tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104432302024-03-13T22:27:17.093-07:00Beadlizardbeadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1160518742356387652006-10-10T15:17:00.000-07:002006-10-10T15:19:02.376-07:00I've moved!Please come visit the new <a href="http://beadlizard.typepad.com/beadlizard/">Beadlizard</a> site.beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1157987591677592602006-09-11T08:07:00.000-07:002006-09-15T11:05:50.226-07:00Imaginary Friends<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/City.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/400/City.jpg" border="0" /></a> On Saturday, DD and I took the ferry to the city, ran a bunch of errands and ended up on the ...<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Train.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Train.jpg" border="0" /></a> ... train down the Peninsula. And, after a day on the move, we spent a few hilarious hours listening to ...<br /><a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Sock.jpg" border="0" /> Stephanie</a>, who exclaimed, "My imaginary friends!" when DD and I introduced ourselves. If you're a knitter seeking that sense of fitting in, of being normal, a confirmation that you are on the right path, then attend one of Stephanie's talks. There is something wonderful about sitting in a sea of 300 knitters, laughing together for a few hours, totally enjoying Stephanie's jokes.<br /><br />We had supper with <a href="http://ezzycrafts.livejournal.com/">Lynette</a> and <a href="http://nathaniaapple.typepad.com/">Nathania</a> and got flyers for N's new knitting store, <a href="http://purlescence.typepad.com/">Purlescence</a>, which we're planning to visit as soon as it opens. She's near a train station and a Peet's, so we're set!<br /><br />Teen knitting club was a joy this week. Only had a handful of kids, all mellow and industrious. One learned to knit last week and another, a shy 6th grader, knit his first row Wednesday. His little brother had gone to knitting club at the K-1-2 last year, but there wasn't a club at the 3-4-5, so this fellow was delighted to find out that he could FINALLY learn how to knit. The first stitch made him squint and mutter, "This is tricky..." By stitch number three he had a rhythm going, and he finished a row rapidly after that! We applauded and he blushed. Charming.beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1157648254110757282006-09-07T09:23:00.000-07:002006-09-07T09:57:34.343-07:00Summer roses<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Bouquet1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Bouquet1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here's a bouquet of late roses from the garden. The pink rose is lovely but has only a faint rose perfume scent. The gold rose has a rich, truly pleasant apple scent that fills our home without causing any allergic response. And sorry, but I have no idea what the cultivars are.</div><p><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/MarlLace1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/MarlLace1.jpg" border="0" /></a>This snippet of lace is a triangular shawl with a garter edge, using some of the Yarnplace Graceful I blogged about last week. I'm fiddling with the center, playing with a few ideas, and will probably frog it, but it's easy on the eyes and a fun bit of knitting. DD has started something similar with the wool/cashmere aqua she bought. I warned her that it was awfully fine, and she scoffed, "It's thicker than my handspun!" Hers has a bit of grab and is infinitely easier to knit than mine, which is slippery and splitty. I'm using some old size 0 or 00 steel dpns. I hadn't pulled them out of the bin for a few years and they needed cleaning and a bit of PAM. Stirred memories of self-quilting double-knit Fair Isle gloves knit on the 0000's for the coooold Montana winters...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Loppy1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Loppy1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The late birthday present for a small friend. I'm plodding through the sleeves. The actual color of this Cascade 220 is a emerald teal heather and I am having fits trying to see the stitches. It's a color I cannot see well, thus the very visible deep purple marl lace goof-off to rest my eye. My vision has improved radically since the surgery in April (eye appointment went well, don't have to have more repairs until next year at the soonest, though will definitely know my laser guy well for the rest of my life -- oh, and he has a great sense of humor when things are going well -- he was a cold fish the last few appointments because he was so depressed about the condition of my orb), but I'm still adding colors. The combination of radiation damage and brain fatigue had me in gray scale for a long time. I've been playing a lot of Civilization II (the old version of Civ with simpler graphics) to help relearn color differentiation.<br /></p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Bouquet2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Bouquet2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Apologies for no bird photos. Saw only a single giant pure charcoal pelican yesterday on the way to Teen Knitting and couldn't whip out the camera fast enough. Didn't have the camera out when I was waiting at the light by the junior high, knitting a sock, and a woman drove by, stuck her knitting out the window, and cheered, "Knitters! Woo-Hoo!!!" Didn't have the camera the other day when I saw that trio of fat pelicans sitting on the water, doing oil derrick fishing with a sea lion (he drives the fish up and the birds spread their wings and furl them so they end up rocking back and forth, scooping up fish on the down, swallowing them on the up). And didn't have the camera when I saw a gargantuan barrel-shaped seal basking on the rocks, or when there were two harbor seal pups fighting over the best rock perch, doing that U thing that must be the seal equivalent of flexing biceps, or the last few times I've seen rays. </p><p>I promise to take the camera this weekend when DD and I head down the Peninsula to see <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/">Stephanie!</a></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1156799380242136892006-08-28T12:17:00.000-07:002006-08-28T14:41:23.106-07:00FLAK and More Crabs<div align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/FLAKswatch1.0.