Pomatomus problems & Olympics

At my work, the week we fondly call “Hell week” is over. I survived. Actually, it was much calmer than usual. It’s the week we set aside to do mass enrolling of preschool applicants, scheduling about a dozen parents each half hour to interview. Chaos usually ensues but this year, it was frighteningly quiet. Which means there is still a lot to do to be fully enrolled within a few months before Sept. It may sound like a long while away for some, but for us, summer is never very quiet. The office staff and management staff are busy throughout the summer preparing for a new year.

At the end of each day, I looked forward to coming home and taking up my needles to relax. I’ve been plugging away at the Pomatomus sock. Yes, I’m still on sock one, but I’m now on the home stretch. The first part seemed to go so smoothly and then I hit the gusset. OMG! I must have ripped it out several times. Changing from the all around lace pattern to Chart B (half pattern, half stockinette) proved to be more of a challenge than I thought. I kept ending up with the wrong number of stitches every few rows. I had to “tink”(aka knitting back) so many times. I finally learned my lesson and started counting the pattern stitches after every row. What a bore! It took me 3-4 days to get through the gusset. Then throughout the foot, I again had counting challenges on the pattern and tinked often. For me, I did 2 ½ repeats of the chart pattern and started the toe, but now I find I have some extra number of stitches on one side. I’m going to have to rip back to the start of the toe and redo it. This is just the first sock! I don’t know if I will have the courage to start the other. I have been fighting the need for finishing something, but have succumbed to seek gratification and started a quick hat with chunky yarn so I could satisfy my need to finish something. I saw that the new Summer issue of Knitty is posted. There are many great articles. I especially enjoyed the one of Fiber reactive dyeing. This summer, I want to do some more dyeing with my Procion MX dyes on Cotton. I have been trying to think of what to do with the cotton I dyed in the Spring and ran into a cool hat pattern called Couvercle. I plan to try this pattern this summer, as knitting with wool does not appeal to me in the increasing heat.

I am still trying to decide whether I want to join the Ravelry Olympic Trials knitalong, knitting a new project during the August Olympics or the UFO Olympics knitalong, which is finishing a UFO. I have in mind either to finish a Cotton Sampler Vest from the Leisure Arts booklet Summer Chic or a Cotton Flag Sweater from a Berroco pattern I started several years ago. I doubt either of these will fit me now, but I have invested so much knitting in both of these projects, I just don’t have the heart to rip them out. Stay tuned to “THE DECISION”.

Pomatomus

I’ve been trying to stay focused on making the Pomotomous socks. I love the way they are coming out….looking like lizard scales. I am using Koigu and I really love this yarn. It is spun very tight and has wonderful stitch definition. It almost feels like I’m knitting with mercerized cotton, but it doesn’t split. Right now we are having a 106 degree heat wave, but I really don’t feel like I’m working with wool, because Koigu is so COOL (pun-intended) to work with.

When I want to work on something less complicated, like when watching TV, I get out my Pinwheel blanket. This however, is very warm to knit and if I don’t finish it soon, I fear it will end up in my UFO pile until cooler weather returns. It is now 24 inches in diameter.

On the family front, I survived having my family over for a barbeque on Father’s Day. It was a really nice day. We also celebrated several family birthday’s, mine being one of them. Gift cards was the “In” thing as many of us just don’t have much time to shop because of our jobs.

One exciting thing happened this week. My youngest son was hired and starting working in my school office as a clerk. I was very pleasantly surprised at his super work ethic, his intelligence, confidence and eagerness to learn and do, very efficiently, as much work as we gave him. He is sure to be a wonderful addition to our staff. I couldn’t be a more proud mother and coworker. From day one he seemed to learn in hours what some staff took weeks to learn. He just took my breath away.

Monkey Socks and Summer thoughts

Can you believe it? I finished one sock and am half way to the other! What a miracle! The amazing Monkey socks are a big success. I would never have imagined it. I started the Monkey socks more for the challenge in learning the process rather than the product . I also wanted to try to knit them using the magic loop method with I found nicer than the dpn, but a little slower. I initially started them on dpns, and changed to a 40 in circular. The pattern was actually easier to do since it was a 4-16 st patterns that divided more easily on two needles than 3. Even the heel was easier and since I take my knitting in my purse, kept from dropping stitches off the short dpns. I did however switch to dpns for the gusset in the beginning but I raise up my courage to transfer them back to circulars and this worked well. Then again for the home stretch knitting the foot and toes and grafting and Voila! Done! Here you can see the pattern......

