Mattress Stich.

I think I've got it!

 

 

 

Could be a lot neater, but for the first time and in this flimsy yarn (excuses, I know) it's pretty good.
 And I get to practice much more with Jack's sweater that I am knitting right now.

Spot the difference!

and when you do, you are allowed to call me a complete idiot!

 

I have no idea how this happened, I was not drinking, I was not toking, I was only watching Criminal Minds!
And I went on to block the darn thing before I noticed it!

To Frog or Not To Frog?

I will out myself as a complete idiot here, but I have discovered another mistake in my Mimosa Shawl! The knit stiches are supposed to be twisted, i.e., knit into the back leg. Yes, it is clearly stated in the instructions, yes, I remember reading it, and yes, in the whirl of broken needles, wrong size needles, and forgetting the rest rows I forgot to twist the knits! So sue me!

The designer, Andrea, says that I could just continue with the patters without twisting the stitches. A part of me wants to, but that other, loud and insistent, perfectionistic part, wants to frog.

I have not decided yet!

Koumbaros Scarf

Two weeks ago my husband and I got married again in the Greek Orthodox Church. He proposed to me again on our twenty-second wedding anniversary on October 6th. In front of our sons!

We wanted to have as many people from our small family there so we arranged the wedding to take place when my Cambodian-living sister and brother-in-law were in town for Christmas. Having settled the date for January 4th, 2013 we only had one thing left to do - find a koumbaros.

A koumbaros is a very important part of the Orthodox wedding ceremony - he holds and exchanges the crowns and exchanges the rings three times after the priest puts them on. And as he does so, he becomes a part of our family. Usually it is the groom's best friend. Well, Jimm does not have any friend that are Greek Orthodox and his only brother who was our best man at our first wedding died four years ago. We were in a bit of a pickle until Father Theo asked John M. to be our koumbaros.

We liked him instantly. He took his duties very seriously and took great care of us. So I made him a Striped Noro Scarf.

 

 

And then I wrapped it really nicely. Made labels.

 



It took nearly as long to wrap it properly as it did to knit it! Well, may be not, but it was quite a production.

End product.

And he loved it!

Thank you John!

Happiness Is...

switching from short toothpicks to a circular needle!

Lace Knitting It Is Not!

Knitting The Mimosa Shawl was bordering on drudgery and I was nearing the point when I stick the short toothpicks of needles into my eyeballs for entertainment. But as I thought that I was knitting lace (as opposed to producing knit lace where every other row is a rest row, purl in the flat and knit in round knitting) I persevered.

 

 

For three days I thought I was advancing into the stratosphere of knitting techniques only to find out today that “All even numbered rows are knit plain and are not charted”!

Duh!

Inattentivness to pattern instruction does not make one a knitting astronaut.

Is It Meant to Be?

 

First clue? Broken Knitter's Pride sock needles in 3.25mm. I bought them a year ago and have never used them. Thought that they would be great for starting the slippery silk yarn, which falls off the four needles as I knit the first few rows. Brought the whole kit and kaboodle with me to work in a backpack (which, in hindsight, might not have been the best idea). Opened the case (the fastening broke into smithereenes, but I digress) and took out - two needles and six pieces!

I did not give up! Cast on 3mm needles - so there! Starting a centre out project in thin yarn and tiny needles is not for the weak of heart. But the friction of the wooden needles definitely kept the yarn on! Woo hoo!

 

 

After work I went to Needle Emporium and bought 3.5 mm wooden needles from Julie. Now to cast on again.

 

 PS. This is the Flying Cranes stole as I took it off the needles last night. May be I shouldn't have?