2003-08-23 - 9:01 a.m.

JoAnne Zoller Wagner found this poem by Ogden Nash in a 1938 collection of poems called "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" and posted it to the KnitList. It so great, I had to post it here. Sorry about the spacing -- it's actually 3 stanzas but my HTML doesn't seems to be working like I think it should...

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Shrinking Song

Woollen socks, woollen socks!

Full of color, full of clocks!

Plain and fancy, yellow, blue,

From the counter beam at you.

O golden fleece, O magic flocks!

O irresistible woollen socks!

O happy haberdasher's clerk

Amid that galaxy to work!

And now it festers, now it rankles

Not to have them round your ankles;

Now with your conscience do you spar;

They look expensive, and they are;

Now conscience whispers, You ought not to,

And human nature roars, You've got to!

Woollen socks, woollen socks!

First you buy them in a box.

You buy them several sizes large,

Fit for Hercules, or a barge.

You buy them thus because you think

These lovely woollen socks may shrink.

At home you don your socks with ease,

You find the heels contain your knees;

You realize with saddened heart

Their toes and yours are far apart.

You take them off and mutter Bosh,

You up and send them to the wash.

Too soon, too soon the socks return,

Too soon the horrid truth you learn;

Your woollen socks can not be worn

Unless a midget child is born;

And either sockless you must go,

Or buy a sock for every toe,

Woollen socks, woollen socks!

Infuriating paradox!

Hosiery wonderful and terrible,

Heaven to wear, and yet unwearable.

The man enmeshed in such a quandary

Can only hie him to the laundry,

And while his socks are hung to dry,

Wear them once as they're shrinking by.

2003-08-19 - 3:37 p.m.

I bound off the throw I've been working on. It became a lap throw, because it was just taking so long to make and honestly, I don't think we would get any more money if I had continued to make it a wrap.

You can sort of see a picture of it at www.friendsofgeorgia.com/Pictures.html. It's in a picture with a number of other things.

I also finished up that purse from a previous entry -- it turned out really cute and it has a matching change purse (also the perfect size to hold a lipstick!) attached to a keychain.

Now I'm working on my grandmother's shawl. I've discovered that lace is fun, but also if you mess up, it shows easily. So after completely frogging twice, I've started inserting a thin contrasting thread every time I finish a sequence. That way, if I have to frog, I only have to go back to the red thread, which will be no more than 8 rows.

2003-08-15 - 4:08 p.m.

My first completed lace project is this simple lace bookmark. It was a free pattern from the web, but I don't have it handy to refer you to at the moment. I'll find it and post it later. I'm using it for a gift exchange at my LYS this weekend.

It was much easier and faster than I expected... I think I see Christmas presents!

2003-08-14 - 12:49 p.m.

Kentucky usually stays out of my yarn.

Usually.

Kentucky is one VERY lucky kitty.

She only unwound the ball I was working from and did not pull any stitches off the needle.

Very lucky indeed.

2003-08-11 - 2:09 p.m.

I got the pattern and yarn for the Violets by the River shawl to make for my grandmother for Christmas (I don't think I'm giving away any secrets -- she's not a big Internet user!) but I got the wool instead of the silk because I wanted something that would actually give her warmth and I wasn't sure how warm the silk was. Plus, never having worked with silk, I was kinda nervous about making a gift with it the first time around.

Anyway, the yarn came in a hank, so I figured I would roll it into a ball first so it wouldn't get tangled. Well, guess what? As careful as I was unwinding it, it still got in a big tangle. It literally took me hours to untangle this mass of lace weight wool. But you know what? It was actually relaxing. It was an exercise in patience, which I certainly need! But it's not something you can rush. One thread at a time... under... over... around... through...bit by bit, the angry snarl became organized thread, wrapped into a orderly ball. Patience, tenderness, care... it forced me to find peacefulness. Wierd, eh?

And I was being so careful, when a pair of scissors would have made my life easier, because the shawl is knitted in one piece so there are no knots. And just as I was almost to the end of the tangle, the yarn came apart in my hands. I could have cried. I wasn't even pulling on it, it just seperated.

So now I have two balls of lovely lace weight wool, which I will use to make the shawl, and just try to hide the join the best I can.

If nothing else, the shawl already has a good story attached to it.

2003-08-07 - 9:17 p.m.

Here's my bear that I made for www.needlecraftuniversity.com . I'm thinking of making a series of bears and naming them all after folk songs. This one was simply going to be Melody, but I decided to call her Shady Grove because this verse came to me...

Last time I saw Shady Grove

She was standing in the door

Shoes and stockings in her hands

Little bare (bear?) feet on the floor

That's why she's holding a sock. I planned to make two, but it was such a nightmare to knit with that tiny yarn I had in my stash -- I don't know what it is (not marked) but it kept breaking on me. I may go back and make another sock and figure out some little shoes, but for now, she gets one sock!

