Tuesday, November 27
Not all who are lost are wandering
Who needs pictures of yarn when one can put up a picture of a gingerbread house.
And I can take the opportunity to think about camping -
You Are a Gingerbread House |
 A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you. |
And I can take the opportunity to think about camping -
Saturday, November 24
Knitting retreat
We spent Thanksgiving at my sister's house with her in-laws. This was all well and good - Derek was home on his way to a posting in Seoul, South Korea; Katie brought Talon over after a while; Larry was really happy to see Claudia's sister. The others were very quiet and we ate dinner.
Then the home movies began. For instance Christmas 1991. This is the pre-Claudia era which showed me the genetics of Katie (her mother, the ex) and how Jordan has really come out of her shell - the family cackled at her pre-k/kindergarten assembly where her teacher pulled her out of the chorus after she started sobbing. Cody used to be blond and Derek can really hustle up the basketball court.
I found my knitting bag and started the stocking:
There is exactly 1 mistake in each repeat. KnitPicks Fingering Weight, Ivy, Cream and Red. Very nice yarn.
Then the home movies began. For instance Christmas 1991. This is the pre-Claudia era which showed me the genetics of Katie (her mother, the ex) and how Jordan has really come out of her shell - the family cackled at her pre-k/kindergarten assembly where her teacher pulled her out of the chorus after she started sobbing. Cody used to be blond and Derek can really hustle up the basketball court.
I found my knitting bag and started the stocking:
There is exactly 1 mistake in each repeat. KnitPicks Fingering Weight, Ivy, Cream and Red. Very nice yarn.
Sunday, November 18
One little sweater
I went to the Treasure Tea after church today - apparently we are supposed to have our donations to hand in. Really?
So after meeting Juanita and conspiring to start a needle club so we can work on hand-worked donations all year - still working on the name - and nearly destroying someone else's donations of glassware - these were placed in a 2-part box that I didn't quite understand at the time - I went home and lined up the donations.
Still have to sew up the tops of 2 teddy bears, decide if I want to buy more yarn to finish the tomten jacket that I made to use up a rogue skein of yarn, and ponder the possibility of more Christmas ornaments.
I put the kill on the Baby Surprise jacket. I couldn't find any buttons in my tins and containers so I crocheted big yellow blobs that I think are a nice contrast to the purple. Scotty isn't too sure about it all -
So after meeting Juanita and conspiring to start a needle club so we can work on hand-worked donations all year - still working on the name - and nearly destroying someone else's donations of glassware - these were placed in a 2-part box that I didn't quite understand at the time - I went home and lined up the donations.
Still have to sew up the tops of 2 teddy bears, decide if I want to buy more yarn to finish the tomten jacket that I made to use up a rogue skein of yarn, and ponder the possibility of more Christmas ornaments.
I put the kill on the Baby Surprise jacket. I couldn't find any buttons in my tins and containers so I crocheted big yellow blobs that I think are a nice contrast to the purple. Scotty isn't too sure about it all -
Monday, November 12
Stalled
I have such an appreciation for small pleasures because my life is balanced between a pair of mittens that can take 3 days (if I didn't have to go to work)
and the UFOs bursting from bags at the end of my bed:
EPS sweater, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan:
I bought this yarn at Nana's after a night of two-color knitting. $4 a skein! This is almost finished because I got VERY FIRM with myself and forbade myself from starting anything new until this sweater was DONE! An adventure because I didn't use a pattern - read KWT, measured, figured, swatched, cast-on, knit, became fearful and put it down, then got brave again because I re-read KWT, and have almost finished. I had in mind a v-neck, casual (as casual as merino, microfibre and cashmere can be) drapey sweater. The v-neck was too scary to attempt so I have fashioned a bit of a boatneck. Really I was following the directions for the regular crewneck but EZ also says to soldier on, it's only knitting. So true! And this fits! The 3/4 sleeves aren't just a fashion statement. I knew I didn't have enough yarn for the full length sleeve.
I was surprised when I pulled this out of the bag. First, because I had forgotten about it and then, when I reacquainted myself with Wool Gathering #76, I thought surely I had done more on this sweater. I remember being really excited about the candy corn motif. I think I am to the point where the guernsey-ness can be started but it looks kind of short. I should measure again. This is also a loose pattern by Meg Swanson - measure, figure, swatch, jump right in. I am scared by the arm gussets but maybe have worked that out through some visualization. And referring to another gansey pattern I have worked. This might be next, after Blue.
