Comfortably Numb

There is nothing better than the feeling that a project has been completed. Okay, maybe scoring that perfect yarn at a 50% off discount or being told by the manufacturer that you are their best customer and all of your purchases will now be free might top it, but finishing a project is tops in my book . . . probably because I do it so infrequently during the school year. That, my dear Lola, is quickly coming to an end. We have about 20 actual school days left and when you take out half days, field trips, awards assemblies, and the like, it is down to about 15 teaching days left. Goodbye current crop of really good students, hello yarn!

This week was very productive in a way that hasn't been for so, so very long. I finished the Chevron (more this week after it blocks) and last weekend, I finished Shedir. It really should have dawned on my before yesterday that Shedir translates to breast in some language. It took one of my favorite episodes of Coupling to do it. Coupling is one of the strongest and funniest ensemble shows ever written. If I were to say, "Lesbian Spank Inferno," how many of you would know what I was talking about? Seriously, rent the DVDs, find it on BBC America, whatever - just watch this show.

Oh, I was talking about knitting, not a funny show from England. Shedir was a dream to knit. Thank you again, Lola, for the cableless directions. It would not have been fun with a cable needle. As for the yarn, I cannot say enough positive things about Calmer. Do you hear that nice people at Rowan? I love this yarn . . . send some freebies my way. Next up in Calmer is this "hug-me-tight" in chocolate. When I knit this pattern again for myself (Veronica has claimed it for football games . . . it's a losing battle), I think I may decrease a round of repeats as it was really long. For my sister-in-law, I'll keep all the repeats. Thanks to the Flyer for the photo; he was trying to capture the mischievous glint in my eye.

Lola and I went on a Socks That Rock buying binge this week. Okay, she only bought one skein, I bought three. Guess which one is hers . . . go on, guess. I am planning on using Undertoe for my sock pal because I know that she is a member of the Rockin' Sock Club and I like the colorway. Now, the dilemma - do I go with plan A and make the Queen of Cups socks for her or plan B in which I make up something totally unique? I just don't know. Plan A was the original choice because I thought she might like the tarot connection (based upon her website), but I am so used to doing toe-up and magic loop right now that I don't know if I can go back to the "other" way. Any suggestions?

Since it is Mother's Day, and a very happy one to two of our favorite new ones, I thought we would give you a little info on our dear mother.
- she was a stay-at-home mom for most of our lives and it was a good thing
- she always told us that boys were a bother and why worry about them
- she chastised us for punching each other in the boob because it would lead to breast cancer
- she made us play with one another whether we wanted to or not
- she says she doesn't have favorites (note the title of the blog)
- she sews like nobody's business and always made sure we had the latest "designer" clothes
- she knows how to knit, but likes it better when we make stuff for her
- she made all three of her daughters' wedding dresses for less than $50 each
- she falls asleep 30 minutes into any drive (so she calls when she has to drive so she stays awake)
- she doesn't like British films because they aren't speaking English
- she would do just about anything for her kids and grandkids
- she doesn't know about this blog

So, on your list of things to do this week: watch Coupling, guess which STR skein is Lola's, and help me make a decision on plan A or plan B for my sock pal's socks. Enjoy the weekend - it's lovely here in the Poconos!

Ava

Comments

[deb]

I'm so glad I found your blog. It's great fun! I've only seen Coupling a few times--love it! I haven't gotten to know you two enough to guess on the colorway, but they are all gorgeous. And, you have to enjoy the sock experience too so go with a sock pattern you like as well. I am working cables since I am a bit obsessed with them at the moment.

[lola]

I really like Plan A, but Plan B maybe easier. Are you looking for an easy watch TV knit?

I would also like to add that my dress was a little under $30!

Can't wait to fondling my yarn. Fondle fondle fondle. Think Clinton would mind? And yes, I'm knit during the speech. If I can't drink, might as well knit. Think we could drink?

[Robyn]

I actually randomly caught that ep of Coupling this week on TV- I never watched the show before- but it was hilarious! I'll have to netflix the series.

[Nora]

Plan B - and definitely tell your mum about this blog! :)

[sb]

Plan B. For sure, plan B (says the knitter who is following a pattern written by someone else--lazy...)

[Kim]

Coupling is wonderful! One of those shows you can't get bored of! :) The knits & yarns are beautiful btw.

[staying_anonymous]

i say skip the queen of cups with a multicolor skein because even in a semi-solid red the pattern didn't totally jump out. that said, i knit a pair in a record three days but i can't post pictures because they were for my secret pal for sp10, and the reveal isn't until june *sigh*. email me too because i have a correction for the second chart on queen of cups. i really am back to the drawing board for my socks for sockapalooza because my recipient is using a pattern extremely similar to what i was going to knit.

[jess]

My two cents: Do your own pattern. I love queen of cups... think it's super cool. However, I agree with pp and think it won't show as well with the multicolor yarn.

[Holly]

Go with Plan B. Queen of cups can be done toe up, it is just going to take some concentrating to knit everything "upside down" But what really matters is all that wonderful pattern will disappear in anything other than a fairly light solid-semisolid type yarn.
(and then you can do the Queen for yourself!)

[Holly]

Go with Plan B. Queen of cups can be done toe up, it is just going to take some concentrating to knit everything "upside down" But what really matters is all that wonderful pattern will disappear in anything other than a fairly light solid-semisolid type yarn.
(and then you can do the Queen for yourself!)

[Cathi]

Check it out? I own the full series. Why they ever thought the American one would work, I'll never know...