Sunday, December 30, 2007

Nice try, but my head was built with paradox-absorbing crumple zones

Thank you for all the kind words. I am feeling a little better. I am getting ready to order the yarn for my Fair Isle yoke cardigan. I found this chart, and used it to help guess how much I will need. FairIsleYokeCardiganColorsI have decided to use Iris Heather for my main color, and Blush, Hyacinth, Cream, and Blue Note Heather for the colorwork. I have also considered seeing how Garnet Heather, Marine Heather, Clematis Heather, Rainforest Heather, Calypso Heather, Lilac, or Purple might work in the mix. I think I will be all right with my guess of ten balls of my main color. It is my guess that at 231 yards in each 50g ball, I should not need more than one each of the colors used in the Fair Isle yoke portion. There will be quite a lot of plain stockinette in the round before I get to that part.

MeidaMistakeMittenCuffI have begun a pair of mittens for myself. They are Meida's Mittens from Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush. I have chosen Navy, Ivy, Red, and Cream for these. I am past the colorwork on the first mitten. The next thing is adding the waste yarn for the thumb, and then it is mindless stockinette until the decreases for the top of the mitten.

I finally plied the bobbin of superwash singles that have been sitting on the bobbin for so long. The finished yarn is drying now. I got to try out one of my new bobbins and my precision lazy kate that I got for Christmas. My husband expected something more from the lazy kate, but I am pleased with it. I was able to use the downtime for sanding, finishing, and assembling.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Cast On As If Until

MittenMainPatternCloseUpI have not been doing so well lately. Oftentimes, I have even been unable to knit. It is just one of those things that happens with me. I managed some garter stitch. I knew LeftThumbCloseUpthat I could not begin my husband's right mitten and hope to manage the chart and stranding with accuracy and skill. I sat around. I decided on the yarn and colors (mostly) for my Fair Isle Yoke cardigan. I did not manage to determine the amount of yarn needed for it. I flipped through books. I wandered about Ravelry. I tried to do the things I ought. Still, I was losing ground. So, I decided to cast on for my Tangled Yoke Cardigan. Did I ever get gauge? Nope. I realize now that I made an error when I did not read carefully about the Rowan Felted Tweed. I saw on Yarndex where it was called DK. I then substituted Knit Picks Merino style, also called DK. I just am not going to get the pattern's listed gauge with this yarn. Instead, I am trying the knitty math, and maybe this cardigan will fit me.

Let me tell you, those decrease instructions are tough to follow with my brain the way it is. The piece is littered with mismatched stitch markers. I am counting on my fingers, on my Mini LeftMittenKacha-Kacha, making little marks on paper, and knitting along. The garter rib is growing. It is not photo-worthy.

Instead, I share some pictures of my husband's left mitten. I wove in the ends and washed it. It fits, and looks good.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Soon, Please

Here's hoping the fortune cookie is right, and happens soon. It's not looking too good around here, kids.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Lots of Love

I sponsored the October/November over at Caps for a Cure. It has been a special experience. Other rounds I have only seen what I have done, and a few pictures that others have shared. This time, however, I have been able to see what everyone has knit and crocheted. Each package brought me joy, and I hope these hats bring comfort to their future recipients. Thank you to all who donated such wonderful hats. We have a wonderful offering of sixty-four caps, each lovingly, and beautifully made.


Friday, December 07, 2007

Happy Birthday, Potassium Hydroxide*!

My niece is only three, but she has brought so much to our lives. She is adventurous and a force of nature, and we are always interested to hear her latest story. Gaze upon the innocent babe while I share one with you now.They looked for Kaitlyn in her bed, but she was not there. She was asleep on her older sister, Autumn's, bedroom floor. Autumn had stayed up late working on a project for school. Autumn knows that the scissors belong on top of the refrigerator, but she was tired. Upon reaching this point of the story, I just felt for Autumn, knowing that her schoolwork was destroyed. I was wrong. Kaitlyn awoke, and announced, "Mommy, look at my new haircut!" Her mother cried. Kaitlyn's hair had nearly recovered from last year's hair removal adventures (you do not want to know). I hear that it is not that bad, but I think I will start on some hats for her anyway.

*Yes, I love that my niece has the initials, KOH!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Frogging Frogs

FrogsOnFestiveSo much for a good picture of my Festive. I have frogged the frogs and re-attached them. I tried every which way to take a picture of it while wearing it, but the lighting sucks too much right now. Thus, you are stuck with this shot of it laid across crap in the living room. It turned out much better than I can show you tonight. It may be a bit too fancy for me to wear.

I have come to discover that Knit Picks Merino Style is less DK than other DK yarns. Thus, achieving those six spi is not coming along as easily as I would like. I think that my gauge and a smaller size math out to be something that will fit me. At this point, I am not even sure if this yarn is supposed to be the TYC, or if now is the time to knit it.


GardenPartyFrontPerhaps I am supposed to do Christmas knitting. I have mostly been unable to knit for the last week.
GardenPartyInside When I was finally able, I knit a garter stitch scarf. Still, November ended well enough. I fixed my mitered mittens and have even worn them more than once. I finished all but the thumb of my husband's left mitten. I also knit a little purse. It will be a gift one day, but I do not think any of the little girls in my life are ready for it. I am thinking that maybe I will do more garter stitch scarves when I feel up to knitting. Or not.