Just Keep Swimming...

Do you remember that scene from Finding Nemo, where Dory, the forgetful fish, sings her little song, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming... what do we do? We swim!"  Sometimes that pops into my head when I feel like I'm literally swimming upstream.  Best thing to do is to just keep going.

The good news is that my big project at work was cancelled; it would have been great to have been able to complete it, as I would have caught up all my hours and then some from a slow year, but I'm really pooped!  The bad news is, my body took notice of the break, the adrenaline left my system, and the cough-cold I've had got really, really bad. 

I am one of those people who hate to go to the doctor, hate even more to take antibiotics unless I absolutely have to.  But I left Thursday early because I was literally wheezing, I was having so much trouble breathing.  I don't have pneumonia or anything, just some sort of infection, but I ended up having a chest x-ray, a nebulizer treatment, and a bit of a (well-deserved) scolding from an urgent care doc about maybe coming in next time before I am in quite such bad shape.

After a few days of rest, drugs, lots of sleep, and relaxing, I'm feeling quite a bit better.  Just one more reminder that I need to do a better job of taking better care of myself, and putting my own needs a bit higher on the to-do list.  Hard, when you are a single mom, and you work, but still... I'm not getting any younger, and need to learn to manage stress better and to get more exercise.  I ended up losing about 12 pounds in the last 3 weeks (which were 12 pounds I really didn't need anyway), but I wouldn't recommend the heart-pounding-stress-coupled-with-bronchitis diet plan to anybody.

Time for another BOOK GIVEAWAY!

I have TWO copies of Nicky Epstein's Knitting On Top of the World to give away this month:

 - one from the generous folks at Soho Publishing; and

 - another from Raveler meneito97, a/k/a/ Kari, who feels that the projects are beyond her knitting level at this point and wants to give the book to someone who can use it! (THANK YOU SO MUCH, KARI!!!)

I had asked you guys if you could suggest any interesting questions I should ask people to answer, when they send in either a comment on this blog post, or an email to maryp55124 "at" yahoo "dot" com, and Linda suggested the following, which I thought were really good!

    1) As a knitter, what would you like someone to knit and give to you as a present?

    2)  As a knitter, what knitting related gift would be at the top of your list for this holiday season?

To enter the book giveaway, just answer one or both of these questions by commenting on this post, or by sending me an email to the address above.  And good luck!

(Linda and several others of you also mentioned that you would like to hear my son's point of view about my knitting.  I'm trying to cajole him into writing a post one of these days, but at the moment he feels a bit overwhelmed with high school homework.

Speaking of Nathan, here is his nice outfit for homecoming dance:

His dad helped him pick it out.  I don't think I've ever seen him in a tie before.  Sniff, sniff... my little boy is growing up!  He evidently had a really good time, and has been enjoying the football games, and helping on the Theater Tech crew for the upcoming school production.  Today we're off to the Brave New Workshop for his Youth Performance Group improv rehearsal and first show, after which we're having dinner with the family of another student who goes to his high school, and then attending a dress rehearsal of a play at the Brave New Workshop's downtown theater.  Should be fun!

Progress on the Austrian Alps Jacket

Thanks to a few days home from work, as well as a break in that big project, I've made quite a bit of progress:

I have the left front, left sleeve cuff, back, right sleeve, and right front done.  Now all I need to do is finish the left sleeve, and then join all the pieces together and knit the raglan yoke and collar.

Here is a closeup of the one finished sleeve, with that interesting cuff detail:

I'm REALLY enjoying this knit; I love the variety of textured stitch patterns, and knitting in plain yarn that shows the stitch detail (I chose Knit Picks' Merino Style this time - really liking it so far.)

I did have to so some re-designing.  When Nicky invited me to visit when I was just starting the KOTOTW project, I had the chance to actually try on some of the actual knitted samples from the book, including this jacket:

I wanted to re-design how it fit a bit, mainly because my breasts are (ahem) a bit less perky than the models' in the book; I wanted that break between the two knitting patterns to fall under the curve of my breasts. 

But, this is also a piece where you can't finish the fronts and back and collar, in order to figure out how long the sleeves need to be, or how it will fit, etc., because it is knitted in one piece from the armholes upward.  So, I made my best guess on how to lengthen it a bit for my body, and where to put that break between the two patterns.  My fear is that I guessed wrong, and have made the whole darn thing too long now. 

