Getting Gauge

I have ripped the sleeve back to the colourwork a couple of times - experimenting with a couple of needle sizes. I finally decided on 3.5mm for the cuff and 4.5mm for the stocking stitch/rest of the sweater.

The sleeve increases are every 6 rounds so I place a marker on round 1 to remind myself that I need to increase a stitch after the first and before the last stitch of this round. The ones that you can't see are actually inside the sleeve. I'm leaving them in so it will be easy to count stitches (2 more for every marker) until I reach the maximum needed then will knit straight until I get to the correct sleeve length.

I did use the rolled and ribbed cuff. The stocking stitch goes pretty quickly after that.

Another Lopi Sweater

Skip has been wearing his Riddari ('knight' in Icelandic) sweater non-stop since the weather got cold.

I'm very pleased he likes it but I thought he should have a second Lopi sweater to wear. After much deliberation, I decided on the Lopi 20th Anniversary sweater - Afmaeli (which means 'anniversary' in Icelandic) - free from their website.

I selected colours for the contrast.

It should look something like this when I'm done.

I am modifying the cuffs and collar by using the rolled one that I used previously in his Riddari sweater: Cast on cuff stitches with smaller needle, knit 5 rounds. Then work k2, p2 rib for 5 rounds. Change to larger needle and begin colourwork from first chart. Like so:

The rest I'm doing as written.

With the gauge I got on Riddari, I decided to knit the Large size as the body had the number of stitches that would get me gauge. 43" circumference x 4.5 st/inch = 193.5 stitches. Size L calls for 192 sts and size XL calls for 208 sts.

People often ask me if it is important to determine gauge. My response is "Only if you plan to wear the garment". Why do all that knitting if it won't work out to be the right size?  I also always start by knitting a sleeve rather than cast on hundreds of stitches for the body with the possibility of having to frog it to adjust for the proper gauge. End of lecture.

I'm starting to make a list of UFOs and kitted projects to take south. The closest yarn shop (other than big box craft stores) is over 3 hours away so I need to be stocked or order online. Stitching-wise I have LOTS that I can take and am only 45 min from an excellent stitchery shop.

I also need to plan projects for the drive down. We share the driving so I'll have over 16 hours to knit over the 5 days while Skip is doing his shifts. I have a couple of sock projects planned.

Speaking of south Texas, I'm really bummed out that the southern border wall is about to be built through the beautiful National Butterfly Center near Mission TX. If you're interested in the subject, the impact of the border wall is outlined here ( and image of the .pdf on the topic from their website):

We will definitely be visiting there early in our time in TX as time is running out for those trying to stop the destruction of this national wildlife treasure.

Fun Stitching Day

Yesterday we had a stitching day at my place. It's like a one-day stitching retreat. I'm not sure how much progress we made on our projects but it was lots of fun talking about stitching and other crafty pursuits.

I got a bit of work done on my 'Stars' project and got more done last night. I'd say I'm about a third finished.

I also added a few more mitered squares to my sock yarn blanket. It measures about 90cm x 120 cm (3' x 4'). My goal is to use up all of the sock yarn ends. This is going to be a BIG blanket.

It was a lovely day.

First Start of the New Year

I went to Kim's on Friday to pick my threads for our upcoming canvaswork class. We're going to be stitching this with our preferred colours.

I believe it's one of Kim's designs. We will be using 7 different threads - velvets, perle cotton, sparkly thread, etc. I'm really looking forward to the class.

While there, I bought the fabric and most of the threads for this project, Stars by Drawn Thread.

It's a grey 35ct evenweave of some kind. Linen? Lugana?

All the threads are substitutes for the Dinky Dyes, and Thread Gatherer Silk 'N Colors called for.

I was able to find appropriate Gentle Art Sampler Thread (GAST) substitutes except for the Needlepoint Silk threads so will use DMC floss for that.

Several things drew me to this chart: the colours, the alphabet and lettering,variegated blue letters, the cute houses.

I started it last night and got this far.

I always start in the centre and usually work to the right and down. I'm really looking forward to starting some houses beneath the leaves.

In this chart there is an alternative verse to using the alphabet, if desired. It is the first part of the excerpt from 'Morituri Salutamus' by H W Longfellow:

          "Age is opportunity no less than youth itself, though in another dress..."

Instead, I'm going to do the alphabet and only the last part of the quote:

          " As the evening twilight fades away the sky is filled with stars, invisible by day."

The stars are added afterwards. There are small ones and extra big ones. There are a couple of Octagonal Leviathans in red. I also need to find some teeny weeny 4mm white or cream buttons.

The addition of some interesting stitches really 'draws' me to The Drawn Thread patterns. The first one I did was Pastoral.

