Friday, December 31, 2010

Ripit, Ripit!

I bit the bullet and decided to frog back my Pink Vicky Ribwarmer. I was almost done with the first side, but..... Well, you know how garter stitch stretches.
I had added extra rows before starting the short rows because I had added extra stitches. But because the point runs in a diagonal, the fit wasn't right. My problem is knowing when to follow EZ's counts, and when not to, since I am using a different key number.
So far things are looking good as I start the first curve again.
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WIP Club

The more I mull it over, the more I like it.
The idea of making a self-imposed club, like the Yarn Harlot's sock club that is.  I gave a list a couple days ago of WIPs I have, although it may be an incomplet list.  I will continue to scour the stash to see what I can find.
So my knitting New Year's Resolution will be to finish as many WIPs as I can.
But, new projects will be accepted. 
Speaking of new projects, above is the beginning of the lace border for the tunic for Flo's granddaughter, Sandra.  Once I figured out the transition between the repeats of the 2 charts involved, it went well.  I will have to chart another couple little patterns before I get to the body of the Tunic.  But at least this part is going fairly well.
And the pink mystery project?  Notice the short rows developing?  This is of course, Elizabeth Zimmermann's ribwarmer that I have been mulling over for some time.   About half way throuth the short rows on first corner, and then can start increasing back and completing the curve.   Just like the Baby Surprise Jacket, I am having trouble visualizing the fit from this, but am going forward with confidence.
I will have to figure out how to put a WIP completed counter or list on the blog to hold myself accountable I guess. Hmmmmmm.  Must think on that.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Neighborhoodie Pics

As I said, I finished the Neighborhoodie last Sunday, after a quick trip to JoAnns for a zipper.  I was able to find a blue one that blended well with the colors--no stark white one this time.
I felt that the vest was a bit large.  But in the pictures, aside from being long, I guess it looks ok. 
The pockets are applied after knitting, and I only started the 4th big ball of Marbles chunky yarn (341 yards reach I think) as I began the last ball.   Aside from the fact that is acrylic, a fact my fiber snobbishness can't ignore, I quite like it.
At least it can be tossed in the washing machine.  But if I must go acrylic, I think I still like a wool blend.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Ideas for WIP Club

Possible projects for the WIP club I mentioned in the previous post
  1. Linda's purple mittens--I need to finishe those soon anyway.
  2. Pink mystery project (to be named later.)
  3. Bigfoot Shaw, started in about 2008, and hardly touched recently
  4. Even older, a black mohair shawl, from a class I took with Marla Mutch several years ago.
  5. Reading Shawl, started this past year.
  6. Featherweight sweater.
  7. Silver Shrieks in the Night mobeius.
  8. A really old feather and fan in the round, started maybe 5 years ago out of sock yarn?
  9. Another lace weight shawl in a feather and fan pattern, that is also way before Ravelry.  I may just find and frog that one.  Its a made up design anyway.
Gosh, that's more than enough, at 2 months each, for an entire year!  And I haven't even scratched the surface.  There are 3 pairs of socks, only one with the first sock done.  One of them is a charted toe up pair. There is another pair of sock that I have to reknit from the ankle down.  Also my Burly yarn vest that I am frogging back about 4 or 5 inches, and then re-finishing.  Not to mention the recently purchased alpaca destined for a sweater, and more Lambs Pride for another sweater.  And if I dig, I could probably come up with at least one other shawl in progress, and other projects ready to go.
I have no right to even be thinking of starting anything else.  And yet......
We'll see.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Idea

