Finished BSJ (almost) and Struck Down By Shawl Fever
23 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in BSJ, knitting, Ravelry, shawls, yarn Tags: baby, BSJ, knitting, yarn
After more than a few false starts I finally finished a BSJ. It really is an amazing; almost magical, knit. I still find it hard to believe that the wonky little oddly shaped rectangle or so of knitting turned out to be this really cute jacket. I don’t have pictures yet to put up. I will take pictures before giving to its recipient. I used Rayon Sparkle from Over the Rainbow Yarns on E-Bay and I love, love, love most of her stuff. This yarn is so soft that I can’t think of a good way to describe it. I have three different colorways of it varying from a white to lightest pink variegation (the main color of the BSJ) to darkest pink with some carmel colors mixed in variegation and a mid-shades of pink variegation. All three of them have a bit of Angelina or Fire Star in it that give it its sparkle and shine in the light. Just beautiful yarns all the way around.
When I finished the BSJ I was struck by a problem I hadn’t had before; there was nothing on the needles to pick up and start knitting. So out came the laptop, on went Ravelry and somehow I ended up in the shawl category. I have tons of lace and fingering weight yarn in gorgeous variegated colors as well as solids and everything in between. The problem: I mostly have only one skein of each. I used to just wander around my LYS and pick up one skein here and there of everything I thought was pretty; that, my friends is the danger of going to the yarn shop without a clear idea of what you want the yarn for. So I have yarn for lots of shawlettes or scarves, but I’m finding myself more and more taken by the full-sized, lacy shawls. I spent countless hours on Ravelry looking at yarns, patterns, other people’s images of their projects etc. In the end, I’ve cast on a Forest Canopy shawl using Socks That Rock Lightweight in the Grimm’s Willow Wren (I think that’s the name, I always screw it up) colorway and the Vortex Pi shawl (knitting and math together – my dad would have been proud) in Jojoland Melody. It’s a red/purple/greenish colorway and I think the really long repeats of Melody and the way they blend and feather together is going to look wonderful, I hope.
There are also several shawls on deck for Christmas presents this year to people have been extremely nice. A Birthday Pi, a Lady Eleanor and an Enchanted Forest (again, not sure about a name). There are also a ton of socks that I want to knit and I’d really like to get back into spinning for relaxation. We’ll see how it all goes. Will keep you updated, gentle friends.
33 Weeks and Great O.B. Appointment
02 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Connor, knitting, Life, pregnancy, socks, spinning Tags: 33 weeks pregnant, Gestational Diabetes, knitting, sock knitting, spinning
I actually had a good O.B. appointment!! You could knock me over with a feather. I’d come to expect the worst from every appointment that having things go well never even crossed my mind after the last few weeks. First was the NST and he passed it with flying colors. Okay, maybe it wasn’t with flying colors, but he passed and that’s the thing that really matters here. Next was the actual appointment where my blood pressure was the lowest it’s ever been (110/62), there was only trace amounts of protein in my urine and everything looks really good. Even my blood sugar seems to be evening out. Just an all around good day. Of course I’m taking nothing at all for granted and I realize that at tomorrow’s appointment it could all go to hell in a hand basket. But for today I’m going to be confident that this pregnancy could actually go all the way to 39 weeks. I’m really not sure, though, that my belly can take it.
After such a good report yesterday, we went out to celebrate. Nothing too big, I am still on modified bed rest afterall. We took Jacob to the mall for pretzel dogs from Auntie Anne’s. They are one of his favorite “junk foods” and frankly the air conditioning felt good and nobody felt like cooking in the heat last night. Walking around felt pretty good once we found a nice slow pace that worked for me. I broke the G.D. rules and had a pretzel and a Coke for dinner (it was delicious and worth every extra carb.) The exercise seemed to help, though, b/c my blood sugar was still really good when I checked it. It was like a charmed day yesterday…LOL We also went to Target to look for some nightgowns that I could wear in the hospital as I don’t think my c-section scar is going to go well with pajama elastic. Maternity and/or nursing gowns are so expensive for something that you only wear for a short time relatively speaking. I found a couple of cute gowns that could easily be pulled down for nursing and they weren’t expensive at all. I also found a really adorable maternity dress that was more expensive and we’re going to get next week. YAY!! I’ve come to love the concept of the “maxi dress”. They are very comfortable and they are very cute; if you like the whole someone put a beach ball under my dress look, which I happen to adore…LOL We also bought a starter package of baby bottles yesterday. New bottles for us. They are called Breastflow and they are very different from regular bottles, or so they say. They are supposed to be very much like breast-feeding so that they won’t cause nipple confusion. The baby has to not only suck on the bottle, but compress it as well in order to get any milk. I know that my mother is going to want to be able to feed the baby and Jacob has been talking about feeding him from the beginning so I thought that once we’ve got nursing well established (after the first three or four weeks) I can put pumped milk in bottles for them to feed Connor.
