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Well, the trip ended up being a success and for whatever reason Operation Border Crossing was 20 times easier on the way back. Maybe because that was the part I was most stressed about. There I am, trying to explain to an Air Canada employee that I am totally fine with the possibility of not making it through the last leg of my journey. That yes, I realize I may not be able to board the plane into America. Sweating, worrying, wondering why the airport doesn’t seem to have any air conditioning whatsoever. And then when I actually get to the Immigration and Customs officials, they glance at my paperwork, ask how long I’ve been gone, and then say, “Welcome Home”. So uh, you guys CAN accept these documents then? Because someone needs to tell the airport check-in clerks.

But yes, back and busy as all hell! I have been interviewing like mad to find a new job after the layoff. Some prospects are looking really good, and amazingly I have not had a day off of interviewing in the three working days I have been back in town. Which is my excuse for why this update is so late.

But on to the knitting! While I was away I managed to knit a pair of socks twice over, but only come out with one actual finished pair. Why? Well, my theory is that I can’t knit socks out of red yarn. Or rather, when I knit socks out of red yarn I will need to frog them several times. Those of you who were around when my old blog was active might remember a certain red pair of Christmas socks that had to be re-knit about 4 times. Well, after three tries I finally decided that this maroon yarn was meant to be PLAIN JANE socks. I just wanted them DONE.

I also started a baby blanket, hated it, tossed it, and then took a break from knitting. Believe me, after working on ONE PAIR OF SOCKS for a week and a half straight, the last thing I found knitting to be was relaxing or vacation-inducing. So I read. I know, what a traitor I am.

However, I did get to enjoy other people’s knitting. While back home I visited a childhood friend that recently had a baby. Her husband’s Grandmother had knitted a blanket for him when he was a child, and it was being passed down to his son. It was very touching, but more importantly this blanket was a work of knitting art. The care and thought put into the design was obvious, and I took some pictures to share it with you.

It looks like it was made up of squares, knitted from the center out, and then grafted together. Yeah, the knitted version of a granny square. It’s enough to make my whining about sock frogging seem like crying over spilled milk (but really, the sock frogging was absolutely awful).

Here is a square:

And here is the border detail shot, which looks like after the squares were done this was knit around:

And finally, a shot of the blanket warming itself. Sorry, we were a little squished for space so I couldn’t really spread it out (There was baby stuff everywhere! Well, and my luggage):

It was really one of the most beautiful things I have seen knit and handed down in person. What a great gift for a baby.

Speaking of, I better get knitting my gift for the baby, before he will be too big to fit into it! Anyone know of a good source for a soft super wash wool that comes in a variegated brown colour? Maybe sport weight? Please speak up if you do!