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/FLAKswatch2.1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/FLAKswatch2.1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Two of my FLAK swatches, before and after washing. Cascade 220, size 5 US. The purl ditches between the cables relaxed a lot and the double seed improved. The upper swatch is a sketch, the lower the probable pattern (substitute seed for moss). I'm still iffy on whether to cant the 2-stitch cables the same as the 4-stitch cables or the opposite. The lower swatch has them done the same.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab2.jpg" border="0" /></a>A crab party<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab1.1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab1.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> A crablet watching the tide come in<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/HairClip.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/HairClip.0.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The other day I was rinsing a few hanks of Cascade and didn't feel like adding figure-8 ties, so I grabbed the monzo hair clips by the bathroom sink. Perfect!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Anem.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Anem.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center">Anemones near Mendocino<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pel1.jpg" border="0" /></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1156445276100624562006-08-24T11:41:00.000-07:002006-08-24T12:11:40.026-07:00Trekking socks, catching up<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/MPatCove.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/MPatCove.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Tide pools near Mendocino, CA</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Hermit.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Hermit.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Mr. Hermit Crab</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/TrekkingDone.0.jpg" border="0" />My daughter, whose nickname *was*<br />Smallness, wearing her size 10 1/2<br />Trekking socks.</span></p><p align="left"><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/MarkerThread.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/MarkerThread.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">For Jason, the answer is I mark every ten rows with a contrasting strand of leftover sock yarn so I don't have to count the rows over and over again. It also makes it easier when altering a garment to see at which row I need to add or subtract width, or whether I need to decrease the length by ten or twenty rows.<br /><br />And yes, I've been knitting. I just frogged half the sweater I knit on vacation (the proportions were off -- the recipient's proportions are off, too, but I'd like to make something that softens the effect instead of intensifying it). There's a looming birthday deadline so it won't be perfect but I would like it to be a little less ugly!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">I have finally gotten my eyesight to the point where I was able to finish my FLAK swatches before vacation and will soon cast it on for real. DD found some lovely laceweight yarn at the </span><a href="http://www.mendocinoyarnshop.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Mendocino Yarn Shop</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> (lovely place), </span><a href="http://yarnplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_27&products_id=164"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Yarn Place Gentle</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> SY181 in a soft aqua (not a light blue as pictured on the website!). I finally found a copy of Stephanie's first book at a real </span><a href="http://www.gallerybooks.com/default.html"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">bookstore</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> and read it aloud to the family in the evenings, making them chortle and exclaim, "You're just like that!" </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">I have another eye exam this next week so might disappear for a while again. Sorry about that, but blogging and vision are rather dependent.</span></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1154326595084734252006-08-08T21:34:00.000-07:002006-08-09T18:12:47.726-07:00Odd bits<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Ribby3.1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Ribby3.1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Ribby4.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Ribby4.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm sorry it's been a while between posts. I've been afk (3400 posts behind in Bloglines!). Here are a few shots of the much wider sleeve. I still haven't stitched Ribby together, though I do have the correct zipper. Soon!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/RainCable3.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/RainCable3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Another pair of staggered baby cable ribbing socks in the works. Patons Kroy, which works up with a tighter row gauge than Regia, for me anyway. Sturdy socks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/RainCable1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/RainCable1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A tin sock tube from </span><a href="http://www.woolworksltd.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Woolworks</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in Connecticut. Along with my </span><a href="http://cassiana.typepad.com/photos/emergency_sock_kits/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">ESK</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> from Cassie, this is portable knitting at its best.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Regia80st1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Regia80st1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the colourways of Regia recently from elann.com. It's even nicer in person.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Kumi2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Kumi2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Kumi1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Kumi1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">DD has been doing kumihimo lately (instead of spindle spinning). These foam core disks from </span><a href="http://www.lacis.