out of yarn

Because tomorrow will be different

And some days, that is a good thing.

(Edited to add:  Note to readers:  Apparently, this is a very long update with lots of (bad) pictures.)

Tomorrow it begins. 

We've got to get those steps fixed, so we thought we'd just get a screened in porch as a replacement. (Yes, that probably isn't a one to one mix and match kind of thing; but it works for us.)  So, although the kitchen remains intact for a bit longer, the contruction begins tomorrow.

Knitting Review and Update

1.  Las Vegas socks  - untouched (except by Ned)

(These are being held  for Reserve Emergency Meeting Knitting.  Plain stockinette on size 0's/2 mm needles.  I carry them back and forth to work, every day.)

2.  Francie socks - just ready to turn the first heel:

I couldn't find the pattern this morning on the train and I wanted to prep them for meeting knitting.   Alas, I had to work on these:

3.  Mom's socks - just ready to start a toe:

These go so fast, it is embarrassing.

4a.  Camel plain gloves  Gaiter.  Finished.  And I love it.  And it is hiding somewhere.  (Note to self:  Where???  Why has this not been blogged??)

4b.  Replacement Plain Ol' gloves:  haven't touched 'em since last week

These are the First String Emergency Meeting Knitting project.  (As in, I intend to work on these before completing #1 Las Vegas Socks.)

5.  Winnie Cabled gloves (unstarted - which is (still) as it should be)

6.  Felted bag:  bigger

This is too big for Meeting Knitting, but I was knitting it on the train (when I wasn't prepping Meeting Knitting.)  (Can I just say whine that it taxes most of my project management skills (of which there is an ample supply) to keep myself supplied with portable knitting projects?)

7.  Finish blanket  (I (still) know where to find the squares.  Maybe I should take a picture.  This is my sitting home doing nothing knitting.)  (The "doing nothing" line amuses me.)

8.  Finish sweater (I (still) don't know where it is.)

9.  Surprise knit (a lace-weight stole)  (I can find the yarn.  I have usurped the needles for a gift knit which I added to the list as #12.)

10.  Austrian socks ((Still) uncontemplated.)

11.  (That's the new one I added last week.)  That little cardboard coffee mug thingy that keeps you from burning your hands:   

This first one is a model or template.  I was too lazy to figure out guage, so I just cast on, knit until it fit the cup and kitchenered it up.  As I knit, I realized that the bottom edge needs to be smaller than the top edge.  So I decreased a few stitches on one side. 

And this means that one edge is wonky and the entire method was/is flawed.

But I have yarn for version #2 and guage from version #1 and the version #2 will be knit in the round.

12)  (New one this week!)  Bella's mom had a birthday and I found the right yarn (in stash) but wasn't sure what to make.  So rather than knitting on a deadline (!) I wrapped up the yarn for her birthday.  We discussed projects this past Sunday and I'm working on this:

So, that is Louet Euroflax Sportweight linen in the the Aqua colorway (#48).  It will become a modified version of Ripple and Lace Leaf Basket Liners (Rav link) by Amy King from Clara Parkes' Knitter's Book of Yarn.

(Update:  I couldn't stand it.  I had to go find the Camel Gaiter.  It needs blocking and a photo shoot.)

(Mental note:  still need picture of Emergency Stash)

Dude Story:

So ... I've been trying to work from home on Monday's.  I don't think its working out but I like it too much to give up too easily.  (Remind me of that when the kitchen is being ripped apart, o.k.?)  And we're out walking the pooch this a.m.  (who had her ears cleaned (achy), and her belly spritzed (itches), and was then taken out on a forced march and she was heavily protesting this form of torture.)

And I said to Dude:  Dude, this isn't working.  I wake up on Tuesday thinking of all the zillion things that have to be done before the next weekend and I've only got 4 (instead of 5) days to do it.

And he says:  Its working just fine.  You used to do that on Monday.

And as far as he's concerned, I'm not stressed for 3 days instead of 2 days and that is an improvement.

Nothing to show for it

It is hard to claim that the gardens are taking any time. 

a) Dude or Mother Nature does the watering.
b) I'm not preserving anything.   (I am (happily) consuming a ton of tomatoes - but the Roma's have not ripened at one time.  And the cucumber continues to produce - but its enough for fresh cucumbers through the end of August, not pickles.)
c) I could claim weeding is taking some time.  But it hasn't.  (Not that there are no weeds.)

