Matchy Matchy Progress

Naturally, when a pair of socks comes off the needles, another pair must go back on the same needles. Typically the next pair must be cast on within 24-48 hours. It took almost a week for the next pair to be cast on. Oh dear, all was not right in the world! Just kidding! Since the latest socks are not on my feet and all but 4 grams were used in the making of those socks, I think the same recipe should be used. This pair will be mine; I hope. This newly started pair is using Patons Kroy Socks in the Sporty Stripes colorway. In my opinion, the stripes are not required to match in handknit socks. If I buy striped socks, then the stripes must match!

Most of my attention has been on DH's Flax sweater. Big surprise there! As the sleeves grow, "design elements" keep making their presence known. For example, near the hem is a split stitch creating a light area that almost looks like a hole. When all is said and done, I may find it again and duplicate stitch over it to fill it in. The sleeve last night told me that I started a reverse stockinette for a couple of rounds. Naturally, it's impossible to discover this during the knitting of that row or the next. Always problems are to be discovered at least 3" back. DH will love this sweater, design elements and all, if he knows what's good for him. (I almost sounded intimidating there didn't I? Wonder if DH would agree.)

DH kept the boys home for a Daddy date and it sounded like so much fun that Mommy had to join them. So I took half a day of vacation from work and left at 3 (yes my half day started at noon). When I made it home we headed out to Walmart for a movie (not released yet) and yarn. Walmart's CaronSimply Soft is considerably cheaper than Michael's but limited in color choices. Thing 1 chose a kelly green while Thing 2 chose Autumn Red for their sweaters. Now I am backed into a corner for their sweaters. It will happen and must happen soon! There are no choices left for me.  Actually, a lot sooner than I expected I cast on for Thing 2's sweater. Currently it is designated as lunch hour knitting but soon, very soon it will be prime knitting!

Snowbound!

Oh man! The things you need to see to believe! I would have never guessed the south did not have salt, sand, and plows for snow.  By now, I'll assume everyone in the US has heard about the snow that shut down the south.  I was at work when the first flakes fell and honestly, I thought nothing of the falling flakes except that it was the first snow! Yay First Snow!!! I love the first snow of every year to the point of giddiness. Now I know; snow in the south is to be feared! Tuesday, I left work about 2:30 grabbed the Things and headed to a co-worker's place to crash for the night. The gentleman's house that we crashed at ended up holding 17 people; 4 of which was his family. Generous people and I cannot thank them enough. Instead of staying roughly 24 hours, the Things and I stayed 48 hours. It was taking roughly 4-6 hours to make the 1 hour drive for the other co-workers to drive home. Instead, the extra day allowed 95% of the abandoned cars to be moved off the highways.

You would think that the days off of work would result in a little more knitting time for me. Wrong! I was concerned about the Things destroying the co-worker's home and running out of knitting. The nagging voice in the back of my head warned me to take DH's sweater along with me to work but I was just going to go home to work on it. Instead, I took the socks, you know, the ones that were almost out of yarn. Thankfully I managed to knit slowly enough to keep the yarn lasting through the snowed in period. I cast off the night before we left and was hoping the hook from the Rainbow Loom would work to tuck the tails. Nope. Since I asked, the wife wears the same size shoe as me, so the socks that were for me are now hers. I took them home to tuck the tails and wash them. I hope she likes the socks and knows how much I appreciate them taking in a dozen stranded travelers.

After finishing the socks while stranded away from home, I dedicated myself to finishing the body of DH's Flax sweater body.  The underarm length to hem length is supposed to be 18.5" for DH's size. Instead, he wants 21" for the perfect length in his mind. FOREVER knitting! Only it didn't take as long as I thought it would. I finished the body bind off at 10:45 PM Sunday night. Go me! Naturally any time I finish anything or any part of something, I must try it on. For scale, the underarm length hits me at mid-thigh. However, it's almost perfect on him! DH is one of those tall people who have a hard time finding the perfect length shirts so I'm glad he's happy even though it could be dress for me!