X-mas Elves...

My goodness, it's been forever since I've written.  Sorry about that, but I've been going through some pretty hefty health issues the past few months.  And I plan to be honest about that.  Because not only do I want to write a blog about my fiber addiction, I want to write about my health issues, as well.  And if people have an issue with that, well...they don't have to read my blog then, do they?  No one is forcing anyone to read this.  And, if someone is forcing you...Shame on them.  Hehe..

So, about three months ago, I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  Which, by the way, I just had to add to my dictionary.  Just thought I'd share.  It's been a long road.  I started showing symptoms over seven years ago.  But the doctors had no idea what was wrong until I started showing very Fibro-specific symptoms about four/five months ago.  It's still took three doctors to finally get a diagnosis, though.

I won't say it's been easy.  Even though with finally figuring out what's going on, the honeymoon period lasted about a month.  I've been dealing with denial, anger, depression, and every other emotion in the book.  I may have finally hit on acceptance, though.  I am finally able to look at the future with some semblance of hope and not only despair.  It's a good feeling.

My husband has been a wonderful support.  As has my mom -- who also happens to have Fibro and Lupus -- and my dad.  So has my mother-in-law.  She's been a huge support these last few months.    I think, though, what has gotten me through the most has been my unfailing addiction to all things fiber-related.  While I haven't finished much recently, my knitting and sewing have both kept me somewhat sane through all this.  Even just being able to start a new project as helped on days where the pain is horrible.  Fiber is an amazing therapy.  It has truly given me new insight into why crafts are so important in peoples' lives.  So, in this way -- and really only this way right now -- I am grateful for my experience with this condition.

Alright, enough of the serious.  It's time to get down to the fun!  I am currently -- finally!! -- working on a Fibonacci Scarf for my husband.  I found this pattern -- it's a freebe -- on Ravelry -- you may have to register to view the link I posted -- over a year ago, purchased the yarn, and started it.  I hated the way it was turning out.  My stripes were horrible.  They jogged all over the place.  And I didn't really like the idea of knitting it in the round.  A) It used a ton of yarn, and B) My husband doesn't really need a reversible scarf, does he?  No.

So, about three or four days ago, I frogged the original project and started over.  I don't know that I'll have time to finish it before X-mas this year, but I'm going to try.  I started with six rows of 3x2 ribbing.  Then, when it's a length I am happy with (husband is 6'6", so long is a good thing) I am going to pick up the stitches on both sides of the scarf and add in a 3x2 ribbing going horizontally.  I was going to knit that in as I went, but I didn't want the ribbing running vertically.  I think horizontal ribbing will look fantastically better.   Here it is, thus far:

The little dark line -- the one you can barely see -- is the first of the stripes in the dark color.  I'll knit 34 rows of the light, then add two dark stripes, and so on.  The other end of the scarf will be mostly dark, with some light stripes.  It's a really nerdy, really fun scarf.  In fact, right before I found this pattern, the husband and I had just been talking about Fibonacci number sequences.  So, I thought the timing was great, and I just had to make it.

I'll try and finish it before X-mas, and I'll post some pics as I work on it.  Hope everyone of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving -- I certainly did.  What projects are you trying desperately to finish before X-mas?  Want to share pictures??

Happy Tuesday,
~j.b.