Author: beverly

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It Is Finished

For a moment I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself. It is finished. We were out last night on our date night. Which was later than usual because Mr. Honey volunteers the second Thursday of each month and we eat afterwards. I told him I didn’t know what to do with my mornings when I remembered his family get together is in January. For the past five years, I’ve made an afghan to give away. Everyone’s name goes into some kind of receptacle and one name gets pulled out. You can’t win it two years in a row.

I have not yet started the afghan – I usually have one lying around but not this year. So, one will have to be made fresh. I was fretting about which blanket to make when my Google feed showed a really lovely one. Which I did not bother to look at right at that moment. I would have to scour Google to find it and I did on the YouTube. It’s here in case you want to know what it is. It’s a simple two row repeat. Which means I only made minor adjustments. I just don’t know how to leave well enough alone.

First, it’s sized for a baby blanket and I want something bigger.So I increased the chain. Second, I am almost always wary of just jumping into pattern rows so I like to make a base row. So while the pattern says one thing, I made a  row of single crochet just to make myself feel better. The row also serves another purpose. I am using one skein of Caron One Pound Century in Golden Yellow. I remember when I bought it years ago. I got two of them. I know where one is. I don’t think I have the other one. I have approx. 800 yards to make this work. The base row is so I don’t have to make the larger edge she worked into her blanket. One row of single crochet, then sc in the first and last two stitches, should give me enough of an edge.

It is not lost on me that I am doing a somewhat mindless crochet project, albeit an important one, right after doing a sweater that caused ingrown hairs in my brain. My breathing is somewhat normal. Though I am using a Tunisian afghan crochet hook to make it. Hey, it was was the only one available. Heaven forbid I go downstairs, get a hook and come back up.

I am expecting a new laptop to arrive today. I had to order a new one because the b on this one takes forever to type. It is worn out. In fact, I have a line of b’s sitting here in a row and I go get one when I need one so I can rock the flow. It didn’t occur to me to just make a few then copy and paste as needed. Then again, if FedEx holds true, this is the only time today I will need to worry about it. Though I will hold on to them because this can be the backup laptop and I will need them.

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb bbbbbbb BBBBBBBBBBBB Might as well leave them here. Just in case.

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There Are No Words

There are no words. Actually, that’s not true. There are plenty of words. They just aren’t good words. They are words that start with WTF? We said those words over and over Friday when we went to look at houses.

Yes, Mr. Honey and I are moving. Kinda. We have to move because it’s better for my legs to not have to constantly go up and down stairs. So after, heaven knows how long of getting him for real on board with us having to leave the only neighborhood he’s lived in his entire life, we went to look at houses.

We had a fairly decent price point in mind and I think folks are generally optimistic about what their money can buy them. Our agent lined up three houses that cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars. They were fairly close to where we are now because someone wants to stay in the neighborhood. That’s not gonna happen.

I can’t even describe which one was worse. Uneven floors, the house in disrepair except for a new room – usually a kitchen -which, I suppose was to distract you from the huge slant of the rest of the house. The last house fooled us because the outside looked lovely and the photos showed a light and airy interior with space. Our house is small; these places were supposed to be bigger. They weren’t. And of course, the place in the house where I thought I would have my yarn room/office was way smaller than what I have now. Deal breaker.

In the end, revamped the plan. We are looking for a condo on an interim basis because we really do have to get me in a place easier to move around.We will be on the hunt for a condo but I am better prepared for disappointment of photos to reality. The only word that matters is ‘Eureka!’

I came back home needing to knit something to remind myself there is something reliable out there. Knitting can crush you but it never disappoints.

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It Tried to Kill Me

The EDS is so called because it is Elizabeth’s Daughter’s Sweater. I could have named it Hope’s sweater but I didn’t know her daughter’s name when I started it so EDS it was. It is now EDS meaning Evil Demon Seed because the sweater mocks me, it laughs at me. It tried to kill me.

