knitabit

Holiday Chaos

Knitting has taken a back seat to various forms of holiday chaos around here. Music programs, rehearsals, class projects, shopping...

Roscalie has become the Dreaded UFO. Fair-isle knitting in the round is so fun on the body of the sweater, and so horrific on the sleeves. And it will only get worse with each set of decreases as I approach the cuff. I think I need to implement some sort of reward system: perhaps a trip to a yarn store upon completion of the first sleeve; maybe purchase of a swift and a ball winder upon completion of the second? Hmmm, worth considering.

Sock progress is no better. I put the toe on wrong, and if I don't fix it, the toe will not be aligned with the heel. That sure sucks.

Also, I think this yarn looks prettier in stockinette (see the toe) than it does in the stitch pattern. Actually, I think the sock looks better in the photo than it does in person. That's kind of weird.

I had another fear that all the garter stitching would result in an uncomfortable sock, but when I tried it on just now it felt fine. However, it's plenty big for my foot. There's no way it will fit mom's foot, which is at least one size smaller. So now I'm asking myself what I'm going to get my mom for Christmas.

Once I get the toe fixed, however, this sock will go back to being fun again so I will not get an extended case of the grumpies on this.

In other (non-knitting) news...

• I've reached my limit in my job as Executive Director of the Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance. The job is definitely more than one person can do in a 15-hour work week. The Board President and I are investigating some different management companies so that my job can be completely outsourced. That means my job might go away completely by March 1 or so, leaving me with more time to devote to consulting, which, although not as satisfying in some ways, is much more profitable and will allow me to earn a like amount of income in far fewer hours. I think of DARCA like it's my child - I raised it from infancy, I've seen it through its difficult adolescent years, and now it's become an adult that needs to go live on its own and not suck the life out of me in my middle age.
• I'm not really much for wearing make-up, but I'm not liking what I see in the mirror lately. I decided it wouldn't kill me to do a little something along the lines of a light foundation, some blush, some eyeshadow, etc. I've been a fan of Paula Begoun for quite some time, so a couple of weeks ago I ordered some of her skin care products. I'm so happy with them that last week I ordered a bunch of make-up. Now that's scary - ordering make-up online. But it came in the mail yesterday and I am so pleased with it. I think I can actually wear this foundation all day without feeling like I've got a mask on.
• I was at Sam's Club in Loveland yesterday, shopping in vain for a wreath and a poinsettia (I guess if you don't get there the day after Thanksgiving, you're out of luck.) They had badly done Christmas Carols blasting in the store - not the "Let It Snow" kind of stuff - the actual sacred music kind of Christmas Carols. I found it offensive that this form of music would be used in such a setting. I guess I'm really out of step with the red state values around here. Although I am a Christian myself, I don't like it when religious themes are used in a blatantly commercial setting, whether it be a shopping venue, a tacky electrical parade, or a display on a government building. I think the "Happy Holidays" approach is eminently suitable and I don't see why the Fundamentalist crowd is constantly making demands that their religious symbols be foisted on all of us in such tacky, commercial ways. And then there's the whole "He's the reason for the season!" sentiment. I find that particularly laughable when you consider that early Christians most likely plopped the celebration of Jesus' birth near the winter solstice so as to expropriate pagan celebrations.

Okay, enough ranting. I'm sounding particularly grinch-like today, aren't I? Let's get back to knitting!

Comments

Religious carols are sacred, and it pains me to hear them as holiday Muzak. Neither am I happy to see other Christian symbols and signs of Christmas taken into commerical settings. This is an attitude that seems to swim against the prevailing tide out here, I'll tell ya what!

At the same time, Easter has become so thoroughly secularized that people are shocked when Mr OotFP refuses to travel then because it is the holiest time of year for Christians. Huh? Christians take any of this stuff SERIOUSLY?! It's only the Easter bunny...

FWIW I think the yarn looks better in stockinette than in the pattern, too. Too much of a granny squares thing going on the the pattern, maybe.

Posted by: Patricia Tryon at December 15, 2004 09:07 PM