Miscellaneous Updates

Everything seems to be moving along pretty good lately, just a few minor bumps, but that's life.

I made David 3 pairs of socks on the knitting machine.  He called and wanted to know how long they take to do, on the machine!  Then sent me pictures of sweaters!  One was a fair isle from Land's End.  I googled Men's Fair Isle Sweaters and there was the sweater, same model;  that is how I found out it was from Land's End.  I clicked on it and wow, it was on sale for 39.99.  There is no way I could buy even just 1 skein of each color for that price, so I bought it!  I'll be mailing it soon, along with the 3rd pair of socks and a scarf I made for Melissa.  I copied off the pattern and now I just have to take my Jamison & Smith yarn sample card to match up the colors, should I ever decide to make matching socks or vest or something with that pattern sequence.

I decided to make a key hole scarf for a friend but was to lazy to get up and look for my pattern.  So I found a similar one on Ravelry and changed that one a bit.  Actually, the original pattern was one Richard's mom had made in the early 70's and written the pattern on an envelope.  I have that envelope and one of the ones she made.

Then I saw a link, on Ravelry, for a Pinwheel Purse.  I've seen them before, but never had the pattern.  So I immediately printed the pattern and made the pieces.  Now I'm almost done putting it together.  I just used some left over sock yarn.

One of the gals from the Meadville group invited me to join the Titusville group that meets every Wednesday.  So, yesterday I went over to see what that group was like.  They are a great group of women, and so fun to be around!  I don't know if I will go every week, but I will be going quite often since they are so nice and it is so close! 

With the price of gas going up I have already curtailed my driving about as much as is possible.  I only budget $50.00 a month for gas and by the time I go to Meadville twice a month and (shame on me) up to Waterford to Marge Butler's yarn store occasionally I just seem to go through a tank of gas!  I will be going to the Franklin knitting group this Saturday, so there is another out of town trip.  Also, I do try to go visit one friend just south of me at least weekly.  With this new group here in town that will help, on the gas situation and while out to go there I can run my errands.

I got my final 2 windows installed today, from Window World.  They were here almost 3 hours for just the 2 windows and it got down to 52* in here by the time they finished!  The windows really look nice though, so I'm happy with them.  Originally I bought 6 for upstairs.  I got the double hung that tilt in so you can wash both sides from inside.  I mean, after all, how do you wash 2nd story windows from the outside!  I got the same for the main floor but with the e-gas in them, for the main floor bedroom and front room.  The rest of the windows will be fine, as far as I'm concerned, at least for this year!  I'd really like a garden window in the kitchen, but then I wouldn't be able to really look outside to the back yard, from the front room.  Besides, that would cost at least $1,800.00 and I just can't justify paying that much for a window just for plants!  Now I just need to re-install all of my main floor blinds and put the new blinds up on the 6 upstairs windows. 

Monday night I decided to run over to Subway and grab a sandwich.  Just a quick trip, no need to lock the storm door to the back porch, just the door into the house.  When I got home, maybe 10 minutes later, I sat down and ate 1/2 the sandwich and watched some TV.  After awhile I started to feel cold and looked at my Atomic Clock and it said it was only 59* in the front room.  Well, that didn't make sence.  Then I thought, oh no, the furnace has quit again!  I'd just had it fixed on the 24th of January.  Well,  no heat!  I played with the thermostat, turning it up and down, but no "click".  I went down the basement and checked the furnace and the pilot light was on.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  So I slept on the couch in the front room, which is the warmest room in the house, with my extra electric blanket.  Tuesday morning I called my contractor/friend and he came over.  He couldn't find anything wrong!  Then he checked to see if the wires were getting power - nope!  He came upstairs, to the back porch and checked the electrical box.  The switch for the furnace was in the off position!  I asked him what would cause that to trip and he said there was no reasonable explination to account for it to trip.  Did someone come onto the enclosed back porch, through the unlocked storm door and throw that switch?  I'll never know, but you can bet that will be the last time I will leave that door unlocked, even to be gone 10 minutes.  We both laughed when I said:  "When something won't turn on, plug it in, dummy!".  We both felt very foolish that the switch wasn't the first thing we checked!

So, I've had some interesting times lately, but I'm still smiling and am now warm. 

Progress is great

I finished the Cardigan on New Years Eve!  All washed and blocked and looks great.  I really wanted to get it done so I could get to my finishing touch projects.  As of 1:00 AM this morning I now have finished off David's socks that needed the toes and kitchner done, one pair of socks, for me, kitchnered and Sharon #1's Pop Up Paws kitchnered.  Basically that leaves just the side-ways sweater that needs finishing touches. 

Off the knitting topic, I got my kitchen electric problems fixed this last week, gave my recliner away and was given a very comfortable couch.   When I found out my friends were going to get rid of the couch I was excited to be able to get it!  Finally I can lay down to watch tv when I'm just to tired to knit and want to watch the end of a movie before going to bed!  I had to move all my furniture around several times until I was finally satisfied with where everything ended up.  I admit the arrangement looks weird, but it suits my needs and I'm happy.  I had to move my smaller couch into the bedroom, for the time being.  It is backed up against the foot of my bed!  Hey, I've found it is sort of nice to have a place to sit while putting on my shoes and socks!   

My next project is getting 2 new windows put in and starting on the upstairs.  I need to straighten out my 2nd floor attic, now that the electrical problem is fixed.  Then I can clean up the Pile It bedroom and move my single bed in there, from the large 2nd floor bedroom.  Then I will get some guys over to move my 1st floor bed and dresser to the large up stairs bedroom.  This project will take some time because it isn't as easy as it sounds to get everything in order.  I sure hope I find a few things up there that I've been looking for!