I know this to be true. I was at that point where you just want the project to be over. Knitters know this phenomenon. It happens all the time. But the morning I went to start to turtleneck on this sweater. The last major part: the shoulders and arms were seamed and all that was left was the sides. I went to start the turtleneck and felt a little nostalgic. It was going to be over in a matter of stitches.

I should have known then I was in for trouble. It was Thanksgiving morning. We were going over to the same place we have gone for the last three years and love to go. It was my birthday – maybe that’s why I was feeling happy and wistful when I picked up the sweater and started picking up the stitches to make the turtleneck.

The pattern said turn the sweater inside out and pick up 100 stitches around the neck – it was way more specific about that but that’s what I saw when I read it…so. I picked up the stitches and started working in the pattern and it took a row to realize it wasn’t going to work. It didn’t line up. Had to rip it out. EDS 1 – Me 0.

Recast on the stitches and started again. Took a few rows before I realized I made a mistake. The sweater was turned inside out but the stitches were picked up as if I was working the  right side. I was doing knit 3, purl 2. But it’s a turtleneck. The collar will fold over. I have to knit the opposite. I have to Purl 3, knit 2. EDS 2 – Me 0

For some strange reason, I didn’t want to P3, K2. I wanted to K3, P2. So I turned the sweater right side out and started to pick up stitches from the private side. The time I allotted to work on the sweater had run out. I went to put it back into the bag and I thought the bag was light. I started to panic. I had lost the back to the sweater. I know I had it out but I always thought I put it back. I frantically looked around for it and started calling myself an idiot for having misplaced it.

Did you catch it? Took me another minute before I did. I heard the sweater laugh at me and that’s when I knew it tried to kill me. I put it away to let it think itself victorious. EDS 3: Me 0

When I came back to it. I picked it up. Lined up the picked up stitches and started to work and it seems to be cooperating.. I had to get some more yarn from the original pieces but I think I will be able to finish it without have to touch that last skein. Of course, now that I said that, I bet this will get interesting. Keep good thoughts.

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Brain Burp

The first photo taken in the studio. Not so bad considering it was early evening and the outside was a lot darker than it looked.

This just might work. I should know soon because the EDS is almost done. Though we were working to do each other in for a moment.

The EDS had a little laugh at my expense. Made me wonder if we the friends I thought we were coming to be. Now, I am beginning to think it wants to be done as much as I want it to be done.

Here’s what happened. I got to the shaping part and had to write out the instructions because it was one of those: do this for the next two rows twice and then do it once for four more times and then do this kind of thing and at the end, you should have 20 stitches on both sides – because you’re using two different balls of yarn to shape the shoulders.and doing the neck shaping at the same time. So, I charted it out so I could tick off the stitches. And I counted and sure enough, if I did just what it said, I would have 20 stitches. 

I went about my business and when I was done, I thought I would count and admire my magic. Not only did I have more than 20 stitches, I had more stitches on one side than I did on the other.

Because, I somehow had a brain burp and didn’t realize I would have to do that entire decrease thing on both sides. I would have to perform each step twice. So, I had to do recalculation with where I was and proceed. The bottom line is the decreases are done. There are the requisite 20 stitches on each side. I lined up the front with the back and the arm stitches, shoulder stitches and the length of both pieces all line up. I have to do one row straight and then bind off.

I read ahead (won’t fool me again) and saw the turtleneck instructions – which I ain’t gonna follow. At least not completely. There’s a section where you knit, do a turning row, knit some more and then stitch the last row of the neck to the first part.. I’m gonna leave the turtleneck free so it can be turned either way, making the sweater reversible. There’s no inside or outside. 

I am cautiously optimistic – another brain burp notwithstanding. 

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Soon and Very Soon

You see this? This is my new photography studio. I have cleared the space in the yarn room directly behind this desk and I can actually see outside in the backyard. Let’s not talk about the last time I could see the view unobstructed – or the last time I could see the view at all.

It looks a little dark but that’s because I took the photo later in the afternoon. This morning, sunlight is pouring through it and I already have the thought of there the white boards are going. One to act as a background and the other to reflect the light unto the heads or torsos. It works well in my head but when it comes to execution, well, let’s just hope for the best.

