I Know....

Once again, it's been a while since I posted.  I can't believe how quickly the time flies.  Here it is December and another year is almost over.

I'm doing well in the healing department.  The scab from the skin graft finally fell off about a month ago and all the little scabs that remained after that big one fell off are now gone too.  I have one more procedure to go through but that won't be until sometime next year and it will hopefully be done with a local instead of having to be put to sleep.

I've been doing some kniting for myself.  It's so much fun. Especially for someone who did 99% of her knitting for other people to finally be able to knit for myself.  This is a test knit I did on Ravelry.  The pattern hasn't been released yet but it's called Starbuck.  It's knit from the top down using the contiguous method for the sleeves.  I just love the way it fits.  Yarn is Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool.  Just as a note, make sure you ONLY hand wash this yarn.  It will pill if you don't.  Ask me how I know. 

I'm about to start another test knit for another designer and I'm excited about this one.  I just have to figure out what yarn I want to use.

I know I've promised pictures of the other knitting I've completed but I haven't taken pictures yet.  Will post as soon as I get around to it.

More updates to follow when I have more time.

Life Is Getting Back To Normal

I've been back at work for 3 weeks now and I'm not as tired at the end of the day anymore.  I'm getting out and about to all the things I was doing before the surgery.  There is one little glitch, however.  I was having pain in my left leg.  It started on Wednesday.  I thought it was the incision that was bothering me again and I couldn't figure out why.  When I got ready for bed Wednesday night I noticed there was a red area below the incision on the left leg.  It wasn't getting any better so I went to the surgeon on Friday and he's put me back on Keflex.  The antibiotic must be working because the pain is improving and so is the redness in the area.  The only down side to this is the meds are really making me sick this time.  I have no idea if it was like this when I was on the Keflex right after surgery and again when I had the first infection, but I don't recall being this nauseated by it.  I haven't been able to go on the treadmill since Friday and that has me feeling a little down.  I took some ginger Gravol and I'm hoping by the time I get home from work today I'll be feeling well enough to be able to get on the treadmill. 

Knitting has been productive.  I knit two Buttercup tops - one in Hempathy and the other in Katia Degrande Sun.  I'm having a bit of a challenge trying to figure out the size to knit.  The Hempathy top is too big and I'm sending it off to someone.  The Katia was better but it still needs tweaking.  Now I'm working on Hey Hey My My.  It's my first attempt at a contiguous sleeve and I must admit I like the way it works up.  It just might become my sleeve of choice and will definitely be my construction of choice for top down sweater knitting.  I'll have pictures as soon as I can get around to taking them.

Hi ho Hi ho It's Off To Work I Go

Recovery time is over and I had my first day back at work today.  I've been gone for 7 weeks so there is so much for me to do I feel like it's going to take me weeks to catch up.  On the positive side I managed to stay most of the day.  I got in an hour late but I worked until my regular quitting time.  That's better than I thought it would be my first day back.  Honestly, right now I am exhausted but I feel good.

I've been knitting for me for a change.  I finished Buttercup and it ended up being too big.  I put it in the dryer to hopefully shrink it a little and it's still too big.  That's alright because when I decide to wear it like a tunic over a top I'll have lots of room.  Pictures will follow with more details on the pattern. 

In the meantime, here is a quick picture a friend took for me yesterday before we went for our walk.  I still want to drop another 30 pounds or so but that will come in time.

No More Plastic's Clinic

This morning I went to see the surgeon.  He is very pleased with my progress.  There are only 3 spots on the right side of the back that still need daily dressing changes and the draining on the left breast is getting better everyday.  I go back to see the surgeon on September 11th and this time it's in his office, not at the hospital.  It's a relief to have come far enough not to have to go to the Plastic's clinic anymore.  I don't like being in the hospital and the wait is usually hours and hours.  Even if I have to wait as long in the doctor's office, the setting is much for palatable than the hospital. 

Further proof that I've progressed nicely is if all goes as planned, one more week and I go back to work.  Going back after such a long time is going to be interesting.  I've never been off work for 7 weeks before and I expect I'm going to have a mountain of work on my desk.  I just hope I have the strength to work full time when I do go back.  All I can do is play things by ear and take it one day at a time.

21 Years And Counting

It's hard to believe that this is the 21st wedding anniversary to the best man in the world.  Paul is always there for me though everything.  I don't know what I ever did to deserve him but I am forever grateful to have him in my life.  Thank you Paul for being the best husband ever.  Rather than get mushy, which I'm not very good at, I'll just leave it at that. 

