.

Please bear with me, as this blogging thing is new to me, and I still have much to learn of how it works.