At the Speed of Life

This time of year, when the holidays are coming and people are trying to wrap things up before the end of the year, is always a bit chaotic, but things feel especially rushed this year. I looked at the calendar yesterday and realized that we don't have a free weekend until we go to Florida. This coming weekend Rainbow has events to go to and we have to start cooking for Thanksgiving, the following weekend is my brother's wedding, and the weekend after that is Rainbow's 10th (yes, you read that correctly) birthday. There's a lot to do before we go away, but I'm trying to stay calm and not get too crazed.

Knitting is helping, as it always does. I'm trying not to put any undue pressure on myself to knit things by certain deadlines, and I'm only making one hand-knit gift for the holidays (a pair of socks for my soon-to-be-sister-in-law, as she's the only one in the family who hasn't yet received a hand-knit gift from me). I am still hoping to hit 100 designs in my portfolio by the end of the year, and though that will mean a bit of a time crunch, it's looking good. Of the four left to get me there, one is in testing, a second is with my tech editor, the third has just been cast on, and the fourth can likely get done in December.

One project I was happy to get off the needles over the weekend was Rainbow's knee socks, which were nearly finished Thursday night (I had only half the bind off on the second sock to finish when the Mister made me go to bed) but then took me another day or so weave in the ends. But they're done, and she's thrilled with them. They look a little wonky here because she's worn them but hasn't yet relinquished them to be washed for the first time.

I knit these toe up, using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel and her foot template. The yarn is Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce in Favorite Carrot Cake, and the contrasting toes, heels, and cuffs were done using the mini skein that came with the yarn; it's meant to look like the cream cheese frosting and toasted pecans that finish off the carrot cake. I magic looped these using a US 1/2.25 mm needle, which made them go quite quickly compared to my socks. I also did two sets of increases toward the top of the calf to add about half an inch of additional circumference and bound off using a variation of the Russian bind off. Amazingly, there's still some yarn leftover, so it's gone into the bag with the other leftovers to be added to my granny square blanket.

Last night I started that new design sample I mentioned. This is going to be a worsted weight colorwork hat, so it should be the matter of a few evenings of knitting. There's not much to see just yet, just the brim and one round of colorwork.

The yarn is Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Amethyst Heather and Peapod. It's a good workhorse yarn, and quite soft -- great for kids and babies. I bought a number of skeins earlier in the year in several colors to knit charity hats with. (And in going over to get the link, I noticed that quite a few colors are currently on sale, if you have similar thoughts.)

In reading, I have been listening to and thoroughly enjoying The Dutch House as performed by Tom Hanks and have about three hours left. I expect that means I will be finished by tomorrow evening, when I'll get some more time with Tom Hanks (at least on screen) at the Pittsburgh premiere of It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Though the movie doesn't come out until Friday everywhere else, we're getting an early peek at it via a fundraiser for WQED, our local PBS station where Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood was created and filmed. I can't wait!