Tomorrow I go back to see the surgeon and I have some questions for him.  I want to start lifting weights and I need to know when it's safe to do so.  I also need to know when it's safe to have a mammogram.  I just hope I don't forget to actually ask the questions. 

I'm pretty pleased that I've been able to walk on the treadmill every day.  I didn't walk this morning because I was tired after a so so night sleep but I did walk when I got hime tonight and even though I didn't do my usual minimum 3 miles I did get close at 45 minutes and 2.76 miles and it's better than nothing at all.  Tomorrow I have to be at the clinic very early so I won't be able to walk before I go.  I'm hoping I have the time after I get home before the nurse shows up.

The knitting is coming along nicely.  I have a serious case of startitis.  I am almost finished with the first slipper I started.  I just have the strap left.  I also started knitting Jordan using Classic Elite Allegoro yarn and Buttercup using Hempathy.  I'm further along with the Buttercup but on Friday I'll be working on Jorday so I should be able to make some progress then. 

Getting Out & About

It's been a busy week.  On Tuesday my friend Robbie and I hung out.  It felt so good.  The last few times I saw him was when I was in the hospital - first after surgery and then when I had the infection.  We met at Scarborough Town Centre and then went to Canadian Tire and finally to Creative for some knit time.

Wednesday I went to the Plastic's Clinic to see the surgeon.  He doesn't seem conerned about the areas on my back that are still so so.  The one he wants to keep an eye on is the left breast so I have to go back again on Wednesday.  It's still draining and has a bit of an abscess going on when squeezed.  I find it uncomfortable.  I use that word because I wouldn't say it's really painful, although I did take 2 extra strength Tylenol yesterday morning because of the discomfort. 

The surgeon informed me yesterday that "Once everything has settled down," he will fix the issue I've had ever since the reconstruction was done years ago and build a nipple on the right "breast" at the same time.  I asked if that could be done in his office and he said no.  It will have to be done in the hospital but it's a procedure that only takes about an hour and I go home the same day.  I am in NO RUSH TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW.  I'm guessing I'll probably do it next spring or summer.  I want to make sure everything has totally settled down before I do anything.

Yesterday the wound treatment nurse came to see me.  Her sole purpose in life is to cut the amount of visits the nurse makes to my place.  She checked the breast and my back and then informed me that the bandages should be changed every other day and not daily.  Therefore I should only shower every other day.  On the days I don't shower I should just sponge bathe.  Well I was told by the surgeon that I need to walk more inorder for the swelling to go down in my left leg.  I've been walking on the treadmill daily and increasing speed and incline as I am able.  I work up a sweat when I'm done and not showering, for me, just isn't an option.  She finally relented and said based on that she will send a report to the surgeon and keep things the way they are for now.  I just hope my body hurries up and heals before I'm told too bad.

I also went to Creative for their knit night last night.  It was nice to be back and see everyone.  I didn't stay until close but I can feel myself getting stronger every day.  I'm thinking I might actually go back to work (even if it's part time) after next week.

On the knitting front I'm working on that left over sock yarn scarf and a pair of slippers.  I'm using Regia sock yarn for the slippers and the pattern is Kate Atherley's Open House Socks.  Progress is slower than I would like but such is life sometimes.

Getting There

The nurse has been coming to the apartment daily since I came home from the hospital on Wednesday.  She says that things are progressing nicely.  The healing is faster than she thought it would be based on her assessment when she saw me on Thursday.  The draining from my left thigh is very little now.  I didn't notice anything after I had my shower this morning but the nurse covered it just to play it safe.  We don't want any funky little bugs getting in the opening where the draining was.  The left breast is still draining after the leak it sprung on Thursday and today looked a little worse than it did yesterday.  The nurse said there was an abscess where the draining was occuring and she squeezed it.  Not a very pleasant experience but necessary and I've been through worse than that over the course of this journey.

I finally built up enough confidence to actually leave the apartment on Saturday.  I went to the drug store to get some liquid vitamin E and then I did a quick stop at a Creative just to say hi.  I didn't hang around much and, believe it or not, I didn't even pick up my knitting. Yesterday Paul and I went to Costco and grocery shopping and then over to my FIL for a few hours.  By the time I got home I was so tired I never did manage to go on the treadmill. 