On a more fibery note: I am almost done with the second of the diagonal lace socks. Two pair down, two to go. I don’t think that I’ll get four pair done before the big day, but three is a possibility. I also got the spinning wheel out for the first time since we got back from Arizona. I’ve been using the spindles to spin a bit, but my arms tire so easily these days. I’m spinning the pound of karaoke fiber that I have in the playful colorway. I’m spinning it as thin as I can, which turns out to be pretty thin. For the first time I’m using the smallest whorl on the wheel and I’m not having the trouble with it that I was when I first tried it. I really haven’t spent the time playing with/learning how to use the wheel that I should have. I’ve read the books, I know the different drafting techniques but I’ve never really tried mastering them. I have more fiber than I know what to do with and I tend to hoard it. OMG, I’m a hoarder…LOL!! I’m going to keep working on improving my spinning technique; oddly, while I do well with the finer yarns, I have trouble with maintaining consistency when I try to do anything thicker. I’m hoping to buy and dye the fiber to spin for a Lady Eleanor Stole eventually. I’ve wanted to make it for a while but haven’t found yarn in my price range that I love enough to make the effort. We shall see. Let’s get some smaller projects done first…:)
7 months old
12 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Connor, knitting, Life, Medical, pregnancy, shawls, socks, spinning Tags: 7 months, baby, milestones
I’m starting to think if it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t
have any luck at all. The G.D. is not getting better, in fact
we started insulin today. 3x a day I have to jab myself in
the stomach with a needle to help keep my blood sugar down. I
know I shouldn’t complain, it’s keeping Connor healthy as well as
myself, but it makes me feel like I’ve failed in some way. Today
was my 30 week prenatal appointment. I was a bit nervous
about it b/c it was with the OB as opposed to the midwife that I’m
used to. This is the same doctor that I dealt with for my
fertility treatments and for some reason I thought I didn’t care
for his bedside manner, or him to be honest, too much when I saw
him late last year. I’m not sure where that judgement came
from (maybe I was just down on everything during that period of
time b/c of my fear that I would never be able to get pregnant
again) b/c after my appointment today, I couldn’t love the man
more. It was NOT a good appointment, unfortunately, but his
bedside manner, jokes, and just generally good attitude made things
that much easier to take. My blood pressure was through the
roof compared to what it’s been lately (140/100) and I’ve had
visual disturbances, headaches and swelling for the last week or
so. So now we’re thinking pre-eclampsia as well as the G.D.
and that is not good. I had to have blood work done to check
my liver and kidney function (both are good thank God) and I have
to come in for ultrasounds every week between now and when I give
birth to keep an eye on how Connor is doing. Today’s
ultrasound was good, so I guess I do have some good luck afterall.
I’m also going to be seeing the perinatologist at the office
that’s dealing with the G.D. for an in-depth ultrasound (seeing
Connor so much these days) but that will just be the one time I
think. Dr. H (my OB) said he would be happy to be the doctor
that does my c-section which thrills me b/c I think he’ll be a very
calming presence in the O.R. When I asked him about a date
for the section, he didn’t give me one, but did say that he doubted
I would make it to 39 weeks due to the symptoms I’m having now and
the fact that Jake was a 37 week baby and so big (just under 9
lbs.) So I don’t know when Connor will be here at this point.
I’m 30 weeks + 1 today and I’d be happy to make it to 36/37
weeks. As long as Connor is big enough (shouldn’t be a
problem) and his lungs are developed enough for him not to need the
NICU I’m fine with whatever they decide to do. I am on a modified
version of bedrest right now. I don’t have to stay in bed all
the time, but I also can’t be running around doing things.
I’m supposed to laze around on the couch, take care of myself
etc. I can do things around here as I feel up to it, but he
doesn’t want me running off to the mall, grocery shopping etc. for
the time being. Maybe if my blood pressure goes down it will
change. The only really bad part about all of this is that
there is a field trip for Jake’s class in a few weeks that I wanted
to go on and a carnival that the PTO is throwing for the elementary
school kids that I really wanted to be a part of that I’m
going to have to miss. I told TJ, though, that I don’t care
what my BP or the doctors say there is no way I’m missing Jake’s
Kindergarten graduation on June 9th (unless I’m in the hospital
having the baby, of course). He understood and said he didn’t
think that counted as strenuous activity. Fingers crossed
that BP just goes down and other pre-e symptoms get under control
so that life can be semi-normal until the baby is here. All
of this puts so much pressure on TJ and it makes me feel so guilty.
