22" knit on this blanket and it seems like its taking forever! I'm supposed to knit until its 29", so technically I'm almost there but wow it just seems to go on - kind of like this pregnancy. I'm an impatient one. Anyone who knows me knows how horribly impatient I am and I'm sure in the grand scheme of things it's not taking all that long, but I want so badly to meet my baby already...and finish this blanket.

I'm 19 weeks pregnant now and my stomach has just finished popping. I swear it happened over night because I was normal last week and this week - POP! - there's a belly. Since I'm a little on the bigger side it was hard to see the pop, but its not hard to see anymore! I also felt movement for the first time Friday. It was only for a second, and I think I felt him again the following day, but nothing else since.

I think this has been the best journey I've been on. Every new experience with this baby has been amazing. Getting to see him on the monitor during ultrasounds, I can already see his little personality. I just can't wait for the next phase - to feel him kicking and swimming around in there, but like my blanket, it's taking so long for that to happen! I'm sure it'll be here before I know it but right now it just doesn't seem that way.

I started with a simple hat, that I think may be a little big for a newborn, but come whatever us South Floridians call winter, it should fit him fine. That was a quick little knit, so it's done and ready to be washed and blocked.

I'm also knitting the Lace Edged Shawl out of Debbie Bliss' Simply Family, and that one is going to take sometime, but will be so worth it. That little blanket I have always thought was the cutest, simplest thing ever. It may take me some time to complete, but I have plenty of time to get it done, so that's fine - just so long as it's done before he's born. I have made some progress on the blanket though.  The yarn came in on Thursday and I cast on and knit maybe 2 rows.  The picture below is where I am at as of yesterday.  Considering I work full time, and it's Saturday morning and I haven't touched it yet, that's some good progress.  

I also have plans to knit the Ribbon Tied jacket out of the same book, and I have some left over yarn from the baby hat that I may be able to turn into a pair of socks for him.  The hat and what will be the socks I used some amazing Koigu yarn, so it' is nice and warm and elastic.

I'm not sure what else I will knit for him.  I'm sure it'll come to me with time, but suggestions are always appreciated.  

Meet my new adventure!  So naturally, since I have a little bean in my belly, I'm getting that knitting itch all over again.  I have things planned, and even made my first yarn purchase yesterday in I don't know how long!  There's a baby blanket and sweater on the way.  Booties and a hat are going to be knit up from some sock yarn that I have laying around, some gorgeous Koigu in a royal blue that would be perfect for the little boy I'm growing.  I'm thinking an argyle vest, some hand knit socks, what else?  Any ideas anyone?

Just a quick hit to show off my freshly finished Fawkes socks.

...told you I was on a spree...

I am on a socks bender. Last week I finished the cloning anemone socks. This week I finished the serendipity socks. And now I'm going to attempt to finish the Fawkes socks that I started some time ago. I've also already picked out my next sock project and brought out some yarn I've had stashed away for a few years now that may inevitably become another pair of socks. That's two future pairs of socks I already have lined up.

I'm not really sure what this new found sock obsession is, but it's turned me on to knitting again, so I'm thankful for it. I have been in a knitting slump for some time now and I think it's because my life the past few years has been turned upside down and right side up again. And you would think that when things are at their worst is when I want to knit the most, but the exact opposite is true. I actually get into a comatose-like depression where all I want to do is sleep and eat and that's it. The two most basic things necessary to support life is all I can manage when the going gets real tough, but since things are perking up again (thankfully!) then knitting is back too. Hopefully soon though you'll see more than just socks.

Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it.

This sock has so far been the furthest thing from happiness for me. It has actually given me a big headache, and let me see if I can get you to help me figure out this pattern.

I'm knitting the sock in the medium size and calls for a 64 stitch cast on for a ribbed cuff. Then, after the cuff, you increase it 2 stitches evenly for a total of 66 stitches, then knit the leg in pattern. So then you get to the short row heel where it says to

"center heel opposite 3 repeats of lace pattern by working first half back and forth over 39 stitches..."
The lace pattern is an 11 stitch repeat, totaling 66 stitches.

So if you center the heel across 3 lace repeats, you have 33 stitches, half the sock. It goes on:

"row1 (RS): k35, w&t."

That totals 36 stitches, not 39 or 33. So I'm confused. I figure the designer must know what she's doing so I tried continuing using the instructions given. Once I completed the short row heel, I got to the foot where it says:

"knit 36 stitches. PM to indicate start of lace section. Work 33 sts in lace pattern. PM to indicate end of lace section"

Again, that's a total of 69 stitches; 3 more than what I have! So let's say you continue on working the foot - which is knit straight with no decreases - and get to the toe. The toe says:

"*k9, k2tog, repeat from* to end of round, 60 sts"

So if my math is right here, the toe decrease is an 11 stitch repeat that decreases 6 times, which means it had to start life as 66 stitches, right? So is the pattern wrong or is there something I'm not getting?!

After a whole lot of complaining, screaming, and coming close to tears, my husband finally tells me, "you've made a million socks, why don't you just not follow the directions and go with what you know?" So that's what I did. I scrapped the instructions for the heel and the foot. I knit the heel using the 33 stitches on one side of my cable, which breaks the sock evenly in half, and that made it much easier to continue with the lace pattern once the heel was completed.

I tried finding errata for the pattern, even going to Blue Moon's site and found none.

I became inspired the other day and broke out some thread and an itty bitty crochet hook and hooked this bad boy right here. I like doing doilies because they are super complex, super intricate and super quick. This seriously took me less than a week from start to finish. I just need to block it now to take out the wrinkles.

I still haven't finished blocking the frost flowers and leaves shawl because really, so much has been going on in my life that I just haven't had the time for it, but I'm 3/4 of the way done, since it's such a massive undertaking to. Perfection takes time, as a wise person once told me. Will post pictures as soon as its complete.

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I don't think I've ever been happier in all my life. The Fost Flowers and Leaves Shawl is done! I actually finished "the never ending shawl" and I am completely beside myself.