Major Knitter

Dawg

Wilma was doggone tired yesterday.  I can tell when she's really tired because two things happen:  she gets cranky and her tongue hangs out even more (if that's possible).

Awww, nighty night Girly Girl.  Sweet dreams.

 

 

She Started It

Yesterday was my day in the city.  BF and I had lunch with a dear friend who was in town so we took the train into Manhattan for lunch and some meetings.  After lunch, and between meetings, I met up with Beverly - aka BIK on Ravelry - whom I first met in 2003 when she was taking a writing class.  She wrote about me and the knitting group I created while mobilized to Headquarters, Marine Corps the year immediately following 9/11.  So Beverly gets credit for coining the phrase Major Knitter and starting it all.

Here we are in the hotel lobby bar of the Roosevelt Hotel, which is perfect for knitting in the afternoon as well as having the advantage of being conveniently located adjacent to Grand Central.  We had a great time knitting and catching up.  In fact, two hours flew by so very quickly!

Beverly - thanks for being available for such a fun impromptu get together.  Hope we can do it again soon!

 

 

Do Over

Thanks for all your input yesterday regarding the zipper.  I took my Ribby Cardi to my knitting group and got some expert advice.  The consensus was "Do Over"

I'm really not happy with the zipper showing.  I know it's only a matter of a few millimeters, but it bothers me.

To clinch the deal, I looked at a favorite commercially made zippered cardigan I have and looked closely at the zipper.  Look!  Not a sign of the zipper showing on this cardigan.  

That really helped me make up my mind.  I'd rather rip out the zipper which I had only basted in place and start over.  It will take me another day of work, but in the long run, I know I'll be much happier for it.

I also weighed everyone's input - both online, on Ravelry, and amongst my knitting group friends and have decided that I will hand sew the zipper in place.  

So that's where I stand.  As you're reading this, please know that I'm up to my elbows in pinning and basting this zipper.  I have faith that it will turn out perfectly!

Z-Z-Z-Zip!

We're at that part of the sweater where I am doing something I have never done before.  I've never sewn in a zipper to my handknits.  This makes me a little anxious.  After all the time spent knitting, I don't want to ruin my new sweater with a zipper that's not sewn in professionally.  

Thanks to my readers, I decided to follow the step-by-step zipper installation instructions from Claudia.

Then I checked to see if the zipper teeth were freely moving.

Finally, I basted the zipper in place using a contrasting colored thread.

Hmmmm.  This is the time to make adjustments.  It took me quite awhile to get this far, but I don't like the way I can see the zipper on the bottom of the sweater.  I guess I'll have to rip that out and adjust it.   Once that's done, I think I'll have to pluck up the courage to sew this.  

What are your thoughts about sewing zippers by hand versus machine?

How'd That Get in my Bag?

OK - you saw a new previously unmentioned, undocumented project in my Scout weekend photos.  I confess.  It's true.  I bought some Regia BlitzColor at my LYS Westport Yarns

It's a basic stockinette sock with a new self-striping yarn from Regia.  I really like the way this yarn is turning out.  Those are some very interesting stripes.  I think I'm going to use some leftover Lorna's Laces for a contrast heel/toe.  

So there you have it.  You knew I couldn't really go for more than a day without some sort of sock on the needles - even if undocumented.  Now I've come clean.  Whew!  That burden is lifted.

Oh, did you notice the Ribby Cardi underneath the sock?  How clever of you.  I've finished all the knitting and weaving in of loose ends.  Now I'm going to pin the zipper and figure out the best way to sew it in gently and expertly.  What a treat I'll have - a new sweater and a new pair of socks.  I'm tickled pink!

Successful Recruiting Day at our Church

Today our Church hosted their big back to school gathering.  The Boy Scout Troop, Crew and Pack were there in force to support the Church and recruit new members.  We had 14 Scouts and adults there to help spread the word and bake two Dutch Oven apple cobblers.  

We cooked them in the large Dutch Ovens over a bed of coals with coals on top of the Dutch ovens, too.

Mmmm - looks good right?  There are 3 Boy Scout troops in town and ours has the best youth chefs around.  The Scouts served the desserts to the congregation and they couldn't believe the boys made these delicious desserts in the Dutch ovens.  It sure helped that the minute they came out of church they were greeted with the wonderful smell of apple cobbler baking to perfection!

