Never Give Up. Never Surrender!

Not yet, at least.

I found two more tricks to try yesterday, and visited with Monika at Woolen Treasures in Loveland, getting another idea.

(I was on that side of Loveland, alone, before 5PM, which pretty much calls for a stop-in to see what is in the sale bin, don't you know.) (Elsabeth Lavold Silky Tweed, 60% off, for any that are curious.)

But I have to say that I am pretty close to saying short row toes and heels are a technique that I cannot get the hang of.

I have tried.

Lorday, have I tried.  Grandbebe Girls Three each have a new pair of shorty socks (and round two is starting) with short row heels and toes (heels and toes heels and toes..sing with me, won't you?).  The youngest two especially don't mind if the craftmanship isn't perfect, and wear doesn't play a factor.  The socks won't be walked in, after all.

I am glad I have somebodies to practice knit for, and my test articles are not just tree ornaments.

I have a book with short row heel directions.  I have watched YouTube videos with short row heels demonstrated.  I have downloaded 3 or 4 different blog entries with 3 or 4 different takes on how to do short row heels and toes (heels and toes heels and toes).  I have gone to the TechKnitting blog. There are a couple I have not tried, that involves SSSP on the back side.  (Seriously? SSSP?) And the Japanese dig and pin or some such label.  I couldn't figure that one out, and it always seems to be the last option given.  (Which does not seem to bode well for directional effort, being 4 on a a scale of 1 to 4.) (Just sayin'...)

But I might try the SSSP before I am through.  Because I am that way.  Often, I cannot say die.

The problem is not that I don't understand short rows.  I know short rows.  I do short rows on dishclothes, for pete's sakes!

The problem is how, on socks, one closes the gap left by turning.  I do what I am told, as close as I understand it, and what I am left with is...fairly neat on one side, and I am pretty sure will neaten up with practice.  But the other side looks like poo.  Loopy, gappy, uneven poo.

And the frustrating part is I have not been able to figure out if I am doing the knitting-back side tidy, or the purling-back side tidy!  I look and figure and flip and twist and calculate...all to no avail.

Of course, some of the suggested techniques have left both sides evenly poo-like.

So frustrating for me.  I have knit four socks, and am on my fifth.  By now, most techniques I would have had down pat, and have figured out whether I really liked doing this, or if it was something I just didn't find interesting.

But to have it elude me?  To read directions and not catch on?  To not knit up something and have it look spiffy?

Most recent effort was probably the most successful, but I am anxious to try what Monika offered, too.  I feel there is hope. But it is a thin thread, and I am prepared to admit that perhaps...

...that perhaps I need to take my socks into the LYS in person and have someone demonstrate exactly what it is I need to do...

Never give up. Never surrender!

Nothing Much

But a post, none the less.

Wonderful Guy spent two days last week in Denver, and will be there all this week. Le weekend was spent catching up and getting ready.

A few other things were accomplished. Taxes were started. The ubiquitous slippers were finished, started, finished, started... A couple of trips were made to the supposed yarn sale to find the garage door closed. (pooh!)

This week I am in charge of everything, though.  Feeding the fish.  Dosing the dog. Bringing in the trash bin. Sorting mail.  I seriously hope it doesn't snow! Other than that, I feel I am up to the task.

I do get to feeling a little hinky when I find myself talking to Best Dog Ever in the evening.  And realize, when I hear my voice, that is the first 'person' I have spoken to all night.  Depending on my days at work?  Sometimes it's all day.

I subscribed to Interweave Knits this weekend.  And thanks for all the input about the cardi patterns.  Especially Mary...who added ANOTHER to my list.

Check out Audrey in Unst!

So, yes, the clan is preparing to gather the end of the month in Desert Crazy Town for Middle Daughter's tying of the nuptial knot. All the Offspring will be there, except for Only Step Son.  All my Sibs will be gathered, and we always have a really good time together. My plan was to travel to Philly from Denver, but instead, I will go to west before I go east.  In fact, Eldest Daughter & ManFriend, Precious Niece, DSis, and I will all be heading east together on the same day, but not on all the same flight.  Alas.  I will be alone on my plane, while they will be together.

All alone.
In the cold.
And the dark.
Alone.
In the rain.

I am sure they will start the Philly party without me.

Saturday Saturday

With some of the comments Thursday, I feel the need to address them in post format.  Don't know why, but I do, so I am.

Your comments were way too reinforcing.  I fear I feel the need to go back to the sell-off today...the siren song of the bargains call to me....

So the book, Actic Lace is by Donna Druchunas, who is local, and has given some knitting seminars at LYSs around here. The subtitle says "Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters", and on the back? "Qiviut, or musk ox down, may be the world's most luxurious fiber.  It's extremely soft, warm, and light-weight.  People who experience it become obsessed."  Sounds exactly like something meant for me.  But seriously, Qiviut yarn goes for about a gazillion dollars an ounce, or maybe just $90, and spun to laceweight at about 200 yards per ounce.  Alot of yardage, but still, really really pricey.

