In Which Things Start to Wind Down

Even though there are several weeks left in the month, this week is my last one of work and Mo's last of school for the year. I technically have work for most of next week, too, but I decided to use up some vacation days so I can fully enjoy my time in Florida (I worked while we were there in March, but this time of year is the break I look forward to all year!). There's still a lot to get done this week before we leave, not least of which is packing, but at least the end is in sight.

I'm happy to report that the hat was a bit hit with my sister-in-law, who sent me this photo Saturday morning:

That adorable bear hat my nephew is wearing? Mo made it! It was one of three she made, though only this one had those cute ears. Amazingly, they all fit him perfectly. And even more amazingly, she didn't use a pattern! She's becoming quite the crocheter.

The weekend did involve some frogging. Remember that charity hat I was knitting with the unusual brim construction? I thought the brim looked small because I still had the waste yarn in from the tubular cast on, but on Friday I finished the brim and started the body, so I pulled the waste yarn out and went to try it on -- and it was so tight I'm not sure it would have even gotten on my nephew's head. I don't know if I did something wrong or if there's an issue with the pattern, but there was really no recourse but to rip it out. On Saturday night, while the Mister and I watched Leave the World Behind (which, by the way, is even more unsettling than the book), I started over, this time with a different brim that I was sure would be stretchy enough to fit a human head: I did a provisional cast-on, knit double the length I wanted, folded the fabric in half, and joined the cast-on edge to the live stitches. Much better!

I will do my best to finish this up before we leave, along with my Fibernymph Dye Works fiber minis, which also got some attention over the weekend. I have two and a half minis left to spin onto the second bobbin today, and I'm hoping work will cooperate to allow me to wind off the singles from the first bobbin. I'd hope to have both of these projects complete in the next several days so that I can focus on what I want to take on vacation. I'm likely taking my Birch pullover, which has not been touched since you last saw it. I will need to do some weighing and rewinding of my skeins so that I can blend the body and sleeves similarly, but that shouldn't take too long. I also have some mini skeins to wind so I can knit up the mystery gnome (it's intended for my brother, who will be coming down with his family the day before we leave, so I can knit it while I'm there and give it to him when he arrives). Other than that, I'll have to ponder what else I want to bring.

This afternoon Mo and I are going to get our COVID boosters, now that it's been three months since we were sick, so I'll be mentally preparing myself for feeling crummy for the next day. Today we should also hear whether we've gotten into SSK for next summer; we've both entered the lottery with the hope that we'll both be selected and can attend our first fiber arts retreat together. Keep your fingers crossed for us!