The weekend could have been better. Much better. Of course, the source of the trouble was my own fault. I thought I knew better. I thought things had changed.
Ordinarily, I start my triple allergy treatment in March - early March - as instructed several years ago to get ahead of the allergens. If the allergens don't have a change to rev up before starting treatment, they aren't as bad. I decided over this last winter that my allergies were not as bad as they have been in years past and so I thought I could get buy with just the single treatment that I'm on all of the time (flonase) with an occasional, as needed boost with a pill. Wrong. Big time. Allergies hit me so hard last week, I was really knocked on my butt. I've been on the triple treatment now since last Thursday and I think things might be improving some. There is a tissue box in every room of the house, along with a trash bag to deal with the ... results. My nose is so very sore, my head is clogged and I've done more mouth breathing (as much as I hate it, there is no alternative) in the last few days than I have in years past. Ugh. Talk about dry mouth!
During one of my more clear moments over the weekend I was able to graft the pieces of the lace scarf together and got the tension right the first time around! A few more ends to weave in and it will be blocking time.
The first Log Cabin sock was finished and the second one started. I am about 2/3 down the leg and still loving this yarn. I won't go so far as to say that I can't wait for next winter - the last one is still vivid in my mind - but I will enjoy wearing these socks.
Bob's sweater sleeve is the same - actually, it's longer but looks the same.
I allowed myself to play with a little bit of lace knitting last night. With the Lily of the Valley scarf complete, I had no lace in my life. I played around with a pattern from Victorian Lace Today called a Curved Shawl and some beautiful Cinnamon's Dye Pot lace weight silk/wool blend in shades of purples and deep pinks. I don't know yet whether this combo will work - I have to get further along. I changed the cast on - I hope that doesn't cause a problem later. I didn't do well with the backwards loop cast on, which was the recommended cast on. I have to use my Addi lace turbos - that are a lot of K3tog in this pattern!
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I started this post on Monday but didn't get a chance to finish it. Since then I have decided that the lace yarn and patten combo does indeed do the trick and have completed many more K3togs. Thank goodness for pointy needles! The sleeve is also longer but not long enough. D**m it. The purple alpaca shawl is a tiny bit longer also, but I fear that this project will one that I will be working on next winter just because the rows are endless and I am not a fan of knitting ribbing.
The allergies have come under control and I can actually breathe and do not have a constant need to have a tissue in my hand.
We've had dreary grey weather with rain off and on - thatnk goodness not the torrentila downours that they had further norht - but by tomorrow or Frid ay we should have summer weather. Am I confused or is it Mother Nature?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Spiral stole workings
On Ravelry, as soon as I posted the project, I received a couple of messages about the spiral stole project. The issues seem to be the corners and the center. You do a provisional cast on and leave the waste yarn in place as you knit. Here my square is complete except for the center and weaving in the ends. You can see the black waste yarn in the center.
In this photo I have started to put the needle (with the working yarn in the eye of the needle) through the center of the loops of the working yarn
As you pick up the loops, you carefully pull out the waste yarn.
I went through the loops several times and pulled it tight.
Weaving in the center end on the back of the work.
Finished center.
For the bind off to work, you really have to use a huge needle for the bind off. I knitted with a size 8 then did the bind off with a size 13 or 15. Do Not Forget to include the yo's in the bind off at the corners. It will make a big difference. I plan to experiment with adding 2 yo's in each corner to see if that will allow more of a square shape when blocking.
The cashmere scarf edging has been knitted. I have to weave the two parts together next. That will probably happen later today. I have either a cold or a bad allergy attach and my head is not working very well right now.
The sleeve of DH's sweater is very close to being finished. I plan to go to the store this weekend to get some white elastic to knit into the ribbing. Since the sweater is cotton, the ribbing itself is not very elastic. I had used green elastic before because I made the edge of the cuff green, but DH wants just green stripes on a white cuff. I'll go get some white elastic.
The weather here is pretty nasty. I hope yours is better. Have a good day
In this photo I have started to put the needle (with the working yarn in the eye of the needle) through the center of the loops of the working yarn
As you pick up the loops, you carefully pull out the waste yarn.
I went through the loops several times and pulled it tight.
Weaving in the center end on the back of the work.
Finished center.
For the bind off to work, you really have to use a huge needle for the bind off. I knitted with a size 8 then did the bind off with a size 13 or 15. Do Not Forget to include the yo's in the bind off at the corners. It will make a big difference. I plan to experiment with adding 2 yo's in each corner to see if that will allow more of a square shape when blocking.
