nice socks

When I asked Gavin to help me with this photo I thought it'd be nice to see the two socks together. A picture, I thought, to show that the gusset of my second Pomatomus sock is done. And to visually demonstrate all the progress on the foot. Because a picture is worth a thousand words, isn't it?

But Gavin doesn't think that the picture communicates much about knitting. Instead, he thinks that everyone is likely to be distracted by what he calls the "massive gap between my toes". Really.

I know there's a big gap - it's handy for flip-flops. I know my feet are too long to fit conventional shoe sizes and too narrow to be practical for balance. And I know my arches are too high for most boots. But I like my feet anyway. And don't the socks look nice?

everything but knitting

There's been lots going on, but not much knitting.

Work's been crazy busy - a clear sign that Christmas is near; all the clients want their promos in time to lure you. Better now than last minute, though. But the frantic pace leaves me no time to knit.

We hosted my nephew for his very first sleepover. Which brought Gavin and me back to the world of kids... Kraft Macaroni & Cheese for dinner, Madagascar II on DVD as the evening's entertainment and Lion King as a bedtime story. Again, not much knitting.

So you'll understand that I've only made it halfway through the gusset on the second Pomatomus sock. And nowhere at all on the rest of my projects. Only two days 'til the weekend!

changing priorities

As you can see, I'm well on my way with the heel flap of the second Pomatomus sock. Given the problems I had following the pattern on the first sock, it's best that I take my time now. Let's see if I can do this one right the first time.

But taking my time with the second sock is not sitting well with some. Particularly with someone waiting for a third glove. At the end of September I knit a pair of gloves for Gavin - one glove with all the fingers, and one with two fingers and the thumb exposed for manipulating his camera. But now he wants a third with all the fingers so that he can wear them as a pair of normal gloves. And, from what I can tell, he wants it in a hurry.

The yarn for that glove has made its way downstairs now, and sits waiting for me to cast on. Guess I'd better get to that soon.

one down

That's one project done. Well, at least the icicle novelty yarn is finished. With less than a yard left after I finished the fifth one, that's that. The ornaments look great, and in only a couple of weeks I can put them up on the tree. I can't wait to see how the lights reflect on the sparkly bits in the yarn. And hopefully the yarn will cushion the glass ornaments inside, should the cat decide to climb the tree and knock them down.

Next? Progress continues on my second Pomatomus sock. Time permitting, I'll finish the leg and the heel tomorrow.

back to my needles

Another several hectic days have gone by, but now I'm finally back to my knitting. The first Pomatomus sock is done - and badly in need of blocking. I'll cast on the second sock today. As I knit the leg of this sock I was thinking unkind thoughts about all the knitting through the back loops. Now, as I survey the finished sock, I'm mentally apologizing for my earlier complaints. By knitting through the back loops the stitches are twisted and look more prominent, which makes the pattern very striking. Well worth the effort!

Over the next few days I need to finish the things I've started. My tree frog needs front toes. Gavin wants a third glove so that he can choose between exposed fingers for photography or covered fingers for warmth. Then Christmas knitting ...

remembrance

winning streak

Having re-knit the leg, the heel and the gusset - correctly this time - I feel like I'm on a bit of a winning streak. And the nice thing is, now that I'm almost at the point where I ripped back last time, I'm almost at an end of curly, splitty once-frogged yarn. What a relief! The pattern is spectacular, the colours in this yarn are glorious, and I'm happy, happy, happy that I took the time to redo this correctly. Barring any new disasters the first sock should be done in the first day or two.

The Leafs are also on a winning streak, beating Detroit last night for their second win of the season. Only last week we wondered whether they'd go "0 for November". Thank goodness. At least now they're playing more entertaining hockey!