Archive for the ‘Knitting’ Category

Purls in Onancock VA

November 12, 2011

A few days ago, Maria called.  She and Betty wanted to take me to lunch on Veterans Day.  It sounds a lot better than, “I’m off Friday.  Let’s go shopping.  You can drive.”  I always drive, which is fine with me.  I like to drive.  My van is more comfortable for me than theirs.  That’s important for old cricky people like me.  So, anyway, somehow we found ourselves in Onancock.  It is a super little town.  I love going there.  It’s full of neat stuff.  I may even take Sweetums some day. 

Since it was almost 1pm when we got there, we went to Janet’s Cafe for lunch.  They are only open until 2pm in the winter.  As usual, we had an absolutely fabulous lunch.  We love love love this place.  Trying to decide on what to get is very hard.  Maybe next time I’ll just close my eyes and pick one.  I don’t believe I could go wrong. 

Purls  is now across the street from Janet’s so it was one stop shopping.  What more do you want?  The shop is small, but there is a good variety.  I only bought one ball of yarn.  I want to make my daughter a vest and a found some glitzy purple to add to it.  Maria, as usual, bought the most.  Betty, ever the planner, with her notebook in hand, found yarn for a couple of projects.  We were there for about two hours.  How does that happen? 

By the time I got up to Salisbury, it was full dark.  It being Friday dinnertime, cars were everywhere.  It  was as bad as summertime.  I was a little tired and didn’t feel like dealing with highway traffic so I headed over to the old road.  I popped in my iPod and enjoyed the rest of the trip in pease.

Two More Weeks

October 24, 2011

Some things can’t be done in one step.  So I have to wait.  Bending over,  moving too quickly, staring all make my head hurt.  I even had to roll a ball of yarn with the hank in my lap because the swift was making me nauseous.  It took me forever to finish a pair of pants, but I have been getting a lot of knitting accomplished.

I’m Really Getting Tired of Knitting Hats

August 31, 2011

I decided that all the hats should have a flower.

This one didn’t look like anything without the flower.

I think I’ll change the flower on this one.  Too busy.

I’m not certain if I like this one at all.

New Stuff

August 20, 2011

We just finished dragging in new furniture and rearranging the old.  We’re taking a break before the final placement.  Sweetums got out a beer and I got out a yogurt and a Seagrams flavored beer.  That’s a good lunch.  Right?

Sweetums has been belly aching for months over my worn recliner.  I’ve been belly aching about him sitting in it so much.  So.  We went shopping.  And this is what I bought.

I’m ready to sit and knit.  Doesn’t look like a recliner, does it?  That’s the best part.  Most of them are so bulky and down right ugly.  I can’t see how anyone would want one in their home.  And where’s my old one going?  Into the sitting area in our bedroom where Sweetums can read and no one can see it.  If he gets lonely, he can his own d**n recliner and join me. 

We started our search at their bargain store.  No recliners of interest, but I did find a nice container for my sewing supplies.  So I bought two.  Hey.  I know a good thing when I see it.   They are jewelry armoires.  Does anyone have that much jewelry?  I tried taking a picture, but it turned out crappy.  Usually, these things look, well, tacky.  These are Mission style– an unassuming clean look.  I now have sixteen drawers to fill.  Can I do it?  Considering that I have fifteen filled little plastic drawers, I believe I can.

Paulies Socks from Knitcircus

August 13, 2011

I picked this pattern for my next pair of summer socks because it was pretty much a no brainer.  Knit 2, purl 2 with a little twist stitch every eight rows.  But I read the directions anyway.  It felt like the writer was trying to make something simple sound difficult.  When I got to the heel I had to read it over a few times before I could “see” what she was talking about.  I went with an Eye of Partridge heel instead.  It’s a good look on variegated yarn.  Next came a shaped arch sole which I have done a few times.  Here again, the directions were weird.  At first, I thought it was me.  I am dyslexic, you know.  I got out one of my Charlene Schurch books (I wish I had remembered to take them to MDSWF) and read what she had to say.  I felt much better.  Thanks Charlene.  I didn’t bother with the shaped arch after all that.  I was tired of thinking.

