Giving it a whorl...

Today I kissed, hugged, and waved my husband and son goodbye, and watched in wary disbelief as they drove off down the road to spend a week at grandma's apartment in NYC... without me.

Wow!

Weird.

What the heck do I do with all this free time?

Missing them already, I got in the car and drove off to my hand spinning class. My husband signed me up for the class last week and gave it to me as a birthday gift.

Yeah, It was my idea. I gave him the class catalog with strong suggestions that this would be a nice gift...in July!... and then harassed him until he called to register... on my birthday last Monday! Luckily, it wasn't filled up yet!

The class is offered through a local community college and held at a local yarn shop that specializes in all things wool and spinning supplies. I have seen it listed before and have always wanted to participate. I am so happy I finally did!

I'm well versed in all things crafty, but spinning is not something I have ever tried. I've never even touched a spinning wheel, let alone sat in front of one and actually held fiber in my hand and tried to make "gold" out of it. I am completely fascinated by the magical process and I fell in love, as I knew I most likely would.

After a three hour crash course, (totally not long enough! I could have played for hours.) I officially fell in love. Now that I'm hooked, I face the challenge of convincing my husband that a $400 plus spinning wheel would be the perfect Christmas gift... wish me luck!

In other news, the Pink Hued Wrap is rapidly growing! YAY!!!... maybe I can finally move on to a new project before the first frost... likely not, but I can hope!

I finished the first half of the wrap and put it aside on a holder. I started the other half and I have two more rows to go before I finish the bottom lace pattern section. Once I finish the lace section, I will be ready to try to replicate the mistake that occurred on the other side. We'll see how it goes, but happy accidents, are just that, and I don't know if it will work if I TRY to do it again.

I'm crossing my fingers!

Charming thirds?

I am so frustrated I could cry. In fact, I have, a several times over the last few days.

All I want is a medical professional to listen to me.

Is that so much to ask for?

Yes, actually listen. Not dispense drugs that I have no intention of taking, or "informative" pamphlets on useless information that has nothing to do with the reason why I am seeking their assistance in the first place. I guess I'm asking for a lot...

Over the last 8 months, I have been struggling to keep my head above water and suffering through endless doctor visits only to come out even more confused and frustrated than I did before I entered the office. Not to mention the fact that I am on doctor number two after realizing doctor number one was impossible to deal with, wouldn't listen, quickly dismissed my worries by telling me I was being unreasonable, and proceeded to give me the third degree about a condition I have no control over and cannot explain. Even though I have had about 973 tests of varying types to determine that... doot do do... there is NOTHING wrong with me.

Well, I coulda' guessed that was coming!

So, after following doctor number two's direct orders. I called to follow up, only to be told, in fact, I was not doing what I was told. Even though I know I was. And it shouldn't matter because shouldn't a patient having a medical issue be treated with a little respect?

After dealing with a surly nurse, an even surlier doctor number two who reprimanded me like a young child who dumped the Kool-aid on the carpet and left it there to dry (he actually called me back to do that), I am now about to go in search of doctor number three.

I sure hope that three will be a charm, because I am at my wits end.

Maybe I'll finally find the helpful ear that will listen?

or, I may need bail money...

Still intact...

After much musing and inner reflection, I chickened out and decided I kind of like the goof. (Having already knit about 6 inches didn't help with the decision either!) I decided (after staring at the PHW until my eyes blurred) it sort of mirrors the bobble pattern eyelets at the bottom, so I feel it doesn't look completely out of place. I think it only really bothered me because, A. I know it wasn't supposed to look that way, and B. I'm not making this for myself, so I want it to be perfect.

The only foreseeable problem I can see with the decision to keep the 4 rows in the wrap, is that now that I want to consciously recreate the unintentional pattern I don't know if I can replicate it exactly as before. I am trying to remember how I did it exactly, but my memory is failing me. Hmmm...

One good thing is that I have made a lot of progress and the wrap has almost doubled in size. Now if I can double the size of what is it is NOW, it might actually start to resemble a wrap rather than a dish towel!

Let me knit a few more rows and then I'll post some more pictures...

To rip, or not to rip. That is the question...

Something has been troubling me about the Pink Hued Wrap, causing me to fret...

If you look at the pictures in the previous posting, there is section at the bottom of the PHW(yes, still a work in progress) that looks like a big eyelet section, but is actually 3-4 rows of goof. Or oops-a-daisy as my 2 1/2 year old would say... so funny what phrases he picks up on.



At any rate, it looks ok, but it does cause the lower section to bunch a bit. (example below)

Hmm... what to do, what to do?

Do I want to rip out 4 weeks of work or suck it up and live with it?



Well, let me sleep on it...

Progress makes perfect...

Here are some visual aids to help you see that progress has been made on the Pink Hued Wrap...

...at least it's bigger than an eye patch now!

I guess I have officially missed my deadline too.... I saw the birthday girl on Sunday. I had a few bonus gifts for her though, so she didn't go empty handed!

I haven't really made too much more progress since taking these photos, but as soon as make the halfway mark, I'll post an update.