Knitting has been non-productive (today). 

I decided that a friend needed something knitted for her birthday - but I was unsure of the desired object.  So I gave her yarn for her birthday and we decided on projects this morning.  Which is fine.  I've even knit 6 or so inches.  I just keep ripping it out. 

(No, do it this way ...)

I'd also like to say the house is clean. 

But I can't. 

(But the dog is!  I took Aurora into the bathroom and she hopped right into the tub with nary a whimper.  She politely waited for me to scrub her down. 

Ned politely requested that Dude let him into the bathroom from the outside.  Dude obliged.

Ned watched from the back of the toilet tank - just fascinated with the whole process. 

I finished up and toweled the Aurora off and she hoped out of the tub.  Aurora went nose to nose with Ned and she waited for him to hop onto the floor to sniff her feet.  The Aurora let out a mighty shake and water flew everywhere and Ned darted behind the toilet for cover.)

I swear it was a deliberate, calculated move on Aurora's part.  She got the little twerp.)

(Yes, she also got the entire (small) bathroom.  But that is normal for a samoyed.)

Oh!  And I did find this:

Ned is still arguing over ownership.  (I guess, since he has a fetish about Dude's toes, it would be appropriate to give him some of Dude's socks.  Just not these socks.)

And we had a visit by these guys:

(Black-capped (caped?) chickadees have been spotted by the sunflowers but no pix yet.)

These guys were all over the butterfly bush outside the kitchen window (and hence, the bad photo.)  At one point I counted 40 of them.   I have to wonder if they are migrating somewhere.

I sense a massive update coming ...

but not tonight.

Contractor Update:  Cabinets chosen (last night).  Woot.

Long list of other things remaining to be chosen:  countertops, lights, hardware, sinks, faucets, appliances, ceiling fans, ....

Degree of overwhelmed:  slight to middling

Garden Update:

For the past few weeks I've been admiring the crepe myrtle's in the area.  There are quite a few of them and they are gorgeous.

We wondered if ours would have any blooms this year (given that it is growing well but only 5 feet tall and not quite a year old.)  

Usually the purple ones bloom first.  Then the pink.  Then the white.  And finally the red ones. 

But it all really depends on where it is micro-climate wise and how much sun it gets.

At one point, Dude asked what color we'd planted.  And I couldn't remember.  (I reasoned it out though:  the white ones would get too tall and not be enough contrast to the house.  The purple ones are too pastel-ly.  Pink is not my color.  Maybe red.  But I don't usually plant red.  So, uhm, I don't know.)

Dude, we planted a red one.

Bad Cat Mom Department

So, perhaps I've mentioned it:  we cook Aurora's food.  (Lately, Dude does most of the cooking.)  There's a long saga of food allergies and diabetes but its rather simple (now that it is all figured out) and it works for Aurora. 

She gets fish stew.  (White fish and squashes).  (With supplements and a variety of "treats" to round out her diet.)

Ned likes her fish stew.  (No, Ned LOVES her stew.)  Ned comes running when it is feeding time.  He winds himself around my feet and is a general annoyance. 

Ned screams if I feed Aurora and forget to give him some. 

He a bit obsessed with the fish.

And I only give him a teaspoon full.

Whatever.  We've all ready established that he does not have much of a brain.

Tonight, I think I fried any remaining brain cells:

I gave him the whole stew pot.

And, yes, he fits inside it.

Adult Crayons

From the left:

Glidden Sunflower,  for the kitchen.  The color on the wall did not match the chip until after the third coat.  The color on the Glidden site is not what I want; I shall not link it.   (My last kitchen was this sunflower yellow color (I loved it).  My last kitchen was also 5 times smaller.  I'm guessing that there is an equal proportion of wall space.)

Toasted Caramel, also Glidden.  I can't find this one on the site.  This will be the "main" wall color in the rest of the house.  (Trim will be white, floors are light wood.)

I have considered lighter tans (e.g. Glidden Dapper Dan, 3rd from the left) but I think I will just think they look "dirty" rather than any particular color, so I'm going with the darker tan.  (Two friends (in different places) have a very similar color and I love it.  I'm calling it "paper bag brown".  So descriptive.)

