Winter blahs

Cinxia creeps along...I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm just so not into finishing this sweater. I'm about to attach the sleeves but can't really visualize what I'm supposed to do, and I'm the knitalong coleader for heaven's sake. And the twisted stockinette means I have to pay attention whether I'm on a twisty row or not, and the size 10 doublepoints are a pain...aren't you sick of me whining? I sure am. Which is why I've started a Tubey.

This, *this* is more like it. About a mile of stockinette (i.e. suitable for that 45 minutes I have at the end of the day after the kids are asleep, chores are done and I still have energy to lift my arms at all), size 8 needles, yarn that isn't splitty and black (stashbusting the bag of Tahki New Tweed in blue). And, unbeknownst to me, one of my friends at work is leading a knitalong for it!

In between I'm been working on bits of socks here and there...nearly finished husband's first Knitpicks Dancing sock that I've been carrying in my purse since September, and working on booties for the impending baby of my coworkers Bill and Christine. And, the MIT group is joining the Yarn Harlot's Olympics and we're all knitting squares of a blanket to be donated to Afghans for Afghans. Go Team MIT!

I really must do something about Cinxia though. My co-knitalong leader has graciously refrained from pointing out my descent into slackerdom; meanwhile from our mailing list I see others finishing their sweaters. Oy, the guilt.

Happy 2006

Oh, it has been a while, hasn't it? I had the best of plans to finish Cinxia and not do any holiday knitting other than finish the lap blanket. I even remember walking back from knitting group with Local Egg and telling her that this year was going to be different from last year. So what ended up happening? In a week I made six beaded votive candle sleeves and a Kidsilk Haze scarf, all for my kids' teachers. I have a photo but it's still on the camera, and as I'm home with the kids because of a snow day, I don't have my cable to download. You can see Grumperina's version though - mine aren't quite as pretty, but Grumperina thought I did ok (she and Omar came to our holiday party, reprazentin' fo' the knitterz). I made two red, two blue and two multicolor ones. Let me just confirm that knitting with 24 gauge wire is murder on the hands! Thank goodness I had a whole tube of my fave lotion, Sally Hansen Radiant Hands and Cuticles. I know, "radiant" makes me think of Charlotte's Web too.

The scarf was another 4-hour scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I think it even took me 4 hours this time. And I finished the lap blanket and sent it to my delighted niece after my mom hinted that she would prefer socks (gave her the stripy Fixation ones at Thanksgiving).

After that, I didn't knit at all for about a week. I had grand plans for finishing Cinxia, but with the kids home and serious basement decluttering to do, it just didn't happen. I'm still on the second sleeve and trying to figure out how the sleeve attachment process is going to work. It's true - I'm the lamest knitalong co-leader ever.