One out of three
By admin | December 26, 2008
That’s a pretty pathetic score - I finished only one of the 3 holiday gifts from my “reasonable” list. Oh Well. Of the intended recipients of the things I was making, the only one I am actually going to see is my mom, so that is what I finished.
My swatch lied, so it ended up a lot bigger than it was supposed to be. I knit the medium size, but it was 26.5 inches wide. I didn’t really notice until I was nearly done with the the front, so I just left it, thinking maybe it would shrink a bit when washed (no, I did not wash the gauge swatch first, sorry). It hardly shrank at all, so what I ended up doing was first, knitting the petite size for the sleeves and they came out right for a medium. Then, when I sewed it up, I took it in by just short of two inches on each side. That of course made the seams bulky, but washing fulled the yarn, so I just trimmed the seams back and even fiddling and tugging at the edges didn’t unravel them - just like with steeks, they aren’t going anywhere. Perfect!
I tried it on and it was a little small on me, so it should be just right for Mom (and she’s traveling right now and won’t see the blog until after I give it to her, which will be tomorrow). I think she will like it, and I think it is in the “wearable” category, unlike some of the things I have made for her. And I can’t get over how soft that Hebridean yarn becomes when it is washed! It starts out nasty and scratchy, but is almost silky after washing.
So officially, I am making the new deadline for Addi’s sweater mid-February, when her new sibling arrives - that will be her big sister gift. I know it was going to be the cats and mice blanket, but this deadline knitting thing is for the birds. I like having an excuse to knit a lot, but lately it has not been as fun to “have to” and I enjoy it a lot more if its not with pressure.
That being said, I am going to go knit Amy’s socks - I really want to send those to her soon. Meanwhile, will someone please make the wind stop blowing?
Merry Christmas!
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Excuses, Excuses
By admin | December 15, 2008
I have had the last four days off - meaning no day job and I did not have to work the antique place either. It has been wonderful!!
I had thought during these days off, that I would be able to finish, or nearly finish, Addi’s Berry Tree sweater. Alas, though I was making good time Friday and Saturday, that disintegrated by Sunday morning.
Here we are - the back and only one front panel finished:
I suppose there is a very slim chance that I can finish in time to mail it by Friday, but probably it will get sent back with my mom when she is here after the holiday.
So what are my excuses? Well, on Friday this arrived and I had to look at it, pet it, sort it, you know.
Its a heap of mostly novelty yarn that I bought from someone on Ebay. Most all of it is for my shop, though I did snarf a few balls for myself, and chose some fun skeins for friends.
Right, the shop! I met with the people at Memory Lane last week and I can now tell you that I will be moving over there in mid-January. The mother and daughter who own it are so incredibly nice, and I could hardly sleep that night for thinking about it. Besides that heap you see above, I have also ordered a pile of Noro, some recycled Sari Silk that also arrived today, a cool bamboo display rack and more needles from Lantern Moon, and many other new yarns. I am a little nervous about adding all this new stuff (i.e. spending all the money for it), but I really want the new location to be full and beautiful and welcoming.
On Saturday evening we had a lovely visit with friends Ruth and Richard, and I got to play with Opal. Visit Ruth’s blog for photos of darling Opal, who has to be the cutest, funniest dog I have ever seen (no offense to my own dear mutt, but seriously, she is to die for). Ruth and I got to talk knitting, so fun, and I am afraid I may have indoctrinated another Alice Starmore addict. Ruth also gave me this stunning skein of Zen Yarn Garden sock yarn.
And that mug? Funny story there. I had been seeing these on various blogs, and apparently they are sold at “some” Starbucks locations. I determined that I simply must have one, so when in Denver last week, Brian and I checked several locations, but I gave up after not finding one. So, while I was in Whole Foods Brian went across the street to get some thing for his camera, and happened into a Starbucks, and found them! So I bought every one they had, figuring they would make fun gifts for very special people, including me. Well, I had also mentioned the mugs to my Mom, and apparently they located some too after intensive searching, and this came in the mail today with my birthday package. Yay!
Anyway - that yarn? Its a merino/sea cell blend and is the softest thing I have ever felt, that is, next to our cat’s belly fur. I have decided that as soon as I finish my holiday knitting, I am making myself a pair of socks out of it. How’s that for incentive?
What other excuse do I have? Well, my birthday gift from Brian was a sharp little woolee winder for my Schact spinning wheel. So I had to spin something with it, I mean really. I chose this lovely alpaca roving that my mom sent a couple of months ago,
and spun it into this lovely single, which I think I will Navajo ply into something smooshie after it has rested on the bobbin a few days.
This thing is awesome. It automatically guides the yarn onto the bobbin, so you don’t have to stop every few minutes and change hooks. Plus, it holds a lot more yarn than a regular bobbin. That is nearly 5 ounces, and its not even half full. I have been wanting one forever, but wouldn’t have spent the money on it for myself. Yay Brian!
So those are my lame excuses for not being farther along on the sweater. Well, I am off to enjoy the last few hours of my birthday, and to try not to think about going back to work tomorrow.
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