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">LACIS</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> are splendid. She's especially fond of the clip-on fishing weight she got from her grandfather. </span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1154030199877500742006-07-27T12:54:00.000-07:002006-07-28T18:17:42.226-07:00Shoulders<span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Ribby2.0.jpg" border="0" /><br />The </span><a href="http://www.chicknits.com/catalog/ribbycardi.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ribby Cardi</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for DD grows apace (then I rip and knit again). We have VERY square shoulders here, so I haven't knit a raglan in many years. I chose frog-able yarn with this in mind. Above is a photo of the basted body and a large size sleeve basted in (with circ cables) and the beginning of a much larger sleeve.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Ribby1.1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Ribby1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The blue yarn is a one-off of really lovely fine 4-ply wool from </span><a href="http://www.carolinahomespun.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Morgaine</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, some she dyed herself. It's actually a muted variegated marl indigo, close to the color in the top image. DD chose </span><a href="http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-220.asp"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cascade 220</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in color 2427 for the sleeves, a deep red that sets up a wonderful resonance with the indigo. The blue fabric has cush and great elasticity. The red isn't as soft to the touch but appears to be sufficiently compatible.<br /><br />For the body, I cast on the largest size, then decreased two sizes in the first row of the stockinette panels with a series of k2togs over some of the single purls. It accommodates DD's hourglass figure nicely and without any flare. Even though I knit all but one sleeve in less than a week, she outgrew it so I'm probably going to have to re-knit the entire thing. I may be re-knitting this sweater until she hits six feet.<br /><br />The new sleeve is many inches longer and larger around than </span><a href="http://www.chicknits.com/rambles/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bonne Marie</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">'s largest size, in part because DD needed a lot more ease in the elbows. Her pattern is very logical and makes it easy to do massive size mods. I'm having to add significant width to the top of the sleeve to fill the gap made by those shoulders. When knitting sweaters with set-in sleeves, DD and I add at least two inches to the height of the yoke. To maintain the visual line of a raglan, I'm keeping the body yoke pretty much as writ and making most of the changes in the shape of the sleeve cap. A typical raglan sleeve is almost triangular; I'm using a wide bell shape, truncated at the neckline. The additional width in the shoulder area of the sleeve drops the yoke down a few inches, and it may overemphasize DD's linebacker shoulders, but with luck it will fit.<br /><br />I was knitting one of the fronts at the grocery store last week and was nearly at the point where I would change needle sizes so had the next circ poked in the ball of yarn. When I got home with the groceries I realized I'd dropped the needle. DD and I went back to the store and she asked for the lost and found at customer service and the lady took one look at DD's </span><a href="http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2006/05/make-spectacle-of-yourself.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">WWKIP t-shirt</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and said, "I think you need this!" and handed us the circ. YAY! I had a spinning t-shirt on, but that WWKIP tee was very effective. </span><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/60613/1617853"><span style="font-family:arial;">Dolores</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> to the rescue!</span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1153289686770840812006-07-18T23:04:00.000-07:002006-07-18T23:17:41.060-07:00Chickadelicans<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Pel45.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pel45.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Pel38.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pel38.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I am knitting constantly and will post when I've hit a milestone. In the meantime, here are three fellows who were diving for striped bass yesterday evening. For a sense of scale, wingspans are normal for around here, between five and six feet. I have numerous photos and will post more on another day.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pel61b.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pel62.jpg" border="0" /></span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1153098723810207862006-07-16T18:09:00.000-07:002006-07-16T18:30:33.103-07:00Ribbed Cable Photos<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Rib5CableWashed.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand; ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Rib5CableWashed.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Baby Cashmerino 5-cable, washed<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Rib5CableDetail.2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand; ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Rib5CableDetail.1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Baby Cashmerino 5-cable, detail<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Rib3Cable1.3.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand; ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Rib3Cable1.2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Mission Falls 1824 Wool 3-cable, washed<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Rib3CableDetail.1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand; ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Rib3CableDetail.1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Mission Falls 1824 Wool 3-cable, detail<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/RibCableGap.5.