 I mentioned my idea, concerning all my projects I have committed too, as well as those I have started already.  I mentioned a project in my last post that I have recently started. 
I have 6 skeins of victorian pink Lambs Pride--one of my favorite fibers and colors.
The picture previously, as well as below is just a hint of what I have started.  More hints--it is for me. It is wearable, and knit in 2 identical halves.  Entirely garter stitch.  I'll tell more later.
Very mysterious garment.
Anyway--back to the plan.  I have been reading all year about the Yarn Harlot's self imposed sock club.  She went stash diving a year ago, and matched yarn with patterns she always wanted to knit, putting each set into a ziplock baggie.  And every month she grabbed another bag, at random and finished a new pair each month. 
I liked the idea of a knitting club based on current stash.  I wanted to do something similar.  My plan is slightly different.  I want to give myself 2 months max to finish a WIP (work in progress) already on the needles.  Since I plan on starting the club on New Year's Day, I figured it was fine to begin the above project.  And maybe even another one or two, by Friday.
This will be in addition to the two projects I have promised for Flo and Betty, but I look forward to finishing some of these additional projects I have waiting in the background.
And at least I finished the Neighborhoodie yesterday.  Zipper and all!  Just no pictures yet.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Not Again!

What's this I see? Another project?
Hmmmmm.....could be.
More later, I'm off to a holiday time movie.
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Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Wishes to All

A low key Christmas going on at the home of farmmom and company. With only part-time wages, we are light on presents, but there is at least something for all my guys.
Unfortunately, none of my guys really want or appretiate hand knits. Frustrating to be sure, but there is more for myself that way. And I can take time for a couple custom projects.
On the docket is a tunic for friend Flo's granddaughter. Flo has cancer and is unable to knit right now, and this is a project she promised her granddaughter.
I also promised to knit a jacket for a friend. She dyes fiber, and this is an alpaca silk blend I think. Since I can't afford enough of it to make a sweater for me, this is a chance to at least use this yummy fiber.
Of course I like some variety in my knitting. But I am chewing on an idea to provide that.
More on that in a few days.
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Recent Knitting

Finally, a good picture of my boss with his scarf.  We got scarf and camera together at the same time.  He has been enjoying it when it was supercold last week.
 I have been working on some Purple Stuffed mittens for Linda in exchange for a couple belts she will be weaving for me on her inkle loom.  The purple is the same as the purple on my loom, much darker and richer than shown below.  The thrumms are a medium lavender, rolled from regular roving to knit along with the yarn every 4th row.  It forms a loft and warm insulating layer inside the mittens.
 The above is the view into the mitten, below is the side view of the mitten. 
 And rapidly nearing completion is the Neighborhoodie.  I have the zipper bands and one sleeve edging to go, then sew in the zipper.  Which I forgot to buy last weekend. 
This weekend does not seem to hold a lot of free time. 

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Gilbert the Wonder Dog

A week or so ago, on warping day, I dropped off Gilbert for a haircut, just down the road.  (Remember the line about warping not taking any longer than his 2 hour haircut?)
As you can see he was quite a shaggy little boy.  This picture was taken the evening before.
Due to my lack of camera, I couldn't get a good "after shot" for a week, but doesn't he look handsome now?  Aside from the fact he is looking peaved, because I insist on knitting instead of petting him all evening, that is.

Monday, December 20, 2010

New Beginnings

Younger Son started a new job today. Nothing glamorous, but still, in this day and job climate to find something with more hours is great.
Not a beauty shot, but he doesn't like getting his picture taken.  This headless shot is with Gilbert the wonderdog, before haircut.
The job still entails milking and scraping pens, but since the skidster is heated with enclosed cab and radio, he thinks he is really coming up in the world. 
The job is at an area farmer who recently bought a dairy farm that formerly milked water buffalo for cheeze.  It went bust, but this farmer has regular cows, and my son is quite experienced in dealing with milk cows.
Maybe he can pay back some of his loans.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Movies as Real Life

I just saw "Meet John Doe" with Gary Cooper. All I could do was keep comparing the movie and its John Doe clubs with today's Tea Party movement.
Life imitating film. Wow!
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Warping and Weaving