That (Deepest Woodland) Green color was in the running for accents.   It did not win.

(Those stripes?  Ned jumped up, grabbed my hand, and said (clearly): whatcha' doin'??

He's still alive.   The painted white paneling will be removed and the floor is the old (old) kitchen floor/removed carpet.  New flooring is being installed.  He's a lucky kitty.  And he had a bath, which makes him an unhappy lucky kitty.)

Next over is some violet color that is not in the running.

Then there is Black Tulip.  It is still wet in the photo - it needed 3 coats.  I think this will be an accent wall.  I had a purple accent wall in my old place and I loved it.

Now,I will admit that there are those who are not just flummoxed by the dark purple but actively hate it.  The only ones with a vote get to live here and the four-footed ones are color blind.

p.s.  For the record, I am not trying to recreate the last place.  Its just as we discuss paint colors and what to do, we keep coming back to these colors.  (The bathroom will be blue.  Two houses ago, I had a blue bathroom.  With fish.  I loved it.  Go figure.)  

p.p.s.  Yes, I know.  Some people paint before they move.  Or soon after.  I'm over it.

p.p.p.s.  Glidden had sample colors ready to bring home.  I'm hoping to use a more environmentally friendly paint. 

Early Monday Morning Greeting

Is it Monday all ready?

I don't wanna get up!!

Ohhhhh but its huuuuuumid and get that Light out of my eyes!

and early and hot and I can't do a thing with my hair.

eeeeennngghemptlfh.

Fickle Much?

This weekend I cast on for the gloves I need to make for the  practice pair.  (So that I can modify this pattern with some special yarn.)

That's how far I got before I jumped onto Ravelry to see what others had to say about the yarn. 

I decided this yarn was too soft  (and too fragile) to use for gloves.   It will become one of these. 

And (now) I have another an extra skein.

I wound this for the practice gloves. 

Ellen's Half Pint Farm 80% wool 20% nylon, 4 ounces, 500 yds. 

Diligent readers will notice that it is lighter weight than I really was looking for. 

I'm going with it anyway.

 

 Fickle: marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness

Small Update of small progress

In the Race Against the Kitchen Remodel (and other Work) (that's RAKRaoW and a really bad abbreviation), we have

1.  Las Vegas socks
2.  Francie socks
3.  Mom's socks
4.  Camel plain gloves
5.  Winnie Cabled gloves
6.  Felted bag
7.  Finish blanket
8.  Finish sweater
9.  Surprise knit (a lace-wight stole)
10.  Austrian socks (Rav link)

(I do not taunt the gods.  In the Kitchen Model takes longer than we ever envisioned department (kind of like the batting deck in baseball), we have:

1.  Super Spiral Shawl
2.  Emergency Sock Yarn  (must remember to take picture of this -  but I am optimistic that it will not be necessary).
3.  Yarn Stores)

So, what's the status?

Kitchen Remodel:  Plans due to us tomorrow

Knitting: 

1.  Las Vegas socks  (second from left, untouched)
2.  Francie socks (second from right, 5 rows into first repeat)
3.  Mom's socks (I dug out the proper needles)
4.  Camel plain gloves (I haven't figured out the proper needle size.)
5.  Winnie Cabled gloves (unstarted - which is as it should be)
6.  Felted bag  (Strip of red in back) (several inches of stockinette completed.)
7.  Finish blanket  (I know where to find the squares.)
8.  Finish sweater (I don't know where it is.)
9.  Surprise knit (a lace-wight stole)  (I can find the yarn.  I think I saw the needles while I was getting Mom's out.)
10.  Austrian socks (Uncontemplated.)

11.  (Yes, that's a new one.)  That little cardboard coffee mug thingy that keeps you from burning your hands?  That's a template.   (This is kind of small - maybe it is number 10.5.)

There's this new coffee shop across from where I work.  It is very good.  It is independent, organic, fair trade, shade-grown, funky and low-key.  It only does coffee. 

And I walked in the door, noticed the bottle they were using to replenish the cream and thought:

SOLD!

