Saturday, October 30, 2010

Return to Normalcy

Thank you for your thoughts. I've found knitting to be immensely therapeutic through the whole grieving process, not to mention the support from Mr. Batty, my parents, professionals, and friends.

I'm moving forward in the healing process. It will take a while until I return to normal, but I'm trying to look forward, not back, and to imagine a future that has beautiful things in it. Knitting helps with that. Knitting for my family helps even more. If I posted everything I've been working on over the past two weeks, this post would be incredibly long, so I'll start out with a few pictures and work my way through the WIP pile.

The Hyacinth socks I'm knitting for my mother are coming along -- look, I'm on sock 2! They were in hibernation for a month or so, and I really wish I'd taken notes on things like foot length while I was working on sock 1. Oh, well, lesson learned. Sticky notes are your friend.


Next, my Dad's socks. Here they are, on my Dad. Having him and my mom here during this difficult time has been a godsend. They both deserve socks, gratitude, and so much more than I could ever give for that one.


Gory Details:
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Tweed 4-ply
Needles: US #1/2.25 mm
Size: European 42/43
Pattern: Ganz viel Struktur
Comments: Knit as written, with a star toe and Boomerang heel. I'm now decent at short rows, but it's taken a good long time -- and I still have to look up how to knit stitches together with their wraps in any given direction.

And so you don't think I've been knitting nothing but socks: my sister's Luscious cowl. It's done, I just need to seam it. It's so soft and squishy, I'm sure it'll be warm.


As I said, there's more. Much more. And... some new fiber happened. I've been really good with my yarn diet (5 skeins of yarn in 2010, 1 souvenir yarn, 4 Christmas gift yarn), but I'm starting to think this will have to include fiber for 2011. The yarn stash is shrinking, but the fiber stash? Oy, she has grown!

10 comments:

kemtee said...

Lovely work as usual.

It's good to have busy work. Whatever helps to make it easier, I say.

Holler if you need anything, even a place to vent.

Zonda said...

Glad to hear you are doing ok! (hugs)
Lovely socks there!

Kaye said...

Both those socks are amazing! I've yet to attempt man socks. Color me very impressed.

Bonnie said...

Your dad's socks came out perfect!!! And I'm seriously smitten with your hyacinths. They are really, really lovely.

Mary said...

Hallo Batty,
irgendwie habe ich gar nicht mitbekommen, dass es Dir nicht gut ging. Aber Kopf hoch und immer positiv in die Zukunft schauen, dass ist die richtige Einstellung.

Schöne Socken hast Du für Deinen Paps gestrickt und die Hyazinthensocken für Deine Mama werden ja wohl der absolute Hingucker :-)

Liebe Grüße
Mary

Nessa said...

Ooh that cowl looks delicious!!

elspeth said...

My favorite is the cowl. Gorgeous!

weezalana said...

Your dad's socks are fabulous! And the cowl looks sooo squishy.

Eileen said...

Great stuff. And I am very glad indeed to hear that you are starting to heal. Don't get too "normal", though! =^.,^=

jpknits said...

Lovely hyacinth socks! And the cowl, too.