Where the heck have you been?

I've been sick and life got in the way. I have the monster of all monster sinus infections. I sat for 7 hours in my local outpatients department to find out that my own diagnosis was bang on and then after leaving over $100 at the local legalized drug dealing establishment, I came home and was totally miserable for many hours more. I am still at home and for the moment feeling not so bad so long as I don't move my head too quickly or bend over. If I do that, I am rewarded with excruciating pain and pressure. It feels like my eyes are resting on my cheeks and my nose is like 3 sizes bigger than normal. So long story short I was miserable but as of this minute, I think I will survive (that's a threat). But I am not going to work just yet. The doctor ordered rest and far be it from me to disagree with him.

On the knitting front, I have come to an epiphany of sorts. I HATE MY JAYWALKERS!!!!! I love the pattern, I love Grumperina - the pattern designer. I love the Jaywalkers that others have knit for example Line(pronounced Lynn) just finished one recently . However I can't seem to get mine to fit my feet nor can I get them to look like a sock that I would even want to wear. I have tried twice to persuade them to comply but it appears to be futile (note the intended Borg reference). I have knit tons of socks in my life. My husband loves my "dress" socks and my Dad covets my "work" socks and I have a friend who positively begs me to knit socks for her and pays me good money to do so but these Jaywalkers have defeated me. They will be going to the frog pond I think.


In the mean time, while the painkillers are working (for about the first hour or so after taking it), I have started another pair of socks. This time I am using some Opal handpainted Rosehip yarn that a friend picked up for me in Halifax last year.

I am just using the pattern I have in my head but I am doing them a bit differently. I started with the standard 2X2 knit/purl ribbing over 80 stitches and then changed to knit 6 purl 2. Then every six rows I do a a purl row. I like the way they are turning out and the elasticity that the modified ribbing is providing is really nice.

One day I hope to give Jaywalkers a try again. But for now I am going to put this pattern on hold. They will be unraveled this afternoon for sure.

I am going to be participating in a Lace Knit Along that Heidi of London Wul Farm will be hosting starting on May 2nd. You can get the details by clicking here. This KAL is based on the Ab/Fab patterns in Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby.




AND if you purchase your book and yarn from Heidi, you will get a 15% discount on both. I did just that and now all that remains is to chose a pattern. I might want to exchange the color of the yarn I have chosen.


It is Merino Lace by Skacel in a lovely red (red does not photograph well - it is more of a blue red as opposed to an orange red). However I might want to exchange the colour if Heidi will oblige, I think I may want to go with something more pastel for spring and summer.

For me, it is necessary to pay attention to the finished size of the shawl or scarf because I am a "woman of size". So a stole for example that would probably wrap around the average person a couple of times might just barely cover my shoulders and arms with very little left for drape and effect. For example the cover shawl would probably fall between my waist and hip rather than below the hip level as shown. Plus I don't want to choose something too complicated for my first item from this book. I think I want to get my feet wet first before jumping in up to my neck.

I have narrowed it done to these 2.

This is the Victoria Shawl. It is rated at an Intermediate Lace level. It is 32 inches by 82 inches which will give me the drape needed while accommodating my size. Its knit on 4.5 mm needles and it looks fairly uncomplicated to me. The charts appear to be fairly easy to read.



And this is the Myrtle Leaf Shawl. Tanya is doing this one right now but found an error in the pattern and posted the correction on her blog. This one measures out at 21 inches by 76 inches. I would probably want to make mine a bit wider and a bit longer.

But I don't want to go messing around with the pattern too much for my first go, so it looks like the Victorian Shawl is the winner.

In the meantime I think I will drop by the Wul Farm on Wednesday evening (if I am feeling well enough) just to connect with some knitters. Heidi invites knitters to the shop on the second and third Wednesday of every month. I don't have anyone living near me who is as fanatical about knitting and yarn as I am let alone even remotely interested in it. Dropping in on the group will be a nice change of pace for me.

That is enough computer fun for one day, my headache seems to be coming back and I think a nap is in order. Then more meds and maybe a bit of knitting or frogging or both.