June 04, 2004
Burn, Baby, Burn!
On the health front, the burns are healing amazingly well, thanks to liberal applications of first aid cream and the discreet stuffing of gauze pads between “the girls.” Nathania suggested calendula cream, which made me wonder if I could grab a handful of blossoms off our calendula plants and smoosh away, but I suspect I’d just end up with a Cheetos-orange décolletage and nothing to show for it.
Thank you to Sheila and Rachael for your funny “scalding coffee in my nether regions” stories. If it is evil of me to laugh so at your suffering, by way of self-flagellation, let me share this: As I mentioned in one of my comments, I once sat down in a patch of poison ivy while wearing a skimpy bathing suit—and I am unusually allergic to poison ivy. I will leave the rest of the next two months from hell to your imagination. (Still, this was better than the time I used a weed whacker to plow through a stand of poison ivy—in my defense, I didn't know it was poison ivy—and sprayed liquefied poison ivy all up and down my legs. I am pleased to say they don’t have poison ivy here in the Northwest, which makes me a happy camper. Literally.)
In other news, it continues to be Camera-In-Yo’-Face Week. In fact, for Bron and LindaK, here’s another picture of Frankie’s playmate, Rico:
And, here, a photo of a bee on a delphinium. Anyone else besides me find this photo very Zen-gardenish and soothing?
Greta, in response to your question about what kind of camera The Mysterious K bought, it was a Nikon D70 6.1 MP Digital SLR. TMK says just saying it makes her want to have a cigarette.
Knitting Knews
My three books from Dover Publications arrived and I am in design heaven. The “Saxon Transylvania” book is particularly fun. Lots of ultra-detailed, some kicky, some elegant, all fun patterns, perfect for knitting.
The Baby Norgi has not been forgotten, despite my intense focus on the Vision Quest socks (5” of the Sock #2 cuff on deck!). Here is the beginning of one of the sleeves. So far, not very impressive...
Since the time I took this photo, I’ve finished the first band of colorwork and I have to say, stranded knitting on dpns is downright yucky. The transition from one needle to the next always causes puckers no matter how carefully I check my stranding (which in and of itself is annoying, since you have to pause every few minutes to fix the stranding instead of being able to just churn along. Janine, you and your dratted circular needles have spoiled me forever!). MaryB, you’re the queen of two-color socks. How do you deal with this? I think I need a one-on-one lesson on your techniques. (A note on the Baby Norgi if you're thinking of knitting one: Despite appearances, this is not a pattern for a Norwegian-style sweater for a baby. It’s just a small version of a grown-up sweater. I don’t think it would be possible to get the finished product on an Actual Baby, especially an Actual Baby with an Actual Baby Melon Head, without great fuss and muss.)
I applaud you for your stranded baby arms. Since I just finished my own baby arm hell (where I jokingly asked why the gown I was knitting needed arms at all) with lace knitted arms. I would never even try to attempt to knit 2 colors stranding and so I am in AWE.
Posted by: anj on June 4, 2004 11:11 AMWell, anj, with circular needles, two-color stranded knitting is a blast. With dpns, it's only marginally better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick...
Posted by: Ryan on June 4, 2004 11:18 AMMy rule for knitting the necks for baby stuff is to double whatever measurement seems reasonable to you, then add a slit and buttons.
(Hope the burns feel better...it sounds horrible)
That's what I mean Ryan, on circs with a two handed techinique I might not knit like the wind, but I at least feel like the car is in forward, NOT reverse!
And I did what Stephanie did, put a slit up the back. MUCH easier for me to knit and the mom to pull that head through at the christening.
Posted by: anj on June 4, 2004 12:11 PMLove the pic, Ryan - that expression is so like Emma at times. :)
I'm in awe of you stranding..on dpns.. on a BABY sleeve. You're one brave knitter.
Love me forever. After all these years with a gap between the dpns (God bless circulars) I finaly read someone saying as a matter of course that if you knit on FIVE dpns (one for each quadrant and one to knit with) the tension relaxes to where the gap goes away. So far, it's true.
P.S. - The only worse/competitive poison ivy story I know was my friend who burned brush covered in non-leafed-out poison ivy stems while wearing shorts. (The oil is carried in smoke. Breathing can be fatal.) I feel for your pain. - s
Ok, giggling at the thought of you smashing flowers all over your bosom.
I am working on a colorwork baby sweater sleeve too. DPNs are murder. I finally decided to try the Magic Loop technique and it's much, much easier.
Posted by: Nathania on June 6, 2004 12:36 PM