knitting,

Polar Swing Poncho

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7

Well I finally get a picture up, but it’s not a good one. The color is off somehow – the yarn is a much deeper shade, more wine-ish. How about some details? The pattern is from Hilltop Yarn and the yarn is Sirdar Nova. The pattern was written for Rowan’s Polar yarn which is discontinued but I was lucky enough to find a bag of the Sirdar on Granny’s sale table and it has the specified gauge. (thanks Kathleen!)

D#2 loved Fordham. It is a great school on a gorgeous campus. Now she is really torn trying to decide if she should apply to Barnard early decision (which will increase her chances of acceptance, but then she will be honor bound to attend). She has a meeting with her guidance counselor today and has been talking to lots of people. I was thrilled to hear from two people who have Fordham ties – any Barnard opinions out there?

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5

As I am typing this I ask myself, “can I really get away with another picture-less post?”

I am going to have to – this morning D#2 and I are off for a college tour at Fordham. Boar and she took a trip to Boston last week and checked out some schools in that area. She is in the final stages, working on her essays, applications etc. In a week or so this will be all over and the waiting will commence.

I need to thank you all for your sound advice to my last post! I believe it was unanimous – I have practically no projects on the needles and can cast on to my heart’s content! My Mother in Law (who is fabulous btw) has requested a poncho for Christmas. She does not read my site so I shall take some pictures to share. Anyway, that is in progress and is working up quickly on size 10½ needles. I can’t remember the last time I’ve done such a bulky project – it’s a nice change!

How Does It Happen?

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12

I am an organized person. I like structure, I love structure. Rules are great. I love thinking outside the box, but only if we clean up afterward and put everything back in the box. Or find a bigger box. Boxes are great for organizing.

I am the type of knitter who limits myself to three projects at a time. I am very strict about it and in fact usually only have two things going at once. If I have too many projects out there then nothing ever seems to get finished. Plus it gets my knitting space very disorganized with bags everywhere and lots of stitch markers and measuring tapes all over the place. And then my mind gets consumed with tidying up and I stop enjoying the knitting.

So how does it happen that I am feeling like I’ve got lots and lots going on and my little brain is a whirl trying to keep all the details straight?

At this moment I have three things in progress and am within my rules. However I have at least five just waiting in the wings and I really want to get them on the needles. Of the three that are presently in progress I have:

  • Babette: this project went on a hiatus when I was doing some traveling. The eighteen skeins of yarn which are constantly in play were not conducive to packing. In some strange way, because it is a crochet project, I don’t feel like it’s really on the needles and therefore should not be included in my Only 3 At A Time rule. Yes, I am a literal person. I also feel justified in this attitude because it is a long term project with no deadlines. plus there is lots of seaming and I am just Not In The Mood.
  • Secret Project: this is a Christmas gift and I am halfway through. However, I am dissatisfied with the yarn and am considering starting over with something else – perhaps Cascade 220. This project also involves a new technique and I am telling myself it will be okay to start over since I can consider what has already been knit a practice run. Also, maybe I’ll just buy this person something.
  • Socks: my own pattern and were cast on for while I waited for patterns to arrive in the mail for another Christmas project. Well, that pattern has arrived and I am feeling like I can set these socks aside since they were really simply functioning as place holders.

so, what do you think ….. with these explanations in mind, do I really have nothing on the needles? can I play with all of my new yarn and patterns??

labor of love = it’s a wheel!

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10

10 oct 2 (2)

Originally uploaded by purlingswine

Do you see it? all shiny and old/new?

This wheel was among some antiques being sold at the Pickle Festival on Sunday. One of the historical society members had it for sale, but it was covered in dirt, has only one bobbin and I wasn’t completely convinced it would work.

My friend Flair helped me to negotiate a sweet deal and I brought it home. I have spent yesterday and today cleaning it up.

I first gave it a bath with Murphy’s. Then I put two coats of butcher’s wax. It is a Canadian production wheel with a cast iron treadle and a clamp for tensioning (can you tell I did a bit of Internet research as well?). So I thought I would put some Linseed oil on the metal parts.

I could not get the cap off the Linseed oil and I grabbed some peanut oil out of my pantry. Well, it made the metal look so nice that I rubbed it into the entire wheel.

I should have just coated it with peanut butter because now Mr. Poe keeps licking it!!

Anyway, it cleaned up beautifully (check out the Flickr pages for some before shots) and it is going to work. I just need some advice on the double drive situation. It seems that the bobbin and flyer are spinning at the exact same rate and the yarn is not being pulled onto the bobbin as a result. I did find a cotton string for the drive band, but that did not do the trick. I wonder if I have too much oil on it and it’s simply too slippery ?

anyway, guild is in two weeks and it just so happens that the topic will be equipment! I am sure that someone there will be able to get me on the right track. For now I will have to be content to simply stare at it!