I took most of the Christmas stuff down today. It always makes me a bit sad to put away my lovely ornaments for another year. I'll find random items I missed for the next couple of days and still need to get Skip to help me take the tree downstairs. The tree is an old one that requires assembly. However, the last few years we've just taken it downstairs whole rather than take it apart. I'm in the market for a new tree so I'm hoping to find one at the end of this season (I'd better get cracking) or early next Christmas season.

New Year Stitching

I haven't done a lot of stitching this week. Last Saturday we spent the day stitching at Jeanette's and I started the third side of my Quaker pear - the big, green medallion.

I have puttered away on it since then. Not too much left to go on this one.

I have the other two sides done. I was too optimistic about the completion date so will change it to '2019'

It should look quite spiffy when I get it sewn together.

I've also done some work on my Block Party Bee Hive pincushion. The sides are done.

I'm working on the honeycomb top.

I've been outlining the pieces with floss that matches the fabric so it's going to be a real challenge sewing the thing together. Magnification and LOTS of light should help.

Today is my last day of medication from the illness that flattened me over Christmas. I have all my energy back but still a bit of crud in my lungs. That seems to be fairly normal for me for a couple of weeks after a cold or bronchitis.

Happy New Year 2019!!

Last night Skip and I went for buffet dinner at our local Mandarin Restaurant with friends, David and Susan.

We then went home and got into our jammies to toast in the New Year.

I always enjoy seeing the ball drop at Times Square and heartily sing "New York, New York". We have such wonderful memories of that song dating from the time we happened upon the third race of the Triple Crown back in 2003 (I can't believe it was that long ago). We were in Sackets Harbor NY on a little getaway weekend and found hundreds of people out in the streets. They were getting ready to watch the Belmont Stakes and local racehorse, Funny Cide. The air was electric. Everyone was drinking and smiling. We all were so excited. Could this be the new Triple Crown winner?? We all sang "New York, New York" gustily before post time. 

Unfortunately, Funny Cide did not win, and didn't become a Triple Crown winner but man, what a party! But I digress.

Our cactus (Christmas? Easter?) bloomed on New Year's Eve. I think it is confused and definitely thrives on neglect.

Nope, we haven't had any snow to speak of (thank goodness) and hope it stays that way until we depart for the sunny south.

Whilst watching the Tournament of Roses Parade this morning, I worked on the third and last side of my Quaker pear. I started the big green motif at our stitching day at Jeannette's and have progressed significantly since this photo was taken. Better pics to follow...

I'm still taking the meds for my respiratory crud (bronchitis? asthma?) and feel so much better. Hopefully, things will be all cleared up by the end of my medication regime.

Finally Framed

I have had this piece stitched since last year which is also the year that Skip and I did our Scandinavian tour. This is what the wharf (Bryggen) probably looked like in Bergen Norway a century ago.

I bought the kit for it at a stitching/yarn shop right on this iconic wharf area. It was a Permin of Copenhagen kit with the floss nicely separated, the chart, and Aida fabric. I chose to use a piece of 32ct Irish linen. It has been sitting on the 8 x 10 frame, ready to go for almost a year. I think the entire process of cutting the foam core, lacing and stretching the piece and getting it into the frame took half an hour.

We also have this magnet on our fridge.

Bryggen Bergen is now a World Unesco sight and very manageable for tourists. Lots of places to shop at and eat. The Hanseatic Museum is there and many other historical buildings.

This is what it looks like nowadays.

We LOVED our Scandinavian tour and I'm so happy I now have a stitched memory of one aspect of it.

The reason I haven't posted anything in over a week is I've basically done nothing blogworthy since the day after my last post. I came down with some respiratory crud that didn't go away with tons of sleep, lots of liquid intake, 6 year-old inhalers and acetaminophen. I was in bed an average of 23.5 hours a day from last Friday until yesterday morning.

My doctor was in from 10 - 3 yesterday and was able to see me at 11. I am now on a big daily dose of antibiotics and Symbicort (steroid inhaler to reduce inflammation) for 10 days with instructions to return to her office on Saturday for a chest x-ray if I'm not significantly better. I did actually feel quite a bit better last night after (ahem) clearing some chest congestion and today seem to be up to about 80% operation. I spent the entire day today out of bed. Granted, I loafed in front of the TV a lot and watched Flosstube video podcasts on Youtube, etc., but I had energy, I wasn't as shaky, I felt a bit stronger, by afternoon my appetite had returned. So if it was pneumonia, we have it licked and I'm very glad because I missed Christmas and it must have sucked for Skip although he wouldn't say so.

I had to cancel a trip over New Years to visit my family next week because I don't want to stray very far from home for a while. I've never been incapacitated this long before and it took a lot out of me - and scared me a little, too.

But I'm well on the mend and we are formulating plans for New Year's Eve dinner at the Mandarin, then back home to ring in the new year.

So a belated Merry Christmas to my readers.