My Knitting Life

Web-based Solutions

Two little comments over at Kerstin's today really knocked the wind out of me (ok, I'm being as dramatic as a 5th grade girl). I have been noticing how small Charlotte is, although it is measuring just as it should be in the pattern. Down the center, at row 105, it measures 17 inches, which means I will end up right around 24 inches at completion.

In her comment, Vanessa casually mentioned that she added another repeat! (I don't have her link.) As I recall from the Threadbear site, Vanessa's shawl was one color, so adding more repeats probably just used up the yarn she had, but for those of us knitting multiple colors with names like Coming Snow, Wysteria or Berries and Cream, it changes everything! Which berries should I add? Would you add more snow or more sleet? Is the wysteria just blooming or is it on the wane? I decided that I'm glad I'm short and won't be adding any more repeats.

The second comment was from Anne (again, don't have link). She mentioned blocking first and then adding the crochet edging. I checked the pattern and it doesn't mention anything about this sequence. I am seriously considering a knitted lace edging. While driving around in my car this morning, I let my mind wander as to how I will do this. Of course, I had just come to the conclusion that I should knit the edging and then block, the exact opposite of Anne's advice! My thinking was that the knitted edging will need to be "opened up" just like the shawl. But now I am concerned that the shawl edge won't have enough give if the edging is added before the shawl is blocked. Any thoughts?

I'm celebrating the fact that we have a long weekend coming up and it doesn't involve any gift-giving, card buying or new clothes! Just hang out your flag, throw on some burgers and get in some quality knitting time! Have a great weekend!

Pure Evil

Yup. You're lookin' at it. Color 3. Last night was the first night this week with no outside commitments. So I settled into my chair, and pulled out Charlotte. I'm just adding Color 4, with Color 3 still in action. I wound all the yarn using my ball winder a while back. Color 3 has been giving me trouble all along. Sometimes when I tug, a clump comes out of the center in a mass of tangles. Who knows what multi-tasking thing I was doing while winding it. Last night I decided enough is enough, I'm going to rewind it into a round ball from the outside with the inside strand attached to Charlotte. So I unwound and wrapped and untangled and wrapped and on and on. All through American Idol. And Millionaire. I refused to cut the lovely Koigu. Occasionally I went back to Charlotte, counting repeats to be sure of no mistakes. And I had lots of kid interruptions, but, still, TWO HOURS??

Remember me a few months ago? Wasn't I churning out the FO's? Who was that person? I can't seem to make much headway on anything these days. I'm mid-way with Charlotte and the top-down. I really really really want to start the ChicKami tank for Maddy, and would love to have it done for her birthday next week, but I know it will slow me down with these other projects.

True Confessions: I put extra pressure on myself to work quickly to get things done when I'm in a knit-along. I'm not proud of it. I mean competitive knitting? Isn't that a total OXYMORON? I get so much out of knit-alongs - the pure joy of seeing other variations of the same project, the learning from others, etc. Maybe as a personal challenge, I should commit to being the last person done the Web?

Cotton Tank Cloning

Look what came in the mail today! You might recognize the colors of this Mission Falls Cotton. It's what Annie used to make the adorable Chickami for her lovely daughter, M. Well, I also have a daughter of the same age, also M.! So the very generous Annie gifted me the yarn to make my M. the same Chickami! I downloaded the pattern from Bonne Marie and in a snap I have another fun summer project. This little series of events made me stop and think how enriched our knitting lives are with technology. Not only do we have access to pattterns and yarns, but FRIENDS who so generously share of themselves, their skills, their STASH! Thanks Annie and Bonne Marie!

In the Groove

What fun we're all having with Charlotte! Have you seen Sandy's? And Kerstin's? Annie is moving along, even while finishing some other fun projects. Many of us have benefitted from Uli's chart - I have it at my side and use it with a cut-out of the 8 stitch repeat.

After much teeth knashing and brow beating last week, I'm finally on my way. I attribute my slow start to trying to knit while the kids are in da house! Also, I got the 8 stitch concept quickly, but those center stitches threw me off for quite a while - the fact that there is one more stitch than on the sides took such a long time to sink in! I'm solidly in Color 3, a few rows away from adding Color 4. I even took her out to a baseball game and made some progress, although some markers got slightly displaced.

In other news, I am teaching my second knitting class tonight! I haven't really mentioned this, but I did teach a beginner class a few weeks back - 10 students. It is a one time class - just to get your feet wet. Most of the class signed up to come back with a simple project. Tonight should be more relaxed than the first class because all the students know they want to continue. My wonderful neighbor, Mary, came and helped me. She kept me calm and moved about helping people while I was tied up. She got a kick out of the fact that I WAY over-prepared! I'm feeling much more relaxed the second time around.

