A New Year, A New Start?

I refuse to get all pensive about the year that has passed and the year just begun. Suffice it to say, in truth it’s just another day… albeit a day that gets me an extra day off (I go back to work on Tuesday).

We did stay up to ring in 2012, staying awake by watching movies on the internet (Knowing, with Nicholas Cage, and Citizen Kane). We knew when the clock struck midnight by the sudden boom of fireworks in the neighbourhood. It went on for a while, we toasted the new year with a glass of prosecco, listened to the noise outside for a while, then went back to the movie. I went to bed at about 1:30 a.m., very unusual for me; I have no idea what time John joined me; I was up just after 7:30… not bad.

Over the past few days, very little knitting has been done. For one thing, I’ve been engrossed in a book (Daughters of Fire by Barbara Erskine); I want it finished now. Don’t get me wrong; it’s an exciting book but I always feel like I should be doing something else when I’m reading. You know… multi-tasking. Like knitting and reading. That’s hard to do with a 560 page paperback book. (That’s why I like audiobooks – I can knit and listen at the same time – much more productive!)

The knitting I’ve been doing over the last couple of weeks has me frustrated. Maybe that’s why I’ve been reading. In addition to the slippers intended for me being too big, the felted socks I knitted are also big.

The length is fine but they’re so wide that I almost walk right out of them.

They felted fine, the height is fine, they’re toasty but very roomy. I just don’t feel comfortable wearing something that roomy. Knowing me, I’d probably trip right out of them. I’ll wear them for now, but it’s back to the drawing board. I may just go back to the Bev Galeskas pattern for the felted clogs or her felted boot pattern. I like the extra height because it keeps my ankles warmer. My right ankle especially gets very cold at times (I’ve sprained it badly… torn the ligaments… at least three times in the past) so I want to do whatever I can to keep my feet nice and warm. Don’t tell anyone but I’m even considering leg warmers!

Another small project I have been working on, and that has me frustrated as well, is a pair of stranded socks. I found a nice pattern on the Drops website, a pair of dk weight socks. I bought some yarn for the socks, cast on and was happily knitting away. They look great. Really!

I’m past the heel turning now and, honestly, it’s looking good. There’s just one little thing that is really bugging me. When I knit socks for myself, using fingering weight yarn on 2.25 mm needles, I cast on 64 stitches. This pattern calls for dk weight yarn, 3.5 mm needles and starts with 60 stitches. Fine. The leg is a little on the loose side but, seeing as they’re meant to be slipper/house socks, I can live with that. However, after the gusset decreases, the foot is worked on 68 stitches. Are you seeing where I’m going? 64 stitches on 2.25mm fits my foot perfectly. 68 stitches on 3.5 mm needles? Well, they’ll probably fit John better than they fit me and they’re not meant for John.

I could continue the decreases down to 64 stitches, but I’m afraid they’ll still be too roomy for me. I haven’t done it yet, but I’m seriously considering frogging that sock and designing my own. Frustrating. All I want is warm feet!

Oh well. Life could be a lot worse. Minor frustrations, easily overcome.

Now, to all of you who read this blog, I wish you a very happy 2012. Thank you for sticking with me for so long (it will be seven years in March). I’ve met some wonderful people through this blog; it’s too bad we can’t all sit around a table, face to face, sharing good conversation and perhaps a glass of wine; that would be fun!