About a week ago I finished my Branching out scarf. I still have yet to block it but here is a picture of it. It is made with Handspun Wool/Mohair. A very lovely scarf.

Summer project thoughts.

We are about to enter into Summer. With warmer weather, I am trying to think about my knitting projects. Should I join the UFO Olympics? This is making a goal of finishing your designated unfinished objects during the time of the Olympics. Or should I participate in the Ravelry Olympic trials?

Since the Official Knitting Olympics is actually in the Winter, someone thought renaming this similar event to be a practice run or trials for the “Real” Knitting Olympics which Stephanie Pearl McFee promotes in winter. I prefer participating in the Summer Olympics because I have a short break from work then and I can concentrate on knitting among other things that get neglected when I am working.

Other summer projects I’ve been thinking about is inventorying my stash and fiber, …….again. This is a never ending job. I think my stash is growing. Can I help it?….NO!
I really need to knit it up. My family is starting to look at me funny. In the words of Stephanie Pearl-McFee….”Yarn?…..What yarn?……………..These are my kittens!!!!!” I just can’t seem to knit charity hats fast enough. I’m thinking that perhaps I should double strand the yarn so I can use it up faster. I’m also wishing to experiment with making small sweaters from the top, inspired by Barbara Walker’s “Knitting from the Top”. I thought I might knit several small teddy bear sweaters to practice the techniques and then perhaps for the fall, commit to knit a human-sized sweater. Now….where do I get a bear?

Computer Crashes, Birthday presents and Socks

Shortly after my last blog entry, I turned on my computer. I soon got an ominous screen saying “Operating System not found”. My frustration and anger started a slow boil. “Oh no, what happened?” I tried re-booting…..Same error. Now panic was starting to set in. “Did I back up enough, if I can’t recover this?” I had backed up all my pictures and purchased knitting patterns but had not finished copying other important things. I turned it off.

The next morning I tried again to no avail. It was Tuesday. I asked my husband to help me but I thought that perhaps we should wait for the weekend when our minds were rested and thinking clearly. I just could not afford a wipe out of my harddrive at this point, even by mistake. I grieved and prayed the remainder of the week,
hoping to recover at the very least the data on my hard drive.

Saturday was a busy day, so we could not get to the task of fixing my computer until the next day. So on Sunday, my husband sat down and turns my computer on and…….it boots up Windows like nothing happened! I tell my husband, “You’re a genius!!! You have the magic touch!”. I don’t know what it was, perhaps the prayer helped too. Thank you, Lord, for the miracle!.

During the week, I comforted myself doing….what else,….knitting! I worked on the Monkey socks and was finished with the heel flap, ready to work on the gusset, when I discovered the wrong count of stitches. I discovered my mistake and had to rip back to the start of the heel. Today I’ve finished the gusset and am starting on the rest of the foot. The sock is not just a sock, but a “work of art”! Cookie A. made a very inspiring and simple pattern. I’m not sure I like the thickness of the sock, but it is very interesting to make. I prefer to wear thin socks but they are so boring to make and do not wear well through washings.

I also started the Bears and Babies Sweater. It’s June and I thought I might as well start that sweater before my grandson is born in August. The first sleeve portion is done.

June is a very busy month in my family for birthdays. My birthday is this month. I thought I would give myself a birthday present by ordering some books and other knitting things. My husband got home and I said “ I picked out and ordered my birthday present from you this year! He said, “ Well, wasn’t that ingenious of me?!” When the order arrived by mail this week, I gave him a Big Hug and shouted “You are so good. It’s just what I wanted!!!” This is what I got: Books: “No Idle Hands: the Social History of American Knitting by Anne Macdonald, Knitting from the Top, by Barbara G. Walker, Knitting in the Old Way, by Pricilla Gibson Roberts. Enjoying making the Monkey Socks has inspired me to make more socks so I ordered 3 colors of Felici Sock yarn from Knit Picks, the set of metal double points needles, Size 1 and Size 2 wooden double point needles and some Harmony Cable needles.

