And here we have a failure to communicate...

leading to not just lack of progress, but hindering any sort of progress I might've made. My indecently short attention span has lead to the unfortunate circumstance of needing to rip back on two of my projects... the katia tank AND the second toasty toes sock.

Mistake #1
Not counting rows before crossing the middle stitches to create a cable effect. I was on my third repeat and figured I could 'eye' it. Guess my 'eye' needs a check up. I had to rip that sucker back about 8 rows. (for a net loss of -4 rows).

Mistake #2
The sock was about an inch and a half shorter than the first sock. Which means it didn't fit. Stacey and Cathi were very sympathetic about my plight (after they got done laughing). I had done the kitchener stitch and everything, and was so proud of myself for finishing my first pair of socks. Where did I go wrong? I made consecutive decrease rows instead of alternating a decrease row with an even row. Doh!

Yes, I know. Pics of my FUPs (Fucked Up Project) would've been highly entertaining for you... but I ripped em both before I took any pics.

The good news: I've successfully ripped and put stitches back on for both projects. The sock is about 4 rows from being finished, and the tank is back on track.

A friend from North Carolina is visiting me now, and we've been having a blast! Her first full day, we spent in CO Springs, where she received her second bachelor's degree. We visited a lot of her old haunts. The next day, we went shopping for yarn, where we bought some very nice stuff. She bought handpainted brown sheep-

handpainted


I bought enough Cascade Yarns Pearls in blue for a tank from Hot Knits.

blue pearl



Then, I made the mistake of going to both Target AND the Container Store. I found lots of stuff I wasn't aware that I needed at both stores. Some nice faux leather bins from Target (in which to hide some of the stash), and some these magnetic boards to use in the kitchen with this paper towel holder, this hook rack, and this towel rack to help create more counter space in my teeny tiny kitchen.

We met up with Cathi and Stacey at Stella's for a wonderful night of knitting. Cathi worked on her Chickami tank, Stacey worked on her HP Gryffindor scarf, I screwed up my sock, and Dar worked on her crocheted block afghan. Of course we all got hungry, so off to Jerusalem's we went for some serious hummus, falafel, and pita... topped off with baklava for dessert. Wanda was supposed to be there, but had to pick up an early morning shift the next morning. She was missed.

Tomorrow, we'll hit up King's Land for dim sum, then head back over to S. Pearl to visit the Farmer's Market and LaTiDa (where I have a gift certificate which needs to be used).