It’s Finally Finshed Plus Commentary

 I delivered this completed baby blanket to the mom to be today.  Just 2 weeks before the baby is due.  

Commentary

My only issue was with the chiaogoo knitting needles. The workmanship of the knitting needles was, not up to my standards.  On one side the yarn kept getting stuck and would not slide like the knitting is supposed to.  I had to stop and free the yarn every 30 or so stitches. I could not replace the knitting  needles part way through the project because even though they are labeled the same size there can be a tiny variation in fractions to small for my eyes to see that can change the size of the knitting gauge.  I could not visually see where it was snagging.  This slowed down my knitting. Now that they are used I doubt that they can be returned or replaced.   Even though they are more expensive and do not have a curl free cord, I like workmanship on my Addi turbos and Lykke knitting needles better. I have never had this problem with any Addi turbo or Lykke Knitting needles.  I doubt that I will buy chiaogoo knitting needles again. 

An Outing

 Today we went for a drive going north on Oracle Road. Truth be told I am going stir crazy at home.  Did I mention that there were over 1,000 new cases of COVID19 in Pima County today, yet again.  We drove all the way to Pinal County.  There is an over 55 community up there. Although it looks nice since we don’t golf or play tennis it probably would not be worth the monthly maintenance fees.  Did I mention that not one person we saw was masking up? Although if one could snag a house overlooking the golf course that might be worth it. It is basically out in the middle of nowhere.  15 minutes to the nearest grocery store.  A definite lack of places to eat out.  Since it is an over 55 community there would be no trick or treaters at Halloween.  I really love watching the kids grow up. It’s not for us, we are staying put.  I love being part of a multi generational community.  I love being close to things. 

I thought I would be on the next color strip on the baby blanket. I am almost there.  Tiny needles plus fine yarn equals skeins that go on forever.  Hopefully tomorrow will be the day for the next color.  

I had the energy to get a few things done around the house.  Although it required a rest afterwards. Yup, still in that blank ity blank flare up.  I think I will freezer dive for dinner tomorrow night.  Since I managed to snag a few ready made meals the freezer is full. That will be about my speed too.  

Another New Pattern.

 I am currently working on a bespoke baby blanket.  I will publish the pattern after the mom to be gets it.  One thing I can tell you now is that it is simple and colorful.  There will be a nice gradient in colors.  It is a fast knit.  It will use 8 100 gram skeins of yarn on US size 3 knitting needles. Those without arthritis in their hands should be able to finish in a week or so. It will be large enough to use until the toddler stage.  

Somehow having a space of my own where I can shut out the world while looking at a nice desert landscape is helping my creativity.  I only wish I could knit more hours a day right now.  Right now I knit for a bit and let my hands rest.  This seems to have cut down the soreness and swelling.  Maybe this way I can avoid further surgery on my hands.  I can only hope. 

Sighs

 I am not sure what I absolutely hate more, a Sjogren’s flare up or COVID19.  Right now my vote is for the Sjorgren’s flare up only because my face is so swollen that I can’t see my ears.  John votes for COVID19 because we both want to go out and do things.  With the flare up I am tired I can’t concentrate on things for long.  My hands get wonky at time.  I may have to read the same book section 2 or 3 times to understand it.  With COVID19 I am just bored and stir crazy.  

I have been doing a little knitting.  I am trying to finish a 40 inch square baby blanket before the baby comes and I only have 38 inches to go on itsy bitsy knitting needles.  I think that they are a U.S. size 3. I can get between on half inch and 1 inch done per day.  I hope that I get a little faster.  The ever other Purl rows slow me down, but make the blanket so much nicer.  I have about 8 inches of the first color to go. There will be 4, 10 inch sections when I am finished. Gradienting from white to purple.  

While watching television I am working on a random scarf.  I like the pattern because I don’t have to watch what I am doing.  I just let the knitting needles fly.  Tomorrow I should be at my third color change. Only about 4 1/2 feet left to knit.  

2022 Here I Come

 The year is off to an interesting start. Yesterday a 36 hour tummy bug hit.  I am feeling much better right now.  Just don’t ask about last night. However the new year is not done with me yet, tonight I lost a crown.  So off to the dentist for me.  I hope that this is not how 2022 is going to go.  I could really use a good year after 3 dismissal years.  I am not counting my daughter and her husband’s visits as part of the dismissal times.

My new pattern is going well. This is how I want my year to go.   I am on the last major section.  I think I have figured out how to type up the pattern without typing over 250 rows of the pattern.   It will should be out by the end of the month.  This one should be easy to knit while watching television or listening to an audio book once you have the pattern set.  For me this would be a knitting while walking pattern, if my family would trust me to walk and knit.

Then it will be a baby blanket for someone here in Tucson.  I have the yarn pulled.  I just need the pattern to pop into my head.  I hope this happens soon.  It’s going to be a modern nursery.  So nothing old fashioned.  

Progress?

Today was better.
Arthritis- 1
Sheri - 1
So I will call it a tie.
I am on the last broader round of a baby shower gift 6 months over do.  I dis not sleep most of the day. I am still exhausted though I even managed to put a few things away and drop the crochet hook under the couch twice. Progress in a wired Sheri way.

Change is Good

A change is in the works.  I think I am going to just do what I want to do on the creative side of my life.  

I have finally finished the baby blanket.  All 360 rows of it.  Eric gets to deliver it tomorrow.  

A First for the Year

The first craft milestone of the year was reached today. Tonight I finish the baby blanket for a total of 29 rows towards the 1 million row challenge. With one project checked off the list the project list for the year does not seem at daunting. Somehow I feel much better when I get things completed. I just have a hard time in the middle of projects when I get bored trying to get them completed before they get put away in a basket never to be seen again.

Happy New Years

John and I managed to get out for a New Years Eve dinner. This is something that we have not done since the early 1980's. I was surprised that at 5:00 pm we almost did not get a table. I hope that this is a good omen for next year.  

As usual I will not be making any New Years resolutions.  I just plan on having the best year possible. I hope that everyone has the best year possible too. 

Now it is time to finish the next baby blanket.  

The Bug Hit

I should be more precise. The cleaning bug hit. Since Eric started the day and spent most of the day sleeping, I had plenty of time. I even shared some of the work. John and I work great in tandem. I stripped the bed and put out clean sheets for later, he made the bed. I started emptying the dishwasher and he finished  unloading and reloaded it. I tried to clean John style where I worked on one area at a time. Those areas look great. I still have a way to go. For a job well started John even brought in a salad for dinner.

After I got tired of cleaning I found some time for spinning some new yarn and working on the next baby blanket. I think its time to go do some more knitting. I am almost ready to start the second skein on a 2 skein blanket.

Baby Blanket

RI finished this baby blanket today.  All 378 rows of it.  I thought it would take a week, but it took a little over 2 weeks. 

The back story on the blanket is that I was suppose to teach the mom to be how to knit so that she could knit a blanket for her baby.  We had a hard time finding a good time.  In my humble opinion we ran out of time. So I went into my stash to pick out some yarn.  I thought it would only take me a week. The most important thing is that it is finished before the baby decided to come.  So here is the blanket. 

Progress

I started the first of 2 baby blankets this morning.  As of right now I am 25% done with the first blanket.  Eric was a big help. He held on to the yarn while I was knitting.  Here is my progress so far.

I also managed to spin a little and get the laundry finished today. Eric is feeling better, but still not 100%.