Something Special

My birthday was last month.  I am old enough that birthday's aren't such a big deal anymore, and I really can't remember the last time my dad gave me a birthday gift.  So imagine my total surprise when he showed up with a gift.  And not only a gift, but something that I have been wanting for two years.  And not only something that I've been wanting, but a hand made and lovely version.

Ta Da, a wine rack!  Yesterday I finally got caught up and got the rest of last year's crop bottled.  So here is dandelion, strawberry, peach, and mead.  I tried to bottle the blueberry this week, too, but it needed to be racked and settle.  So I will have to finish after the trip, but not bad so far.

On the knitting front, I have been working on my new sweater.  I am working on the body now, and each row seems So Long.  I have to keep reminding myself that each row is the front, the back and the seaming in one fell swoop - in the long run it's a bargain.  :)

The question is, can I get it done before the trip?

Isaac

Dear Mary,

Yes, I have a new finished project, but let me show you Isaac first!

I got to stay with his big sister while he and his parents were in the hospital, so I was very lucky.  Though it seemed like we spent most of our time driving back and forth to the hospital!  That's okay, you don't have babies every week.

And now on to a more mundane finished object.  February socks, I am still behind.  And I'll have you know, I did do my homework for March's sock class - and had to undo it.  The yarn wasn't a good choice for the pattern.  So much for trying to be prepared!

 I like these.  I'm going to wear them to the dentist's today.

A Little More Book Learning...

Last summer when I started going to sock club, one of the other knitters mentioned a Master Knitters' Program.  I was intrigued.  Mom is a Master Gardener.  If she could do it with flowers, I think I can do it with yarn.  So I checked it out and ordered Level 1 (there are 3) last October.  I didn't really do much with it before Christmas, but started getting serious in the new year.

Of course I thought I'd be knitting, and there is some in level 1.  But there is more research and paperwork than actual knitting.  I had to knit a bunch of swatches showing basic stitches and techniques and a mitten, but for each swatch I had to locate and cite written sources that described that technique. Then I had to answer questions about the swatches, with more references cited.  I had to answer questions about the mitten too, but thank goodness they weren't the kind that required references.  And then there was a paper to write.  Really?  I would rather do calculus than write a paper, people.  Sigh.

I think the actual knitting took less than 10% of the time involved, while my bibliography is 6 pages long. One really nice thing is that you can use sources from the internet.  Thank you Knitty and YouTube!

And today it is done.  Well, stage one is done.  I'm sure revisions and corrections will be required.  But I took photos of the swatches and got the project up on Ravelry and am going to the post office to ship Draft One off this afternoon.

one of 17 swatches

Now I am going to relax half a minute before tomorrow's sock class.  No, my homework isn't done, but I think they'll forgive me.

PS.  I found a sock group on Ravelry and joined it last month.  I think the general idea is to knit 12 pairs in a year, with challenges and lots of show and tell to help motivate. I entered the February challenge and actually won a prize!  I will be getting some pretty purple sock yarn in the mail sometime soon.