The streak of bad knitting luck continues. I thought I'd start knitting the Debbie Bliss Shawl-Collared Jacket wth Fair Isle Bands for Christine (Jenna's older sister). It's simple stockinette with some stranded color work. How hard could it be? After all, I knit a Norwegian type mitten for the Knitting Olympics and found the colorwork to be fairly easy. This should be a walk in the park.
The sleeve is whuppin' my butt.
The first Fair Isle band lulled me into a false sense of security, making me think that it was going to be a piece of cake. The second Fair Isle band looked easy, too. But for some reason I can't get the single pink stitch to be centered in the trio of pale blue stitches in the previous row. I've got the correct number of stitches on the needle. I've got the correct sequence of pink and blue going. But it still refuses to come out right. Arrgh! Note to self: it's far easier to knit Fair Isle in the round.
To soothe my aggravated soul, I pulled out a skein of luscious hand-painted Merino sock yarn in warm autumn colors and started working on designing a pair of socks. The yarn is from Spirit Trail and I acquired it at Maryland Sheep and Wool this past May. Mmmmm...it's so yummy and the colors are gorgeous! I'm swatching several different stitch patterns to see what works best with the color sequencing. I was knitting on it today at work and wouldn't you know it? I snapped another needle (a 2.0mm this time). What's goin' on with my knitting mojo?
And then I did something I swore I'd never do. I ordered from Knit Picks. I ordered two sets of metal DPNs. I've heard good things about their needles. And given the recent run of bad luck with my wood DPNs, I thought I'd give metal a try. I have several misgivings, though. The first is that I like knitting with 5-inch needles. Knit Picks DPNs are six inches. The other is their sizing. Their size US 0 is 2.0mm, which seems to be standard. Their size US 1 is 2.50mm whereas the Brittany size 1s are 2.25mm. This is going to be a bit of a problem because the Leaves of Grass sock is knit on 2.25mm needles. So much for using the Knit Picks needles for knitting those tight k2tog.
I also ordered the KIP bag set. I'm in the market for a new purse and a workable knitting bag (or bags). I'm as picky about how a purse "fits" me as I am with clothes. It has to hold all my stuff (which I try to keep to a minimum) and keep it organized. I'm forever losing things in the bottom. If this can solve my problem, I'll be ecstatic. But I'm skeptical. Stay tuned for a product review.
Is it just me or is the world really going to hell in a handbasket? The current scandal on the Hill, the recent school killings, the situation in Iraq, North Korea's nuclear weapons test announcement, Iran, Aghanistan... It's all extremely discouraging.
All of the above would be easier to handle if I had a cat to pet. And one might be coming sooner than later. Tom actually went to the county animal shelter on Monday to look at a kitten that was advertised in the Loudoun section. It had already been adopted, but they had lots of cats and kittens. We might have a furry addition to the family in a couple of weeks!
And that will go a long way to make the world right again.
4 comments:
I hope you can find a good knitting/yarn/needle/bag combination to make it easier, perhaps, to deal with the craziness of the rest of the world!
Wow, I can't believe a trip was made to the shelter without someone bringing home a new baby! I don't think I could do it . . .
I've been hoping and wishing your mojo issues would just vanish with the right project, but you seem to be stuck until some other piece is properly fitted into the world. Perhaps it is the needles or the bag, maybe it will be a new kitten or something political. Any way it's done - I hope it comes soon!
I'm impressed with anyone that even attempts fair isle...I'm still fighting with the single color lace vest! But a new sock, new bag and perhaps a new little kitty might just make it all better! These are a few of my favorite things!
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