Size 0 needles - I have now turned the heel on the 1st sock. I don't really like to knit socks with just 4 needles at the heel gusset - I prefer 5. In Austria usually sock needles are sold 5 to a set, but in the US and Canada you get 4. Anyway, I find it easier to keep track of the heel gusset stitches when I have just gusset stitches for each side on their own needles - that way the heel stitches and across the top of the sock stitches stay the same.
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The pattern is Gravel Grid Socks. I don't really follow entire sock patterns because I have my own "base" so to speak, but am using the pattern design.
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A photo from our train ride today (excuse the window glare) ... we went outside of the city. Graz tends to stay warmer than the surrounding areas - we have no snow... but there is a bit of snow once you get outside the city.
I am a day late for the weekly knitting link-up, but I had M*A*T*H homework and then we were away for the day... but you can still take a look at everyone else's knitting goodness at Judy's blog, "Patchwork Times"
There is a shop in Canada that has beautiful hand knit items and they had a sweater - very similar to this one - for $240. I love wool sweaters! They are so warm. I know that wool has sort-ov gone by the way-side in favor of fleece. I won't fib - I have fleece jackets in several different colors and they are all worn a lot. But for warmth, fleece can not even come close to comparing to wool. I have several very nice wool sweaters and wouldn't mind having some more - I just don't want to pay $240 for one!
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Anyway - I finally found a pattern similar and bought it right away. I love the neckline because I can get a nice patterned scarf to wear and then I won't have itchy wool anywhere near my skin! Then my friend and I went to the Briggs Little mill in Canada and I bought the wool. LOTS of beautiful colors to choose from at Briggs, and I really had a hard time selecting just one! DH says that if this sweater is too big for me he will happily take it!
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I brought the wool and pattern over here with me and over the course of the week - here and there - DH has held the skeins while I wound them all into balls. Just one skein I did on a swift and ball winder to make a cake before leaving Canada, but then I thought the unwound skeins would pack better in my suitcase. Here is a little snapshot of 1 ball, 1 cake, the skeins and my knit swatch. I knit pretty loosely and had to go down in size for the needles. Always knit your swatch!
You can see what everyone else is knitting this week over on Judy's Blog at Patchwork Times.
*Updated to add: I did the swatch, changed needles, re-did the swatch, measured twice and it was perfect... and then I cast on one size larger than I meant to. Ooops! I ripped it out today and will start again tomorrow - fortunately I found my mistake after just a few inches of knitting. Geez - my DH almost DID get this sweater afterall, LOL!
I love our weekends in the winter! Friday we went out with a friend for lunch and then School Boy had accordion lessons. While he was at lessons, we went to a very old bakery for coffees (or a latte in my case - yum!). The bakery was founded in the 1500's. It always amazes me in Austria how very old some things are!
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Saturday is always a bit busy because on Sunday ALL the shops are closed, so if you want something, you need to get out on Saturday. Walk, walk, walk everywhere. School Boy usually needs some sort of pen or eraser or marker or something for school! While there are no big, super, craft stores over here, there are a few stores that have small craft sections. We picked up some different colors of yarn (1.30 Euro a skein!) and fake eyes to make... baby monsters. Last night I started making these cute, little monsters! The first one was orange and my son grabbed him up in a hurry. Will have to try to get a photo later. My son glued the eyes and embroidered the mouths - he has crafts at school and they do lots of hand sewing for their projects so he is actually quiet good at it! The baby monster? The pattern is from this site HERE (Craftsyiscool). Takes a bit of time to make, but they are so cute!
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And Sundays? Usually lazy mornings, doing the wash, some housework, School Boy finishes his homework... It is a nice day out so we will go for a family bike ride, spend some time at the park, probably play a board game in the early evening after dinner... speaking of - my son likes to use Lego pieces as his game pieces, ha!
The next 2 weekends will be busier for us because of open houses at the gymnasiums. My son has several different "test days" scheduled (where he will go to a gymnasium for the day instead of his own school) coming up and then the open houses. Most of the gymnasiums have "specialties" (math, science, language, music, art, sports, etc.). My son is most interested in the math with science programs. I WISH math came to me as easily as it comes to him! He doesn't even have to think about it - for him it is just common sense, while for me it is a big mystery and every question has to be solved. So we will see... applications have to be submitted right after report cards are issued.
Updated to add: We went downstairs to go bike riding and my LOCKED bike had been stolen. This was quite a blow to - we really enjoy bike riding together. DH tires quickly walking so anytime we have to walk a distance, usually my son and I go by ourselves. So, biking is our big "together" activity outside. The theft was most upsetting to my son who promptly burst into tears. The bike had been a special Christmas surprise to me and it truly was very nice (purchased used, but in excellent condition). School Boy and I still went (I used my DH's bike), but that means DH had to stay home. My bike is easier to ride (or was) so DH always used my bike to go grocery shopping. The DR had prescribed bike riding to help my DH's knee and my bike was perfect for that and DH was saying that his knee was starting to feel better too. So, loosing a bike (especially since we don't have a car in Austria) hurts.
