Confessions of a reluctant blocker
Confession time, while I’ve been knitting like a fiend, I’ve let a lot of my finished items fester in my closet, waiting for a good blocking. “I’ll wait till I get a blocking board.” I told myself, but weekend trips to home depot just ain’t happening as frequently as they once were. Earlier this week I even took out the Patternworks catalouge thinking I’d spring for one. Then on Friday, something funny happened, Alex went down for his nap unusually early and Cate was sitting at the dining room table, estatic that the ban had been lifted on using magic markers. Suddenly I had a few moments to actually do something constructive and I had two very important projects that needed the attention.
The first is for my man -a long time coming - along. It is from Nancie Weiseman’s Classic Vests book and is based on what I think is a brilliant system. She shows you the basic template, lets you chose your yarn and get gauge, then you match that up with one of the four categories she has directions for. The vest is knit up in Manos Grey and Red, the stripes purely an attempt to make up for my uncertainty with the amount of grey I had on hand. I’ve now sewn up the sides and have turned my attention to the button bands, which are driving me batty. I can not get the # of stitches picked up that she calls for, and even after looking to my bible (also by Nancie Weiseman - The Knitter’s Book of
Finishing Techniques) I am beyond stumped. I’ve put the sweater on hold for a day or two till I can get back to the yarn shop and ask for some help with button bands. Picking up stitches aside, I loved this pattern and am thinking of making one for myself using yarn my new favorite blogger sent me (blogger is Dawn, yarn is Schaefer Esperanza in Indira Ghandi colorway).
Speaking of Schaefer, my current yarn of choice, feast your eyes on this beast:
I’m calling it Blueberry Pie - based on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Pies are Square Shawl, knit up in Schaefer’s Miss Priss - Mr. Funny colorway with a trim in Danya . This was my debate project, the tedium of hearing each candidate not answer the question they asked but instead repeat the same old stump speach was matched by the mindnumbing task knitting into the front and back of each stitch on this mamoth shawl. I am guessing that when I bound off (again knitting into the front and back of each stitch) I had close to 5,000 stitches on my fully extended Denise needle. Just like Elizabeth promised, blocking added 1/3 more length. I am looking forward to wearing this out tonight for trick or treating.
What is next? I should re-do the front piece of last years cardigan disaster, but I think I’ll wait till I can declare my long size 8 circular retired for the man-along vest. In the meant time I am thinking instant satisfaction, possible Monmouth Cap, from Sarah Bradberry’s excellent site knitting-and.com? (Site appears to be down, or I’d link).
Oh and since Hell Froze Over, maybe it is time to tackle a project that will take me 86 years to complete, just in time for the next time the Sox win the world series!
31. October, 2004 at 18:48
The shawl is beautiful, and what a great shape!
1. November, 2004 at 14:36
Hi Amy:
What a gorgeous Blueberry shawl!! Congratulations.
I’m wondering if you would ask the person who is before me in the Lace Box GSRP to email me. I have just moved house and this weekend I learned the hard way where my “local” postal outlet is! Three miles away up a giant hill — well, it is BC after all.
I know we can come up with a better midway handoff point.
Thanks Amy!
Miranda II
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