It’s the Sunday before Memorial Day and I’m resting up for a very busy travel week next week after a very busy week last week, too. Why did I ever think that being semi-retired was going to mean lots of down time? Hubby’s up on the third floor watching movies on Apple TV (I got a new laptop and with it 3 months free.) I am in my atelier watching my YouTuber “friends” and knitting. Aren’t you shocked!?
Today I’m working on my hubby’s socks. The new Arne & Carlos Socks and More yarn that I bought in Quebec City is quite wonderful and, as always, the vanilla sock knitting is a good rest for my tired brain. I’ve been working on my new 9″ circular needles. I’ve tried my ChaioGoo interchangeable minis and the fixed 9″ circs now and I have to say that I prefer the fixed 9″ circular needles. I think it’s because the cord is more substantial. The interchangeable minis cord is significantly thinner and flimsier thus requiring my hands to do more work supporting the needle tips than is necessary. The fixed circs take less thought to hold onto. And I really do like that the tension is even all around. I’m eager to get these socks finished and knit another pair of colorwork socks to see what I think going forward. I have also tried a couple of methods with the heels. On the first sock I did the heel flap and gusset with my circs … it was a struggle but I did it. This time I slipped my heel stitches on to a single DPN and did my heel flap and turned the heel then slipped them back onto the circular needle. I think that second option is what I’ll do going forward. I still have to use DPNs on the toe decreases, too.
Our house is an absolute disaster, my atelier needs a good vacuum and the laundry needs done. BUT here I am knitting my fool fingers off. Last night I got to the part of the body of my Salty Air Tee where it’s all stockinette stitch, too. The remaining project that requires a lot of thought on my part is the Broadgate Tabard. I worked on it for a short time yesterday when we were sitting on the porch. The light is so good out there, it’s a perfect place for working on the tabard which has both texture and crossed stitches forming a series of Xs across the garment. I may have to go back to working on it this afternoon to see if I can get another repeat of the chart completed before we go away. I know this is not a travel garment.
I am having trouble deciding whether I’d rather try to finish the Salty Air Tee or work on the Tabard. If I finish the tee, I could wear it to Arizona this week. Hmm. Time will tell, I guess.
Meanwhile, the weather is so gross here today. Windy and too cool for being outside. My fingers have been perennially cold today. I refuse, however, to turn the heat back on. I’m a New Englander and I’m tough. (I think.) I do have blankets that I’ve knitted and I may choose to put one around me when I retire to my knitting chair. I went for a little walk around the yard again this morning, though, and the plants are really popping up. I think we’re going to have to move our lone blueberry bush because it’s being taken over by a wild rose. We won’t plant our veggies until we return next week but the gardens are just waiting for their plants and we are waiting for our homegrown food! I’ll leave you with a couple of photos of the yard … gone knitting.
I really thought I had a cold or a sinus infection. My hubby had one at Christmas time and I made the assumption that he gave it to me (he has recovered.) Last week I went to the doctor hoping for an antibiotic to kill the infection and speed my recovery. They tested me for Covid, flu and RSV … and you could have knocked me over with a feather when the doctor came back and said I had the flu – B+. Since I had been symptomatic for 6 days, antivirals were out of the question. We just wait. And cough. And blow my poor nose. And cough. Not how I wanted to start the New Year!
So, I’ve been spending a lot of time at home in my atelier. Watching stupid movies and other shows to help pass the time and knitting.
Yesterday I finished my pink Musselburgh. I really think it’s too big. I should probably have made the large rather that the extra-large. But it’s too late now. I like it better when I wear it with the gray side out because I can fold it over more and make the hat sit on my head rather than being slouchy. But if I’m honest, I’m not in love with it. Boo.
I have been working on hubby’s Christmas socks, too. I finished the first one (and he tried it on and it fits perfectly) and I have begun the second one. These socks are a re-knit. It’s a long story and maybe I’ll tell it one day but suffice it to say that I am doing them the right way this time. LOL. The yarn is a heavy worsted/Aran weight sock yarn by Raggi that my LYS has stopped carrying but it’s a wonderful sock yarn for boot socks! I found the pattern, Thompson River Socks, in a magazine ages ago. The socks are knit at a fairly tight gauge so my hands start to get tired after a few repeats of the pattern and I have to move on to knitting something else. BUT the socks are gorgeous and one of my hubby’s favorites. So, they’re coming along albeit slowly.
