November's Ornament

Santa Star by Lavender Wings Designs


Only one more ornament to do for this stitch-a-long. Thank god! I will not be signing up for next year's, I can't take the pressure of having to stitch anything on a deadline. Besides that, other than the ornaments I only got a few things finished this year, so I could really use the stitching time for items I really want to make.

I restarted my Heather sweater and got a few rows done, not enough to take a photo of yet. Probably won't take it along to the in-laws, I've got the second Brasil sock I want to finish so I think I'm going to bring that.

A woman from NZ on my stitching group has offered to trade for some Possum yarn, so I'm going to be getting enough to make some gloves in return for some cross stitch supplies. I'd love to make a sweater, but since I live in Texas, I wouldn't have much opportunity to wear a possum sweater, I've heard it's very, very warm.

Well, I was going to post a picture of the inch or so I'd managed to stitch on my Heather sweater, but I decided to rip it all out since I didn't like the fabric I was getting with the suggested needles. I'm probably going to wait until after we get back from the in-laws for the holiday gathering to restart since I need to make another swatch and do the math. Oh, well I have plenty of sock yarn to keep me busy.

DNA Scarf is done and blocking in the spare bedroom. It came out great, when dry, I'll have to get Dave to model. I'm pretty sure I don't want to make a twin for me, since I don't think I could stand doing that particular pattern again, at least not for a long while. But I found another lovely idea on what to do to use up my three balls of Tajmahal. These patterns were created by Myrna Stahman in memory of Matthew Shepherd, the University of Wyoming student who was beaten to death for being gay. I like the "Matthew" scarf and may have to knit the "Matt" one also to donate somewhere.

Speaking of donations, Wendy Johnson of Wendy Knits!, Teresa Stetler-Clear of One More Row and Another Latte and Deb Marvin of Yentela have teamed up for a holiday season charity project. Through Heifer International you can purchase animals or a share of an animal to donate to impoverished families around the world. The goal was one Knitting Basket at a cost of $500. So far they've raised enough for almost seven baskets! Click the button below for the official Knitbloggers Knitting Basket Project Page.



In other knitting news, I started swatching for Heather, which is showing great restraint, since I really just wanted to dive right it. I didn't though, because the sweater is supposed to be somewhat form fitting, gauge is actually important, it looks like I'm spot-on with the size three needles the pattern calls for, but better safe than sorry.

Work, work, work
I can't believe I forgot to mention the day I had at work yesterday. We were in the middle of doing radiographs on one of the Children's Zoo goats, (who has a bladder condition and who is losing weight for no obvious reason), when all of a sudden there came a radio call for help at the rhino exhibit.

Head vet grabs temporary vet #2, and goes off to see what is wrong. About 15 minutes later he radios me, we have an emergency at rhinos, and we need to pack the emergency stuff. Head vet has the van, which is usually what we use to transport personnel and gear, so we throw everything in a pile on the back dock to wait for them to come pick us up. He never did say what the emergency was, so we packed everything but the kitchen sink.

When we got there we found out that the rhino had received a new piece of "enrichment" that day. A big blue barrel with both ends cut off. Well... he liked it so much he got his head stuck in the barrel up to his ears and couldn't get it off. I wish I had a photo, but unfortunately I don't.

Everyone showed up to help sort out the situation, from the vet staff to the construction department, and ideas were flying. First they tried to cut it off with gardening shears while the rhino was still awake, it readily became apparent he wasn't going to go for that, so we administered a dose of sedative to mellow him out. The final plan "A" was to drill several holes in the barrel, then use poles with curved rebar attached with ducktape to pull the barrel off. Plan "B" (because "A" didn't work, the rebar kept bending) was to run some rope thru the drilled holes and have 8 or 10 people pull the barrel off. Plan "C" (do you see a pattern here?) was to take a cordless saw and cut the barrel off.

I think it was a combo of Plan "C" and brute force that eventually pulled the barrel off his head. Reversal drugs for the sedative were admininstered, and the barrel-ectomy was declared a success!

The goat had some teeth that needed to be filed, which could account for the weight loss, the urinary thing is still somewhat of a mystery, but it had pretty much cleared up on the meds before we got the x-rays scheduled so we'll probably have to wait for the next flare-up.

Sweater arrives in the nick of time, scarf almost done
Only two more repeats to go on the scarf, then block and wear. I'll be so happy when I'm done, since my Heather sweater kit arrived. I promised Dave I would finish his scarf, so I'm not letting myself work on anything else. I know me, and if I did he'd be lucky to get the scarf for next winter. I did wind some of the yarn for Heather into balls, it is a very nice, handdyed (I think) superwash 100% merino in the lovely lavender of the picture . The instructions looked like fun, a little challenging but not too bad. I can't wait to get started, so I should get off the computer and finish that scarf! Hopefully I'll have some progress pics to post soon.

Great Shopping Day
We had a 50% off an item coupon for our local Half Price Books. Ours usually carries a fairly good selection of computer and console games, so we went to check out that section. Didn't find anything much there, but I also poked around in the Arts and Crafts area and came away with the first edition of Jacqueline Fee's Sweater Workbook for $4, and the Woolworks book with Starmore's Marina cardigan in it for $5. I love adding cheap books to my knitting library.

Then we went to Best Buy and bought Jak II, and Dave has barely let me watch television since. Which is a little distracting, since I find myself watching him play the game instead of concentrating on my knitting, which is what I usually do while watching TV.

Still plugging away on the scarf, the second sock and have resisted the urge to start anything new. I really, really want to make the White Lies Designs sweater as my next large project so I hope the kit arrives soon or else I just may succumb to the temptation of starting a Silk Garden shawl that I have sitting in my stash.

My knitting time consists of breaks and lunch at work, and an hour or so in the evenings so if I try to do too much all at once, nothing ever gets done. I'm kinda stalled on the GAAA. Since I messed up that one square and had to rip it out, I haven't had any desire to return. Hopefully absence will make the heart grow fonder and all that.

Hey Anne, thank you very much for your kind comments about my blog, I started out writing this for me as an online diary, and I think it's pretty cool that other people find it interesting also. Anne also asked about the needle I'm using for my DNA scarf. I know it's pretty old, since I've had it since before I stopped knitting 15 years ago, it's an all plastic circular needle, I believe Susan Bates. The yarn moves smoothly without going too slow or fast. I was using metal Boye needles on the Faina's scarf and those worked pretty well too. I haven't tried wood, or bamboo with this yarn.

At work today, the hospital manager (my direct supervisor) was called in for a chat with the head vet. He proceeded to tell her that he didn't like the way we take our breaks together, doesn't like that we read, or knit or lay out on the grass behind the building during our breaks and lunch. Fortunately, the hospital manager said she doesn't care what we do on our breaks, since it's our free time. Nor does she see a problem with us taking those breaks, since nobody can work 8 straight hours a day without a minute or two to sit down and relax. This would be the same job where I haven't had a raise in two years because of the budget situation, so I think he should just shut the hell up and be glad we're still willing to remain employed by the city government and haven't bailed to work in private industry or something.

Opal Strong Heel #1 is finished

If you look closely you can see the start of #2, which is going to be a fraternal twin, I like socks that are close, but they don't have to match. Quirky, like me. IThe heel didn't add as much length as it looked like to me the other day. When I actually put it on, it fit just fine. I really like the way the strong heel keeps the patterning going down the foot, I have another pair planned in a blue "fair isle" Socka yarn, when I get #2 done.

DNA Scarf
While waiting for my sweater kit from White Lies Designs (which is the next "big" thing I want to start), I've been working on _ Dr. Montville's Double Helix Seaman Scarf_ for my boyfriend, Dave. This is a "free" pattern which can be found here.

He wanted a scarf he could wear under his jacket to keep his neck and chin warm on his motorcycle. I had made him a basketweave design scarf, out of something acrylic, it was the first thing I made when I picked up the needles again after my 15 year hiatus. It turned out too bulky and too short, he wears it anyway, but I wanted to make him another one that worked exactly the way he wanted.

The picture of the closeup pattern is very washed out, I don't know why my camera does that, and I'm not camera savvy enough to fix it. The photo on the left is a better color representation of the dark navy blue, but it's just a blob as far as the patterning goes. I've reached the halfway point of the neck ribbing.


I did add several repeats to the cable pattern portion. Dave asked for a scarf between six and seven feet, so he can make several wraps around his neck and face.

The yarn is Le Fibre Nobili Tajmajal, which I got from Elann. It's a 70% Merino, 22% Silk, and 8% Cashmere blend, and it is soft and light. The cables show up very nicely, which is a relief, since I tried to use the same yarn in a different color for Faina's Scarf and it didn't do so well with the lace patterning. I may make myself a DNA scarf, or a different cable pattern to use up the three balls of red I bought for me.