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand; ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/RibCableGap.3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Crossover gap </span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1152833517527919932006-07-16T08:30:00.000-07:002006-07-16T09:06:40.230-07:00Ribbed Cable Muffler<p><span style="font-family:arial;">Ribbed Cable Muffler (with lots of yarntalk)<br /><br />This is a cushy, very elastic ribbed cable muffler. The cable is a smaller version of the one Starmore uses in St. Kilda (In the Hebrides, no link because I really don't think the book is worth $200 used!), and Lily Chin showcased it a few years ago as a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer03/FEATbildungsrowan.html">reversible rib cable</a>. There is a pattern for a scarf using ribbed cables <a href="http://knitting.about.com/library/blscarf12.htm">here</a>, but the pattern lacks some finesse (is that sufficiently PC?).</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">This muffler is best knit in a wool yarn that will hold its shape after washing, but it also does well with the sinuous quality of superwash wool and has enough depth that it doesn't deflate totally after washing, though the cables do tend to elongate.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">The pattern below is for a sportweight yarn with a grist of approximately 1240 yards per pound (ypp). There are notes also for using an aran weight yarn that is 770 ypp. If you follow the knitty.com link above, she has a beautiful photo of the cable worked in laceweight. To maximize the cuddle factor, knit it with an elastic yarn and a relatively dense gauge. For a shawl with the texture of a raked zen garden, try KSH at an open gauge and double or triple the number of cables.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">There are a few tricks to knitting this muffler well. Increase the number of stitches in the second row and decrease in the penultimate row to minimize edge flare. Use a sturdy, slender cable needle and don't drop stitches while cabling. To prevent gaps, use more than your usual tension when crossing the cables.<br /><br />Yarn: 5 balls </span><a href="http://www.debbieblissonline.com/yarn/cash_baby.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;">Baby Cashmerino</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> (125 m/50g)<br />Needles: Size 4.5 mm for casting on and binding off. Size 3.75 mm for knitting. Yarn needle for weaving in ends. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Notes:<br />m1 = Increase by knitting in back of stitch.<br />c8b6 = cable 8 behind 6. Place 8 st on cable needle in back, work next 6 st (k2, p2, k2), work 8 st from cable needle (p2, k2, p2, k2). The stitches on the cable needle change in this row from k to p or p to k in order to preserve the ribbing pattern. This creates a soft, slightly slanted bar on the reverse of the knitting. It also means those first two purls from the cable needle can be stiff. Try to keep your hands relaxed. Cables are staggered. They are crossed every 12 rows, with row C crossing the outer and center cables and row D crossing the two flank cables.<br /><br />Knit the cast-on row. With a 4.5 mm needle cast on, long-tail, 75 st.<br />Knit an increase row. WS. Switch to a 3.75 mm needle and slip 1 purlwise, p1, (k1, m1, p2, k2, p2) x 10, k1, m1, p2. [86 st]<br />Knit row A. RS. Slip 1 knitwise, k1, (p2, k2) x 20, p2, k2.<br />Knit row B. WS. Slip 1 pw, p1, (k2, p2) x 20, k2, p2.<br />Knit row C. RS. Slip 1 kw, k1, p2, (c8b6, p2, (k2, p2) x 4) x 2, c8b6, p2, k2.<br />*Knit rows B, A, B, A, B.<br />Knit row D. RS. Slip 1 kw, k1, p2, ((k2, p2) x 4, c8b6, p2) x 2, (k2, p2) x 4, k2.<br />Knit rows B, A, B, A, B, C. Repeat from * until desired length.<br />Knit row B, then row A.<br />Knit a decrease row. WS. Slip 1 pw, p1, (k2tog, p2, k2, p2) x 10, k2tog, p2. [75 st]<br />With a 4.5 mm needle, bind off, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purls.<br />Weave in ends.<br /><br />I actually used 5 balls plus a few yards to do a total 34 sets of row C crosses. Finished size, relaxed, before washing: 6.5" x 52". Finished size, relaxed, after washing: 6" x 60". Washed, the Cashmerino opened significantly, the cables grew longer, and it began to pill. [The yarn was on sale and it really does feel good.]<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">If you know your yarn is going to droop like Cashmerino, you can cross the cables every 8 rows instead of 12, but it will be tough on your thumbs and hands. Working this style of cable puts a lot of torque on the hand bones and should be done in stages interspersed with more soothing knitting, and never with a deadline.<br /><br />The crossovers form large gaps, not visible because they are hidden in and make possible the layering of the fabric. I could write an entire post about the formation of those holes and how they effect the fabric. Another variation (in theory, anyway) of this scarf is to do a single truly monzo cable braced by the narrow rolled edge and a single inviolate rib, the pull one end of the scarf through a gap a few crossings from the other end. I'll knit one soon in a fine yarn and post a photo and pattern. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">A few years ago I knit the same formula as the sport-weight pattern above, except with three cables instead of five, in <a href="http://www.missionfalls.com/1824wool.php">Mission Falls 1824 Wool</a>. I used a 5mm needle for the entire muffler. Cast on 47 and increase to 54. The bars on the reverse hardly show at all when the yarn has a deep plying texture like that of the 1824 wool. Finished size was 5" by 60", weight 265 grams.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Please tell me in the comments if you find a mistake; this is a draft, untested pattern. Thanks! There is a link in the sidebar to a terse print version that is the same as the previous post. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Blogger still isn't letting me upload photos. If you would like the packet that illustrates this post, leave your email in the comments section. If Blogger ever opens the gates, I'll post the photos with captions in a separate post.</span></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1152992351719682012006-07-15T12:32:00.000-07:002006-07-16T00:07:56.493-07:00Ribbed Cable Muffler Pattern<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Rib5Cable1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Rib5Cable1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Yarn: Approx. 700 yards/250 grams sportweight yarn<br />Needles: Size 4.5 mm for casting on and binding off. Size 3.75 mm for knitting. Yarn needle for weaving in ends.<br /><br />Notes: m1 = Increase by knitting in back of stitch.<br />slip1 = On WS, slip purlwise and on RS, slip knitwise.