Wednesday, July 15, 2015

I've got to go off for an early-morning blood-letting soon. Lou, the GP told me that they are about to bring in a system where the blood can be tested with a finger-prick producing immediate results, like a blood-sugar test. This should be in operation before my six months are up, and will save a lot of time and effort on both sides. Is that the way you do it? At the moment a little vial of blood has to go to a lab somewhere.

Thank you for all your help. Mary Lou, the Rowan Cashsoft 4ply I particularly want is 433, Cream. I've heard from Nottingham – they don't have any left. They suggest what I am sure would be a perfectly satisfactory pure wool alternative. I'd also like 432, Bark but the particular Jack Russell I hope to imitate in knitting doesn't have much in the way of markings. Surely I can do that from stash. The pattern says I need 20gr of Cream – so if it comes in 20gr balls I suppose I'd be happier with two. I wouldn't care to repeat the nervous tension involved in finishing the Fantoosh any time soon.

Beverly, yes, I'm sure that Ravelry page must be the Swansen Fair Isle vest I'm looking for. I had misremembered it as female. I see I can have the pattern for $3, and indeed can have a DVD which might be useful – so don't worry about finding Knitter's 48. I knit something once – perhaps Around the Bend – to the accompaniment of a Schoolhouse DVD. It was a lot of fun.

It'll be interesting to attempt corrugated rib again. I did it at least once, and gave up because there was no elasticity in my result. Now I discover that nobody gets elasticity in corrugated rib – it's not meant to be elastic. It keeps the bottom edge from curling, and looks nice.

However, all this must come after that dog.

Speaking of DVD's, I got Hazel Tindall going yesterday, at long last. I had tried in the past, both on the computer and on the television, and totally failed, but last night it worked, and it's delightful, and I mean to go on today. You never know – I might even learn something about knitting faster.

As for actual knitting, I'm halfway through the cable crossings for the 8th repeat, of 9, on the back of the Sous Sous. I've completely forgotten how I used to assign percentages for the sidebar.

Tamar, I forgot to thank you yesterday for passing on the Harlot's suggestion of fixing that maddening mis-stitch in the 7th cable crossing with a duplicate stitch. I'll do it. The crossings are 5 over 5, and get a bit tight. You have to knit them in pattern by keeping your wits about you, rather than by reading your knitting, just for those few stitches. And the cables themselves are k1, p1, k1 rather than the solid k2 or k3 one might expect. I'm sure that's how it happened (that my wits failed me).

Perhaps a picture tomorrow. As soon as this repeat is finished, I will re-address myself to the Tokyo shawl.


Social services are tomorrow going to deliver the equipment which has been requisitioned for us. That news should cheer and encourage my husband. And Greek Helen will be here soon for a summer visit of decent length. It would help a great deal if she could be here when he is finally released. I'm still pretty nervous about it.

8 comments:

  1. Jean, I am in the final stages (buttonhole band) of knitting the original Fair Isle cardigan of Meg's (from her book, you must have it, it's on the cover) which uses the same OXO patterns and yarn colors as the vest. I have the vest DVD as well, it's very enjoyable and she wears the cardi while knitting the vest. I head to Knitting Camp next week and plan on it being my finale for show and tell there. I'll have it with me in Scotland when we meet in September so you will see it then!

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  2. Anonymous12:43 PM

    Yes, the clotting time test done with a finger prick has become common here. The trick to having a less painful test is to have them prick your fingertip off-center, on the side-top. This avoids your most sensitive spot.

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  3. As Meezermeowmy says, the INR texting is a finger prick much like the way diabetics test blood sugar. Specially trained pharmacists perform the test and use the results to adjust the warfarin dose. Patients often find it more convenient to visit the pharmacy, rather than the hospital or doctor's office. I've even been known to do house-calls for shut-ins.

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  4. Anonymous1:55 PM

    I just finished six months of Warfarin in June for blood clots related to flying. They use the finger puncture method here, which is quick and simple. As soon as I would get home, I scrubbed my hands well, then applied a bit of super glue to the spot. By the next day, my finger was healed over. Without the glue, it did not heal as fast. I also had them use my ring finger as I use it less than the others for most activities. Good luck with your treatment. Mary in NM,USA

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  5. I don't have that color, Jean. In fact, what I have is DK, not 4-ply. Sorry. It comes in 50g balls, so one should keep you from getting too nervous if the pattern only requires 20. I was going to suggest the Purewool as a substitute. It is less likely to pill if your friend has anyone likely to play with the dog very much.

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  6. Anonymous2:39 PM

    Of course you're nervous about your husband's coming home. We can't be there to help, but we are out here to support you! Good news that equipment will arrive before he does.
    - Beth in Ontario

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  7. Anonymous8:20 PM

    My Mother actually had the device to check her blood clotting levels at home, so she would just prick her own finger much as diabetics do, then call in the readings to the doctor's office and they would adjust her coumadin levels accordingly.

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  8. Anonymous11:42 AM

    Bark!

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