Thompson River SocksGansey AfghanHarlow Sweater
I’ve also been working on my Gansey Afghan. To be honest, this may be getting most of my attention. It’s not a difficult knit, the blanket in my lap keeps me cozy and warm, and I am really enjoying the yarn and the different textured stitches. I’ve just finished the first ball of yarn and I have one more. I’m knitting this one with Hayfield Aran with Wool which comes in a 900 yard ball leaving very few ends to weave in and it’s going to be washable. The color isn’t coming up well in photographs though. It’s a medium sage-y green and it was on the clearance table at work. I grabbed it up thinking it’d be for my brother and realized he would never use it … he’s always warm. SO, I have re-thought who will get it and I think it’ll go to my daughter who likes earth tones in her house. I don’t think I’ve made her anything other than socks in forever and I think she’ll like it.
I also cast on a new project to keep me happy. I’m knitting the Harlow Sweater V Neck in a yarn that I’ve had in my stash that was planned for a different sweater. I had planned to make a heavily cabled, cropped cardigan but I don’t have the bandwidth right now to pay enough attention to the pattern AND I am fearful that iI don’t have quite enough yarn to make it. I bought all that they had left … and I hope it’s enough for the Harlow. It should be. I am on gauge and am working down the back. It was an interesting cast on from an i-cord and the picking up stitches across the i-cord and knitting down from there. When it’s time to work on the front(s), I’ll, once again, pick up stitches from the i-cord leaving one stitch between and that will make a pretty “line” across the shoulder. I’m still hoping that there’s enough yarn. Not sure why I’m nervous about it but I am. So far, aside from being a different/new to me cast on, it’s an easy knit and the yarn is really pretty and next-to-skin soft. I’m knitting the Harlow with Concept by Katia Cotton-Merino, it’s a cotton tube with merino fluff blown in. I like the heather-y look so far.
I have purchased a couple of different yarns. Both were pre-orders and both were dyed by Lolabean Yarn Company out of Georgia. I’ve loved Adella’s yarns for a long time and this time I couldn’t resist. The first one has arrived. Grinch sock yarn pair! I can hardly wait to cast these bad boys on. The colors are so grinchy and make me so happy. The second pre-order is two skeins of DK weight yarn in the “Good Trouble” colorway. This was a special fundraising colorway and I “had” to buy it. I’m excited to see it when it arrives and it should be here early next week. SO I’m working on getting my blanket done so I can cast on something else that’s new with my new yarn.
I also have a knitting fail to report. (Not sure if I’m considering my Musselburgh as a knitting fail yet, too.) I knitted a Stockholm Slipover recently and was really excited about it. I loved the look of the vest and I loved the yarn I used to knit it. The color is great and it was in my stash so it was a stash reduction, too. I decided to wear it yesterday and it’s too big. I had hoped it’d be a little bit boxy because I’m not a twig but it’s way too boxy and the underarms are the problem. I have read, since finishing the slipover, that others didn’t add stitches to the underarms and I think that’s the problem. There are too many stitches under the arms which make the arm holes too big and the whole garment looks huge … well, it does if I lift my arms or move. Phooey. I think I am going to endeavor to use my sewing machine to take in a couple of inches on each side. If I sew a seam and zig zag it, I should be able to cut off the extra fabric and wear the garment. If I don’t do something it’ll just sit in my closet.
You can see how the arm pit pops out in this horrible photograph. Sorry, best I can do on my own. So, stay tuned for the results later in the month.
So, there you have it. My new year update so far. I haven’t “done” much around our house, I’ve called in sick last week for work and I hope I don’t have to again this week but I have to say it’s not looking good. We also have a trip planned to visit my aunt and uncle in Reno, NV and then head to Denver to see my hubby’s youngest and her family (and our grandson). We are supposed to travel at the end of the week. I’ve got an email into our travel agent to see if we can reschedule the trip … I’m unsure about what the rules are because I am never sick! It never occurred to me that we’d have to change plans. AND of course we have hotels, car rentals, dog kennel, etc. all lined up in multiple places and of course we were/are looking so forward to seeing the family. I guess if we do have to change our plans, we’ll see them but it’ll be later than we had hoped. Time will tell.
Queen Bee Knits 