I am making these plans to give the weather angels something to laugh at. Last winter Chicago found itself in a polar vortex that made Frosty stay by the fireplace with a warm mug of ale. Taking photos out in real temperatures of minus insert double digit here was not fun and was dangerous. This year, there is the studio. Winter has already showed its head here. It snowed and was really cold on Halloween. There’s been a little snow since then but not much but this is me preparing. Which sent the eternal weather office into smirks. We will probably have a warm winter. Ha, little angels. I can deal with that, too. Maybe I shouldn’t mock weather angels. Maybe they will bring a weather so fierce, ice will freeze up the windows blocking my light and making it necessary for me to try work outdoors. Did I just give them ideas? Better quit while I’m behind ahead.

In other news, the EDS and I are making friends. I am in the final shaping stage. that part of the sweater where you need two balls of yarn to do the decreases. I can see the end of the instructions and they are a few rows away. Knit math has reared its head and I did a count of stitches and found I was off first by a lot then by a little. So I continued on and count again and found I am off by one stitch somewhere. This is what I get for following the instructions. Not I get to improvise to bring it all back into balance. So, like usual, I’m not following the pattern to the letter. This is how it works.

There;s another page of the pattern after this one. The finishing page. Can’t wait to see what I ignore about that one. It will be something. There will be no choice. I haven’t followed it at points all the way through. The finishing will have to be adjusted just on odds. Soon and very soon. This is the exciting part. The still here but moving on part. I’ve chosen the pattern for the afghans I want to do. Both of them will be the same. One will be a solid color and the other will be variegated yarn. The story about how I got to that pattern is kinda cute. In a typical way for me kind of cute. Tell ya later.

 

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The Yarn That Isn’t In the Photo

This looks like a nice portrait of a blended yarn family. Indeed, it could be. No knitter or crocheter would look upon this little group with disdain. (Well, those who don’t think acrylics ought to be used ever…they might. We leave them alone and try not to look at them full in the face.) The rest of us though, can appreciate the loveliness.

Except, and this happens every year, this yarn is supposed to be something. Something else. Other than pretty yarn. I see a hat and a scarf and another hat and another hat and a cowl. That part isn’t so bad. They will get there and that will be fine. It’s the yarn that isn’t in the photo that’s going to make me loonier than a cartoon song.

It’s almost Thanksgiving. In January is the annual Mr. Honey family get together and I bring an afghan to raffle off. The afghan itself is still yarn. Yarn I haven’t even picked yet. Not to mention, the afghan for my niece’s wedding is not done. She got married last month.They live in Arizona. It’s not like they won’t be warm without it but it will be a decorative piece. I hope.

The afghans are office projects. Projects I will work on for 1 to 3 hours every morning in the office – where I am not…not knitting. I was knitting, I was working on the EDS who decided to throw a curve into my timeline this morning. 

I started working on the next collection in the midst f working on orders and that’s not going as well as I’d like because life…life continues to want to have attention paid to it. Because like also has a calendar but knows it will win in the end so it’s just a thing for show. Life really doesn’t need to track its own time.

I think it will work itself out. The EDS will be finished. Though each time I read the instructions, I have a moment of doubt. I will get the afghans done. Notice I didn’t say on time because one timeline is already shot. But I should have it for the January soiree. 

The yarn that isn’t in the photo will be pretty things when you see them next. I hope.

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An Update on EDS

Finally, an update on EDS. I have been steadily working the knit magic to get this sweater done. I thought it would be done sometime this spring but that didn’t happen, then summer and a bunch of travel later and the EDS didn’t really get my attention until a few months ago. I thought I had taken it with me to Montana and was relieved to find I didn’t because I thought I left it somewhere in South Dakota.

That was August. I was working on it faithfully when September rolled in. Then an unexpected trip to San Antonio and that threw a wrench into things. But the work continued. 

For sure, it would be done by the end of September but a trip to Phoenix – where the sweater did not come with me because there would be no knit time – and a trip straight from the airport to the hospital for a four day stay turned that plan on its ear.

