Shelter in Place: Day 11

On March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 By FogKnitsIn WIP7 Comments

Current Mood: Undecided

Why do I even bother making plans? Last you heard…I was going to turn that skein of Cosmic Wonder Dust into a Ripple Bralette. Needless to say, that’s not even remotely close to what is happening. I’m sure you longtime readers could have predicted this!

I second guessed myself over gauge. I always go down minimum 2 needle sizes to get gauge. The Ripple Bralette has suggested needle sizes of 2 + 4 so I was looking at 0 + 2. Rather than deal with that crap, I switched my yarn to worsted. If I was switching gauge & yarn entirely, might as well switch patterns too.

Zaftig, an old Knitty pattern, seemed like a nice alternative. Especially because it’s a modification of the Th-Th-Thong pattern, which I’ve already made. (One day I’ll find those photos and it’ll be worth the effort.) Thinking back, this may even be the pattern I first learned short rows for. The idea is, one short row pouch = banana hammock, two short row pouches = over the shoulder boulder holder.

So I started knitting.

I was pretty skeptical at this point. I decided to press on anyhow. At this point, I’ve knit my two short row pouches. The Zaftig pattern calls for them to be joined to a knit band in succession. At this point, it’s also worth mentioning the suggested yarn for this pattern is Cascade Fixation, a stretchy yarn with a bit of spandex in it. My yarn is 100% wool, completely different, not stretchy the way Fixation is. This made me question the gauge calculations for the rest of the band. Rather than worry about that, I decided to join my pouches with a vertical band instead. I’ll have more precise control this way, and hopefully get the best fit.

Rather than worry about that, I decided to join my boob pouches with a vertical band. There should be no question about the fit this way. I’ll have plenty of opportunities to measure as I knit and work until it’s long enough and no more. I decided on a wide seed stitch band. Wide enough to stay put and balanced so it won’t roll.

At this point, I’m mostly doubting that crotch pouches and boob pouches are so easily interchangeable. And, since I make all my decisions on the fly, I’m wondering if I have enough of this yarn to get me where I need to be. We’ll just have to wait and see. I’m skeptical but still pressing onward.

I haven’t frogged this cowl yet, either. I keep thinking maybe if I look at it longer, these colors will grow on me. Or maybe if I add more colors, the ones that clash now will, suddenly, start to work harmoniously together. Maybe??

Or maybe I just need to start something else as my easy, obviously it’s going to work project. It’s Friday and Friday’s are for casting on, after all!

Anything to distract from the reality of the world, right now. I’m very thankful that dithering over did I pick the right color yarn is the worst of my worries right now. I hope everyone out there in knitlandia is as lucky. Stay safe, folks!

Shelter in Place: Day 8

On March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 By FogKnitsIn Casting On, Misc4 Comments

Shelter in Place: Day 8

Current Mood: A little ranty.

Shit is getting real outside. I went out for a walk early this morning before the masses descended upon the sidewalk. This was the first thing I saw out the door. Right in front of my building. Right in front of my car. It was the only one of the block though.

I gotta say, if only one car on the block is going to get broken into, I don’t mind if it’s the most expensive vehicle out there. That will most definitely never be my car. Also, this is a Tesla. How the fuck do you street park a Tesla? I see this particular car on the block all the time. It’s one of two Tesla’s on the block, actually. They clearly live in the neighborhood but still, shouldn’t you be parking that thing in your garage?? Leave the street parking to those of us slumming it in our gas guzzlers.

Then I went down the street a bit and saw this…

Hit the tree, took down a sign on a thick post and left lots (most?) of the bumper scattered down the street. Seeing these things, it’s no wonder that this is what’s become of local businesses…

At least the guy with the plywood supply and the neat stencil will be making a few bucks! The playgrounds have all been closed…

And since we’re doing all of this to flatten the curve but no one is showing us any curves, I’ve taken it upon myself to track & chart the local data they’re providing us. Of course, the testing issues make all the data suspect but it’s what we’ve got.

