Monday 29 November 2010

Where have I been

I've totally neglected my blog and my life for a whole week. I started last Monday with a slight cold, nothing major, bit of a sore throat and a snuffle, I imagined I'd shake it off in a few days. On Thursday I popped out for a bit of provision shopping and got chilled to the marrow scraping ice off the car, I've barely been warm since. That evening I wore 3 wool jumpers, my pashmina and covered myself in a blanket, still cold, and my health deteriorated rapidly. I lost my appetite, OK not necessarily bad thing that I can no longer drink tea, coffee or wine, had no energy, coughed, spluttered. I won't go on about it all save to say that I haven't felt like doing anything apart from flick through a magazine or two, sip hot blackcurrant cordial and moan, Mr FF said it was worse than a bad attack of man flu.
So I haven't visited many blogs and done precious little knitting, which is a pity as I was enjoying producing these.
My first pair of knee socks, a Christmas order that I was a bit concerned about on several fronts. Firstly Julie, my customer, selected a Opal yarn from my stash but I wondered if 100g would be enough for a pair of ladies knee socks. I spoke to Christine at A Fine Yarn in Darlington both to get her advice and also ask if she had any of the wool in stock just in case. She said I probably would need more but that it was no longer produced. However Christine did have the brilliant idea of looking on Ravelry to see if anyone had it in their stash and sure enough they did. I contacted two knitters who had the yarn, both replied and I bought 6 balls from Nic at www.talesfromtheplain.blogspot.com at a very reasonable price. Just as well because one sock took about 56 g. Secondly though I used my standard sock pattern for the lower part I knew I'd need more stitches at the cuff and I wasn't sure how to tackle the leg shaping. Reading various patterns I devised a back decrease either side of two constant stitches so that the shaping is central on the heel, it seems to have worked well.The second sock would be finished if I hadn't been struck down, but I am on the mend now, I should be back on the caffeine and alcohol very soon unless I consider this a pre Christmas detox and stick to fruit juice a big longer.

11 comments:

  1. Caffeine and alcohol sounds good to me, I am at this moment doing battle with the bug from hell, until he's slain my knitting, sewing crimbo makes are on hold.......love those knee socks, glad you're feeling better,
    florrie x

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  2. Hope you are feeling better soon! It's awful if you have no energy, even for knitting. If you hadn't found another ball of yarn, you could have done a contrasting heel and toe perhaps. Those knee socks do look great. I don't think I'd be able to work out such complicated shaping for my chunky calves tho!

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  3. Oh dear sorry to hear you have been feeling so grotty, take care, stay warm and hope you feel more yourself very soon.

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  4. Sorry you've not been well - hope your back to full strength soon.

    Love the socks - I've cheated & asked my MIL to knit me some for christmas!!

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  5. Good to hear you are on the mend. The 'knee highs' are looking great. I love the yarn colours! Hope you're back to enjoying the wine and caffeine soon....essential ingredients for happy survival!!!! Ros

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  6. Those socks are just so pretty. Well done you for 'making up' such a great pattern.

    Sorry you have been under the weather. Seems that there is an awful lot of it about. My other half and I have been 'proper poorly' this past week with racking coughs and stuffed up noses.

    Just want to shut the curtains to the snow and snuggle up under a quilt!

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  7. Love theses socks! You are a creative critter, even when not feeling well. Hope you are on the mend...

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  8. Detox? Nah. Pour yourself a big glass of wine to celebrate creating those gorgeous socks.

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  9. Nice socks!
    I have been neglecting mine too because I've been quite busy in my other one. I feel the need to come back to Alfazema, even if the other one is more important.

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  10. Beautiful socks, glad your're feeling up to finishing them. The recipient is probably in dire need of them right now I should imagine!

    Hugs
    Brenda

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  11. А! Ini benar-benar menarik. Aku suka membacanya

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