Brainless Knitting

One of the items I trusted myself to knit in my cold stupor was a washcloth.

I had started it while helping a friend re-learn how to knit, just before I came down with my cold.  It went fairly well, but is a bit large.

I have another on the needles, but went down a couple needle sizes.  Between smaller size, and switching from metal to wood needles, I hope that will help.
This is another item I am knitting for my friend who is presently in South Sudan.  She said not to worry too much.  They are treasured there and someone will be sure to love it.
I hope so, I have a whole cone of this color.

Six Does Not Equal Six

Huh?
Let me explain.
I was diligently working on my Marl Yoke Raglan last week at Knit Nite. I was SOOOOO close to the end of the body and place to join the sleeves that I kept knitting so I could say I had the sweater that far.
Since the shawl I am making for Evelyn is a bit too complicated to take to Knit Nite (I tend to talk a lot there.), I wanted to have the sleeves ready to work on. I dug out a pencil and my copies of EZ's Opinionated Knitter, and Knitting in the Old Way and started calculating. I figured out how many stitches I needed to cast on, how many rows it would take, how often I would have to increase if I did it this way or that way. And so on.
I was so thorough.
Finally I cast on with a set of Plymouth bamboo double point needles and knit about 6 rounds or so.
Then something made me pause. The ghost of Elizabeth Zimmermann perhaps?
Anyway, something made me stop and put away the size 7 needles tips that I had out. And while I was at it, I checked the tips I had used for the sweater body. The needle gauge I was using showed the size 7 slot loose and sloppy.
But wait! So was the size 6. I had supposedly been using Size 6 in my Harmony Options. I dug out another needle gauge and the size 6 fit perfectly.
Hmmmmm.
Then I looked at both gauges. One size 6 was a 4.25mm. the other was 4.00mm. I checked the double points I was using for the sleeve. Size 6 all right. but 4.25 not 4.00
Sigh.
I just knew if I continued with the the sleeves with size 4.25, the gauge wouldn't match when I joined the sleeves to the body. So I ended up logging on to KnitPicks and placing an order for size 6 4.00 mm double points and also a 16 inch circ (and some lace weight yarn, and books. Oops, the mouse must have slipped.) I frogged the bit of sleeve I had started and waited. Yesterday my package came--in just 5 days!
Maybe now I can knit with peace of mind.
Or not.

If I'm Not Posting, I Must be Knitting

Not even time for many pictutres.

And of course there is the lack of sleep issue from the dratted "Time Change."

But I have been making a lot of progress on the Nursing Shawl. The top measures not quite 40 inches at this point, but I still have several skeins before I start the ruffle. I have the tips on a 40 inch cable so I can stretch it out some to look at it. The live stitches are the two short sides. Right now it is about 19 inches from center seam to end along the top edge.

I am making this in Knit Picks Shine worsted weight. I love the way the yarn handles and the stitch definitition is marvelous.

I hope my niece likes it.

Cuz if she doesn't, I may keep it myself.

Continued Progress--an Olympic Update.

Last evening, even with some reading time, since Hubby was making his weekly night out at the livestock auction, I settled down with the Pink Lady, a tall glass of Diet Coke at hand, Olivia deHavilland (in The Snakepit) on the TV, and was a knitting fool.
Maybe not a complete fool. I learned Saturday that I cannot sit with all that wool on my lap without frequent breaks to avoid heat stroke. So now, bare foot in my birki's and wearing capri jeans and short sleeve t-shirt is the order of the day while knitting in my corner.
I started the garter band on the second sleeve. I should be able to cast that off tonight at Knit Nite. I made sure I had the larger needle tip as well as the cable and tips for the body.
Maybe I will even knit the body on a 60 inch circ, until I can get a chance to have Gertrude pose with it again and get a current picture. By using the longer cable I may even be able to try it on myself, gingerly though.
Once I start the body though, it will be just some long slogging through the lace pattern for about 14 inches or so. I have to double check the length on my favorite cardigan, but it is close to that.
Sounds like some mind numbing knitting ahead.

Let the Games (and the Racing) Begin

At precisely 9:04 Friday, I picked up the Pink Lady and began to compete. (Gilbert the Wonder Dog was a bit poky on his break, so I started late.)

To show where I am starting, below you can see how much of the lace of the body I finished. Just a few inches.

After that long, I decided to switch to sleeves before it was too heavy to have on my lap to keep switching around. I'll go back to the body after both sleeves are done. Below is the back view and the right sleeve.

Only a couple rows of lace done here. And the sleeve in progress that caused the sweater to sit so long in time out:

A few inches on it was where it left off. I did discover one of the other reasons I set it down. I cannot use my Knit Pick needles on the sleeve. I have reverted to a 16 inch Addi Turbo. While I do like the speed of the metal needles, the point just isn't there. I can't wait to finish the sleevea and go back to the KP nickel plated circ needle.

However after less than 24 hours from the Opening Ceremonies, I have sleeve number 1 done. Maybe I better be thinking on a second WIP, in case this goes faster than I figured.

And now, no more time for blogging. Back to the Daytona 500 and my awaiting needles.

Knit Updates

I continue to work on my nephews camo cardigan. It is really going well. If I get off the computer and back to knitting, I should be able to almost finish the first sleeve.


I have also worked a little more on my Wrap Me Up Shawl. I had plans to take a picture of it at Knit Night, but didn't bring that with me.


We did have quite a group--two first timers. I was happy to see them, as two of the other regulars will be gone the next couple weeks.





The "in" item to be knitting was socks. Nancy had a goliath sock that she frogged and swatched to start again. I think she needs smaller needles.

