My first trip out of town was a success, I think. I got quite a bit of work done and even got the chance to sleep through the night for several nights in a row. I know my husband had a rough night or two, and we were both ready for me to come home, but everybody survived.
I called home to talk to Jellybean on Tuesday night. He told me all about playing with his friends at preschool, singing songs and mentioned something about dada and a new dishwasher. I thought it was odd that he would mention a dishwasher, but I thought he might be talking about a play kitchen. I asked hubby about it later. He got really quiet. Surprise! We really do have a new dishwasher! Haha, Jellybean spilled the beans. It was still a surprise, though, because I had no idea hubby would replace our dishwasher while I was our of town. The new one is SO quiet and doesn’t leak, hang up, smell like a smelting plant or squeal like a banshee.
I got in Thursday night after the boys had gone to bed. Lollypop woke up at about 415, so I got up with him. I turned on the light to change his diaper and the look on his face when he realized it was me was just awesome. He had a big grin and was SO excited! We were up for quite a while longer than normal as he patted my face, chattered at me and hugged my neck. I didn’t mind it.
Jellybean woke up the next morning and said, “Oh hey, you’re back.” as if it was no big deal that I was gone. That’s my laid-back kiddo for you. Later, when I picked them up from daycare, he did tell me that he was glad I was home.
I got quite a bit of work done on the stocking, but didn’t finish it during the trip. I got the heel halfway done in the airport before the flight home, missed a stitch somewhere, and just put it away. I could have pulled the heel out, put in waste yarn and continued down the foot, but at that point, I was so exhausted and brain-fried I didn’t even want to think about it. Heels and toes should be done when I have time to concentrate. I found that time Friday night and I’m ready to continue on.
I started to cast on for Jellybean’s 2016 Winter Sweater, but I didn’t bring the whole pattern with me. I made copies of the pertinent pages, or so I thought. I didn’t think to copy the measurement page. I cast on the 100 stitches, and it just felt like it was going to be really small. I didn’t want to waste time on it and I really felt like I would be ripping it out if I kept going. So, I undid the cast on and decided start it again when I can make sure I’m making the right size. Well, it turns out that there is no measurement page. I did the calculations for the gauge and I was definitely on track to make it too small. The stitch gauge is 9 stitches over 2 inches, so the size 4 sweater would be almost 25 inches around. After I got home, I measured last year’s sweater…. it was 28 inches. I’m so glad I didn’t keep going. I’ll be making the size 6 instead.
I will also be changing the pattern to be a zip-front sweater rather than a pullover. I’m using the Wonderful Wallaby pattern. I guess the pattern will be more of a guide, though. Changing it to have a zipper rather than being worked in one piece is a significant difference. I will have to make the pouch into two pockets, but I have an idea on how to manage that.
Before I left, I did manage to finish knitting on Lollypop’s winter sweater. I need to sew it up and get buttons for it, but it’s still 90 degrees daily, so I have some time.
There’s not been much else going on this week. Just the happy homecoming and trying to get back into the groove after the trip. I have quite a bit to do for work, but I hope I’ll get some good knitting time, too.
I’ll leave you with this little gem. This was artwork that was in the hotel room. Can you spot the problem?