They are using Trickling Springs Creamery dairy products, from happy healthy cows.  I can't really check out each of their coffee plantations, but I know where the milk comes from.  I'm thrilled.  And ready to spend money on really really good coffee and an independent business supporting a small local dairy.

Totally extravagant.  (I keep telling myself to give it up.)  (But they had me on the cream.)

oh... so the knitting part:

I'm making a coffee cup holder so I don't have to use the disposable one.  They are not established enough yet to have reusable mugs and frequent buyer plans - this is the least I can do. 

Doggie Update:

Yup.  Fine.

Knitting, in 6 parts

After the finishing frenzy of last week, and given the upcoming chaos of a kitchen remodel, I felt compelled to sit down, wind yarn, and cast on. 

Because having a mountain of unfinished projects brings such peace. 

(Not.) 

Hopefully its enough to keep me huddled in the basement in the fetal position busy calm during the remodel.

First, Mom:  the yarn I ordered, breaking my own buying moratorium (which lasted about 30 days):

All Cascade Fixation Yarn (in the Blue Skies (bottom), Indigo (left) and Denim (right) colorways). 

All for Mom.  (To be knit on size 3 US/3.25 mm needles and 44 stitches.)  I probably won't do them all right away - its just reserves. 

(Mom?  Have a color preference?)

Second:  Meeting Socks

The yarn is Online Supersocke 100 in some unidentified colorway (reminds me of desert sands - I'm calling them my Las Vegas socks). 

Pattern is my own basic top-down recipe with an Icord hem.  I got the idea from Favorite Socks/Austrian Socks by Candace Eisner Strick (Rav link).

I wanted to knit the Austrian Socks (with a different yarn, below) but my available yarn was the wrong weight.  (I had fingering and the pattern called for Sportweight.)  So I tried a fingering weight yarn on the Icord - to get an idea of what the gauge changes might be for the twisted stitches.  And it is radically different - so I'd have to rechart everything.  (That is not happening.)

I see the Icord as a design element but not for any practical reason.   It is a tad fiddly and slow to work but not so much that I wouldn't do it again.

Third:  Patterned Socks

The yarn is Trekking Pro Natura (color 1513).

The pattern is Francie by Bowerbirdknits.  I've been meaning to make this for a while now.  My plan is to continually set this up so it can be a Meeting Sock for a bit, then set it up again on the train.  We'll see.

Fourth, Camel:

Oh dear.  This arrived with Mom's yarn. (Now, how did that happen?) 

This scrumptious yarn is Classic Elite Blithe in the camel colorway.  100% softest baby camel.  I've never knit with camel and this was a delightful surprise.  (Still haven't knit with it.)

I'm in love.

This is going to be my test gloves and the Knit Picks will be my Austrian socks (which is project number five).   A fine swap.  My feet won't notice and my hands will thank me.

Sixth, a Felted Bag from Yarn by Mills

Doesn't he look like he's praying to the yarngods? 

(Isn't the proper position for a kitten and some yarn?)

Don't let him fool you - he's eating the yarn.

This came as a kit that I picked up at MDSWF 2009.   (I fell in love with the red.)

It is a 30 x 45 inch stockinette rectangle.  On large needles.  I'm up for it.

Summary   That is 6 new projects. 

I've also got the super spiral shawl, a surprise knit, and a blanket to sew up and edge, and a sweater to finish or fix or frog (and I restocked the emergency yarn/needles at work).

Time to completion:   end of October. 

Bets anyone:  The kitchen or the knitting first?

P.S. I finished Dude's socks in the frenzy of last week.  (The grey heel and top are leftover Hedgerow Mitts yarn.  I had 47 g of a 100 g skein remaining after knitting the mitts.   Which makes it a perfect amount, and color, for filling in Dude socks.)   Now I just have to retrieve the second one:

NED?

Sunflowers: in 5 parts

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

About those gloves ...

Wait, I've got a few things to tell you first.

1.  OMG we may have actually found a contractor.  7 months of looking and 1 more week to wait for actual designs but I am optimistic.   Dude has diligently been working on kitchen designs for the last few weeks and we've got sketches and pictures and whatnot. 

