So I didn’t like how the baby wrap was knitting up, the neckline was not like I imagined and even though it was very close to done I just couldn’t take it anymore and had to rip it. So now I need something relaxing to work on that doesn’t stress me out or depress me. I have major Gauge issues you guys. MAJOR, anyone else? I will knit a swatch, get 4.25 stitches per inch going down TWO needle sizes then the ball band recommends to get gauge. Then when I am done knitting the object, it will somehow grow to be 4 stitches per inch despite all my work ahead of time to make sure my math was right. So then said knit item winds up 2″ too wide or more. It is depressing.

I wind up knitting everything twice. This should be something I learn to accept when designing (the whole knitting something twice to get it right) but the Gauge issues, that plague me, and they make me angry.

So to ease my pain and try something new I began the Ripple Afghan last night. I am amazed how far my crochet skills have finally come. I can actually cont my stitches now (it’s easier in DC I think anyway) and I’ve even caught myself making mistakes by being able to tell that my increase or decrease is happening one stitch too soon (I am very proud of the fact I was able to *see* that and fix it!).

Let me tell you, Malabrigo is a dream to crochet with. I am using worsted with a size I hook. I am enjoying it but my left hand seems a little annoyed, which is odd because I am holding the yarn the same way as when I knit.

Here is Tala our kitty (Tah-lah) whom I don’t think I have updated you all on here at the blog, but I have on twitter. My darling little cat went mental after I moved the sewing cabinet into the garage, she loved to sleep in it but we don’t have room for it anymore. So she got OCD and licked all the fur off her stomach and legs. She looked really weird and sick (she’s only barely 5 pounds to begin with and it showed how tiny she was). So the vet had us give her some Paxil (anti-depressant) to “break the cycle” and it was only going to be for a month, but I took her off it within 5 days because I didn’t like the effect it had on her. She was hiding all the time, wouldn’t come out to eat or potty very often and her pee stunk something awful.

Here she is feeling better (because she’s not hiding in the closet) and now she likes to stay in our room. I got her that toy, moved her scratching post tree thing into our room, and she also has a little basket house/hut she could sleep in but I’ve only caught her in it like 3 times when it had fresh catnip in it. So for now we are saying a big N-O to paxil, her fur seems to be growing back so maybe it did its job, and I think getting her the toys and making an effort to set up a space for her and give her extra attention has helped. She’s not a super affectionate cat as it is. I do hope she is feeling better, as she seems to be.