(such a) Fickle Stitcher

I bought some lovely golden-orange yarn. I made a 10,000 Blessings Scarf with two skeins. Wanted something in reversible cables for the other two skeins, so I experimented. Then, when I finished one skein, it was a nice length for a short neck warmer, so I stopped. I’m thinking something with yarn-overs for the fourth skein…

Reversible Cables Neck Warmer/Scarf

a gift to you, from me, on my birthday

One skein of yarn makes an approximately 33” scarf (photo); two skeins should make about 65”.

Materials: Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold ; Colorway:  74 Orange (DK / 8 ply; 45% Wool, 35% Silk, 20% Nylon)

Needle: US 5 - 3.75 mm

The cables in this scarf are worked over four stitches.

C4F: Slip the first two stitches onto a cable needle; hold to the front. Knit next two stitches, then knit the two stitches off the cable needle.

Cast on 40 stitches. On every row, slip the first stitch as if to knit.

Ribbing: K4, P4 across for 10 rows.

Cable Pattern:
Next 2 rows: C4F, P4 across.
K4, P4 across for 6 rows.

Continue cable pattern to desired length.
K4, P4 across for 4 additional rows.
Bind off.

The first workday of the month always goes by quickly, generally due to spending most of my morning preparing a monthly report. Today was no exception. Additionally, I began a different kind of waiting game.

For nearly a year, I’ve been playing the wait-for-appealing-job-announcement-for-which-I’m-qualified, wait-for-phone-call-and-or-interview, wait-for-thanks-no-thanks-letters-if-I’m-lucky-to-hear-anything-at-all, rinse-and-repeat games. Now it’s the pending-approval waiting game.

Along the way today were nice and not-so-nice surprises : learning a co-worker is getting married ; comraderie-building with future – knock-on-wood – boss ; eating left-over Halloween cake ; changing my Tibetan photos calendar to a new page ; not freezing at work ; learning son had a work-related accident. You can decide which was which.

The Luxor capelet is almost finished. I completed the end ties while watching DVR’d Criminal Minds episodes tonight. Then, because I have so much left-over yarn, I frogged the bind-off and will continue knitting the body of the capelet until I run out. I’m like that : hate bits of leftover yarn of which there’s not enough with which to do anything else. It’s like hot dogs and buns … I like things to come out even.

Photos when the ends are woven.

[Brownie points if you can spot the tell-tale signs of a cataloger in the above paragraphs.]

Once again, I will try to successfully complete NaBloPoMo…

Today is, of course, also All Saints Day, a day my mother loved… based on the idea that all the righteous were honored on this day.

And it is the Día de los Inocentes – or Día de los Angelitos – the first day of the Día de los Muertos. I hope someday I can be in Mexico for this celebration. 

This year I’ve spent the day with the younger generation of my family, celebrating a little of my own private joy, and knitting a beautiful capelet with Lana Grossa Luxor, a yarn I purchases last January (or maybe December).

And now to sleep ( … perchance to dream). I wish good, restful sleep to all those dear to me who are struggling for the same.

 

Saw ths today and just had to share:

The Hamburger Dress by Joy Kampia

Topped off, of course with:

The Sundae Dress

(Yes, I know they are crocheted.)

So…

I have this new drink bottle –

– and I want to knit a bottle cozie.

I’m thinking some kind of ribbing, so it hugs at the narrow part and fits around the wide parts. This idea eliminates making a felted cozie (I have a couple of cute patterns for those). 

Perhaps an undulating ribbing…

The thing is, I want it to be absorbent, too.  Wool, then, or cotton??

Any ideas appreciated.

I am perhaps slow to become aware of the availability of digital subscriptions to the knitting magazines, but I think I am happy about it.

Usually, I browse the current issues of knitting magazines at my local bookstore, then select which ones to purchase. Subscriptions are certainly less expensive per issue than buying off the newstand, but we all know not every issue of every magazine is a “keeper.”

So, recently I noticed that Creative Knitting (you can get a sample digital issue at that link) and Verena US edition are available as digital subscriptions at a lower price than the print subscriptions. I will be placing my orders shortly.