I finished the first of the Log Cabin socks! It is soft and warm and will be great next winter for keeping my feet warm in the house.
The cashmere scarf edging has been knitted. I have to weave the two parts together next. That will probably happen later today. I have either a cold or a bad allergy attach and my head is not working very well right now.
The sleeve of DH's sweater is very close to being finished. I plan to go to the store this weekend to get some white elastic to knit into the ribbing. Since the sweater is cotton, the ribbing itself is not very elastic. I had used green elastic before because I made the edge of the cuff green, but DH wants just green stripes on a white cuff. I'll go get some white elastic.
The weather here is pretty nasty. I hope yours is better. Have a good day
Thursday, March 25, 2010
No photos again
Sorry this has been a photo-less blog for a while. There is light much later in the evening now, I know. Somehow, by the time I ride my bike, eat dinner, wash the dishes and generally clean up in the kitchen, it's dark out. I go to bed at 9:30, so I don't have much evening, and I prefer to knit in what time I have after chores are done. Maybe over the weekend .....
The Log Cabin Sock is almost at the toe decreases. Again. DH's sweater sleeve has about 1.5 inches of ribbing knit. The lace scarf hasn't grown at all. I have to have time and an alert brain to do the set up for the edging so that, too, will probably wait until the weekend.
The stakes have been pounded in to the ground to outline the planned garden in the back yard. I drew out a plan for planting last night - actually two plans, and DH plans to rent a rototiller either this weekend or next to get the ground turned over and ready. I can actually plant some cool weather things already. I'm planning to get seeds for a lot of things (lettuce, radishes, carrots) so I can do several plantings and spread out the harvest time. I'm planning to buy plants to start things like tomatoes, green peppers because I don't need 50 or 100 of those plants. I'm ambitious, not stupid.
Work has been busy with old and new projects lately. There aren't enough hours in the week to get done what has to be done until I get caught up on the new projects. Once those are submitted for review, there's a waiting period of several weeks before anything more happens. I am trying to get all of that done so that I can then concentrate on the data collection for ongoing projects.
Bike riding has been going pretty well. I still ride the same distance as I did last week but I am a little less winded when I get back. Once that 'little less winded' changes a bit more for the better, I will add another loop around a block or something to gradually increase my distance. DH rides every day, too.
I'm not feeling well today. I don't know whether it's a sudden onset of allergies (I have not been taking allergy medicine over the winter) or the beginnings of a cold. I think I'd prefer the allergies, although the cold would get better and go away. Maybe I'll be knitting at the Needle Exchange tonight or maybe I'll be home nursing myself. Only time will tell.
Have a great day.
The Log Cabin Sock is almost at the toe decreases. Again. DH's sweater sleeve has about 1.5 inches of ribbing knit. The lace scarf hasn't grown at all. I have to have time and an alert brain to do the set up for the edging so that, too, will probably wait until the weekend.
The stakes have been pounded in to the ground to outline the planned garden in the back yard. I drew out a plan for planting last night - actually two plans, and DH plans to rent a rototiller either this weekend or next to get the ground turned over and ready. I can actually plant some cool weather things already. I'm planning to get seeds for a lot of things (lettuce, radishes, carrots) so I can do several plantings and spread out the harvest time. I'm planning to buy plants to start things like tomatoes, green peppers because I don't need 50 or 100 of those plants. I'm ambitious, not stupid.
Work has been busy with old and new projects lately. There aren't enough hours in the week to get done what has to be done until I get caught up on the new projects. Once those are submitted for review, there's a waiting period of several weeks before anything more happens. I am trying to get all of that done so that I can then concentrate on the data collection for ongoing projects.
Bike riding has been going pretty well. I still ride the same distance as I did last week but I am a little less winded when I get back. Once that 'little less winded' changes a bit more for the better, I will add another loop around a block or something to gradually increase my distance. DH rides every day, too.
I'm not feeling well today. I don't know whether it's a sudden onset of allergies (I have not been taking allergy medicine over the winter) or the beginnings of a cold. I think I'd prefer the allergies, although the cold would get better and go away. Maybe I'll be knitting at the Needle Exchange tonight or maybe I'll be home nursing myself. Only time will tell.
Have a great day.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Frogging
The Log Cabin socks were at the point of toe decreases. I had actually done a few decrease rows. I could no longer ignore my feelings, though and tried the sock on (again) and ripped it back to the heel. I followed the directions correctly, I think, but the heel flap was too long and the gusset correspondingly too big so the whole foot part of the sock was baggy.
