Up and Down

I got into a bit of a funk last week.  I think pressure in the day job was getting to me and last weekend was a bit busy so I found things getting on top of me.  Last weekend and week went by so quickly I've barely had time to think about them. On Saturday night, I went to see Corinne Bailey Rae in Bexhill. She is so wonderful! She sang many songs from her current album, The Sea, and also a lovely arrangement of Que Sera (how do you spell that and which language is it actually?). Something I noticest tottering along the seafront, and have been noticing for a long while, is that my footwear lets me down. So many times when I go out I have to wear trainers if there is any amount of walking or rain involved. I know noone realy cares what I wear on my feet but it does spoil outfits and I am trying to look a bit more presentable these days. So today I bought some boots. I'll maybe take some pictures later.  I'm supposed to be going out shortly and am a bit nervous so the boots are to encourage me. I can't get away with sitting at home now that I've bought them. I have some nice new socks to wear with them too so even if the evening is difficult, at least I have nice footwear.

Hooray

I've finished writing up my pattern and have sent it off. Phew.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!! PART 2

Apparently this is becoming a theme.

It happened yesterday and it really threw off my groove.  I found it quite hard at the time to keep it in perspective. One the one hand (foot) it is only a holey sock.  A really big hole but just a hole.  I could attempt a repair, I could reuse the rest of the wool or I could just bin them. Not the worst dilemma to have to face.  On the other foot, these socks represent a significant investment of time and money and belief.  It really made me question how worthwhile it is to knit socks.  This is like losing religion to me.  People used to mock me when I'd spent a small fortune on hand dyed sock yarn and then many hours with teeny tiny needles and I'd say these socks are so much better than shop bought socks. It didn't really occur to me that they wouldn't last very long. And by that I mean, they wouldn't last forever.   

Yesterday, I was beginning to think I would give up on luxury socks. I would divert all sock yarn to shawls or gloves.  My friend at knitting group is making some lovely fingerless mittens at the moment which I'm really coveting.  I'd like to design some shawls without tipping myself into insanity by using laceweight (I like the result but not the process as it rarely ends in result with me) so I've plenty of things I could use my stash on.  Then, this morning was another cold morning and I put on some GORGEOUS socks that I've been very careful with.  No trips through the washing machine for these puppies. And I'm reconverted.  Hand knitted socks are still the best socks. No question.  I promise, my faith will not waver in future.

A little progress

I wasn't sure how to block this but in the end I just gave in and did it the only way I really like. Wash it and pin it out.

I was a bit worried about the reverse stocking stitch section, which are supposed to fold in on themselves, as I've now blocked them out flat.

I figured I'd better hurry along and block it and then make the sleeves.  I can always iron it into pleats.

I finished the next magazine project and am pretty pleased with it.  It's slightly smaller than I'd hoped but still grand.

On more boring matters, I've decided I can't buy a laptop until I've made enough money to pay for it so I'm going to try ebaying some clothes and things. I've ordered my sister to come round tomorrow to help out. I've been shuffling stuff round my bedroom - you know, putting everything on the floor onto the bed, sliding the bed, moving the things near the bed away from the bed, sliding the bed some more, grimacing at the dust and dirt, hoovering, moving the things away from the bed some more, sliding a cupboard, etc. Although the bedroom now seems larger there are several things that are still waiting to be rehoused. And I felt a bit lost last night, the rest of the house seemed very far away. I'm sure I'll get used to it.  So I need to finish the sisyphean tidying and take a look at the projects I've got on the go.  I need to write up the pattern for the magazine and then start one for the next month.  Back on that hamster wheel I go!

Pointless

I had my first Japanese lesson last night.  It was really fun! I knew a few words before I went there so there wasn't too much that was new for me which was good because I was nervous of meeting new people.  There were 11 students (one didn't turn up) and the teacher seemed very nice. 

After my trauma with my sock last week, I have abandoned it to my bedroom floor. I don't expect it will heal itself but at least it will have time to think about what it's done and I will expect an apology before I tackle trying to fix it.  It has reminded me that I have two more pairs of purple socks on the needles at the moment so I should perhaps finish them soon.  It doesn't really matter at the moment because the weather has turned  from autumn back to late summer so I'll be wearing cotton ankle socks this weekend.

I'm working on a new project for next year and I am so excited about it.  It's using a new yarn which is my new favourite yarn ever and it's making me feel really Christmassy, which is a shame in a way as I will have to send the project off to the magazine for photography this month and I don't expect it will return before Christmas.  It's also making me want to buy up as many balls of this yarn as I can when it is released to the public but that would be in strict violation of the economic diet I'm on.  The diet seems to be going well but I'm coming to a point when I will need to buy some things but I've begun to enjoy having tiny credit card bills.  Unfortunately, the never ending toiletries cupboard is running out of conditioner and my hair will not manage without it. Now, one conditioner is not going to break the bank but I'm worried I won't be able to buy just one thing. I'll come up with excuses or phantom presents that need buying and boom, accidentally spend a fortune.  Or I'll just buy the conditioner and then resent not being able to enjoy it.  I need to buy a textbook for Japanese soon aswell and Amazon is one of my major downfalls.  This morning I caught myself compiling a list of other items I'd slip in the basket - a book I saw reviewed on tv, a cd and a computer game were all sneaking in. I suppose this is the real test of whether I've learnt any restraint. I joke that I have no self control but it has always been easier for me to buy nothing than to only buy one thing. I'm also a bit sick of my ancient laptop taking forever to start up. I did say a little while ago that I would buy a new one but then I thought I can't just make a budget and then treat a laptop as entirely separate from the budget. Wouldn't that render the budget completely pointless? So I've hung back from buying it but I really want to blog more. Is blogging more really worth the extra expense?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!

This sock does seem to have been cursed. I don't even know how it happened. And I'm not sure I can fix it.