Frustration!

I am so frustrated! I was working on the scarf for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange partner last night when I noticed a mistake. Well, this isn't the type of pattern that is easily corrected - at least in my opinion. Anyway, I had to frog back a few rows, and somewhere along the line I've lost/dropped about 4 or 5 stitches and I don't know where in the pattern they are. I don't know if I should rip back another row or two or not.

The thing is, I need to finish this up by the end of the month and get it sent off to her. I had debated just tossing it aside and starting another scarf in an easier, quicker pattern (though this one is easy as well). The only thing is, I don't know if I started over if I would get the scarf finished in time to send it out or not. My pal doesn't want anything too thick, so I want to be conscious of that.

I think I'll try to fix up this scarf and continue. I just don't want the mistakes to be noticeable if I can't fix it, and I have a feeling they would be noticeable...

I'll keep you updated, and when my pal receives the scarf, I'll post pictures for you.

Happy knitting & stamping & crafting!

We Have Knitting - Honest

Ok, in my last post I promised to have a picture of my Yukon Leaves sock. Well, here it is. It is coming along nicely (that is when I get to work on it), only I noticed that about an inch back there were two stitches that somehow escaped and were just sitting there. I'm going to have to see if I have a small crocket hook with me (I think I brought one, but it might be bigger) and somehow try to work them up to where I am right now. The stitches are right at the seam between the bottom and top so it shouldn't look too badly. If my crochet hook isn't small enough, I don't know what I'll do...I guess try to see if I can find any small hooks at the yarn store. Other than that, does anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to rip back because I would mess up the pattern on the top of the foot and not know where I was at in it.

Anyway, I thought that while I figured out what to do with the above sock situation, I would start in on Monica's Dancing Tulips pattern that I bought from the Loopy Ewe. Well, I decided to go with the Fleece Artist Sorbeto yarn since Monica and her sister both said the pattern would get lost in the darker yarn - and we all know that when you have a pretty pattern you want to be able to see it! Well, I started winding the yarn up into a ball (I don't have a ball winder or swift - not here in Korea, and not home in Canada either) and ran into a problem. Yarn spaghetti. I had this problem with the last skein of Fleece Artist I bought as well. It will just take a little time and persistance to sort out, but I can do it! I did notice a couple of things in this skein of FA...there was a break in the yarn that was tied up (and will end up being on the foot somewhere because of winding location), and in a couple of places the yarn wasn't plied all that evenly. But, for the most part, the yarn is fine. I'm actually liking this yarn more and more. I was unsure if I'd like the yellows that was in it (thinking they might be too bright), but they actually look nice and go with the other colours. The photo isn't accurate colourwise...it was taken by the window/door so it looks lighter than it actually is. So, once I get the yarn all untangled I will being the Dancing Tulips pattern. I can't wait - it's such a pretty pattern! Check out the Loopy Ewe and see if she has any more of the pattern for sale. The last time I looked she didn't, but Monica had said more of her patterns were on the way so she could have them by now.

And, to close off with today (which by the way is the last holiday I will have until Christmas - it's Teacher's Day in Yesan so we don't have to go to school) here is the Yukon Leaves sock taking a gander at the view out the only window in my apartment (which is on the other side of the door that leads to the laundry area). Not that great is it...a parking lot and bit of the road. The building in back of the sock that you can't see too well has other apartments on the 2nd to 4th floor. The first floor is a restaurant and a bar so it can get a little noisy at times, though it isn't too bad.

Craziness And A Little Contest

Hang in until the end of the post...something good awaits you!

Well, I am really afraid that I am going to run out of yarn for the Fluted Banister socks. I'm not done the first one yet...still have a few inches to go before I even start to decrease for the toe, and I'm looking at the ball of yarn and to me it doesn't look like there will be enough for the second sock.

