green.ketzle.net: knitting

the end of november was full of all sorts of fun. and whenever i type all sorts, i think allsorts and suddenly have a craving for licorice...

in any event, there was thanksgiving, complete with a visit from my sister. there was my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. there was my dad's 75th birthday. there was also knee surgery for my mama, a few weeks before thanksgiving, and jim's mom, not to be outdone, was admitted twice to the hospital this month with various lung-related ailments. i have had enough of mothers in the hospital, thank you very much.

what there was not, was much knitting. i have managed to get almost of all of my christmas shopping done, so at least i won't have to waste any potential knitting moments making trips to the mall. and i have squeezed out some stitches here, and a few there. evidence: the great furry miracle is done and handed over!

i think i despise it, but can't be sure because it is rather clever and versatile and if the weird bind-off did not sometimes cause loops to hang from the end, i think i might merely dislike it. sadly, the small child was completely enamoured and i may have to reconstruct a somewhat smaller version for her.

evidence: the hat to match my shawl is done! i blocked it over a plate so it is properly slouchy but i think perhaps a little too slouchy. i am dwelling on whether to give it a proper wash to undo the blocking and then just lightly block it out so it is a bit more snug and secure. it is definitely warm and kept my head quite dry last night when we were traipsing about in the rain, looking at the christmas light wonderments constructed by the bellevue botanical gardens.

evidence: a small cowl to match the mittens i made this summer. i repeated the cable motif from the wrists, and then knit from either end. then twisted, and grafted, so i have a small mobius ring. i picked up along the one massive edge and can now safely knit until the yarn runs out without worrying about whether one side or the other has enough border. we'll see if this concept, which seemed brilliant at 11 pm last night is as functional as it needs to be. worst case scenario, i rip it out. best case? matching cowl and i have killed the leftovers from the project.

now, if i can just find the time to finish the bacon shawl, and the patience and skill to make my mama some mittens...

19 november 2011 no respite

some years, it seems it is one critical deadline after the other, with no break, and no chance to ever catch up. this is one of those years.

i've been stealing a minute or two when i can and have almost completed the giant furry pastel miracle. it looks like a seussian animal, and is surprisingly heavy. but it does stretch out to make a cowl, or a dress, and then stretches long again to be a scarf. freaky...

i did finish the hat so just need to block it a bit and then i can grab a good photograph. i am also toying with the yarn left over from the mittens. i think there may be enough to make a little matching cowl, so i may start that. it won't require a big effort, i don't think.

i really need to get back to the bacon shawl as well, but haven't been able to find the time when the small child is not around. it was easier when i could send her to bed at 6.

05 november 2011 comfort

it finally is starting to seem like fall around here. i don't know if it is the leaves scattered all over the ground or those few bright orange ones clinging to branches, or the golden quality of light in the morning, or the little nip in the air, but today, for the first time, i felt properly autumnal.

so i probably should hurry up and finish the hat, in case my ears get cold.

i was looking at how much yarn i have left now that i am nearing the point where i will start the decreases and i think i may have enough left over to make a small pair of wristlets or handwarmers. it might be close but it looks like enough yarn to me...

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