Not much knitting has gone on since I got home.  Funny enough I was knitting more in the hospital than I have since I got home.  I'm knitting a scarf with left over sock yarn and it will join other scarves our Relay for Life team knit that goes to cancer patients. 

More to follow as time allows.

Home At Last

After 12 days in the hospital and a stay that seemed like it would never end, I finally came home yesterday afternoon.  I'm so glad to be home but I won't lie.  That safety of being in the hospital I think was a bit of a crutch and I'm a little nervous as well.  I'll be much happier when the next 10 days go by and I finish the rest of the antibiotics I'm on and everything stays the way it is now.

The left thigh is still draining and the doctor thinks it might for another week or two.  So he has arranged for home care to come daily to change the bandage in that area.  Other that that most of the other incisions are healing nicely.  The right thigh. both arms, right breast and left back are almost there.  The right back isn't quite there yet and I had a nasty reaction to this bandage they tried using on me in the hospital.  I don't recall it being used on me before.  I think the name is something like Tegaline.  It's a clear plastic similar to what they use when you have an IV put it. Well boy did I have a reaction to that.  My left thigh had blisters wherever the bandage touched my skin and the left breast is still pretty red where the bandage touched my skin.  When the drain was finally removed yesterday the nurse wanted to use that same tape on me because they had used it there to secure the drain so when I showered it wouldn't detach from where the tube in my side connected to the suction tube (it did it twice before).  Luckily that area didn't react but I told the nurse not to use it because I wasn't taking any chances.  Nothing but Medipore tape for me from now on.  It's the only stuff my body doesn't react to and believe me it isn't easy to find.  Paul went to a Shopper's Home Health place and even they didn't carry it.  Luckily the hospital provided it for me so the nurse will have it when she comes later today.

I did get some knitting done while I was in the hospital.  I finished the socks I cast on July 13th (surgery day) and Paul brought me more sock yarn on Saturday.  I also knit two scarves for Relay for Life with yarn my friend Joan brought me.  By the time I finished both those scarves I was ready for some sock knitting.  I don't do much knitting with 8mm needles or boucle yarn.  I've had this yarn ready to knit for a long time but everytime I wanted to get to it something would distract me and the yarn would be put aside yet again.  This is yarn from my friend Maggie who used to dye yarn under Dyed in the Wool Handmade.  It's 80% merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon.  I finished the second sock yesterday just before the nurse came to do the bandage and discharge me.  The socks are knit toe up and the pattern is a simple 2 row pattern repeat of k3, p3 on rnd 1 and p1, k1 on rnd 2.  I decided to do a twisted rib k1tbl, p1, for the cuff.  They fit perfectly and now I just have to block these and the other socks.

 

I'm hoping to start getting out and about soon.  The doctor told me I'm ok to do pretty much anything I want now because tomorrow will be 4 weeks post op but, to be honest, I'm a little scared.  I'd love to be able to go to my two favourite LYS and see everyone again but I'm afraid of being out with people and possibly risking catching something again.  So I'll probably wait until next Thursday before I go to knit night at Creative Yarns and maybe go to The Purple Purl on Saturday or Sunday next weekend.  I'll almost be done with the antibiotics by then so I'll probably feel safer mingling with people by then.                                                                                                                                     





It's Been A Rough Road

Today is 3 weeks since my surgery.  Everything was moving along so well and then I hit a snag.  Last Wednesday I developed a fever.  Within hours it was quite high at 105F or 40.5C.  I went to the emergency room at the hospital and was given IV antibiotics and sent home.  The nurse came to the apartment on Thursday and brought a pump for the aministration of more IV antibiotics.  On Friday I went back to the hospital for my appointment at the Plastic's Clinic and the doctor took one look at me and told me I was being admitted.  That was last Friday.  I'm still here but I think things are finally on the upswing.  On Wednesday the doctor inserted a drain to help get rid of the fluids my body produced after the surgery.  It hurt like a mofo and I screeched like a banchee but I survived.  They also started me on another very powerful antibiotic and it seems to be working.  They stopped the first antibiotic today so hopefully everything is under control.

It's a long weekend here in Ontario so when I'll go home is questionable.  I'm hoping for Monday but miracles can happen.

I have been difficult at times here at Scarborough General Hospital but the nurses have been wonderful and from the time of my surgery to today I have received excellent care.  I just am getting impatient at this point and really can't wait to go home.

More to follow as time and health allows.   The post today is possible because I'm feeling a lot better and hubby brought me my iPad so I'm posting from that.

