Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Yarn Along ....frogging, beginning, preparing and relief

~Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?


As of tomorrow this will all be frogged.  Gasp you say!  Well I do and I am so disappointed in myself.  I wrote about the beginning of this sweater here.  I was enjoying this knit.  It was smooth and just enough challenge.  I had completed the front section and was directed to take out the provisional cast on and begin increasing the back.  When I went to remove the stitches, they wouldn't.  The yarn had somehow grown into the cast on and it was stuck.  A little snipping and pulling eventually loosened it, but damage was done.  I asked my oldest daughter, the " nothing scares her knitter" to take a look at it.  She said there was no way I did a provisional cast on.  She couldn't for the life of her decide what I had done.  She did her best to try and salvage it, but to no avail.  It is a loss.  I will be starting over and Elizabeth will be putting in that cast on.  Now, mind you, I taught this daughter to knit and look at her.  Mrs. Smarty Pants!  She knows more than I do!  I love her!!!

In the meantime, there is another baby to knit for.  No, no , no!  Not one of my daughters!  I am glad for a pause.  Caitlin has a good friend who is expecting her first, a little girl, and I am going to surprise her.


I dashed into Mad Tosh today and picked up 7 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash.  The color is salmon, but it looks pretty pink in the photo.  With the short days, getting home to capture pictures in good light gets harder.

My "go to" blanket is Feather and Fan.

 
 
 I have knit this blanket a dozen times.   I never tire of it.

On the Thanksgiving front.... 13 here on Thursday.  I usually have preparations well underway, but this year the only thing I have done is begin the dressing.  So tonight I am ironing the tablecloth.

 
 
It is slow going.  I am hurt.  I somehow did something to my back.  Maybe about a month or so ago.  I have no idea what, but the pain in my left leg has become very severe.  Getting up from a sitting position takes the help of Mr. Golfer and the mornings take about 2 hours to be able to loosen up.  Today I saw a Chiropractor for the first time.  He said he had never seen such a damaged gluteal muscle. I moaned and groaned all the way through his management.  His prognosis is that it will get better but will take time.

On the reading front. These two.



My focus this year is slowing down.  I want to be present in the moment this Advent.  To live the stories and focus on breathing the season.  Preparing my heart in a new way for this baby, this Christ.  To understand the manger is to understand the cross.  One does not exist without the other.

I wish each of you a grateful Thanksgiving!
 


13 comments:

  1. that blanket is going to be beautiful! so sorry for the sweater; I hope you feel better soon!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. as many times as I do a 'provisional' cast on....I usually have to c.a.r.e.f.u.l.l.y pick it out stitch by stitch, snip by snip to get it unraveled. drives me CRAZY!!! (If I use a simple crocheted cast on and clip the end and start with a new piece of yarn this doesn't happen.....that knit into the back of the crocheted loop and I just don't see eye to eye)....so sorry about the sweater. BUT----I love the feather and fan---and love the color----so you'll be moving on to a fun knit. busy hands is really what it's all about, n'est pas?
    bummer about the back...with the pain running down your leg, I was sure you were going to say sciatic nerve ... which I've had....which is NO fun, either. Time. Gosh darn. Never happens when you can just kick your feet up for a week and recover, does it? (If you ever find the week to kick your feet up---please share where you find it!!!)
    Happy Thanksgiving...thankful for many many things, your friendship is one of them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will never do that cast on again!!!!!! It is the sciatic nerve. It's caught in the scarred muscle.
      Yeah, I think my kicking feet up time is over and it really should be just beginning. What a sweet sentiment! Love your friendship as well. Someday we will meet!

      Delete
  3. How wonderful it must be to have a daughter who not only knits, but she can also help you with your knitting. You must be a great teacher! I hope you feel better soon and have a good Thanksgiving holiday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elizabeth is very visual, the artist. Some things much more sense to her than me!

      Delete
  4. Love your blog...saw it on Ginny’s blog....and I love what you said about understanding the manger is to understand the Cross...whew, that’s hard and beautiful and sweet and bitter....and exactly as God meant it.
    Love, love the fan and feather blanket, I have dreamed of doing one in a beautiful light yellow....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry about your sweater! I'm guessing your copy of Ann's book looks a lot like mine... I also seem to use a new colour or pencil every read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it does! I had the joy of meeting dear Ann last May and had her sign it. I treasure that book!

      Delete
    2. Hi and Happy Thanksgiving. Thankful for wonderful blogs like yours that brighten the day. Sorry about your sweater. I have had to do the same thing and it's painful! I am reading the same two books. I am doing the Women of Faith bible study at Women's Bible Cafe. I love this book and am loving Liz Curtis Higgs, too. She is so real. You probably have already seen it, but they have a beautiful video up where they are together at each of their blogs. Have a great day.

      Delete
  6. Oh how painful that you had to rip your knitting back. I have always been wary of the provisional cast on not tried it as yet I think, like you, I would be worried about not being able to take it out. That blanket pattern looks beautiful :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. feather and fan is what my mother always knitted up for babies and adults, you just can't go wrong. I've frogged a sweater last week, I'm still wiping my tears :)

    ReplyDelete