Back and Forth

Finally I can see Corinne's back emerging as I knit back and forth, back and forth, back and...you get the picture.  I love garter stitch but straight knitting can get tiresome--doing the same thing, the same stitch, back and forth.  Since I am not even half way across the back of the sweater (hope to get there today) it's still a long way to the right sleeve and front.  The short row shaping is done in sets of 8 rows that encourage me to stop, sip wine, do a happy dance or just a moment of thankful meditation for yet another pattern set completed.  Okay, so maybe I really do like the back and forth thing!

Other back and forth things I like:
*  Old manual typewriters.  I loved throwing that carriage across!
*  Clocks with pendulums.  They put me to sleep.
*  Rocking chairs.  The dogs beg me to rock them.
*  Newton's Cradle.  Useless but mesmerizing.

 Are there back and forth things you enjoy?

 Finishing first chart of the Mystery Summer Shawl KAL.

This guy came to visit.  He was waiting on the front door screen hoping to fly in and take a bite of something or someone.  Sorry big guy--no vampires allowed!  (Actual size)

Life is good.

These Things Sneak Up On You

What does it mean when you grab a bunch of DK weight yarn and cast on 239 stitches.  It must mean that you are starting Wendy Johnson's Summer Mystery Shawlette.  That's what I did last night.  I had been under the weather with a stomach upset from some iffy food and spent Saturday and Sunday being a knitting couch potato. 

I was working on Corinne Cardigan and making great progress when I started getting bored with the single project focus.  A little later as I was reading blogs I realized that Wendy is setting up this Mystery Shawl KAL and I was hooked.  Wendy Johnson knits the most beautiful shawls and whenever she shares one it is a must do!  Check out her blog from May 15th for the preliminary shawl set up.  Also check out Corinne's cute short row shaping at the shoulders.  Who said I don't do short rows?

I have also discovered a cute hooded vest by Lion Brand that must be done by the end of summer in preparation for those first cooler days.  Cabled Teal Vest is going to look good in hunter green Knit Picks Wool of the Andes!  Click on the link and think about how versatile this would be for Fall.

 

EZ Cardi is finally finished and I can't wait to wear it.  We are having an unusually cool week and no one can seem to get the air conditioning adjusted to the change so I have been wearing sweaters with longer sleeves.  Next week it will be back up in the 90's and EZ will be worn with the brown lace tank and brown pants.  Now if I could just find something to wear for GS#1's wedding in June....

Life is sometimes thorny but it's all good!!

A Little Now, A Little Later

Short post to show my latest FO while EZ Cardigan is blocking.  I'm calling this Kat's Collar.  I had three skeins of bamboo yarn that had been around for some time.  I dislike knitting with bamboo because it feels slippery to me.  I do, however, like the fabric it creates so I decided to bite the bullet and make something.

  

Yup, that's where I started--something!  I cast on as though I was starting an end-to-end scarf but when I started adding increases with the idea of making the scarf curve around my neck a whole different "scarf" began to develop.  After a few more increase rows I was still knitting with the first skein so I figured a shawl might be possible. 

Knit row, increase row, knit row, increase row and so it went.  When I noticed that I had about two thirds of the last skein left I did something so out of character that even I don't believe it--I CROCHETED an edge.  I crocheted!!  I don't do that.  Ever!  I don't like crochet.  It hurts my hands.  I don't like the way it looks.  I never, never crochet!

Ahem...I give you Kat's Collar (with the crocheted edge).  I'll write up the pattern later if anyone is interested but it is so easy you can do it without a pattern.  Just cast on 200 stitches and go to it.

More later after the EZ Cardi dries.  Life is good!

 

One Word

What caused this?

One word--Max!  Can you believe anything with this face could cause that much damage?  He is so sweet one minute and the next he is sneaking into the knitting basket on little stealthy paws.  In this case he was sleeping in my lap while I was knitting.  He crawled up and gave me a kiss on the chin, rolled over and snuggled me, then jumped down to get a drink of water.  At least that is what I thought he was going to do.  For two beats.  Then I saw the yarn stretched all over the floor and wrapped around the coffee table legs.  Max sat, smiling at me, in the middle of the rubble.

Macy is totally another type of dog.  She was six months old when she came to live with us.  We received her as a gift from a couple who discovered that they were not prepared for the high energy of a Jack Russell Terrier after paying a hefty price for her highness with all her royal papers.  We did our JRT research before we accepted her and were a little worried about the description of living with what was described as a "turbo dog."

On the first night she lived with us she did indeed turbo.  That's when a JRT races through the house, bouncing off beds, over chairs, around tables, over the back of the couch--for what seems like hours.  That night it was only about 10 minutes before we intervened .  When I grabbed her as she flashed by me her little feet and legs were still churning.  Nine years later she is still doing it--as recently as last night. 

 

Even with all that energy Macy has never, NEVER done her business in the house, chewed up furniture or clothing or otherwise made a mess.  Max has done all those things and more. One word: Max.  Original mess maker.  Little rip up artist.  Sneaky yarn killer.  Max!!

 

Knitting?  EZ sleeves and Corinne.  Woo-hoo short rows!!

Life is good.