I mentioned last week that I spent most of the day last Friday warping my loom, with the help of Evelyn at the Old Farm Girl.  My loom, a 24 inch Kromski Rigid Heddle Harp loom, and the yarn before the festivities began. 
 The yarn is fingering weight Nature Spun, in Victorian Pink, a lavendar, and Regal Purple. 
 We calculated on a balanced pattern dividing each pink and lavendar band with 10 ends of purple.  The lavendar we then set off on each side with an additional 2 pink ends.   I will not go into the mess and fuss involved with preparing the warp threads.  The patterning made it take just a bit more the the couple hours that was predicted.
 When I used my Knitters Loom, I never tied the back end of the loom.  But Evelyn had done it that way before, so that is what we did.  And eventually all was set for weaving.
After getting the loom home, I sarted the weaving.  I didn't want to do too much until I got my camera back. (YEA!!   I have it!) But this is after about 13 inches.  I am beating it tight and the plaid effect seems to be showing up quite well.  Once the ends are trimmed, and the weaving is done, I think I will have a handsome shawl.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Scarf Delivered

I know that this week my posting has been rather thin.  I find without my camera, I have all these ideas for posts, but they would be rather flat without pictures.  Hopefully on Friday the camera and cordless drill will be swapped out and I'll be back in action.
Boss Russ was given the scarf.  His birthday isn't until this weekend, but thought with the cold weather, he might appreciate it early.  He seems to love it.  Said he can't believe how warm it is. (The power of Wool!  I'm transforming the world, one person at a time!)  I did get a picture of him with my cell camera, but that camera and I have a love/hate thing going on and it is very blurry.  I will try on Sunday, if he has it with him.  
I also notice the trees on the west line of our pasture almost look like birch.  The wind and snow this past weekend coated the east side of them with snow and ice.  They look lovely.   But again no camera.
Soon, I hope, I can be a shutterbug again.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Warping Oops

Just noticed the only picture I had of the weaving didn't show on the posting. I'll try again.
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Warped Women

After a long but laughed filled day, my rigid heddle loom is warped for a shawl in purple, lavender and pink.
Many pictures were taken but.........
I left my camera at the shop!
Back safely home at last, I tightened and tuned the stand and the warp and even managed to weave a couple stripes. However I have knitting to finish by Thursday. So back to the wool room with the loom, and out with the knitting.
However, if I get snowbound tomorrow, I may switch back and forth, to prevent boredom you know.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Return of the February Lady Sweater


Finally, a chance to enjoy this sweater that I finished last spring.  I think I only was able to wear it once or twice before the weather was just too warm for it. With the temps comfortably below freezing, this is a nice thing to have on.
I have been plugging away on the brown scarf. It is 40 inches and a great no brainer knit. I may have it done this weekend.
Then what to knit....UFO's? Something new? Maybe one of my commissioned projects?
We shall see how the spirit moves me.
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

To My Impatient Public

Yes, yes, I know it has been several days since posting.  But....
I have been busy, buying wooly items--alpaca, roving, yarn.
I have been busy knitting--scarf, sock, sweater, shawl.
I have even been working on my loom. 
I have not abandoned you.  I will post, but nothing really exciting has been happening, and anything that has happened, had no pictures.
We haven't even had any decent snow at my house.
So, here is something to dream about.
Snow, glorious Snow!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Final Shot--Pi Are Squared

I discovered something after church Sunday.  All the best photographers are apparently in Florida. I wanted shawl pictures, and I kept getting head shots. 
But finally at spin guild Monday, I got the pictures I wanted of the shaw.
There will definitely be another of these in the future.   The best thing about this pattern is the wearability.  It is absolutely hands free.   Pattern is in the Elizabeth Zimmermann book Knitting Around and I bought it just for this pattern.  Yarn is mill ends in a light worsted/or possibly sports weight, from Stonehenge Mills

Another Project Done.


