The Long and the Short of it

I finished the first ChicKami - I did the wrong straps - - but it was a fairly quick fix. I'm really glad that I caught it before I sent it off to Bonne. I've started on the 2nd one in a light blue. Très spring-y!!

Here is a link to a newspaper article on Artisan Knitworks. And if you look at the purple sweater hanging on the back right side ... yup, that the Purple Vancouver that I knit not too far back.

2 more days ... then it's a lovely 4-day weekend!! I mean, !!

Frayed Edges

The great thing about Rowan Denim sweaters is that they become your favourite. The downside of this is that the edges wear & fray like your jeans do. And unless you really like this frayed look it requires some significant attention.
This is Julie's sweater - I knit it years ago & she loves it and the amount of wear is reflective of that love. This is what Denim Love looks like.


I used a length of crochet cotton and wove it through a the 4th row.

I counted up from the bottom except where it was so destroyed that I had to count down from the top of the ribbing.
I noticed a few thin threads on the 6th row so I ended up cutting on the 9th row. I needed to have a few rows of strong yarn so that I could use it to cast off with. Julie wasn't keen on the idea of using a length of brand new denim and having to break it in to match the rest of the sweater.
I snipped each stitch so that when I had gone across each piece it was quite easy to pull the frayed edge away from the sweater.


This is a pile of the cut bits that I had to pick off of the sweater bottom and the piece that I used to get yarn for the cast off.


Here are the nice upside down loops just waiting to be put on a needle and be cast off. Because they're upside down & the sweater was knit from the bottom up the stitches are off by a ½ stitch, but for this purpose - just casting off - it won't matter.

All better!!

Remember Amanda's headaches? How I thought that they were maybe from her medication, then perhaps from the stress of being a conscientious student?
Then last week she was looking through the paper to see if there were any paper routes available in our neighbourhood. "Find anything?" I asked as she folded up the paper. "No. But I didn't finish looking 'cause the words are making my head hurt," she replied, rubbing her eyes with her hands, little tears starting to seep out.
I swear - the heavens opened up, an angelic chorus began singing & I saw The Light!!!
Thursday & Friday were spent running around with Amanda - optometrist, Lens Crafters and more Lens Crafters for adjustments. It was all worth it though - she now has glasses to correct for a significant astigmatism in her right eye which has been getting lazy and letting the left one do all the work. The poor darling - it was horrible to watch her try to read the far letters and get only about 10% of them right.
She wears them all of the time and is seeing & reading without headaches. I'm tearing up a little - I can't believe that this has been going on for months and I only just clued in!!

She worked really hard on this Thomas Kincade puzzle - I couldn't help but put a few pieces in! Thanks Ada - we love it.

Watching TAR with Wannietta - part VII

No wonder this show is scheduled for 2 hours - we're getting more of the conversation that they usually edit.
The problem with that many connections is that each one has the potential to be delayed.
Geez, Eric & Danielle are almost 12 hours behind Mirna & Charla. Although that lead is diminishing as they sit at the agency.
Diminishing to .
7 hours invested to save 1 hour & 25 minutes. Could be worth it. They should have had their knitting. How many pairs of socks could you knit on the waiting time on this show? 8?
Eric & Danielle suck at hide and seek.
I don't know if rushing a plane is wise in today's political climate Danielle.

It's not a cab in NY - you can't just flag down a plane dude.
I've lost all track of who is where & when.
Perfect Angle. Tuning a piano key and a specific x-ray view both sound challenging but I think we'd stand a better shot at the x-ray.
I'm actually impressed with Dustin & Kandice!!
Yeah, maybe they've never seen a little person. Or maybe word has spread around the world that you're a bit psycho. Just saying.
Danny is a riot. "I get a bit carried away around tools."
"Why don't we just turn them all?" OMG Mirna - you'd go from 1 out of tune key to 88!!!
These 2 give new meaning to tone deaf. Pull the wax out and listen to the sound of the notes.
What's up with this? Mirna & Joyce have both said angel.

