June 20, 2007
Thank you everybody for all the kind words and notes and messages about my Grandma, they have been all greatly appreciated.
I am a little surprised at quite how hard it has hit me. As I said, it wasn't unexpected, her health had been failing for some time, and her memory had completely failed her, to the extent that it would upset her greatly that she couldn't remember anything, and she wasn't herself at all anymore.
Her funeral is tomorrow afternoon, and I'm hoping that the sunshine that is appearing today will hold out until then, although the weather lady is telling me it will rain. Again. Appropriate, but unwanted.
In other news, this is the knitting post I was preparing when the call came to go to the hospital on Saturday night.
The knitting has been suffering of late, mainly due to sewing. In particular, this.
This is Roxie.
She's Em's new dance partner. She has yet to grow hair, a face and some clothing, but she's been keeping me kind of busy. She's pretty much the same height as Emily, and we yet to find somewhere to store her in our tiny little house. She took me most of last week to make.
Late last week I also got my act together and finished the cream baby cardi.
I attached the white buttons, but included a little bit of yarn and the yellow buttons, in case baby's mum likes them better.
And the pick baby cardi has been largely ignored. So much for a quick knit!
The back is done, the fronts begun.
Over the past couple of days, I've been knitting, and thinking of Grandma while I knit. I've been working on the Lupine Lace socks, but last night I hit a snag.
They look good, they fit well, I'm happy with them.
But I'm starting to think the yarn is cursed. I got up to this point last night, then decided I'd better weigh the remaining yarn. Yeah.
I've used 41g of a 100g ball. I'm going to run out of yarn. Dammit. (That's mild compared to what I said last night).
I think it is going to be put aside in a temper tantrum.
I'm pretty sure that whatever I end up using it for will be toe-up. I may adapt this pattern, because I like it. Has anyone adapted Monkey for toe up yet? Yes, I'm lazy, we've been over this.
Let's hope that the yarn is even better after being knit a fourth time.
I have also been working on the Shetland Shawl, but pictures later. I have only 35 rows left of the centre square. Woo Hoo! Then I need to knit three more borders, but lets not think of that today.
And speaking of exqusite, inspiring lace, have you seen missalicefaye's Wedding Ring Shawl? It's gorgeous, no other words for it.
And I feel so much better that it took her seven months to knit. I wish I'd got a copy of the pattern, although after this one it may be some time before I tackle another one!
Comments
That's a bit of a bummer about the sock yarn. I'd be seriously peeved too. The pattern looks lovely though. I guess that makes it all the more annoying right?!
Posted by: Terri at June 20, 2007 03:01 PMRoxie is very cute in an Amish sort of way!! Darn, fancy running out of wool on the sock. Bah humbug. I have short legs so I never have that problem. :-)
Posted by: 2paw at June 20, 2007 03:21 PMMaybe if Em keeps her room neat and tidy she can find a spot for her in there. I love those socks, and I hope you find a solution to them in that yarn as the color is gorgeous too. I see the baby cardigan is all nicely finished, and the purple one looks quite cute too.
Posted by: Sue at June 20, 2007 05:21 PMYou made me run off and weigh my recently-finished Opal sock, and the remaining ball - phew, plenty for the second sock! Total bummer about running out - ergh, time to do a new project, I reckon.
The baby cardy is just lovely. The dummy is amazing - what a lot of work! I was once in a professional production of Taming of the Shrew with a shortage of actors, so we replaced Kate's sister Bianca and her suitor with sewn calico dummies LOL! It worked remarkably well.
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow at the funeral, and hoping that it is a positive and healing ceremony, that celebrates your grandmother's life, and helps you all to come to terms with her death.
Posted by: Jejune at June 20, 2007 06:18 PMSo sorry to hear/read about your Grandma. Grandma's are among the most amazing people in the world a lot of the time. My thoughts are with you.
Having Roxy around must be like having another body in the house, but one that you can't ask to scoot over on the couch! She's amazing!
Posted by: amanda j at June 20, 2007 09:42 PMYou know, my grandmother declined slowly into full-on dementia and even though she was a few months shy of 100 when she died, I was surprised at how terrible a loss I felt. It's hard to accept that your experience is reduced to memories, even if they are precious.
Posted by: jessie at June 20, 2007 09:42 PMI hope it goes ok tomorrow + make sure you take plenty of tissues. I always feel better after the funeral as I suppose its a last chance to say goodbye.
I've got Lupine as well & also want to convert it to toe up, do you fancy doing it together?
Posted by: blueadt at June 20, 2007 10:45 PMIf that socks wool is the Knittery Cashmerino then it was never 100g to start with. I was miffed when I weighed mine to find it was only 95g (back when I bought it they were saying it was 100g...now she says they are all 95g)....
Katt
Posted by: Katt at June 20, 2007 10:57 PMNot again! That yarn is most definitely cursed.
Posted by: Wool Winder at June 20, 2007 11:01 PMI did one monkey sock toe up.... I have yet to cast on for the other one tho... I just did a short row heel on 1/2 the sts, then started the pattern... it's upside down but I don't care, they're gonna be in my shoes right? lol... I did a short row heal and because I like ankle socks I only did 3 repeats of the leg, then did the twisted ribbing.
I'll take a pic for you and post it on my blog.
"Yes, I'm lazy, we've been over this." I am stealing that. In fact, I may make a plaque.
Posted by: Janet at June 21, 2007 03:19 AMI only caught up with all your posts!! I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother.
Posted by: Lien at June 21, 2007 11:43 AMI haven't been in for a few days, so it was a shock when I came in today to hear about your grandmother. I am so sorry for your loss, but at least you've got some great memories, and what a wonderful legacy she left you, your ability to knit.
Posted by: Sue at June 21, 2007 12:22 PM{Donna} I'm sorry about your grandmother. Know that you're in my thoughts.
Posted by: sprite at June 22, 2007 01:48 PMHey Donna. So sorry about your grandmother. What a sad, sad time for you and your family.
I just did a google on toe up monkeys. Seems a lot of people are trying it so you should be in good company.
Posted by: Bells at June 25, 2007 09:06 PMBummer a/b the yarn. I think Toe-up is the way to go. Do you think by finishing the foot, you would use up more than 9 grams of yarn?
Posted by: Wanda at June 26, 2007 03:22 AM
I think the lounge is clearly the storage spot for Roxie (who has a very nice waist, where can I get one of those!!).
Posted by: Rose Red at June 20, 2007 01:54 PMWill be thinking of you tomorrow.