I had my first post-op appointment.  Doc says things look good.  In fact, from the size of the incisions, it looks as though I’d [...]]]> You go to a very good surgeon who knows how to use his own tools of the trade to reattach, reshape, shave and sew (as needed) to put the FO (me) to right.

I had my first post-op appointment.  Doc says things look good.  In fact, from the size of the incisions, it looks as though I’d just received a few shallow scratches.  In reality, there was a whole lot of shaving and bone spur removal going on.  Turns out that I also had a partial rotator cuff tear.  No wonder it hurt like hell to knit, with all that stuff in the way and the shoulder joint partially dislodged at times from the socket.  For the medically curious, click this link to see an actual “inside my shoulder” picture.  Top left picture is my collar bone.  Top right is the frayed socket.  Others should move on.

In knitting news, I think I love these new Signature Circulars.  Not only are they a lovely bright blue, the stiletto points work so well.  Not so sharp that they poke your finger mind you, but just right for the “grab and lift” you need for knitting nice, even stitches – even as you nod off from the pain meds and audio books.  I’m peeved about sleeping through the first few chapters of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls” as I will have to start from the beginning.  Still, I have made progress on Nicole Hindes’ Strangling Vine Scarf (Ravelry).

Strangling Vine Scarf

The jury is out on the impact Phase Two (physical therapy) will have on my speed and skill at keeping the knit going.  I am, however, a compliant patient with an interest in continued improvement.  So yeah.  I’m going to PT.

By the way, my Super Cupcake cowl is all done and the matching hat [...]]]> The First Post’s Daily Beast feature has just the thing to send you smiling into the weekend. Cape penguins sporting knitted red scarves with green and white pom-poms for the holidays.

Cape penguins at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama. Photo: Yoshikazu Tsuno

By the way, my Super Cupcake cowl is all done and the matching hat is on the needles. More on this terrific looking duo next week, once the fat lady binds off.

The yarn is [...]]]> Thunder and lightening and sheets of rain put me in the mood for some simple knitting with old mystery movies as the backdrop. At present, I’m working on three different projects – a scarf, a baby blanket and this blue garter stitch kerchief:

Sock Hop yarn with matching OPI enamel in “Yoga-ta Get This Blue!”

The yarn is from Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop, the color “In The Skies.” The kerchief pattern is a wonderfully adaptive and easy one from Laura Chau. The fingering weight yarn is held double and I’m knitting the kerchief on size 6 US / 4.0 mm circular needles. The only change I’m making is the addition of a k2tog, YO row every 7 garter ridges on the wrong side (even) row. It adds a bit of visual light to the garter fabric.

I really like the fact that, even though it’s kind of bleak outdoors, I don’t need much light indoors to work up something this pretty.

This is my first foray into working with hemp and it won’t be the last. As mentioned, I did not block the scarf because [...]]]>

Pattern: Boteh Scarf by Kathy Merrick from Interweave Crochet, Spring 2007
Yarn: 2+ skeins of allhemp6LUX, color: alioli
Hook: 4.5mm (G)
Modifications: 11 triangles instead of 16 called for in pattern yielded a 68″ scarf, unblocked.

This is my first foray into working with hemp and it won’t be the last. As mentioned, I did not block the scarf because it seems to have maintained its rounded, organic shape. I’m told by those who know such things that the fiber will soften with washing. It’s already kind of soft – at least as far as hemp goes. According to the yarn store owner, that softness and subtle sheen is why it is considered “luxury” hemp. Someone on Ravelry likened it to buying jeans that are already broken in.

In other news…
I’m toying with using one of these two patterns for the birthday yarn: Eva’s Shawl or Crocus Bud Shawl. Yes, I’m still in the crochet mood.

I just found out that I’ve been approved for one of the intensive pain management therapy programs at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. I’m hoping this will ease the pain enough for me to knit once again.

Oh, and one more thing. My cousin Simone will be going to the Olympics in Beijing as part of the USA women’s basketball team. Pretty cool, eh?

A box of cat. Formerly, a box of cat food.

Although the pattern calls for a skosh over 400 yards fingering [...]]]> I tried knitting a little bit. You know, just to test the shoulder stamina. Bad idea. I can’t keep my hands still though, so I found an attractive, simple pattern and some surprisingly soft hemp yarn and kicked things off with a 15-stitch chain.

