May 10, 2004
A Little O' This, A Little O' That...
No posting on Wednesday, Dear Readers!
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The weekend was too quiet to supply me with a new Gratuitous Story o' the Day, although we did discover that the sound of ripping Velcro will send Frankie straight into a whirling, twirling, stub-wagging frenzy of happy and excited barking so we spent an inordinate amount of time chasing her around the house with The Mysterious K's Velcro'ed wrist brace. But other than that, things were quiet and sedate, so on to knittin’, woodworkin’ and gardenin'.
This weekend, the various muscles, tendons, sinews and nerves that make up my wrist finally declared they were On Strike as far as two-handed knitting with size 1 needles was concerned. However, I had done a few of the four-row diamond repeats by Friday, was able to sneak in one repeat a day over the weekend without my wrists finding out, and ended triumphantly with this:
I think the "busyness" of the diamond pattern will be balanced out by the plain yellow below it and the plain yellow part of the sleeves. (Sleeves. Oh. My. God. I have to knit sleeves! Two sleeves! What was I thinking?)
Since four rows of knitting a day just wouldn’t do, even though my math tells me this still adds up to 792 stitches (or 396 stitches per hand)—I poked around on the Net for another project that used larger, less-wrist-aggravating needles. I settled on the Coronet cap, which I think is the ultimate in perfect design: original, simple in style, tailored, and easy but not dull. And it called for size 8 needles! The pattern uses Lamb’s Pride Worsted but I substituted some beautiful mauve-y, periwinkle-y handspun I got from Dear Reader Janine as part of her stash reduction. (Janine, this yarn is beautiful! I can't tell you how many times I paused during The Knitting Of just to stop and admire at the yarn. It's a mite itchy, but perfect for a hat!)
Here is the cabled band in progress:
The actual color of the yarn is lighter and more purple than the color shows. Imagine fine baby blue fibers spun together with fine medium purple fibers, and you get the idea.
Woodworking World
TMK's latest project is a craftsman-style mirror for over her fireplace. I'm in love with this project, even in its beginning stages. In fact, it could well be the woodworking equivalent of the Coronet pattern; again, simple, tailored, and easy but not dull. Here, the pieces, cut and clamped together:
Incidentally, for any other woodworkers out there, TMK is getting her project plans from this book.
Garden Gazette
One of my favorite plants in TMK's garden bloomed this weekend, the George Burns floribunda rose, also referred to as "The Rescue Rose," because I purchased it for my house originally and let it languish until it was rescued by TMK and planted in her yard, where it is doing much better. Since I am a sucker for variegated yarn, you can see why this exotic flower would draw me in:
Ryan! I love the baby sweater! It's grown so much since I last saw it in person. So cute!
Posted by: Rebecca on May 10, 2004 12:56 PMRyan, the Norgi is doing just beautifully. And I like the diamond pattern at the top because it draws the eye to cute baby cheeks!!
The cables make me drool. I love cables. I'm just not brave enough yet to pick a pattern that includes them. *sigh*
As usual, TMK is doing a wonderful job with her woodworking. Looks like it will end up a very lovely mirror for her! All that lovely wooden goodness.
And last but not least, that rose. All I can say is "Oooooooohhhh....Preeeetttttyyyyy" :o)
Hope everyone has a good day!
Posted by: Angie in Tx on May 10, 2004 01:09 PMAngie, I just sent you a private email encouraging you to try cabling--in fact, to try the same band I'm knitting now--and offering my long-distance support services!
Rebecca, glad you like the sweater, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at the next Guild meeting! You'll be bringing free coffee for everyone, won't you, Ms. Barista?
Posted by: Ryan on May 10, 2004 01:26 PMSleeves? One word for you. VEST.
(This impulse of mine is usually moderated by knitting sleeves first. )
Ryan, The baby sweater is soooo beautiful! That babe better not drool on it because it is nice enough to be a family heirloom. Did you memorize the pattern or follow a chart?
TMK, I'm not going to gloat because baseball is a looong season. I saw an interview with Bob Melvin; he is the polar opposite of Lou Pinella. I can't wait to see your guys in Chicago in July.
The diamond pattern is very effective. I don't know if all you readers can tell from the photos, but Miz Ryan's two-stranded tension is perfection. I feel just the teeniest, tiniest bit envious about that...
Took me a few seconds to check and, 'Yes' the library has that woodworking book! Thanks. Can't have too many projects going, now, can we?
Posted by: Kit on May 10, 2004 07:08 PM
wow, that rose!
Posted by: vanessa on May 11, 2004 03:08 AMThink of the sleeves as socks...you knit two of them all the time right? Also, I hear some people cast them both on at the same time, and work on one then the other. Just an idea. You know, from the woman who never finishes anything....'specially projects that have identical multiple parts! L
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on May 11, 2004 11:28 AMGood god. I turn my back and you have 10 stitches to the INCH (I could never do that in my whole life) and the Eiffel Tower in the back yard. You are my hero.
Posted by: Rachael on May 12, 2004 03:33 AMDebra, the "green diamond" part of the pattern is easy to memorize; the blue "X and O" part is not because it's not quite as regular across. And, fortunately or unfortunately, there is no "baby" for this sweater. I'm just knittin' it. TMK says, since she is ever my biggest supporter, that this is the project I should frame and hang.
Vanessa, that rose is something isn't it? The blossoms fade out pretty quickly but, when they first bloom, the whiteish part is actually a bright buttercream yellow. I have a thing for miniature roses (which this one isn't) and at my house I have a miniature rose that makes tiny blossoms that are bright white with red stripes. Just too cute!
Rachael, welcome back from your long trip! You certainly made me nostalgic for the East Coast, especially since Princeton is my hometown. And while you may think you could never do 10 stitches to an inch, you, on the other hand, have finished entire adult-size sweaters which I have so far failed to do...
Lisa, thanks for the advice. Oddly enough, I never thought I'd even be able to finish the body of this sweater so the fact that I have, and I've enjoyed the journey tremendously, gives me great hope for the sleeves! The trick is to have other bulkier, faster projects, like the Coronet cap, going on the side.
And, Kit, thank you bunches for the compliment. Now, if you would just let me post a picture of your beautiful tam, the Dear Readers would know The Real Truth--that you have nothing to be jealous about!
Posted by: Ryan on May 13, 2004 10:13 AM