All right Danny & Oswald!
Poor Mirna - a world where not everyone likes you and doesn't want to talk to you. At least they're just ignoring you and not insulting or injuring you.
It's a freakin' mannequin - his private parts are not in danger from radiation.
Yayyy Uchenna & Joyce!
Quite the pity party you're throwing for yourself Mirna.

Wait a sec - there was no roadblock on the 7th leg of this race!
A lot of the teams should be able to catch up with the 1:00PM leave time for tour bus.
19 hours is a bit of a hill to climb but there's always the group leave times, Fast Forwards, Yields and dumb luck. It's not inconceivable or improbable.

I'm with Danielle on this one - give me my coffee!!
When 2 people both want the last word the argument never ends. "Shut up." "Grow up." "Shut up."
I'm getting choked up hearing & thinking about the concentration camps and the atrocities that were perpetrated. I can just imagine the waves of emotion that the teams must be feeling actually being there.
Not only do they have to wait for another team, but that team will probably be Mirna & Charla.

Maybe 10 pairs of socks.
My legs feeling like rubber just watching them climb all of those stairs.
Selflessness - another reason to like Danny & Oswald.
Eat it up or Roll it out.
Roll it out. 2 feet of sausage is a lot.
Hmmm - you might have liked to mention a dislike for sausage before you committed to eating 24" of it!
Poor Guidos! They just aren't catching any breaks.

C'mon Dani - you can do this!
Can you puke to make room for more?
Yup - I saw that coming!
The Guido's are still going to need some good luck to get a 30 minute lead.
You'd think that Joe & Bill would be hustling a little.
" ... last position as usual." WTF? You've won the last 2 weeks. How the mighty have fallen! A doctor could probably prescribe a little something for those mood swings.
Mirna's steamrolling charm, crazy accent, handsignals & tears aren't working in Poland.

I think that Charla is concentrating on not hurling again.
I wonder if they'd have armour in Kerwyn's size?
Shortcut - remember what happened when you tried to go through the South Entrance?
I'm sorry. I missed the logic that lead to the conclusion that Charla would be the best choice to wear armour and lead a horse.
Sorry to disagree Mirna, but I don't think that Charla is in control of the horse.
Joe & Bill ran a good Race they just didn't have any good luck recently.

I get my kicks ...

... out of purple velvet Chuck Taylors. Enhanced by green Opal socks.

... out of Mischief trying to catch the swift. Even getting her paw/nose a mite too close doesn't deter her.

... out of crocuses heralding the coming of spring.

... out of people travel live hoard pack their crap into their car and leave it there. (Amanda wondered if they ever open their back doors and if they do, does the crap fall out? And where do they put the wheelchair. I explained that they might not actually use a wheelchair - that the wheelchair signs in the back window merely indicate a disability. Do those signs look fake to you too??).

... out of Authors saying my name in a complimentary way. Amy Singer talking about Morrigan from No Sheep for You at the DKC meeting.

... like a hole in the head

I'll have to use this expression more carefully from now on. I went to Tunnel yesterday and came out a little blingier. Don't see it. Look closer.

It hurt like a mo-fo, but I've birthed the large-headed, broad-shouldered heavy children and had my tubes tied; this was one deep breath in and out and done.
I like it. Amanda noticed straight-away and asked for one too. I told her it really hurt and she could get one when she was 37. She told Kyle as he was coming up the stairs - he didn't believe her. Either he thought I was too chicken-shit or just not cool like that!!
I like it!

Here are the Bemidji sleeves done. I hope to get them sewn in tonight.
I'm well into the 1st of 2 ChicKamis for Bonne.
I'm going to be swatching for a camisole for Elise today. I'm really looking forward to knitting with La Luz and the colours that Elise has given me are gorgeous - Cactus Bloom & Cosmopolitan. I know, she spoils me!!!

I'll be going to the DKC meeting on Wednesday to hear Amy speak about No Sheep For You - give a wave or a shout-out if you see me!