2003-08-04 - 9:32 a.m.

My sister came to visit the weekend and as we're unpacking, she pulls out this huge back of wool! It's a whole fleece! I'm so excited! I'm not much of a spinner, but this will let me try out some dying I've been dying to do (pun intended). In fact, we did 4 small bunches in Kool-Aid (ok, generic Kool-Aid) over the weekend and I love it! I need to dig out my cards and drop spindle, I guess... (pictures to come)

I also finished my little teddy bear and am anxious to make a bunch more! Picture and story of bear to come soon...

I've been working on that throw for the auction and having a really hard time. I think it's because it was requested that I make it -- it's not something I would choose to make -- and that I'm working in acrylic (though I got the softest acrylic I could find, I just don't like the way it feels), and that it's really boring. It's red, white and blue striped, so it actually goes white - blue - white - red - white - blue, etc. I'm bribing myself by saying that for every sequence I finish (white - blue - white - red) I get to work on something else for an evening. I think with three more sequences I might finish. Maybe 4, we'll see. But I have such a long list of things I WANT to do, it's killing me working on something I don't want to do and knowing I have a deadline. But it's for a good cause, I have to remember that...

My sister helped me pick out Christmas stocking ideas for the family and I'm hoping I can get them done by Christmas, along with everything else!

Simply not enough hours in the day...

2003-07-31 - 12:21 p.m.

I've been wanting to try cabling -- everyone says it's really easy, but it still looks intimidating. But I found this pattern for a little catnip mouse that has a cable down his back, and I figured that would be quick and small and give me a chance to try cabling without committing myself to a whole sweater or something. So I hope to try it this weekend and have a new toy for my kitty, Kentucky.

You can see the pattern for the mouse and pictures of happy cats playing with their toys here.

2003-07-29 - 11:19 a.m.

I am taking an on-line class at www.needlecraftuniversity.com on how to knit teddy bears. It is so much fun, and so easy! I'm doing doubleknitting for the first time and it's just like magic. I'll try to get a picture of my first teddy (I'm planning to call her Melody), although she only has half a head so far -- can't wait for the next class so I can finish her!

Once again I'm suffering from the too much to do in too little time syndrome! I have the throw I promised to make for the auction to work on, but it's so boring and repetitive, I don't want to do it. I have my lace socks I really want to work on. I have my sock of the month kit from Joslyn's Fiber Farm I'm dying to start. I have Christmas stockings and presents to make. I have the Aran and Fair Isle books laughing at me, taunting me to give them a try... AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!

2003-07-27 - 1:45 p.m.

I spent a wonderful weekend at a folk music festival and got a bunch of knitting done while listening to great music! I simply made washcloths because they take VERY little attention and I was afraid if I took something complex I would get distracted by the music and mess up the pattern!

I will probably use a couple of these for the fund raiser for my co-worker and give others as Christmas gifts. Once you've used a hand-knitted washcloth, you'll never go back to those silly store-bought ones! I used Saucy yarn, which I love. I hope to start a sweater in Saucy one of these days, I just love how it feels to work with and the feel of the finished product...

2003-07-18 - 9:23 p.m.

I finished a purse tonight with yarn donated from my LYS. I'm going to add a button to the flap. The little one is a change purse that I'll add some Velcro to close. I'm trying to find a way to make it into a key chain.

I wish the picture were better, it really looks nice!

2003-07-18 - 5:34 p.m.

A co-worker is very ill and needs a bone marrow transplant very soon. Her sister is a match, but the insurance falls dreadfully short of what is needed to cover expenses!

So a group of us at work at trying a number of fund raisers to try and help out. One of the things we're doing is an auction and I'm knitting some things to donate. They specifically asked for a red/white/blue afghan, but that will take too long, so I'm making more of a wrap. Just using acrylic yarn, but it's very soft.

I went by my LYS today to talk to the owner about ideas and she gave me some yarn free to make little purses. She says they are very popular right now. So here's a plug for their shop if you're ever in Houston!

Address: 1609 A Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX 77388

Phone: (281) 288-4881, 877-288-0585,Fax: (281) 288-0585

Email: Needleart7@aol.com

In case you are interested, here are ideas people from the Knit List gave me (in no particular order):

1) Lover's mittens

2) Scarf made with eyelash yarn or Eros

3) Christmas stockings

4) Purse

5) Cosmetic bag

6) Shrug/shawl

7) Pillow covers (i.e.,this one)

8) Stuffed animals

9) Coupon for a commissioned item (sweater, Christmas

stocking, etc.)

10) Baskets on a theme

11) Basket of bath stuff (i.e. washcloth, bath mitt, fancy soap)

12) Pancake breakfast (we already have a bbq planned)

13) Felted fish from "Knitters Stash" and make a mobile

14) Coathangers

15) Something for babies or toddlers (less time and most people know someone with a child)

16) Fashion accessory-type hat or scarf

Well, better get back to knitting! If I finish these purses, I can go get more yarn! :)

2003-07-15 - 5:52 p.m.