Another reason I chose the above because of “Sock Wars”. Have you heard about it? What an intriguing idea? To fake assassinate people by knitting and sending them a pair of handknit socks. This week, the video podcast, Let’s Knit Together, shows the process Cat went to make and send her socks in the War. I can’t wait for Part II. It amazes me that people actually are loosing sleep to dedicate themselves to make socks as fast as they can in order to assassinate before they get assassinated!

Wicked weather and project update

It has been awhile since I’ve posted to this blog. This is because my computer has been responding so slowly making me so frustrated. I’ve downloaded a program that should make it more efficient and organized but I don’t think this is helping much. I haven’t wanted to deal with it and avoid the frustration. I feared that I may eventually throw it across the room to deal with it.

Soo…I’ve taken a break and now feel the pressure to come back to update on what I’ve been doing……

Projects still on my needles….

Swallowtail shawl: I’ve enjoyed working on this up till now. My handspun merino is making it so soft but a little springy. I think perhaps this yarn would have been better suited for a baby sweater, but I am determined to use it for the shawl. I keep wondering if it will block correctly when finished because of its springyness.
I’ve finished the budding lace pattern adding 5 pattern repeats to make it larger. And now I move on to the Lily of the Valley lace pattern and I hit a wall! The purl 5 tog are so difficult and somewhere I ended up at the end with the wrong stitch count! I’ve frogged it back to the beg of this pattern and haven’t had the courage or concentration to attempt this part again. I’m trying to think of an easier way to do this stitch. Perhaps with a crochet hook?

Pinwheel baby blanket in seafoam green: This is my TV knitting that doesn’t need a lot of concentration. It’s about 18” in diameter so far. I’m using Lion Brand Pound of Love which is a very soft acylic. It will be perfect for my grandson to be born in August.
Socks: I started some socks but after knitting about 5 inches of the calf, I realized it was turning out too big! The pattern I’m using, Flip Flop Socks from Knitted Socks, called for Size 2 needles and sock yarn that matched the gauge. I only had Size 1’s and Size 3 dpns available, so I decided to use the Size 3 and came down one size in the pattern. I realize now that I should have come down two sizes. And so I ripped it out and started over. After several unsuccessful restarts I decided to bite the bullet, change to Size 1's and attempt the Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
My current UFO’s: Woodland Shawl, Celtic tote, Bell Curve Skirt, Tofustsies socks, Candlelight Scarf in doubled lace wt, Adult Surprise Sweater, and Walters Sweater. These have been languishing from neglect for a few weeks.

I am feeling the need to finish something again. So I dug out my Branching Out scarf I’m knitting in handspun Mohair/Wool. I have about 10 more inches to go. This is the project that is closest to being finished.

Wicked Weather

Warmer weather is coming, although one would think California has been a bit schitzophrenic lately. Over the past two weeks, the weather has changed from hot (over 100 degrees) to 60-70s about 3 or 4 times. We had a downpour the other day, which flooded my office building. Itd rained 4 inches of peasized hail and generated a couple of tornados in the area. The picture below shows our feable attempts to dam to water with a blanket, but it kept raining and water continued to seep under the doors. I heard Baldwin Park, which south of us, looked like a winter wonderland in May! Can you believe it?!!! Stranger weather has not happened in my lifetime. This can’t be good for our health! Soo….. among this resurgence of winterlike weather, I’ve been getting the itch to spin again.
Looking over my stash I found some Romney Roving. It seemed a little dry and rough so I spun it very fine in a lace wt. I also found a box of white mohair in locks of 4-5 inches. I think it is time I did something with it, so I decided to spin it fine and ply it with the Romney to soften the yarn. It came out very nice. The mohair gives it a wonderful shiny sheen. The first skein about 180 yds. I want to try to make another skein, enough for a scarf or shawl. I wonder how it would look dyed? Stay tuned…….

Relaxing at the Beach

My husband and I love to go on weekend trips away, but haven’t had a chance to get away in over two years. So this week, we finally decided to pack up at the last moment and get away to some local Southern California beach town. The weather has turned warmer, yet not too hot. All I could think about was a nice weekend just to relax and knit.

I planned to take several things knit. I was thinking I could take something easy, something quick and something more complicated to work on depending on the type of activity I was doing at the time.