(Really, the first few people we talked to went like this: "We need an island.   We want to move the fridge here and the stove there."   And they'd come back with the same floor layout as we currently have.   Just new cabinets.  And we'd look at each other and wonder "exactly which part of 'move the fridge'' was articulated in Greek?")

So now I'm all:  "must make brownies and use up staples before ripping out kitchen."  (Nevermind that I have an oven moratorium in place for July and August.  (Its too hot to bake.  The environmentalist in me thinks it is too weird.))

2.  We went to a baseball game last night.  (I know, ya'll are all "what body snatcher got a hold of her?"  But someone gave Dude tickets to the Nationals and it seemed wrong not to go with him.  You know, once.  Nationals are in absolute last place.  By a lot. (A whole lot.))

And as I'm knitting and the game starts and the top of the inning is over and the Nationals are at bat, someone hits a homerun.    And I'm all  "What?  Aren't we in last place???  What's with hitting a home run??"  (Turns out there was two of them in the bottom of the first inning.  And I missed them both.)  (You might think I'd have more knitting to show for it.  You'd be wrong.)

At one point it was 5 to 1 and all I could think was:  "Darn!  Guess we have to stay till the end."  (I couldn't really ask Dude to leave when history was being made.  (Its not often the Nationals win a game.))

And I had knitting.

And People?  We won! 

O.k. On to those gloves  Hedgerow Mitts:

Finito.  (Sort of.  I need to tuck the ends under and block them, huh?  Its been 110 degrees out.  And humid.)

File date on that pic was July 28th.  (Just for the record.)

This pattern was very well written.  Clear, precise, easy. 

It was not destined to become gloves - that was my own idea.  (You may (or may not) recall that I want to make these out this and I thought I'd practice with the Hedgerow Mitts.)

But for gloves to work out, the number of stitches has to be divisible by four - for the fingers.  I had 10 repeats on each row.  I didn't realize this until after I had knit the pinky finger.  Twice. 

Sooooo this stitch pattern doesn't work for gloves.  (I could be wrong.  I've never knit all ten fingers.)

Anyway, now that I know this, it seems rather obvious.

So my next idea was to make a boring plain set of gloves out of this.  KnitPicks Swish Worsted in the Squirrell Heather colorway.   100% Superwash Merino.

Except now I want to make Austrian Socks (Rav link).  And apparently I don't have any sport weight yarn in the house.

Ahem.

Yes,  Ned is skeptical too.

Sunny Days ...

Sweepin' the clouds awaaaaay,  On my way to where the air is sweeeeeet.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

In other yellow news (a.k.a. "You didn't see this coming, Part 2"):

 A wee (wee tiny) Lavalette scarf triangle.   (It is about 24 inches on the long side - a collar, a wisp, ... a trifling.)

I had a sample skein of Malabrigo Lace weight in this soft sunny yellow color (#19 Pollen) that I've been itching to work with since last November (when it was acquired).

!00% Baby Merino wool (single ply and sticks to itself (not too badly)).
aprox 470 yds per 50 g skein (I must have had 25 g).
Hand wash, dry flat.

I loved knitting with this yarn.  Loved it.  Loved it.  Its like magic somehow.

Inspired by Bea's Slither, I cast on (and cast off) when NotMom's socks were in time out.  

I don't know why I find this so charming.  (Perhaps when the kittens are grown up (you know, in 10 years or so), I'll use it as a table decoration.)

Hey, the sun has set and the moon is full (and rising) (and yellow).  

You didn't see this coming ...

These are NOT my mother's socks.  (Sorry Mom!)

These are Cascade Fixation in the 9120 Spray-Dyed, Blue Skies colorway (I, uhm, think.)

A week ago, on a Thursday, the last I had to do on Dude's socks was top ribbing.  Except I wasn't sure what yarn would finish them off.    So they were waiting.  (Note the past tense.  Be optimistic.)

I grabbed the Fixation in stash, for Mom, and went to a work and later to a meeting. 

I thought it was 48 stitches on a size 3/3.25 mm for my/her foot.

Aside (as if these parenthetical bits aren't.):   I am so so so so thankful that Mom wears my size socks.  I never have to wonder if they will fit.

I was wrong.  (Too roomy.  And this is Fixation so there is stretch.)