The Steek

Years ago, when I attempted my first steek, I knew nothing about steeking.  There was no internet then, only word of mouth help.  Wasn't good help.  Today we have such an invaluable tool to find our answers.

When I saw Murial's cardigan I knew it was the pattern I'd been seeking for years.  Of course I had to download it; a free pattern from Knit Picks.  It is knitted in the round and I knew that it would have to be steeked!  Oh my.  Much to my surprise the pattern is written with so much detail, on steeking, that my fear evaporated instantly.  Today I steeked.  Wow!  I have decided to put in buttonholes, so now I had to find the proper button.  I have lots and lots of buttons.  I got out my container of buttons that are all sorted and on lengths of string.  I found two different buttons that would work, one a light green and the other a dark green.  The dark green will be perfect!  Antique buttons with a shank.  I say antique because they are from my MIL's stash and probably as old or older than me!  Now all I need to do is put the cardigan on and note the bust point, for a button, so it won't gap.  I will knit the left band first so I can count the stitches to be able to figure where the buttonholes will be placed.  Ah, math!  Glad I do like math!  I will also place markers where I will attach the buttons and put in a stabilizer, between the front and back of the band, for extra stability when sewing the button on.

I can remember reading Elizabeth Zimmerman's note about steeking.  "Cut on basting, then lie down in a darkened room for 15 minutes to recover.  You will never fear to cut again".  That was from page 61 of Knitting Without Tears.  In another quote she suggested a glass of wine and a cold cloth on your forehead.

I was feeling very confident when I did my steek because of the instructions with the Classic Lines Cardigan  pattern.  The band will fold over and cover all of the steek. 

It all worked just like it was supposed to.  

Round and round I go

My cardigan is progeressing, wonder of wonders!  Both sleeves are now on holders to eventually attach to the body.  12,210 stitches in each sleeve, which is nothing compared to 44,676 on the body, just to get to the point where I can attach the sleeves!  Oh my!  I'm at 11,016 stitches now, on the body, which represents about 1/4 of the way to the sleeve attachment.  Sure doesn't look like that much!  I've recorded a bunch of Christmas shows on tv that I can watch while I knit.  Those I don't have to watch so close, so I can get a lot of knitting done while they play.

I'm thinking ahead and have decided to hem the sleeves before attaching them to the body.  Because it steeks I will do most of the body hem, at that time also.  Just won't hem the front portion at that point.  I just want to have as much of the finishing work done, as possible, when I finish all the knitting.  I've been thinking about the sweater that I've still got to finish.  It has so many ends, that I have finished off and think maybe I'll use the same technique on it as the Classic Cardigan . . enclosing the edge in a self facing to cover all the front edge.  Something to think about as I go round and round.

Remembering the past

I started the Knit Picks Classic Lines Cardigan last night.  This evening, while working on the first sleeve I remembered that it used to take me 3 days to make one sleeve of a sweater.   Of course those sweaters were aran, not 2 strands of lace weight yarn.  I am enjoying this very easy knit, round and round!  This sweater is sure bringing back the memories, even though it isn't an aran.

Finally getting my WIP items under control.  Still have two projects to kitchner, David's socks to add the toe to, in a different color yarn, since I ran out of the pattern yarn.  Hey!  Size 14 feet don't take kindly to 100g of sock yarn if you make the leg portion longer!  Ouch!

Went to the doctor today and had two more probable basil cell carcinomas removed.  Already have had 3 removed over the last 3 years.  One of the two today was very small but since he was removing the other one he decided we might as well have it removed and biopsied also. 

My stash is growing!

Sweaters and more sweaters

Along with everything else I have on needles I've got one sweater almost done.  It is one that was designed by Marge Butler and I just have the final sleeve to do, besides of course the band & hiding lots and lots of ends.

Today I ordered yarn for cardigans.  Yes, multiple cardigans.  There will be one in green tones, one in rust tones and one in blue tones.  

I always have so many projects on my needles.  It gives me variety and I can knit what I feel like working on.  I even mended a couple of socks last week!  Today I wanted to finish my latest pair of socks, except for the kitchner.  Only problem is I'm tired and have the blaaaas.  Maybe I'll get the foot done, never can tell.  I tend to save a bunch and do kitchner all day.

I haven't knit much this year, as I went on vacation and then my friend was sick so I spent a lot of time just going to see here daily.  Then I got sick and couldn't knit, my gauge was way off.  So I read and slept alot.  I was doing good to even be able to concentrate to read.  Even though I haven't done a lot of knitting I have been buying yarn!  I stayed on a "no new yarn" diet for quite awhile and then the dam broke!  The Yarn Vault,  Marge Butler and Knit Picks love to see me coming!  Now it is knit fast, for Christmas for Sharon #1, since she is the only one I knit for, besides myself and David.  Poor David will be getting only one pair of socks this year!   I keep looking at Argyle patterns for him, but haven't found much.  There is one vest I think he would like, but then I have to decide on the colors.  Oh well, maybe someday.

How time flies

It's been over 2 months since my last post and not much has changed.  A few new things on needles and Mary is still registered in a nursing home to get physical therapy but currently in the hospital with an infection.  Then Dick, a dear friend, broke his leg and has 3 broken ribs.  He is in a different nursing home!  I guess the running and stress was to overwhelming for me and I came down with something.  I don't know what it is but it has kept me home.  I was supposed to go to Rheinbeck NY yesterday and here I sit! 

I have a tendon problem in my left arm but it is not from knitting.  It is from reading!  I hold the book in my left hand.  Now I am setting the book on my TV tray/stand and it seems to help.

So, here I sit, sort of enjoying a quiet early weekend, eating club crackers to make my stomach happy.  Wish I could find some diet 7-up.  Don't want to go all the way out to Walmart and couldn't find any in town.  Weird.  Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough.