Monday, January 25, 2010

Upward dog, inhale

Sorry about the pause! I have had a rather busy and exhausting couple of weeks, but am now recovering.

I have been so exhausted that... shock horror... I have done hardly any knitting. I finished off these socks on Boxing Day, but the ones in the previous post are still languishing. I messed up one of the heels, didn't notice until the sock was nearly done, and am still psyching myself up to rip it back.



Still, you don't care about my socks. You want to know how the yoga is going.

My sister and I have now had four classes and are enjoying it. We are doing Ashtanga yoga, which is fairly energetic, although not so energetic that you seriously break a sweat. Our teacher is very nice; she's Spanish, and as a consequence we are probably learning all the words for the different positions with a Spanish accent.

To begin with, we both found it quite tough going: after the first class, I couldn't raise my arms for a few days, while S had a sore, um, gluteus. We seem to be adapting, though I wouldn't say I'm precisely graceful yet. Most of the others in the class are students, although one girl has started bringing her mum, so I'm no longer the oldest in the class. Probably still the chunkiest. But I'm managing OK.

On Monday evening I tried something new: I made a sock monkey.

Sock monkey

Sock monkeys have a whole history in the US, but they're practically unknown over here. I think they're cute, though. And surprisingly easy and quick to make. I also like the fact that you do almost all the sewing before you have to cut into the socks, and that one monkey uses up one pair of socks, with hardly any wastage. (These were cheapo knee socks, cost £1.49).

The instructions I used are here.

Sock monkeys are very good at yoga.

Lotus position

I don't know if anyone noticed (other than Mum), but the comments on my last post contain one from J! A rather scathing one, frankly, but still. He excuses himself by saying that he's never commented on a blog before and doesn't know the etiquette. (Honestly. You'd think it was 2003.)

6 comments:

Thimbleanna said...

That sock monkey only took a pair of socks? His arms and legs are so long. He's very cute! Your new socks are beautiful too. It's good to see you back -- I hope you won't be gone so long this time!

Warty Mammal said...

I adore your sock monkey! He looks as though he'd excel at swinging through technicolor jungles.

The husband is visiting your blog and commenting? Cool. Mine won't comment, even anonymously.

Rosemary Riveter said...

Love the rainbow sock monkey! They are oddly popular here (US), on Ravelry someone posted a picture of an evening gown with a sock monkey skirt. It was the stuff of nightmares.

I'm usually the chunkiest in yoga class by far, also in belly dance, but there it gives me an unfair advantage.

Excuse me, I think my stiff gluteus is informing me it's time for some downward dog.

Pam said...

Beautiful sock monkey!

Loth said...

That is a fabulous sock monkey! (Second Born son thinks a photo with sock monkey plus guinea pigs might just be perfection. Just a suggestion, he say!)

Anonymous said...

A perfect monkey! I'm glad the instructions helped!