Knitting Knews

As I mentioned in my previous post, Hubby and I went on a car trip about 1 1/2 hour away. I had planned my travel knitting, as any dedicated knitter does. I decided on my basket containing 2 pairs of socks. And just in case of an unforeseen problem with knitting, I also tucked in a paperback romance.
We started off and I waited about 2 miles before digging out the needles. Earlier this week, I worked on the long suffering Hot Pink socks. I had finally completed the last cross stitch and heel flap, heel turn and the gusset. Life was good and I was cruising. I figured with steady knitting I could be close to the toe by the time we returned home.
Fate and another idea.
I decided to measure with my spare needle the length of the foot from gusset to beginning of toe decreases. I usually use a needle to get the right length. But......as I grabbed the completed sock, and started to lay the other needle against it.... Well all I can say is there was an alignment of time and space, coupled with a bump on a gravel road (Hubby likes taking the back way.) and the end of the needle snagging the sock. My needle was in my hand........And then it wasn't. I wiggled and reached and stretched as best I could in the cab of a small pickup truck. Nothing.
Amazingly, at the next intersection was a stop sign. Hubby said, since there was no traffic, I could get out and search the floor.
Nothing.
But after describing the rainbow colors of my size 1 Knit Picks DP, Hubby spotted it and handed it to me. I jabbed it in the ball of yarn, got back in the truck, fastened my seatbelt, and.......
No needle.
What? I wiggled and looked and squirmed. No needle. I decided it was not to be. I was not going to tempt fate and try to work on the other sock.
I carefully folded the sock with its other 4 needles, secure in the fact that I had a spare needle at home.
I might also add, I checked again on the floor and between the seats when we got to the restaurant. I checked again at Sis-in-Law's home. I looked again as I got in the car to go.
And there, in the door map pocket....my size 1 rainbow colored Knit Picks DP.
On the way home, I read.
Some days are like that.

Knitting to Do

I wanted to so the progress on the socks started this past weekend. Here are pics of both the pink Cross Stitch Block and the Gray Chevron.

I so think they are going very nicely. I may jump back down to size one needles on the gray pair, I'm using size 1.5 now.

Next up, I have to pack up the computer and start a bottle cozy. We finally have some diet pop in the breakroom. Cute little 12 oz bottles of Diet Coke. I have some pink Shepherd's Shades that should knit up quickly into a little cozy that will help keep the pop cold.

Life on the Farm

Another new calf last night. A vigorous, health, frolicking heifer. Black with white face, feet and a white tip on the tail. Hubby got her tagged before she had time to dry off. And a good thing. She is too lively to get a picture, and too far away. Carmel had her on the far side of the remnants of Lake Hagen in the pasture. Hubby was worried she would not be able to make it through the deep mud to get to the dry side of the pasture. SOOOOO--we took the hay spear off and put on the two wheeled trailer on the back of the trusty old tractor. I asked Hubby if he wanted me to come along and laugh or wait by the gate and laugh. He said to come along. Good thing. I had to drive back while he sat in the trailer with the afore mentioned frisky calf. Mama Carmel ran circles around tractor and trailer, all the other cows came to sympathize with her. We made it back to the gate, and he unloaded the calf. Mama sniffed her over and headed for the far corner of the dry side of the pasture. Before we were out the gate, they were farther away than when we started. Awww. Life on a farm.

I spent a little time spinning on my drop spindle. I took it Tuesday to the Knit/Spin Night. The super-wash roving is gradually vanishing but the yarn around the spindle doesn't seem to be getting any bigger. But I do love the colors and I know plying will "fluff" it out some. I can't wait to make socks out of them. I ordered another pair of the knitpicks harmony double pointed needles, so I can have a couple pairs going at once. I really love those needles.

Merry Christmas,oops I Mean Easter

Pardon the mistake, but with the weather, it should be understandable. While we have been basking in warmth, the evil weather genie decided a wake up was in order. So, while here at home we only got an inch or so, farther south there was upwards of a foot of snow yesterday.
Quite the surprise. And it hit fast, too. I had to drive in to town last night to the business expo. Since Younger Son decided to come along, we wouldn't fit in the truck. I putzed along and we made it, but it was exciting. Glad it was still day light at the time.
I have been plugging away on the yellow sock, starting the heel flap so it should be on its way to being finished soon. Then as I continue with the blue/green pair, I can let my mind wonder through the sock stash to decide what I want to make next. A cotton pair--Sockatta would be good, for summer. but I also have some solids I would maybe like to attempt a cable pair in. Well I should have time to consider it before digging out the needles again. The only downside is that the yellow socks are on 8 inch dp. They feel so long. I do like my Knit Picks Harmony dps in 6 inches. much more manageable.
I am still waiting for pictures of my Great Nephew. Now that he has made his appearance, I guess the angora trimmed pink sweater will wait a while before being cast on. Maybe I can find some nice blue. Since we didn't know who he was till he came, he probably doesn't have a lot of blue yet.

Love these needles

I have decided I really love my new knitting needles. I recently invested in Knit Picks new needles. The Options needles with swappable tips and cables recently became available in a wooden variety. These Harmony wooden needles are laminated from layers of colored wood and are wonderful. They are slick, but not as slick and slippery as the metal needles. The cables are thin and flexible, like Addi’s and come in many sizes. I started my bordered vest on them and they are working really well. Warm to the touch, quiet, and no kinks or stiffness in the cables. I think they are great.
As far as the sweater, I am half way up the side to the arm pit. It is knit in the round and then divides. No steeks (they scare me to death—haven’t gotten that brave yet), and no sewing either—all-in-one is the way to go if you can.