<br />c8b6 = cable 8 behind 6. Place 8 st on cable needle in back, work next 6 st (k2, p2, k2), work 8 st from cable needle (p2, k2, p2, k2). The stitches on the cable needle change in this row from k to p or p to k in order to preserve the ribbing pattern. Cables are staggered. They are crossed every 12 rows, with row C crossing the outer and center cables and row D crossing the two flank cables.<br /><br />Knit the cast-on row. With a 4.5 mm needle cast on, long-tail, 75 st.<br />Knit an increase row. WS. Switch to a 3.75 mm needle and slip 1, p1, (k1, m1, p2, k2, p2) x 10, k1, m1, p2. [86 st]<br />Knit row A. RS. Slip 1, k1, (p2, k2) x 20, p2, k2.<br />Knit row B. WS. Slip 1, p1, (k2, p2) x 20, k2, p2.<br />Knit row C. RS. Slip 1, k1, p2, (c8b6, p2, (k2, p2) x 4) x 2, c8b6, p2, k2.<br />*Knit rows B, A, B, A, B.<br />Knit row D. RS. Slip 1, k1, p2, ((k2, p2) x 4, c8b6, p2) x 2, (k2, p2) x 4, k2.<br />Knit rows B, A, B, A, B, C.<br />Repeat from * until desired length.<br />Knit row B, then row A.<br />Knit a decrease row. WS. Slip 1, p1, (k2tog, p2, k2, p2) x 10, k2tog, p2. [75 st]<br />With a 4.5 mm needle, bind off, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purls.<br />Weave in ends. </span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1152822722181927082006-07-13T13:18:00.000-07:002006-07-13T14:00:32.083-07:00New and old<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/RibCable.jpg" border="0" /><br />The main thing I've been working on this week is a ribbed cable muffler UFO in Cashmerino that was about half-done. I'm using a size 3.75 mm needle, which makes a rather dense and very cushy fabric, because I know this yarn will go slack and grow when washed (hmph). It will also pill. At least it feels wonderful to knit.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/BlueMarl.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/BlueMarl.0.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/BlueMarl.0.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">822 yards/475 grams of variegated indigo marl wool from </span><a href="http://www.carolinahomespun.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Morgaine</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. No idea what it will become. Lovely wool. One ball has a wider range in depth of shade. Perhaps a vest in linen stitch? DD's wearing my size now (scary!), so 800 yards doesn't cover her the way it used to. </span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pi0706a.jpg" border="0" /><br />Here's the half-Pi on DD. It stays on even in a high wind. The Knitpicks merino laceweight really clings! Using small format open stitch patterns in the first 96 rows and a larger format, more dense stitch pattern in rows 97-192 made for a nice fit around the shoulders and good drape.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pi0706b.jpg" border="0" /></span></div>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1152389862067074952006-07-08T13:05:00.000-07:002006-07-08T13:17:42.086-07:00Wild Orchid<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Flower2.2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Flower2.1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Flower1.0.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Flower1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Epipactis helleborine</span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1152290217713360422006-07-07T09:07:00.000-07:002006-07-07T14:37:33.160-07:00Shawl Notes<span style="font-family:arial;">My dad emailed to say that DD wore the new shawl to summer school this morning. YAY!!!<br /><br />Kat, here's the </span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/400/PiBig.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;">blocked photo</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in a </span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/PiBig.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;">larger format</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. I sharpened it a bit and increased the contrast to make it easier to see the stitch pattern.<br /><br />Cassie, the reason I washed the yarn before knitting was it was a new yarn for me and I wanted to avoid surprises. Some finewool yarns relax a lot when one washes out the spinning oils and lets the hanks dry without tension. Yes, the other option is to knit a swatch, then wash the swatch, which is what I would do with a coned yarn. These hanks were in an easy format for washing and I was craving a predictable medium.<br /><br />Annie asked about the lace pattern adjustments. DD chose BW's arrow lace and I knit a swatch and then started subtracting lines or columns of stitches to "walk" through the family of associated stitches. It was fun to reduce the arrow to a selection of other stitch patterns, most of which are in BW's books.<br /><br />The stitch pattern I liked the most visually, though, had a k5tog. Looked great but I knew I'd grumble while knitting, and the row count fluctuated a lot -- okay for a round shawl but the selvage would have wiggled in a half-circle. I ended up starting with a wider Kiri style cast-on, working through a few openwork stitch patterns that had easy transitions, then removing the repeat row from the classic arrow lace to get a chevron-arrow cross.<br /><br />The original arrow is long enough that I would have needed an additional pattern between to make a smooth transition from the smaller openwork stitches to the arrow lace. I had two balls of yarn and knew I was cutting it close (ended up two yards short and had to rip back and leave off one repeat of the edging), and that I'd be lucky to get to row 192 as is. The formulaic planning of shawls like the Pi does lend itself to sampler style knitting like this.<br /><br />I did a few of the transitions over a couple of rows because it was subtle. My daughter doesn't wear ruffles or anything with strong lines, so a row of eyelet in the midst of the chevrons was not going to pass her scrutiny. I did stick pretty closely to the overall counts for a half-Pi, definitely within the accepted margin of error.<br /><br />I think one of the reasons this shawl felt like a slog to knit was being hemmed in by the Pi rules. They make planning more fun, but the execution is then too predictable for my spoiled, whimsical inner knitter. I prefer a constant challenge. Knowing I was running out of yarn actually made the experience more interesting. Perhaps I should make myself sit down and re-engineer the neckline on the KOKAL vine shawl as penance, if only to remind my brain that it does have the capacity to think in a logical manner. [My brain just winced and is working on an escape clause.]</span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1152148677757107222006-07-05T18:15:00.000-07:002006-07-05T21:46:12.870-07:00Finally!