YOP

YOP
Follow my progress!

Sunday, August 21, 2016

YOP Update Aug 21

It is raining again so I've been sleeping a ton and just hanging out in bed.  I used to love the rain but that stopped when I started having fibromyalgia pain.  I can still see the beauty in it at times though. It intensifies the colors of everything and perks up the plants and trees.  I love watching the birds play in the water.  I try at least to see past what I feel.

#1 recovered MIA WIP - meandering rib scarf /lion brand yarn (originally started 11/2014)

Anyway, I stalled on my scarf because I found an error - well an entire row that was wrong so it made a line.  I tried for two days to ignore it and just keep going but I just ended up not wanting to work on it anymore.  My oldest son (19) told me no one would notice and certainly not his dad who it is for. Still, I knew it was there and it haunted me. I finally pulled the whole thing out and started over but I still wasn't happy with it so I tore it out again. Then I decided to go down two sizes to size 4 needles because the yarn seemed kind of thin for worsted weight.  I was much happier with the look of the stitches but it made the scarf so narrow. I decided to rip back yet again and add some extra garter stitch on all the edges. I started with 7 rows at the bottom and now there are 5 stitches on each side.  I really wish I had added a couple more rows at the bottom but I'm going to leave it this time.  If you look at my last post you can see what it looked like before.

I decided to try knitting in my lifeline with my boye interchangeable needles since they do have the little hole for tightening but it is only big enough for size 10 thread.  Can someone who has the knit picks needles tell me if the hole is big enough for a thin yarn (not just thread)?  I like to put in a lifeline at the end of a pattern repeat.  I'm just a little past 2 repeats in that picture.  I really don't like using thread though since the loops can pull the thread down.  It doesn't help that the thread I used is so light colored.  The ball is actually a variegated purple with some really dark purple but the first part was light and I didn't want to waste too much. Anyway, I was watching TV last night and totally messed everything up so I ripped back to the lifeline and it was almost as difficult to get the loops pulled back up as if I'd not used a lifeline at all. Next time I think I'll find something thicker and use my darning needle.

Oh, I almost forgot!  I'm inserting this part in here hoping to get some feedback.  I need to get a swift and ball winder.  Does anyone have any recommendations?  I want to get something that will last me a long time.  I was looking at the knit picks ball winder and swift on amazon.  Does anyone have any experience with that brand?  I'm hoping to get it for my birthday since I just bought my first thing of yarn that looks like a twisted donut.  If you have had a bad experience please tell me about it.  I want to avoid any hassles if possible.

I was planning to do a little cross stitch yesterday that I bought on ebay for a gift a while back.  One of my brothers finally got married (They have been together for a long time).   My SIL's name is Joy and I saw this simple cross stitch kit that says "Share Joy."  I thought that would be a nice Christmas gift for her to keep at her office (if she wanted to).  It is a chalk board look design with black fabric and white thread and it had a butterfly in the design top center which I loved.  It also comes with a white filigree easel frame.  But, when I took it out of the package and sat down to start working on it I realized it wasn't the right design!  I didn't even notice when I first got it in the mail and I already left good feedback.  It is too late to try to get them to fix it.  I really need to pay more attention when I first get things.

It is the same except it says "Grow Love."  I went back on ebay and looked at the listing again and the title and description were actually right but the picture was showing the Joy design.  I did look it up and found another one even cheaper and that one is on the way.  I will go ahead and make this one for someone else.  I do like the design but I will wait until later to work on it. Maybe it will stop raining.

Buddy the Beagle Baby has been so cute and I love him so much.  It is so hard to imagine what life was like without him now.  He is very different than my other beagle, mostly because he is a puppy and my other dog was very old but also because he loves to snuggle and play with toys and fetch - things my other dog didn't do.  Blue (girl) was always an easy going dog who liked to chill in a sun-ray or snuggle in blankets but she got too hot if you laid next to her.  She wanted all the blankets and your pillow but you had to go lol Buddy wants to sleep as close to my head as possible and sometimes on my face.  He will snuggle his little muzzle right up in the curve of my neck with his soft ears falling forward.  He will sleep with me that way all night long now and doesn't get up and wander around as long as I get right up with him in the morning.

He did find some gum last night though.  Someone didn't throw their gum away properly and he found it.  I noticed when he jumped up with me to sleep that he had nice fresh breath lol  He was chewing away and it was so funny.  I didn't notice him drop it on my chest though and my shirt was very close to the same color.  I looked for the gum but didn't find it and figured he just swallowed it. When I woke up and went to the bathroom I saw it plastered to my shirt.  I sure am glad I cut my hair short or I'd really have a mess. There are also a few spots of it on the sheet and some on his foot. So now I have to see if I can get that out of everything.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having fun crocheting or knitting or whatever you do.






11 comments:

  1. I have this swift and love it! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033F0A40/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    I use size 10 thread for lifeline.
    Yeah when we know there is an error, hard to leave it.
    Wish I could do cross stitch. Gives me a headache.
    Hope you are feeling better this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was looking at one similar to that but not the same brand. It looks like it is very well made. There are so many it makes my head spin.

      Delete
  2. I have the swift from Knit Picks and it works quite well for me. My ball winder......well, I had one similar to the Knit Picks one (though I honestly don't remember if I bought it from them or not - I don't think I did so it was probably the Royal version). With that said, it ate yarn. I cannot tell you how many times it tried to eat all the yarn. I finally got rid of it and sprung for the heavy duty, super expensive one from Nancy's KnitKnacks (though I purchased it through Village Spinning & Weaving). That one was totally worth it. I love that big thing. Yeah, it's a bit heavy....but it doesn't eat my yarn!

    So, you know, your mileage may vary.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I feel your pain over starting over so many times with the scarf, but I think it looks great. I was relieved to read your puppy got into some chewing gum. When I saw the picture I thought he had gotten cut. What a cute bundle of joy he must be. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh gosh, I'd be a mess if he got hurt. He is super sweet.

      Delete
  4. Gosh you have much more patience than me!! I would have given up with the scarf by now. It does look brilliant now so it was worth it. I have a cheap plastic ball winder and swift from Amazon that has served me very well for years!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The scarf did sit in a bin for a very long time until now and I'm determined to finish it for my husband for Christmas. I really didn't want to give him something flawed.

      Delete
  5. I have the Beka yarn swift and love it. It isn't as bulky as some of the umbrella types and doesnt need to be attached to a table. As for the ball winder, I do believe I got mine at Joanns but the one crom Knit Picks is a good one too. Your scarf is great and I really like the garter on the sides and bottom. For lifeline I use yarn that is one or two steps thinner than knitting yarn, until it comes to sock or lace, then I just use that weight yarn in a different color.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love your scarf and it does look much nicer than the earlier one. Good job! This was great info on lifelines and swifts and ball winders too as I am needing to use all of them! So glad your puppy is okay. He sounds like a cutie! What yarn did you use for your scarf? It is luxurious looking. I hope all goes well with it now and that you are feeling better too! Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad someone else can learn from this info too. The yarn I am using is Lion Brand Wool-ease in Gray Heather. I love it and it can be washed in the washing machine.

      Delete
  7. Your scarf is looking mighty fine and when it's done I am sure you will have a huge sense of achievement after the hard work you have put in x I am interested to see what others recommend for the yarn winder as I too am on the hunt for one.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are groovy.