There are slippers to be made still.  There are many pairs of feet to be covered in my circle of trust, and the feet will all be gathered the end of the month for some nuptials in Crazy Desert Town.  So good for mass belated Valentine's Day gifting or for whatever else I what to peg it on.  (If they read, now they know...and they probably guessed anyway...but they don't know which is for who...)

Kathleen - when you are back in the area this summer, I hope we have a chance to meet for coffee.

Wunx - exactly why I can buy books without a second thought and no need for justification.  My mother alos approved of books.

And Mary - I do need to justify the purchases.  I do!  I  really do!
______________________________

I have this yarn. (Thanks, Martha!)

It’s really wonderful being of 40% cashmere, 30% lambswool, 30% virgin wool and all. And there are 1140 yards of it. And it is of fingering weight. It is also discontinued, and has been for some time, and there is none to be traded for on Ravelry.

I have checked.  So 1140 yards is all there is.

I love the color. I believe it is calling to be a sweater for me.

And therein lies the rub. Many sweaters call for a heavier yarn, or for more yardage.

It’s tricky! I know! I have looked!

I have some ideas, but I am not sure they are perfect.

Let me share them with you.

Tempest (but not stripey)

Wallis Cardigan (Interweave Knit S2008)

Another Lady February Sweater (but that really calls for bulkier yarn)

Peasy (Rav link)  This one I will have to buy.  Funny thing about my philosophy about not buying patterns. 

It's pretty much like dust since the beginning of the year.

(Good thing I have another philosophy about evolving as a person.)

Maybe an outside opinion might be a good thing, if one would care to offer check out the above listed links, that is.

Good Times

'I Take the Fifth' Slippers are done.  Even Wonderful Guy says I have the hang of them.  Well said.  He is good at saying the right thing.

Remember here when I mentioned I wanted the book Simply Felt?

And here when I talked about my ginourmous long sz 15s causing me to be unwieldy in my knitting of the above pictured slippers?

Well.  Former Young CoWorker Knitter Peep discovered a neighbor selling of the remains of her yarn shop on Sunday.  She spoke to the former proprietor of her knitterly peeps, and we were invited to a private browsing/shopping experience.  I know!  I almost hyperventilated!

Bargains were to be had.  And items sought after were found.

Books! For not many dollars. I mean, seriously!  Hardly any.  And see there?  Simply Felt!

Shorty sz 15s! And pretty ones, too!  (Sixth Slippers are ready for seaming and felting. Seventh will be green!)

And yarn of much variety, prudently looked over, thoughtfully appraised and pondered, then brought home after forking over not much.

I am still heady with the excitement.  Alas, my goal of my stash being less at year's end than at year's beginning looks less attainable.

Unless I forgo all other hobbies, work, housecleaning, and eating for knitting.

Oh, that reminds of one other purchase, which I did not photograph.  Why, one may wonder, did Iron Needles buy herself the book, Dyer's Companion?

Because, I think, we can all agree, Iron Needles needs herself another craft.  There were natural dyes there, too.  I could not pass up a container of cochineal and one of madder, among others!  It just sounds too cool!  All earth mother-y and all.

I know. It's all crazy.

Except for the part about the books.  Because books are always good.

And the needles, because I was needing them.

And the yarn, because it was all such a good deal, and good deals...are good.

And the dyes.  Because...I am going to learn something new, which is good, and...and...I am going to make stuff with it!

Ground Hog Day

I have been reviewing the few knitting magazines I have accumulated over the last few years. Most of them have come by way of Wisest Sister. (Thank you ever so much!)

Some have been found at the LYS as old issues at a discount. (I am such a tightwad.)

And I have several Spin-Offs I picked up for FREE at a fiber gathering. In a box of magazines. Marked ‘Free, Help Yourself’. I looked around, and it appeared they meant me! So I picked up 8 or 10 copies from 2000 through 2005. Seems that spinning articles aren’t that dated really. Much like the art of spinning. Go figure.

My intention is to find the perfect, yet elusive, sweater pattern, that will fit the bill regarding yarn weight and yardage, my skill level, my style and wearability, etc, etc, etc.

What I have found is…

• An article on dying with food coloring
• The Tahki Stacy Charles free pattern website
• The Vogue Knitting website
• There is one EZ book I don’t have yet
• I may have to subscribe to Interweave Knits
• Vogue models look way. too. serious. to be modeling mittens
• A vintage weave-it loom to decorate my felted slippers would be an excellent addition (and I wonder if DSis has one…)
• I want the book ‘Simply Felt’ by Docherty and Emerson
• Three different articles on EZs life and times
• Excellent how-tos for picot cast-on and cast-off, fleece washing, and kitchener grafting
• The difference between fulling and felting and boiling (which I have forgotten now) (but could look up) (if I could find the right Spin-Off)
• Plenty of patterns that I want to knit. Enough to keep me shopping for yarn for a very long time.
• (And plenty of patterns that give me those what were they thinking moments…)