This weeks has been a total flop! What is the number one rule when working with hand dyed yarns? NEVER knit from one skein at a time. Everyone knows that. I know that. So why, WHY did I not do that. I picked up my second skein, knit away for two nights and you know what I saw don't you? And that was under my night to bright bedside table lamp. Needless to say the frog pond is now full of blue waves :-(
Next, we move on to hubbie's lovely cable sweater. I finally picked it up this morning after a full week's absence. I finished the first pattern repeat, held it up, and thought it was looking a bit large. Mind you DH and I are no longer at our "wedding weight", but he really does not need the thing to be a flipping 2" larger around. And I certainly do not need to knit an extra 2 inches x the 48 inches of length front and back. I think that is 164 rows x an extra 8? stitches per row = 1312 extra stitches! And DH had the nerve to say no big deal. Geez!
What is causing this Karma drain. Hmmm...could it be more of my impulsive behavior? I have been on the lookout for an affordable (cheap) spinning wheel. Looking through the local "Bee", I see one listed in the under $100 column. I squeal, I jump for joy, I grab the phone, I go to the house, I buy, I take it home. I cannot believe my stupidity. The wheel belonged to the seller's mother who used it as long as the seller could remember. She believes it was a hand me down from one of mom's relatives. Looking at the condition of the wheel itself, I would agree. It is so worn, I cannot fashion a way for the drive belt to stay on the wheel. Oh, and did I mention it appears to be slighly warped? Kiss. Of. Death. And in my haste, do you think I even noticed that it was missing the flyer and bobbins. It does have a quill spindle. Whoopee :-( Can I sell it and get my money back? Please?
So here is my only good news of the week. I decided the heck with it. I work, I buy my children clothes at all the name brand stores, I can afford a wheel. So that is exactly what I did. I marched myself over to my local fiber shop and ordered a double treadle Lendrum. It will be here in five months just in time for my birthday.
End of story.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Monday, February 21, 2005
Some Things to Think About
What a non-productive weekend:-( I had grandiose visions of finishing Wavy. Ha! I hear you say. Don't be smart! What did I do? Friday night DH and son left for a fun weekend of winter camping courtesy of the Boy Scouts of America. I got to try a new Mexican Restaurant with the girls, my sister-in-law, and oldest daughter's boyfriend. I am happy to say it was "real" Latino food. Yum!
Saturday was tons of fun. I am lucky enough to live in an area that has 6, count 'em 6, yarn shops within a 20 minute car trip. My best friend and I finally made it to one that caters to the weavers and weavers that knit. What, you say? This shop is owned and operated by one of the most talented and well known weavers in the area. She also happens to be my mail carrier. Small world! We bought supplies for my friend's loom (which I will get to later). Because it caters to weavers, it sells fiber by the pound off these huge cones. Can you say chenille afghans for around $25 - $30? Do you realize that felting for the fun of it is now an affordable option? Dang! And that is where I purchased the great Folk Vest book. Saturday ended with a trip to the mall for the younger daughter and out to dinner again to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant with my sister-in-law in tow again. I told you my husband was out of town.
Sunday was a lazy Wavy day. It is now actually twice the size you see above you. I worked on it while watching Forgotten. Weird.
Monday was Loom Raising Day. My friend received a beautiful loom from her husband as a birthday gift last year. Today it came out of the box and hit the floor. Do you know how many screws a 4 x 4 loom has? Do you know how hard, hardwood can be? Do you know that pilot holes are often too small? But it is up :-) Dear Emily: Hint, hint I love table runners!
Saturday was tons of fun. I am lucky enough to live in an area that has 6, count 'em 6, yarn shops within a 20 minute car trip. My best friend and I finally made it to one that caters to the weavers and weavers that knit. What, you say? This shop is owned and operated by one of the most talented and well known weavers in the area. She also happens to be my mail carrier. Small world! We bought supplies for my friend's loom (which I will get to later). Because it caters to weavers, it sells fiber by the pound off these huge cones. Can you say chenille afghans for around $25 - $30? Do you realize that felting for the fun of it is now an affordable option? Dang! And that is where I purchased the great Folk Vest book. Saturday ended with a trip to the mall for the younger daughter and out to dinner again to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant with my sister-in-law in tow again. I told you my husband was out of town.
Sunday was a lazy Wavy day. It is now actually twice the size you see above you. I worked on it while watching Forgotten. Weird.
Monday was Loom Raising Day. My friend received a beautiful loom from her husband as a birthday gift last year. Today it came out of the box and hit the floor. Do you know how many screws a 4 x 4 loom has? Do you know how hard, hardwood can be? Do you know that pilot holes are often too small? But it is up :-) Dear Emily: Hint, hint I love table runners!
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Yes, This is Cheating!
So, two weekends ago DH is cheering on my new found determination to finish projects. E is wearing her sweater, K has just tried his on, the baby blanket is ready for delivery. And then the truth comes out! I am not the only "green eyed"family member. And I quote, "All this money you spend on yarn, and all I have to show for it is a pair of socks with a hole in the heel. When do I get something?" And that is how DH ended up at the LYS picking out his favorite Donegal Tweed. Oh yes, in my defense: the socks do not have a hole in the heel; it is the gusset. And that was before I knew how to set things straight.
I could not get the color right in the photo even with a different camera. It is a beautiful green with flecks of turquoise and specks of yellow (very mellow). It screams green, lush Irish countryside. But all those cables! So I said to self: You deserve a pair of ebony needles to get through this. But noooooo...back they must go as I had to drop 2 needle sizes to get gauge -:( Can you see how sad I am? The favorite LYS is just far enough away to make it inconvenient to go to after work. I will have to go to a closer, not so favorite to buy a pair of bamboo circs. Yes, I have straights, but who uses those? Oops, sorry Emily!
Now cable question: If anyone out there is actually still with me. It calls for a 1/2 right cable. Do I really need the cable needle? Can't I just knit the third stitch in, keep it on the needle, knit the next 2, then drop the first one? That still puts the two stitches behind the first. And it would save me a TON of time. Let me know.
I could not get the color right in the photo even with a different camera. It is a beautiful green with flecks of turquoise and specks of yellow (very mellow). It screams green, lush Irish countryside. But all those cables! So I said to self: You deserve a pair of ebony needles to get through this. But noooooo...back they must go as I had to drop 2 needle sizes to get gauge -:( Can you see how sad I am? The favorite LYS is just far enough away to make it inconvenient to go to after work. I will have to go to a closer, not so favorite to buy a pair of bamboo circs. Yes, I have straights, but who uses those? Oops, sorry Emily!
Now cable question: If anyone out there is actually still with me. It calls for a 1/2 right cable. Do I really need the cable needle? Can't I just knit the third stitch in, keep it on the needle, knit the next 2, then drop the first one? That still puts the two stitches behind the first. And it would save me a TON of time. Let me know.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
No, This is Not Cheating!
I know I told you that I would work on one project at a time. Did you honestly believe me? It happened this way. I was looking at all the lovely Clapotis that are running rampant in Blogland, went to Knitty and looked at Wavy again. Then I went into the knitting room and picked up the handspun from off the floor AGAIN. So of course the only logical thing to do! I mean, it is not as if I bought yarn. And isn't it cute? My only concern is the "itch" factor; however, this was one of the yarns I used in E's variegated cardi and it does wash up well. And there are a few pooling issues, but you really have to look hard. Oh wait...pool...waves...oh never mind!
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Green Meets Orange?
Ok...I am changing the template. The dots were too much. But I cannot figure out where the header colors are. I will continue to work on this.
So why am I not knitting? Because I have been reading. I just finished The Time Travelers Wife. I cried through the last two chapters and I do not cry over too many books. Next, I moved on to my book club's monthly selection: The Good Earth. But did I finish? No. And my recollection from my first reading in 9th grade is scanty. Needless to say, I did not have much to add to last evening's discussion. The next selection is The Other Boyelyn Girl. I think I had best start reading.
On another front...this has got my blood going on another tangent. I want a wheel, I want a wheel, I want a wheel. I tried spinning earlier this fall. I was able to get real yarn on my second bobbin. Teaching myself to ply was another story. My mail carrier also owns a yarn/spinning/weaving store and she just informed me that she has a used Ashford traveler available. I want it! Now! So why not buy it? Oh we all know the reason. I already have yarn and lots of it. That needs to be knit. Not sitting under my bed. Get the picture. You know there is a problem when my 11 year old son stated that: "Mom, you should finish what you have under your bed and in all those boxes before you back to the boring yarn store!" OUCH! Now honestly, where did he get the idea that yarn shops are boring?
And finally, today is my oldest's birthday. How can she be 16? Am I the only one whose heart skips a beat when they realize their children are not babies/toddlers/pre-schoolers/pre-teens anymore? Make it slow down! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
So why am I not knitting? Because I have been reading. I just finished The Time Travelers Wife. I cried through the last two chapters and I do not cry over too many books. Next, I moved on to my book club's monthly selection: The Good Earth. But did I finish? No. And my recollection from my first reading in 9th grade is scanty. Needless to say, I did not have much to add to last evening's discussion. The next selection is The Other Boyelyn Girl. I think I had best start reading.
On another front...this has got my blood going on another tangent. I want a wheel, I want a wheel, I want a wheel. I tried spinning earlier this fall. I was able to get real yarn on my second bobbin. Teaching myself to ply was another story. My mail carrier also owns a yarn/spinning/weaving store and she just informed me that she has a used Ashford traveler available. I want it! Now! So why not buy it? Oh we all know the reason. I already have yarn and lots of it. That needs to be knit. Not sitting under my bed. Get the picture. You know there is a problem when my 11 year old son stated that: "Mom, you should finish what you have under your bed and in all those boxes before you back to the boring yarn store!" OUCH! Now honestly, where did he get the idea that yarn shops are boring?
And finally, today is my oldest's birthday. How can she be 16? Am I the only one whose heart skips a beat when they realize their children are not babies/toddlers/pre-schoolers/pre-teens anymore? Make it slow down! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
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