Better Than Socks

Instead of socks on Sunday, I have a new sweater! I started this one in May and had several work-inspired interruptions. I went on a business trip last week to Maryland and dragged the pieces with me with the slim hope that I might have some time to finish. There was very little time to work on it during the week, but the nice, long plane ride gave me plenty of time. I added the buttons on Saturday and here it is!

Project: Basic Black, by Glenna C. (free pattern available on Ravelry)

Yarn: Frog Tree Cotton/Silk DK

Needles: US 4 and US 6

Notes: This was actually not a difficult knit. It would have gone much more smoothly if I hadn't had so many interruptions. I am really happy with how it turned out. The only changes I made were to add an inch or so to each sleeve (I have long arms) and to the body (bare midriffs are not for me. Oh, and I knit the button band all in one piece instead of knitting down from the center back.

Oh! Hello There!

Did I say I was going to start posting again? Yes, well, about that... You see, work is nuts. No, really, it is totally insane. So insane that we just got a cautionary memo that the near-term deadlines will be met even if it takes working weekends. Um, has anyone been watching the time stamps on the emails around here? Yes, we are already working long hours, weekends, and, if we had any holidays, we would be working those as well.

Today is Monday and I'm in Pittsburgh! Okay, so I'm only in Pittsburgh long enough to soak up some free wi-fi, check my BlackBerry, and head back on a plane to Baltimore. It has been a while since I last traveled for work, but it is going pretty well. Oh, there was that little mishap when I left my drivers license at Security. Mr. Engineer rescued me by rushing my passport to the airport well before my flight was boarding and the TSA folks found the license anyway, so now I can rent a car when I arrive tonight! Given how much traveling I have been doing this year, you would think that I could handle a simple business trip! We will not speak of what my carbon footprint looks like this year. It's not pretty.

Traveling is good for knitting. As I waited for my flight from Minnesota to California two weeks ago, I cast on for Evelyn A. Clark's Pacific Northwest Shawl. I've wanted to do this one for years and I gave in to an urge for laceweight as I was driving to the airport that day. I'm also nearing the finish line for my version of Basic Black. Yesterday, I blocked the fronts and back. One sleeve is finished and the other is about 2/3 finished. I picked up buttons on Sunday and brought the entire project with me to see if I can wrap it up in the hotel room this week. It would be really fun if I could wear it before the week is up! No guarantees of that because I will also be spending evenings catching up on email. We'll see. I have plenty of options if I can't get to sleep!

For Sandy

Sunday is for Socks

Project: Old Navy by 1870 Pearl

Yarn: Trekking Pro Natura

Needles: US 1 dpns

Notes: I modified these slightly to make them larger. They fit a US Men's Size 11 foot. I think the pattern is quite clever and keeps the knitter's interest long enough to finish. I do enjoy giving socks to friends who appreciate them, but men's socks take ever so much longer to knit than mine! These are for my neighbor who didn't get socks from me last year and was genuinely disappointed. These should make up last year's omission.

Whoa! What Happened Here?



Yes, I was away and all the readers ran for more interesting grounds. I do apologize. I won't be posting every day, but I will improve.


Work has reared its ugly head, horns and all. For now, we have a sky on Saturday, but I think it was actually a Tuesday Sky. Young Man and I have been getting up extra early these days. He is now a member of the Early Birds crowd at school. That would be the kids who get dropped off before 7:45 a.m. The target is to drop him off by 7:10, but we have yet to meet that goal. I now have standing 7:30 meetings and I'm always late. I have been regularly arriving in time for the standing 8:00 meetings. I also was just issued a Crackberry. Life has become very strange.


C'mon back tomorrow and I'll have finished socks. I promise!