I see some real benefits to this option. First, issues should be immediately available; no waiting for or loss in the mail.  Second, while I like to look at magazines (and read books) in hand, when I want to knit a pattern, I like to have the instructions handy on my computer or PDA.  Third, storage (and weight). How many of us sacrifice our magazine stash for space.  And space brings me to another advantage — at least, I hope it will be an element of the digital issues — and that is organization. Being able to find that particular pattern which you cannot remember the cutsie title of the article, or the issue the magazine, just the color, or type, or technique, or yarn!

Primarily, though, I wonder if – and hope that — this option may enable the publications to continue to exist.  We’ve all heard the falling circulation for newspapers, and with the hundred and hundreds (at least it seems that way) of magazines now being published, can they be far behind?

Off to check which other magazines are offering digital subscriptions . . .

– this is now my FIRST pattern available on Ravelry ! ! — 

Early this week, a co-worker showed me she had made these. On Thanksgiving Eve, I grabbed a skein of Patons SWS (Natural Demin) and made a pair.

My gauge with the recommended needle was only 5/inch instead of 5.5/inch, so they were a bit bigger. I like them okay, but want to do them over in smaller needle size.

In the meantime, I had an idea about diagonal ribbing, but the stitch patterns I found for “diagonal rib” were not true ribs. I determined that I would use increase/decreases to get the shape I wanted.

On the first attempt, I increased (then decreased for the second half) only at the end of every row, after casting on only 2 stitches. The result is an elongated diamond shape. It makes a nice little wrist-warmer, with a pointed overlap on the underside. The top of the hand is well-covered, and there is less bulk under the wrist.

The second attempt, increasing (decreasing) at the beginning and end of each row makes a nicely squared piece. I worked even for a few rows at the middle to have a wider area over the pulse point.  The finished “hand-topper” can be worn three ways: folded with points toward fingers, folded with points toward elbow, or not folded at all.

I love the thick fabic of the K1P1 ribbing that this method provides. Only problen ow is that I have one each of three wrist-warmers and need another skein of yarn!
Patterns follow.

Diamond Ribbed Wrist-Warmers

(These are fast to knit: about wo hours for a pair.)

Patons SWS, Natural Demin

US Size 6 needles

Cast on two stitches.

·         Slip 1^st stitch on needle as if to purl; bring working yarn from front to back between slipped stitch and remaining stitch.  K1, P1 in the remaining stitch. Turn.

·         Slip 1^st stitch as if to purl on every row.

·         Continue in K1P2 ribbing across every row.

·         Increase IN PATTERN* in last stitch of every row until there are 31 stitches (or until half the desired length, i.e., half-way around wrist including 1 ½ -inch overlap for closure).

·        Make one even row, then begin decreasing at end of each row until two stitches remain; cast-off.

*IN PATTERN INCREASE:   If last stitch is a knit stitch, K1P1 for increase.

If last stitch is a purl stitch, P1K1 for increase.

©2008 Cynthia S. Wetzel

 

Diamond Ribbed Hand-toppers / Cuff-warmers 

(Probably about 3-4 hours a pair.)

Patons SWS, Natural Demin

US Size 6 needles

Ribbing Gauge: 6 rows, 4 knit stitches = 1 inch

Cast on three stitches.

·         K1P1 in 1^st stitch, K1, P1K1 in last stitch.

·         Continue to increase in 1^st and last stitch of each row, in K1P1 pattern throughout row, until wide enough to reach around wrist.*

·         K1P1 even for 9 rows.

·         Now begin decreasing at beginning (K2tog or P2tog) and end (SSK or P2tog) of each row until three stitches remain; cast-off.

·         Seam together along the 9 even rows.

*Measure wrist; calculate number of stitches to gauge for widest row (model was 51 stitches).

©2008 Cynthia S. Wetzel

 

~~written on the road; posted at first Internet opportunity~~

Regarding yesterday’s post… I emailed and heard back from Karen at RoyalHare.com about the yarn for Waves of Grain (I inquired about additional colors) — so, I’m still in the same dilema about choosing a color, but she would do the dying and I’d sill have my white Zephyr for something else.

The drive from Meridian to Birmingham was delightful, if somewhat longer than expected. Usually it is very early in the day when we make that drive, arriving for lunch, not supper… the afternoon light set on fire the beautiful colors of the fall leaves. Those who say there is no autumn color in the South, should have made that drive with us.