Day 11

I went to the wound treatment centre yesterday and the nurse changed the bandages on my legs and chest.  The rest of the bandages will most likely be changed on Friday when I go back to see the doctor at the Plastic's Clinic.  The nurse liked the way the incision is looking on both thighs.  The right thigh is still oozing but I've noticed a considerable drop in the amount on the bandage over the last 24 hours compared to any day prior to today.

Yesterday afternoon when I tried to walk on the treadmill I suddenly experiences a burning in the area of the right thigh that is still oozing.  I immediately had to get off the treadmill and every step was that same burning in the same spot.  I ended up going straight to bed and, honestly, I was scared stiff.  My surgeon is on vacation this week and next so I just figured if it wasn't better today I would call the nurse at the wound treatment centre and see what she had to say.  I'm not feeling the burning this morning and I think I agree with my husband's opinion that it might have been a cramp of some sort but in a very specific area.  As a result, I only went on the treadmill once today and not as fast as I have been but, just in case, I don't want to risk any damage and I figure it's best to be cautious.

I'm able to sit for longer periods of time now and therefore am actually knitting.  Just before the 13th I cast on the second Philosophers Walk sock.  I finished it this morning and blocked it.  It's drying on the blocking wire now and I put the first one next to it.  As with the first sock, knitting the second sock was just pure pleasure.  Oh and as an aside, the only change I did with these socks is I was using 2.25mm needles instead of 2.0mm needles. The only downside for me in knitting colour socks is I can't knit them without the chart so it's a home project.

That's why when I was at the hospital on Friday morning sitting in the day surgery area waiting around to be called, I cast on another pair of socks.  The yarn is Knit Picks Felici Fingering in colour Tiki.  This yarn is so soft!! I'm knitting them two at a time and the first part from the toes to the heels were knit while waiting around at the hospital - first for surgery and then followup appointments at the hospital.  I hope to get them done today or tomorrow and then move on to whatever WIP I decide to pick up.

1 Week Post Surgery

Today is a week since I went through the surgery.  I am very pleased with how things are progressing thus far and, thankfully, so are the people I've seen at the hospital. I went to the wound treatment clinic today.  Only 1 bandage needed changing.  The only incision that is still oozing is the right thigh. My right arm looked great on Wednesday and the nurse didn't even put a strip under tape (on top of the incision) before the tape was used and there is no additional oozing.  The right thigh seems to be the only one that is having a little bit of oozing but even that isn't anything major.  I go back to the wound clinic on Monday and I think they'll have to change more than just the right thigh but only time will tell.

I have already noticed a  lot of differences and there is still tons of healing to go through and swelling to go down.  I think the most obvious right now is no more what I used to call "squishy bum."  No matter what I did I always had that problem at any time of the day or night.  I'll spare you the details.  I'm sure many know just what I'm talking about. 

I've been on blood pressure medication for many years.  While the amount of medication I take has gone down, I haven't been able to kick it completely yet.  I believe now, it's only a matter of time before I will be able to stop the last 1/2 tablet I'm taking. It's a little too soon to tell but my blood pressure is now low and while I was in the hospital they stopped one of the 1/2 tablets I was taking.  Even with just 1/2 tablet of the last BP tablet my BP is low. We'll see how things go as my life gets back to normal.  It'll be interested to see if going back to work will cause a raise in blood pressure.

First Follow Up With The Doctor

I went to see the surgeon this morning and had my first post-op follow-up since I came home from the hospital on Monday.  The doctor is very pleased with my progress.  He said everything is healing well.  The squishy slishy sloshy I'm feeling will go away as my body re-absorbs the fluid.  That can take a month or two to happen so I'd better just get used to it. I go back to the hospital on Friday and again on Monday to the wound care centre for them to check the bandages and then I go back to the plastic's clinic on the 27th.    There are still some dangers of wound separation because of the extent of the surgery so I'm going to try and behave and take it easy as instructed.  I feel better now than I did this morning and more confident everything will heal just fine.  The doctor did a skin graft (since the opportunity presented itself) and "built" a new nipple on the reconstructed breast.  I've felt very self conscious about not having one for the last 11 years.  The doctor now believes the skin graft should hold.  More to follow as I have time to report.

