Sil's Fab Knitblog

Thermal backslide

As you may recall, I've been working on Thermal, the flat version with waist shaping.  I knit the waist shaping based upon my crackerjack calculations and decided that while I think the increases from waist to underarm are fine, the waist shaping is waaaaayyyy to curvy and will pooch when sewn up.  ARGH!

I got out a top that fits me like I'd want Thermal to fit and it confirmed what I already suspected.  The hip part of the sweater was too curvy.  Nope, can't delude myself any further.  I new I must rip.  Sigh.

Here's the after shot.  A mere nubbin of it's former self.  I've recalculated a more gradual hip shaping that looks more like the tee's shaping and will continue on with great intestinal fortitude.

And because I know that sometime (soon) I will be done with Thermal, I picked my next project.  I thought Apres Surf in the latest Interweave was just perfect for me.  I even scored some yarn on ebay for this project.  Don't worry, I've brought Thermal on the road with me this month and Surf is home aging in it's corner until it's time to swatch.  I'm weak and don't need the temptation.

Memorable Maryland

If you read my sister's blog you'll know that this Maryland S&W had a few twists and turns.  Claudia and I had fun on Saturday hanging out with friends and buying not so much.  My big purchase was a pair of Shepherd's Flock shearling slippers.  They're heavenly!

After a yummy pho dinner on Saturday night, we were relaxing in the hotel and Claudia's hub called to say he'd had an accident and had broken his ankle.  Said ankle was being surgically pinned together the next morning - in New Hampshire.

Action stations were immediately taken (cell phone-wise) by your favorite fiber sisters and while my sister got the medical information, I managed to get my sister on the first flight back to Boston at the ass crack of dawn.  She is so NOT a morning person.

Good news is BIL's ankle is well repaired and should heal to 100%, bad news is Claudia was fretting about her massively fabulous Multiple Sclerosis Bike Ride!  Obviously BIL will not be able to pilot the tandem and Claudia is...how shall we say...not so good with the sight and depth perception so solo riding is out of the question.  Family veto is firmly in place.

I ASSURED her that people don't donate to her ride because she actually rides a tandem bicycle 150 miles, but because it's an IMPORTANT cause.  Did you know that knitters have made her the #1 individual fund-raiser in the New England Region and she was going to wear the #1 as her race number this year????!!!!  I know!  Awesome.

So I'm going to hope/wish/pray that this year's MS Ride fund-raiser is still going to blow the MS Society's doors off!  Maybe we should call this year's fund-raiser the "Bone Knitters Tour 2008"?  Can anyone make a bicycley/Grateful Deady/bone-like button/logo to get the ball rolling?  I'll try but my skillz are so not mad.  I think the prize parade sneak preview starts on Claudia's blog tomorrow...

Marimekko!

I love big graphic prints and almost expired upon learning that H&M is now featuring a Tribute to Marimekko Collection!

I know!

Go look at those prints and admire the fun summery garments.  I MUST have the dress in slide #6.  Must!

Knitting travails

Ok, I LOST my knitting pattern AGAIN for my flat Thermal!  Again people!  Yes, the dork club called and they've fast tracked me for membership.

Of course since I lost the pattern two weeks ago and had to recreate it from my less than stellar memory, I DID make lots of copies and saved it on every computer to which I have access.  I even emailed it to myself on three different accounts.

So no worries, I pull out my laptop to get the gist of the sleeve (it is JUST a sleeve afterall - not a hard bit).  Ok check, increase every 9 rows.  Pulled out the knitting and gird yourself people, the knitting needle is now BROKEN!  Apparently crushing my knitting into my suitcase and then flying off to about 17 states in 5 days is not the recommended care for a bamboo circ.   YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED PEOPLE!

So teeth gritted and soldiering on, I bought a new METAL Addi Turbo upon returning from said trip, reprinted THREE copies of the pattern and secreted them about my luggage and am now about to decrease for the sleeve cap on sleeve #2.  Deep cleansing breath everyone.

Happy thoughts...Maryland is approaching!  There's even a cute new logo this year! Yay!  With some very creative swapping for absolutely crap trips I have the weekend off to go!  Yay! Yay!  At least then you'll have some sheepy pix and fibery shots to look forward to.  Let's face it, sleeve pix are not the knitting porn we so enjoy.