Sigh.

 Today is a day absolutely chock full of sighs.  Possibly a typical Monday, for all I know.  

I had such high hopes to get a second blog post in March.  Can someone tell me why February, demonstrably the SHORTEST month in the calendar, seems to d-r-a-g on forever?  Followed by March, one of the longest months, which just whizzes by as if it on speed??  Sigh.

Sitting at breakfast this morning, I discovered one of my earrings is gone.  One of my silver sea gull earrings made by my friends from Kensington Silver Studio.  Gone.  Missing.  Not in the bed.  Not on the floor near the bed.  Not wrapped up in the clothing I discarded last night before bed.  Since Kensington Silver Studio is now closed, owners retired and equipment sold, there is no way I am going to get this replaced.  Sigh.

The morning was bright and sunny — unusual for a day in Ontario when something big is happening in the skies overhead.  At the appointed hour, I took a colander, my knitting, and my cell phone outside to observe and hopefully record the eclipse.  Cue the incoming clouds.  And they were solid clouds.  Sigh.

I went inside.  I must say that the experience was more strange than I expected.  It was dark — very dark.  The street light came on.  A passing automobile had its full headlight system on.  And it stayed dark for a far longer period than I thought it would.  After the world got brighter … you guessed it!  The clouds parted.  Sigh.

My knitting of late has been fraught with mis-steps.  The firetruck blanket was well received, but the young man had moved on to being enamoured with all things Star Wars.  The parental units were very impressed tho, so I will accept that as a win.  But still … Sigh.

I have a client who brought me a half finished sweater with an appropriately sad story.  Her sister had suddenly lost her eyesight and could not finish it.  It was sent to my client, who shied away from the colourwork.  I quoted a price, she agreed, and I was charged with finishing. 

The body was complete up to the yoke.  The sleeves were mostly finished.  So I knitted and then joined everything to work the yoke.  I was halfway up the colourwork chart when I realized that I would be short in the main colour.  I consulted with the client, who was good with an “almost” colour match.  (After all, her sister would not be able to see the mismatch!!!  I am still laughng at this statement.)

I brought home a ball of pink … and contemplated and stewed.  I called my client again, who told me she was good with whatever I chose to do.  I consulted Barb with my dilemma.  We agreed that the best solution was to bring in one more colour … and I finished up the sweater lickety-split.  Just goes to show that when the colours are right, I feel an absolute compulsion to knit.

I am SO happy with this project.  It is a combination of Sirdar Snuggly DK, Patons Astra and Ella Rae Cozy Soft.  That lovely lavender just makes it fabulous, rather than very pretty.  

Another finished object is the Bumble Sweater from Tin Can Knits.  We had gotten a new colour of Noro Viola at the store, and I “needed” to showcase it.  Barb, of course, fell into that rabbit hole as well and selected colours to make sweaters for her new little grandchildren.  Being at the shop full time gave me plenty of time to work on this little baby.  I DID a gauge swatch, achieved gauge, and started knitting.

Four inches into the pattern, I thought to myself “That looks big.”  Instead of the usual knitterly thing of continuing to knit (DeNile isn’t just a river in Egypt!) I measured.  Sure enough.  Instead of gauge, I was off by 1.5 stitches to 10 cm.  I ripped back to the ribbing, and started again with a 6.0mm needle.  

And it fits!  Perhaps a wee bit more closely than planned, but it is way comfortable and cozy.  I wore it all day after this photo, unblocked and everything!

I really like this little style detail —

You don’t see it clearly when I wear it, but it is there.  Absolutely delightful.  This is a slip stitch pattern, in two colours.  I would rate it as suitable for a confident knitter.  

Details of the project — Two balls of James C. Brett Croftland (the white) and one ball of the expensive and beautiful Noro Viola.  I used a 6.0mm needle for the body and 4.0mm for the ribbing.  Did I mention that it fits?  And the sleeves are perfect.  Sigh.  

So I mentioned something about Barb’s new grandchildren.  It is only fair to fill in the blanks.  Baby Girl and Baby Boy were delivered via c-section on the Wednesday before Easter.  Baby Girl spent time in the NICU, but Baby Boy was able to room in with Mama.  They are all home now, and gaining weight as they should.  Barb is assisting with the transition to motherhood, and (woe is her) snuggling babies. Sigh.

My little granddaughter is now 4 months old and doing well. She is able to hold her head up so that a front-facing chest carrier is comfortable for one and all.  Consequently, she is getting lots of outside walks with her mama and papa.  I saw the family at Easter, and my heart is full.  Sigh.

Here's hoping that the rest of April passes a wee bit more slowly than March.