In my spare time. . .

I have a lot less spare time than I used to. In my single days, I knit in the evenings. Every Thursday night I did kickboxing and painted my nails. I worked out an additional one to two times per week. On the weekends, I worked on my house, and worked in the yard, and rode my motorcycle.



Nowadays, when I get home from work, I am caring for children while I cook dinner, start laundry, and do the dishes. When Bugaboo goes to bed, I pick up toys, fold laundry, etc. On the weekends, I catch up on everything that was undone during the week. Unless we have plans, then I just start the week behind.



Does anyone know how long it will take to knit a pair of socks when you average 32 minutes of knitting time per week?



Like the new knitting model? He makes everything I give up worth it.


Today it is all about the losses. . . and the gains.

New Toys

My birthday was last week, and I received some nice new toys. Some spiral DPN holders, and a new sock knitting book, and sock blockers.

And a new techie toy: a Dell netbook. I remember the laptop I took with me to college. Back when laptops were new. It didn't even have a mouse, but neither did desktops way back when. They have come a long way baby since then. This handy little device is super tiny and light, and it is even pink. :-) I am typing on it right now. Can't download pictures (yet), but I will figure that out soon.

I have been working on Grandma's socks too. It took two days to finish casting on, but I have been zipping along ever since. Two socks on two circular needles, simple ribbed pattern. I have about an inch finished. That doesn't sound like much, but considering how much time and energy I have to devote to knitting these days, it is huge progress.

Today, it is all about the new toys.

Socks for Grandma

I can't find my camera this morning, so pictures will have to wait until next time.

I started my mother's socks a few days ago. Toe-up, a make-it-up-as-I-go general idea in my head, and detailed notes so I can replicate the finished product in a second sock.

Then, the other day, my mother mentioned that my grandmother wants me to make her a pair of socks. Now, don't get me wrong, I consider that a compliment to my knitterly abilities. However, agreeing to knit socks for a 93 year old woman carries a lot of pressure. THESE socks can't be procrastinated. THESE socks can be put aside in favor of the newest yarn, pattern or technique that captures my attention. THESE socks have to be finished, without undue delay. I am not sure that Mom and Grandma really understand that knitting a sock in sock yarn is not a small project, even if it is small in size.

SO, the first hurdle was easy. I already had the perfect yarn. My grandmother loves pastels, I had some Opal Petticoat, that I had frogged from a previously unloved project. Last night, I hunted down two Size 2 circulars, so I can knit both socks at a time. I also rinsed the yarn, to get the kinks out from its previous life. This mornimg, the yarn in nearly dry, and I can wind it into a ball. I hope to start knitting today.

Because with a toddler and newborn in the house, I have so much free time.

Today, it is all about the pressure.

The Gift of Knitting

The disadvantage to giving someone a gift that you have knitted. . . is sometimes they like it TOO much. I knitted my mother some socks. They were finished a while ago, except for (pause for the chorus from the peanut gallery) "kitchnering the toes".

A year later (possibly more, but I am giving myself the benefit of the doubt), I finally kitchnered, the same time as I did my Pomotomus socks. I grandly presented the finished socks to my mom, and not long after, she proudly displayed that she was wearing them.

A week ago, we were arranging for a needlepoint piece of hers to be framed, so we paused at the sock yarn. I found one that caught my fancy, and so did Mom. After we finished with our purchasing, she handed her yarn to me. Um, it appears that she wishes me to knit another pair of socks.

Today, it is all about the complimentary request.

Transitions

We have some transitions around the house these days.

Bugaboo transitioned into a toddler bed. (He looks very excited about it, doesn't he?

Then he helped Daddy reassemble the crib for Doodlebug.

And last but not least, my Pomotomus socks transitioned from the knitting bag to the sock drawer. Woo hoo!

What to start next?

Today, it is all about the joy.

Special guest

I received an email from my lys reminding me about Sock Club. Thank you. I had forgotten all about it! I had a goal too: my pomatomus sock only needed a toe. A toe is totally doable during two hours, right?

Doodlebug behaved himself. He slept the entire time, to the disappointment of all the ladies there, who didn't get to hold him. Bugaboo was with his Daddy. Mommy had uninterrupted knitting time. Except that I arrived a half hour late and got distracted by new yarn.

Ok, so the toe isn't done yet, but I am determined to do it today. My mother has my oldest son. The cleaning lady is (allegedly) coming today, so I am home all day with just the new baby. Laundry, and maybe a little work is on the agenda for the day, but all of that is behind the sock. The next post, I intend to be wearing my newest socks. (Ok, considering how often I post, that isn't saying much, but I still.)

Today, it is all about the resolution.

Guest post

Mommy asked if I could handle her blog post this week. It has been quite a week. I knew something was up when Grandma picked me up really early one morning. Mommy seemed a little distracted, and was playing with her phone a lot. Grandma came and picked me up, but I didn't know why. Grandma watches me sometimes when Mommy goes to that work place, but Mommy usually drops me off at Grandma's house. Just before Grandma and I left, Daddy came home from work.

I played at Grandma's house as usual. Grandma has toys that I don't have at home, and I like playing with Grandma's dog too. After dinner, Grandma brought me to this strange place. It was really big, and had a lot of people around. I held onto Grandma's hand tight. We went in an elevator, and down a long hallway. When we went into a smaller room, all the people I love were there. Daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa. And Mommy was lying in bed, with a blankie in her arms. I was a little afraid, but I looked at the blankie, and there was a little person there. Daddy says that is my baby brother. I looked closer, and he looked a little like me, but much smaller. Daddy called him Doodlebug.

I spent the next day with my other Grandma, and we went back to the big place with the long hallways again after dinner. This time I wasn't as afraid, and got a good look at my brother. Mommy and Daddy even let me touch his hair, as long as I promised to be gentle. He sure is tiny.

Mommy and Daddy brought Doodlebug home, and I have been learning about him. I can still only touch his head. He isn't much for playing yet, but Daddy says that we will play together when he gets older. Right now, he mostly sleeps. I kiss him on his head, so he knows that I am his big brother and want to play with him soon.

~Mommy's Bugaboo