It's not The Monkey, it's Me

I started The Monkey a few times. I wasn't convinced about the fit of the cast on and over-thought my response to the Claudia yarn's tendency to pool in this the Chocolate Cherry version. I tried a second time on a needle a size up, but then I thought the lace was too loose. Third time, I had a plan. I would alternate yarn by row. That's what people do, or so I read. Perfect plan. And I doubled up on the yarn in the cast on, a strategy borrowed from the IK Rib and Cable sock. Liked the way the colors alternated in the ribbing.

Not surprisingly, the yarn continued to artfully elude my attempts to control it. I unleashed pooling in a broad swath. Really thought it was pretty, though. The tone on tone variations were really pretty as pooled.

Soldiered on alternating skeins by row and started to puzzle over how the other sock WOULD look. Would I get that synchronous pooling from the alternating skeins? I realized at the heel I would need to stop alternating, particularly as the spot for alternating was dead center back. No worries. Tackled the heel. Marched onto the foot and resumed alternating from the two skeins. Discovered that I was creating a more visible ridge in the foot than I'd noticed in the leg.

Tried it on. Sure enough, that visual ridge was also a nice firm one underfoot. Rats.

The fourth time will be the charm.

Restraint or Heat?

It is with a measure of respectable restraint that I find I am not making much knitting progress on projects already suffering on the needles. Similarly, I have managed to pretend to cast on for the Monkey socks, but it's a no-go. I really can't permit myself to do much except for stitching together the pieces of the messenger bags.

I've stiched up the length of each bag's strap, matching cast-off to bind-off in 200 precise little stitches, - 200 per strap, one strap per bag.

Stitching on the overlay takes a little less precision, though I'm a bit obsessed about getting the stitches along the edges of the overlay to run along a precise column of stitches. One is about half done, and the other awaits attention.

Maybe it's the heat. Who can think enough to start something afresh?
So I'll sew.

I may have cheated in other ways. It's true. I've also sewn most of a blouse.

I like sewing cotton in the summer. It takes me back to my teen years, sewing madly a wardrobe of blouses for 2.00 apiece or less. I don't even mind standing at the ironing board. Maybe I'll go home and cut out a skirt.

Just the same, only different

During March, when I endured the first week of the evil flu that really hammered some of the adults in my circles, I worked on pieces of a Boom Bag messenger bag for one of my nieces. Her sister requested a bag of the same pattern, only with stripes and a flap.
The navy is from a stash of Bartlett's I've had long enough to have moved across the country once and probably twice. It was meant to be a sweater.* When navy was requested, I decided the fates were telling me to move on from the sweater notion. I knit the underlying bag of navy and have saved the striped bit for the Boom Bag overlay, now with stripey flap. Okay, so you can't really tell it's navy in these pictures. Funny, seemed clear on the camera.

Similarly, the black is from all those bits of the UFO Maine Monster I frogged clear back in September 2006.** I purchased the offwhite. Imagine: I was out. Unfortunately, I didn't have my thinking cap tied on tightly enough. I purchased Cascade 220 - a fine yarn, but actually a little lighter a worsted weight than the navy or the black. The striping pattern utilized the ever famous random stripe generator. I generated the pattern at 4 row stripes and decided to play with the proportions by knitting all blue stripes for 6 rows, all ivory stripes 4 rows, and all black stripes 2 rows. Even kept the same number of rows: I counted to be sure I had the same number of blue and black, naturally.


And now this is off the needles. Only have to make the strap for this one. Then I must stitch together the pieces of both bags and we're off to the washer.

* eh, I was going to link text in here to the Stash post with the picture of the Bartletts. Not much of a picture, and that 1 April 2006 post is just too lengthy for loading. Didn't want to annoy anyone, so I've abandoned that.
** abandoned that link, too. I could find the post, but then I couldn't capture the permalink with out going back page by page. I think I need to find and to learn about installing more helpful navigating tools.

