Mikknit

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes! I had a fantastic day, despite threats of rain we only had a little bit of sprinkling and then the sun came out. Most of my family was going to be in town for my grandma’s memorial service, so I decided I should have a big party and invite them all. In my book, years ending in a 5 or a 0 are deserving of large parties, and it had been 5 years since the last one Extra points for the kids, who played on the playground for the entire time, pretty much leaving me alone to socialize. Their grandmas and one of my cousins kept them occupied, too, but they mostly just played and played and played.

Sunday wasn’t quite so fun, though all family gatherings turn into parties. We gathered at the MN Landscape Arboretum for the memorial service and to visit the bench that had been donated in memory of my grandparents. It’s on the Bog Trail, right near a bunch of trilliums, ladyslippers, and jack-in-the-pulpits, some of my Grandma’s favorite flowers. I only cried a little bit looking at those flowers. I cried a lot more looking at the picture slideshows that had been set up - seeing the old pictures of my grandparents was great, but seeing the ones as they got older and frailer just tore me up. I still have the image of them running their golf course - my grandma behind the bar and my grandpa out on the tractor, mowing the fairways. Grace asked about my grandma today, why she died. I’ve explained this so many times and I still have a hard time believing she’s gone. *Sigh*

Being stuck here wtih my thoughts is letting me get some knitting done, at least. I’ve started the Shapely Tee from White Lies Designs. I picked up some Silky Wool at Borealis’ sale this past weekend and it’s a touch lighter-weight than what’s called for in the pattern. Luckily, I’ve figured out that I can follow the numbers for the largest size and it’ll come out exactly in my size - great since I was struggling over which size to make, as one is 2″ smaller than my bust measurement and one 2″ too big. If only the boobs were smaller… I’ve made it a few inches into the sweater between last night and today - I should be ready to start the waist shaping decreases soon. I was a little worried that this’d drag on due to the fine gauge, but I think it’ll be okay as long as I have Tivo and Netflix to keep me going.

I’m also working on some pink cabled socks for myself - I started one last week and finished it on Monday, then started sock #2 that evening. I think these’ll be on hold for a bit, as I am planning on wearing the Shapely Tee to my sister’s wedding on July 7. That’s a lot of knitting in <6 weeks and not much time for socks. Sad, as I am truly hooked on sock-knitting. Will have to sneak in a few rounds here and there, I think.

I finished a new sweater for Grace last week (or maybe the week before), as well. Borealis is clearancing out the Ella Rae Classic Print yarn (love it!) and I picked up a few skeins in a colorway she'd like, as well as some for Arlo. I got started on her sweater right away, since I was procrastinating on finishing up something else. I think it maybe took 8 days at the most to finish. Something about variegated yarns just keeps me going. I certainly don't know any adults who could pull this off, though:

She looks so old in this picture, it just blows me away.

She doesn’t love the sweater, but it *is* the end of May (how the hell did that happen?) and it’ll be put away for fall. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it more when the weather cools off, though this is one warm-blooded kid. I think it turned out fine, I used the top-down raglan method from Barbara Walker’s Knitting From the Top. I lost track of where I was on the neckline increases, so it’s a little odd-shaped. I’m sure it’ll work out with wearing, and if not, oh well.

And now, since I am spending precious knitting time typing, I will sign off. I hope you all have a lovely Friday and a great weekend! I get to go to a baby shower, which should be great. I should probably figure out what sort of gift I’m taking, huh?