Deja Vu?

I finished The Virgin’s Lover this morning and started on my next book. It’s called Disobedience by Jane Hamilton. I think I’ve read it before, but I’m not sure. I hate that. I’m going to keep going with it, since I can’t remember exactly how the story unfolds or how it ends, but everything is slightly familiar.

Then, I started watching a movie this afternoon called Charlotte Grey that I think I’ve seen before, too. As with the book, everything is familiar, but I can’t remember enough to know how it unfolds or ends. I didn’t get a chance to finish watching it, since LouLa woke up early. I’ll have to watch it again next weekend, I guess.

So, what does that say about me? I know I read a lot, and I watch a fair amount of movies (only on dvd, though, nothing new). Does that mean that I don’t pay attention enough to really get the storylines, or that everything just runs together after awhile, or I’m getting old and my brain can only remember so much? It’s annoying to me. I’d much rather spend my time reading/watching things that were completely new, then to be wondering, “Have I read this before?”

I did make good progress on the Embossed Leaves socks. It’s a really fast pattern, and in that way, it reminds me of Monkey.

As you can see, I’m a little farther along on one than the other.  I have 24 rows to go on the shorter sock to catch up to the other one.  That will be easily done tonight.  I like doing them at the same time.  It works well with this pattern, since it goes fast and it’s an interesting pattern.  I don’t think I would like it if I were doing a plain stockinette or ribbing, I think that would get really boring.  I should have cast on with a size larger needles.  I have “shapely” calves and it tends to be tight unless I cast on slightly larger.  That is the case with these socks.  I was too excited to get to the pattern to take the time to find my size 2 needles.  Shame on me.

 

I have not been thrilled with Koigu.  Blasphemy, I know!  Both skeins have sections that aren’t as tightly spun, which leaves for a thicker yarn, and there have been sections that have been thin.  Not huge sections, but 2-3 stitches worth.  Enough so that I probably won’t go out of my way to buy Koigu again.  However, if anyone wanted to give me any, or if there was a great sale, I’d totally be up for it.   A minor annoyance.

Elizabeth and Girl Babies

As I’m reading about Elizabeth I, I’ve renewed my interest in her. I’ve read several biographies about her and I’m fascinated. She was able to lead, on her own, which is amazing, considering the time she was living in. What a strong woman. Highly ambitious, manipulative, devious, but strong.

Knitting news…

I finished both cuffs on the Embossed Leaves socks last night. The cast on was strange, and I’m not sure if I read the pattern right, but I like how it looks, so there will be no frogging. I’ve also finished the first pattern repeat on one of the socks. It’s my first time using a chart. I’ve tried before, but have always gone back to the written directions. I was forced to use a chart this time, as there’s no written directions. And, like I would take knitting time to write them out myself? No way. It went really well and was quite easy. It is an easy pattern, of course, which helped. The more I look through the book, the more I know I need to buy it soon. I can only keep the book for 2 weeks (technically) and I’ll be lucky to finish this pair in that time. I’ll show an update sometime in the future when there’s something to show.

I was brave enough to take a picture of my sock stash today.

That’s 23 pairs of socks. I have a nice selection of yarn, and I was surprised at the variety of colors that I actually have. I think I have 5 pairs worth of KP Essential and 4-5 pairs worth of Lorna’s Laces. The other 13 pairs are almost all different brands of yarn. Sweet Georgia, Bearfoot, Trekking XXL, and Fleece Artist, to name a few. I would love to buy more sock yarn, but after taking this picture, I can’t justify it. Well, at least I can’t justify it now.

My big accomplishment today was seaming the Green Baby Cardi. It was actually easy and I feel silly putting it off and dreading it. It looks nice and didn’t take me long. I did take out my work on the first seam three times because I was picking up extra on one side, for fear of the two sides not matching up. It turns out they matched up fine and I didn’t need to pick extra up at all. I’ll post a picture of the finished version after I’ve blocked it and put on buttons. The intended baby is on the way, literally, at this moment. She might even already be born. Another reason for me to get a move on and seam it. It’s big, I know, but the idea is that she’ll wear it in the fall, or next spring. I still need to make cotton bibs for her, too. I love baby girls. I may be a tad biased, however.

Koigu-y Goodness

This is the beginning of the Embossed Leaves pattern from IK’s Favorite Socks. It’s my first time using Koigu and I’m quite happy with it. The picture is a little washed out; the color in real life is a taupe-y/purple-y/brown-y color. Unusual, but I like it. I cast on last night and I’m trying a new technique. I now have two sets of size 0 and 1 needles. I’ve cast on for both socks, but on separate needles (both size 1). I’ll go back and forth between the two. Yes, I know about doing two socks at once, but I’m not in the mood to learn anything new right now. I have plans to learn how to do toe up socks, but again, it’s just something I’m not in the mood for.

I started The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory last night. It’s okay. It’ll be a quick read. One of the books that I got from the library is a memoir written by a man whose brother was in the hijacked plane that went down over Scotland. That’s next in line.

My spring break is almost over. Sigh. It went by way too fast. My plan for tomorrow is to do as little “work” as possible. It’s my last day of freedom and I plan on enjoying it.

Testing…Mission Accomplished!

I did it, I did it!

So, I have a flickr account and I know now how to upload pictures that aren’t HUGE. What a productive day.

I’ll post more later tonight about actual knitting and reading, and not my frustrations with blogging.

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So, it’s later.

Here’s some info on the green baby cardi.  The pattern is from Knitty.com and was written by the Yarn Harlot (a.k.a. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee).  It’s my first sweater, can you believe it?  I can’t.  I chose it because it looked pretty simple and was cute.  The picture is just a little deceiving.  It’s not seamed, yet.  I’m pretty happy how it’s turned out so far, though I’m a little nervous about seaming.  I’ve only seamed one thing, not counting socks.  I have the basic idea, but not a lot of experience in that area.

Yarn Used:  Knitpicks Shine Worsted in Apple Green

Needles:  Knitpicks Options in size 6-I think.  I got gauge at whatever size the pattern called for.

Changes: None.  Next time I’d do better at grafting the hood.  I kitchenered it a little tight, which is something I’ve been doing lately.

Reading-Nothing at the moment.  I went to the library today and I have 3 or 4 books to choose from.  I haven’t decided yet which one to start on.  I did get the new IK sock book and I love it!  But, that’s not really reading.

First Post….

…and it may be my last.

Nah, probably not. But, I’m one of those people who loves to use technology, but I get very frustrated when it doesn’t work easily. So, this whole blogging thing is new for me and it’s been a rocky few hours. I had to give myself a “time out,” for a bit. I’m better now, and I’ve been playing around.

If you’re *really* lucky, I may just post a picture later on today.

Maybe.

By the way, that whole “Readin” thing without the apostrophe bugs me, too. I’ll have to see if customer support can help me with that. I accidentally hit enter instead of the apostrophe key and it was too late (insert silent scream). It’s the least of my worries at this point.