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October 25, 2005
Reality Check
Today is my dad's birthday. A nice day in itself, but since he doesn't know what he wants, it is a day without a gift. This makes me feel horrible and guilty and like I'm a bad daughter. I mean really. I should have just bought him something. I should have said, "well, he doesn't know what he wants or needs, but I'm going to get him..." The problem is that he is like most men I know (and my sister for that matter), if he wants something he buys it. Right then and there - no waiting around for a gift giving occassion. Makes buying things rather difficult.
The reality check came about because my dad's birthday is October 25th. That's two months before Christmas - every year without fail. Holy crap, Christmas is two months away! This is not good. Why? Well, because I still have knitting to do! Lots of knitting. I've known about this knitting for months and yet I've really just gotten around to thinking about most of it (and by thinking I mean actually getting off my butt and casting on/working on these projects). I did finish the Gryffindor Socks, but those are a birthday gift, not a Christmas gift - no progress there. So, as for actual Christmas knitting, Ronnie is still in the works (and has been for months). I've finished the back and am working on the front, but it isn't very exciting stuff. You want proof? Here ya go.
That is plain stockinette stitch (like miles and miles of it) in the lovely, but splitty Jo Sharp SoHo Summer (that's cotton in case you were wondering). So, I will continue to plod along on it and hope like hell it fits and I guessed the right size because not fitting will make me cry. I also just cast on for the Ombre Blanket. After minimal knitting time I have 4 rows completed - 215 stitches even on size 11 needles takes awhile. I hope it speeds up a bit because at this rate I won't be finished until summer and who wants an alpaca blanket in May. When it progresses past the point of looking like a blob of brown fuzz, I'll take a picture. Then there are the thrum mittens and maybe some socks! And all I want to knit is Butterfly. I promised myself I'd get Ronnie and Ombre finished before I started Butterfly. Maybe the fear of not having Christmas gifts will motivate me to stick to the plan.
Comments
I am right there with you - stressing about all the unknit, want to knit, Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. Mittens and socks and then there is the shawl I want to knit for my mom... holy crap. Only 2 more months.
Posted by: Kathy at October 25, 2005 12:28 PM
I would warn you against even swatching for Butterfly if you want to have hope of finishing the others. If you're like me, you will not want to put it down for a while once you start it.
Also, my dad is the same way - just up and buys anything/everything he wants the moment he thinks of it, never leaving us gifters a chance.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at October 25, 2005 2:16 PM
Good luck on your Christmas gifts! I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to make. So at least you're ahead of someone!
Posted by: Zarah at October 25, 2005 2:25 PM
I decided to not do any Christmas knitting this year. I feel so relieved. But good luck to you and do show us the Ombre Blanket when it starts to look like something. I've always wanted to knit it.
Posted by: Purly Whites at October 25, 2005 2:28 PM
I have your solution, buy your Christmas gifts. hee, hee, then you can knit Butterfly guilt free. Your right Ronnie is boring, but I do love the color.
See this is exactly why I'm horrible to buy for, for Nick, if I see something I like I buy it, why wait. I'm sure anything you get for your father he'll like, or better yet a gift certificate, men like gift certificates, well in my general opinion they do. I should knit my dad a scarf, I've never knit him anything. Maybe I'll do that soon.
Okay I'll quit rambling now.
Posted by: Rebekah at October 25, 2005 2:28 PM
Hey, today is my husband's birthday!
I know what you mean about shopping for Dads. My dad is the same way.
Posted by: Laura at October 25, 2005 2:40 PM
My husband, Dad and Father-in-law are just awful shopping for. My husband doesn't want anything, my Dad doesn't want anything and my Father-in-law, well I don't know about him but my MIL would be offended if we didn't do anything for him. I usually let my husband handle that and it's usually sports related. I did knit him a baby alpaca scarf last year and my MIL told me he has never used it. They live in New York, I know he's had occassion. Also, quit promising yourself that you'll finish stuff, then you won't feel guilty when it takes a little longer than you thought. You do great work and I know you will finish!
Posted by: Stephanie at October 25, 2005 8:00 PM
have you called 1-877-SOS-KNIT lately? (it's toll-free.)
Posted by: laura at October 25, 2005 8:21 PM