I know that he knows that it’s not my fault and this isn’t a
choice I”m making, but for so much of our marriage – through all of
my depression etc. – I have made the choice to lay all the work at
his feet that it doesn’t seem to make a difference in my
head/heart. It doesn’t feel fair that he has to take on
getting Connor’s room ready, figuring out how to get up north
without leaving Jake and I alone overnight so he can get the
crib/baby clothes etc. that are stored up there from when Jake was
a baby etc. It’s a nightmare. One happyish note, though…the
insulin needle in the belly isn’t painful at all and it’s not quite
as icky as I anticipated. It’s all a mental thing, I guess.
I actually don’t even feel the needle going in; I just jab it
in there fast and hard and get it over with…so yay for no pain, I
guess. On the knitting front: I think the Hot Flash STR yarn
is cursed. I really liked the Tresse
socks when I started them, and I still really like the pattern, but
I don’t like the way it’s coming out with this yarn. I think
I’m knitting it a little too tightly – even though I got gauge -
and it just doesn’t work for me. This is the second pair of
socks I’ve frogged in this yarn. I’ve decided that this
particular skein doesn’t want to be socks at all. So now I’m
looking for a good shawlette pattern for it. I think I
might have found it but we’ll see after swatching etc. is done.
I’m kind of off the sock kick (that didn’t last long) a bit
and itching to make something different. I still have a few
pairs of socks that I will work on: the HandMaiden (or is it Fleece
Artist? I can never remember) BFL Sock in Stone
diagonal lace toe up socks for one, but I just feel like I need to
have something else on the needles as well. Since the yarn
bins are in a bit of a clutter right now and I’m limited to what I
can get my hands on yarn-wise, I’m limited but I’ll make due.
There are several shawl patterns that I want to play with and
the yarn that goes with them is accessable. There is also all
that fiber I have to spin up for various things that I could really
get into. I should really use this “rest” time I’m being
given (read forced into) for being fiberly productive. Have a great
rest of the week everyone…I’m going to try. I say that like
there is really anyone at all reading this LMAO!!
Gestational Diabetes is a Pain in the…
04 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Connor, knitting, Life, new skills, pregnancy, socks Tags: Gestational Diabetes, headaches, Monkey Socks, pregnancy, sock knitting
Well, you get the picture. I still haven’t met with the perinatologist; that is on Thursday morning. I’m not doing as well as I could in the sugar department but I try to comfort myself with the knowledge that I haven’t been given a diet or really any guidelines yet. I say try, b/c I know that sugar is the enemy, I’d have to be an idiot not to, and I know there are certain things I shouldn’t eat (not so hard) as well as drink (MUCH harder for me). I’m actually drinking diet pop today, but I’ve been really bad about that the last week or so. I’ve cut down the number of regular Coke or Pepsi’s that I’ve consumed, but they are still there. I even switched the sugar-free kool-aide for regular the other day behind TJ’s back. Of course I’m a terrible liar and confessed what I had done to him the next day. He was not amused. Before anyone jumps all over me, yes, I know that this is important and that this is for my own good as well as Connor’s. I’m trying, I really am. Today has been better. I grabbed a Pepsi without even thinking about it, but only took a few sips before stopping myself and giving it to TJ and switching it for a Diet Coke. So that’s a good thing. I think this will be much easier once I have my blood sugar monitor and am able to actually see what’s going on and how the sugar is being processed. I still think this whole G.D. thing is cruel and unusual punishment, though.
For the last three days I’ve had a new and even more fun (read NOT FUN AT ALL) symptom to contend with. Blinding headaches coupled with strange visual changes. It starts with flashing white lights and morphs into a kind of rainbow effect in my peripheral vision. Then my peripheral vision starts to tunnel until I have almost none left at all. This all happens in my right eye. While this is going on on the right side of my head, the left side is getting a headache. It starts out as a mild throbbing pain right behind my eye and gradually increases until it’s a blinding pain that takes up the left quarter of my head. It hurts worse than any migraine that I’ve ever had and the sharp pain lasts for hours and even lying perfectly still doesn’t seem to make it stop. Saw Heather at the Midwives office yesterday and she basically said it was probably my sugar being out of control. So we’ll see if cutting down all the sugar will help. So far, not so much. My blood pressure wasn’t bad so we’re not worrying about preeclampsia which was my concern initially with the headaches. I guess we’ll see what happens. I just want to be completely headache free for a few hours at this point. Even when it’s bearable, it’s still there. It’s my constant companion these days.
