Saturday, September 15, 2012

Three was jot the magic number

I had to rip back on the baby blanket I am knitting, also. Grrrr. I don't know what is wrong with me. Apparently I can't read instructions, count, or do a gauge swatch properly. Maybe I'll spin for a while.



I was right

I did have a frogging party. Shellseeker was no more, then it was again. Two sizes smaller, and hopefully the right size.

The Call me Cordelia shawl is smaller than it was, too. It was entered into the frog pond because I had stupidly mis read the increase row instructions in the pattern and so didn't have nearly enough stitches for the snow blossom pattern. I do now, though, after ripping about 40 rows of lace.

The last - I really hope it's the last player in the frog pond is the sleeve for Bobs sweater. It was just a bit too snug for his comfort so rather than regret I just went ahead and ripped back about 3/4 of what I had knitted (thankfully only yo the elbow) and am now doing increases more frequently for a while before I return to the specified pattern.

At this rate it will be next year before I finish anything but the anythings will fit.

We are frantically doing chores to prep for vacation. Somehow there is never time to do it all, though one big holdup was the very necessary work on the roof. Unfortunately, it still leaks. Not nearly as much but it still leaks. I would add curses here but I'd probably be arrested and that would totally ruin vacation.

Have a good day.

Friday, September 07, 2012

I think I have to have a frogging party

The Shellseeker sweater is looking so good! I attached the pocket to the body last night and decided to add a bit of length before I knitted the ribbed edge. I knitted a few more rounds and then slipped it onto a 60 inch cable to try it on. The length is great but I believe the body is too wide. It feels right in the shoulders but I think I have to either accept a very loose fit or rip most of it back. Sigh. I made no commitment last night and will put it on again today to make a final decision.

The Penumbra shawl from the Sivia Harding shawl club is growing steadily and that won't be too big. Call me Cordelia will get some attention this weekend, also. Shawls and sweaters are what I am knitting right now.

Spinning this past week included starting to spin my Phat  Fiber samplers. I will spin them one after the other into one singles which will be plied with the bamboo that I have already spun. I sorted the samples in the order I plan to spin them. I am recording the name and fiber content of each, along with notes about my impressions so that I can get more of my favs. I am also saving the cards from each so I can find the vendors. Smart, right?

The Spinners Study group is studying angora and Dorset this month. I have some of each and will most likely play with at least one of those fibers on a spindle this weekend. Bob has me scheduled for boat work (getting ready for vacation) and he and eldest son will do some roof work. We have a leak and have not yet been successful in stopping it. This weekend will involve more radical work. I will not be helping. I believe that I will be the tool fetcher and nothing more. I will have a spindle and a knitting project close at hand for the times between fetching.  ; )

The new job is good so far. We are in a slow period and that's just right for learning new procedures, protocols and routines. I am sure we will be very busy in a few months so I am appreciating this break. Vacation starts in a couple of weeks and it's a nice long one. Yippee!

Have a great weekend. If I can get some photos of my WIPs I will post them.

Monday, September 03, 2012

Change of Heart

The sleeves will be knitted from the cuff upwards. I thought about doing short rows for the sleeve cap in pattern and chickened out.

Shellseeker is moving along. I have about 8 more rows to knit before I join the body and the pocket. Call Me Cordelia has another pattern repeat. Even the sock I am knitting on as a travel project has gotten some attention!

This is the start of a 5 day weekend for me. Courtesy of the Baltimore Grand Prix (I am not sure who thought it was a good idea to close streets near a large hospital) I am on "liberal leave" and since I am very new and therefore not all that useful yet in my new department, I am not considered an essential person and can therefore take vacation time. I am happy to do so. ; )

There will be chores around the house being tended to and spinning and knitting happening. We finally received the first pattern from the Mezzaluna Shawl club. I have 2 yarns in mind and plan to get input tonight at the knit night at my LYS to choose the best yarn for the beads I want to use. I don't love the pattern but it is interesting and it might grow on me. It's one of those short row shaping shawls that start with garter stitch but there is a patterned center section to interrupt the potential boredom. I won't be able to resist casting on but since it will take a different attention level than my other main projects, I don't think there will be too much competition. The main issue will be Cordelia time and I think I can work around that by alternating. One is beaded, the other not, so that will help decide which one I work on at any given time also. Some locations are just not bead friendly.

I picked a bunch of Roma tomatoes last night so I am off now to make another batch of tomato sauce, then get my hair cut. Have a great day.