FullOfStitches.com blog.A good laugh leaves me in stitches!

We were planning an outing today. The children and I were going over to Fremont to visit the S—- family. I got up and had TJ do his math. I fed Cow and BB. I went in to wake AJ, and she started vomiting. It wasn’t much, and she got up excited for the day, so I gave her the benefit if the doubt. Maybe it’s from the weather change -I’ve been snuffly lately.

We piled in the van. It smelled a bit -Ben had cleaned the carpet this weekend and it hadn’t dried all the way before being closed up. And we didn’t go any where yesterday.. That smell could set me off if I were already not right. I left the windows open, the van smelled better quick, we drove 2 blocks and picked up breakfast. Turned and had just passed our street on the way to the freeway and she started. I turned around and came home.

No way am I taking a sick child to visit a new baby! Allergies, fine. Repetitive loss of cookies, no.

Anyone need me, I’ll be knitting/sewing or cleaning floors.

I’ve decide to join the Six Sox Knit-along. I’m really excited because some of the socks look really interesting. Right now, they have a neat lightning-lace going on. I won’t be making these ones because I read what the name means:

“A Horcrux is defined by Rowling as a “receptacle in which a Dark wizard has hidden a fragment of his soul for the purposes of attaining immortality.
A Horcrux can be made from any normal object: Lord Voldemort used a diary, a ring, and other objects as Horcruxes. Horcruxes may be concealed for security, but if discovered are vulnerable to destruction…”

It took me weeks, but I had actually started a pair. But I’m feeling rather convicted now that I read that. I don’t support the whole Harry Potter thing, the Bible teaches not to have dealings with magic. So, I won’t make these socks (even though, one might argue, they’re just socks) because they represent magical items.

If you’d like to join SixSox, a new pattern should be out in just a couple weeks. Plus, many of the older patterns are on file at the group.

I found the Regia Bamboo sock that I’d been working on and hope to have a pair of those made in time for the next pattern. Or better, get those and a pair from one of the older sixsox patterns done!

New Toys!

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

My son ran in from the backyard carrying a package clearly marked JoAnn Fabrics. The delivery man apparently tried the front and when we didn’t answer went around to set it on the side yard (they usually just dump them in the bushes next to the front door). In the time it took him to go from front to side, I went from backyard indoors.

The children were utterly fascinated with the new setup. This is the only unwound yarn that I had, so I tried the swift out. Almost all my handwound balls have been rewound with the ballwinder.

Mastitis. It’s almost a dirty word in the lactating community. What is it? An inflamation of the breast, maybe an infection.

The last few days, I’ve been busier than usual. Tuesday, we had friends come to swim – had a blast, didn’t get a nap. Wednesday and Thursday, I would up driving to the store, and Thursday night is ‘small group’ Bible study. Usually, I’m at home all day, with maybe 2-3 times a week making a quick errand (ie. walking to the local grocer).

At some point yesterday, my hands felt achy. I thought perhaps it was caused by knitting too much -I’ve only just picked it up again from before Cow was born. But, last night I started getting the telltale tender spot as I was readying for bed. BB had only had one side that morning and the other before bed.. She tries to usually nurse 2-4 times a day, both sides. And Cow was exhausted from staying awake through Bible study and wanted me to put her straight to bed without nursing more! Believe me, I tried to change her mind! I told Ben that it seemed like I was coming down with mastitis and I’ll be resting tomorrow.

This morning, I awoke and picked up Cow to pee her, and my lower back twinged. Perhaps it was bad posture? She nursed fine from the sore side, though. Then BB also helped relieve the pressure.

At ‘naptime’, Cow was super fussy again! So, in the ABC she went. I sat at the sewing machine and worked on swimwear. Suddenly my spine began to feel like it was heating up. I thought first that maybe Cow has a fever coming on. She was in a good place, though, if she were getting sick. She can rest there and when she wakes feed and then I could determine what’s wrong.’

AJ needed help next. I stood up and suddenly my I had tingles and numbness where I sit. Again, I attributed it to something else; I could have pinched a nerve… The next time I stood up, it happened again. I began to put the pieces together. The heat in my spine is *mine* not from her. The weird numbing is because of that. I took her off my back. peed her, and lay down in bed.

The ache is in my shoulders and back and feet. It’s mild mostly, the fever is slowly gaining, and another nap should help. Cow just fell asleep again. If I can put her in bed and let BB have at, we should make it fine until Ben comes home.

If it happens to you, rest and nurse. Until all aches are gone and there’s no more soreness: rest and nurse. If you have a busy schedule, apologize for the inconvenience, but go to bed and take the baby with you (s/he’s much more efficient than a pump).