Other than the two really annoying parts of this, things are still going really well. Connor kicks all the time which is reassuring to say the least. He’s rolling around a lot more the last few days as well. It’s kind of nice knowing that I’m having the c-section and not worrying too much about what position he gets himself stuck in when there is no more room for him to spin and roll around.
On the knitting front. I’ve finished most of the first of the Tresse socks that I found on Ravelry. This is the first time I’ve attempted anything at all with a cable and I’m really enjoying both the actual making of it and the way it’s coming out. It really does look so much more complicated than it is. I’m spending far less time getting these socks done than I did with the Monkey socks. I think I’m finally in a groove for sock making where I understand the dynamics of the parts of the sock and that makes for less thinking and more knitting. Using 2 circular needles rather than trying 4 DPN’s definitely made a huge difference for me. I’d still like to master working with the DPN’s one day, but not until after the baby is born. I’m starting to think I might get the four pair of socks I wanted to get done before the baby comes ready in time for my hospital bag. Of course somewhere in there I must make a few pairs for Connor’s little feet as well; and a pair for Jacob so he doesn’t feel left out. TJ, of course, could not care less about handmade socks. 
Baby Knitting
21 Feb 2010 1 Comment
in Life, pregnancy, projects, Ravelry, socks Tags: baby blanket, baby booties, baby crochet, baby knitting, crochet for baby, knitting for baby
Or lack thereof…
I don’t know what it is, but I have had no urge at all to knit for this baby. Maybe it’s b/c it’s still not totally real, although with the kicks becoming more frequent I think it’s becoming more real. I bought the book Expectant Little Knits before I was even pregnant b/c I wanted to make things for myself as soon as I found out it was going to happen, but now that I’m pregnant nothing in it really appeals to me. ARGH!! I’ve gone through the baby section on Ravelry repeatedly at this point and I can’t find anything that I really want to make for this little one.
I know that I’ll bust out the crochet hook and the acrylic yarn and make a blanket or two for everyday use, but it seems like such a waste that I have all this amazing yarn and this skill to make little things but I just can’t seem to motivate to do it. Anyone else have this problem while pregnant? I’ve selected sock yarn for myself for the delivery. I plan/hope to make a pair of socks to wear for each day that I’m in the hospital (which should be either 4 or 5 days) so that I’ll have something funky and fun to wear other than the hospital gown. Besides, my feet tend to get cold. We’ll see if I even get that done, though, as I don’t have a whole lot of knitting drive lately. It’s completely the opposite of what I thought would happen. I thought I’d be in knitting overdrive by now, but so far it’s just not kicking in. We’ll see what happens… Any baby patterns/suggestions are much appreciated at this point. Thanks!!!
Loving the new Fertility Doctor
09 Jul 2009 1 Comment
in knitting, socks, ttc Tags: Clomid, fertility drugs, Harmony Needles, knitting, sock knitting, ttc
I had my appointment with the new Fertility Doctor yesterday. I was so scared going in that I was going to get really bad news. Not so much!!! Yay! We talked about the period that will not end – he said it was annovulatory bleeding and it could go on for a long time. The solution to it, strange as it may seem, is to make me bleed more. LOL He’s given me a Rx for Provera to make me have a “real” period. That will be followed by 5 days of Clomid, then 4 days of Estrogen and later 10+ days of Progesterone. He tells me that this cocktail of meds is twice as effective as using Clomid alone. He also doubled the dose of the Clomid this cycle. So I’m feeling optimistic for the first time in a long time about having another baby. With my birthday coming up, I can’t think of a better present than a positive on a pregnancy test. Here’s hoping…
Finished K’s Multi-Directional Scarf finally. I started it in Feb. of ’08 when I was in CA. for a visit. I put it aside for a long time when I got home. When I realized that I was leaving to go out there again in May of this year, I got it out and started working on it again. I worked on it while I was out there and hoped to get it done while I was there to give to her, but I didn’t have the time I thought I would for knitting while I was out there, so I didn’t get to finish it before I came home. Now that it’s done, I’m let down. I really enjoyed the simplicity of the pattern; made for great TV knitting. So now I’m working full time on the Moderne Baby Blanket for my FIL’s girlfriend’s newest granddaughter. More easy knitting, but as you get to the end parts, each section takes forever. I’m almost done with block 9 of 10 blocks and then I just have the border to do and it will be off to the baby. I need to hurry, though, b/c she was born in Feb. so if it’s not done soon, she’ll outgrow it…:) My sock plunge is really suffering, but I’ve got to get these things done. It’s my motivation to hurry so I can finish my Coriolis socks.