Want to join our Troop?  You already know the great adventures we have.  Tell a friend.  Maybe they'll want to join.

It's Camping Season Once Again

We had our first troop campout this weekend.  I really love getting outdoors.  I feel invigorated.  I love the fresh air.  I love watching the boys learn new skills and challenging themselves to take on new risks.  

This was a one-night overnight with a practice backpacking trip to get us ready for next month's 3-day trek on the Appalachian Trail.  The Scouts learned how to properly pack their backpacks - with the heavy things on the bottom.  We only trekked for 4.5 miles today - but for a first time practice hike, it was just right.  It allowed everyone to learn a few lessons without making any tragic mistakes.  We ate backpacking meals; talked about how much weight is too much; what type of footwear to have; and the importance of taking care of your feet.  We all learned something important.

I learned that hiking in handknit socks may not be the best idea.  I learned that I should leave my handknit socks for night wear.

Ahhh - Home Sweet Home.  My tent is my home away from home and I really love it.  It's my little cocoon in the camping world.  I have my little routine - and I regularly post a picture of either my smiling face (with a temperature reading) or my latest handknit socks making their camping debut (as is the case with the sock picture above).  So while I'm sad my wonderfully lazy summer is over, I'm glad to be back in my routine.  

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Thank goodness for talented knitting buddies.  Today we met for knitting and Michelle - aka the Mattress Stitch Master - helped me pin my Ribby Cardi sleeves and showed me how to professionally mattress stitch them in place.

So now, my Ribby Cardi is *this* close to being done.  All that is left is to weave in the loose ends; pick up and sew the collar; and finally, sew the zipper in place.  I've already tried it on and it's going to be a "Go To" sweater for the fall.  I can hardly wait.  

Thank you Michelle!

What I Sent in the Swap

OK - Diana received her package from the Campfire Knitters Group Knit/Camp Swap on Ravelry so I can finally show you what I sent her.

First, you should probably know that Diana is involved in Cub Scouts and has also done Wood Badge training (she's a beaver) so I sent things with a scouting theme.  Her goodie bag included some Scout green Alchemy sock yarn for camping socks to warm her tootsies at night; a beaver totem; a book on geocaching for an activity with the Cub Scouts plus a miniature ammo can geocache - which she says is going to sit on her desk; some ladybug stitch markers; some dark chocolate treats; and my favorite trail food - Trader Joe's dried apple slices. 

This is a very fun group and the swap was such fun.  Who doesn't like surprises afterall.  It helped that it was very focused - e.g. sock yarn; camping item; and other little treats.  So far all the swap boxes have been amazing.  Everyone took great pains to really try to find something that was what the recipient wanted.  It's been a win-win all around.

It Just Keeps Getting Better and Better

There was an unexpected package in the mail for me the other day from Soho Publishing.  I couldn't imagine what I had ordered, so I was thrilled to open it up and find two wonderful surprises:

It was a thank you gift for my contribution to the Sock-cess article in Vogue Knitting. 

Wow!  I wasn't expecting that, which made it all that much better.  The Vogue Knitting Knitopedia is going to be a great addition to my knitting library.  Here's what the publishers at Vogue Knitting have to say about this new book:

Vogue Knitting Knitopedia: The Ultimate A to Z for Knitters

By the Editors of Vogue Knitting The most comprehensive knitting reference book ever published, Knitopedia is organized as an A to Z encyclopedia with numerous cross-references that make it easy to find information. This remarkable resource contains over 400 individual articles and is lavishly illustrated and beautifully designed, with hundreds of color photos, technical illustrations, charts and maps. Knitopedia will be a joy for all knitters to give or receive. Here’s a small sampling of the contents:  • explanations of all commonly used abbreviations • explanations and illustrations of all important knitting techniques, such as casting on, binding off, shaping and picking up stitches • historical and cultural background information on all ethnic knitting traditions • articles on the design process, fit and ease and other design-related topics • overviews of today’s knitting world (the Internet, blogs, magazines, podcasts) • over 100 basic stitch patterns, with photos and charts