Two Black Sheep

Mama Said Knock You Out

Really, Ava, I tried.  Honest.  But a good woman knows when it ain't working, find something else.  I've given up on the Half Dollar.  That's one sleeve about to be thrown into the microwave.  Notice the metal bowl.  I'm hoping she burns.  Let me give you all the reason and maybe then I won't feel so beaten by this bitch. I'd like to think that I'm a semi-adventurous knitter.  I've made a queen size blanket.  I've knit lace while nursing a fussy newborn.  I've even knit a furry toddler (OK, just something the size of a toddler).  Maybe that's why I made every attempt to knit this stupid cardigan.  Here's my reasons for leaving Half Dollar in a "Free to a Good Home" box:

• The size jump from Small to Medium freaked me out.
• Probably got gauge on US 6, but wouldn't have really known due to the stretch factor.
• Not sure how to really measure the sleeve.  The lace and reverse stockinette had some stretch.  Do I pull slightly and measure?  I've been told that the sleeves were long, so I wouldn't have pulled much.  But the fabric is different once blocked.  Duh?
• I was counting a lot.  Rows on lace pattern plus rows to increase.  I don't have that many counters and Gus likes to grab pencils.

And the final blow...

• The decreases fucked with my head!  Sometimes you didn't really decrease, but you really did.  Make sense?  In the past, I would have figured it out.  Not this Lola.

It was a lot of pressure for a sweater that I wasn't really sure if I was going to like in the end.  And that's no way to start a relationship. 

So I decided to knit something that was practical and would use the same yarn (still love this color).  I decided to knit the Ribby Cardi.  Yep, kind of an old-school knit.  But when it came out, I had just started knitting again.  I think that I'm going to knit the full ribbed version with the long collar.  I just want a standard in my knit closet.  And I'd like to knit something that isn't going to kill me in the process.  At this moment in my life, the Half Dollar would have reached through my chest and wrapped its fiber around my beating heart.  A little graphic?  I watched about 3 hours of Ultimate Fighter on Spike last night, all while I knit my lace leaf shawl (see? I do like a challenge).   I was hypnotized by the show.  I guess there isn't a reality show I won't watch.
Love,
Lola

P.S. That's the apron out of the dog fabric from Purl.  Mom helped with the basis tape, but I swear that I sewed all of it.  I guess you're the only one that needs Mom to make stuff for you.  I'm just noticing from the picture that Boyfriend jeans, do nothing for your ass...  Oh, fuck it.  I've got a basketball game to watch.  Go Bucks.

P.S.  Gus would like to remind you that he's got a big day coming up.  We made some cupcake cones while I was visiting Mom.  She said they aren't as messy as a regular piece of cake.  I think that we should start looking for the big clown shoes & a home.

Showdown

I sort of get obsessed with things.  At the end of high school, I loved black & white cows.   During the pregnancy, I loved loose tea (I don't think it was a craving.)   I'll save my obsession with the Greek NY coffee cup for another post.  Right now I'm obsessed with the Half Dollar.  I thought I had it under control.  I've never swatched more for any other sweater.  Somewhere during this swatching marathon, I've taken a wrong path, one that includes a ton of dog shit.  Swatch #1 was close to perfect, except for the color.  I jumped online and ordered the Merlot.  It's a beautiful black/purple.  Kind of like Chanel's Vamp, but insert purple instead of red.  Every time you look at you wonder, "Is it black?"  So I take out my US 5's, and make Swatch #2.  It dries and I'm disappointed.  I got almost 2 extra stitches to the inch.   I kept telling myself, "Calm down.  Different colors of yarn can produce different gauge swatches.  Use the US 6's."  Swatch #3 is giving me 1 extra stitch, and a very loose fabric.  So I'm left with the obvious realization that I fucked up the Swatch #1.  I guess the pattern really does call for a worsted weight yarn!  The pattern uses US 5, and I thought I got guage with DK weight!  What's a girl to think?!  Tease.  I was going to use US 6's & take the Make-the-Larger-Size Route, but that path is also littered with dog shit.  So I'm going to be a big girl and work on my patience skills.  Once I get to Ava's I'm going down to Kraemer's and buying the Worsted Tatamy Tweed in Merlot and knock this sweater out.   So help me, Half Dollar, if you don't turn out gorgeous...

