I really need to get moving.

[chowmama]

I have ten days vacation, and this is the third day. I have gotten done exactly diddle-squat.

I’m stalling on a sewing project. Don’t know why, I’m nearly done (but also nearly out of fabric). So of course today I cast on yarn for a pair of socks. To be fair, the end of my ‘vacation’ is 2 days of continuing education, which I need to remain certified as a vet tech.
I love the education part, but really regret that there’s no distance learning option this year. Last year I not only paid attention for 2 eight hour days, but I also got to drink a lot of coffee and complete most of a sock. When I’m physically at the convention, I can only knit during the breaks – they look at you oddly if you knit during the lectures. I mean, you need a simple project, so you can give your full attention to the speaker and slides, but it actually helps some people (like me) focus. Just sitting is deadly. I need a sock to work on. Especially after lunch.

I just need to get the ribbing at the top done before Friday. That way, I only bring one pair of needles and just work on the leg tube for 2 days. No shaping, just a nice rib pattern to hug the leg.

I like knitting. It’s got to be the most primitive fabric-making technique there is, just two sticks and a long string. Only two possible stitches - you’re pulling one loop through another. You can either pull it from the back towards the front, or from the front towards the back. Everything else depends on which one of these you do and when you do it. If you need to make something wider, there are ways to make more loops. Make something smaller, catch two loops into one. Cables or twists? Make the loops out of order. Making a hole by accident can be a mistake, but if you make enough of them and arrange them decoratively, you’re making lace. If you’re knitting a tube and twist the stitches before you connect the circle, you get a Moebius strip. Not good for socks, but it makes a lovely scarf.

There’s nothing that you can actually do to destroy anything and you can always unravel and start over. Or embrace it. Two of my early mistakes have actually become my individual methods. A twisted-knit cast-on is great as long as it’s done on larger needles (otherwise, it makes a really good tourniquet). And my misunderstanding of some directions on a particular sock heel flap has led to a twined padded heel that is a true pain in the ass to make, but guarantees no blisters ever and I’ve never had one wear out.

Now if I can only get back to sewing.