Because otherwise it would be Dale. Again. Really, you don't need a better picture. My first attempt at colorwork, I wrote about the pain already. I have been felled by not reading the full pattern first because there is the phrase "and at the same time, decrease . . ." I ripped the top solid color out 1 time when I realized my mistake. There is some interesting seed-stitch texture so unfortunately the decreases need to be absorbed proportionately. Did some figuring, knit all the way a second time and have 7 extra stitches on the left side. Not enough real estate to hide that, as they say; not enough fiddling done, as others say. Will have to rip it again. Third time's the charm. But I paid full price for this stinkin' yarn, not to mention the class fee and the cost of the book, so I plan to pay another small fee and ask Trish to tell me how to fix it. Err.
But what I really want to make is Eli's Christmas stocking.
and the UFOs bursting from bags at the end of my bed:
EPS sweater, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan:
I bought this yarn at Nana's after a night of two-color knitting. $4 a skein! This is almost finished because I got VERY FIRM with myself and forbade myself from starting anything new until this sweater was DONE! An adventure because I didn't use a pattern - read KWT, measured, figured, swatched, cast-on, knit, became fearful and put it down, then got brave again because I re-read KWT, and have almost finished. I had in mind a v-neck, casual (as casual as merino, microfibre and cashmere can be) drapey sweater. The v-neck was too scary to attempt so I have fashioned a bit of a boatneck. Really I was following the directions for the regular crewneck but EZ also says to soldier on, it's only knitting. So true! And this fits! The 3/4 sleeves aren't just a fashion statement. I knew I didn't have enough yarn for the full length sleeve.
I was surprised when I pulled this out of the bag. First, because I had forgotten about it and then, when I reacquainted myself with Wool Gathering #76, I thought surely I had done more on this sweater. I remember being really excited about the candy corn motif. I think I am to the point where the guernsey-ness can be started but it looks kind of short. I should measure again. This is also a loose pattern by Meg Swanson - measure, figure, swatch, jump right in. I am scared by the arm gussets but maybe have worked that out through some visualization. And referring to another gansey pattern I have worked. This might be next, after Blue.
Because otherwise it would be Dale. Again. Really, you don't need a better picture. My first attempt at colorwork, I wrote about the pain already. I have been felled by not reading the full pattern first because there is the phrase "and at the same time, decrease . . ." I ripped the top solid color out 1 time when I realized my mistake. There is some interesting seed-stitch texture so unfortunately the decreases need to be absorbed proportionately. Did some figuring, knit all the way a second time and have 7 extra stitches on the left side. Not enough real estate to hide that, as they say; not enough fiddling done, as others say. Will have to rip it again. Third time's the charm. But I paid full price for this stinkin' yarn, not to mention the class fee and the cost of the book, so I plan to pay another small fee and ask Trish to tell me how to fix it. Err.
But what I really want to make is Eli's Christmas stocking.
Wednesday, November 7
Joy in the little things
I have taken a liking to the small things in life.
Flowers on a wall,
kelp washing ashore,
blue sky over Mission San Diego de Alcala. Sure.
Whipped out these little stockings in the same night after the Christmas bazaar lady asked me if I can make Christmas ornaments.
My BSJ, tomten, teddy bears and mystery square afghan won't be enough??
This little purse, by InKnitiative in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, was a reward to myself for putting together the retreat in September. Worked exactly as expected at the SfN reception last week.
Hung it over my wrist to hold my cell phone, wallet and hotel keycard. Last year I hid my backpack with wallet under the projector table and someone pilfered $15. Thieving neuroscientist!
Flowers on a wall,
kelp washing ashore,
blue sky over Mission San Diego de Alcala. Sure.
Whipped out these little stockings in the same night after the Christmas bazaar lady asked me if I can make Christmas ornaments.
My BSJ, tomten, teddy bears and mystery square afghan won't be enough??
This little purse, by InKnitiative in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, was a reward to myself for putting together the retreat in September. Worked exactly as expected at the SfN reception last week.
Hung it over my wrist to hold my cell phone, wallet and hotel keycard. Last year I hid my backpack with wallet under the projector table and someone pilfered $15. Thieving neuroscientist!