<p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Pi1.0.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pi1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I started an Anniversary half-pi in January with the </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EZasPi/"><span style="font-family:arial;">EZasPi Yahoo Group</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, and am finally done. The actual time spent knitting this wasn't very much, though I did sample a lot, playing with the permutations of arrow lace and chevrons.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pi2.jpg" border="0" /><br />I really like the </span><a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/itemid_5420128/yarn_display.aspx"><span style="font-family:arial;">Knitpicks Merino laceweight</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. I used two balls and a size 7 US needle. I washed the hanks of yarn before winding balls. The yarn behaved beautifully, didn't mind being frogged and re-knit, and the finished shawl is soft and feels nice around my shoulders. It has a very gentle drape and minimal body, definitely the opposite of the </span><a href="http://www.schoolhousepress.com/Ice_lace.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;">Icelandic</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> I used for the Hyrna Herborgar.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Pi3.0.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Pi3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">My daughter chose the color and the stitch patterns, and frankly I'm not fond of lace knit from variegated yarns, but DD says it's perfect and the shawl is for her. Now that it's blocked, the striation is much stronger and there is also almost a shadow effect in the way the colors flow from solid to marl. I blocked it out to a 30-inch radius, not quite as far as I could have, but far enough that it feels delicate and the lace patterns are well-defined. It is surprisingly warm for being light as a feather.<br /><br />I presented socks to my brother (the brown Regia mini-ringel pair) and aunt (the Knitpicks Vineyard pair) for their birthdays and his only needed a little tweak at the tip of one toe. My aunt has been doing quite a lot of knitting and we spent most of our visit talking about heels and gussets and shank shaping. The socks she was knitting from </span><a href="http://ellenshalfpintfarm.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ellen's Half Pint Farm</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> yarn felt wonderful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I cannot tell you how good it feels to make some headway on the list of projects. My eyes were bigger than my needles back in January! DD's Trekking socks will be finished tomorrow. It's too hot to resume working on the FLAK or CIT so I'll probably cast on one of the many scarves I need for holiday presents. I have some chartreuse yarn that will look good in a leaf pattern, though the Koigu mitts just need a little more work...</span></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1151685088361754912006-06-30T09:23:00.000-07:002006-06-30T10:43:47.766-07:00Crabs<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab1.0.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/400/Crab1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The birds haven't been posing much lately, but I had a moment to get a few quick snaps of the shoreline the other day and here are some outtakes. The largest of the crabs was about four inches across. Some of these are different poses of the same crabs.<br /><br /></span><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab3.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab9.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab9.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">They were eating as fast as they could, and on one rock there were so many crabs it looked like Les Ballets Trocadero.<br /><br /></span><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab4.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab4.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab5.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab5.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab8.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It boggles my mind that my brother still likes me: I used to catch these little guys and put them down the back of his shirt!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab7.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab7.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><p></p><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Crab6.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Crab6.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1151620680000369552006-06-29T15:33:00.000-07:002006-06-29T16:09:13.756-07:00Mom's Alligators<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Gator2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Gator2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Gator1.0.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Gator1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Remember that little in-the-round tail? Frogged. Way too fussy to knit. Instead, here are some photos of my mom's alligators. The big guy is 32" long. I have a wonderful mom. </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Gator3.0.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Gator4.jpg" border="0" /></span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1151108041749733512006-06-23T17:09:00.000-07:002006-06-23T18:17:20.536-07:00Trekking socks<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Trek2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Trek2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">More Trekking socks are ready for fitting -- should see DD's feet early next week. I usually simply knit the tube of the foot way past where I expect the end of the toes to be, as I did with the socks for Alfred, then baste around the digits and re-knit. DD's ankles and heels are a smaller version of my brother's and her feet are a larger version of mine (these are very baggy!), so I knit some sample toes a full size too long for me. For some reason I never mind ripping and re-knitting toes. I have a snippet of contrasting yarn marking every ten rounds from the pick-up to the toe. It helps speed the tailoring process.<br /><br />These socks have gone on some nice little hikes during their gestation. I'll post photos when DD takes them on a walk.