Sweater Officially Complete
I like the way it turned out, it looks great with shorts and a tank top underneath. I wasn't sure how it would turn out while I was sewing it together, but I ran it thru the wash and the floats tightened up and evened out. I still don't think I will ever knit anything with this yarn again. It's Cotton-Ease by Lion Brand, and it was tough on the hands, split like crazy, and probably won't hold up too well. That's ok, it was a learning experience, I finally conquered the mattress stitch. Which shouldn't be a surprise, since it's pretty similar to some of the suture patterns I use at work.

Photo by Dave, in his ever so artistic, "Batman school of cinematography".

I also taught myself how to knit without dropping the needle and using my right hand to pick up the yarn and wrap it around the needle for every stitch. I finally worked out the yarn over the right forefinger, tensioned around the pinky. I also figured out Continental, but it makes my hands hurt. Purling no problem at all, knitting I get a cramp. So, now when I get around to that Dale sweater I'll be able to do the fair isle easier.

Opal Sock
I'm on the toe decreases on the first sock. Looks pretty good so far. I will have to remember for the next pair, not to make the top so long. The pattern suggests 7", which is ok for a standard top down pattern, the strong heel adds extra length to that so they look huge to me. It doesn't look like I'm going to run out of yarn or anything, I just prefer a shorter leg.

Robbyn asked how much Opal it takes to make a sock for a size 10 woman's foot. I've made two full pairs besides this one with Opal. The other two pairs had stitch patterns and I had a decent sized ball of leftover yarn on both. This is with a 7" cuff and leg, standard heel turning and a 10" foot.


Bedtime
Ok, guys. Where are we supposed to sleep?

Sweater's done... well almost
The knitting is officially over, and I have one half sewn together. I'll work on the other half today and then wash and block it and post a picture later this week. I think it's going to look ok, this will be the last time I ever use that yarn, and possibly the last time I work with worsted weight. I've found I much prefer DK and sport weight.

I've got two pairs of socks on the needles right now, the Opal Brasil Strong Heel socks

which have made it past the heel turning onto the never ending foot (size 10), and the second sock of the Mini Mogul Bobble Anklet which is also onto the foot part. That pattern had a variation of the short row heel, where instead of wrapping the stitches you pick up a strand (like a M1) and knit it together with the short row slipped stitch. I don't like that method as much as the wrapped one, but it is interesting to learn all the different ways to do the same thing.

I ordered this: from Bea Ellis Knitwear I just love the sweater on the cover and am going to have to do it one of these days. I'm planning to get the yarn there too, it's Dale Svale and I've heard very nice things. I want to check out the pattern first, and decide what size I am.

I also ordered this kit: from White Lies Designs. I originally saw it in the new KnitPicks.com catalog, and thought "that looks like one of Joan's designs". The designer wasn't credited in the catalog, however, when I looked it up online there she was. So I eliminated the middle man and bought it direct.

I also have a huge box of sock yarn calling my name. Somehow between two sock of the month clubs and ordering straight from Germany I have over 20 pairs just waiting to be made. I also have several shawl patterns and yarn, and several sport weight cotton sweater patterns and yarn. Can anyone tell I organized my stash closet last night? Our roommate is buying a house with his girlfriend, and I have dibs on his room for a sewing/knitting/computer/TV haven. Dave doesn't care, the downstairs bedroom already has his painting table set up with all his miniatures spread all over. Now we'll each have our own "studio".

Coming into the Home Stretch
I have about 15 more rows to do on the sweater. Then wash and block and move onto my least favorite part, sewing it together. I don't know why I dread it so much, I just do.

The Opal Sock is moving right along. I'm about an inch before the heel turning. This tells me I've spent way too much time in front of the computer the last few days. Most of it was probably last night while hiding from the trick or treaters. We had a party to go to, so I didn't get any candy for the kiddies.

The next Knitting Guild meeting is on Tuesday, this one is on Fibers, What Are They And How Will They Affect My Sweater? Should be interesting. I've pretty much got my choice narrowed down to a medium blue DK weight superwash wool that I have in my stash, but I'm still open to other options.

Here's a Halloween Cross Stitch. The cat's heads are painted buttons.