Knitting items that look like ISBN bars

You know those scanner bars that are found on packaging in the shops? You know, the ones with thick and thin lines that look like they’re some sort of code from caterpillars?

Back in the 80s, decade of skinny ties, Michael J. Fox, and Sheena Easton (whose style seems to have come back in the costuming of Rhianna, but nevermind), I had a dark blue shirt with dark black pinstripes (or perhaps it was a dark shirt that was pinstriped black and navy blue). It shimmered and flickered, possibly giving everyone a headache. And now that pinstripe look is back again, but changed a bit by the designers. So there’s the mermaid sweater from Hanne Falkenberg. This beauty as well (yummy rippled stripes). And this design for the wee set (Ravelry link right now).

I’m starting out small, to see if I like doing side to side designs. If I do, someday I may splurge on a Mermaid kit (purple/lilac/aubergine or black slate/cyclamen — it’s sort of delicious trying to decide without spending any money). But for now, between starting small projects and daydreaming about the time to complete my big projects, I’m back to knitting again. And it looks like pinstripes are in. Hurrah!

We have been helped greatly by the grey interloper

“It is always easier to knit when your instructions are underneath an impenetrable, fuzzy, breathing wall. Cats know this. Knitters need to accept this.” Thus spake the Cat with great gravitas.

Quote the knitter, “Ack! Get out of my way! Stop playing with my stitch markers.”

[Purring from the cat. Then he hops off the bag with the knitting*, the instructions, and my knees, his work done.]

*Yes, that’s the Honeycomb vest and its instructions, waiting for me to be able to find out what I did wrong. I’ve knit the same 5 rows over and over again. If this piece doesn’t work, it won’t be for want of trying and then dawdling.

Fluctuations in pressure

Life is always filled with some sort of pressure. The drive to get work done, the physical crush of crowds at a festival…. And then there are lazy Sundays in the summer which should be more relaxed.

Today, because it’s been really cool for summer, I thought, “I will bake a cake. That will be relaxing…”  So, to the tune of the Gardener mowing the lawn, I slowly wash eggs and crack them one by one into the bowl. Until I get to number 5, when the water pressure dies, shoots air, then suddenly all of the city’s water pressure shoots the egg out of my hand, out of the sink, and onto the floor.

Splat.

Much bad language and cleaning.* And then I put a small bowl under the spigot to get water to wash another egg. The cake is in the oven. I am hiding away from the kitchen, stuck with a David Bowie/Queen song going through my head (wonderful for highway driving, but not so much for incorporating flour).

I’m going back to my knitting. At least I can frog errors without egg on the floor. Honestly, there are worse things than water pressure fluctuations. Earlier in the week there was no water at all.

On the left is the Honeycomb vest. I’m a few inches away from decreasing for the arms. Yes, it’s still the back.

*The cats were no help cleaning up the egg. The only one to show up probably wanted me to rub the runny egg on his head. Ewww.

Yawn

The knitting isn’t going to make a great photo opp. The blue and white striped sock continues to be blue and white. Once I’m past the heel or near the toe, perhaps it would look more interesting. But really. Yawn.

Last night was filled with disturbing noises from the outside world… perhaps a bit too much excitement for me to sleep enough to make today any fun. Hopefully everyone who was on the warpath last night has sobered up and are willing to stay the heck home. One can hope, eh?

Hopefully by the weekend I’ll have laddered back and reknit the Arches project (I did catch a runner in the lace section before it got too far… there’s hope). Maybe pics of that before too long. It’s at least pink and fits into PS4 Red.

I Did Read the Instructions

… but I did not start the decreases in the back of my honeycomb vest at row 2 of the honeycomb pattern. I did read the instructions. But, even after the row of multiple frogging [it was in row 8] I did not sense a strange wrongness in The Force.

I think I’ll give myself a little time out while I ponder what I should do next — rip it, or start the decreases at row 10. Thoughts? Maybe the designer Sarah Castor should weigh in. I’m more disappointed in my reading ahead skills than anything else. Guess I shouldn’t knit unchecked on a manic weekend filled with singing in a concert and shopping for dresses, eh?

DreamSwatch finished

DreamSwatch finished

Originally uploaded by rjknits

This was a very satisfying project. The yarn was a great gift from a friend, and it ended up working well with the pattern.

The person I gave it to (late holiday gift) just couldn’t figure out how I knit this, because it ends up looking woven, knit AND macrame’d all at the same time. Of course, I didn’t tell her that the way I knit it was by listening to Dr. Who Christmas specials on BBC Radio.

Definitely thinking about using the pattern from the swatch for a sweater, possibly on the sleeves or in the center of a v-neck.

Ravelry Is Taking a Nap

And I should do the same. Ravelry has an error message up now, and my brain sadly creates sonnets in my head.

Sounds like the weekend will contain no knitting, Philadelphia Garden Show, or downtime but fun family things. That is if EDX, the wounded car will allow me to get to them. Nothing like an entire 45 mile drive through the dark, listening to your car struggle to get up to 50 mph while cursing the place that “fixed” my car.

So, how ’bout you? Anything fun planned?

Finishing Up a DreamSwatch

Finally the end is in sight. This project, after logging in hours with me listening to BBC7 Listen Again broadcasts, is done. Stats: 38″ long and 3 1/2 inches wide. Made from Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Cotton Print in color 0435 Blueberry-Grape. The stitch on this one was lots of fun.

Of course, I’m having trouble photographing this one without natural light. So here it is with a blue background in an attempt to show the color. Look — two ends are in sight.

It may be a small project, but finishing this lets me focus on finishing other projects. And then start working on some of the projects that have been on hold. Anyone who’s seen my Ravelry queue knows it’s a long one.

Update on the Dreamswatch

Dreamswatch in progress

I’ve finally made a bit of progress on the Dreamswatch. I’m up to 25 inches, and hoping to finish it up today. Maybe pictures soon?

I love this yarn (Panda Cotton), given to me by a friend last year. Just a lovely gift — especially the colors. I’m having fun thinking how nice it might look on the recipient too, due to coloring and straight red hair.

If it looks really cute on me, I might need to buy some more Panda Cotton, maybe in Muir Woods so I can make another one of these now that I’ve memorized the pattern. Or, maybe I’ll invest in enough to make a vest with the center panel in the Dream swatch pattern (or, while I’m at it, maybe I should just adapt some thicker weight wool to that, so I don’t really tackle a project that becomes huge because I’m using sock-weight yarn). It’s a hobby, right?

Future projects

Binoculars and mug

Originally uploaded by rjknits

Projects I want to work on:
1. Finish the Hiiummas Stashbusting socks.
2. Finish the arches scarf (which is looking more like pillars, but never mind).
3. Finally get gauge for Rusted Root, and make some progress.
4. I have 2 vests’ worth of lovely yarn, gifted to me in 2008. And, since I’m pretty spectacularly cold at the office, it would be great to use up this largesse.
5. Attempt to do more photography of my knitting. I mean, I’m able to take pictures of mugs and binoculars that look great… why not woolly things?

So, any challenges that you’re looking forward to?