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Ringel1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Ringel1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm in a finishing mood so am cruising through the last few inches of another pair of socks for my brother. With luck, *this* pair will fit.<br /><br />As you can see, they are much too bit for my feet. It is fun knitting for my family. My mom's feet are slightly smaller than mine but otherwise nearly identical, so I can knit a pair of socks that's a tad snug and they'll fit her perfectly. Mom's, DD's, my brother's, and my hands match, too, with slight variations in size. Genetics in action!<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Tail1.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Tail1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Here's something I started on the bus the other day. I'm not sure it will work. Decades ago I converted my grandmother's worsted weight alligator pattern (which was an improvement of, I think, an old Sunset pattern?) to a fine gauge (Harrisville tweed singles) and slightly different shaping: the guys who were cuddling with the ESK Cassie sent me. Then, I reworked the pattern to be done in sculptural peyote stitch with seed beads. The other day I started shifting it back to sock yarn, but in the round. It's going well, but I know the legs are going to give me fits, and ideally I'd like to knit the feet instead of using felt, since felt is too easy for teething infants to mutilate and swallow. I know I can tweak a pattern but I don't know if it will be feasible for normal people to knit. Shaped knitting can be terribly fussy. I'll post more photos if I succeed (and it will fade into the ether if I don't). </span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1150256358159793832006-06-13T20:22:00.000-07:002006-06-13T20:39:18.206-07:00A lovely personMy friend <a href="http://www.alicepeacock.com/">Alice Peacock</a> is going to be on the Prairie Home Companion on <a href="http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/schedule/#ravinia">Saturday</a>! She is a true gem of a person, one of those rare individuals whom everyone likes. Good music, too.<br /><br />My new computer arrived today, but DH also got back from overseas so I haven't had time to set it up. Should be able to process some photos and do some better blog posts in the next few days. <br /><br />I was wishing I had the camera today when I had a <a href="http://catena.typepad.com/">Cathy</a> moment. DD and I were walking home from the library and saw a falcon doing an odd hover and squawking in an irritable, nagging way. Another falcon flew over, grabbed in mid-flight the food dropped by the hovering one, then flew to the hole in an empty house where last year there was a starling nest. We have baby falcons! They raised at least one chick to full size last year, but they lived in the next town (we'd see them flying home). Glad they've come to stay!<br /><br />DD and I were standing there feeling so lucky to see the falcons, and then twenty pelicans flew right overhead in close formation. Life doesn't get any better than that!beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1149825924552861392006-06-12T10:03:00.000-07:002006-06-12T10:50:28.056-07:00WWKIP Day<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Gator1.jpg" border="0" /><br />Mom, DD and I went to a lecture on Saturday. We wore our </span><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/60613/1448281"><span style="font-family:arial;">t-shirts</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and sat near the front and center, in full view of many hundreds of people. Mom finished the top body of a bright green alligator, which I thought was excellent for Dolores' theme of Hide No More.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/BosworthMidi.jpg" border="0" />DD was too caught up in the lecture to spin, but she had brought her Bosworth midi and some Nancy Finn Chasing Rainbows silk from Morgaine's.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/BlueTrek1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/BlueTrek1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I worked on a boring pair of socks for DD, who has a fondness for stockinette and k1p1 ribbing. I wanted to knit a lace wave pattern with this yarn, but she asked for plain bobby socks, so that is what I'm making. At least it will be quick, and then I can get back to knitting something more interesting!<br /><br />We had hoped to go to the local </span><a href="http://www.wwkipday.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">WWKIP</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> picnic, but the lecture was long and we ran out of time. Maybe next year? Mom and I did make a point of kip'ing when running errands later that afternoon. My best guess is that I alone kip'ed in front of over a thousand people.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/PelsOnWall.1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/PelsOnWall.1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">We've had a small flock of pelicans fly in this week, some monstrous fellows and a few youngsters. If they stick around I'll get some good photos, but I didn't have the camera handy when they flew by so here's a clip of them sitting on the sea wall.<br /><br />I've finished the big laptop bag for DD and to sew in a zipper and finish fulling the strap. It is definitely too large, but I think the math error may turn into a positive design feature -- it is more comfortable to carry a laptop when the sides can curve around a bit. I'll post more details and photos when it's complete.</span></p>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1149823293994139862006-06-08T20:12:00.000-07:002006-06-08T21:11:29.676-07:00Feeding frenzy<span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Shark1.jpg" border="0" />A rare treat today while I was walking (and knitting a Trekking sock): sharks. They were in the shallows, 18" to 48" of incoming tide, swimming in ever-smaller circles and then shooting through the middle with mouths wide open. DD and I figured they might be herding a new hatch of small yummy things? It was a wild sight, sharks spinning daisies all over the cove. Here are four shots of the one closest to the bank.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Shark3.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Shark3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Shark2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Shark2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Shark4.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/Shark4.