Day 4 After Surgery

It felt so good to sleep at home last night.  I had a low grade fever and kinda freaked out.  I was crying because I was scared and I thought the bandages were starting to come off and I thought I could see the incision on my upper left thigh.  Paul had a look and he said no.  I took two Extra Strength Tylenol and when I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom my fever was gone.  I'm hoping it stays that way.  I'm moving a little easier even though I sometimes wonder if I am.  My upper arms are black and blue but they don't hurt much.  The part of me that hurts the most isn't even an incision part.  I have a rash from the tape (even though they used the paper tape) along the tape on the middle of my back from the back lift incision.  I will look forward to being a week post op. I thinking the first week will be the worst.  Tomorrow I go back to see the surgeon and I'm looking forward to him telling me all my worrying is for nothing so stop worrying and just heal.

I managed to go on the treadmill twice yesterday.  I only plan on doing .5 MPH for now and only 5 minutes at a time.  But I have a history of blood clots so I must move so I can keep my circulation going.  I still tire so easily and I don't seem to have very good control of my emotions right now and cry at the drop of a hat.  I'm lucky.  I have a very patient husband and he is here for me 100% of the time. 

Now For The Healing

Surgery was on Friday and I just came home from the hospital this morning.  I'm sore and in pain but it's manageable.  I was really expecting the pain to be worse. The worst part is how tight the skin in but this too shall pass over time.  I go to the plastics clinic on Wednesday for the surgeon to have a look at the dressing and decide if he wants to change them or not.  Other than that I tire very quickly but I don't think that's unusual either.  I'll try to update as time and how I'm feeling allows.  Thanks to all my friends for their loving thoughts and prayers.  I'm lucky and proud to call you all friends.

And The Journey Continues

As I mentioned in my my post here, I've been on a get healthy journey and am getting pretty close to goal.  When you do the yoyo as much as I have for the last 36 years or so, you end up with some issues.  The biggest issue for me is all the extra skin.  As the plastic surgeon said to me in April, I've "deflated" enough and I can go ahead with surgery.  That day is happening on Friday.  I'm a little nervous but more about the pain I'll experiece after then the actual surgery itself.  I'm having a lot of work done and getting rid of all my "jiggly bits" as I call them.  My bye bye arms are going bye bye along with the extra stuff on my bum, thighs, and chest.  I hate the bye bye arms the most but look forward to being able to exercise without some of the issues I have to deal with when one has so much extra skin.  If all goes as planned I'll only be in the hospital Friday night and then I'll come home on Saturday. I'll post more once I'm feeling up to it after surgery. 

Philosophers Walk

In recent years, thanks to Kate Atherly and the class I took for the Fiddlehead Mittens, I've come to love colour knitting.  That's a far cry from the person who used to say I've knit long enough to and have the right to say I hate colour knitting. I recently had the opportunity to test knit colour socks.  I jumped at the chance because I haven't gotten around to trying to knit socks yet and I've been wanting to for quite some time.  These socks are the Philosophers Walk socks.  They are from Pleximo Designs and you can find the pattern on Ravelry here. I still have to knit the second sock but I love this pattern.  The yarn is Cascade Heritage Silk in 5633 (purple) and 5673 (lavender).  I have other knitting I have to do before I can do the second sock and I really want to cast on the second sock NOW!!

June 15th, as I mentioned in my last post, was the Relay for Life Toronto Central edition. The RFL is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. It runs from 7PM to 7AM and you celebrate, remember and fight back!!! There is a dinner for survivors before the official start of the relay. Then people walk the track all night except during the luminary ceremony and the slide presentation of why we relay. After the opening ceremonies the survivors walk the first lap around the track. Around dush there is a luminary ceremony where we remember and honour survivors and those that have lost their battle to this horrible disease. Then there is a slide presentation of why we relay. I don't think there is a dry eye in the place during the ceremony or when the survivors walk the first lap to open the relay. I want to thank everyone who supported me for the event and if you want to see a little snippet of what took place you can see a video here.

It's Been a LONG Time!!!

I know it's been a very long time since I've blogged.  I have been very busy and just didn't have time for blogging.

A lot has happened since my last post. Circumstances occurred that made me take a look at myself and I didn't like what I saw when I looked in the mirror.  This has lead me on a journey that I've been through before.  I'm hoping this will be the last time I go through this. 

On March 18, 2011 I started a weight loss program under the supervision of Dr. Brown in Thornhill, Ontario.  To date I have lost 142 pounds on his program and 177 pounds from my highest weight.  At the end of November I decided I needed to add exercise into the mix.  If I don't do this the chances of putting the weight back are astronomical and I never want to do the yo yo again.  I walk but try to do jogging intervals when I can.  I exercise most days and try not to miss more than a day or two a month.  In April I walked 102.8 miles and so far in May I've walked 107.25 miles and I still have 4 days left in the month!! 