I’m having a problem with size five needles, though. It’s like I’m cursed with these. In the last six months I’ve managed to snap in half one each of two different sets of Harmony Option size 5 tips and one of the Harmony Straights size fives. Of course all of my current projects: socks, baby blanket, shawl are all being done on fives. ARGH!!! Time for a Knit Picks order.
Back from Cali, knitting socks and staying off my feet…fun times!
08 Jul 2009 2 Comments
in Books, gift giving, knitting, Life, Medical, socks, spinning, ttc
Been awhile again since my last post. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t seem to find the time or the energy for the computer these days for some reason. I can’t remember the last time I actually checked my email. If anyone has sent me anything and I haven’t responded, sorry. I’m more apt to see something you send me on Facebook or Twitter than I am in an email…LOL Kind of sad, huh?!?!
So I went to California on June 9th and stayed for 3 weeks. Seeing my mother is always so great for me; if you know me and my mother, though, you also know that it’s a hugely stressful time for both of us. We are both very strong personalities and we tend to clash in a lot of ways. There is so much love there, though, that the happy moments always far outweigh the stressful ones. This trip was about going to see David Cook with my favorite family member in the world, Krista and taking Jake back to Sea World to actually touch the dolphins. The rest was all up in the air. Spending time with Krista is always one of my favorite things to do. We have the sort of relationship where we don’t really have to be doing anything special, we just like to be together. One of our favorite group activities is, believe it or not, just sitting around with coloring books and colored pencils and coloring. We both have these stupidly expensive Disney Princess coloring books that have really high quality paper and we guard them jealously, not letting anyone (no, not even Jacob) color in them but us. Kind of sick, really, but it’s really so much fun to just stop for an hour and do something so simple and so rooted in our childhoods. Oddly enough,though, neither of us really color at all when we aren’t together. Krista gave me another new hobby this trip, though. The Lakers were playing in the NBA championships against the Orlando Magic and K is a HUGE Lakers fan. So the first night we hung out together game 4 (I think) was on and she said she had to watch it. Anyone that knows me well at all knows that I’m absolutely not a sports fan in any way, shape or form. So we got out coloring books and I got out Mom’s laptop and settled in for what I thought would be a boring television event, but still time with K is so rare b/c of the distance, so any time at all is priceless to me. About halfway through the game, though, I realized that I was watching the TV almost as much as I was reading posts on Ravelry. By the last five minutes of the game I had put the laptop down and was watching the action raptly. By the time the final game rolled around a few nights later, I was all about the game. I cheered and I booed and I jumped up and down. I was almost hoping the Lakers would lose so that there would be another game. They didn’t lose, though, and the victory was amazing. So now I’m a basketball fan. A Laker’s fan at that. Looking very much forward to pre-season. Of course, knowing me, it may not last. We’ll see. I was a “hockey fan” for awhile when the Wings won their first Stanley Cup in however many long, long years. That lasted about half of the next season and then I got bored out of my skull with it all (I think I just committed a sacrilege as far as my mother – a RABID Wings fan – is concerned).
I finally got my own copy of New Pathways for Sock Knitters, so I can finish the second Spiraling Coriolis sock. I’m about 2/3 of the way done with it, maybe a little less. I got so excited about sock knitting that I joined the 52 Pair Plunge III @ Ravelry. Of course I haven’t even finished pair #1 so I’m WAY behind…LOL I think , though, that once I finish the WIPs that are outstanding gifts I owe to people (the Moderne Baby Blanket for Fran’s new granddaughter and the Anouk dress for Lisa’s new baby due any time now) I’ll throw myself a little more into sock knitting. I’ve just ordered matching sets of fixed circs. from Knit Picks: one each of the Harmony and the Nickle plated in sizes 0-3 (which is actually 6 needles in each material b/c there are 2 different sizes of 1 and 2 b/c of the metric measurements) in the 24″ length. I was going to just order the sizes in the Harmony wood in the 24″ and 32″ lengths so that I could differentiate easily when using 2 circs (which I really do like for socks) but I thought that the different materials for the tips would make the distinction even easier and I really have found that I like the nickle more than I thought I did. I have the Options sets in both materials so if I need longer than 24″ needles I’ve got that covered as well.
