Not a lot of actual knitting going on at my house at the moment.  The wrist is slowly healing, and I’m not going to argue with it.  Doesn’t stop me from looking at patterns and pulling together yarn though.  Kate Davies Sheep Heid hat and Rams and Yowes blanket are currently on the top of the list.  I have a crapload  bin of jumperweight Shetland and so far have found 6 of the 9 colors for the hat in it.  I’m seriously thinking that the blanket would be awesome in in some DK weight natural color wool that I brought back from New Zealand and it will have the added bonus of being bigger to curl under in the winter.

The Ajiro Scarf has also caught my eye, but I’m thinking about adapting that one to the machine and simply sewing a seam.  I have partial cones of black and cream alpaca that would work well.  I’m still trying to find my copy of the Mt. Rose pattern from Dale of Norway.  I have the yarn for this one and I know that it can be MK.

I haven’t posted in a while, what’s everyone doing?

Onwards…I ready to go back to mittens in the interim.  Especially now that the wind is howling and the snow flying.  If there were any more moisture available this would be blizzard like in a hurry.

I spent Friday evening getting a new do, and most of Saturday working on finishing the seaming on the NZ sweater.  I did get the last seam on the kimono body complete and the new hank of yarn wound into a cake.  So that last piece is ready to go when I’m ready.

The knitting today was spent on the hem of the NZ sweater, and winding yarn for the kimono.  After church and groceries, I came home and focussed on getting the remainder of the container garden ready for winter.  Tropical bulbs were lifted, the dirt cleaned off and set into mesh bins to store in the basement.  Potting mix was dumped back into the mixings bins and the empty containers stacked in the back of the garage.  Potted perennials were hauled into the garage for the winter and dormant tropicals were hauled to the coolest corner of the basement.  The containers are off the porches and the driveway.  And it almost looks ready for snow.   I should haul the recyclables off to the bins and get the deck cleared off too.

Are you ready for what winter may bring?

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Here’s the whole thing.  You can sort of see the waist shaping.  The green bands are the provisional/waste cast on.  I need to pick up and knit garter bands to finish/hem the edges.  Robin gets to try it on first.

Real progress.  And although startitis is calling I have so far managed to avoid casting on a new project.  No, I just brought home new magazines and library books to drool over.

What projects do you have calling?

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The additional yarn for Barb’s kimono has been shipped and I’m waiting.  It’s been seamed, and I could weave ends while I wait.  Does this sound bad.  I want to get these finished so I can try something else.

Actually I want a new sweater for me.  That’s really the issue, and when I sit in the living room I can see the yarn I’m going to use and I know roughly what I need to set the machine at.  My real decision is cardigan or pullover.

Do you find after a long session of knitting for others that you want to make something for you?

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The first thing you have to do is finish each side at opposite ends. Think of it this way.  Garter stitch is knit every row.  So both sides are virtually identical.  But the reality is that it is composed of alternating rows of the “v” of knit stitches and the interlocking “n” and “u” of purl bumps. You have to finish one piece with purl bumps facing you and the other with knit stitches.  And when you graft them together you are going to form both as you join them together.

Now if your usual exposure to grafting is closing the toes of socks, this is a bit different.  Sock grafting generally give you stockinette.    The instructions/illustration shows you to place the two pieces flat with the stitches across from each other.  The piece closest to you should have the purl bumps.  Graft the stitches on this needle just like normal.

Put the yarn needle through as if to purl, aka right to left.  On the back needle, put the needle through as if to purl. Go back to the front needle.  *Take the yarn needle from left to right as if to knit, then go to the second stitch and go through as if to purl.  Drop the first stitch off the needle.*  Go back to the back needle and repeat from* to * alternating between needles.  This creates knit stitches on the front needle and purl bumps on the back.  And when you’re done you shouldn’t be able to find the seam.   If you’re used to grafting stockinette you really have to concentrate to repeat the same motions on both needles, or you get to pick it all out to correct your mistakes.   And in dark red violet yarn, in the evening that’s so much fun.

And tip two, if the yarn is a bit kinked from being previously knit.  Pull it under a steaming iron, that takes the kinks right out.  Goal for the evening is to get the shoulders together.

How’s your fiber fun going?

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These are opening up and providing a bright spot of color under our unending gray skies.