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><p></p><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/AlfredSocksReady.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/AlfredSocksReady.jpg" border="0" /></span></a>Alfred's 13EEE Trekking socks are ready for a fitting; I tried them on and can see why it took so long to knit them -- BIG SOCKS!!! I've started my Trek Along pair for DD, whose shank is as big as Alfred's now and pure muscle. She will soon be able to look down at me...<br /><br />My apologies for the low photo quality and messy layout. My big computer died and I'm on borrowed laptops for another week or two.</span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1148059492378843022006-06-01T09:50:00.000-07:002006-06-01T12:05:04.996-07:00Mobile KnittingSheryl was surprised that I knit lace while walking. Actually, if I forget my knitting I carry a pine cone or rock in my left hand. I have some nerve damage in my left side and need to hold something in my hand to complete the broken circuit. I think what it does is strengthen the impulse so it bridges the tattered synapses?<br /><br />What works best is to knit. After much practice, I was able to do more than knit stockinette sock shanks -- now I can knit complicated lace while running down the cobblestone stairs on my hill and chatting with my daughter.<br /><br />The other walkers in the neighborhood check that day's knitting, ask questions and say, "Oh, good progress! Did you finish the pair of socks you were working on last week?" They tend to encourage, not nag, and I'll often chide them for not having their knitting with them. There's a baby on our road and I've knit crawling bootees for her; other friends flaunt the socks I've knit them. A few people wait until they see me walking by, then dash out with their knitting, needing help with a dropped stitch or a new technique.<br /><br />Things that make mobile knitting easier:<br />1) My <a href="http://cassiana.typepad.com/photos/emergency_sock_kits/index.html">emergency sock kit</a>, which matches and fits in:<br />2) My messenger bag. I can use a stitch holder to fasten the bulk of a project to the strap at a comfortable height so there isn't any weight dragging on my wrists. The yarn fits in the bag and doesn't slip out because the fulled bag has grab.<br />3) I usually carry my bag only on outings. For the normal walk to and from town I hook the stitch holder to a belt loop or the front of my sweater, then tuck the ball of yarn in my left armpit. My arm just hangs there unless I try hard to move it, so it's a good system.<br />4) Another weight-abatement technique is to knit something from within the circle, like a sleeve. If I turn it inside out, then stick my left hand inside, the bulk of the fabric rests placidly on my forearm, relieving any wrist strain.<br />5) Pocket patterns. [Cassie, how's it going?]<br /><br />Hazards of mobile knitting:<br />1) Lost needles. People turn them in to the circulation counter at the library since they know the needles are probably mine.<br />2) Humiliating moments when you realize you dropped the ball of yarn a block ago and it's been happily unwinding (the only thing wrong with a properly wound, relaxed ball of yarn is it can unwind over a very long span without tangling).<br />3) Signpost poles, curbs, and other obstacles that sneak in front of you when you're concentrating on a skp...<br />4) Knitting too far and needing the next page of the pattern. [See #5 above.]<br />5) If you think the peer pressure to produce FO's for the blog is intense, you should try KIP'ing in a neighborhood of knitters!beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1148533074252689512006-05-24T21:53:00.000-07:002006-05-25T08:36:38.756-07:00Another laptop bag<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/IMG_1049a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/200/IMG_1049a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I've been knitting a new laptop bag for DD's summer school computer. I started it late one night, after my 9:00 p.m. No Math cut-off time, so it's going to be an interesting size that will probably be large enough for two or three laptops... We'll see just how persuasive an energetic fulling can be.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm using some Brown Sheep bulky and a sturdy, pointy, Boye 29" size 8 circ from W-M. I don't like using my expensive needles on something this heavy; I've broken off too many cables. This is rapidly becoming a favorite needle, though, because it fits my hands and the points really are nice. I'm knitting a dense fabric because I liked the hand of that swatch, fulled, the most.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I cast on the outer edge of the base, long-tail, and knit a mitered rectangle, grafting the center seam. I picked up around the base (too well -- it's an invisible transition and I'd meant to have an edge) and am now knitting upward. I'll probably add a zipper to the top and a long, wide strap. Depending on how the fabric feels after fulling, I might reinforce portions with heavy cotton twill tape since the bag is going to belong to a teen.<br /></span>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1147999782400259482006-05-18T17:41:00.000-07:002006-05-18T18:01:10.916-07:00Shawls<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/HHonme.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/HHonme.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's the HH shawl photo someone requested and a progress update on the Anniversary Pi. It is a slog. The lace pattern is simple but not boring, I like the yarn, and I've been working on it a bit every afternoon while walking to and from town, but it still feels like a case of second sock syndrome. I'm at the half-way point and am ready for it to be DONE. I know, the only way to get there is to apply myself...</span><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pi051806a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Pi051806b.jpg" border="0" />beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10443230.post-1147567820636906902006-05-13T17:47:00.000-07:002006-05-13T17:52:16.320-07:00Yesterday's sky<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Sky2.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Sky3.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Sky3.jpg" border="0" /></a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Sky1.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/1600/Sky4.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2125/808/320/Sky4.jpg" border="0" /></a>beadlizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03345991066699824794noreply@blogger.com