I love shopping at Amazon, btw. I just ordered and received the newest version of the Kindle; it was an early birthday gift from my mother. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! I’ve already got five or six books and several blogs on it. So nice to have choices in such a slim and light container. I always want to take something to read with me, but can’t ever decide what so I end up schlepping three or four hard cover books with me on vacations or when I know I’ll be bored for awhile. Great for choice, but heavy as all hell. This is much nicer!! I also ordered a whole slew of knitting books:
- A Treasury of Knitting Patterns Volumes 1 & 2: I’ve always wanted to have a great stitch dictionary collection and I like these the best so far. I’m not big on designing things myself – I’m still too chicken to even play too much with changing elements in patterns that I’m following. Just looking through these books, though, has inspired me a bit. I found myself thinking ‘that would make a great cuff or edging on a sweater’ or ‘that would be a great cuff or leg pattern for a sock’. It’s a step in the right direction. I WILL get braver with my knitting before the end of year. My goal is to design one thing, no matter how simple it is – maybe I’ll design the scarves I’m planning to make for TJ and Jake this year rather than following a pattern.
- Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Workshop, Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Almanac and Knitting Without Tears: I’ve heard so many great things about E.Z. and I thought this would be a great time to “get to know her”. I thought I ordered The Opinionated Knitter as well, but I guess not. It’s something for the future.
- Lace Style: You can never have too many lace knitting books
- A Gathering of Lace: See above….love the lace knitting!!
- The Intentional Spinner, The Spinner’s Companion and Spin Control: I’ve been spinning for a little more than a year and a half now and I still kind of feel like I’m working blind. I can spin a decent yarn but I have very little control as to how it comes out. I’m still not sure about the different kinds of drafting and how to do them. I’m in love with spindle spinning, which I feel like I have a lot more control with, and I love my wheel, but I feel like I’m always playing catch up when I’m using the wheel. I rarely, if ever, get the yarn that I expect to get from it. I want to learn more and to get better. I really need a spinning class to get me on the right track. I need someone to teach me all these different “draws” and how they work and what I’m doing wrong…
- Teach Yourself Visually Hand-dyeing: I love hand dyeing and another book on it can only be good.
- Sock Innovation: I’m all about sock knitting these days and I’m a big fan of Cookie A.’s designs even though I’ve never knit one. The chapters on design are really a big selling point for me.
- Toe Up: This is the WendyKnits book. I didn’t actually order this one, I bought it at Barnes N Noble while I was in CA. I found I really like the toe up method of knitting socks and there are really cute patterns in this book. I’m looking forward to knitting some of these for the “Plunge”
I’ve had a lot of time to look through my book and play with the Kindle in the last few weeks. Here’s a big TMI warning if you don’t want to know more than you ever dreamed about my cycles and periods….
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I’ve been undergoing the very beginning of fertility treatments since late March. 50 mg. of Clomid from days 3-7 of the cycle. Only did one cycle and it didn’t work. I got my period 50 days into the Clomid cycle and it started with spotting that lasted for almost 2 weeks, which was annoying but tolerable. When I was out in CA the real period finally started and was heavy (which I expect) and irritating – it got bad the same day as the David Cook concert, of course – but it wasn’t unbearable. Now that I’m three weeks into this period and I’m bleeding like a stuck pig half the time with HUGE clots and not bleeding at all the other half, I’m irritated. It’s gotten to the point where I have to stay in bed or on the couch most of the time b/c any real activity or straining myself makes the bleeding horrible. For example I got out of bed on the 4th to hang out at the bonfire in the yard b/c my mother-in-law and TJ’s Aunt Nancy were there. Just sitting out there, walking around and playing with Jake a bit was the most I did and when I got back inside I ended up having to change my pajama bottoms twice in 30 minutes. I’ve been feeling dizzy, foggy headed, crampy and just plain yucky since this started. Saw the doctor today, had an ultra sound and am going to meet with a new fertility specialist tomorrow morning. So nervous!! I am terrified that I’m going to find out that I can’t have another baby and that would break my heart. TJ and I are not necessarily in agreement about fertility treatments. I’m all about doing whatever it takes to have another child and TJ isn’t sure if he’s on board for getting really into the infertility treatments. He’s terrified by the though of higher level multiples and he’s afraid that my body won’t deal well with “forcing” pregnancy. IVF is still a long way away, I hope, but he’s so against the thought and while it’s not my first choice for a way to have a baby, if it’s my only option, I’m totally on board with it. This is going to be a long process, and it’s going to take a lot of talking and figuring out what is important to us and what our priorities when it comes to family are. I’m scared!
