It’s raining, it’s pouring

It’s raining! I’m looking out the window, and let me tell you how excited I am. Last year at this time, I would be sad at yet another day with a miserable forecast. We’ve had an awful drought this year though, and everything is dusty and brown. The rain is welcome. There’s a country song that goes, “Where I come from, rain is a good thing”. It couldn’t be more true. All of the farmers will be doing a happy dance!

Enough of my excitement over the weather. Back to the knitting. Have I mentioned that 35 degree Celcius weather is not conducive to knitting? No, it’s really not. So instead, while at work, I’ve been looking up summer patterns on Ravelry.

Here are some cute drink cozies that look like watermelons.

This is the cutest tunic for kids (good thing I have a new cousin).

And then there’s this excellent shirt that I wish I had the fortitude to start.

The socks? Down for the count. If they could tweet, I would be hearing about it. It’s too bad that they can’t, really. It might motivate me to spend a little more time with them.

I can just see it now: “SamplerTextureSocks: @thetravellingsock you’re awful, I’m almost at the toe and you leave me to die in this heat, on the coffee table without the protection of a bag? #pathetic #notarealknitter” “ZoomobileSock: @thetravellingsock I’m still stuck in my prison, the knitting bag, where I haven’t been touched since your trip to the zoo. This isn’t second sock syndrome, this is first sock syndrome, you fickle thing. #helpless #abandoned”

And I get mad at others because they don’t like my knitted things enough? Ha. I don’t even like them enough to finish them.

Tonight. I’m going to go home from work. Do the chores, boil some water and make some tea. Turn on the Food Network, and finish these babies.

What? You think I can’t finish the toe of one sock, half of another, and another entire sock, while still getting a reasonable amount of sleep? You of little faith. Challenge accepted.

How about this one? It’s the Summer Blues Cropped Lace Cardigan (click photo for link)

Struggling

Okay, I admit it. I’m struggling to finish anything these days.

Knitting just doesn’t seem to be on my radar as important. I mean, it’s summer time. I sit outside and read books, and spend very little time in front of the television (which is where I do the bulk of my knitting).

I promised myself not to post until I had some photos of the finished Sampler Texture Socks to finish. And yet, here I am, lacking finished socks.

I’ve lost my mojo! I need some more instant gratification projects… Baby hats, here I come.

But, I did manage to get the gussets done on those Sampler Texture Socks. Instead of picking up 11 stitches per side, as I did on the first sock, I managed to pick up 17. Obviously, the gusset decreases took way longer, but I like that the joins are more “solid”. You know what I mean?

Typical me. Changing patterns.

I’m off to find some inspiration. And maybe make another blog. About horses this time.

She will be loved

When you make someone a knitted item, you assume it will be cherished and worn with happiness for years to come.

Not in my house. After spending hours and hours of my time on knitted items for my family, I have discovered that they don’t wear them!

For instance. My mother dresses my little sister (who is disabled) and I have made her countless hat and mittens, as well as some rather consuming legwarmers. In her defense, she wears the mittens. And occasionally a hat. But she is more likely to be seen in public wearing something store bought. I mean really, I made these things, and they look better than the store bought ones! Wear them!

How about that awful beret that my mother said she just had to have. She picked the pattern and the yarn. Guess how many times she’s worn it? Twice. Once. NEVER. I have never seen her wear it. What the heck?!?

My dad has a hat that he wore once, on Christmas Day a few years ago, and that’s only because he opened it that day.

My brother has a great matching hat and mitts set, as well as a scarf, and they are packed away in a closet somewhere.

I give up. Forevermore, this family will recieve no knitted gifts. They are underappreciated.

Except maybe socks. You can’t say no to socks.