More finished stuff

I have actually accomplished a few things in the last month -- it's just so hard telling anyone about it that I haven't bothereed. But here goes.. (and remember I can't see what I'm typing until about 3 minutes later, so don't expet proof-reading!)



I decided to try making socks with a little pattern to them. I'm not sure it was worth it. They took a lot longer than a pair of straight stockinette socks, and while the chevron is nice, it isn't fabulou8s. It's 15 stitches wide, so I only did two repeats across the foot, and I think that's too narrow. Also I hate the big old stripes on the heel. But I don't like how short-row heels fit me. Does anyone know how to adapt them for a high instep? I usually do a standard heel across 60% of the ankle stitches, if that helps.


Here's one of the new socks (Cascade's Simple Stripes) with an older one (KnitPicks Simply Stripes, or whatever, in Snapdragon). They aren't all that similar but they aren't all that different either. I don't know how I got on this green and orange kick. I don't even wear green or orange.


And here is my latest FO -- a punch needle embroidered witch, started last year and abandoned right after Halloween. I'm really pleased with her and am planning a companion Frankenstein piece (designed by George). No doubt I will abandon it next Thursday, but I hope to have it on the wall next year.

Hmm. I thought I had finished more than this. I have a few projects underway that SHOULD be done; that must have been what I was thinking of. Must go work on them. Or maybe make dinner. It's a tossup.

Deaccessioning.

I've been sorting out extra printed materials to sell at a little spinner's retreat tomorrow. I'm quite pleased to have identified 18 books, 9 back issues of magazines, and 94 pamphlets that I can live without.

The kicker here is that they are all DUPLICATES. Can someone tell me how I ended up with three copies of Sheila MacGregor's wonderful book on Fair Isle knitting? Actually, I know how it happened, and it all made sense at the time, but what it boils down to is about 3 linear feet of duplicates. No wonder I have piles of books sitting on the floor.

Wish me luck selling these. If it goes smoothly, I might start looking at some of the rest of my library with a hard eye. As in, getting rid of things WITHOUT keeping a backup copy. Oh, my. I don't mind cutting up knitting, but getting rid of a vintage pattern or book that I might never see again? That's scary.

Finished!

I have finished the Afghani sweater, with seconds to spare. I was looking for the address on their website when I saw a note saying things could arrive on Monday or Tuesday of next week instead of this Friday, so I haven't actually mailed it yet -- Thursday morning would be much more convenient than getting it in the mail today -- but I am DONE.

On the downside, I don't think this is fitting a seven year old. Here it is on my almost-four year old:

(Please pardon the sideways picture. I am struggling with a new-to-me operating system and the loss of most of my familiar programs. Also the computer is moving at the speed of molasses so that I can't see what I'm writing while I'm writing it, and going back to proof anything is like pulling teeth. Sort of the computer equivalent of purling in Fair Isle, my least favorite part of this sweater including the cutting up parts.)




The sleeves don't match, and it's too short as well as being too small. Also I didn't line up the stripes on the sleeves with the stripes on the body very well.

But I do like the colors, and it was very nice to knit with lovely warm sturdy wool instead of soft delicate smooth wool for a change. And did I mention that it's DONE?