But, the only way to find out, will be to finish the second sleeve, and then knit the 80 or so rows of the yoke, so I can try it on, both to see if the length of the body is right, as well as whether I got the sleeves right.  If not, there's going to be a fair amount of unravelling and re-knitting to do...

But you know what they say...

Just keep swimming!

 

XOXOXO,

Mar

Comments

[Silverlotus]

Fingers crossed the jacket fits! I'm always having to adjust things for where my rather ample curves are, and I'm always worried until I can try on the nearly complete piece.

And, of course, I'd love to win a copy of the book. :D

1) As a knitter, what would you like someone to knit and give to you as a present?

I would love someone to knit me some colourwork socks. I love knitting socks, but I'm not too sure about doing colourwork socks myself.

2) As a knitter, what knitting related gift would be at the top of your list for this holiday season?

I'd love one of those circular needle cases from Namaste.

[Steph]

I love Dory. She was a very bright fish indeed!

[Sara]

1) I'd greatly appreciate getting socks as a present. I know what goes into them and they always seem knit with love.

2) Someone above said a namaste bag. No one buys me anything that expensive, so I'd wish for a yarn bowl or a bead bowl. From a artisan potter.

[Renay]

I am SO behind on the Austrian Alps jacket (or maybe you are just way too fast, Mar!). So far I've just completed a couple of the cable repeats on the first piece, the back.
Good news, though - the buckthorn infection in my finger is finally subsiding so back to knitting in force later this week!

[Kristin]

Mary, I can't wait to see your projects tomorrow - and your smiling face. Believe it or not I finally have a project going (though you will likely lament that I have failed you as a student due to my incredibly slow progress and need for further tutoring....). Either way, I'm really looking forward to catching up!

[Batb]

Oh I don't know what happened to my Comment that I wrote yesterday??? I guess it got lots in the Internet ether!!!

Anyway, I am happy to hear that you are feeling better. what happens to all your hard work now that that big project was cancelled?
At least you were able to get some knitting in - that jacket is beautiful and very interesting. I never cease to be amazed at your talent!

Your son is such a cutie! I'm happy to read that he had fun at homecoming. It sounds like high school is going pretty well so far - I think we all wish him so much fun and success. We're rooting for him!

[Cynthia]

So sorry that you were sick. Being sick is no fun!
I think it's so fabulous that people have donated books to give away! I already have a book, so even though it would be cool to have one signed by Nicky, it would be nicer for someone who doesn't have one, to win one. I really like your questions. I would love to answer them, but it would be like a child's wish list for Santa. lol! Nice yarn is always nice. Thanks for the yarn, the gloves are coming along beautifully!

Nathan looks so handsome in his tie! And you look beautiful in the Alps sweater! Sure hope you don't have to pick out your sweater. But, sometimes it's so worth it to undo and redo.

[Norma]

Hope you are feeling perkier!

[Linda Chan]

I hope you're feeling better. I love the color of the yarn you're using for the Austrian Alps Jacket.

Your son looks so grown up with his party clothes on. :)

As for the questions (my questions): (1) I think I'd like it if someone made me mittens; (2) I'd like an interchangeable circular needle set of wooden needles -- I've been looking at one on the Webs website.

[Tifanne]

Hope you are feeling better. My daughter brought home her first cold from day care last week. She spent the day with grandma and grandpa and got them sick, then spent the weekend with mommy and daddy and got us sick. We are just starting to feel better at our house. I would love for someone to knit me a cowl out of alpaca! I would love for someone to give me a generous gift certificate to one of my favorite yarn stores, so I could buy without guilt!

[Michelle H]

I'd love to get a scarf for Christmas. I always knit them for others but never seem to find time for making one for myself. And for a gift? I've already asked Santa for some blocking wires, Signature double points, an addition to the back of the house for my stash......

[Jeanine]

My comment is a bit late, life hasn't exactly been going by my schedule lately! I would love it if someone knit me a pair of super warm mittens or gloves. As for the top of my wish list, it would have to be a set of the new Knitters Pride needles. I'm glad you're feeling better!

[danielle]

1) As a knitter, what would you like someone to knit and give to you as a present?

Really, the basic answer is - anything! As a knitter can appreciate the time and effort that goes into anything handmade and therefore always appreciate whatever. But what would I really like, deep down and all? A sweater! Of almost any sort - because I do not have the attention span to finish adult sweaters (I think I have completed THREE and only one was really successful! LOL). Pullover - cardigan - plain as can be - fair isle (well, that is really outside the ball park of wishful dreaming!) I really would not be picky! Just as long as it fit...