the emotional life of sølje

Gracie of course had to try and figure out what was making all the squeaks and grunts. I think she is mad at me for bringing another creature into the house–though I did remind her that it was Dad that carried Darrin in!

Tags: A Family Affair by Solje
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Like I’ve said before, I wish I had the smaller stripes that I have seen with other RSC’ers Monsoon colorway, but I will deal with it I am now ready to work the cuff on both.

I ripped the heel back on the one that I had already completed, it needed a few more rows, and I needed to understand that I working on the right side of the sock for the heel. Throw in some math, along with what you may feel is logical, and then try to read the directions again… voila! You are left with one confused me!

A boo-boo that I refuse to rip back to is with the top of the sock. I missed some of the ribbing pattern while chatting on the phone… and perhaps I shouldn’t be chatting and knitting in a pattern at the same time. There error side is not facing up… but when it’s on my foot, you’ll see it!

Tags: Knitting by Solje
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We were able to meet our newest family member today! Introducing Darrin Austin Devin He slept for most of the time we were visiting, but we got to feed him and even saw some peeks of his eyes. He wasn’t fussy… perhaps he is saving that up for when he comes home? Tomorrow we will be hunting down a few more needed items, putting together a couple of things, and we’ll be all ready for Monday to come when we get to bring little Darrin home.

Tags: A Family Affair by Solje
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1. bouncy chair
2. cradle (that everyone after me has slept in–niece, nephews, our son)
3. baby bottles
4. cloth diapers (aka burp rags)… hopefully they aren’t all being used as dust cloths
5. changing table
6. onsies and other newborn size clothes that I may have kept from Daniel
7. I can’t think!
8. at least I still have some baby items in the spare bedroom
9. can you guess what miracle has happened?
10. we may get to bring home said miracle tomorrow if our workers can arrange their schedules
11. we are ecstatic and tomorrow for sure we will have new pictures (because if nothing else, we get to visit!)
12. The stats? Baby boy, born 2/26/07, 5lbs 8oz, cute as a button and doing well!

In other words? We’ve been matched! We started this long journey for a 2nd time in August 2004, and after a change in agency, failed match, not being chosen following going to Committee (Oregon’s process for kids in foster care), we were chosen to be the parents of a newborn! We were hoping not to adopt out of birth order (our age range was from birth-about 4yrs that we were hoping for), and after deciding to put a cut-off date for the 2nd adoption for August this year, we were chosen! I don’t want to go into details, but our newest angel had a rough start but with all kids, his future is bright and we feel blessed!

More to follow, including a formal introduction (name)

PS… in case you are wondering, all homeowners should have a “pink room”. Ours was painted by my grandmother–and is very pepto bismal pink (our home was originally my paternal grandparents house)! It is a room above our garage where we store just about anything and everything. My grandma used to go up there to hide out from my grandfather and smoke! LOL!

Tags: A Family Affair by Solje
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++Spoiler Alert, photos below++

sigh…

Well, I am done with the heel on sock 1… and I misread the instructions and switched the “instep” with the “sole”. Ok, in my mind, I see both of those as the same thing, but I know that they aren’t. So, I called the “instep”, the top of my foot. The result? What is suppose to be the top of the foot is now the bottom and vice versa.

I wonder how a p2, k2 ribbing will feel to walk on? I have already ripped this sock 3x, so what’s ripping back a heel? I am going to start the second sock first and decide after that.

Looking at the progress on other “Inside Out” socks that are being made, it’s interesting how the handpainted yarns knit up differently.
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Tags: Knitting by Solje
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++Spoiler Alert, comparison photos++

Check out the differences in knitting with a size US0 (first photo) and a US1 (second photo). These both have the exact same amount of yarn used–but what a huge difference in both size and yarn design it has made. The second picture was taken a little closer, so it’s hard to get a true difference in size, but believe me, it is a huge improvement over the first. I also am now working the ribbing that the pattern calls for My first attempt was off because I wasn’t paying attention and switched around which side is the top and bottom (as those of you who are knitting this know that they are two different numbers of stitches–so it makes a big difference).

I am knitting at about a medium to tight range, and in trying on what I have so far, I am pleased with the fit. I am liking this attempt heads over the last two shots!

