time to buy a scale

Not for food of course, but for yarn. I ended the leg of the tofutsie sock because I thought I had reached the magic halfway point in the skein. I would have liked it to be longer. Then I went to a friend's house, and used her food scale (she does weight watchers) only to find that I had 67 grams of yarn left. I wasn't even close to half way. So its off to buy a food scale today, so I don't have sock regrets. Its amazing how helpful actual measurements can be, clearly I am not a good guesser.

So I am enjoying the week vacation from school, but not as much as I would enjoy it if it were a paid vacation. My goals for the week are already shot, but I remain optimistic about getting some time to dye yarn, maybe tomorrow. I have colors dancing in my head and I was inspired by Scout J on Knitty Gritty to try using less haphazard methods to dye.

The City of Sisterly Knitting

I went to see my parents over Easter weekend, and I got to see my sister knitting for the first time ever. She has been taking lessons and is now working on a scarf. I had to pick up a few stitches here and there, the sock at the left is mine. The good news about learning to knit at a great shop is that you are using nice wool, no matter what the out come is. She also got to experience knitterly insta bonding with the women in her class. Sadly she is not yet making sparks with her knitting as she does not yet have the compulsion to be knitting when ever and where ever possible.

This is my current sock in progress and it fits perfectly. I have not yet managed to get anyone else as excited about this as I am. Its the Queen Kahuna cast on, increases, gussets and heel. My plan is to do the picot edge, in other words - my favorite sock! The yarn is tofutsies, and I am using zero addi's (getting about 10 stitches to the inch). Shocking that I can't get my husband and kids excited by this, it looks so exciting in print.

I'm still here

I am also still knitting. I am doing a pair of sock from tofutti yarn. I like it so far. I am using my adaptation on MAB Queen Kahuna pattern. I have no pictures because I need to recharge the camera, and things are not where they need to be.
My good news is that I am really enjoying being back at work. I am relieved to find that the brain atrophy has been minimal. I feel really energized by being back in the clinical world. I think part of it is the sense of collaboration in the team but part of it comes from the validation of my peers (not to mention the validation of the first paycheck). Not to say that there were not great moments at home with the kids, but using the training I have and seeing the potential for impacting other people is great. I feel like this post is really pollyannaish, but I can't help it. I am grooving on the work world!

my belated questionairre for Knitter's Treat Exchange

1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
Seriously, its a bad sock yarn obsession, although I hoard kidsilk haze
2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
Fun fur .
3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
Sock yarn, and did I mention sock yarn
4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
I dye yarn and other things. I also paint.
5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
Interweave and all sorts of fashion and gossip.
6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference: Knitting / Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip / Garden
Wow, that's pretty much how I would order it!
7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
Did I mention socks?
8. Are you allergic to anything?
environmental stuff, ramie, animals
9. What do you like the smell of?
Lavander
10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Food and wine.
11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
Bakery!
12. What do you come out with?
A cupcake
13. Where do you go next?
Bookstore
14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
No coconut, no cilantro!

knitting update

Well, anyone remember the ambitious goal I had for this year? Something about knitting three pairs of socks a month from stash yarn? And not buying new yarn?

I am proud to announce that there has been no yarn buying in this house. I have received gift yarn and BMF STR sock club yarn, we all know that does not count. I am however doing a fair amount of imaginary shopping, cruising Etsy and Astrid's Dutch obsessions. Not doing so well with the sock goal. March's' total is 1 pair, but in all fairness I knit the same pair of socks two times due to gauge problems.

I am beginning to suspect (quite strongly) that working full time my f* with my knitting goals. The first three days I brought knitting to do at lunch, but I haven't seen anyone actually sit to eat lunch. I don't want to buck the trend. I am really feeling food about the job, the clinical stuff came right back. I had a moment of panic before the first day, I was terrified that I might have forgotten how to be a therapist. Now I only fear the paperwork. I know that the logistics will fall into place. The kids at the school are great, during group we were talking about hobbies and mentioned knitting. Imagine how surprised I was that the eight boys in group got really excited and started talking about people in their lives who knit. I hope I can get back to knitting goals, and that I don't blow my first paycheck on yarn!