I'm so excited, I'm about to burst.

After having a few not very good days, this really cheered me up just a minute or two ago. Yes it's my sock pattern, 'Falling in Love'. I first designed it when I was knitting my first pair of socks in Collinette's Jitterbug. The yarn was gorgeous and I was hoping hte pattern would work but it didn't. Jitterbug was too varied and colourful for it. So I used some Jaeger 4ply merino from my stash instead. I loved it and at the last minute I decided to submit it to MagKnits. It was well after the February deadline but I thought as it's Valentine's Day this month, a pair of heart lace socks would look good.

A huge thank you to Barbara W from the Sock Knitters Forum for test knitting this pattern urgently for me before Christmas. I didn't get her much time at all. She gave me some good pointers. Thank you Barbara.

It's the first pattern I've had published and I hope it won't be the last. It's knitted toe up which is great especially if you're worried about the fit or running out of yarn. Or keen to use up all the yarn available. Just knit the cuff until you run out of yarn.

I originally worked the socks with short row toes and heels. But then decided to knit them with a different toe construction (a mix of Queen Kahuna's aloha cast on and figure of 8 cast on). In fact I'm just working on some instructions to go on my website for this type of toe. Whatever method you use it'll get you a great end result.

For the heel choose between short row heels and gusset/heelflap. I've tried to include detailed instructions for both. Any problems please just ask.

Other things happening

A lot of other things have been going on lately. My grandfather in Norway had a stroke on Saturday. He's doing fairly well I think but is obviously in hospital. He's got a lot of wekness in his left arm and leg. And recovery may be slow, he is mid 80s after all. The one I worry about the most is my Gran. She is very frail and is starting to get confused and forgetful. She's had to move into a respite home as she can't manage on her own in their 4th floor flat (no lifts). She really depends on my Grandfather. He is very active and walks up and down the steps between their flat and the basement several times a day and walks to the shop a couple of blocks away. I think she misses him a lot.

So last night my dad, Simon and I decided that I should go to Norway for a week. I'm leaving next Wednesday. It's not easy to go away for a week, when you have two kids (9 &11) who still need you at home every day after school and a husband who works full time. My motherinlaw has been ill with shingles since Christmas so don't won't to ask them. After a morning spent phoning friends to help out with childcare and booking tickets - train to Stansted (from Cornwall), return flights to Norway and flight from Stansted to Newquay on the way back - I've finally got it all organised. Simon is taking two days off work too. And my friends Clare, Helen and Carol and my neighbour Sue have all agreed to help out with childcare. I'll just have to write out a list so Simon knows who's going where on which day. LOL.

Also been playing around a lot with patterns and swatcing last night and today. A lot of stitch ideas have been charted and thrown away. Several swatches been knitted and frogged. This is a swatch I did earlier that I'm happy with. Not sure whether to frog it and knit a wider scarf/shawl or to carry on with the swatch and turn it into a scarf. Like this diamond pattern although it does't show up a great deal with this variegated yarn, which is Posh Helena 4ply . It's fairly quick for a 4ply. But it's lovely to knit with and I love the colour.

Also started another sock, this is for my cashmere 'socks with a twist' pattern. need to knit up one sock to check some changes. The yarn is Posh cashmere sock yarn (4ply). And the needles are Boyes from the Yarn Yard.

And this was my dog, Sam, this morning. I was busy photogrpahing some of my stash and she was snuggled up on my shawl. As I was tidying up I piled up all the yarn next to her as my yarn basket is just at the end of the sofa. Thought it looked so cute.

And this is our coffee table this morning. Phone and phonebook and calendar for trying to sort out childcare for when I go to Norway. Lots of knitting/yarn bits. And some Cadbury's mine eggs to keep me sane.

Askein of Yarn Yard yarn and some Boyes coloured needles - gold and lilac.