You don’t have to be a math major to know that’s not a flat curve. It could certainly be worse, so fingers crossed.

As if all that wasn’t enough, I may have made a very poor color decision with my cowl.

The yarn is Zombie Yarns, Monster. It came as a set, 4 half skeins of DK weight yarn. They’re okay together in that they are all bright saturated colors. They belong in the same palate. I’m just not sure they all belong in the same project. We’ll see. I’m not convinced the transition from green & purple to blue & white was a good idea but mini skeins only go so far…and I’m not ready to rip it out (yet).

Here’s a potentially good thing. I pulled some Pashmina in Cosmic Wonder Dust from the stash. I’m going to knit a Ripple Bralette out of it. If I’m going to spend the next couple weeks in lounge wear, cashmere boobs need to happen. I haven’t cast anything on in 48 hours…I’m due.

And here’s a good giggle…someone has written a hat pattern to knit a coronavirus has! LOL! Find it on Ravelry HERE! It’s worth a click!

Shelter in Place: Day Three

On March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 By FogKnitsIn Sweater3 Comments

Shelter in Place: Day Three

Current Mood: Still doubting I’ll ever get bored. However, cabin fever is real.

Living in one room is great in the ‘I only have one room to clean’ context. It’s not like I can go upstairs or even into another room though. I predict a large scale furniture rearrangement project in the near future. At least I can fake it!

Then again, with this project on the needles, I don’t look at the walls much anyhow. Maybe I won’t even notice my stagnant scenery. This gradient is even better than I dreamed it could be! I am really loving these colors!!

This sweater is a cardigan I started back in August, 2019. It’s a collection of green, speckled, indie yarns that I impulse bought, one skein at a time, over a period of 18 months. By limiting myself to one color, I figured I’d be able to come up with some kind of fade sweater. Turns out, I should have been following this method all along!

I did swatch my colors, so I had some kind of idea. There’s a lot of ways for a sweater to go wrong, though. I’m fading my colors from the top down in a marled style, holding two strands together and then switching one out at a time. So far, so good!

I’m using another sweater that I like as a guide for the length. This is totally a lazy way to take measurements. I approve. I’m just beginning my bottom edging. A few more inches and the body will be done!

Also happy to report, I remembered to put short rows up at the top so the back of my neck will get a bit more coverage. I did a quick fitting and yes, confirmed…my short rows worked and I’m getting close to finishing the body.

Hopefully I’ll be working on the sleeves by this weekend! I’ve still got plenty of yarn. Haven’t decided how I’m going to do the sleeves yet. Maybe 3/4 sleeves. This decision will be my excitement on Day 6. Stay tuned, it’ll be more fun than watching potatoes grow.

Shelter in Place: Day One

On March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 By FogKnitsIn Sweater, WIP2 Comments

Shelter in Place: Day One.

Pretending as if nothing is out of the ordinary.

I’ve got enough yarn for a viral apocalypse AND a zombine apocalypse, consecutively! I think I’ve got food and toilet paper for a few days. Long enough that the currently empty stores in SF should have time to restock. Hopefully. The panic shoppers will run out of storage space momentarily. This is still San Francisco…72 mega rolls take up a lot of space in apartments that don’t have space for a bathtub.

No, instead of dwelling on the fact that I haven’t had a bathtub for 17 years and today is the day I find myself REALLY wanting a nice hot soak, I’m focusing on optimism. I always want more time to myself. I like wearing pajamas all day.

This is all going to be fine. I will read up on science shit for work. I’ll take naps. And then of course, there’s knitflixing and crafternooning. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This sounds like a lovely day to me. There will definitely be green knitting.

My local pub is still doing take out too…fish & chips can totally happen today.

Let’s hope this calm continues. 3 Weeks is a long time. In the meantime, come back tomorrow for Stitches West pictures. I’ve been sitting on them but I’ve finally got plenty of time to share!

(and check out my newly updated 2020 Cross Stitch Gallery...expect more of that during this shelter in place too!)