Yopping Update #47 - Fox Paws (or there may have been another F word I used while knitting)

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I know, I know - I am very late with this update, but I blame my obsession with getting Fox Paws started.....and re-started... and oh yah, re-started. 

 First time I totally messed up the increases and couldn't back up successfully so I pulled it all out (only 3 rows). 

 Second time I was merrily knitting along and very confused that my stitch count was off as I got to the 4th row. Ummmmm, I didn't read the pattern properly and cast on 141 stitches instead of the required 121. Sigh. Ripped it all right back to the beginning...again. 

 Third time - cast on the correct number of stitches - check 

                   - properly execute all the increases - check 

                    - count each repeat section to make sure I have successfully gone from 28 - 50 stitches  Well?????

 I was out by one stitch, and it was close to midnight, and I couldn't quite figure out how to add that stitch back in without offsetting the pattern. I counted and re-counted the other repeats and put a stitch marker where I thought I could successfully add a stitch. I put the knitting into time out and went to bed. 

 After a good sleep, and coffee on the back deck in the sunshine (the what? I know, right?) I picked up the knitting and talked to myself through each of the 300 stitches. I carried on. I decided to just keep going because until I started to decrease again to 169 stitches there would be no way to tell if I had really messed up or not. I continued through the day, and early evening (while watching hockey playoffs) to row 16. And ta-da - it looks just splendid.

I have been keeping up with the clues of my mystery sock (the final clue came out today) and my gnome (Clue 4 is out today as well), and I have completed three more panels for the Christmas Tree Skirt (only two panels to go). 

 I have been walking and I do think the physio is helping - today I was able to walk 3 kms. I saw a downy woodpecker on my walk on Friday, but wasn't able to get a good picture. Today I saw my favourtie flowers. These always remind me of my dear daughter.

Bleeding Hearts

The weather has been lovely this weekend and I think my Jade tree and other Cactus plants can finally go outside for the summer. That will be my chore tomorrow. Tonight I am going to knit a beard for my gnome. And maybe start the next repeat of Fox Paws. It is starting to grow on me. 

 And hooray the Edmonton Oilers won the hockey game tonight - so there is that.  My mum was born in Edmonton so I have to root for her hometown.  They are playing the Calgary Flames which is the other team from Alberta so you can imagine the rivalry is pretty heated!  It is fun to watch two Canadian hockey teams battle it out. 

I will leave you with a picture I took on my Friday walk - this sleepy squirrel barely looked my way he was just sooooo relaxed. 

Someone else is enjoying the sun too!

Yopping Update #46 - So many gnomes so little time

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Wow - Update 46 - Soon it will be time to start thinking of my list for the next Year of Projects starting July1. 

I did finish my dragon Potholder and then started and finished by Prince potholder. I was worried I would run out of yarn - but I won the yarn chicken game. 

Phew that was close!

Otis staking claim on my Havana and not overly impressed with my double-knitting

I then worked on my Advent Gnomes #9 and #10

And now I have 10 of 24 done.

I have finished Clue 1 on the Make Gnome Mistake KAL, and finished clue #2 on the Mystery socks I am knitting.  Pictures will follow once all clues are done around the end of May I think. 

I did a few more rows on my son's gansey - I have almost finished the ribbing. 

I did make another 3D square.  I am quite proud of this one. 

and I finished the third panel of my Christmas Tree skirt - I might get this done in time for Christmas after all. 

Well I still have to duplicate stitch the gnome but that will come much later. 

Other than knitting and playing the in the Harry Potter Knitting Crocheting House Cup I have been walking a little, doing my physio exercises for my hip/back/neck and not too much else.  It has been very cold and rainy - unusual for May - but it is what it is.  At least since Monday I have been migraine free.  A blessing inded. 

I may have mentioned that I am not buying any yarn until the end of the summer, but I never said anything about not buying patterns.  I succumbed to this at the Post Office yesterday. How could I resist. 

I also purchase fox-paws on Ravelry.  I have had this in my queue for years and decided this is the month I am going to cast it on.  Wish me luck.  The instructions say it has 'interesting' increases and decreases. 

It comes with a colouring sheet so I can play with my colours before starting.  I have lots of Palette in blues and greens so I think it will be subtle but interesting. 

And even though I am on a yarn diet a friend gave me a sweater quantity of silk/rayon yarn and I am going to make Vroda with it.  I think it will make a nice summery top - and a little fancy too. 

She also gave me 3 balls of Cascade Fixation so I think another Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Sweater will be started shortly.  

I am still transcribing my parents' war letters - I try to do about three a day - my Dad's handwriting is very hard to read but it certainly is illuminating.

It has been too cold yet to go to the beach for a swim.  I am aiming for June 1st but the weather doesn't seem to be agreeing with me.  My poor jade tree is usually outside by the third week of April, but not this year.  

At least someone is enjoying the beach with her friends. 

Today I plan to knit.  LOL.  How unusual.  And I will go for a short rainy woodsy walk.  I do want to get started on the 2nd sock of the test knit.  I don't usually have secondsockitis so I need to tackle this before it gets any worse.  

Happy knitting/crocheting/spinning/walking/paddling/cross-stitching/living to all.  Until next week....

P.S. I have changed my comments section to pop-up in new window so I hope this helps those who were having trouble commenting and had to remain anonymous (but I appreciated you letting me know who you are!)