Counting, as of May 2007

Last May I posted a Summer to Summer tally of the knitting I'd done that year. It's surprisingly full of small projects. Must have been due to the increase in commuting via public transportation. (Good reminder. It's summer. Need to increase that habit again.)

I've been running the list in the sidebar, and it's time for a little housekeeping.

May 2007:
GARMENTS:
Steel Penny sweater
HBCute Kimono (okay, I have to finish a seam, but it's done, really.)

HEADWEAR:
hats, 7
calorimetry
black purl baby hat & matching booties

FOOTWEAR:
another pair of booties
Hedera socks
Fuzzy Feet, 4 pr
Aunt socks
Lorna socks, 2
Bearfoot Rib & Cable sock - first sock done but too small. Must redo.

VARIOUS:
gift scarves, 2
Kitty Pi, 2.5 (lost a half-finished one)
fingerless mitts, 2 pr
washcloths, 5

Simple Socks

Earlier this winter I was determined to knit a quick sock. I had some lovely Shepherd's Sock in Ravenswood. Having grown up taking the Ravenswood el line, I was much pleased that the colorway had nothing to do with Brown. I have never been a fan of the no-longer-new color-name scheme for renaming the not very complicated transit system in Chicago.

The colors were posted most effectively in this November post. I revisited them and finished in May. Since I hadn't gotten too far, I applied Wendy's gusset heel pattern, just on the heels of its appearance as a pattern she so generously shared. I decided the bulk of the sport weight yarn was worth giving straight-forward stockinette a fair shake.
I was pleased with the sock as a very quick, end of the term and easy on the brain project. Even managed to finish under the influence.

The martini's influence didn't harm the sock, but it did clearly impair the judgement of the photographer, who might well have waited until morning for better light.

Unplugged

I've not been very posty this spring. This year. I've been productive, though.

I've also been unplugged for stretches at a time. That's not bad, though.

Finished a pair of socks. Tackled some sewing repair. Did some cleaning at home. Worked on archiving some old sewing patterns. (Archiving gets them into a system where I can access them and use them.) Have been working on knitting a messenger bag for a niece - the second of a set. Tackled The Monkey Sock, and realized I'd sent myself down an unfortunate road. Took it apart - took pictures, and will share the adventure. I'll be redoing - a really enjoyable knit, my 4th start notwithstanding. (I'll explain, I will.)


Had a spare moment at a computer, so I thought I'd step up, post, leave a picture conveniently uploaded to photobucket on a previous occasion, and be a better blog ring member.

Excuse me, though. Won't be gone as long as before, but it is time to unplug again!

Signs of Life

Feeling a little frayed?
Have been days when you've had very little left to give?

Overwhelmed by that whole heap of the mundane that lies at your feet?

Me too. What a spring.
Still, there are signs of life. I've even started to tackle this poor thing. It, too, seems on the exhausted edge. More on that in another post.

Meanwhile, there has been a little bit of knitting. I started these in the fall, and they were decidedly back-burnered.
I did a bit of this knitting in the half dark, half tired. I don't half care that there are some misplaced purls in the how-simple-can-it-be 3-to-1 rib. I laddered down to the ones I found when they were within range. This is TOO far down. I officially stopped caring. They're just for wearing when it's cold.

And lookee! Lorna's is decidedly fraternal!

Blogging Against Disablism

It so happens that I was working my way through shelves of plays and stacks of play collections today. I have to take home a mighty pile of reading today. One of the volumes going home with me is the newly released Beyond Victims and Villains: Contemporary Plays by Disabled Playwrights.

And it just so happens that there was a very thoughtful essay by Charles Mee in that very volume. Oh my. Didn't remember that there was a Charles Mee play in the book. I saw one of his plays this year, Hotel Casseopeia. Stunning. I had some students read some Mee plays more than once. But still.

I'll take Things I Didn't Know about Charles Mee for $100, Alex.

