Friday, April 5, 2013

Friday Mishmash

Brrr!  I know I have no room to complain compared to a lot of the country, but our temps turned cold here this week - and naturally, I took the heated mattress pad off of our bed back when we put the new bedding on.  I miss that thing - but not enough to tear the bed apart and put it back on.  Tonight I will be crawling into the icebox bed wearing sweats, wool socks and a flannel nightgown.  And maybe a sweatshirt.  Over the weekend it's supposed to be in the 80s, so I'll just gut it out until then.  I know.  So brave. ;)

********************

I started working on the Cabled Feather Cowl with the GORGEOUS Madeline Tosh yarn that I bought when I was in Austin.  Oh how I love this yarn - the color is so pretty, and the yarn feels fantastic to knit with.  But the cowl.  This, my friends, is knitting magic.  You see, you start by casting on a bunch of stitches and then join to knit in the round - a continuous circle.  You knit four rows and have a lovely symmetrical band.  Then the pattern starts, and suddenly, the symmetrical band becomes scalloped!  I tell you what, it's magic.  And pretty thrilling to watch develop, right at my fingertips!
I can't get over the magical scallops on this cowl!

The skill level of this pattern is listed as "ambitious beginner" - it's definitely challenged me, but mainly because my reading comprehension skills are apparently below-par.  For example, the pattern for one round is "3, 6, 3" (repeat) but I read it as "3, 6, 3, 6" - and got nearly to the end before realizing my mistake.  Blergh.  Lots of tinking (unknitting stitch-by-stitch) ensued.  But, I got back on the right track.  Until a few rows later I found another mistake, and I couldn't figure out what I did or how to fix it.  At that point, my options were to set this project aside until I can meet up with another, more skilled knitter who could look at it and decipher my mistake, or ignore it and move forward.  So I moved forward - I can't see the mistake from the front of the piece, and it doesn't seem like anything will unravel because of it - fingers crossed I made the right decision.  This is the first time I've knowingly left a mistake in...I feel like I've crossed a boundary or something by doing it!
I still don't know what exactly I did, but there it is...

Speaking of mistakes...sigh.  I was rolling along with my mystery shawl when something went wrong.  I think what frustrates me about mistakes in knitting is not that I make them, because it's bound to happen, but that most of the time I can't figure out what I did enough to fix it.  So while I know I've made a mistake, I'm at a stopping point until I can get someone to help me.  This pattern is too intricate to not have every row be perfect - plus, what I do on one row affects the next.  It's especially frustrating when I want to get this clue finished, because we'll be getting another one next Thursday.
 
Shibui sock yarn - colors top to bottom:  Sky, Spectrum, Wasabi

In the meantime, I wound some yarn and am ready to cast on for a linen-stitch scarf - this pattern is interesting because you cast on 450(!!!) stitches, and then change color after every row.  But you don't have to weave in the ends (which you normally do when you change colors) because they become the fringe on the scarf.  Debby was making one and it sounded different and fun, so I found some bright colors of yarn when I was in Austin to make one of my own.  I had to order a set of circular needles with a long cable, but they should be coming in soon and I'll get started on it. 

********************

Another race tomorrow - this time it's the SRPH 5K, which is the race where Jeff won his age division last year...when he was running with me and MY slow pace!  He has big plans to actually race it this year and hopefully earn another award - provided there aren't a lot of other 50-something speedsters there.  I'm excited because it's a nice course and I'll be running with my friends - plus the weather will be cooler than last week's race.  Should be fun!

Have a great weekend!

17 comments:

  1. Brrr is right. This is the year of the never ending winter! Oh how I wait to see one little blooming blossom. I love the color of the cowl you are knitting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the shawl. Good luck in your 5k. I am not racing this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It sure is race season for you, a race every weekend these days. Have fun tomorrow.

    Finally, finally, finally Spring will arrive here around Sunday. I never wanted Spring more than this year. Eastern last weekend was the coldest I ever experienced in my life (I know because the cold record before that was from 1964 and I wasn't here yet back then :) )

    I love your knitting projects, especially the 3 last colors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would LOVE to see some of your knitting projects, Fran (hint, hint). :)

      Delete
  4. About that cold bed. You just need a little dachshund blanket-warmer!

    LOVE the knitting updates! The MT yarn looks like it has some silk in it? I need to knit a cowl. Simple like a scarf, but a more interesting shape.

    That reading/counting mistake you described? Can't tell you how many times I've done that.

    Have fun at your race, and tell Jeff I said good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny, we had the bed back when Jackie was still alive (and sleeping with us), and I don't remember having this problem. I'll have to break it to Paco: we're getting a dachshund. It's NECESSARY! ;)

      Delete
  5. "You see, you start by casting on a bunch of stitches and then join to knit in the round"

    Why does this sound like you are casting a spell or something? I am not knitliterate.

    Enjoy your race!

    ReplyDelete
  6. YIKES! 450 stitches to cast on?! That's intimidating. I've been crocheting more recently, making afghans for my grandchildren. The one thing I prefer about crochet, it that it is SO much easier when you have to rip out as there is only one stitch on your hook.

    Good luck on your race. I hopw the weather is perfect for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, 450 stitches is crazy. I'll probably have to break for a snack midway! ;)

      Delete
  7. You are really becoming a great knitter - I'd definitely call you more than an ambitious beginner!

    Good luck to Jeff - hope he repeats in his age group!! Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good luck to Jeff tomorrow! Luckily, his pesky wife will be sleeping in sweats so he won't be distracted from a good night's sleep, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  9. My knitting is not going well... I am so jealous of your beautiful creations! I'm not sure I'm cut out for it. I think if I could ever actually make something, anything, I would feel better! I love the IDEA of it...Hmm. I've come across that issue before in my life :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I LOVE that color!!! And I think knitting would drive e bonkers. I dont have the patience!!

    ReplyDelete

Comments are now moderated to prevent spammers from leaving, well, spam - but rest assured that as soon as I read a real comment, I will publish it. So please, comment away, even though the blog is officially closed. Thanks!