I love reading knitting books, magazines and websites and have just read a brilliant tip!  Modern Knitting gives the following advice for using a Lifeline when knitting a complex pattern, such as lace or cable:

‘Lifeline

Having given up on some stitch patterns in the past, or even resorted to sending them to my mum to complete, I think this is the best knitting tip I’ve heard.  I’m about to start knitting a Debbie Bliss waistcoat which is all cable so I will use this technique until I get into the swing of it.

A few weeks ago, in the midst of a period of anxiety and depression, I started knitting again (see socks in previous entries)!  Having not done so for a while I found it quite a relief and it was that week I felt I turned a corner in how i was feeling.  I’ve read many times that knitting, and other crafts, are well known to be a relief from mental health problems and maybe it was working for me too.

Since then I have started a series of 6 sessions of counselling and in the first yesterday we spoke about the little things that I like to do that I could achieve on a day to day basis to start working back towards what is ‘normal’ for me, particularly the things which I have not felt up to doing recently.  Of course knitting came up and had to be on the list.  I do find it rather strange to have an action plan / workbook which includes knitting, walking and keeping in touch with friends, but I guess it’s all steps along a path. 

So if my action plan says I should knit daily, then knit I will!

Spent the day with my friend Magpie developing her blog.  Had lots of fun and the result is very pink!  She’s had her site for about 4 hours and already has more posts than I have done in 4 months.  Its not a competition but I really must be more active on here.

Yay I have finished one whole sock! And very proud of it I am too.  Turning the heel was fine and actually much simpler and more logical than you might think, although there was a bit of picking up stitches after the heel which I hate.

It does look rather a funny shape as the foot is very long but then again I do have rather large feet (size 8).

Full detials of yarn, pattern etc can be found over on Ravelry

I did have to wonder to myself last week why I was knitting socks during the hottest week of the year.  Hmm, there wasn’t a sensible answer to that one…

Work is well underway on its twin, which is coming along nicely.