I read the essay aloud to the friend who was with me in the going through the shelves of plays project.

And think of it. He's published this same essay online. I'll share the link so you might read it, too.

While I was out ...

I did some non-confrontational knitting during my spring break / virus break.


One down, one to go. The next has stripes and a flap.

Then comes the fulling party.

Cold enough for Calorimetry

It's not my fault, really. A few weeks ago when I was home and sick, I did get a bit of knitting done. Of course, it wasn't cold enough to plan on wearing it much this season.
Turns out I was wrong. Brrr. Colder than it was in December.

"A Fool in April" or "Not Stash"

I can't stop long enough to flash stash.
Howe'er, I take a moment to retrieve pics from last year's flash to declare some NON STASH:
Behold a glove for the Knit-a-blog, two pair of fuzzy feet and....

Steel Penny, a Bad Penny meets Picovili garment;

A pair of socks, currently in the dirty clothes hamper;

And with the end of the Ombre, two kitti pi cat beds, currently the alternate retreats of one declining senior kitty.



I'd finesse this post with links to the garments and to last year's flash, if I could. I can't now, so I won't. Sorry. Must flee.

Nothing but Knitting

Have been home, sick. Ventured out today.

For several days, nothing has been on the actualized agenda but soup and tea and toast and sleep and knitting. Outings have been spare: vet appts, quick runs to stores. Really an average of an errand per day since Friday.

Oh, and great bags of tissue to toss out.

But I've been knitting. Sewed the button on calorimetry and wore it today. Over half done with the first of two messenger bags for nieces. Started an Argosy Wrap.

Camera's been with the computer, so no pictures. About time to head home.
I think I'll watch some films I need to view for work. Matzoh balls in the soup tonight, I think.

Nothing else but knitting.

Good Hat, Bad Hat

Good hat:
Pattern by Black Purl, yarn was sale and now I don't remember what it was. Sirdar Snuggly, I think. This was from one of the two skeins, and there's only a racquetball sized yarn-cake left of it. This was a cute, fun knit. The hat was meant to be done flat and then seamed, but I did it in the round. Must get this to the mom-to-be, due shortly.

Bad Hat:


Beautiful yarn - Colinette Cadenza or something like. Thought I could eke out a hat, so I tried the pointy version of the "Live Dangerously, Don't Swatch Hat." I've done the squared crown for niece and nephew and fared much better. This was not meant for me. And clearly this is NOT the way to a rolled brim. The hat will be frogged. I'm thinking Knitty's Calorimetry for the Colinette, maybe, even if it isn't the right gauge? There seems to be plenty of creativity in approaches to the Calorimetry.

Bad hat. If it looks like a triangle, it will fit like a triangle.

Holding Pattern

Funny where patterns are found. I've put an awful lot of things together for just a moment, and then they just seem to stay in place, temporarily marked and ready for the next step. Plenty of knitting and sewing UFO's abound. Then there's the basket of stuff from a clearing of the desktop, the drawer that gets ignored, the button that needs replacing. Should really ditch that turtleneck with the catclawed holes just over the breast (yes, ouch, but last year's ouch) but I'll wash it again and put it back in the drawer for that desperately cold day.

This pin and a few of its brethren have been marking spots on this easy-peasy sewing project for over a week.

Life can acquire an awful lot of things stuck in holding patterns, even if the tasks yet to be done don't require much finishing time. To be truthful, though, I can't feel too guilty. I've been getting a lot done elsewhere.

Blogging? A different holding pattern there. It's with sighs heard round the internet that some beloved blogs are on hiatus, sabbatical, or are simply quiet. I find that fascinating. There are as many reasons to refocus, to step away from the computer, and to pursue what needs to be pursued as there are to post in the first place. And I'll be as delighted as can be when the holding patterns shift.

No big finish here. I'll just stick a pin in it and come back when I can.

