I got to sleep in, just a little bit, this morning. I did not climb out of bed, until 7:18. (Look at me, being all lazy!) And, I could have easily slept a little bit longer, if I knew I didn't have a busy morning, ahead of me.
By no later than 10am, I have to leave the house. (From the time I am starting to write this post, I have an hour and a half, before time to leave the driveway.) At 10:30, I have physical therapy. I can honestly say that I am rather happy to have been able to get an 'early' appointment. It sure as hell beats the typical 1:30 appointment.  Of course, it does put a bit of a damper, on my typical morning routine. I am used to having the first half of my day, all to myself.
Oh well.
The final grade, for week 2, was posted today. I scored an Awesome grade, on the written assignment. GO ME!
So...Yarn.
The first thing I want to talk about...The wooden hook, and the Cross Stitch & Picot Afghan.
I had a bit of 'spare time' last night. An hour to kill, before going to bed. My mother was in her room, asleep. So, I decided to pull out the Cross Stitch & Picot. I grabbed my wooden crochet hook. I was TOTALLY excited, to FINALLY have the opportunity to work with it.
Well, guess what.
It is just plain AWKWARD!
There is like ONE inch, where this hook is thin. Then, it gets thick. And, it is just IMPOSSIBLE for me to work a half double, while keeping the same tension, as I already have. The stitch rides up the hook, going over thick part, and it gets extremely loose.
I am not happy!
I am sure that this hook will work wonderfully, for another project. If I had started the Cross Stitch & Picot with this hook, then I am sure it would not be a problem. But, switching from a thin-handled aluminum hook, to this thicker handled wood one. Well, that is not an option. In my opinion, the thin part of this hook, should be just a little bit longer. It seems like that would make more sense.
So, feeling completely BUMMED out, over not being able to use my cool new hook, I grabbed my boring old aluminum one, and I got to work.
Now, in past entries, I have told you that I am going to have to work something, at the sides of this blanket. I need it to be a little bit wider. At first, I had plans to work a granny squares, to give me the extra width. And, I still might. I am not sure. But, last night, as I was working on it, I had the idea of doing a trellis- like pattern, in brown yarn, and adding pink flowers. Last night, it seemed like such a brilliant idea. It seemed perfect. This morning, while I am not completely ruling it out, I am not as 'in love' with the idea, as I was, in my tired state, last night.
My biggest fear, with this afghan...
I am afraid that whatever I do, to add that extra width, will look odd. I am afraid, that it will not blend. And, I just don't get it. I am using the same hook size the pattern asks for. Yet, the width is way shorter. Part of me is thinking of just scraping this particular afghan. Part of me thinks that it would be a better idea, to just start a new afghan, based from another pattern. I just don't know. Part of me REALLY wants to work this particular afghan. But, I already know I would have to add stuff, not asked for, in the pattern. And, what if it doesn't look right? What if I waste all my time, making an afghan that, when finished, is not good enough to be a Christmas gift, for my mom? If I keep going, n this afghan, I may not have time to work another one, before Christmas, should this one not look right. And, on top of it all, there is the fact that this afghan needs to be PERFECT. I mean, I want to use that yarn, that was left over from Aunt B's blanket, in a gift, that will be beautiful.
I am just not sure about this particular afghan anymore. The further I go, in it, the more doubts I have.
Help me? What should I do? Should I keep going, with the Cross Stitch & Picot, and hope it turns out OK, or should I just scrap it, and start a new afghan, from a new pattern, while I still have the time?
GRRR!!! I just don't know.
HELP!!!!
In other (not quite so stressful) yarn news...
I finished the sock, yesterday. One down. One more to go. Then, I will be done with my second pair.
So...The sock.
I must admit, socks are tricky business. Especially on a loom. It is (for me, at least) damn near IMPOSSIBLE, to get an appropriate measurement, while the project is hanging from the bulky plastic loom. Then, the trickiness continues. I worked the foot of the sock, for what seemed like an eternity. I decided to the work the toe, in the candy corn yarn. So, the toe was worked, I grafted the toe together, and I had a sock, that was FRIGGIN huge. I mean, the foot of this sock, looks FRIGGIN GIANT!
Needless to say, I went into a cursing fit. "The foot is too EFFING long. I just don't get it. Why can't I make a damned sock!"
My mother grabbed the sock from me, and tried it on.
Surprisingly, it fit her perfectly. It looks HUMUNGOUS, but, once on her foot, it was awesome!
Yup...Socks. They are just a mystery, to me. The yarn version, of an optical illusion. This sock looked like it would fit a football player. And, it was the perfect size, for my mother. Go figure.
After realizing that the sock was not a complete disaster, I did some household chores, then took a bath.
After the bath, I worked yet another row, to the birthday blanket.
(Let me just say this, right here. As I work on the birthday blanket, and the Winter Jewels, I know that both of them are perfect. This is just one more reason, why I am questioning the Cross Stitch & Picot. I mean, my sister will be getting a completely awesome afghan, for her birthday, that was worked, without a flaw. Then, come Christmas, my sweetie will be getting a PERFECT afghan. Again, worked without a single flaw. And, if I continue the Cross Stitch & Picot, will my mom get the same quality? Sure, it could look AWESOME, with the additions, that I will have to do? But, what if it doesn't? Can I risk that?)
So, today...
Well, I have started the second sock. I am 5 rows into it. I plan on taking it with me, and working on it, while in the lobby, at the office. Hopefully, I can accomplish a bit on it, today. Another row to the birthday blanket will be worked. And, I will (most likely) spend a fair amount of time, thinking about the Cross Stitch & Picot Pattern. I just wish I knew what to do.
Well...That is it. Believe me when I say I could just keep writing today. But, my appointment time is approaching, and I am still in my PJ's. Time to go get dressed, have breakfast, and go get worked.
Until tomorrow...
Happy looming, and crocheting.