Wow! Another week into 2004 already!

So how was your weekend?

We finally got some “warmer” weather, it was up near freezing the past couple of days. The pipes have thawed, the furnace is running (it only acts up in extreme cold), and the buns have returned to the hallway.

Knitting update:

I managed to catch up to where I should be on the shawl. The edging is finished and I spent an entire afternoon picking up the 365 stitches the length of it for the border. After a couple of false starts I managed to get 3.5 rows of the chart for the border completed. I think the thing slowing me down the most is how carefully I have to watch each row of the chart and all the counting of stitches. Its definately slower going than most of the projects I’ve done in the past. I hope to finish through row 6 tonight, but we’ll see.

I also finished the hat that I was working on as a belated holiday gift for a friend of ours. Nothing fancy, just a plain worsted weight hat with a ribbed band. He’s a pretty basic kind of guy. One more thing I can cross off my list.

Knitting Gifts delivered:

Several of the secret projects were delivered on Saturday. I had made socks for two of my cousins, they are 7 and 12, and they loved them. Lucky thing is that they actually fit. One was a little bit big, but her feet are growing fast so no worries there. I also had a couple of hats that I had made a while back that were hanging around and happened to fit them. I haven’t met a kid yet that couldn’t use an extra hat, especially in this weather. Their brother got knee and elbow pads for rollerblading and they all got a slightly used video game system that had been collecting dust for a while now. I’d like to make the brother a hat too so I’ll try to start that tonight if possible.

Spinning:

I haven’t done any new spinning the past few days but since I’m already 1/2 way through this weeks fiber I’m not too worried. I may take the wheel out tomorrow night but since I’m going to group on Thursday, it might be Friday night before I get back to it again. I’d like to get ahead a bit on the shawl yarn and use the other set of bobbins to play with some of the other fiber I have around the house. I still haven’t tried doing anything in a 4-ply and I’d really like to give it a try and see how it comes out.

Guess that is all for now. Time to get back into the swing of work, not the easiest thing after 4 days away.