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  • Patience Pays - Meret a Success

     This is what the yarn looked like after I ripped out my mistake on the body of the hat pattern.

    I had to start over again from the brim.  I actually enjoyed reknitting this pattern and I'm excited to see that small, unruly pile of yarn turn into something.

    I blocked it over a dinner plate.

    It turned out super cute and although, I think I look silly in hats, I'm going to wear this over the Christmas holiday. 

    Whoa...major yarn bleeding.  I might not want to mention that I almost had a pink Meret.  I was trying to take a shortcut and hurry the blocking process by soaking two items at the same time.  The Meret was in the Soak bath first and then I had the "brilliant" aka "stupid" idea of dropping the Danica scarf in the Soak.  I rescued the Meret just in time.

    Yeah, I know, I know...

    Anyway, all's well...the world did not end.  At the very least, I have a fabulous Meret slouch hat and a Danica entrelac scarf to wear.

  • Ripple Cowl - Not Meant To Be.

    The Candy Color Ripple Cowl pattern by Lion Brand looked so nice and tempting.  I tried using Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) in Natural Blue and it just wasn't coming out as I had envisioned.

    I only did 9 rounds of the pattern and just wasn't "feeling" it.  I did 3 of the rounds on the other side of the starting chain because I wasn't pleased with the look of the loops.  The original pattern is 7 rounds wider and almost twice as large in circumstance.  I don't like being overwhelmed by my cowls and I'm sort of a small person.

    Nothing wrong with the yarn, it's lovely and I'm sad that it's discontinued. 

  • Caution: Knitting While Preoccupied.

    It's cold (60º) outside and I think a new hat will complete my outfit. 

    Decisions that need to be made before any project.

    A) Choosing a pattern.  I've successfully made a Meret for my daughter a few years ago and she always receives compliments on it so I'm trying to make one for myself. 

    B) Materials.  I'm now on a limited yarn budget and I've been using my stash for the last two years.  Wool or Acrylic.  I chose wool in a Aran Tweed.

    C) Size. This is a hard one because despite measuring my head, the size of the hat includes style elements.  It could be fitted, slouchy or extra slouchy. I chose the small size.

    D) Design Elements: Brim...rolled, 1x1 rib, 2x2 rib, combination rolled & ribbed...fitted, slouchy, extra slouchy. I decided to do a modified rolled and 2x2 brim with an extra slouchy body.  However, I altered the rolled brim portion by bringing up the cast on edge and knitting into it creating a closed edge.

    So I'm merrily knitting along and since hats are quick, I'm making good progress and should have a finished hat in two days.

    Then I noticed that I'm doing it all wrong. 

    I completely knit the wrong instructions.  I started the design on the incorrect round and now the whole lace element is wonky and elongated.  I'm so bummed because I really need to rip it back to the brim.

    Yes, it would be faster and easier to go out and buy a hat but I'm a process knitter/crocheter/crafter and I actually enjoy the process.  Despite what it appears, knitting/crocheting is fun for me and I do think that the finished project is worth the effort.

     

     

  • Cemetery Visit

    My husband's final resting place.  Reality.

  • Wrestling Match For a Cocoa Gift Set

    You really get a glimpse of people's character when they are in a somewhat relaxed atmosphere.

    Here is the gift that they were "fighting" over.  

     

     

  • Back to The Mundane

    Office Christmas party tonight.  It'll be the usual cast of characters but no rowdiness.  It's 99% women and a white elephant gift exchange.   Our turnover is not as fast as retail or fast food industries but it's up there.

    Finished the Criss Cross scarf.  It's wider than the original pattern.  Size 8 needles, Super Saver - Grey Heather and Wool Ease - Oxford Grey.

     

     

  • Rambling On About Nothing

    Trying to take those Xanga surveys by Peanut Labs is a lesson in frustration. 

    Is anyone earning Xanga Credits anymore?

     

     

  • Criss Cross Scarf - The Halfway Point.

    Currently
    Once and Again - The Complete Second Season
    By Sela Ward, Billy Campbell, Jeffrey Nordling, Susanna Thompson, Shane West
    see related

    The scarf is much wider than expected due to gauge differences however, I'm forging ahead.  As predicted, I will run short of the Heather Grey yarn and I've chosen to use a Wool Ease Oxford Grey for a portion of the criss cross strips.  The Oxford Grey is darker than the Heather Grey but due to the design of the scarf hopefully, it'll look like it's meant to be that way.

     

     

  • Criss Cross Scarf in Progress

    Currently
    Once and Again - The Complete Second Season
    By Sela Ward, Billy Campbell, Jeffrey Nordling, Susanna Thompson, Shane West
    see related

    Hopefully the finished scarf will look somewhat like the pattern photo, only much wider and most likely it'll have to be two toned.

    The pattern suggests a DK weight but I'm using a Worsted Weight.  I'm trying to think of a complementary color for the second half of the scarf as I'm almost certain to run out of the Heather Grey.  This half of the scarf is acrylic so it's a good bet that the second half will also be acrylic.  No sense in making it more complicated than necessary.

    I took a moment to weave in the ends so the task wouldn't be so daunting when the scarf is finished.  Silly me, I thought that this pattern would be really simple, and it is in theory, however there are a lot more parts than I realized.  As you can see in the photo, each section had to be knit separately and then joined.  The second half will be similarly knit except each section will be woven through this first half before joined and finished.

    There are many times while knitting that I've thought about stopping and ripping it out however, I'm stubborn and will finish the scarf on principle only.  Sometimes I just don't "feel" a pattern but have to finish it anyway because it'll bother me to have failed.  Wow, I guess that says a lot about me.

     

  • Once and Again

    Currently
    Once and Again - The Complete First Season
    By Sela Ward, Billy Campbell, Jeffrey Nordling, Julia Whelan, Meredith Deane
    see related

     

    Watching one of my favorite short lived tv shows on dvd...Once and Again. 

    Started knitting a scarf from a free pattern... Criss Cross.

    It's supposed to be done with a lighter weight yarn but I'm using an inexpensive worsted weight so it's going to be wider than suggested. I've been mesmerized by the braided look patterns that don't involve cables but I have to admit that working on separate pieces is slow going. 

    Another round of cough/cold is ending.  After the laryngitis, I could tell that another cough/cold was starting because I got a sore throat.  Then I had the dripping nose, slight headache and hoarse cough all weekend.  I've been hibernating but I'm beginning to wonder if my house is making me sick.   I washed all of the bed linens and towels, disinfected the bathrooms, ran the dishwasher on the sanitizing cycle and vacuumed the carpets.  However, I wasn't able to air out the house so essentially I'm breathing the same air over and over.