I'm having trouble getting into a comfortable blogging rhythm. I would love to be one of those bloggers who writes a great post every couple of days, but it's just not happening. I have trouble getting posts written in the evening, as after spending the day at my paying job, I don't really feel much like spending my evening on the computer. That cuts into the knitting time, without which I'd have nothing to blog about anyway! So my blogging tends to get done on the weekends. And I don't seem to be able to write short posts – they all seem to go on forever. Probably because I've been knitting all week and I have plenty to blog about by the time the weekend rolls around. So it feels like have of my weekend is taken up by doing bloggy stuff. I was going to write a post yesterday, and another today, but I ended up spending yesterday trouble-shooting some technical glitches I was experiencing. By the time I got those solved, I no longer felt much like being on the computer. What's a girl to do?

I have an FO to show. I finished a pair of socks last weekend

This was the yarn from Cherry Blossom Fibers that I received from my Secret Pal in December. It is the Central Park colourway. When I wrote about receiving the yarn, I said that I wanted to finish the socks I was working on for Dad before I cast on for these socks. Obviously, that did not happen. The lure of the Magic Loop drew me in. I admit it, I'm a sucker for technique. It was around that time that I decided to try the Magic Loop. So I really wasn't cheating on Dad's sock – I was simply expanding my repertoire of knitting techniques. It was for the greater good.

When I first started knitting using the Magic Loop, I quite liked it, but I didn't think it would replace my usual method of working on dpns. I've always quite liked dpns. However, I don't have all the sizes I could possible need, so having this technique will certainly come in handy (and already has, in fact) for doing sleeves, the tops of hats, etc.

I decided then that when I finished those socks, I would go back to Dad's. This is the stage they were at when I abandoned them put them aside for a while:

At the time, I wasn't quite sure what to do about the heel. At some point along the way, I decided to do a reverse heel flap, such as described here. The thought of a new technique gave me the inspiration I needed to continue with them. They re-entered the active knitting pool as primary portable project. I did the heel (it was quite fun, actually), and started on the leg. And then something happened. The dpns started to drive me nuts. I kept dropping one (on the bus in winter – not fun). I kept feeling like I was going to snap one. So lo and behold, I now have this:

Looks like I've moved firmly into the Magic Loop afficionado camp.

I mentioned last week  that I had another child's sweater that was almost finished. As seems to be a common occurence with me, I got to a point where I'm not sure about it, and so it's just been sitting there until I figure out what to do (hopefully this won't take months, as has been known to happen).

Here's the problem. I decided to make a Child's size 10 or so sweater, raglan sleeves, with a placket, because I like the look of a placket and I didn't know how to make it. I found a pattern to use, but the gauge is totally different, so I'm using a bit from that pattern and a bit from Elizabeth Zimmermann's raglan formulas. I don't think my numbers are working out right. I'm out of sleeve stitches for the raglan decreases but the length from the underarm to the shoulder isn't big long enough. Of course, not having anyone to try it on doesn't help. I think I need to rip back and start again. Here's what it currently looks like. This is recycled yarn from another sweater I bought at Value Village. I'm making this for Dulaan, but as always, using it to try out new techniques (and to practice my colourwork – I'm quite happy with my tension on this one)

This is recycled yarn from another sweater I bought at Value Village. I'm making this for Dulaan, but as always, using it to try out new techniques (and to practice my colourwork – I'm quite happy with my tension on this one)

I have a couple more things to write about (see what I mean about it getting long), but I'm going to post this and start on the other posts later.  I'll either post them today, or save them to post later in the week. I want to provide an update on the curling scarf situation and write about some emergency sock surgery.