Busy

Unspoken Thoughts

Evidence is clear I'm not a prolific blogger. I get to hear the sound of my own voice too much as it is, so I think about posts but edit them down to nothing. I think of Bernard Shaw, who quipped to a chatty socialite, "My dear woman, do you have no unspoken thoughts?"

Do not get me wrong. I LOVE READING and VIEWING the knitting blogs and their kindred blogs, just as I've always loved reading and perusing knitting and quilting books. I ADORE the sounds of so many interesting voices. The creativity, the simplicity, the chaos, the life stories, the struggles, and the wisdom - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

I've been an uninteresting read, though. I've had lots of small d - drama to contend with, and I've not had much I thought was worth sharing. Better the unspoken thought. Even if I've been knitting, it's been none too glamorous - a cat bed, a dish cloth, a scarf - and I've just been too focused elsewhere to be bothered about pictures. And the drama - small d - has been part of a very, very busy winter. Fortunately, perspective is learned from many sources. Knittyheads and knitbloggers have given me untold calm.

So for the inspiring-on-many-levels knitbloggers and knittyheads, I give you an early Valentine's Day thought, then, published and spoken:

Thanks. LOVE YOUR WORK. Thanks for sharing your words, work, and wisdom.

What?

Did I post these? What pattern? IK's Rib & Cable Mitts. What yarn? Mountain Colors Bearfoot - Juniper, maybe. What for? Gift. Given. Happy campers, both.
What's this? A mess. Oh the knitting? Looks messy, too, doesn't it. I'm having quick fun. The baby loop is from Be Sweet. The yarn barf is actually lovely soft handdyed "artsy" handspun picked up at Knit One in Chicago. I saw something at Nina's in Chicago that helped me figure out what artsy fartsy thing I was going to do with it. Hence the Be Sweet.

I have to go. What? Did you think I had a lot of time to talk?

Knitting in the Middle

Greetings from the Middle. It's the middle of January. My odometer rolls over this month and am feeling very much mid-life-ish. Hard to believe either is here already - isn't that how things go, though?

More later. There's been knitting. I'm either running out of the primary yarn for the Eclipse sweater or it'll be near. I'll know shortly. Two sleeves and a front and a back ALL on the needles. I'm within a day or two of joining and starting the yoke. I'm looking forward to that. Part of the anticipation is that I'm hoping to NOT run out of the body yarn UNTIL I'm in the yoke. There any change in tone in the primary yarn will be completely hidden.

Yes, the search for a hopeful color match may be on the horizon. That's never a fun thing. Haven't bothered to figure out a knitting plan for the year. I'm always impressed and interested in reading other's knitting goals. I'm just looking forward to knitting some more. I'm in the middle of a couple things that would be good to finish while we're still in the middle of winter.

It's the middle. Happy Middles!

Back at the ranch . . .

Back home from holiday travels, I find I am tired of having too much stuff and too little time. I shall be tending to that, I think. Right now I'm off to the post office and to see some family. I have goodies to deliver from the folks on the other end of the holiday travels.

Seriously, though. I need to go through things and clear some out. This needn't cut out the knitting time, I think, but I should spend some of the knitting time moving other things out.

I was given a wee little serving dish as a holiday gift, and I was alarmed to face the fact that I haven't been entertaining at home. Thankfully I had the presence of mind not to confess this aloud. And I'll concede that some of this is the natural result of urban life and a bit of job imbalance. There's something to be said, though, about the spectre of the Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. Things must change before I find myself really living that pattern!

There's probably more to do with the fact that several friends are incredibly allergic to the feline factor. Ne'ertheless, clean and clear, I say!
Happy New Year, if I'm not back before the switch to 2007!

Holiday Knitting

Not the Grinch, nor Scrooge, this knitter managed to do just enough holiday knitting to make herself content and to have a few things to send out. Mind, some are being sent out now, and the nautilus hat was a skein of yarn. (Worked out the specs on that one with my mother.)