{insert beautiful autum photo} 

But, Silly Me forgot to take any photos I was so busy enjoying the color.

Tonight was my first official meeting as seminar chair for the 2010 TVR Share-A-Stitch event. It was wonderful to talk out the plans and receive feedback from the other SAS committees and our RD. The logo committee brought two lovely graphic ideas for our logo! I’m anxious to get the chosen one approved by the National committee and begin to use it. Best of all, I feel more connected with the other members of the SAS 2010 committee! Already these ladies have worked hard and shown themselves to be extremely creative, as well as willing to work together to make this even a success.

While reading Yarn Harlot today, I was inspired by her new project, the Waves of Grain scarf:  for my sister and I to cast-on and knit ourselves each one of these scarves over our Christmas holidays.

First I thought I would purchase the yarn for both of us, but my sister and I each have stash yarn that will make a lovely item. My choice is JaggerSpun Zephyr (50/50 silk/wool; white, but I plan to dye it), hers is Madril Kid Seta in a lovely dusty rose.

Now to decide what color to dye the Zephyr…

I’m trying something to gain sponsorship for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi’s Walk for Diabetes to be held October 26th, 2008: using Paypal’s donation button. You’ll see it there to the right in the sidebar. For every $5.00 donation, I will enter my sponsors in a drawing for two skeins of sock yarn (see center of photo below). I’m also gathering other yarn prizes, as well as beads/beading projects, and/or other needlework prizes than knitting.

click photo for larger imageThe two skeins of sock yarn (center) are ArtYarns UltramMerino4, 50g each in color 132. Also pictured are three additional yarn prizes:
Classic Elite Yarns’ Alpaca Sox Hand Dyes, 100g in color Peacock (top)
Trekking XXL, 100g in color 100 (left)
Brown Sheep Company’s Wildefoote Luxury Sock Yarn, 50g in color Columbine, SY-16 (bottom)
… more prizes to come!I am lucky. Though I have Type II Diabetus Mellitus, at this point in my life I am able to control it with diet, exercise, and oral medication. It may not always be so. More to the point, I have excellent insurance which provides my medication at no cost and my testing supplies for a small co-pay. Many, in fact, I should probably say most diabetics are not so fortunate, and supplies are expensive! Testing strips are about $1.00 each, and many people must test multiple times a day!

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi’s goal for the Hattiesburg walk this year is $50,000.00. Here’s some information from a DFM flyer about how donation monies are used:

Insulin for patients in need ($25)

Educational information for parents of newly diagnosed children with diabetes ($25)

Blood glucose testing strips for patients in need ($50)

Sending a family to Camp Kandu ($75)

Diabetic shoes for adult patients in need ($100)

WE Care 2 backpack for newly diagnosed child and family ($125)

Diabetes emergency box for a school ($150)

Screening supplies for 100 people ($250)

Diabetes Camp for one child ($400)

“Here’s how your donations from Walk 2007 made a difference in many Mississippians lives:

518 patients have received meters/strips, insulin, oral medication
98 schools and school districts received the teacher education training and emergency boxes
45 children received camp scholarships to attend summer diabetes camp

“Putting your donations to work. Our patient assistance program is our largest program in the state. Children and adults alike have benefited from timely donations of lifesaving insulin, oral medications, insulin pump and blood glucose testing supplies.

“It is so important to have immediate help available when you or a family member has diabetes. Things happen–emergencies spring up when you least expect them; someone gets laid off from work or has a visit to the ER, and bills start piling up. The $200 pharmacy bill that the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi pays for a child or adult with diabetes means a family can get through a month without missing their insulin or test strips. Or the $400 that we give to the two summer camps in Mississippi means a child can have a carefree week at summer camp without breaking the family bank. Many families in Mississippi are just making it every month with no room for added expenses. Every dollar counts–all donations stay in Mississippi to help Mississippians live with diabetes here and now!”

I feel very strongly that because I am able to treat my condition easily that I have a responsibility to help those who are not so fortunate economically. And really, it doesn’t matter whether you help me do so or you help in your own state, or even if you don’t donate at all… my primary goal is to raise awareness of diabetes epidemic occurring in our country.