Chameleon Scarf, Anklewarmers, and Such
Still looking for Bill Murray, I have a prize-winning first chapter of a book, with a starring role for Bill. If you can get me a lunch date with Bill, I'll try to get you a bit role in the movie.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
WAITED SIX YEARS
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
BASIC STOCKINETTE
Friday, December 22, 2023
NEXT GENERATION OF KNITTERS
I taught a little girl to knit. Finally. For years I've been carrying around in my knit bag a bit of spare yarn and a pair of knitting needles made of chopsticks. The tips of the chopsticks need to be carefully sharpened in a pencil sharpener -- well, I suppose the tips could be shaped by a knife if a pencil sharpener isn't available. Buff off any rough spots with a nail file. Wooden knitting needles work best for beginners because the friction from the wood keeps the yarn from sliding. My student did very well, finished an entire row. I let her take the project with her, came home and converted another pair of chopsticks to knitting needles. I'm ready, should another eager student wander along.
Friday, December 15, 2023
WHERE CREATIVITY LIVES
UNKNITTING
Unknitting -- aaarrrrggghhhh. I'll swear I've spent more time unknitting this afternoon. No, not frogging -- that's unraveling back to Skein One. Unknitting is undoing every single stitch one at a time, getting back to the mistake. Takes a whole lot of time. I'm knitting a hat with stripes and keep failing to change the color with each new stripe. To make a mistake even more likely, both yarns are shades of pink.
The good news is I've managed to finish a poem about a Friendship Fountain from the U.S. to the Ukraine. The task now is to try to submit it to a publication (which uses a very weird method of submitting). Still have a few days before the deadline.
Monday, November 27, 2023
MINDLESS KNTTING
Mindless knitting can sometimes get you into trouble. St. Luke's Hospital requires that scarves for the women's heart program be a good solid red; they don't even want a dark red, a winy red. It struck me that I could combine slight variations of red in a chameleon scarf. But even though every stitch of a chameleon scarf is a knit stitch, the pattern requires knowing which direction you ae going, you can't be plotting your next novel. I currently have two red scarves still unfinished, with serious errors. Will l be frogging both of them?
Friday, November 24, 2023
I THINK IT WILL WORK
I THINK IT WILL WORK
Trying a new approach. Normally, I cast on 64 stitches for a hat. Either knit a ribbed brim, or choose a roll brim. Knit until it looks long enough and then switch to double-points to start decreasing for the crown. Very poor about estimating. I have to quit adding depth while I still have enough yarn to finish the crown? But how much will that be? Generally on safety's side I over-estimate. But wait . . . if I knit the crown first, knit from the crown down I should be better able to come out at the brim. I cast on 24 stitches, put them on double points. Increased in reverse to the decrease. A little snug when I first switched from double points to circular, but as I added rows it eased up a bit. Don't have enough beige for complete hat, so I need to go look at my stash for a color suitable for alternating stripes. I think it's going to work.