done! (almost)

below: a truly terrible photo of the finished surface sweater!



now, i just have to do the wrap. argh. i decided to up-size it just a wee bit (casting on 242 stitches instead of 230) because i needed to embiggen the sweater itself via blocking (yes i swatched! yes i did!), and let me tell you - casting on over 200 stitches, and then knitting 4 stitches in 1, 40 times across the row, and then yarn-overing those added stitches... well one row takes me a long time to get through. i bought a circular needle in honour of the wrap, even though i generally don't like knitting on circs - but this meimei circ (purchased at the ashton general store for an amazing $1.99!) is nice. it's bamboo, the same hard, dark bamboo as the chiagoo dpns i have and love (it's something they do in the finishing, i forget what), but more importantly the cable is not stiff/springy/determined to turn around on itself even when i don't want it to. it's sort of soft and floppy. it would be nice if the cable was a bit more slippery, but so far i'm really liking it.

except for the number of stitches per row, that is. ugh.

blocking blues

i've been taking it easy this morning (where "taking it easy" = doing laundry) after yesterday's ordeal: 6 hours in a waiting room because the receptionist neglected to tell the doctor i was there (despite the doctor asking her to call as soon as i got there, my mum telling the doctor i was waiting, and the receptionist calling me at home and leaving a message asking me to come in... sigh). i did get a fair amount of knitting done thankfully (although i didn't knit non-stop - i think my wrists would have fallen off if i had). the collar on surface is almost done, and i finished seaming the sweater this morning. so why the blues? well, it's a bit snugger than expected... despite the fact that i swatched. i also added an inch to the length, and thank goodness i did, i could have added two! i blocked the pieces prior to assembling, but i don't have anything here at mum's to properly pin things down, so i'm going to root around and see what i can find and see if i can't block it bigger once i've done the front bands of ribbing. wish me luck.

meanwhile, allow me to show off my seams, which i think i did a pretty good job with:




in other news, the vintage hollywood group on ravelry may have answered a question that has long haunted me: what film was it that featured joan crawford in an absolutely awesome robe with tasselled sleeves? most probable answer: the last of mrs. cheyney, which happens to be available on youtube. you can guess what i'm doing tonight!

more hometown days

busy times here - monday & tuesday were spent driving to toronto, getting a root canal, going to the doctor, going to the physiotherapist, dropping briefly into hr at work, and then driving back to almonte. wednesday was comparatively normal; thursday a friend drove down from ottawa for lunch, we made plans for tg and h to return to toronto on saturday by train, and we found out that friday would bring out of town guests and an mri for mum. friday was spent doing the usual hurry-up-and-wait routine of going into the civic and then waiting for things to happen, an exhausting day even though there wasn't really much activity (sitting in an armless swivel chair for two hours with nowhere to put your stuff is surprisingly tiring!). saturday we packed, drove to ottawa to have brunch with w, then to the train station where i bid adieu to the boys, then back to almonte where i met l & t at the hospital with mum.

and what wonderful memories they brought! photographs and letters and bits cut from the paper, all sorts of interesting things about the various branches of the family, and a few lovely mementos as well. we are now the grateful owners of a tablecloth crocheted by my grandmother (which will unfortunately need some stain removal) and a beautiful vanity set given by aunt fan (subject of the terribly stylish photos of which i have previously written) to aunt lil. l thought i should have it since i instantly recognised the button-hooker which had stymied previous attempts at identification.



i have always wanted one of these sets - even bought one a few years ago except it was missing a few pieces, so it is very nice to finally have a complete set, and one with such sentimental attachments no less! now i am really inspired to get my old deco vanity restored (does anyone have any good ideas about where to get mirror custom-cut in toronto?)

meanwhile during the hurry-up-and-wait portion of the week i have got one sleeve of surface completed and the other almost done - expect to get it finished today at the hospital!

home again

last night i finished the popcorn cuff of the first sleeve of surface. whee! today is the big drive back to toronto. upon arrival, i'll be heading to the dentist to find out what the hell happened to my head (youch) and tomorrow i'm headed to a specialist doc and then for some physio. what an exciting life i lead! tonight though i will be doing something extracurricular - having a couple of neighbours (or just one neighbour? we'll see i guess) over for knitting. i'm tempted to bring my popcorn along, but i think i'll leave it in almonte, and make it a thoroughly almonte/hospital-knitted creation. not sure if it began that way, but it's never too late to start.

instead, i might see if i can get some of my new briggs & little wound into balls and get going on that. hmm, i should probably ask amy if she can bring her swift.

hrmph.

have finished the body of the surface cardigan at the hospital today and have begun the sleeves, and i'm pleased to say that the blister pattern is actually quite simple and un-annoying! one bit of unpleasantness however: i just noticed that the instructions for the wrap begin "cast on 230" - yikes! considering that the blisters involve increasing 4 every six stitches that adds up too a lot of stitches per row... looks like i'll need to find a 3mm circ. boo.

secret

i've just completed a secret project! my first ever test-knit. went well - very cute!! and a nice distraction from this horrible toothache that reared its ugly head last night. not fun. seeing dentist on monday.

in other news, i've just found out that mississippi blacksheep gallery is closing. the owners are retiring to picton (where they will no doubt continue to spin and sell), so their current location - a house so gorgeous it prompted h to say "it's a castle" - is emptying out and will soon be up for sale itself. there isn't officially a sale on, although she gave me 10% off when i bought 10 balls of wool, and their prices are generally awesome. check it out while you can!

hometown day whatever

have i mentioned how much i am absolutely loving the yardage on this briggs & little sport? i have finished the back and left-front of my cardigan, all from one skein! amazing!