The ones that didn't fit

Another crazy busy week has just flown by!   Last weekend, we made our yearly trip to Virginia to see Paul's brother and his family.   Our niece, Erica, was being confirmed so we were also attending that.  It was a busy weekend filled with talking, eating, watching Erica's softball game, talking, eating (did I say those already), playing Uno, and watching Paul's brother drink a can of Coca Cola in a most interesting way.  It was not pretty, it was messy, and it was hilarious.

Here are Paul, his Albany brother Mike and his mom after the confirmation:

We wanted to get everyone to stand by a pillar, but they were already out by the car (see left side of picture!), eager to continue the talking and eating...  Neato idea to be carried out another time!

Lots of knitting time in the car so....

In Knitting News:
I finished my Skew socks!  And they don't fit!

This was the most challenging sock pattern I have ever knit.  First of all, half way through the sock the directions turn into "left sock" and "right sock" so one has to be aware of that when they are wearing them (if they fit, that is).    Lots of increases and decreases to get the diagonal look.  Then, lots of short rows at the top to keep the tops from being diagonal.  Then the kitchener stitch (for non-knitters... a method for sewing "live" stitches together to make them look knitted together) for the heels. Oy.  Lots of work.  Lots of time.  I would have been so proud to wear them.  If they fit.  

They are too tight and it is very difficult to get them over my heel.  I'm kicking myself for not going with my gut when I decided to use the recommended needle size (size 1) and not size 2 which I usually use for socks even when the pattern calls for size one.  Since I was knitting these with teaching a class in mind, I wanted to make them exactly as the pattern said.  Oh, and did I mention I ran out of yarn?  My ball of yarn wasn't as long as I thought so when I got to the cuffs....

That is NOT enough for two, 1 1/2" ribbed cuffs.  So, I found some surprisingly matchy leftover-from-my-Daybreak-Shawl Periwinkle Sheep sock yarn and used that for the cuff.  You can see in that picture (sort of), the double pointed needles holding the heel stitches waiting for me to kitchener them together.  That was the really cool part of the socks --- the swirly part of the heel (click here , if you didn't click up there, to see what i mean).

I'm trying to let all of this go.... since there really is nothing I can do about it now (because I am NOT, I repeat NOT, making them again).  But I've also got a little hope that when I lose a few of my I've-been-married-for-five-years pounds, maybe they will actually fit (Really.  When I'm thinner, my shoe size changes.  Honest.).  If not, I will give them to someone who will promise to cherish them and really, really, really, really appreciate all the work that went into them.

In the car I also got a lot done on one of my stealth projects.  Just so you know what you can't know about.

Finally, adding to my busy week was teaching the first session of the cotton lace cardi class on Thursday night:

Five people in the class and they are off to a great start! (and yes, I realize the left - as you wear it- side of the sweater looks shorter.  Someone in the class pointed it out too.  It's simply a result of my not paying attention when I was blocking it.  The left side really does have the same stitches/rows as the right side.)

In Gardening News:
The tomato plants continue to grow.  Here is my little grow light set up:

I'm impatiently waiting to plant outside.  I thought I would have more things to start inside, but apparently not.  Lettuce, beans, and pumpkins get planted outside.  And I think I'm going to buy an already started zucchini plant.

In Book News:
Not too much time to read lately - but when I can, I'm reading Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, Book 3).  I'm loving it, but it's not calling to me to stay up late to read it like the others did.

Why haven't I been reading?  Because we've been addicted to the aforementioned-in-another-post Roku (Roku 2 XD Streaming Player 1080p ), watching Swamp Loggers (Crisis at the Mill - that's an Amazon link to one of the episodes) and any other show we can find.  LOVE. IT.  So far, we are not missing getting movies on DVD.  Although I must say I was anxiously awaiting The Help which was in "very long wait" status for some time and it's too new to stream.  Maybe we'll rent it from Amazon.  Did you know you can do that with a Roku? It bears repeating.... LOVE. IT. You should get one.

Did I mention that Paul and I have been married for five years tomorrow?  Seems like yesterday.  More on that next time...