April Socks update

I knew it would be slow going with these. That's why I got a head start on the April socks. But, I'm making good progress. Love the feel of this yarn. [I've read a few blogs or socknitters' posts from people who have not liked it. But, I'd definitely use Step again!]

Sock #1 nearly completed - need to finish toe and deal with the cast on tail. I left the tail long to help me match up the start point of the second sock. Yippee. The second sock, now OTN, is looking like the stripes match up well :-)

Yarn: Austermann Step #10 Melba
Needles: No. 2 [US] aluminum, 5 dpns
Pattern: rather basic pattern - top down, k4, p1 rib that I saw at Michelle's Basic Socks - but then the rest is my modification with a heel flap instead of a short row heel. Maybe one of these days I'll actually use Michelle's entire pattern.

Online Shopping Fun

WooHoo! I'm just back from shopping at amazon. My dear friend from across the pond, JCS, gave me a gift certificate! I browsed the site for ideas: there was a book about the War of 1812, several on genealogy, and then I looked at knitting [related] books. Being a practical sort, I decided that the book on the War of 1812 & the ones on genealogy I would probably read through once and only once. And they could be easily borrowed from a library. But the knitting books...I would read and refer to over & over.

Then, I had to decide which knitting book[s] to choose. I read the amazon blurbs and found online reviews and finally settled on:

Wolcott, Jill. "YNotKnit"
Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie. "Knitting Rules: the Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks"

Several reviews called "YNotKnit" basic and perhaps it is. It describes how to knit the Continental Method and that's all I've ever done, but I'm thinking I could use some advice and tips from the pros. DD3 has started knitting, and DD2 wants to, so the book would be a good reference for them as well.

It appears that "YNotKnit" is not currently in stock, but usually ships in 4 to 6 weeks. Darn. But I'll be happy to get it when it does arrive!

Thanks, JCS!!!!

Cheesecake and a sick Buster

I drove to work today for the March birthday cheesecake event. Peanut Butter Cup cheesecake. Yummy! Chocolate & Peanuts/Peanut butter are my favorite foods! :-) I need to talk with the surgeon [or his nurse] to get a return to work release. I'm thinking about starting back half-time on Easter Monday.

While I was eating cheesecake, DD2 called to say that she was taking Sport to pre-school for the afternoon, but Buster had a fever. So he's here, asleep on the couch. Poor little fella. I need a nap - too tired to knit. And I'll have to pick up Sport in an hour. The mama works till 9:30 or so tonight & the daddy is out of town.

Short Row Heel

...ala "Simple Socks: Plain & Fancy" by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts. When the book came home to me, I read through it & thought: Yippee - I'll practice on that blue striped OPAL.

[I'll skip the part about the 3 total and 2 partial frogs...]

I finally got through a heel that I thought was "OK" and started down the foot. But, I kept seeing the two mistakes [one on each side of the heel] and they drove me nuts. *IF* these socks were going to be for me, I would have given a shrug and kept on going. But, this yarn is going to be used for socks for someone else. And while the [non-knitter] person who will eventually wear them probably wouldn't have noticed, I just couldn't bear to continue.

So...frogged again and now working on my standard heel flap.

While I was struggling with the short row technique, I thought that perhaps I should wait & try it on a pair of socks from heavier weight yarn. Then a few days ago Kathy mentioned that, too. [Thanks, Kathy.] That's what I'll do. I *think* have have mastered the technique - just need a bit more practice.

I have a yarn order hopefully in transit from KnitPicks. When I saw the mail truck at the corner, I thought, "Maybe the package will come today." Oh, no! It kept on going down the road. Maybe tomorrow.

Favorite Socks!

Yippee! Gift from DD1: the new Interweave publication: "Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs." I'm SO tickled! [And she gets to pick out a pattern & yarn and I'll gift her back with a pair of mom-made socks :-)

Self Striping Yarn

Looking at old photos recently with Sport and came across this one taken in September 1974. Groovy, eh? My first encounter with "self striping yarn." The design that emerged was Totally Accidental. I was amazed - and pleased - at what happened :-)

This morning I dug out my box of knitting [etc.] patterns and found the one I used.

The yarn was Red Heart Wintuk Clansman sport weight. The pattern was from a 3-pattern folder: "Clansman Sweaters - Coats & Clark's Studio Card No. 8"

Copyright: 1973 - Price: 35 cents

Good lord!

When I saw the kids' sweater photos on the pattern card, I remembered knitting several for First Nephew and First Niece. And now I know what pattern I'll use for pullovers for Sport & Buster :-)

Today's BD Girls

Happy BD, Mom!











