Thursday, February 17, 2011

Nothing

What do I have to show you my lovely friends....not a lot.  I am having one of those weeks that keeps me running everywhere, but not getting a whole lot accomplished.  Well, not accomplished with the things I like to do.  We had new carpet put into our bedroom and up our stairs this past Monday.  While I am in love with how it looks, it is a lot of work.  The contents of my bedroom, all my books, photos albums, loom, and furniture were in my bathroom, office and dining room.  My house looked like a bad episode of Hoarders.  Then of course after all the furniture is back in you have to clean and put everything back.  That took up most of my Sunday and Monday.....but I am so happy it is done.  We have been in this house for ten years and it is starting to show its wear and tear.  I have been trying to spruce it up and get little things fixed here and there.

These hexagon's are for my next bag.  I love them but let me just say they are not multiplying really fast.  I have yet to finish the felted hexagon bag, almost done, but not quite yet.  Maybe I can complete it today as I have one son home with a bad sore throat.  I have to take him to the Doctor so no work for me.
This is a new knitting project that I swear is a big problem.  Well, I'm not sure the knitting is a problem or if the problem is me.  I have lost my knitting mojo to crochet obsession.  I love to knit so I knew I would get it back when I felt some knitting inspiration.  When I looked through the new Stitch n Bitch book, Stitch and Bitch Superstar Knitting, and saw this dress, I thought I had found my inspiration.  As you know I live in Florida, the land of heat and humidity.  This dress would be so perfect for me.  It is knit in the round all the way up, and the sleeve caps are added on at the end.  Actually a very simple design, and for most of the knitting, a simple knit.  I ordered the exact yarn as I really didn't want to mess with yarn substitution.  I got out my needles, casted on a gauge swatch and got going.

The problem is I didn't keep going, and the half made swatch just sat there in my bag.  I moved the project to my car so I could pick it up easily while out and about.  Finally the gauge swatch was finished and guess what, it was too small.  OK, no problem, go up a needle size, which is not unusual for me.  Swatch number 2 wasn't perfect but it was going to be fine as the yarn and dress have a lot of, "give" to them. I casted on 180 stitches, and got started. After two rows I realized my knitting was twisted.  Even though I had checked it several times, it was twisted.  Okay, no big deal. I started again.  I casted on 180 stitches, knit 5 rows and realized my knitting was twisted.  I have been knitting for 24 years.  I have used circular needles a million and one times, I don't recall ever twisting my knitting, let alone twice in one project. 
So as I am taking off the knitting again, I decide to check my gauge again and what did I find?  This dress was going to end up being way, way, too big.  So I guess the universe was trying to tell me something by twisting the knitting so I would not keep knitting, and knitting, and knitting and end up with a beautiful summer dress I could not wear. 

The yarn for this dress is really interesting.  It is Amazing by South West Trading Company.  It is made of 100% corn fiber.  It is very soft and lovely, more like a narrow tape than a traditional yarn.  As you can see above I have just casted on again, smaller needles, and hopefully not twisted.  Now I am just looking for the time and motivation to get going on it.

By the way have you seen the absolutely beautiful crochetr flowered shawls everyone is making in blog land?  I am usually not one to jump on the band wagon with everyone else, but I have to say I am very, very tempted.  That is even though I have a hexagon bag to work on, and a dress to knit.  Oh.....if there was only more time in my day!

Wishing all of you a wonderful day, hope you find time to do what you love.

8 comments:

Karen said...

I love that dress! And I'm in awe that you can knit something like that. And new carpet is so much fun. . . after all the work, of course.

I hope you have a good day today, Meredith. Enjoy the time with your son and take some time to work on your projects!

Sara said...

Hi Meredith. As alway I am so happy to see you at Tangled Happy. I just love those little gnomes! That knit dress is beautiful. I must take the time to learn. My middle daughter wants to join a knitting club at school next year. I'm thinking I should just tag along and learn with her. Sounds like fun. Looks like this beautiful dress would be worth the time and effort. Good luck this time around. :)

Anonymous said...

That dress is cute and would look great on your almost 6' frame.
I twisted circular knitting once when making a hat. I was many rows into the project before I figured it out. One thing I sometimes do is knit (or purl) the first row and wait till the second row to join. It gives you a little more to work with, to make sure the stitches aren't twisted.
Knitting...crochet...weaving...it's all good!

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Meredith, I'm one of those on the flower bandwagon and you should just give up and jump on... LOL Your knitting twist thing... I am so discouraged with knitting as I am about 8 inches into a knitted scarf and the thing is rolling up like a toilet paper roll. Back to crocheting for me. Hugs, Teresa

sara said...

The thought of casting on 180 stitches makes me a little woozy; however, that dress is pretty awesome and the yarn is cool looking so even I of the lazy needles would want to grit my teeth and cast on.

Hope that the knitting is smoother from now on.

Teresa Kasner said...

Meredith, email me and I'll send you the chart..
teresa@byteresa.com

Anonymous said...

I like it when lots of folks jump into a project at the same time. I think it's interesting to see the different interpretations, and it can be encouraging too. I have seen those pretty shawls.

This dress is perfect for Florida, and I'm sure it will look lovely when you've finished.

Joanne said...

I hear ya, I have started a few projects and have had some bad luck finishing them. That yarn color is yummy. Great post. Blessings, Joanne