I'm home from vacation and conference and back to knitting! I wanted to share my mini socks -- they are too much fun to knit! And they are so fast and take such little amounts of yarn. These were made to be earrings, but I'm going to add them to my knitting club name tag.

I'm also starting a pair of socks with a lacy top. This is my first venture into lace knitting and I'm thrilled with how they're coming along! Not too easy to see yet, but here's where they are right now...

I washed my little sweater I made for vacation and it absolutely fell apart. I think the main problem (among all the ones I've listed below) is that it was knitted too loosely. I think I would have been happier with a tighter knit, so I'll try that next time.

2003-07-09 - 5:20 p.m.

Just a quick note so you don't think I've fallen off the face of the earth! I had a super vacation, and now I'm at a conference. Both are keeping me so busy that there hasn't been much time for knitting, but I did finish a pair of mini socks to make earrings, and I've started a new pair of real socks.

REALLY not happy with the uCan2 top, though I don't blame the pattern. Cheap yarn and wooden needles and knitting in a hurry had something to do with it... next time, I'll use better yarn, get out my Turbos and take my time! The pattern has potential, I just didn't reach it...

2003-06-30 - 9:03 p.m.

Well, I finished the uCan2 sweater, and I have to say I'm kinda disappointed. Maybe it's because I used cheap yarn. Maybe it's because I made it quickly. Maybe it's the wrong size. I dunno. But it looks pretty good until I put it on. I'll get a picture one of these days, but I'm going on vacation tomorrow and the digital camera is packed!

There are several things that come to mind. First, I am kinda large chested, but smaller waisted. So if something is straight cut, I tend to look pregnant, because it comes out to my boobs and falls straight down. I need something with a little more shaping to it. It may also be too big. I made an XL (which at size 16 is pretty safe) but I think I might have done better if it were a little smaller. And finally, I think either the shoulders need to be narrower, or a fuller cowl on the neck.

Ah well, I'm still new at this and it still gives me something to wear on my vacation. Though with the way it looks, I might not be wearing it in public! LOL!

2003-06-20 - 6:33 p.m.

I finished the front of the uCan2 sweater (or maybe it's the back, since they're identical!) This picture really does not show the colors well, but I've heard that dark colors just don't show up well digitally. But the colors really are beautiful! The picture makes it look like it's not symmetrical, especially at the shoulder, but it really is even, it just got turned under on one side when I took the picture. Remember, this is only 1/2 of the sweater!

I went back and bought a couple more skeins of this yarn just in case, but I finished half with a little less than 1/2 of what I had, so I probably would have been ok. But better safe than sorry! Especially at $1 a skein on sale! :)

I've been knitting so hard this week to get this sweater finished before the 4th, I think I'm going to take the rest of the night off now that I have 1/2 of it done. It really is an easy sweater, but it's kinda boring (St st for 99%) and I can't wait to finish it so I can start my lace socks!

2003-06-19 - 10:16 a.m.

I feel like I'm in knitting overload! There's too much I want to do and not enough time to do it! And the more I look around at all the great resources on the web, the more there is for me to do! I may never have to buy a pattern again...

I've been working on the uCan2 sweater and almost have half of it done. I'm really hoping that I have enough yarn to do it! I should...but for some reason, my calculations never come out right. I bought yarn according to the yardage for another sweater and ended up with 4 skeins left over! Another sweater I bought a little extra and it was good thing because I had only a handful of yarn left. So I don't trust myself. And this was clearance yarn so it's not like I can go back and buy more...

If you haven't discovered Knitty Magazine, run, do not walk, to visit them. It's a fantastic magazine! Oh, and did I mention it's FREE!!!!

A couple more good resources are a couple of yahoogroups, knitlist and socknitters.

2003-06-15 - 2:49 p.m.

I finally finished my first pair of socks! And I can't wait to start my next pair! People told me socks were addicting... I should have listened.

Here are pictures of my first pair of socks, and my first knitting project after the obligatory scarf, felted booties. They are fantastic and have gotten lots of wear!

But before I start the next socks, I'm using some of the sale yarn I got at Michael's (Lion Brand Lion Chenille Sensations) to make Bonne Maries uCan2 sweater. I want to have it finished to wear in a couple of weeks so I'm not doing anything else until it's finished!

2003-06-12 - 4:38 p.m.

Hello! And welcome to my new weblog!

I'm De, and I'm setting up this blog to chronicle my journey into the world of knitting!

I started knitting in October 2002 and am completely hooked. My day doesn't seem complete unless I've knitted a few rows on something.

As soon as my Gold Membership goes through, I'll have some pictures of some projects I've completed.

So welcome! Please feel free to write or comment. I'd love to meet some other knitters here...

You can leave a note for me at my notes page.

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