But we go steady on and here we are in November and we can see the end in sight. The increases are almost done and that will leave the shaping. I work on it the first thing in the morning from 1 -3 hours depending on how the day is looking.

Here’s my take away from working on this sweater:

    1. I can’t follow a pattern to save my life. I always find something to modify. I find this to be true even in my own patterns. It’s a brain blip. I have learned to live with it. In this instance, I changed the stitch, the count, the increases and decreases. I kept the bind off, though. I’m not a total ingrate.
    2. The yarn is Malabrigo Mecha. It’s a beautiful, kettle dyed Merino. The color is Pocion. It’s $15 a skein. I don’t love it any more or any less than any of the other yarns in my stash. I know knit snobs who think acrylic is a waste and won’t touch it and those for whom natural yarns are a preference without the snobbishness. My stash is 98% acrylic. I get a kick out of it and of how much I have of it. Working with this fiber is nice but it is the knitting that’s the path for me. I learned to knit with string sooooo.
    3. This yarn is single ply. And it shows. It doesn’t lend itself too well to being reknit. I had to give it a stern talking to but I know as soon as it leaves me and begins to be worn; body heat and washing will enhance the look beyond my control.
    4. I just freakin’ love knitting and crochet. I come into the office every morning and pull out this sweater and it is a great way to begin the day. So much so, that I have already begun to consider what I will be making next as my office project.
    5. Knit math doesn’t care if you’re using natural fibers. I knit and knit and knit and couldn’t get to the 11 inches I needed. Then I knit some more and got 12 inches. Knit math always wins.
    6. I’m at that point where I’m wanting this to be done. This happens to every knitter and it means a project is almost over. The love affair is almost at an end. There’s almost nothing else we can do for each other so we might as well call it a relationship, wish each other well with our next loves and part as friends.
    7. As happy as I will be, Hope will be even happier.

Let’s cross our fingers for Thanksgiving.

 

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Learned How to Line a Hat

There is much to tell you. Snow came to Knitsville and it came on Halloween. That means Mr. Honey got the biggest haul of the candy. He bought one big bag of candy – which had only two kinds of candy I liked – so he was the one raiding the bag. With the snow and the cold, our doorbell rang maybe four times.

Halloween was also on a Thursday, which is our date night, so….I think most of Knitsville has their own candy stashes. Kids don’t care where it comes from. Not likely to go to waste.

The EDS continues. I even had the camera up to take a photo but I think orders might have gotten in the way. In any case, I am up to the increases for the sleeves/shoulder. There shall be a photo of something. Sometime. I’m pretty sure I promised it.

I got a message from a potential customer who asked if one of my hats was lined. Did I tell you this already? I offered to line and she took me up on it. So, I went to the YouTube and learned how to line a hat. I put the option of a lined hat in the listing instead of making it a custom item – and wouldn’t you know – someone else has ordered one. But now I know how to do because I learned how to line a hat.

I had been thinking about lining the hats for a bit now. But in satin, not fleece. But however I broke through, now that I know how, I think it will be slowly added to listings and promoted out. Plain, fleece, satin. Nice options. Raised the cost about $5 which is pretty reasonable.

It was a little nerve wracking but I know how it goes now. The learning curve wasn’t that long, either. Of course, I didn’t follow the instructions to the letter and I looked at a couple of videos and took something from almost all of them – including the fact that one of them was way too detailed. That was someone who liked that kind of detail in everything. The end result was great but I couldn’t tell if it was greater than the folks that didn’t do as many steps. I learned things from actually doing it that I know I will incorporate when I put the next one in.

I think this is a good idea now but if it takes off. I will be both happy and stressed. Oh boy. That’s kinda the best of no worlds. Looking forward to it.

 

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Was This Enough?

Saturday, all day, it was raining cats, dogs some mice and a unicorn. Russell Crowe was walking around the neighborhood with some wood and boat plans. That’s when I got an order to make one of these. I listened to the rain, sighed deeply, then went upstairs to get dressed in going out in the rain clothes. 

