We're back from our travels and have had a few days to regroup before getting back into the semester. For my part, I've been catching up on yard work and getting some progress done on projects, old and new.
First, a repair job. While sitting in a Wiesbaden cafe enjoying some coffee, my niece announced, "Uncle Steven, your sweater has a hole." I felt around to where it was and saw that it was at the seam. Whew! I thought it might have been the body of the sweater itself -- if you'll recall, I had accidentally snipped a bit of thread while reattaching one of the arms a while back. Luckily, it was just the seam. Loft is pretty sturdy knitted up, but it isn't the best yarn for seaming and one little part had broken and started separating. Too many half-liters of beer, I guess. I had to refrain from wearing it the rest of the trip, but I re-sewed the seam this afternoon and it seems solid now. I'm going to hold on to the extra Loft that I have left, just in case this happens again.
Immediately after finishing the 3x1 Ribbed Socks in Germany, I started another pair with some yarn that my fellow knitters had given me for my birthday. This is the Paper Moon pattern from Knitty Deep Fall 2011, using Cascade Heritage Silk in a deep green color. It's a toe-up pattern with short row heels and a cool reverse-stockinette gusset that grows out of a split cable. Some of my readers have made these socks before, I think. I'm not doing my eyes any favors by using green needles with green yarn, but these stiletto tips are just the thing for cabling without a cable needle.
When I went through the security check in Frankfurt, the women in charge of my line had me open my bag and take them out. They looked at me kind of funny, but I put on my best mild-mannered librarian face and it seemed to work. I would have been so sad if I'd had to leave these needles behind. I don't blame them, though. They do have sort of a weapon-y look about them.
And I've finished one more row on the crocheted Squared Away Throw. Not even quite 2/3 of the way done. This may take a while. It's rather mindless work, and the Tunisian technique means having to watch what you're doing quite a bit. But still, I'm satisfied with the way it's turning out. Each row is a bit less than a ball. Rather than having to join a new ball in the middle of a row, I'm just saving up the scrap ends for the fringe. I can't imagine that decision will come back to bite me, but you never know.
Hope everyone is knitting lots of wonderful things in the new year.
You used Loft for seaming? Maybe try some sock yarn leftovers instead. I'm not planning to seam Twigs & Willows in Shelter (if I ever get that far).
ReplyDeletePaper Moon - what a nice pattern! When I looked it up in Rav, it had some errata (just want to be sure you have those on radar). There is also a German translation, if you want to add another layer of meaning to socks you started in Germany. Ha!
The throw is looking good. Welcome home.
I left a comment over on Flickr that Loft might be like Rowan Tweed, beautiful but very fragile but it sounds like it's a bit sturdier... Rowan Tweed will snap while you're knitting it. This may be a problem as I'm going to use it to knit the Marash sweater from Rowan 54. Took me a while to collect all the colours I need, I definitely won't be using it for the seams though!
ReplyDeleteThe socks look very cool, I have been quite boring in the sock department and have only ever done plain stocking stitch top down.
Hope you had a great trip!
Some pattern I looked at the called for Loft actually said not to use it for seaming. Also - the first time I read this, I thought you said you were saving the leftover ends in the fridge (not for the fringe). I was confused....
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