I made mittens to go with the hat.  I like these so much that I may not sell them.

Blogging When Grumpy—-Not A Good Idea

August 6, 2011

Is it the arthritis?  Is it the weather?  Is it the cataract?  Is it natural?  Well.  Yes.  Actually, it’s good to rant and rave.  It feels good to put it all into words.  It feels real good.  Just don’t publish it.  You’ll regret it later.  Enough!

I’ve been making hats.  I have several single skeins of lovely yarn.  I have had about six thousand hits on Victoria’s Cloche so it made sense to use that pattern. 

 

I loosely followed the slouchy tam on the other two.  I saw a hat with a cabled brim so I tried it.  I’m not certain that I like it.  It’s too hard to see for the work involved.  There’s a couple more to go, then I’m back to socks.  I’m three pair behind schedule.

I also want to thank Sweetums for being —- sweet through all my grumpiness.

Spending Time Indoors

July 22, 2011

I’m making placemats to go with the table quilt.   I had a fair amount of a cream print left and cut six decent sized fronts. I know.  It’s a bit boring.  My intention is to embroider coneflowers on them.  It should help.  I’ll bind each one in a different fabric.

These are three-inch sample squares.  My crazy ex-girlfriend was going to throw them out because they were “too old”.  How does cotton fabric get to be too old?  She used to throw out all the left-over fabric from everything she made.  Whole yards of fabric would go in the trash.  I got some great stuff off her.  Fabric is just something else to play with. 

I took half the stack, flipped it over and sewed two together.  I can’t sew them all because they should be nine squares wide and a little over five high.  I’m hoping that they will look good enough to use on either side—-especially when I forget to flip them during shedding season.  Luckily, Cora loves to be combed.

I thought I’d make some hats to sell.  Since I’ve had about six thousand hits on Victoria”s Cloche, that’s what I’m going with.  I’ll make a few then go back to socks.

It’s Official! I’m Losing It

July 16, 2011

Yesterday, I forgot what day it was.   I needed a pedicure and I wanted a manicure so I called.  I thought it odd when I was told to come at a specific time.  Usually, I get, “When do you think you’ll be here?’  When I walked in I was surprised at how busy it was.  The greeter said, “Well, it’s always like this on Friday and Saturday.”  I couldn’t believe it.  I never go around the weekend for this reason.  I even pulled out my phone to check the day.  Yep.  It was Friday.  Just shoot me and bury me in the back yard.  Boy.  Wouldn’t that surprise the next owners.

I thought it was time for a plain pair of socks.  As you can see, I didn’t make it.  I didn’t even start out with a plain rib.  And whereas the yarn is subdued, it isn’t plain either.  This is Sockotta yarn which is nice for Summer.  The leg is purposely loose.  I used a smaller needle for the heel gusset and decreased an additional six stitches on the foot.  It fits just the way I want it.

Flo Makes Me Crazy

July 6, 2011

She had spent another night out.  We were ready for our morning walk and she still hadn’t shown up.  We locked up and headed down the driveway when I saw her sitting in the yard next door.  She got up and staggered over.  She looked like she had been up all night partying.  She couldn’t keep her eyes open.  Since she was basically OK, we told her that we would be back in an hour and went on our way.  Well, she was nowhere to be seen when we got back.  We considered turning on the sprinklers, but decided that would be mean.  She finally managed to stagger out of the bushes around noon.  We fed her a nice breakfast and half and half.  Of course, we had to give Rue Boy some.  He is such a mooch.

Every time Flo stays out all night I am reminded of the time some thing tried to slice her a new asshole.  Plus, she’s so tiny.  She is such a sweetie.  I wonder, sometimes, how long I’ll have her.

Did I mention that I am not buying any more yarn?  Well, I lied. 

Forgot to Mention

June 30, 2011

I finished the leaf shawl.  This is the fourth time that I have used this pattern.  I think I’ve gotten my money’s worth.  The yarn was easy to work.  I’d buy it again.  It’s a lace weight Noro called Sekko. 

Now, I need to get back to entrelac socks.  I know I can do it, but I don’t want to write the pattern.