Shake your Boteh!

Although the pattern calls for a skosh over 400 yards fingering weight yarn, I’ll have to make do with 280 yarns of DK weight allhemp6LUX. After I’ve made the body of the scarf, I’d love to have enough left over to do the edging, as this gives this fabulous summer piece the perfect finishing touch. I checked Ravelry (account required) to see the flavors of Boteh in the wild. Only a handful appear to have used contrasting yarn. I think that, for this particular scarf, same-color edging maintains an elegant simplicity. Oh, imagine this one in the slubbed, subtle sheen of silk…

Birthday Haiku Contest
Just a reminder for those who have not yet entered: I am giving away FREE YARN for my birthday! All you need do is post a 5/7/5 English-style haiku in the ‘Comments’ section by midnight (CT) May 30, 2008. I’ll select 3 random poets to receive goodies from my stash.

Go on. Get creative!

This is something that has fascinated me of late. Just how differently designing [...]]]> At its most basic, that’s all knitting really is, isn’t it? Loops over loops. Only when we apply these under-over-through actions to the loops in a consistent, uniform way do we begin to see the loops build upon one another into a cohesive fabric.

This is something that has fascinated me of late. Just how differently designing for knitting varies from creating patterns for sewing which you then apply to fabric. Of course, there are similarities of terminology, measurement and fit. But with knitting, you are simultaneously creating the fabric and the garment with all the requisite constraints of sizing and fit. Pretty freaking cool if you ask me. All from something as simple as loops over loops.

What To Do?
I delayed posting the finished Foliage hat in Malabrigo’s Velvet Grapes worsted because I just couldn’t decide on what to do with the 1.5 skeins of yarn I had left. The hat is a quick knit, even for me, taking only 4 days from start to finish. I hesitated on making a scarf since the temps are starting to hint at Spring in the Midwest. But I’m like, “Heck. It’s wool. I’ll need a scarf at some point.”

After the flipping through Ravelry, a couple of books and a giant box of patterns, I dipped into the Knitty archive once again and cast on for Argosy. It sort of looks like entrelac or modular knitting but it’s really just loops over loops, turned counter-clockwise 45 degrees. No diamonds. No leaves. Just a little ol’ patterned stockinette and garter that fascinates my visual mind.

“No Knitting For You!”
If it’s not one thing, it’s another. There will be a slight break in the fiber action, so please forgive me. For reasons of either medication or stress, my hands have broken out in a kind of rash. The topical treatment consists of cortisone cream and cotton gloves and avoiding wool and doing the dishes until the symptoms subside. The only part I like is not doing the dishes. Here’s wishing you a relaxing weekend!

Friends, [...]]]> I was determined not to do it. After all, it’s something that I’d avoided for at least 3 or 4 years but this time was different. This time, the cold winds got the best of my usually overly-warm radiant heating system. This time, I found myself wearing three layers and two pairs of socks to bed.

Friends, it was time to turn on the heat! I also found myself longing to start a new pair of socks. The only way I would concede defeat to the weather and my “new sock” desires? I had to finish at least one WIP.

I chose the ZigZag Scarf from “Knitting New Scarves“.

Details
ZigZag pattern, page 122
2 skeins Cascade 128
Size 10.5 US needles
Finished dimensions 6″ x 58″

The most complicated thing about this scarf was the intarsia, or color-block knitting. As you know, with any multi-skein technique, there is a tendency for yarn and knitting to get tangled around one another – even if you carefully twist one yarn under and over the other as you carry it along. As the scarf got longer, I threw it over my left shoulder to keep it out of the way. I also tried to remember to turn my work only one of two ways as I worked right and wrong side rows. Not perfect, but it really did help minimize the twist-up.

Will I knit this pattern again? Oh, it’s quite likely I will. Part of the fun of this is picking interesting color pairs and watching them intertwine with one another.

I said something about a sock, didn’t I. I’m calling it Chewy Monkey. Relax. It’s the “everybody’s-done-at-least-one” Monkey, knitting up quite beautifully in Chewy Spaghetti sock yarn. Yum!