I am not sure what might result from or be worse that a baggy foot on a sock, but I don't want one. giggle. I ripped back to the heel flap, shortened it and the gusset will be smaller also. I think this will be much better. Depending on how long I have to wait for my hair cut appointment, maybe I can make it half way down the foot while I wait. It's funny how waiting for appointments doesn't annoy me like it used to. To a point, anyway. A little delay doesn't bother me but there comes a point when it becomes rudeness. I've been to the doctor's office several times in the past year, taken the 1st or 2nd appointment of the day and still she's been 45 minutes late. That's rudeness. I am in the process of looking for another PCP.
No bike riding yesterday - I don't exercise in the rain. Maybe tonight, though the evening is supposed to include showers at least.
The infamous "forever in the works" white sweater has a longer sleeve. I have to measure again tonight but I think it's about time to start the ribbing!
The daffodils was blooming like crazy in the front of our house. They are so welcome in the spring. The bright yellow flowers are a cheerful sight at any time but especially after the long , cold winter (this year in particular) they bring a smile to my face each time I see them. There's a bunch right near the front door that are the first to bloom every year. They are protected from the wind, the concrete from the steps absorbs heat and shares it with the bulbs and they get the afternoon sun which, at this time of year, is the strongest. The leaves had actually started to erupt from the ground before the blizzard and I was afraid that they might not bloom this year. I was wrong. ; ))
The mums are starting to grow leaves, there were a few crocus flowers open over the weekend (I think the squirrels eat those bulbs a lot, so there weren't as many as last year) and the Montauk Daisies are getting new growth on the old stalks. The dogwoods and blueberry bushes are getting tiny little buds on their branches. I love all of these signs of spring.
Some of our evergreens were damaged from the snow fall this past winter and we are waiting to see what will come through and what we have to cut down. A lot of the branches were pulled down by the heavy snow and since we then had another big snow fall on top of it, they were held down for weeks. I did get out there one day and try to pull the branches out of the snow but they were buried by so much snow that I couldn't do it. Now these bushes that are supposed to be this shape /\ are now this shape _\ /_ .
\/ \/
Other, low growing bushes that should be rounded are now open in the center like a flower petal, with some broken branches. We hope they will rebound.
I hope to send out my seed order this weekend for the veggie garden. I can almost taste those fresh tomatoes ....
Monday, March 22, 2010
A sunny spring weekend
It was wonderful. The sun was shining, the temperatures were high enough for shorts and t shirts but not high enough to make working uncomfortable.
Clean clothes were dried on the line in record time.
Most of the shed trim was painted. I stopped due to the limitations of my body, not due to weather.
Garden clean up was done - not all of it, but a lot of the trimming that the bushes needed (mostly they belong to my neighbor but they grow over the fence to our side) was done. DH made a trip to the landfill today to get rid of the cuttings. We don't have a chipper. We are working on a yard renovation that hopefully won't cost too much money but will rearrange and make the yard more usable and easier to take care of.
Knitting was done, and a little spinning. The cashmere lace scarf body is complete. I have the edging to go. Yippee! It's almost there! DH's white sweater sleeve needs about 2 more inches of stockinette and then it's ribbing time. Next I will attack the second sleeve. I am sticking to my guns. Both the scarf and the sweater will be done in less than 2 weeks.
I knitted one square of the spiral stole in my new yarn color and like it. Now I have to wait for Angela to make her choice of yarn so we can knit this together. I knitted on the cabled socks from Handknit Holidays and am almost at the toe decreases. Boy, these socks are flying! Heavy worsted/chunky yarn knits up fast!
Have a great day.
Clean clothes were dried on the line in record time.
Most of the shed trim was painted. I stopped due to the limitations of my body, not due to weather.
Garden clean up was done - not all of it, but a lot of the trimming that the bushes needed (mostly they belong to my neighbor but they grow over the fence to our side) was done. DH made a trip to the landfill today to get rid of the cuttings. We don't have a chipper. We are working on a yard renovation that hopefully won't cost too much money but will rearrange and make the yard more usable and easier to take care of.
Knitting was done, and a little spinning. The cashmere lace scarf body is complete. I have the edging to go. Yippee! It's almost there! DH's white sweater sleeve needs about 2 more inches of stockinette and then it's ribbing time. Next I will attack the second sleeve. I am sticking to my guns. Both the scarf and the sweater will be done in less than 2 weeks.