I think it’s safe to say that I am no longer discouraged with this pattern. At my flickr site, I show the differences in the top and bottom of the new sock. Just click on one of the photos and it will take you there. Nevermind the little pink fuzzies on the top of the sock where the short row toe ends (or, actually began!). That was from my cast on with my favorite extra pink yarn it’s slowly getting picked out!
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Tags: Knitting by Solje
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+Spoiler Alert, scary picture below++

On to attempt #3. I hated the toe, I hated working with 0’s, so I ripped and am now working in US1 and am liking it much better. As I get to the cuff, I will weigh the sock to the ball and see how I am doing. I am not too concerned if I have to make the cuff short.

So I have now noticed that I have some larger stripes being created with the larger needle size. I will take a picture after I get further along to compare with my second attempt picture below. As long as I don’t end up with large pooling of colors, I will feel ok about this project.

Tags: Knitting by Solje
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++Spoiler Alert, photos below++
I received my first box from Blue Moon Fiber Arts a couple of weeks ago, combed through everything, wound my skein of yarn… and got courage to give it a shot last night.

I’m not thrilled with the pattern for Feb/March. First, the instructions emphasize to knit tight, and my fingers are hurting. I swatched, and I still was knitting too loose. I am using a US 0, but thinking I have to drop down to 00? ugh. Time to order a couple of those needles from KnitPicks.

The short row toe was nifty. The ribbing has been awkward and uneven for the top of the foot. I am not against ripping–as I have done it once already for the toe alone. Increases were different, I have never done increases like that before… but I will trudge along and see what happens.

In looking at the progress of other RSC knitters for this pattern, I have noticed a real difference in pooling or striping of colors. Some, I haven’t liked so much, others were nice. I’ll post more photos as I work on this one.

Right now, this sock is so stiff that it could stand up by itself! I guess I am more of a squishy sock liker.

Tags: Knitting by Solje
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Like many others, I joined the final Journal Quilt group that will hang at the Houston show in October ‘07. Because there is only one quilt, instead of several small quiltlets; I decided to make this be a quilt that encompassed “time”–and most likely the focus of my year. January was spent sketching and writing out what I want on the quilt, February I finalized my sizes and notes… started gathering the fabrics (I am trying for a stash-only project), and this month I have been sewing. We’ll see if I am successful or not, but so far so good. I have a few areas in my sketch that will require actual “thinking”, so I am not trying to whip this project out fast.

So far I am pleased with the subject I chose to do my quilt on, and it is starting to work the way I want. My only problem is that my sewing is not very exact, and when you are dealing with pieces that are 3/4″, well… I may need to readjust my initial measurements or form into a different way. We’ll see as this develops.

Any actual pictures of my quilt won’t be shown until October… but I thought a teaser of my progress on it would be ok

Tags: Journal Quilts, Quilting by Solje
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Pattern from “Socks Soar On Two Circular Needles” by Cat Bordhi. Except I like to use just one circular for the majority of the knitting.

Sock It To Me sock yarn “Colori” (I think) can’t remember the colorway (yarn from my stash).

This has been my first attempt at a lace pattern. On the top of the foot, there is one repeat of the lace pattern, around the leg there are six repeats. This was a good intro to knitting lace, and it is something I would like to pursue further. I also found that I need to either knit a little tighter or go down a needle size, at least for this pattern. I like slouchy socks, but I also like firmness around my foot. At least I am learning while still making something wearable.

Tags: Knitting by Solje
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I finally got the sock to fit on the blocker keychain. I had to go up one needle size to a US1, but I think that a 2 might be better because then the fabric won’t be as stretched. Cute little kitschy thing!

And now for the pink sock with a thicker yarn: I think I am done for the time being with my teeny sock obsession now that I have a pink one that fits the sock blocker!

Tags: Knitting by Solje
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Hehee! Kidding aside, isn’t it cute? I fell into the trap of wanting to make this cute little accessory, but my sock came out too small to fit on the keychain sock blocker! I followed the directions… I swear, but it would fit Barbie’s foot (leg) very well. Now if I had a daughter… I bought my little keychain here: The Loopy Ewe; and the service was great. Can’t wait to shop there again

Tags: Knitting by Solje
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