Ava, since I've been talking about this book, I thought I'd include some of the creepier pages.  My parents got it for Ava as a Christmas gift in 1974.  I have always found this book creepy.  Recently, I was home and found it with the Golden Book library.  I'm 30, an opposite book can't be that scary.  Right?  Wrong.  Even SK was reading it to Gus this morning, and says, "Hey.  This book is kind of creepy."  The bad thing is Gus likes it.  He knows when to say "Yucky" and "Heavy".  And quite frankly, I'm sick of reading the  Puppy Book and any Richard Scarry book.  So we'll deal with Sesame Street Book of Opposites with Zero Mostel for today.  But if I start dreaming of Zero in his diaper, I'm sending the book to you.

Off to find something to do.  I have no sweater project.  The house is clean.  What to do on this glorious St Patrick's day?  I'll crack open a Guinness.

Love,

Lola

Start & Finish

If you Listen

So what color for the Half Dollar?  We've got Avocado, Fireplace, Loganberry, Merlot, and Turquoise.  All can be seen better here.  I may just order from the site, and return in person if necessary.

 

Margaritaville

I'll sprinkle some sunny pictures into the next couple posts.  I've never been a fan of Florida weather.  We always seemed to visit when the humidity & heat were high.  Complete opposite this time!  We were able to stay at the beach for over an hour, & probably could have stayed longer.  But let's face it, sand is annoying.  Gus loved the beach!  He didn't understand that you shouldn't throw sand and birds don't like to be touched.  He also loved the pool.  For the first 2 days, we dealt with a huge amount of clutching and screaming whenever anyone mentioned, "pool".  On the final day, we had ourselves a water baby.  He would skip the "1. 2." and just scream, "3" and fall onto Grandma. 

I got some knitting done by the pool.  I turned the heel on my G-Rocks, so now I've got to decide if I was to add some detail to the leg.  I may add a stitch and do a 6x3 rib.  Any ideas? 

As for big project knitting, I've hit a road block.  I really want to start something before I visit you.  I know that it's a week away, but that seems like a year in Knitting Life.  To make Half Dollar, I've got to find some Tatamy Tweed DK.  I'm too lazy to swatch another yarn and start another search.   I know we talked about the Katherine Hepburn cardigan, but I almost put that one off.  Almost!  Then Cara comes along, starts posting her progress, and talks about it being popular on the blogs.  Why would she do that?   She doesn't know it, but I'm a follower. 

I had an appointment cancel today, so after the clothes are piled up and the trash is taken out, I'll hit the road in search of yarn.  Get moving on that sock!  I want to see some STR when I get to your house.  Now that I'm home, I'm giddy about heading to Ava-land.  Giddy dammit!

-Lola

Smile

So I got gauge with Tatamy Tweed DK with a US 4.  Well, as close as humanly possible.  I wasn't sure how to swatch a lace pattern.  I cast on 31 <X> stitches and made a 6x6 square.  Widthwise, I'm in between 6 inches and right after 5 3/4 inches <Z>. I divided <X> by <Z> and got <came close>.  I didn't wash and dry the swatch, because I will not wash & dry the sweater.  Out of guilty, maybe I'll wet it and let it dry tonight.
   

Now I have two dilemmas, color & size.  Color may be easy.  I'm limited by the colors of my LYS and I think they've got the basics.  What do you think?  Size is harder.  Isn't it always?  Maybe I'm crazy, but I go off of my bra size.  I always think that I should knit the size nearest the 36", but that's usually the Small.  I'm no Small in the stores, lady.  The Comfy Gray sweater was for a 38" and it's comfy.  This sweater has a  Small (36 1/4") and a medium (41").  Which size do I make?  The schematics show the widths as 37 1/2" & 42", but does that include the seaming?  Help me please.  Clear your mind of all the Vegas trash.  Stop the slot machines from ringing in you ears.  Tell Toni Braxton to "hush".  Just for a moment, Toni.

-Lola

p.s. I'll blog about the finished Wallaby after your stories.  I added a picture and some details.