My fiber time today consisted of learning how to graft in garter stitch and then grafting together the shoulders of the NZ sweater.  I should be able to join the sleeves and side seams tomorrow and Robin can try it on so I can set the hem lengths.  Weavers Loft sent an email confirming my address, so I should be seeing that yarn sometime this week and hopefully will have the kimono finished this weekend.   So it’s been a productive day.

How did yours go?

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I got the sleeves on the kimono and all available seaming complete.  It wasn’t quite there when Barb came over this afternoon, but it was finished enough to try on for size.  Thumbs up there.  There are only 2 oz of yarn left, about 150 yards, probably not enough for 21 st x 650 rows.  However I did hear from Barb at Weavers Loft and she does have a partial skein in this dye lot left and will be sending it so it will be fine.

So Barb received a  partially assembled kimono, some carmel and chocolate yummes, a calendar and a large purple shaggy ball to add to her collection of ornamental balls.   I got chocolate, yarn money and this.

Pretty cool huh?  I’m thinking about leaving it on the studio door all year long.

Otherwise, it being New Years Day, I did my traditional sweep through the house and yard and put up all the remaining ornaments for the season.  I’m still shifting plants around trying to find each of them a location in the house that gives them the right combination of light and warmth to keep them green and growing through the winter, yet keeps me from tripping over them.  The living room is much less jungle like and easier to move around in.  The dining room maybe less so.

So did you make any fibery resolutions this year?  Are you up for another challenge?  Or do you have any thoughts on what it should be?

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I don’t know about you, but when I look back over the year, I have a pile of stuff to show for my 11.  Several sweaters, shawls, hats, mittens, mitts, scarves and socks according to my Rav project listings.  Many of those were original patterns too.  I’ve learned new techniques on my machine, and how to get DAK to do a lot of the heavy lifting.   Until Heather got sick, we were getting fairly regular with the podcasts and having a lot of fun too.   My blog has been getting regular entries as well as this one.   My HS English teacher would be shocked.

I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from the challenge.  I’m looking forward to a new year and more challenges.

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I really doubt that there is enough yarn for the band, so I dropped an email to Weavers Loft looking for more.

I started the day off by replacing needles on both beds of the machine.  I really need more ribber needles.  Then I met an old friend for a truly delightful, almost four hour lunch.  It was one of those days where we just spent the entire time catching up.  Since I had the day off and she didn’t have anything pressing we just sat back and enjoyed ourselves.

Tomorrow I need to finish seaming the kimono and get back on the NZ sweater.

How did your day go?

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Tonight, I’m grooving cause it’s been a great day.  The doctor called and no I don’t have a broken wrist.  I have no idea why it took so long to read the x-rays but this is good news.  On the other hand the insurance company is still refusing to approve the nsaid prescribed for me on the 21st.  boo hiss…  I’m top sales in my department for the week with about 80% of the total for the department, and I know that I have at least another seven orders that will sell in the morning.

On the knitting front, I have cast on the back of the kimono, apparently successfully at this point and I just need to let DAK do it’s thing to knit the back.  I’m still concerned that I don’t have enough yarn for the neck band, but will call Barb at Weavers Loft if I need more.    Or maybe I’ll make it narrower.  We’ll see.  The NZ sweater keeps plugging along.  I need to double check that I made the increases needed in the last row.

My sister gave me this for Christmas.  Isn’t it cool.  She says that it is Russian needle punch and she made it.  It’s about 12 inches across and maybe 3 inches high.  She had it matted and framed.  I need to find an appropriate space for it in the studio or maybe my bedroom.  Now that I think about it there is no artwork up there.

I hope that you’ve had an enjoyable day too.

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Work continues on the sweater and I’m about a third through the back yoke.  My goal for the week is to get this finished by the first.  The other pieces have been steam blocked.  I just need to finish this one so they can be put together and all of the hems can be knit.   We’ll see how it goes.

I’ve been looking at the new issue of Spin-Off, particularly the article on spinning yak down.  I have several ounces acquired over the last couple of years and I’ve been trying to find information on how to turn it into yarn.  This article talks about creating several different yarns and how they used them.  I’m a little anxious to try them out.