I cast on for a different pair with different yarn (Paton's Kroy). I only started this last night after I felt like I was going crazy and might start hyperventilating or something (not really, but I was getting a little freaked out). I'm about to start the leg of this pattern, which is one from Sensational Knitted Socks.

I really don't know what to do. I waited for some time after ordering yarn for my pal's socks for said yarn to arrive...only to find out after choosing the pattern that I'd need 3 skeins of this particular yarn (Panda Wool). So, I choose some yarn (the Louet Gems) and a different pattern because said pal requested cuff down socks (which is how I typically make socks anyway) so starting a pair toe-up was out of the question. And now I'm worried about not having enough yarn for this. That's why the new pair. I've used this yarn for a pair of socks for myself before and have always had some left over (my foot length is 9", my pal's is 10") so I know there should be enough left over for an extra inch of the pattern. However, I don't know if the new pattern will use up a lot of the yarn and thus cause me not to have enough for the foot. As well, I don't know if I should just do the pattern on the leg and keep the foot plain stocking stitch, or continue the pattern on the top of the foot as well.

What also worries me is that I won't get these socks done in time to send out to my pal on August 2nd. I'm sure if I explained everything that has gone wrong and ask if she mind if they are a little late, that she wouldn't be too upset (so long as she gets them). However, it hasn't come to that yet. I've put the baby sweater I was working on at work to the back burner, and the socks are in top priority. I'll work on them during breaks at work as well as at home. I am determined to get them done on time...that is providing everything works out for me! Who would have thought that joining a fun swap would be so stressful - all I can say is I'd better not be getting any grey hair from this; I have enough of that already!

So, on to a little contest. I've made a couple sets of stitch markers and thought I'd give those as prizes. First up is a colourful set of 5 stitch markers. All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me what the provincial flower of New Brunswick is.

Next up is a shiny set of 5 stitch markers. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me the name of the actor I have a crush on. I'll give you a little clue...he's really hot! 'Nuff said.

I will draw for each set of stitch markers from the list of names - or if someone tells me where I can access one of those random number generators online, I'll use that. You can enter one or both of the draws, the choice is yours; however, you can only enter once for each. If you don't know the answers to the questions, just take a guess and you'll be entered into the draw.

And, here's an even sweeter deal! Tell your friends, post about it on your blogs and let them know that they should also include the name of the person/blog who sent them here. If they tell me, and that person wins, you as the referrer will win a surprise set of stitch markers (yet to be made, hence the surprise part of it), one for each draw. So for example, if Jane leaves a comment and says that Billy Sue from Billy Sue Knits sent her, then Jane wins a set of stitch markers and Billy Sue would win the bonus stitch markers.

Now, you know what to do....oh, and contest closes Friday July 13, 2007!

Oh The Horror Of It All!

I got my first sock of the Falling In Love pattern finished a little while ago. Ok...hold back those cheers. I attempted to change the pattern a little - nothing major, I just added ribbing to the top of the sock. I finished on a row 5 so that the heart pattern would be completed and then did about an inc of the ribbing.

It look fine that way, at least I think. The foot looks horrible big in comparison with the leg section, but that's neither here nor there.

Here's where the horror comes in. I tried to put the sock on, and couldn't get it over my heel! The ribbing felt a little tight on the last round when I tried it on, so even though I did the bind off very loosely, it still didn't have any give when I tried to get it over the heel. So, because I can't get it over my heel, I don't know if the leg is too tight or not...it did feel a little snug as I tried to get it over my foot...

This is where I need your help. I've never binded off with ribbing (except on a scarf when it didn't really matter if it was a little tight or not, because it didn't affect the look or anything). Is there a way to remedy this? I'm assuming I'll have to take out the ribbing. Can someone point me in a direction where I can find how to do this kind of bind off without it being too tight? Should I have gone up to 2.75mm needles to do it?

At this point, I think I will hold off on doing the second sock until I can fix the situation...oh well, this won't get done to count for February's Socktopia pair. Sigh...