Odds and Ends

I really admire those people who produce a blog post every day or at least one every other day or so. Most of the time I am too busy doing and making to post about it! Thus, this blog post is all about catching you up on the things I have been working on for the past few weeks. When I think about it, there’s really rather a lot to write about!

First, I managed to finish the “Winter” cross stitch sampler before heading to the US (although it still needs a touch up with the iron).

Excuse the poor photo—it is dark and rainy here today.

Second, I finished the Basket Check Socks while in the states.

As you can see, the hotel bedspread provided a pretty good background for them! Once home I turned my attention to the Great American Afghan again and knit up two more blocks.

It was fun making the miniature socks for this one but the embellishment took a long time. It was my first experience with duplicate stitch and although I wish the lettering was a little less puckered, I’m quite pleased with this square overall.

I’m also pretty happy with how this block turned out.

I did not enjoy doing the bullion stitch for the flowers in the two outer columns but thought the whole thing looked a lot better once it was blocked and the embellishments were added.

Speaking of blocking, check out my new toy:

Knitter’s Block, a set of interlocking blocking boards from Cocoknits. The 12” square blocks can be assembled in whichever configuration suits your project—maybe a 3x3 square for a sweater or a 1x6 rectangle for a scarf. I bought the large set, which comes with eighteen tiles, a press cloth, a tin of T-pins, and a tote bag to store them in.

A couple of days ago I finished a pair of plain socks, which are much too ugly to photograph. In fact, they just might be too ugly to wear. I really liked the bright colours and the way the yarn (which shall remain anonymous) looked in the ball but I was very disappointed with how it knit up. I suspect these will end up in the donation pile since I can’t think of anyone I dislike enough to give them to. On a happier note, I finally cast on my Rocky Mountain Waterfall Rib Socks.

I love everything about this yarn, especially the colours. They vary a lot, depending on the light, so it’s hard to capture their true nature.

I’m also happy to report that I have now finished more than 25% of my berry shawl. As I’ve stated before, it’s hard to take a pretty picture of lace in the making, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Finally, I picked up my Ella Jacket again last night and completed the first sleeve this morning. When I first began this back at the beginning of July it seemed to take forever just to knit a few inches and I soon lost interest and set it aside. For some reason, this time around it doesn’t seem to be taking as long. The entire garment is knit in Fisher’s Rib, a variation of K1, P1 ribbing. It’s funny—whenever I have to knit ribbing for a cuff or the bottom of a sweater I am anxious to get it over with, eager to sink my teeth into the meat of the project. However, when the project is ribbing, I am quite content to lose myself in the rhythm of the stitches and let my mind wander. I should be daunted by the miles of jacket still in front of me but I’m not. I’ll provide a photograph when the sweater looks more interesting and the light is better.

As you can tell, I have been very productive these past couple of weeks. I’ve also been somewhat destructive too, as this photograph attests.

The black and off-white used to be my Graphic Hoodie, begun with great anticipation last January. With typical denial, I kept knitting for 11” before I finally admitted that I was unhappy with the tension. I had originally swatched with 3.5 mm needles but went down to 3.25 mm to achieve the suggested gauge. However, while the sweater was working up to the correct size, the fabric felt too stiff and heavy. I tried to convince myself that it would become more flexible with blocking but the little voice inside my head kept whispering otherwise, so I frogged it. After a suitable period of mourning has passed I will try again, this time knitting a smaller size but with larger needles. If my calculations are right, it should all work out in the end.

The golden brown yarn is all that remains of a pair of socks that Jessica had been in the process of knitting for her ex-husband. Now that all of the bad mojo has been cleansed away the yarn can become something new and wonderful. Just one of a number of symbolic gestures to help put the past behind us.

Only a few more days and it will be September. With the weather we’ve had this week it already feels as though autumn is upon us. In many ways September 1st feels more like New Year’s Day than January 1st, most likely because for so long it signaled the beginning of the new school year. With Jessica’s life now settled, it’s time for me to start thinking about what to do with mine. First, though, I plan to enjoy the last long weekend of the summer. Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone!