Monday, December 18, 2006

"Another pair of finished socks"; or "Brown is in ,man"

Since I can remember, I have liked Rocky and Bullwinkle. I don't know if you recall, but the titles for the stories always have two names. Usually the meaning of the second name was revealed later in the episode. I like that about the show.
I find myself double titling things a lot. I do it to reports a work. For example: "show budget estimate", or "why it costs so much to produce a two person show".
I think it at the mall. "Longest line ever!" or "Why I hate the Mall!!"
I could go on. I'm slightly insane.

I had a fairly productive weekend. I opened my new show on Friday night. I finished my Falling Leaves Socks, I made a list of all of the things I need to finish before Thursday night (ha), I wrapped some gifts, I decorated just in time to undecorate, and discovered that I don't have a gift for my Grandma for Christmas. I had an idea a long time ago, I just never actually did it!
So now I am busting my butt to make her a lacy scarf - ala the airy scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts (cause this IS). The worst part of it is, I have to be prepared for the usual outcome. It is the outcome for every gift she is given, no matter what the gift is.
It goes like this... "Oh, insert name. I don't need another insert gift. Here, you take it."
or it can go like this... "Oh insert name. This insert gift is too big/small. "
once in a awhile it goes... "Oh insert name. This insert gift is too complicated/ what would I need this for?"

NOW HEAR THIS: I love my Grandma. She is my favorite Grandma, but she is really hard to buy gifts for. In the last few years, she has become very... lets say "honest". She'll tell you what she thinks of you, and doesn't care how you feel about it. I love her for it - mostly because I find it entertaining at parties - but it makes it VERY HARD to give a gift. DH said to me last night, "you are going to make her something?" I said I was. He then commented that I should be prepared when I give it to her. I said, "You mean for the 'I don't need this' comment?" He shook his head. I said that I knew, and was prepared for the let down. Hence the 4 hour scarf.

Still, I know you knitters out there are thinking that I shouldn't even waste 4 hours - especially when I have one more pair of socks to do before January 1. I could go buy her something. I could. But she's still my Grandma.

So here are a few pictures of my finished Fallling Leaves socks! Please excuse the poor pictures. We just don't have any natural light to speak of, and probably won't for a while.


The details:
Pattern: Falling Leaves Socks from Knitty
Yarn: Trekking ProNatura
Needles: KP classic circs, size 0
Comments: Fun to knit, Easy to memorize. I didn't change anything about the pattern, but to fit my 6.5 foot, I knit 4 repeats of the lace patttern in the foot section, and 5 in the leg. This yarn is pretty! I still haven't seen anyone else's FO's with it! Very nice varigated, and a blend of wool and bamboo! A tad splitty, especially in the dark, but overall, something I'd work with again.

Well, must go. I have to finish at work... so that I can ..work ..at home.

7 comments:

Annie said...

Beautiful! Those are on my "To Knit" list.

anphoe said...

I kind of agree of the gift thing. Sometimes, I miss being in Hong Kong, I never had to give Christmas gifts to my family when I was in HK. Only sometimes to friends. Now every year my head would become so big when it's close to Christmas time because it's hard to find/buy gifts for someone. Anyway, again, love the socks.

anphoe said...

I kind of agree of the gift thing. Sometimes, I miss being in Hong Kong, I never had to give Christmas gifts to my family when I was in HK. Only sometimes to friends. Now every year my head would become so big when it's close to Christmas time because it's hard to find/buy gifts for someone. Anyway, again, love the socks.

anphoe said...

I kind of agree of the gift thing. Sometimes, I miss being in Hong Kong, I never had to give Christmas gifts to my family when I was in HK. Only sometimes to friends. Now every year my head would become so big when it's close to Christmas time because it's hard to find/buy gifts for someone. Anyway, again, love the socks.

Unknown said...

Very pretty socks!

My grandma was very very hard to shop for. One year at the last minute when I couldn't figure out what to get her I bought a jar of fancy marmalade at Crabtree and Evelyn. She always ate marmalade in the mornings, so I figured it would at least be useful. She *loved* it! The next year I got her some soap or something and she said "Oh, I was hoping you would get me more of that marmalade!"

anphoe said...

Sorry Sorry, I don't know why I have posted 3 times, Sorry!!

Carrie said...

Love those socks--they look really great in the trekking!