Now that November is done, and my vest isn't, I decided to make another quicky project.
Behold the Cables Coffee Cuff, a free pattern on Ravelry. I whipped it up in just a couple hours. And the coffee is still hot!
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Monday, November 29, 2010

Another Day Another Finished Project

I couldn't resist this project. A knit watchband that I found on knitty.com.
Comfy and quick, I may rescue some bandless watches I have stashed away.
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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Current Projects

Knitting is as always ongoing.  I need to find time to warp one or both of my looms--I have ideas for both, but I still have a couple projects on the needles.
Well, to be honest, I have a vast unknown number of projects on needles, but these are the current ones.
 This is my National Knit A Sweater Month vest.  It was 13 inches when this picture was taken Friday, but with only a few days left, not sure if it will make it.  However, it is only a vest, so no sleeves.  We will see what happens, but I am not holding my breath on this one.
This is the yarn for the basket weave scarf I am making for my boss.  The true color is about half way between this and the picture I posted last week.  The color is maple Praline, and the project is due December 18.  Once I see if I make the November deadline on the sweater, I will start working more steadily on this one.
And of course there are still socks, a couple shawls, and at least one other sweater, all in progress that I can think of right off the top of my head, without even trying.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Finally Some Knitting Picks

I mentioned earlier in the week. that my Pi Are Square Shawl was drying on the bed. I have a foldup board for cutting out patterns, and more often for wrapping presents. 
My plans were good anyway.  I spread out the board and lay my blocking mats on top of it.  These are some hopscotch squares that were on clearance for must less than the blocking squares usually cost.  I just put them picture side down and lock them together.  They work great for pinning into.
 I even added a couple extra squares on one side to hold the curved end. .
I ran a stiff blocking whire through the points on each of the straight ends and pinned those down in a couple places.  then I swiveled it around and took a couple of the flexible wires to the curved end and ran though the points again and pinned the wires.  It helped make the curves nice and even on either side.
 You can barely see the wire here.  I think my camera batteries are  low because the pictures are all a little bright.  Anyway I left the shawl all spread out on Tuesday with the fan on to speed drying.  Unfortunately, Hubby couldn't see the reason for the fan, so he turned it off.
 Gertrude has been wearing in the unheated wool room while it finishes drying.  I can't wait to wear it.
 I think it did grow quite a bit in the blocking process.  I had thought it would be rather short, but now am quite pleased with the size of it.

Friday, November 26, 2010

No Shopping Here

At least not in the stores.  I made one online purchase, and that will compromise most of my Christmas shopping.  On the extremely outside chance one of my sons may happen upon this blog, I will only say that the purchase was made here,  my favorite place for farm son shopping.
I had planned on venturing into the local Wal-Mart, to pick up some diet coke and a prescription as much as anything, but after I took Hubby to town to pickup truck with the new DOT sticker, the truck wasn't ready so he needed a ride home.
I will attempt again tomorrow.  Problem is, by then all the people who went shopping in GR and Muskegon, will be shopping here. 
Drats.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Bad Picture, Warm Gift

A very bad picture if I do say so. Dark brown Lanaloft wool, colorway Maple Praline obviously does not show up well in a cell phone camera.
But, hey I had to post something while my Pi Are Square shawl continues to dry. Hubby turned off the fan yesterday, so now it is draped around Gertrude to hopefully finish drying. I hope to post more pictures of that this weekend.
The gift pictured above is a wool scarf for my boss that I have been blatantly been knitting in front of him. A combo birthday/Christmas present. And maybe a warm hat, if I have enough yarn. And I should.
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Monday, November 22, 2010

More Knit Stuff

I just wanted to show a picture to pique some interest.
This blob of knitting, just lying there in a heap, is the Pi Are Square shawl.  It is off the needles, and ready to have ends woven in, and then a dunk in the wash tub, and some severe blocking. 
Since I call it done if it is off the needles, I can call it done.  The second Finished Object in two days. How is that for progress.
And now, on to some shaded brown Lana Loft and a scarf for the boss.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Deer Hunter's Widow's Revenge Day

Saturday was the Deer Hunter's Widows Revenge day at the Old Farm Girl.  Lots of food.  Lots of fun.  Lots of Knitting.
I presented Evelyn with the completed Moebius. I couldn't resist giving it to her. It is definitely her color.  This one begs to be wrapped as a scarf, and since I have nearly no neck, it looks much better on her.  Fun to knit.  I will soon be starting Shrieks in the Night Moebius, in a non-curling stitch.  It is a very fun knit.
As I mentioned, lots of knitting was going on.  I got there with only one underarm to graft on Evelyns Wallaby.  She was delighted to see that ready for her as well.  I also managed to get a good deal of the border on my Pi Are Square Shawl done.
In the meantime, I practiced tabletop stealth pictures.  I got pretty good at it.
We also had games and prices.  Knitting and crocheting blindfolded, one handed and wearing gloves.  Luckily I didn't get pictures of us in our "blindfolds."   Lacking enough scarves, we tucked a brown jersey glove behind our glasses and knit away blindly.

