KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION

Buying gifts for my mom is not always easy because she has everything she wants and doesn't need anything, according to her. As you know, my mom is an avid knitter and she knits for her family constantly, and for herself, too, sometimes. Every once in a while she knits herself a sweater. Thinking about it, I think sweaters are my mom's favorite thing to knit - besides socks. She always has a pair of socks in the works.

BUT - my mom never knits socks for herself. Hmmm - that got me thinking when Mother's Day rolled around last weekend. I bought all that lovely sock yarn on Friday and figured I should knit her a pair of socks with that yummy Regia silk yarn for Mother's Day - which was two days later... You know me, I love challenges and there is also always a story.

SO - I started knitting the first sock Friday night. I chose Wendy's Peace Socks. It's a free pattern - a very pretty lace, toe up and easy sock pattern. LOVE IT.

On the train to Garmisch Saturday morning I got a bunch of knitting done.

I was past the heel Saturday evening - of course I couldn't knit any more at my parents' place because my mom would have asked me what I was knitting. So I figured I would present Mom her sock in progress (plus yarn and a cute card) in a knitting pouch Sunday morning.

That way, I figured my mom could also try the sock on and we'd see if it fits her. Well... That's where the funny story comes in... My mom has tiny feet. But not as tiny as I remembered... She was able to put the sock on her foot but it was very tight across her arch. I said, well this is not comfortable, no problem I'll rip back and add stitches. But my mom said, no, no, it'll stretch once I wear it. Yeah, right... My dad and I looked at each other and started laughing. And we both said, OK, you of all knitters would leave the sock as is and continue to knit? No way!!! You would be the first one to rip. (My mom is a stickler and everything has to be just right with HER knitting projects.) My dad actually said to my mom that he watches her ripping all the time. Ha-ha-ha-ha... But my mom kept trying to tell us that the sock will be fine in the end, not wanting me to rip back. My mom is so cute... She was even more shocked when I ripped back all the way to the toe to add more stitches there.

Basically, I started all over with the first sock Sunday afternoon and finished it Monday in the car on the way to the amusement park (and cast on for sock number two on the way back :-)). Here it is. And it fits her to a tee. That's why one has to rip, sometimes...

Of course, I had to take the first sock with me (as well as the pouch) to knit the second one to match, and finish the pair this week while I'm in Munich. I'm past the heel on sock two and sure I can finish it on the train to Garmisch this afternoon.

OOOOOOOOOOOH - and I have not shown you my new sweater! Speaking of mom and her love for knitting sweaters... When I was here, in Germany, in March to surprise my Dad for his birthday, I brought my mom some of my stash yarn. Remember this sweater from the Spring Verena issue?

Well - my mom got to work and when I came back on this trip, she gave me this gorgeous sweater:

Have a great weekend!

You know the drill - I won't have the laptop and I'll be posting again on Monday when I get back to Munich. But you might also want a break... I haven't posted this much EVER...