42 = 48 in my world

There's a book, fresh off the press, that needs a lot of people to purchase it. My Brother in Arms: The Exceptional Life of Mark Andrew Forester, United States Air Force Combat Controller is written by a co-worker, Thad Forester. I'm one of the few people I know that can cry at the drop of a hat while reading a book or watching a movie (Lion King anyone?). Reading the description of the book almost made me cry so I'm personally worried about how I'll make it through. This is a book that I'll read slowly and over several days. I know Thad said he doesn't intend the book to be tearful but I'm such a wuss. So far I have the sample downloaded to my Kindle App and have only made it through the preface and foreward. So moved by a few pages.

When I hear stories like that I always feel a little inadequate. I have a comfortable life if a little tight financially sometimes and I've slowing starting to knit for charity and I needed a challenge to motivate. The goal of 26 hats by Stitches West was a little beyond me and my knitting abilities/time. The 5th hat knit on at the zoo last week is finished and a pair of toddler socks were cast on. The goal was to make the socks for DS1 but he informed that he wants orange socks. Instead DS2 now has a pair of hand knit socks in a colorway named Still Waters.

For DS2's socks, I decided that he needed 48 stitches around. Easy enough you might say. The yarn was measured and cast on. No problem. As always count twice before dividing the stitches in half for magic loop. 42 stitches both times; Perfect! Count out 24 and create the loop of cable. OCD kicks in so I count each half; 24 here and 18 over there. What?!? Grumble grumble. Pull it out and re-cast on. 42 stitches. Counted to 42 THREE TIMES. Awesome- Good to Go. Count the 24 stitches and pull the loop. Then I joined and start the k2p2 ribbing. The round ends with two knit stitches. What the heck?!!!? (insert stronger words of choice). Count the stitches. 24 over here and 18 over there. Impossible! I counted THREE TIMES; three times. Calculator: 24 + 18 = 42 no matter how many times you enter the formula or calculate it in you head. The answer will always be 42! As I think back, I realize I never did count all the way to 48 stitches. I stopped every single time at 42. DS2 better wear these socks.

So far he hates them! Maybe I'll give him no choice before too much longer. They stayed on approximately the length of time for me to get this picture.

While I have another hat started because I'm a dedicated knitter (snicker) I also pulled out some Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Gypsy for a gauge swatch. A Dr. Watson's Cabled Crew Neck Sweater by Trudi Brown will be mine! Once I measure the dried swatch, make any adjustments I need, and actually knit the sucker. Think setting it on the dryer will be an acceptable cheat to make it dry faster?