Here's the other one:

EZ

I’ve been reading posts by various bloggers that refer to Elizabeth Zimmermann. But, I was totally unfamiliar with the name. I turned to my local public library’s online catalog and found that they have one of her books, “Knitting Without Tears.” It was checked out, but I’ve placed a hold on it for when it’s returned.

Then I phoned the nice lady at the PL’s Interlibrary Loan office and requested the rest of EZ’s books. In just a few days, I had two of them in my hands! ILL is such a wonderful FREE service!

1) “Knitter’s Almanac” - Good grief! An Aran sweater is the first project? [Well, why not. I knit a rather complex Aran cardy early on in my teens.] And knitting directions that talk us/me through a pattern. Yippee!!

Being a visual learner, I sometimes have difficulty wrapping my head around some normally written patterns. For instance: at the end of last summer I was looking for a sock pattern. I’d never knit socks before, so wanted an “easy” pattern. Reading the “heel turn” part on a few normally written patterns confused the heck out of me and I wasn’t brave enough to Just Do It. Then I found instructions [see Reference below] written in what I now know as the EZ style. Chatty. The author encourages the knitter several times during the heel turn: “Don’t worry…” – much like EZ’s “Keep Calm.”

2) “Knitting Around: or Knitting Without a License” – OK. Maybe I *will* try a Moebius. DD1 picked up the ILL books late Tuesday afternoon. I browsed through both. Knit a few rows, picked up “Knitting Around” again, started reading from the front, put it down, knit, picked up the book, read some more, put it down, knit. Etc. Finished the book about midnight.

What an amazing lady! Why am I just now discovering her?

What was I doing knit- and purl-wise in the mid 1970s? I was knitting hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters [both pullover & cardy], [but not socks], for my niece, nephew, sisters, myself, and baby outfits for niece, nephew, and friends’ babies. The sources for patterns were mainly Patons, Mon Tricot, and Marshall Cavendish publications, but not Elizabeth Zimmermann.

REFERENCE
Ramsey, Patricia. “Knit a Pair of Socks.” Countryside & Small Stock Journal. v. 86, no. 1. Jan/Feb 2002, pp. 94-96.

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday, Dear Daughter 3!!!

On this day, -- years ago, I had the joy of holding you in my arms for the first time. What a precious little bundle, then & now!

Luv ya,
Mom

PS - glad to have you as a 'fellow knitter,' too :-)

[side note: and I thought that would be the last time I'd have my tummy cut open. who knew?]

The Grandkids

Haven't posted much about the Grandkids. What can I say, other than they're the Best?!! Buster on the left & Sport on the right. Haven't seen a lot of them in the past two weeks. [No grandkid sitting.] I can't lift anything more than 15 lbs for now, and Buster's at least 32. As a busy 21 mo. old, he just won't lie still for diaper changing. So that means I can't be left alone with him for long!

It's About Perspective

DD1 thinks all I do is knit on that April [Austermann Step #10 - Melba] sock. But, that's because that's all she sees me doing. Up until yesterday I was napping more than not, but from DD1's perspective my days have gone like this:

7:30 a.m. - Mom's up. In the recliner. Knitting on that sock. [DD1 leaves for coffee shop day job.]

Later in afternoon - [DD1 returns from day job] Mom's up. In the recliner. Knitting on that sock.

An hour later - [As DD1 leaves for evening job at very nice Italian restaurant] Mom's up. In the recliner. Knitting on that sock.

Hours later [DD1 returns from Italian restaurant.] Mom's in bed. There's that sock, yarn & knitting needles on the table beside the recliner. She must have knit all evening.

From my perspective, the past five or six days have gone like this:

Knit a few rows. Lay it down. Take a pain pill with a big glass of water. Knit a few rows. Hoist myself out of the recliner and head to the loo. Back in the recliner. Knit a few rows. Sleep for an hour or two. Knit a few rows. Take a pain pill with a big glass of water. Knit a few rows. Doze off for ten minutes. Hear DD1 putting key in door. Pick up my knitting. Knit a few rows. Decide I need to head to the loo....

You get the idea.

Will I Glow in the Dark?

DD3 went with me today to the consultation with Dr. J, the radiation oncologist. We were both very impressed with Dr. J. She's very friendly, but professional, and speaks "Midwestern." [I'll have to admit, I was concerned that there might be a language problem before I met her. But, no worries. If she wasn't born in the USA, she's lived here most of her life.]

My cancer was at Stage 2 Level 2. Dr. J. explained that for some patients, their cancer & risk factors do not warrant radiation. For others, she strongly recommends it. However, for me...I'm on that "fence" area. She spent quite a long time explaining what if we do, what if we don't, complications & risks for either way, etc. And then, basically, said that it was my call. I really didn't have to think about it. Even though my "chances of survival" are at 88% without radiation, I opted to get that extra 8-10% reassurance and agreed to go for it.

