06.22.08
Posted in Knitting, Photos, Sweater(s) at 4:18 pm by delipics
Knitting was actually accomplished Thursday night!
First I had to consult with Alex on the sizing of the Cozy V-neck. And of course, she confirmed that the sweater was too, too big. I was in a ripping-out-denial for the last several weeks - as if something will miraculously change if I show it to someone else. “Oh no, you don’t have to rip-out. Your eyes were all wrong. Everything is fine!” I had pre-warned Alex that hand holding was going to be in order.
Alex agreed with me to decrease under the armholes to improve the fit. I pulled out at least four inches from the body. Once it was over, in about 30 seconds, a huge weight was lifted off of me. What a relief; I don’t know what I was waiting for. I need to not make my knitting so precious. I told Alex I don’t mind ripping out rows, for other people’s knitting. This could be a new job - give me your knitting and I will rip it out for you.
Alex has made beautiful progress. She finished the cabling on Marjorie and has started the armhole.
The next photo I show of the Cozy V-neck should will show the beginning of the ribbing.
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06.17.08
Posted in Socks, Sweater(s), Yarn at 5:46 pm by delipics
Prettyposies did my free Wordpress upgrade so writing this post right now is a whole new experience. I like the new Wordpress look. Oh, and if you left me a post, I may have accidentally deleted it, so please write back.
After a two week hiatus, A&D Sweater Support is meeting Thursday night. A very good thing because I have done nothing with my Cozy V-neck. I know I am going to have to tink and I’m dreading it. This is going to be one of those times when I will need hand-holding, sympathy and cake - lots and lots of cake.
I knew tinking was in my future when I pulled out a sweater to compare sizing to the Cozy V-neck. The final tink confirmation came when I did a search on Ravelry to see how other knitters did their versions of the sweater. (The one good thing I got from scanning Ravelry is now I know where I will start the ribbing.) Everyone else’s sweater was very fitted (hence the titled of Fitted Knits, duh!). I think the problem is one I face frequently as a petite person - it’s the armhole and body ratio thingamabobber. How to describe? Well, a regular size 2 is completely different from a petite size 2 - it’s all about proportion. Surprisingly, Wikipedia has good summary on petite sizing. A quick search on Google on “altering knitting patterns petite size” has not revealed too much. I’ll have to do more internet research. Any suggestions out there? Where are my petite-sized knitters?
In a weak attempt to distract myself from the calamity of the Cozy v-neck, I decided I had to go knitting book shopping. I bought Nancy Bush’s Knitting Vintage Socks. Alex has this book and she made me the Fancy Silk Socks for Christmas? Birthday? I can’t remember, she’s made me so many wonderful things. Anywho, my plan was to use my Socks That Rock yarn that I bought at MDSW to one of the gentleman’s sock patterns, only to find out I don’t have enough yardage for a man’s size 9 (the man being Darren, of course). Grrr - much frustration. I possibly could get away with knitting the Gentleman’s Plain Winter Sock. This pattern calls for 394 yards and the STR is approximately 380 yards, but I think this is taking a chance. Then I thought, I need a toe-up sock pattern! I saw on Knitting Daily the On-Your-Toes Sock pattern, but for a size 9 foot it calls for two skeins of 292 yards - still no go. There’s no way around this - if I’m going to knit socks for Darren, I am going to have to buy more yarn. But I have to (whiny voice)!
So after all this, I still have knitted nada but I am thinking of knitting, which at times is just as pleasurable as the actual action.
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06.08.08
Posted in NYC at 5:41 pm by delipics
Growing up in California and the midwest I had only experienced one kind of air conditioning - central. A wonderful, wonderful thing is central air - a push of a button and cold air is created. Moving to New York opened up my world to the “air conditioner window unit.” What a concept - put in the a/c in the summer, take it out for the winter - it’s a huge pain in the a$$ to put it mildly but that is what New Yorkers do, well, at least those of us who don’t live in fancy new luxury apartments that have central air built it.
In my twenties it was a point of pride to claim one didn’t have an a/c. There used to be a certain type of hard core New Yorker who consciously chose to live without a/c and I belonged to those ranks. I lived with fans strategically placed in the apartment and bragged about my stamina in enduring the heat. In my late thirties I proudly wave my wimpiness when it comes to the heat. I have an a/c with a timer and remote control and it is a fabulous piece of technology, but I retain a bit of the hard core New Yorker in me. I will not put that unit in until the 1st of July because basically, I’m cheap. I tell myself I can deal with the heat through June but I just can’t suffer through the humidity of July and August. That all changed this weekend.
The first heat wave for New York City started on Saturday. One of the best ways to escape the heat, of course, is to go to the movies. I started my summer movie season with the 1:30 showing of Sex and the City. (Promise, no spoilers) It was a double date with Alex and her man. (Brave, brave fellows.) We got there way, way early. Alex was smart and brought her knitting while we waited. The movie was over by four and by the time Darren and I got home after a late lunch, it wasn’t so bad in the apartment. I have multiple ceiling fans and if I just plop myself on the couch and don’t move, it’s fine. Sunday, we went to see You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. (I figured these two movies bookended nicely - estrogen and testosterone - that kind of thing.) Upon walking out of the theater and encountering the wall of heat, I had given in, that and the looming 100 degree weather predicted for Monday. I rationalized I had to put in the a/c for my cat, Cleo, if not for me. Poor thing just lays on the floor, all stretched out with a zoned-out look on her face.
This heat wave has all led to one predictable thing - absolutely no knitting has occurred. My current projects are all wool. Wool in this weather? No way.
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06.04.08
Posted in Knitting, Photos, Scarf, Yarn at 4:43 pm by delipics
Here she is, the lovely Raquel modeling her new scarf!
Isn’t she great? It was fun knitting this for her. The last two scarves I have made for friends I put a lot of thought into - from the color, the yarn choice, and to most importantly, a design that truly reflects the wearer. Raquel already knew she wanted an orange scarf, and this label-less yarn (donated by another friend) reflects Raquel’s personality. It’s a yarn with sparkles and unexpected changes. The open-work of the stitch pattern is also very Raquel-like and the fringe too. I added the fringe at the last minute and I kept it long in case she wants to trim it to her liking. All right, scarf-desiring friends - who’s next?
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