Blocking is Important

So is knowing your yarn and accommodating for its properties.

I'm using a bamboo yarn. I was told that the yarn was not suitable for the project because it "stretches".

Ok, well, that is part of knowing what you are using. Check out the blocked measurements before committing to the entire project. Knit your item to a smaller measure, and then when you block it, it will stretch out to the correct measurements. If you KNOW the yarn is stretchy like this, do not, for heaven's sake, knit it to the exact measure and expect it to stay there when you block it. The sleeve on the left is pre-blocking. Yep, it's almost 1/2 the size of the blocked sleeve. I'm knitting this on a needle size down from recommended so that the original knit is fairly tight. When I block it, it stretches out. A lot.

Since I was expecting this it's no big deal. In fact, the blocked sleeve is exactly on gauge for this pattern. In case you are interested, the pattern is Poplar and Elm from Twist Collective. It's a great pattern and it's going to look very good in this 100% bamboo yarn.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

I was planning on hiking around Angel Island, but I got going late and did you know that the ferry stops running at 4:00 pm?  I didn't want to be thinking about not making the ferry back, since then I wouldn't be enjoying the experience, I'd just be thinking about missing the ferry. Yes, I am a basket case occasionally.

As usual, when it's hot weather in the East Bay, it's cold, windy and overcast on the coast. 

So, I ended up exploring the Marin Headlands and eventually made it over to Rodeo Beach. What I don't know is why I haven't been over to this area before because it was very scenic. I'll definitely be back.

I parked at the visitor's center and in the interests of getting at least a short hike took the trail from there down to Rodeo beach.

Along the way I saw some wild roses. They were growing in big bushes at various places along the trail. Yep, these are the original flower that our multi-petaled rose comes from. I love the smell of roses and these smell amazing. Watch the thorns though, cause they are wicked.

The trail dipped down through a shaded glade and there were some of these tall purple items. I have no idea what they are. Just took a picture cause they were cool.

Made it down to the beach and just sat for a while watching and listening to the ocean. It was nice and relaxing. I headed back when I started feeling really cold. The wind was blowing and it was overcast, although the sun did manage to break through here and there.

I did bring my knitting and do a few more rows on my Clapotis.




That concludes my outdoor adventures. I have been working diligently on all of the gift slippers I am making and they are done and felted. I also put puffy paint on the bottoms for better traction. I think they turned out great. I'm glad I'm done with these and I can move on to other projects.

Time flies...

...whenever you are not watching it closely. Besides knitting (I know, the most important thing in the universe) this is what I'm also doing this summer.
(1) Getting back into working out. Not exercising for 7 months and then working out - it's hard and very tiring. Who knew? Yes, I am out of shape but I'm working on it.
(2) Taking care of various things - car repair, dental repair, doctor's visit, DMV stuff - etc. etc. all that stuff that I never have time to take care of during school.
(3) Completing classes for Masters. I have two more.

Yep, just a tad busy. Anyway, not been working on any posted projects lately as quite some time ago I decided that making felted slippers for gifts would be a Good Idea. 4 pair had to be done by the end of July - so well, that's what I've been doing when not taking care of the above stuff.  These are DONE except for sewing up and then throwing in the washer for the magic shrinking process.

Yay! Now I can go back to other knitting projects instead of working on one more pair of slippers.

You can always have one more...

I have determined that I am an ADD craft person. I don't like working on just one project. 5 projects are good and 10 projects are even better. Of course, this means that I jump around from item to item, but hey, it's what makes me happy. Oh, and being a teacher isn't so great sometimes but summer vacation really rocks.

I've been diligently (well somewhat) working on the Diagonal Rib Top. I can only work on it for so long at a time because row after row of knit and purl is Deadly Dull. Anyway, here is where I'm at:

And yes, there is a problem. What is it? Well, there are two problems really. And, no it's not the fit. The thing fits great and I really like the way it looks. But it is TOO SHORT and I know that it will bug me, and that I will not wear it, and then all my work will be wasted.

The 2nd thing is that the neckline is really low. Which would be fine if I was going to to a club, but since I want to wear this for work and during the day, I need to raise the neckline.

So, I've got to rip it back all the way to the neckline and then do more rows and then start over with the whole division thing, etc. What really makes me crazy here is that I already had extra rows but in a fit of insanity decided to rip them out. So, now I have to rip back so I can re-knit the rows I already knit and ripped out. I'll be happier though so it just has to happen.

I then cast on for this for solace.

It's Poplar and Elm, a very nice openwork lace cardigan. I'm doing it in Rowan Bamboo Soft which is very nice and soft. Super drape.

What about those other projects? Oh, they are all still on the needles. I'm working on the felted slipper sets (I have two more sets to complete before the end of July) and the Clapotis has been relegated to my "take-along" knitting since I don't have to count it, don't need to finish a row to know where I am and I don't need the pattern for quite some time. And yes, row after row of stockinette is again, Deadly Dull,  So, it's perfect for the project that I won't mess up as I sit and chat or that I do a few stitches/rows on here and there.

WTF?

So today I come home to this:

What is the problem here you may ask. A box? Cool. Someone sending me something? Even more cool.

The problem is that this is a box that I shipped out from the Post Office yesterday. Why is it on my doorstep? I really don't know. My only guess at this point is that the Postal Employee who looked at this did not know the meaning of the words From and To. So, off the post office tomorrow...

However, Clapotis is coming along. I've been knitting on it every day. Yes, it is boring but the drop stitches make it all worth it. There is a lot more than there was last time but the Giant Ball of Yarn has not appreciably diminished. Thank goodness for my kitchen scale which assures me that yes, this ball is 2 oz lighter than it used to be.

Yet another project

So, last week as I was working on the lace pattern shrug I've been putting together I realized that somehow I had cast on 32 stitches for the left sleeve and only 24 for the right. The shrug is worked in one piece and the sleeves are cast on dolman style. Of course, I only found the error when I was actually finished with the sleeve section. I thought of many different things I could do, but really that's an unfixable error so... the shrug is currently back to balls of yarn and I'll have to start over. Seriously Disgusted. HOW did I MISS THAT?

To console myself I turned this giant hank of yarn:

Into a giant ball of yarn (which took a while). I think guesstimating that there's about 1600 yards in this hank. So... to ease my pain I cast on for Clapotis. Because, hey, everyone else has one so I should have one too. I like it so far, and there's no sleeves to make me crazy and I've got plenty of yarn.

Summer Vacation

Well, sort've. I'm going to be the math department chair next year which apparently has a lot of various things that have to be done over the summer. Hmmm... gotta figure out some nice relaxing stuff to do so that I'm ready for the next school year.

In Knitting News:
I am FINISHED with my friend's lace wedding shawl. I ended up with 11 pattern repeats instead of the 13 the pattern calls for. I really enjoyed this pattern, it was a very good introductory lace pattern. After the first repeat it also got fairly easy to determine where I was in the pattern and if things were lining up correctly. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. I steam blocked it and it easily blocked to 70" long which should be perfect for a shoulder wrap. I might make this again for myself, but... longer. And well, NOT in off-white. I also wonder what it would look like in garter stitch.