We laughed, we knit, we ate, we laughed some more.  A GREAT time was had by all who came. 
Did I mention we ate?  Best chocolate cookies ever!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Why Farmmoms Get Gray

Well, I don't know about all farmmoms, but this farmmom finds the strangest things in her kitchen.
In the past I have come home to Oldest Son waxing giant stack-type exhaust pipes in the kitchen. When we were raising pigs, many little piggies found their way into the kitchen to dry off,and warm up. Even one calf sought refuge in front of the kitchen register.
Last night after Knit Nite, I came home to find that Hubby had bits and pieces of chainsaw scattered around the kitchen. Chunks of oily sawdust accompanied the various parts.
And tonight a repeat performance, enhanced with the aroma of WD30
Don't you wish you had my life?
Sigh.
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Oops, Here is The Picture

The picture of my vest in progress didn't post with the previous entry. So here it is, just to prove I am making so progress on it.
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November Sweater

My sweater for National Knit a Sweater Month is progressing nicely. Maybe still a bit ambitious, even if it is only a vest.
But I am also on the hood of the Wallaby, and am working on a shawl and two different pairs of socks. Even if I do finish the wallaby this week...., yeah, maybe a little optimistic.
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Monday, November 15, 2010

The End is Near

No, I'm not referring to the End Times mentioned in Sunday's sermon. The wallaby is almost ready for the neck ribbing, and then the hood.
Is that cheering I hear coming from White Cloud?
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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Farm Guys Get 'Er Done

I got a phone call yesterday from Oldest Son.  "You home?"  "Yeah."  "Well, get outside if you want to see my new ride."
The last time I got a call like this was when he came zipping by with the super-big tractor, with tracks instead of wheels.  I could hardly wait to see what he was driving this time.

Keep in mind that most of the farm trucks he drives look like they are held together with duct tape and baler twine.  Like they would crumple if you leaned against them wrong.  Imagine my surpise to see him drive by, honking his air horn, in this beast. 
Yeah, I know the branches got in the way of the cab, but I was lucky to get it this well.  He was trucking right along, and not slowing for pictures.  I had to push the button as he entered the edge of the screen and managed to get the whole truck.  Tandem trailers, shiny tractor cab, and 11 wheels visible on this side, and probably some were duals.  That's bigger than an 18 wheeler--I guess.  I don't know much about trucks, but I knew that this far exceeded his boss's normal farm truck.
I called him back later, to report the picture turned out, he said this belonged to another farm they work picking corn at.  So he was enjoying it while he could.
This morning, on the way to church, I noticed that the farm shop had every truck they own, and then some, including the above truck and another equally nice, loaded with picked corn.  Unfortunately tomorrow they will all probably be sitting in line at the Co-Op, waiting to be weighed and dumped.
There goes opening day of deer hunting.  Maybe.
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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Short Armed Preview

Here is the latest shot of the Pi Are Square shawl. My short arms make a self portrait difficult, to say the least.
The edging is going well. I like working on it on chilly days. I can either fling one end over my shoulder, or stretch over my toes. Very soft, and very warm.
It doesn't hang down very long, so once it is entirely finished I think I will block it with a vengeance.
I can hardly wait.
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Thank You Veterans

Gilbert and I want to say thank-you to all those who risked their lifestyle for our country. This means so much now when there is no draft and everyone signs up knowing they will be in harms way sooner or later.
Thanks for liberty.
Thanks for being a vet.
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Monday, November 8, 2010

