Monday, January 09, 2017

The carers were in better time tonight, but events have supervened and I will have, again, to be brief.

It wasn’t an entirely satisfactory day, either, on the two fronts in which we are primarily interested. I did finish two rows of the borders of Mrs Hunter’s shawl, but only just. The second motif is nearing its widest point, which means more k3tog’s.

And I did no tax at all. Realizing that that was happening, I thought, OK, I’ll log on to the government website (gateway/gov/uk, or something like that) just to prove that I can. The first attempt got me only as far as the first “g” before telephone or doorbell supervened. The second time, I did better – I was actually typing in the password (one of those Juliet Bravo Nine sort of things) before the interruption came.

The excitement which actually succeeded in happening was the installation of a mosaic by Greek Helen in the previously blanked-off fireplace in the sitting room. My husband, who has to sit looking at it all day, had been agitating for some time for something interesting to fill the space. Helen offered to make a mosaic. Its utter wonderfulness wasn’t entirely evident until it was installed.

Perdita had had no previous experience of the installation of mosaics, let alone of their grouting. She took a lively interest throughout.

Photographs tomorrow, as well as some of the shawl.

VK turned up today, to my great excitement, but there is little or nothing there to send me forward to the EYF. I do very much like No. 4, a smallish shawl. I’ll keep it in mind. I think I still have an IK to look forward to. They couldn't have terminated my subscription without warning me?


I increasingly get the impression that those little collections of six mini-skeins in graduated colours are The Coming Thing. I love them. But how to deal with them? Last year at the EYF I did Carol Feller’s class on that very topic, and came away not much the wiser. 

8 comments:

  1. I think those little mini-skeins are just so tempting - although not particularly useful. I have recently knit a baby sweater using a collection instead of a single skein (resulting in delightful stripes), however.

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  2. =Tamar2:17 AM

    They can be used for stranded colorwork. Gloves! Hats! Sock ankles, with plain colors for sensitive feet! Kafe Fassett designs, perhaps. I think the little mini-skeins are a fine way to combat people's private color-prejudices while still providing artisanal color combinations. There are some colors I just don't like, and many hand-dyed yarns that I have sighed and not bought simply because they included one of my Refuse-Colors. The mini skeins can presumably be wet-spliced (or Russian joined?) into whatever order the knitter wishes, too. The bother of splicing or end-hiding is small compared to the pleasure of getting colors not decreed by the Color Group.

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  3. Anonymous9:54 AM

    Try using Mason-Dixon's squad mitts pattern in their book of stripes for your mini-skeins. They use contemporary colour blocking to great effect and are a neat fit. I am originally a Maryland girl, of Washington, DC and Michigan parentage, so historically they are a neat fit, too. CarolG

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  4. I used the graduated skeins to make a shawl which is basically a long wide scarf on the bias (named Shine on Ravelry; you can see mine if you like, as I am kayT there too). It turned out very nice and was good tranquil TV knitting to boot.

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  5. GrannyPurple2:42 PM

    I used several sets of skeins, which ended up going from yellow green to magenta via various blues and purple, to make yet another Relax. It worked very well!

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  6. I have several sets I am pondering. I think they will require an additional skein to be a main color. I may have a skein or two which could serve that purpose...Looking forward to the mosaic!

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  7. Me too, looking forward to the mosaic, although won't be able to comment because finally having release of carpal tunnel problem. So won't be commenting but will still be following.

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    Replies
    1. Hope your carpal tunnel release brings immediate relief as mine did! Best luck.

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