It was after 6 pm and I told myself I could wait until rain stopped or the Apocalypse really started in earnest but nope, I wanted to go get my supplies and get the job done because I was certain…certain, I tell ya, I did not have this yarn in stock.

I went into the yarn room where the newly sorted yarn is sitting in the huge bags. Found the three bags that held the big yarns and cakes..and sitting on top of bag #2. Was a little less than half a skein of the gray fiber needed to make this hooded scarf.

I pulled it out and looked at it. Was this enough? There’s a lot of yarn in that scarf. I know I have a lot left over when I make one. This skein is probably a remnant from the last one I made. I never made attention to what was leftover. Note to self: pay attention next time. I weighed it…because..that just seemed the right thing to do to determine how much I used before to make a scarf. Thinking that’s why I had that skein to begin with. 7 ounces. It’s a 16 oz skein. Does that mean a scarf takes 9 oz and I won’t have enough? There are fewer things more frustrating to a knitter than being near the end of the project and they run out of yarn. You’d rather hear your mother-in-law say she misses your husband’s ex-girlfriend from high school. (My mother-in-law never did this.)

I took another deep sigh – I am getting so good at that – plopped myself down in my chair, pulled my J hook and went to work. It was soon quite clear there was more than enough. I finished most of it that night and finished it off. 

This tells me a couple of things: my memory of what is and isn’t in my yarn stash makes going through my yarn stash thrilling because I can surprise myself. Thank goodness for the yarn sort. I have no idea where I would have found that half skein if it was still willy-nilly in the shopping bags. This saved me a lot of time and some money. Organization is a good thing. I am not going to have an unorganized stash again. 

Don’t hold me to that. This is a in the moment declaration which may be followed by a dose of reality. The gods are laughing.

 

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Bring Up the Phone

I gave thought to taking a photo of the EDS to show the progress of the front and thought that there wasn’t much progress to report so a photo wouldn’t do much. Then I compared the last photo with where it is now and thought there was a difference. But I didn’t have the camera and thought there wasn’t so much progress that it was worth going downstairs to get it. So, I thought the next time I will bring up the phone to take a photo.

Then I laughed myself silly at that notion. Bring up the phone to take a picture. That’s something that no one in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s or  most of the 90’s said to themselves. Ever. The first commercial camera phone didn’t show up until 1999. Life, as we know it, was changed.

I can remember back in the 70’s watching General Hospital and  Robert Scorpio was talking on a wireless phone about the size of a deck of cards and I thought, how can anyone hear him talking with that so far from his mouth. That ain’t gonna be a thing. It’s a thing.

Taking pics is so much more convenient than before (except when you leave the camera/phone downstairs and don’t want to go get it.) But I imagine just as there are people who know how to knit and knitters, there are people who take pictures with their camera phones and photographers. I believe photographers can take awesome pictures with their camera phones and then there are folks like me. I used to be more of a photographer but that hobby gave way to knitting. If I had only known where knitting would lead me, I would have kept a toe in.

I have to find a place with lots of light to do my photography and videos inside in the winter. As it is, no matter how cold it gets in Chicago – and it does get cold – I take my photos outside because the light is best. It’s not like it gets sooooo bad. Except when there are polar vortexes. Cold enough so that even the snow says it doesn’t want to be outside. We had that last year and I still managed to take photos when I needed to. For me, it’s December, January and February that cause me grief. At the end of November, I start telling myself it’s just twelve more weeks before reasonable seasonable weather will be here. It works for me.

I any case, tomorrow works for a picture. I am working on the EDS and unless knit math decides to play with me, there will be even more length to show you. So it works out for everyone.

I am also on my third go round in the hat I am designing. It was called the slip stitch beanie then the checkmates beanie. I think I will stick with that name though I will be using the slip stitch. Not as many floats to deal with. Mr. Honey brought me some chocolate covered raisins. They are keeping me sane while I go through this. I will show you a pic in progress when I decide on the final design method. I just have to bring up the phone.