Sunday, January 04, 2015

The snow plow finally turned up on the slopes on Mt Pelion, leaving the road a sheet of ice:


Grit seems to be unknown. Greek Helen and her family thought they would have to stay another day, but “we ended up sliding down the hill behind a neighbour's truck”. They are safe and well in Athens. Here is a picture of the path David dug:


And here is one of a Greek pussy cat in the village, sheltering from the elements in a Nativity scene outside the baker's:


We will see Archie on Tuesday who can fill in some of the details.

Yesterday went less well here. I didn't get back to the tax, and, perhaps for that reason, felt panicky all day. Today should be better – Sunday usually offers a clear couple of hours at the end of the afternoon for desk work.

Thank you for your suggestions about the Calcutta Cup scarf. I've got Alasdair Post-Quinn's Double Knitting book – I'm not altogether sure I haven't signed up for a Craftsy class on the subject, but have never viewed it, if so. It has always sounded too complicated for me. I'll look into it.

Another thing that has always sounded too complicated is Shadow Knitting. Would boys find that fun? I'll investigate that one, too. Am I right in thinking it only uses one colour at a time?

Actual knitting moved forward. I have marked off the remaining live sitches on the Unst Bridal Shawl in 12-stitch groups (=two scallops, a normal day's work). I used those split-ring stitch markers which are normally nothing but a nuisance. It would appear, if I've got it right, that the final scallop will have only five stitches to attach itself to. One of the returns will have to be left unattached – not too serious a fudge.

Another week might see it done. Finishing, as I've said, I'll leave until after the tax is filed. Archie's sweater will go fast, once it's the only project in action. I began to give serious thought last night to the important question of, what next? I can go on knitting the Queen Ring forever, of course, but I need something else. The problem about the Little Boys on Loch Fyne who only wear fleeces, isn't confined to the Little Boys on Loch Fyne. Nobody wears sweaters. I don't wear sweaters.

(This time of year I wear an old, very moth-eaten Manos del Uruguay sleeveless vest under a sweatshirt.)

Maybe that's not true. Maybe bigger boys do. Joe wore his Grandson Sweater all through university, I think. Archie wears sweaters – that's why I'm knitting one for him. Alistair Miles, formerly of Beijing and now at Glasgow University, will be here for a weekend with Archie soon. I'll sound him out on the subject.

And then there's the Tokyo Shawl. I think someone would wear that – maybe even me.

Non-knit


This time of year is very odd – a series of days each feeling like Sunday, but Monday never comes. Here at last is a Real Sunday. Tomorrow our soap opera will be back on television, after too long a break. My husband has two hospital appts this week, rheumatology and diabetes. Archie's coming, and I hope to be able to drive him back to school on Wednesday. Life resumes, insh'Allah.

7 comments:

  1. I think the sweater/pullover/gansey/jersey/jumpers not being worn problem is due to the rather too efficient central heating in many places. I do wonder when all those thick garments one sees in North American knitting magazines actually get worn.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I laughed at each day feels like Sunday, but Monday never comes. I have been so confused, especially with going to work on odd days during the week. Tomorrow is a real Monday and that is fine with me. I think. It is -33 F windchill here this morning. I am wearing a heavy sweater, but I keep the house cool. The problem comes when you show up at an office with heat set at 70 and you are dressed for winter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Try the Craftsy class on Double Knitting by Lucy Neatby. She is an excellent teacher. I have taken several workshops from her and never fail to have an "Ah ha!" moment. She has a knack for explaining the most complicated things so that you understand them fully.
    I have met Alisdair Post-Quinn and he is a lovely man, but as I have not taken a class with him I cannot comment on his teaching methods.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree on the two weeks of Saturdays and Sundays....am so eager to get back to a routine tomorrow!!

    In response to catdownunder...I can attest that we wear heavy sweaters in Michigan at this time of year. Am currently wearing a handknit fair isle sweater as the temps are plummeting from 35 to 16 F today.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Patience4:31 PM

    I see Alasdair on Tuesday evenings -- let me know if you'd like me to run an idea past him about whether or not something would work in double-knitting. Then again, he has this way of trying to suss everything to make it work in double-knitting. He likes figuring things out for the pleasure of having figured it out. In recent years (post 52-Pickup scarf) he's liking working two different skeins of Kauni in double knitting for great color and optic effects, not doing so much with the graphics as he once did.

    My solution to the warm office is to knit lighter weight sweaters out of sock yarn. The knitting can be interminable, but it has the advantage of being machine washable/dryable.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Double knitting is actually pretty easy. At best I am an intermediate knitter and I am able to double knit, following directions.

    As for another project, why not knit yourself another sleeveless vest? If you have one you like, make yourself another similar one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. =Tamar1:20 AM

    From what I read, shadow knitting alternates one row of each color, two colors in all, and uses only one at a time. The image is created by careful placement of knit and purl stitches. I haven't tried it. The one time I did double knitting my gauge was incredibly loose.

    ReplyDelete