Honey, if you’re reading this, I’m not cooking tonight. Would you bring home pizza?

Yarn Hungry Vacuum

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

I had it in the pocket of the chair.. I thought it was safe! The needles peered over the edge as I did my chore. I didn’t see them jump and take the sock to meet the vacuum!

There was a sound.

A terrible awful sound.

The needles dug into the carpet to hide from the unexpected ferocity of the great vacuum beast. They clung to their precious sock!

Somehow, the needles managed to keep hold of the sock as they dug into the carpet. The vacuum ate about a yard of the wool-bamboo yarn and was appeased.

The needles were given a stern talking to.

Knitting has once more commenced.

The vacuum had it’s yarn removed.

Naughty vacuum.

Mother’s Day Card

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

Saturday, Ben took me out to lunch and we looked around for a dresser (bureau) because we’ve been without one since .. um.. yeah.. He’d like to get me one for Mother’s Day, so we had a good jump on the holiday. So good, in fact, because we both thought it *was* Mother’s Day last week.

TJ and AJ made me a Mother’s Day card this morning. They traced their hands on the outside of it. And, inside, AJ drew me an ocean.

Not Quite..

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

It’s one of those days, I think.

I’ve got another 2-3 inches to go before I reach the proper length for my Schottische Kilt Hose. I just ripped out the heel and reseated the needles.. Now I can’t find my working needle!



Better news, though: the children love No-Bake cookies!
(adapted from Betty Crocker Cookie Book)

1 cup (6 oz) chips: semisweet chocolate or peanut butter chips
1/4 cup liquid sweet: light or dark corn syrup, or maple syrup, or honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp Vanilla
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup nuts (they call for peanuts, we used pecans)

In a saucepan, heat all ingredients -except oats and nuts- until smooth, stirring to keep from burning. Remove from heat, add oats and nuts, and stir until well coated. Place onto wax paper (on a cookie sheet or in a container) by rounded spoonfuls. Refrigerate until cooled (if you can resist- this lets the moist ingredients soak into the oats), and enjoy!

First Socks of 2007

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

Too close to the work. Do you get that feeling? Stitching away muttering to yourself, “What was I thinking?” or “I must really hate myself…” But, you persist. Finally, you get to the end and, bracing yourself, put the work where it belongs..

And, it looks good.

These socks fit me! This is the first pair that I’ve made for me that fit me! And, they’re toe-up! And, from this distance, I like the stripes.

(I had to brighten the picture, this was taken in the dawn’s early light. Some flecks of red in the dark stripes can be seen.)


Pattern: Widdershins from knitty.com
Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes – Lumberjack
Size: 54 sts
Needles: US1 dpn

BB’s got a cold. It started a week ago Thursday with a fever, so we’re not taking her to church. Last week, I stayed home with her and Cow and we slept most of the morning. This week, Ben stayed home with BB. He took her to the game store and, when they came back, the neighbor across the cul-de-sac was out. He hasn’t seen Ben or his car in a while and was afraid that I’d kicked him out. Um…

It seems to be a theme here. The next door neighbor had been afraid that Ben had left me during my pregnancy!

Hello!? People! He’s just got a deadline to make and bugs to fix when they have a new software release!

When I came home from church, Ben told me and asked me, “What’s wrong with this place?”

I could make such a long list, but the main problem: Jesus Christ has been asked to leave. Let’s invite the Son of God again. Let’s make marriages work by living according to the ways the Risen One has shown us. Let’s be servants to one another. Oi, do I ever struggle with that one. Thankfully, Jesus came to save us sinners and teach us how to be like Him.

dufus

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

I finally decided that I could knit again. The baby is 3 months old, she has somewhat regular times that she enjoys being down with the children, and she naps well (especially in the sling or ABC). So, yesterday I pulled out the green socks to finish the legs and maybe finish the socks.

So, I knit a couple inches. Then I looked closely and, lo and behold, I had repeated the first half of the pattern 1&1/2 repeats back. So, I thought I’d ladder down.

Seemed alright. Took a while, though, and i have 7 repeats around to fix. I fixed 2 or 3 last night. This morning, I went for the next and it didn’t look so good, everything seemed pulled and one side wasnt opening the YOs as much.. I started the next and just decided to rip back. What’s 12 rounds? 20-30 minutes? And, it’ll look better.

I managed to get to the end of that first leg without further ado and picked up the second. I had to join the yarn because I’ve used this yarn for other socks. Then we went out to lunch, and I just picked them up and made the same mistake! Only, thankfully, I caught it when I got to the next YO round. Can you hear that frog? rrrriiippp-it!