Sunday, April 10, 2011

Knitting and spring cleaning and so on...

This April, every day but Sundays, I'm blogging over at my writing blog - Jan Morrison as part of the A to Zed Challenge. I'm posting an abcedaria of writing and it is lots of fun. However, it cuts down on my posting here and I thought since it is Sunday - I'd better catch you up on the other elements of my life - other than writing that is. I'm also at a bit of a slowdown with my current writing projects as my manuscript is being fine-tooth-combed edited by another - so - she and I will be having conversations and I do have a query package to put together but it isn't as relentless as it has been.

the current project - a wrap...

When it comes to knitting, I'm usually a seasonal type. I start when it gets cold and as soon as gardening starts I'm on to that. But this year is different. Why? I don't know. I started late and without too much enthusiasm but now I'm in its grip. Now. In April. What am I knitting? I started a lace wrap last night. I've worked a few hours on it and have about...uh...two inches done. Yes, my dears. Lace is a cruel passion. Think strands of merino and silk (in this case) and spindly little needles. And lots of counting.

This started earlier last month with a lace scarf. It was in a normal weight of yarn but it was very design heavy! 12 VERY different rows so you couldn't take your mind off it for a second. And I had to learn lots of new stitches and how to short rows. That's how I made the knit rose that goes with this. Really, it isn't even remotely my style but the challenge suited me perfectly. I'm going to take a picture of it on the step-dot - not her style either - had to get her to change her delek Dr. Who t-shirt for something that would show this off...


Ah, now I'm waiting for the photos to load. It'll give you some idea but unless you're a knitter, it won't give you an idea of the work involved. So what? Nobody forced me to do this. Why am I?
Because it is distracting. Because when I'm counting I'm not fretting about anything but the counting. It is a form of weird meditation in fact. Very weird but effective all the same. And lace is challenging and I like the challenge of it. Over the Easter Weekend I'm planning to learn how to knit socks. A friend, an excellent knitter, is going to teach me because although I've looked and looked at hundreds of patterns - I simply do not understand how the heel turns. Please, if you know how, and I assume everyone but me does, don't tell me on this blog. I need a human and for both of us to be able to get our hands on one pair of needles - no, not at once, but...

By my reckoning, the wrap will take me about fifty hours to knit. Taking in the cost of materials and the time - say at minimum wage - the wrap with cost me $550.00. Yep, cool!

11 comments:

Sarah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarah said...

That smile needed a wink that went 'ding'. I should have thought of that.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I'm a seasonal knitter as well. But this winter got no knitting done whatsoever. I miss it.

Anonymous said...

Lovely lace work , and with a border too.

I can and do
appreciate

the work involved..
beautiful.

Jan Morrison said...

Thanks guys...er...gals!

Sarah - yes, sound effects would be the best!
Karen - I think that's why I started so late - just too many other things demanding my attention but now I'm satisfying all those knitterly desires!
Glad you dropped by Denise - I've been a bad bad blogger lately what with one thing and another. I have been going over to see what's happening at your end of the mud ball but not commenting much. I'll get back into it. I miss me father!

Tracy said...

I know how to knit basic stitches but I'd love to learn to knit a sweater...crazy, huh?
Your lace is simply beautiful!
I love the plum scarf as well...very talented!

http://sbpra.com/tracyspaine/

keishua said...

wow! I've been wanting to knit one of those for a while. It looks awesome. I am sure it would take me a couple of years to get that done. I am working on some fingerless gloves, right now. Sure that will take me a fe months!!

Tabitha Bird said...

And worth every penny! The things we love to do are worth whatever we pay to do them :))

Unknown said...

nest knitting....

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Helen Ginger said...

That's beautiful! Knitters so amaze me. I tried to teach myself, but I couldn't do it. My stitches were so tight I couldn't get the needles or whatever they're called through. And I kept buying bigger and bigger needles. It was so frustrating, I gave up. I blame it on the very stressful job I was in at the time. Can't wait to see a picture of the finished wrap you're now doing.

Anonymous said...

I am back with some tips -

now you know short rows, that is all a heel is.

I say this with tounge in cheek as the mysteries of sock knittig evade me, but once the person teaching me short rows told me this, I knew I was one step closer to a sock.

DO SHARE your sock making adventures, I want to know.

And the lace scarf looks divine. I did one last year and am wearing it as we speak.

Share patterns if it's on line somewhere!