Unfortunately, by the time I had a chance to check, I was through the first afterthought heel and about to knit the toe.  (In fact, I had cast on for the second sock, see:


File data says I took that July 28th, a week ago.)

That is about 6 hours of knitting.

And I was not frogging it.  (Stubborn much?)

So I stash dove.  (Deep.)

And I found nada.  (For Mom.)

So I put these aside while my "no new yarn" moratorium vs "it is for Mom" battled it out in my head.

And then I bought yarn.

And Now they are done.




I'm going to check my sister (lucky sister!  Two pair this summer!)  I've left the ends uncut (woven in, but uncut) in case she says they could be a tad longer.  

If not her, they're looking for an owner who promises not to scuffle around the house in socks, cold water washes, and air drying away from the dog.

I promised you fiber;

I just wasn't too specific.  (Sorry about that, knitting will follow.)

In the basement, we have a giant t.v.  With giant speakers.   When the kittens were small-er they could not possibly have jumped that high. 

At some point in the medium past, Dude thought he might learn to knit.  Instead of asking, he bought a book.  Its o.k.,  he tried, he gave up,  I was touched.  The yarn sat here:

Clearly, we missed the moment when he learned to jump that high.

Behind the t.v. is a mass of tangled cords (t.v., speakers, assorted audio-video stuff , internet modem, router).  Its a bit of a mess.

Note the yarn.  (It was a surprise to us, too.)

Here's a close up:

Just imagine the fun he had, back there in the kitty-sized jungle-gym maze.  

Over, under, back, forth, over again and again and again and again 

(What was he thinking?  Did Nickie help?  Ned tends to carry toys around, so we really think it was Ned carrying the ball of yarn.  Did Nickie hold the end?  Why did it unwind?  ... So many questions.)

People, he tied knots.

Before

Because it is only 8 a.m., I can call this entire post "before". 
And the "after" part will be a grand improvement (and includes fiber).

Here is my week day  morning in a photographic nutshell:

The dog:  She was sick at 4 a.m.  Right about when the thunderstorm started.  But I think it was the lamb bone she ate yesterday.

Aurora threw up all over Dude's computer (which really should not be left on the floor but I think he gets that now) and the kitchen cabinet books, kitchen plans, and his clipboards. 

This is why there are two clipboards drying on the countertop - nicely held in place by 20 pounds of green spaghetti squash. 

I don't remember planting green spaghetti squash.  I planted regular yellow spaghetti squash and green zucchini and some winter squashes.  I've got green spaghetti squash.  Lots of it.    (We've eaten one - rather tasty - but I was hoping for some winter squash (which do not need preparation for storage).  I need to cook this and get it in the freezer.)

After I cleaned up, I slept stayed with Aurora in the laundry room (because it is the quietest darkest room of the house during a thunderstorm). 

She's fine now.

The cat that pushed the giant blue nylon box thing into the kitchen (that would be Ned):  he was ill about 5:30.  a.m.   (At least it was downstairs by the litter boxes and clean up was easy.)  He's pushing giant colorful tunnel things into the kitchen with his little furry face - I'm not sure if that means he's fine or just normal.

The expresso pot (on the left of the picture, near the bottom):  no coffee filters.  No automagically brewed coffee when I got up it was time to get up.  So sad.

The general state of the kitchen:  I think we may have a contractor.  (We have decided on a sunny yellow color for the kitchen walls.)   At this point, it is not too soon.

The green fanny pack at the lower left of the photo:  After Aurora's morning walk, I stopped to pick tomatos - because I still had the dog pouch and it wasn't crammed with phones and cameras and what not.  There was space to hold tomatos rather than cradling them in the bottom of my t-shirt - which is how I usually harvest.

I picked a lot of tomatos.  Lots of cherry tomates and yellow pear tomates and a big red purple cherokee tomato and some roma's.  (We are soooooo having grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches today.)  And the bag was getting full so I put in on the ground while I circled one last time for any more. 

Then I stepped on the bag.

I brought the harvest into the house, rinsed it off and ate the smushed ones and called it "breakfast".   (Warm yellow pear tomatos are like eating liquid sunshine.  Even if they are smushed.)

That coffee cup, in the rear of the photo:  It says:

"The way to avoide housework it to live outside."  Sandra Blacksmith, 1900