Month: September 2014

In California we’re living with a drought. Showers are often far in between. I don’t get out all that often, so I don’t mind waiting to shower for a day or two. And beyond walking a couple of miles every morning I’m not breaking my back or a sweat. Just a little when knitting frustration comes along. So when Stephen walked into the house with a friend we had not seen for 100 years it was embarrassing and wonderful!

I’m waiting for my next surprise because I’m all showered and freshly clothed now. Bring ’em on. It was so, so good having that instant connection again. And she knits!

Do I need to say more? I got to show her all my latest knitting and we looked at each other’s ravelry pages. How crazy is that? And the have yous and did yous and on and on. I think I didn’t let her talk. I was overflowing. She was a good sport.

And now I’m reading her blog. And I’m liking it. And I have frogged the socks several times now today and am starting over again. Did I say she knits? I look differently at knitters. No, no, I’m not saying we’re better. There is a sisterhood or brotherhood or is it a knitterhood?

I’m still 60 and hating it. When I have to communicate with someone who has never seen me before I feel like explaining that my 60 is nothing s/he can imagine. I listen to the Pixies and dance and would still go into a mosh pit for a few moments and take my pants off at a Muse concert, not.

I’m not my grandmother’s 60. I’m my 60 and still not liking it. 60 defines me more than my massive heart attack or bypass surgery. Life is strange. Knitting makes sense. Did I say she knits?

The shawl for the mother-in-law is finished. Birthday coming up soonish. I’m ready. I made the Alice’s Embrace but used half the amount of yarn asked for. How could that be? Acrylic Marble yarn with number 13 needles makes a generous 20 inches by 60 inches shawl. Did I miss something? Probably, but all is good.

Have a look:

I could complain, but I should know better. I don’t fall asleep easily under the full moon. I’ve known this now for how long? But do I pay attention? Nooooooo. I go right to bed, don’t fall asleep, realize it’s a full moon, then play games, read every news story online in English and German, read all the blogs I like, check online order status of various purchases, check Facebook, read a little in a book, and repeat the above just in case there is something new. I know, I know, being in front of an electronic screen does not help with the falling asleep process. But not wanting to wake up Stephen, I like keeping the light off. That only leaves the iPad or getting up. And I’m way disconnected from being upright by now that it’s not an option anymore.

Next month I’m planning on a full moon pajama party knit night going until the last one of us is too tired to hold any needles. We’ll see if this comes off the ground.

My yarn purchase yesterday was acrylic yarn for an Alice’s Embrace shawl for Stephen’s mom. Since she’s allergic to wool, or was at some point in her life, and her husband does the laundry and probably has never heard of hand wash knit items, I think acrylic is a good choice here. Plus, I’ve been lusting after those big skeins of cheap yarn.

Progress is amazing. I feel like Alice in Wonderland knitting with those number 13 needles and chunky yarn. But it’s also tiring moving the big needles around when one is used to number 2s.

OK, OK, here is a picture of the shawl so far. All 43 cm or 17 inches of it.

and other body parts. We have to come to an agreement if we plan to keep on living together. I’ll try to treat you nicer and you keep down the noise. Agreed?

Neck, I’m especially talking to you. The last few days you’re acting like you forgot how to hold up a head. You’ve done it the last 60 years, come on, did you forget? Am I not treating you right? Talk to me in other modes than pain please. I’m willing to listen. If you throw this pain my way you make it difficult for me to listen, all I want to do is scream and take pain pills.

And Back, thank you. 5 weeks of pain was enough and I got the message. But you, too, please don’t come down crashing so hard on me, gentle reminders will do it. And Back, one more thing, that drip water system needed to be put in. And yes, it involved lots of bending down and all and yes, you’re 60 now, but come on, give me a little slack.

Neck, you did see what I made for you, right? Isn’t it lovely? So start treating me that way. And please do stretch a little instead of hiding between my shoulders, the shawl will look so much better that way. You know, the way Toby does it. He is a role model to all necks around the world.

This was an interesting pattern. Like with most patterns that say read through the directions first, I ignored these words and headed right to cast on. I mean what could go wrong? I can knit and purl and do yarn overs and cast on and off. I can knit 2 together, even through the back loop. I can weave in the ends, I might not like it, but I can do it.

I did read enough about the pattern to know I might not have enough yarn. So I improvised and reversed main and contrast colors at some point.

Then I came to the part of changing directions in knitting. I can do that, too. But the math seemed wrong somehow. I did what I do best in times of trouble, eyes squeezed shut I knit on, one row at a time. If I follow the directions all should be fine. Most of the time this works, not always just mostly, but I have to give it a try. It worked this time. I now realize my math mistake, but calculating while knitting is not my strong point.

What has me flabbergasted is all the yarn I have left over. And I did recount the repeats and am good there. I don’t knit too tight, so that’s not an explanation either. For now I’ll have to let that one go and enjoy the shawl.