We interrupt this blog break with some actual knitting content. I know. You’re shocked.
Note the title of the book:
Baby Knits For Beginners Key word: “beginners”
See the simple little diamond knit/purl pattern? Okay. I’ve knit several projects from this book with success and I consider myself a fairly accomplished knitter. I’ve been knitting for 20 years (since my first birthday). If this book is for beginners, why then, am I having such a *((*&&%#$*#* time with this little bitty baby sweater?! I’ll tell you why. It’s because it’s knit flat. I am an Elizabeth Zimmermann baby… okay not really, I wish though, but you know what I mean…. I’m all about knitting in the round. I usually even change patterns just so that I can knit them in the round. But I looked at this tiny thing and thought, “Heh. No problem. Simple little knit/purl texture.” Yeah. Right. You can’t tell where the heck you are when you’re on the back without constantly flipping to the front and thinking opposite (I have a hard enough time with regular thinking). And then I got to the armholes. Threw me WAY out of whack.
So I was supposed to have this finished for a baby shower this afternoon. I thought I could finish it during the shower and be all smooth and hold it up at the end of the shower with a big ‘ol, “Voilà!” Not. I have had to rip out, frog, what have you, more times than I’m willing to admit. I could have knit three sweaters of this size in the round in this amount of time. If I ever finish it, I’ll post a picture. Oh, c’mon… have a little faith. You know I’ll finish it. The baby is due in a month. I have PLENTY of time!
Okay…. another thing plaguing me this week (besides the obvious absence of my husband)…. I’m missing my Preemie Projects and my beloved ebony double-points. They were my favorites. Seriously, it’s driving me nuts. I woke up at 4am on Friday morning because I’ve been looking for them all week. I could swear I put them in a bag to take on the road somewhere so I could knit while Dan drove but I can’t find them anywhere. I’ve had those beautiful needles for probably six years. I’m half expecting hoping Dan to say he found it in his stuff in Afghanistan.
It’s been a weird week getting used to Dan not being around. PMS isn’t helping the situation, that’s for sure. Here’s the first photo he sent me. We’re calling it “Change of Command – CID style”. It’s taken in front of their office/living quarters door.
We can’t do web cams like we thought. Their system down there is so bogged down that it’s taking several hours for our emails to reach each other. They aren’t allowed to use web cams because it just makes it worse. I can’t complain. He’s able to call home every day. A lot of guys can’t do that.
Daniel has been really trying hard to be helpful and behaving. Joseph has been… well… Joseph. lol. It’s our fault. We spoiled him rotten and now I’m paying for it. Being a single parent sucks. My hats off to those of you that can survive it better than I. Even Aggie isn’t behaving. I don’t know if she’s just going through her adolesence or if she misses Dan or what the deal is but she’s had accident after accident in the house. Right by the back door and right after I’ve let her out. She’s driving me crazy with it. I’ve tried everything. Even starting over with the crate. She insists on going on the remnant by the door instead of barking to go out. She did better when she was two months old than now at five months. All she has to do is look at me with that, “Whaat?” look and she’s forgiven.
I’m really looking forward to Summer. I think a lot of moms dread it. I’m looking forward to being able to just kick back and relax with the boys and do our own thing for a while. It was a busy week volunteering at the school and I have a busy time with Confirmation and 1st Communion coming up at the church. I also need to start planning the Teacher Appreciation dinner for my volunteers. Good that it’ll all make time go fast, not so good that it’s all stressing me out.
I’d really like to thank you for the emails and comments of support. I’m trying to get through all of them to reply personally so please bear with me.