96 Yards of Handspun lace/fingering weight
05 Jun 2009 Leave a Comment
in Books, gift giving, knitting, patterns, socks Tags: Anouk, Clapotis, Coriolis, knitting, Moderne Baby Blanket, New Pathways
I just finally (I actually finished spinning and plying the yarn in December) skeined up and finished the singles that were left after spinning and plying my Girl Insane top. The colors in the top were light to medium pinks, shades of grey to black, light to dark purples and white. (Don’t have a picture of the top, so here’s the link to the original listing in etsy: Girl Insane Top. I split the colors into lights and darks, spun the singles fairly thin (I’m still terrible about figuring out things like what drafting method I used or how many twists per inch etc.) and then plied the two together. It came out really pretty. When I was through, I had just under 100 yards of singles left from the dark batch, so I skeined it and finished it tonight – it’s drying right now. Pictures to follow once it’s dry and I get off my lazy ass and take the pics.
Any suggestions on what to do with just about 100 yards of light fingering to heavy lace singles? I’m stumped, but this came out so pretty that I want to use it. I thought about plying it with itself after it finishes drying, but then I’ll only have 50 or so yards and I know there’s not a lot I can do with that. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
The Coriolis socks are coming out beautifully. I’m back on track after the frogging incident and I’m really enjoying these socks. I’m going to buy the book (I’ve had it out of the library for two renewals now and I don’t want to keep it out of the hands of others who might want to read it) before I leave for CA (on Tuesday) and work on the last sock on the plane ride. It seems like a good, portable project for the plane. It’s either that or my Clapotis and that thing is pretty big and bulky for a plane ride at this point.
As for my two baby gift projects: I’ve hit a wall with the Moderne Baby Blanket as the book is still packed up in a box somewhere in this house (I swear we’ll never be fully moved in) and I was able to find the pattern as a freebie through Ravelry, but it’s a scan of the book and doesn’t include the border, so until I find the book I’m kind of stuck. I know I could just come up with my own border, but I’m just not feeling that creative with this one. I draw a blank whenever I try to think of a good border pattern for this…again, suggestions are welcome and appreciated. The Anouk pattern is coming along nicely. The baby it’s for is due in July and I’ve got the first half done and am ready to start on the second. The first went really quickly so I’m hoping the second will be as swift. These are the only projects I plan to bring on the trip, along with some needlepoint that I’ve been working on for awhile on and off. I figure if I don’t have many choices I can’t get caught up in “startitis” and might actually finish a few things on time…
Adventures in Sock Knitting
26 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in knitting, new skills, socks, spinning Tags: knitting, New Pathways, sock knitting, spinning, toe-up
Sock knitting has been one of the things that I’ve always been most intrigued as well as most intimidated by since I learned to knit. I’ve tried to knit a simple sock on a few occasions and have failed rather spectacularly. I’ve always been terrified at the thought of a toe up sock – the top down was more than difficult enough for me. So I got this New Pathways for Sock Knitters book out of the library a few months ago (I’ve renewed it twice now; I really need to buy my own copy) to check it out. I was so impressed with the Coriolis sock that I was emboldened to try it even though I was sure I was going to fail just as horribly as I have in the past. I did the practice sock since I hadn’t knit on 2 circs before and even though I’ve done several things with Magic Loop, I didn’t want to deviate from the instructions at all since I knew I was going to be intimidated enough to begin with.
I used Socks that Rock Medium Weight in the color Hot Flash which I bought as a gift for a friend (I was going to knit her something with it) that I never got around to doing. I thought the color was WAY too pink and bright and I really didn’t like it much – until I wound it and realized that it was actually a gorgeous color. I started a pair of Monkey socks with the yarn, but frogged it when I decided to try the Coriolis socks. I decided to use the Spiraling Coriolis master pattern and got started.
What I’ve discovered is that toe-up socks are much easier for me than their top-down counterparts and that sock knitting is not the frightening concept that I thought it was. It took me about two weeks of working a few hours a night to finish sock #1. The biggest problem I had was binding off in a way that made the sock go over my foot. After tearing out several different B.O. methods, I settled on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Sewn Bind-off, and that worked for me. I just finished the heel turn on the second sock (no “second sock syndrome” here) and I’m hoping to have the pair done before I leave in a few weeks for three weeks in CA with Jake, visiting my mother and going to the David Cook concert (which I’m so excited about I’m like a 14 year old teeny-bopper….mmmm….David Cook).
The thing that I found most intimidating was the short rows with the wrap and turn and then concealling the wraps as well. I think I’ve finally mastered it, though, or at least it’s not so scary for me. I think the heel turn is my favorite part of sock knitting; there’s something magical about it to me. I simply love sock knitting and now I completely understand why there are people who are so obsessed with it. I love having a project that is small enough to take anywhere, yet interesting enough to keep my mind occupied.
