Friday, February 22, 2008

On the upswing

Where did I leave off? Oh yes, Grandma D's footies. I finished repairing the sock the same day that I posted last, washed and blocked them and sent them off where they are in use once again.Other than that, I am afraid that I haven't been very productive on the knitting front this past month. I started my Fawkes socks in honor of Project Spectrum which is currently celebrating all aspects of Fire this month and next. The yarn is from Sunshine Yarns in the Phoenix colorway. I thought it was rather fitting. This is actually an older picture. Since it was taken, I've finished the cuff portion and instead of doing the heel flap that the pattern calls for (like I should have done) I decided to try out a hole-less short row heel and was successful in the fact that there are no holes, but since the pattern only calls for 60 sts and I would prefer a few more, the heel is kind of shallow for me. Argh. I think the short row heel will work nicely for me though with a higher stitch count. I am about half way down the foot of the sock and I'm trying to decide if I want to complete the 2nd sock and have a complete pair that doesn't fit me like I would like them to or if I should simply finish the first sock and save the rest of the yarn for some other project. Decisions....

As for other knitting progress, I've added some inches on Grandma D's scarf, but I've only added maybe 3 inches on the Harley Davidson hat from the time that the following photo was taken. Again, argh. Although I don't necessarily enjoy k2p2 ribbing, I've just been so exhausted lately that I haven't felt like knitting for very long periods of time.

I think I have mentioned in previous posts that I made a little doll for little miss this past Holiday season. I finally got around to taking a picture of her.The pattern is from Wee Wonderfuls. This is my first actual doll and I don't think I did a horrible job on it, although there is definitely a little room for improvement. I'm guessing she'll have a little friend before too long though which will give me more practice:)

One of the reasons I haven't been knitting as much lately is that little man has been intermittently ill (vomiting) since mid-January where he will get sick for a couple nights in a row and then be fine for a couple days and then the cycle continues. We've been to the Pediatrician, the Acupuncturist, and a few days ago, the Pediatric Gastroenterologist. Nothing conclusive yet and let me tell you, it's getting old. I would just like to figure out what's going on with him so we can fix it and move on. For interested family members, he had an Upper GI yesterday and we should have the results in a few days. Needless to say, we're all rather tired.While on the subject of little man, the patching is going well (i.e. he isn't fighting me anymore and is actually asking to wear his colorful patches), and his eye is continuing to heal up. The only part of his eye that is really red anymore is right around the suture.
I see you!

The minions and I went to my Grandma D's house the other day and my Nephew J happened to be there. J is the recipient of the camo layette set I finished last Fall. His presence meant that all 3 of my Grandma D's Great Grandchildren were there at the same time. I saw a photo-op.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am ready for Spring. Mainly because we don't usually have to snow blow in the Springtimeor shovel... and the kids can run around outside to work off some excess energy...In the meantime, I seem to have more and more moments where I have absolutely no idea why my children do what they do. For instance:
No idea.

While the minions and I have been stuck indoors, we have been enjoying a little Play-Doh actionand little man gets a kick out of watching our resident squirrels eat the bread that he throws outside for them.
That's about all I have for you at the moment. I'll end with some random photos of the minions and of those taken for Project 366.
A recent trip to my FIL's gallery led to this photoThis is the camera that I accidentally backed over with my car a few years ago. Not recommended.My Christmas Cactus continues to bloom which is nice.Little miss gives me plenty of opportunities to play around with the camera
Little man wanted me to show you all the picture of him with Thomas the Train.
The hubby made me a tasty Valentine's Day dinner. Here's a little macro funand a vision of the warmer days ahead.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Erica. It is over a year ago when you wrote about the knitting book of Eeva Haavisto,Sata kansanomaista kuviokudinmallia, Finland. Have you managed to get it?
I have just today received information that during this spring there will come out a facsimile edition of this book.
Probably hundreds of knitters in Finland sent e-mails to the publisher and finaly they gave up and give us "The Book".
Now it seems that they´ll sell it through their Book-club but hopefully some other way too.
So, this is just to inform you that before summer it is possible to get it, better chance that now.

Erica said...

Kristina S
Thank you so much for that information! Just when I thought nothing could top the excitement of completing a sock for myself I saw your comment :) I have not been able to locate a copy of Eeva Haavisto's book yet, so I will sure look into the book-club possibility. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I´ll try to remember to keep you informed about the situation.

Erica said...

Kristiina S
Again, thank you so much!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi, I´m here again;)
I just received the PieceWork mag. Jan-Febr 2008, published by Interweave Press. There is a very good article about the Rovaniemi Mittens, old Finnish pattern. You could read this mag in the meantime waiting when waiting for the Haavisto book.
pieceworkmagazine.com

Erica said...

Hi Kristiina
Funny you should mention the Piecework magazine, I received mine a few weeks ago and devoured that article :) Have you made any mitts yet?

Anonymous said...

I am also interested in the old Finnish book of Eeva Haavisto,Sata kansanomaista kuviokudinmallia. I raise Finnsheep (Finnish Landrace Sheep)in the US and am interested in traditional Finnish folk patterns (especially mittens and socks) to make with their wool.

I would be very interested to know about the new publication of this book (publisher, how to buy etc.). I am planning to visit Finland in July 2008 so maybe if it is available then I could get a copy.