I knitted one square of the spiral stole in my new yarn color and like it. Now I have to wait for Angela to make her choice of yarn so we can knit this together. I knitted on the cabled socks from Handknit Holidays and am almost at the toe decreases. Boy, these socks are flying! Heavy worsted/chunky yarn knits up fast!
Have a great day.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
2 days in a row
I rode the bike again last night and went a little further this time. My legs still tremble pretty badly when I get back from my ride (I lean heavily on the rail going up the stairs) but I did it. This getting back into shape is rough!
There's sunshine again to day but I'm stuck in work all day today. : (
I won't even get off in time to ride tonight - I'll get off just in time to go straight to the Needle Exchange at my LYS. I hope to work from home tomorrow - at least I can have the sun shine in the windows, there. I have no windows in my office at work.
I worked on the socks from Handknit Holidays last night. This BFL yarn is so wonderful to work with and the gauge is making the socks go fast - I am at the heel flap already! It's pleasurable knitting and a nice cabled pattern. I'm going to have toasty toes next winter. ; )
There's sunshine again to day but I'm stuck in work all day today. : (
I won't even get off in time to ride tonight - I'll get off just in time to go straight to the Needle Exchange at my LYS. I hope to work from home tomorrow - at least I can have the sun shine in the windows, there. I have no windows in my office at work.
I worked on the socks from Handknit Holidays last night. This BFL yarn is so wonderful to work with and the gauge is making the socks go fast - I am at the heel flap already! It's pleasurable knitting and a nice cabled pattern. I'm going to have toasty toes next winter. ; )
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
My wish was granted
We had sunshine yesterday! It was out all day instead of just the afternoon clearing that the weather people had predicted - awesome! I got home from work and planted the pansies in the pots on the front step. I cleaned out some dead stalks from the last of the fall flowers and found some crocus poking their heads out of the dirt, as well as daffodils. Spring - it's really spring!
When I finished the gardening I went for a bike ride. As usual, I didn't get far before my legs started trembling and I had to return home, but it is something. I plan to pursue this exercise and I have to start somewhere. Right?
The KAL was quiet - no new people came. Nancy and I chatted and knit on our projects, then we browsed around the shop for a while before going home. I decided to make the Spiral Stole in the Desert Flower yarn before I blocked the bambool - I just like the yarn too much to not use it.
I am knitting a pair of socks from the Handknit Holidays book with the Rowan Purelife BFL yarn I purchased to participate in the Ravelry group Woolalong (see the 3/5 post). I had knitted a hat but wasn't happy with what I had made. The socks are cabled, thick and so soft. They will be house socks, not for wearing inside shoes. It's a fast project due to the gauge of the yarn. I worked on those last night and then put in some time on DH's white cotton sweater sleeves.
When my work day is over today, I hope to stop by the marina to test fit a mock up of a motor cover I hope to have sewn within a couple of weeks. Then I'd like to get home and go for another bike ride (torture for a purpose), then relax over dinner - the ribs DH has slow cooking right now. I'll check on my plants and then settle down for some knitting (unless DH takes me out for the ice cream treat I won when we bet on the date of the snow pile melt). Yum. ; ))
When I finished the gardening I went for a bike ride. As usual, I didn't get far before my legs started trembling and I had to return home, but it is something. I plan to pursue this exercise and I have to start somewhere. Right?
The KAL was quiet - no new people came. Nancy and I chatted and knit on our projects, then we browsed around the shop for a while before going home. I decided to make the Spiral Stole in the Desert Flower yarn before I blocked the bambool - I just like the yarn too much to not use it.
I am knitting a pair of socks from the Handknit Holidays book with the Rowan Purelife BFL yarn I purchased to participate in the Ravelry group Woolalong (see the 3/5 post). I had knitted a hat but wasn't happy with what I had made. The socks are cabled, thick and so soft. They will be house socks, not for wearing inside shoes. It's a fast project due to the gauge of the yarn. I worked on those last night and then put in some time on DH's white cotton sweater sleeves.
When my work day is over today, I hope to stop by the marina to test fit a mock up of a motor cover I hope to have sewn within a couple of weeks. Then I'd like to get home and go for another bike ride (torture for a purpose), then relax over dinner - the ribs DH has slow cooking right now. I'll check on my plants and then settle down for some knitting (unless DH takes me out for the ice cream treat I won when we bet on the date of the snow pile melt). Yum. ; ))
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