Playin Footsie

This is a simple pattern that is great for those half-used skeins of yarn. I got the idea after knitting a pair of full size socks and having about half a skein of beautiful sock yarn left-over. Not enough for a regular sock, too much to go to waste.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces sock yarn; approx. 1/2 skein (~110 yds). Plus waste yarn.

Needles: size 2dpn

Fits women's size 8-9.

Note: This is a toe-up pattern using short rows for shaping. The first portion of the pattern can be worked on regular straight needles.

Cast on 30 st loosely using waste yarn.

Knit 2 rows in stockinette st.

Toe Shaping

Row 1 - Knit 28 sts, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 2 - Sl 1, p26, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 3 - Sl1, K25, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 4 - Sl1, P24, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 5 - Sl1, K23, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 6 - Sl1, P22, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 7 - Sl1, K21, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 8 - Sl1, P20, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 9 - Sl1, K19, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 10 - Sl1, P18, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 11 - Sl1, K17, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 12 - Sl1, P16, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 13 - Sl1, K15, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 14 - Sl1, P14, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 15 - Sl1, K13, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 16 - Sl1, P12, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 17 - Sl1, K11, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 18 - Sl1, P10, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.

Turning the toe

Row 21 - Sl1, K10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 22 - Sl1, P10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.
Row 23 - Sl1, K11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 24 - Sl1, P11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.

Continue in this manner until all sts have been reincorporated, finishing on a purl row.

K 1 row, dividing sts onto 2 dpns (in preparation for knitting in the round). These are needles 1 & 2.

Foot

Remove yarn used for provisional cast-on. This will give you 30 "live" sts. Pick up & knit these sts, dividing equally onto 2 dpns (needles 3 &4). There should be 15sts on each needle.

K around for 4 rows.

Row 1 - P2, K2 across needles 1 & 2, end with P2. K across needles 3 & 4.

Repeat this row until sock measures approx. 7" from the tip.

Heel

Note: The heel will be worked in the same manner as the toe.

Work only the sts on needles 3 & 4.

Purl 1 row.

Row 1 - Knit 28 sts, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 2 - Sl 1, p26, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 3 - Sl1, K25, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 4 - Sl1, P24, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 5 - Sl1, K23, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 6 - Sl1, P22, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 7 - Sl1, K21, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 8 - Sl1, P20, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 9 - Sl1, K19, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 10 - Sl1, P18, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 11 - Sl1, K17, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 12 - Sl1, P16, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 13 - Sl1, K15, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 14 - Sl1, P14, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 15 - Sl1, K13, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 16 - Sl1, P12, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 17 - Sl1, K11, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 18 - Sl1, P10, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.

Turning the heel

Row 21 - Sl1, K10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 22 - Sl1, P10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.
Row 23 - Sl1, K11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 24 - Sl1, P11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.
Continue in this manner until all sts have been reincorporated, finishing on a purl row.

K 1 row.

Cuff

Return to knitting in the round.

Row 1 - P2, K2 across needles 1 & 2, end with P2. K across needles 3 & 4.

Repeat this row 5 times.

Row 2 - P2, K2 around.

Repeat this row until cuff is approx. 1" or desired height.

Cast off all sts loosely.

Caution: Do not cast off too tightly or you will have difficulty fitting the sock over your heel. Do not cast off too loosely or you will have difficulty keepin the sock in place.

This pattern is for personal use only! Please let me know if you have any questions or problems! Thank you!

Post-OP

I had my post-op appointment yesterday morning. Everything is just fine! Dr. Randolph said that they had no problems removing the polyp, which according to him was kinda cute! (??) He also said the reports on the polyp all came back normal and that the cavity & tubes look good, so no worries there. He was very concerned that the polyp would act as an iud & keep me from getting pregnant, which is why we went through this whole thang.

So now we are going to try the clomid. If I don't ovulate by Friday I am to start a course of prometrium. Then, on days 5-9 of my next cycle I will take the clomid. On day 14 they want me to come back into the office for an ultrasound. They will check the size of the follicles, and if they are big enough he will give me an injection to make me ovulate. If the follicles are not big enough, we will start the whole process over again but use a higher dose of clomid.

So, that's the plan. Wish me luck! :)

Tech Support

Ok. So I have been a little YouTube happy lately, but I couldn't resist sharing this one. This goes out to all my peeps who have spent time in the hell that is technical support.

Yeah Boy!