What I really need to do is to get back to spinning. I look at my wheel every day and I never seem to find the time or energy to pull out fiber and spin. I think I’ll take the wheel with me to CA. I’m sure I’ll find time at Mom’s house to get some spinning done. I have some great bamboo batts from Loop that are deep brown, scarlet red and amber colored bamboo in layers. I have 15 oz. of it and I think I’d like to spin it to fingering weight in a 2 ply and then make a shawl for myself out of it. We’ll see how that goes since I’ve never spun bamboo before. Maybe I should grab some bamboo in a single color that I don’t love as much as these batts and give it a go first. Any hints/tips on spinning bamboo would be appreciated.
Tomorrow
09 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
in knitting, Life, socks, yarn Tags: cable knitting Winter knitting moving new house, Malabrigo Socks That Rock, sock knitting
Tomorrow is the very last day we can be at the blue house…Tomorrow is so soon and there are still three rooms to pack up…argh!! This tooth-ache has really been rather inconvenient. I’m here alone for the last night, which is kind of fitting, I guess. Jake is at Unky’s house playing and TJ went back to the new house b/c he has to work in the morning and it’s so much closer from there.
It seems like a lot to do, but the sorting is minimal, everything just needs to be boxed up here and I’ll go through all of it when we’re back at the new house. I’m surprised at the number of boxes that have already come out of this house and the knowledge that there will be tons more after our bedroom w/bathroom and closet, Jake’s bedroom and the craft room are emptied. It will definitely take at least 3 van trips (one of them will just be the bed, though, b/c it takes up the entirety of the back of the van. While TJ moves the bed, I’ll work on packing the rest of the bedroom and the bathroom/closet. Then I can work on Jake’s room and the craft room (which is mostly done) while TJ is dropping off that load. It will all get done if I just get off my butt and do it. I was going to do some packing tonight, but I was watching Dr. Who on Netflix Instant Watch feature (Netflix is the death of me when I find a show I really like on there. I do love there watch instantly option, though) and I lost track of time. I’m not going strictly in order, I keep jumping back from the Martha year to the Rose years (I much prefer David Tennent in the role). I’ve already watched all of the Donna year that is this season. Okay, I’m babbling about the show again. This is how I always am when I discover a new show that I like. When I finally discovered that I like House (about 6 months ago) I spent all my tv time downloading and watching episodes of the show. I have all 96 episodes available through Amazon.com right now. Pity on not big on re-watching shows unless I’ve forgotten all the key elements. Not so with House yet. Anyway…
I’m making real progress with the A Little Twist wrist warmers. I’m through the wrist and have started the increasing for the thumb gusset. If I could just stay away from “computer breaks” and watch TV on the computer (which I actually prefer to watching TV even with DVR lately) and knit, I could have finished the project by now and be back on the socks.
I’ve finally decided on my first garment knit. I’m putting it out here so I don’t change my mind again. It’s pretty, it doesn’t look super hard, but it does look like a lot of hard work went into it, IMO. The Bohus-Inspired Pullover from the book Knit So Fine. When I first saw the pattern in the book I thought it was kind of cute, but it didn’t really strike my fancy. I took a really good look at it tonight and how the color graduating like that is achieved, simple yet effective, and decided that it would be a great first sweater. I read through the whole pattern and it convinced me. I’m going to have to figure out what yarn I want to use and order some in the appropriate colors. I have a few other things on my to knit list first, though. For example, I think the winter wear for Jake and TJ should be first on the list of “to knit”. In fact, once the Malabrigo arrives, those projects will trump even the Monkey Socks b/c of need and time restraints. You can always where STR made socks, but winter only lasts for a short while and I don’t want to see all that gorgeous, soft Malabrigo locked up for the winter before it even has a chance to shine. I still have to pick patterns for the hats and scarves for the boys. I’m not sure if I want to do something matching or give them each completely different hats and coats. I know that I’m going to make the hats fairly simple…no big texture or color work involved there. When it comes to the scarves, though, I was thinking that they needed something other than a plain garter stitch or stockinette stitch scarf. I asked TJ if it would be okay if I found a cable pattern for his scarf and he was surprisingly not just accepting, but kind of seemed to really like the idea. I’ll find something equally nice, and warm for little Jakie’s head as well. Since Jake’s projects will be smaller, I think I’m going to also make him some little gloves to keep his hands warm and dry for a little while.