Busy Random Weekend

You may have seen here that Saturday was a busy day, even before the "Stupid Time Change".  (I believe I have mentioned here before my deep feelings about Daylight Savings Time, probably most recently at the last time change.) (Even now the sun isn't yet overhead till well after noon!) (Enough ranting on stupid time change already.)
Anyway, Hubby had plans for a family dinner with his brother and wife, since we have been having problems getting together.  So I had to miss the baptism at church this past week, but still, lots of knitting was done.
I will need to get some pictures get pictures, but Mr Scream Jeans moebius is off the needles.  I also got about 3 or 4 inches on the sweater month vest during Saturday's road trip.  I am also nearing the final turn on the saw tooth edge bind off on my Pi Are Square shawl. 
I also have about 3 bobbins ready to be plied of my Red Rover chunky so I can make the TappenZee short sleeved cardigan. 
We have another batch of barn kitties who moved into the garage, to be closer to food dish.  Last year, we only had one or two who survived till fall.  This year at least nine.  Maybe some will last till spring.  One, a little tom that was Sandy brought from her brothers will add some well needed new blood if he survives.  And I haven't seen any mice anywhere!
And now, into the new week.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Sandy and Linda's Excellent Adventure

Not so bright and early we took off for Rockford. Found some Yarn Hallow sock yarn there. Then we hit up a bead store. I want a Pandora bracelet. But I just got son starter beads, and some fake leather for Sandy's husbamd to turn into a Pandora wannabe
After lunch of calamari and chicken park, we went to Rivertown Crossings mall. Do not like their HARD floors. We didn't stay long there, but we still managed to get in a lot of shopping elsewhere.
All in all, a fun day.
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National Knit a Sweater Month

I mentioned in passing earlier this past week that November is National Knit a Sweater Month.  So what could I do?  I had to cast on.
The yarn is James C Bretts Marble Chunky.  A cheerful color that should go with lots.  It is acrylic, and was in the stash for a few months.  The pattern is one I got this summer at a fiber festival called The Neighbor Hoodie.  It is a hooded vest and I can't wait to get it done.
Should be a great winter/cool weather item.  And, I know, since I made a cardigan a couple years ago out of this in DK weight, this washes in the machine just wonderfully.
And besides, a vest, in chunky weight, isn't adding that much to my WIPs pile. 
Is it?

Friday, November 5, 2010

We Had Snow!!

No, not much, but enough to whet my taste.
Even Gilbert the Farm Dog was enjoying getting his feet cold in the snow
Not much in the wheelbarrow either, but enough that you can see the flakes, and watch it coming down.  Woo Hoo.

What A Difference a Week Makes

While my Droid phone does allow me to make more frequent posts, they usually lack for pictures.  And sometimes punctuation.  (Darn those fat fingers anyway.) 
So while I may be posting more often, to appease my public, I may still have to make a longer, or a few catchup posts, with pictures. 
Case in point.  Last week I was poised to start my Shrieks in the Night mobius at Evelyn's class.
Isn't this yarn great?  Black, but not quite black.  And instead of using the colorway name of Silver Streaks at Night, my shawl would be Shrieks in the Night.  It was, after all, nearly Halloween.
We managed with great hilarity to figure out the cast on, which is the secret of a seamless Moebius.  Let me tell you, that first row was a stinker.
We all felt a sense of relief when the first row was finished.
As you can see,  I went with a different color.  This is some yarn that Evelyn had dyed in shades of green.  I did the mobius Cat Bordhi calls the Easiest of All Mobius, or the Bipolar Mobius.  Because of the way the shawl is constructed, from the center out, if you knit stockinette all the way, you will end up with the top half being the knit side and the bottom half with the purl side showing.  (Get it?  Bipolar.)  I decided to christen this shawl Mr Scream Jeans.  I had to stick with the theme after all
I decided to bind off with I-cord, even though a tried to figure out a leaf lace pattern to apply around the edge.  Unfortunately the pattern I found I couldn't get to work.  Maybe once I am better at this I can try casting off backwords and it will work.  I found the I- cord did seem to work better with a larger needle.  I had to jump from 9 to 11, since my 10 1/2s were otherwise occupied.
But that is another story.