I can't wait! Simon Pegg! SQUEE!

OMG!

This is one talented feline. Check out her site. So incredible!

See what no work does.. 2 posts within 1 hr! LOL

Snow Day!

I'm so excited, like a kid! I haven't had a real snow day since high school! My office is closed because of the inclement weather, so NO WORK! WHEE!

Apparently, even though they had 2 days notice of the storm, Washtenaw County decided not to put salt trucks & plows on the road last night... even though it started snowing around 3pm and they knew we were projected to get upwards of 8", with major drifting! So, this morning the surface streets are terrible and the evidently the road to my office is virtually impassible.

This, of course , is second hand knowledge. Honey called me about 15 min ago to tell me they were closing the office & not to bother coming in! SQUEE!

Puppy is very happy. She is having such a blast in the snow... she thinks it mighty tasty!

OH! I have to relay the cutest thing. I watched a bit of the Westminster Dog Show on Monday & Tuesday. Personally, I was hoping the Akita or Bouvier would win. (see below)

But, anyhow... Corrina was laying on the couch next to me and then the tv caught her eye. She immediately perked-up and was very intently watching the dogs! When the bigger breeds would come on she would start a very low growl, like she was telling them to get out of her house! When the toy group came on, she ran over to the tv & was trying to sniff them! awwwww! She got very excited when the boxer came on... there's a boxer that she plays with regularly at the dog park! :)

Off to a bit of shoveling and then warm up with some tea!

Weighty Matters

Today I went to the doctors because my hiatal hernia has been driving me crazy. Bad news, I have to go to a gastroenterologist and get scoped. Good news, I haven't gained any weight back.. in fact I've lost another 2 pounds! This is probably because I haven't been eating as much, considering I haven't worked out since Thanksgiving!

So with this little bit of good news I decided to take my measurements & compare them to my starting stats from July.

Here's where I started:
236lbs
49" bust
44" waist
52" hip

And, here's where I am now:
217 lbs
45 1/2" bust
42" waist
49" hip

Now, if I can just keep it going... :)

What The?

So, last night I came home & there was something different. Then it dawned on me that our "Impeach Bush" sign was gone. The frame was still there (probably frozen in the ground), but the sign itself was missing. Not on the ground, not torn, just gone. I went inside.

me: Did you know the Bush sign was gone?
Honey: WHAT?!
me: Our impeach Bush sign is gone!
Honey: No way! I have to see this!

Sure enough, it is gone. Honey walked down to our neighbor's house who also had one.. their's is gone too. However, their "Peace" sign was still in place! Interesting.

So, apparently we upset someone. Oh Darn. We are thinking of getting an even bigger sign.. and maybe rigging a camera this time to see what happens.

owie

Surgery went just fine. I was out of recovery and on my way home by 10:30 am. I am doing pretty good, I am having the most problem with my throat due to the tube they inserted for the surgery. I must say, that general anesthetic is good stuff. It was faintly blueberry scented & I was out in seconds. Next thing I know I am waking up in recovery! I am feeling a bit sore all over, but they said this would be normal. I should be feeling completely normal by monday.

Here's a little silly to y'all over till I'm ready to post more.

Eeek! & Yippie!

My surgery is tomorrow morning & I am the first scheduled patient. I'm hoping that means I will get a fresh doctor who will have had all his coffee & not make any mistakes. This is a super low risk surgery, but still.. I have never had any kind of surgery before, nor have I ever been under anaesthesia, so I am a little wiggy!

So, you may say, why the Yippie? Well, because I got this in my email a little while ago...

Apparently, Borders wasn't really prepared for the kind of response this would generate because their site is currently down.. I'm betting from overload! :)

In HP related news, for those of you who don't know there is a big stink going on about Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry in the movies, starring in a revival of Equus. Below is a publicity pic for the play.

The main problem is that the content of this play is decidedly adult and parents are freaking out about their children going to see it. From what I understand the theater is not putting an age restriction on the show, which features full male nudity and bestiality. I personally am very proud of young Mr. Radcliffe. This is a very controversial play and it is very brave of him to take it on. Also, big kudos to his parents for allowing him to do so. And for all those who are freaking out about Harry Potter being naked on stage... News flash! Daniel Radcliffe is NOT HARRY POTTER! He is an ACTOR! Big difference... And if you can't tell the difference, then you have bigger problems than whether your 13yr old daughter sees a naked 17yr old in a play!

Ok. Off my soap box.