For car and movie knitting, I took my charity hat project and baby kimono knitted in stockinette stitch from the Mason Dixon Knitting Book. For complicated knitting, the Swallowtail shawl and for boredom knitting, in case I was bored with all my other projects, I brought some sock yarn to start some socks. Of course, I also took along my new “Knitted socks” book to pick a pattern for socks.

I worked on the baby kimono with my lime and pink hand dyed Sugar and Cream cotton yarn and finished knitting it. It is a one piece jacket that is folded in half with only two seams to sew up. I made a slight mistake by adding a few extra rows when making the arms midway. I had to compensate by added a few rows of garter stitch along the back neck so that it would fit right at the neck. This is the unfinished jacket.

On a sunny bright day, we had a chance to see a movie and visit some of the local marina shops. Lo and behold, we found the Alamitos Bay Yarn Co. It had been a long time since I’ve been there. There were some novelty yarns and luxury yarns like Brown Sheep, Berroco and Noro. Several women were sitting around a table knitting on projects, but some took the time to help their customers find what they were looking for.

There were many sample baby sweaters to see. One of them, I fell in love with was the “Babies and Bears Sweater by Cottage Creation. It reminded me a lot like the Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Sweater but seemed a little more complicated or rather interesting. My new grandchild will be born in August. I do not know what sex the baby will be so I decided to get two skeins of a neutral gold color of Berroco’s Comfort yarn. The yarn is a very soft washable acrylic. I found some cute little yellowish fish buttons to go with it.
All too soon, my weekend away will be soon over and I will look forward to planning the next one. On the way home I got out my sock yarn out and decided to cast on a pair of flip flop socks. Now that my easy mindless projects are finished, I need to start some more.

I was bringing home a new book called "Knitalong" and the Pinwheel Blanket began to call to me again. Once I got home, I pulled out the Lion Brand Pound of Love in pastel green and started it. I am hoping that my new grandchild will be a boy.

Postscript: Just got a call from my son, the expectant father. They just got back from a 4-D ultrasound. Lo and behold, it's a boy! Praise the Lord!

Dyeing Day #2

It looks like summer weather is promising to take hold and stay around awhile. This is good dyeing weather for early birds like me. Yesterday morning I got the itch to “dye”.

I love working in my patio in the morning. The birds are chirping. The long shadows shade my patio, yet it provides plenty of sun to see the vibrant colors of the dyes. The hot sun is on the other side of the house so the patio is cool like a refreshing drink of lemonade.


This morning I dyed more merino wool roving. The last dyeing project with Procion MX dyes did not come out as deep in color as the cotton and superwash wool. I’m thinking my mistake may have been presoaking to wet the fiber overnight in cold water rather than warm water. Warm water opens up the cuticle of the wool allowing for better penetration.

This time I decided to dye with Createx liquid dyes. I have worked with these dyes before and know they give wonderful color but require a heat set. This time I soaked just before dyeing in warm water, mixed the stock dyes and dilutent with warm water to hand paint the roving. I loved how it turned out.


I tried to use up the remainder solution rainbow dyeing skeins of Romney handspun yarn. I wrapped the roving and skeins in plastic wrap and heat set them in the microwave, which was faster than simmering it for an hour. All too soon, my time ran out and I put my supplies away and hung out the dyed yarn to dry.











Later that day, I was wondering what to do with the left over solution, which had lots of color left. I decided to experiment. I reactivated the fixative by adding more citric acid and vinegar to the dye solution and added some water. The colors I had to work with were fuchsia, yellow, blue, brown and something that was labeled orange but turned out to be a Bordeaux color left over.

In the afternoon we get an afternoon breeze in our patio so it was not good conditions to dye there. I tried painting some more roving but made a big mess, with the breeze blow everything around. I gathered up all my supplies and continued in the kitchen. I again heat set in the microwave the roving to set it, rinsed gently and set aside to dry.

By this time I was ready to finish but did not have the heart to throw out all the remaining dye. I started a pot of water, poured the remaining Bordeaux, blue, and brown into it and threw in some skeins of handspun Jacob and rougher wools that I could make into rugs. At first I thought it was going to end up a muddy grey color, but after rinsing resulted in a Dark teal to midnight blue color. I started another pot and mixed the fuchsia, yellow and a little brown and ended up with watermelon dyed skeins.
By the end of the day I was very happy with the results. “It was a good day to “dye”. ;)