There is also an article about the Christchurch (New Zealand) Guild of Weavers and Spinners and the total havoc the earthquakes have caused to their home in the Arts Centre in Christchurch.    In 2002 before I left for New Zealand to visit friends who were there on a post doc appointment, I emailed one of my lists asking for recommendations of fiber places to visit.  One of the guild members invited me to the Arts Centre and offered to show me around the area.  The Arts Centre is only a few blocks from the cathedral that was so thoroughly destroyed and is built in a similar stone construction.  From the photos it is apparent that there was also large scale destruction there and they will be a long time rebuilding. The Christchurch quakes have always grabbed my attention as I remember this area well and have been shocked by the destruction of the places I remember fondly.  This story reminded me of what a small and welcoming community we fiber people really are.

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This means my wheel is actually out front and center and is surely taunting me with the cloud of pre-drafted purple fluff that wants to become yarn for mittens.  The thought of the softness of the wool, the lightness, the hypnotic rhythm of the treadle and flyer.  The satisfaction of watching the bobbin fill.  I’ve already spun one of the yarns for this purpose and have a bobbin of purple singles on the lazy kate.  I need to finish and ply.   As you can tell I’m truly tempted.  But for now am holding strong and determined to finish the sweater.

What’s tempting you now that the holiday rush is over?

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I’ve made my 11 working on the sweater this evening and that’s been about it. There is much less pressure than there was Friday night.  Much more enjoyable.

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My one niece was not so thrilled with her Kidsilk Creation kit.  She wanted the scarf knit for her rather than doing it herself.  I pulled out a second kit and proceeded to knit the scarf in a different color as a possible gift for someone else.  Takes a bit more than an hour to knit it.  My sister helped by opening up the tube ahead of my needles.  Really easy to make.  The same niece asked if I would knit her slippers for her and was surprised when I said no.

I wore my FatCyclist.com winter t-shirt which was designed to look like a knitted sweater.  My mom complimented it several times, telling me that she loved the sweater and wanting to know if I had made it.

Most of the family showed up at my sister’s over the course of the afternoon.  The extended family arrived late afternoon for our annual Christmas night potluck.  Much fun was had by all.

Hope you and yours have had a great day.

Merry Christmas

So yes I met my 11 +++++.

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday.  Me, I’m off to wrap things.

Merry Christmas to you.

The last minute grocery shopping was completed at lunch to try and avoid the after work craziness.  Although I was walked out of Walmart about 30 minutes after I clocked out to lunch, it was an absolute zoo in the parking lot and store.  Sorry but I’m not that fond of shopping to start out.  Since I tend to treat it as a mission, armed with a detailed list, I generally don’t have a lot of patience for those who may be browsing, particularly on my lunch hour.  Oh well, if I planned it right I won’t have to go back until after the first.

Tomorrow looks to be a dedicated knitting day.  Stubborn, that’s what it is.

Hope your holiday plans are shaping up.

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Cast on again, change the sound settings so they aren’t so annoying.  So far so good.

Yes, there are maybe two more knitting days before Christmas.  Yes I have 3 patterns to finish.  The second mitten of a pair needs about an hours worth of hand work to finish.  Robin’s sweater is about to the neck shaping on the front.  All of the pieces are MK, just waiting for garter stitch yoke and assembly so garter stitch hems can be applied.  Kimono has the fronts knit and one of the sleeves started.  That leaves the back, neckband and other sleeve to go.   All kimono assembly is pretty much on the machine, leaving ends as the handwork.  The first two have to be done by noon on Sunday.  The probably sometime next week.

This doable.  I swear I’m not delusional.  Really.  And I’m not hyped on chocolate or caffeine yet either.

And that nasty headache I’ve had since 11.  I think the knitting is making it go away.

How are your holiday plans going?

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I brought this home today to decorate to celebrate the season.   This is a Norfolk Island Pine and I put it in a self watering pot.  Experience has shown they do better in this pot.

Made my 11 at lunch working on the yoke of the sweater.  There is visible progress and as I was sitting there doing the math, I realized that I’m closer to the short rows for the neck line than I was thinking.  I did touch base with one of my co-workers who is an amazing seamstress and confirmed my thoughts on the sleeve design were on track.

The plan for the evening is to work on the kimono and hopefully complete a sleeve.   I have all the yarn and completed pieces to this is doable.

The hand is not healing as quickly as predicted, and the nsaids prescribed make me queasy, so between the two sleep is elusive.  Called the doctor as I was told to do.  Pictures were taken and we are waiting for interpretation and a new plan.  New drug was prescribed but the insurance refused.   Frustration…

Back to the machine.

How are your projects going?

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