The first picture is at my son's wedding in December 2005. The second one was taken today after I completed the 5K at the WIN Marathon. I don't have my official time yet but I know I completed the 5K in under 45 minutes.  It was so fantastic I can't even put it into words.  Next year I want to do at least the 10K and if they have the half marathon as a walk I want to do that.

Next step is the Relay for Life that takes place on June 15th.  It's a fund raiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.  I joined the Downtown Knit Collective team and will be up all night knitting, spinning, or just trying to stay warm.  Last year I tried to stay but was not prepared for how cold it got that night and I ended up going home around midnight.  Being a member of the team this year I have to stay the night as the event runs from 7:00PM to 7:00AM.  I'm looking forward to it and helping put an end to this horrible disease in all the forms it takes.

I'm glad to be back and hope to post more often, as time allows.  If anyone wants to make a donation you can find out more about the event here on the Downtown Knit Collective team page. http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFL_ON_even_?pg=team&fr_id=10616&team_id=266160

Blogaversary And A Day

I tried to post yesterday and the universe just didn't seem to want it to happen. I typed a blog post up and then lost it all and I was just too hot to try again. So here is the blogaversary post a day late.

I can't believe it's been 5 years since I started blogging. Granted I've been a bad blogger for a while and with the insanity of life that doesn't look like it will change any time soon. However, I still wanted to acknowledge the day (even if it is now a day late).

There has been knitting going on and even some FO's most of which are socks. I have more WIP's then I care to admit. Here is just a small sample of what's on the needles right now.

I'm knitting the Patchwork Shawl from WollZauber 01/2010 by Gerhard Schoppel. I'm using the yarn and colour that is in the pattern book because it's got purple and if you read my blog you know just how much I love purple. I've only completed 3 squares so far but as you can see the squares are knitted as you go so there is no sewing together at the end (just ends to tuck in).

The shadow shawl is past the halfway point. It's been so hot in Toronto recently that I just can't work on this right now.


These socks are just plain socks but the yarn is lovely. It has angora in it and the softness can't even be described.

Now I just hope the heat and humidity improve because +37C temps and feeling like +49C is just too hot for me.

Shadows

I have so many projects on the go it isn't even funny. That hasn't stopped me from getting sucked in to even more. I'm taking a glove fitting class at Creative Yarns and was there last week and saw someone close to finishing this lovely Shadow Shawl. I fell in love and had to knit it. I'm using Trekking XXL colour 418 and Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in colour 12171 (a plumy sort of purple). I pretty much have to keep knitting until I reach the end of the first ball. I'm at the point now where it doesn't feel like it's growing much even though I know it is. When this is done there are so many other patterns I want to knit from Wooly Thoughts. Being a huge Dr. Who fan the Dalek and David Tenant/Dr. Who are very high on my list of must do patterns. I think the first one I will do is their free pattern for the Tiger head. Instead of brown and cream I'm thinking of using orange and black.

Two At A Time - I Think I Like This

I've been knitting socks for a long time and never liked knitting two socks at once. I always thought it feels like it took too long. I didn't see progress and just decided it wasn't for me. Fast forward to me trying to knit my sock inside a sock again. I ran into a problem and had to rip back to the end of the cuff and when I picked the stitches back up I decided to continue side by side instead of once inside the other. This is now my third pair knitting two socks at once and I'm quite liking it now. The yarn for these socks is the Fliegende Untertasse (Flying Saucer) by Schoppel-Wolle. Both skeins are dyed at the same time so you can have matching socks. I love the way the designs are lining up on each sock. I finished the heel last night so these socks should be done this weekend.

The Fruits Of My Labour

As most of you know, I love to knit. However, I rarely knit for myself. This winter my son asked me to knit a hat for him and it ended up being hats for the family. Because I am in Canada and they are in the US it is a little difficult to make sure the fit is right. So I knit up 3 hats and sent them down. The ladybug hat is just adorable on my granddaughter and probably will be too small by next winter. My grandson looks equally cute in the sheep hat but if it is too small next winter he gets to wear the third hat I knit for either his mom or dad. I know why it's too small for my son or DIL. On one of the rounds the stranding was too tight. I'll have to fix that for the next set of hats. Thankfully the winter is over so I have some time to get it done. When I see pictures of the knitting in use it makes it all even more worth while.