Click to see Row 83! While knitting, I'm thinking: 1. What am I going to do with the leftovers? A scarf? Any thoughts? 2. Anyone have blocking advice? 3. I really want a crochet or lace edging - must investigate. 4. Must plan a fancy cocktail party on the veranda so I will wear this thing at least once!

KPAL Strikes Again

I was showered with gifts from my Secret Knitting Pal yesterday! Can you believe the thought this generous soul has put into this whole experience, not to mention this last bounty? I opened it up and there were two photo boxes, one for MY KIDS, and one for me. For the kids, colorful sock yarn, puppy note cards and blank books, and rope watches that my 5 year old proclaimed were "AWE-THOM!!". Then, for me, a felted bag pattern and Plymouth Galway yarn, and handmade bracelet, Debbie Bliss book and other little goodies. Each time, my KPal writes a beautiful little note that makes we well up. OK, now I'm REALLY ready for the big REVEAL!!

Humble

"Charlotte tore quite a section out of her web, leaving an open space in the middle. Then she started weaving something to take the place of the threads she had removed. When Templeton got back from the dump around midnight, the spider was still at work." E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

I could tell you all about Charlotte, but my post would have to still be called "Row 45". Can you believe I made it all the way to Color 3, Row 59? Just as I was caressing my next color, I saw a jog to the left in one of the Knit borders to each pattern repeat. I was going to leave it, but I saw that blocked shawl at Mind of Winter and it inspired me to rip. Of course the jog created a ripple effect in the rest of the row, which compounded the mistake in future rows.

I keep telling myself I'm much farther along than I was even just 24 hours ago. Maybe not in the knitting, but in the learning. Each day since I started, I've figured out something new about how this pattern works and how to approach it. Each learning becomes integrated, and the next new concept builds on the previous one. It's sweating out the early learning stages that are the most challenging - the ripping and re-doing and knowing you have to go through this to get it right.

Row 45

To self: "OK that rip re-do wasn't so bad! Caught back up to row 45. What was all that talk about markers? Maybe I should try some. Wow. This is a lot of markers! I better look around. Bottom of knitting bag (2), side pocket (3), couch cushion (1), little plastic box for markers (0), bottom of notions box (5)..... Ok, markers added. Now I get it!! I can knit along and look back between the markers, do a quick count to be sure I have 8 stitches. Instead of completing the row, the following purl row, the next pattern row and not having the right number of stitches! SOME-one didn't have their LISTENing ears on!"

It pained me not to use my lovely hand-crafted markers from my Secret Pal, but this loose lacy knitting needs something really light. As is, many of the plastic ones I have are too big. Might require a small purchase of new plastic markers today.

Uli made mention of a chart she made up, and within minutes of my request, she kindly forwarded it to me. This has been a big help. She lists each row by pattern row #, number of stitches, and color. This really saved me when I got to a row and was off by a stitch, I could see how far back I needed to go. Here's another great example of how a fellow blogger can help you improve your knitting! A "knitting best practice"! Thanks Uli.

Meet Jack

A face only a mother could love! This little guy kept the boys occupied for hours while they tried to create a home for him, as he kept trying to hop away. In the end, their older sister convinced them that he would be better off "free in nature", so off he went.

On the knitting front, I've started Charlotte's Web. I know this will be slow going because I can't cart it around and knit wherever I am. Plus, interruptions can cause major set-backs! It took me a bit to get oriented to the pattern (thanks, Annie, for the support!). Just start with color 1 or A, and follow the directions and you will be hooked before you know it. Thanks to Sandy and Kerstin for kicking off another fantastic group knit!

My second project is the one I cart around - the KP&S Henley, in Plymouth Stone Cotton. It's a breeze, and perfect for knitting out and about!

HOO-RAY!!

It's here! My Charlotte's Web arrived today!
Click on the photo for a real treat! Aren't the
colors YUMMY?? It's Berries & Cream, chosen
with help from Rob at ThreadBear!

Secret Pal Strikes Again, And Again...

These are some of the treats sent to me recently by the World's Sweetest Secret Pal! There's a cute little Spring-y knitting bag which I have been using to cart around my Stone Cotton KP&S Henley (shown, right). Then, because she picked up on my wish to knit more socks for my family, there's a big fat ball of Regia! I've really been enjoying Zen And The Art of Knitting - I especially enjoy the section entitled "Your Brain, Your Brain on Knitting". KnitLit Two rounds out my KnitLit collection, and there were some other little make-up goodies, too. She even found a card that said "from your Secret Pal" printed inside! How fun is that? Well, thanks to you Secret Pal. Can't wait for the big reveal to find out who you are!!