I *thought* my surgeon had said that I'd probably start radiation in a "few weeks." But, Dr. J. said that we'll wait till I'm completely healed - and after I've had my 6 week check up. So, I'll meet with her again on April 24th. There will be two preliminary appointments to get me measured and my belly tattooed and get my coordinates into the computer. [I was thinking I'd like butterflies, but DD1 said the tattoos will be dots.] Once radiation begins, I'll have 28 sessions, one each Monday through Friday till done. I'll be able to work, at least part time, during my treatments, although Dr. J. said that the last week might be a bit rough and to consider taking that week off work.

As you can tell [being that I'm sitting at the computer], I'm feeling a lot better than I was a week ago! Still tire easily, still need pain meds, but I can manage at home on my own OK while DD1 is at work.

Thanks for your prayers and concern, I really appreciate it.

I'm Back - sorta

Surgery went fine. I felt great on post-op Day 2, so was sent home. Post-op Day 3 was awful. Finally back to feeling almost as good as Day 2 [when I was still under the influence of heavy-duty meds.]

Been spending a lot of time sleeping - and knitting a few rows at a time. I've turned the heel on the first April sock. These will be April socks, too, and not a second pair of March socks. I'm not THAT peppy yet.

Get the staples & stitches out later today. Seeing an oncologist about radiation on Wednesday. I've heard from 8-10 women who've had the same thing "years ago" and are doing just fine. So, I'm very confident about my recovery.

Today will be my first day out & about and I'm SO happy that it's Spring-ish!

Tying Up Loose Ends

I'll be gone for a while. Having surgery later this a.m. [uterine cancer] and will be in the hospital "three or four days." I'll get back to the computer ASAP!

Loose ends:

• Packed yesterday, repacked this morning.
• Checked my several email accounts [but not the one for work.]
• Cleared out my "nest" - the area around the recliner [which I do usually every day anyway, but last night I just went to bed. Had to put away all those pointy little sticks that seem to intrgue Buster to no end.]
• Knit 2" on my April Socks - finally using the Austermann Step #10 and Michelle's Basic Socks pattern [k4,p1 leg] - taking with me.

All for now. Take care. I'll be back....

March Socks DONE

Yippee! They're done! They fit nicely, but can't show that since I can't get my foot up on the scanner! :-) Socks are now residing in the overnight bag, but in a day or two they will be keeping my feet nice & toasty.

STR

I've yet to knit with Socks That Rock, but I'm going to use "STR" as my theme for the next 5 months. See That Rock in the image at the top of my blog? My goal will be to climb to it. I've done it once. I'm planning a trip out there in Aug/Sept and I want to climb up there again. It's not Mountain Climbing, just a good steep hike. I'm going to See That Rock up close and personal. Yes, I am.

March [Bed] Socks Update

Just remember - these are for ME - to wear in bed or under a blanket on the recliner. Yarn: From the Stash, see March 1st post. Hoping I don't run out of the navy before I finish Sock #2 -- thus the stripes.

I see I *could* have [should have, perhaps, but see first sentence above] continued the tan on the heel turn. Oh, well, what the he--.

I'm moving into my difficult patient phase and practicing an irritable attitude. [My coping strategy.] Trying to think positive about the Sunday & Monday preparations - clear liquids both days, 3 doses of magnesium citrate, and that bedtime treat on Monday.

Medical Research

This one gives a good overview: http://www.gyncancer.com/uterus.html

This one from the Mayo Clinic is more specifically for endometrial cancer, which is probably the one, but we'll know for sure in a week: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometrial-cancer/DS00306

Other reading suggests that there's a mutation connection - the same alleles that mutate in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome. Eh? So the family colon cancer tendency could be manifesting itself as uterine cancer? I'll have to pass this one by my niece who's studied genetics.

March Sock Report

Decided to quit wishing I had a second pair of bed socks and do something about it. So this pair will be my official SAM3 March Socks - and I have a good start on them.

March Bed Socks details:

For: Me
Yarn: from the stash, Red Heart sport weight, in navy blue and that light brown or tan or whatever it is that I've been trying to use up for several months.
Needles: four - because I don't have a fifth - aluminum [cor, they're cold], size 4
Pattern: generic top down, short cuff, CO 56; k2,p2 rib on cuff/leg and instep; stockinette soles; sl1,k1 type of heel flap.

Because I'm not sure how long the navy blue will last, I'm considering working several tan rounds: a tan row, 2 navy rows, a tan row, 3 navy rows...or something like that. And finish with the toes in tan.