Purlewe Knits

I was so close to being done.  I needed to finish 1/2 a row, bind off, and sew, but I ran out of ribbon. Here’s a shrug pic … none of my pictures are good tonight, I apologize in advance, and you’ll have to click to get this one. 

I also worked on Lopi tonight, it seems like it will go fast now, I really love working st st in the round!!

For the zig zag I have to carry the yarn behind.  I had most of the white zigs done before and I showed it to someone and asked about carrying the yarn behind.  They said I really should tuck it in every so often to help reduce snagging.  Okay, so I ripped it out (this is also when I discovered I wanted the bottom bigger around (to fit the these hips of mine).  I tried this tuck thing, and I don’t like it.  It made my stitches incredibly uneven and it really slowed me down.  After finishing the white zigs (for the second time) I determined that tucking was for the birds and I returned to my normal carry routine. You can see that the pink stitches in the tents are rough, so are the white ones.  They aren’t uneven enough for me to take them out though … no one will ever notice them!  (that’s what I’m telling myself – the sweater is for me)

I mentioned that my pictures are bad …… after the white zig zag is a black zig zag and then I change to aubergine.  It you squint hard and use your imagination you MIGHT be able to see the color change between the black and aubergine.  I’ll have to get a better picture (maybe outside?). 

I also took a picture of the inside, in case my babbling isn’t coherent tonight and the aubergine is slightly more noticible, just slightly though.

The party was fun.  Thanks to Jim for bringing guitar hero, um yeah … not so cool to the sober folks, but I think I was the only one, so that’s okay.  And thanks to Rex for coming!  It was fun, very nice to finally meet you, and thank you for the awesome flowers!!!  Come any time!! 

We are having a party today for my hubby’s birthday, just a couple of weeks late.  I’m making pesto and I don’t think there will be any shortage of basil.  We harvested all that was left in the garden, and I borrowed a full-sized food processor to get the job done faster.  My little mini processor, just barely holds 2 cups of leaves, and it would take forever to process this mound.  I can’t even imagine how they made pesto in the days before the food processor. 

Yesterday I volunteered to make a scarf for the Pink Scarf Challenge, who Shelly is hosting.  I try to support local BC related charity activities, the walks and runs, and this looks like a fun way to do that.  My friend Julie got me started doing BC charity events.  She is doing a 60 mile (!) walk in three days this fall to support the Komen Foundation.  If you want to make a contribution to her you can do it here.   

I’m really hoping the Pink Scarf (I’m not making a pink scarf, because I’m making one for a man, but I’m still going to call it the Pink Scarf) will bring me out of the knitting funk I seem to have slid into in the last month. 

Shelly also sent me a couple of links to knee sock patterns!  One is on Nora’s site, not sure how I missed that, but I am going to blame the funk for making me listless.  The other is on a blog new to me JoanKnits, pattern link.  Thank you Shelly! 

Why is it that a dentist/dental assistant is so adamant about gauze?  Do they think the gauze with make me feel better?!?  Well it doesn’t!!  I had my little dental procedure done today, a couple of hours ago, and the Novocaine is wearing off.  It hurts, more than I expected it to from the doc’s comments.  I refused the pain medication cause I’m allergic to most of it and what I’m not allergic to I have other crazy side affects with.  I need to go find some knitting to keep my fingers busy and maybe a book on tape to occupy my mind. 

I’m a little nervous about starting the knee socks.  I did three different gauges and they all came out about the same sts/inch(cm).  I’m thinking about doing a couple of swatches with bamboo needles.  I don’t want to go to all the work and not have the socks fit. 

Thanks for your comments about the needles (and socks) ladies.  I was so excited to have my first comments!  It sounds like the mm # is the one to watch, it makes more sense anyway. 

So I’ve been quite upset with one LYS lately.  My clearly marked US 2’s* don’t fit into a 2 size hole on a needle gauge!  What I thought was a 2 fit in a 3 hole, but what I thought was a 3 also fit in a 3 hole!  I pulled out all my addis and they all fit the best in a 3 HOLE!  I was convinced that the LYS was out to get me (this isn’t SoP for those of you local readers), I could go on about this but won’t, I know they’ve had some staff come and go so I won’t dwell.   

*clearly marked package … what happens when you take the needles out of the package and actually use them … then how do you know what size the needle is … once the stamping on the cord starts to fade and you have three needles that are 20 inches long… WHAT DO YOU DO???  Try the needle gauge? … ah! but it doesn’t work!!

This weekend I decided to treat myself to some new addis and try to debunk the theory that I got jilted by the LYS.  In SoP I got a needle gauge and went at their addis … they are so wonderful to humor folks like me.  I didn’t try the 0 (or anything smaller) because I really can’t imagine myself ever having the patience for that.  The 1’s, fit into the 1 hole loosely and the 2 hole snugly.  Hummmmm I thought, maybe … Their 2’s (also clearly marked as 2’s) didn’t fit into a 2 hole either!!  I’m on to something I think!!  I’ve discovered the ADDI mystery! 

I don’t remember trying the 3s, but the 4’s they fit the four hole and were quite smaller than the 5 hole, relief.  So maybe from 4 up is good?  That’s what I’m hoping … I’m leaving that mystery for another Saturday afternoon. 

As I was checking out (with my 4’s) I asked Ann (the awesome) and she said she knew about the sizing issue and had been meaning to ask the distributor about it.  (I guess I wasn’t the first to discover the consiparcy after all.)

If this is a commonly known issue with addis why do we stand for it?  As knitters we must unite!!  We can’t have needle companies messing with our gauge!!!  Whatever happened to standards!!!!

In other news I did a gauge for my knee socks at the dentist today.  I used my new 4’s.  I wanted to give them a test run and this yarn I’ve picked is a bit heavier than typical sock yarn.  Wishful thinking, I don’t think my 6 sts per inch is a good sock weight.  I’m off to try a 3 or is it a 2???

I have decided that I do not have enough soy silk for knee socks.  So I’m going to use this   It is Moda Dea – Sassy Stripes in Crush.  It is Acrylic!  Yes, that’s right I’m going to knit with Acrylic!  Please don’t alert the knitting police, it is just a couple of small skeins.  Shelly doesn’t like acrylic, she did a sock yarn review today after I asked her about different cotton yarns, but I am going to give it a try anyway.  It is the only self striping sock yarn I’ve found that I’m interested in working with color wise.  My good friend Carol gave me some for my birthday this year (I think she got tired of me drooling over her socks). 

I’m interested in doing argyle knee socks, but I think I better see how the patterns goes, before I try too much. 

The wedding shrug is coming along … I’m not crazy about knitting with ribbons and other flat yarns.  I think it takes to much effort to get the needle under a flat yarn.  The glass is half full though, because I’m half way through with it.   The bridal shower is Sept 7 and my plan is to have it finished by then and I should easily, as long as I don’t get to involved in these knee socks.