Early mornin' froggin'

Four in the morning, came without a warnin'

So here I am, AWAKE, at 4:00am. Just awake. No reason. Bleary-eyed.

So I am blogging.

Last week when this happened I did our taxes. I was reading Wendy's blog. Wendy, who is a DOER, off-handedly mentioned she did hers, and so that caused a mini-4-am freak out of, "oh my god we need to get our taxes done, it's like March (it was still very February) and it will take so long (it took about 30 minutes) and OH MY GOD what if we owe like $32,000? We'll have to make payment plans and put off my loans, and... (we got a refund)."

Clarity.

Sometimes, though, at 4 am, there come moments of clarity. Of acknowledgment and realization of things I knew to be true, but didn't want to face.

[...]

I am frogging the poncho.

Yes, it is 18 rows from probably being done. Yes, I had a cool border all picked out from THIS COOL BOOK.*

But I will not wear it. I know this deep down. I'm not a poncho person. I tried awhile back to be a shawl person, but I can't do it. I'm just much more of a jeans and weird-vintage-too-bright-shirt-person. And I picked the wrong yarn for it. It's too thin, it won't be warm. Drafts will just come up when I raise my arms in it.**

Here's the evidence. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.

Really, it feels like a weight has been lifted.

Next task: What to do with this super silky wool? It's a great yarn and worthy of something. Thoughts, anyone? I looked through lots of IK and other books and have some great ideas...

One step forward.

I did finish my Sockapalooza socks.

Click me for a close up of the leg pattern.

The amount of cat hair they picked up from this picture session (which took all of 90 seconds) was atrocious. They have been since washed and hermetically sealed till I can send them to my sock pal. I really hope she likes them.

Until next time. Going blearily back to bed.

*Look through this book at least, you guys. It's really cool. No, I don't get a commission.
**[And I love the Yarn Harlot, I really do! No offense, Steph. It's a great pattern. My niece's Yarn Harlot Poncho turned out really well.]

Unsolved Mysteries.

February is for FIXIN'.

The fabulous Alison had the great idea of inspiring us to fix-up our messed up knits this month. I have a new fix to tell, but before that I give you a story of a recent fix that was SO WEIRD it will blow your knitting minds.

Oooh, drama.

Cue the X-files theme music...

So. Back a year or two ago (pre-blog) I made my sister the "Retro-prep" pullover from IK Fall 2002. Here's a pic of that cutie in the finished product:

This sweater was difficult from the very beginning, for a number of reasons:

1) The yarn, Rowan Rowanspun DK, was a bit fiddly and broke easily.

2) Despite using the yarn the pattern called for, I could NOT get my row gauge to be anywhere near theirs.

3) Since this is a raglan sweater, this was a huge problem. I had to rework all the math for the raglans. Several times. Bitching and moaning.

4) My husband told me to just stop making it, but it's for my SISTER. Yeah, ok, I'm just going to stop making it. When she was expecting it. For her birthday. Great idea, hon.

Bring us to NOW, please.

So, I did finish it, as you see above. And it turned out really well, and fit, and she really likes it, yadda yadda yadda.

So she comes to see us this last Christmas, and is wearing it. And I look it over, and there's a small hole in the front. I think, 'Oh, she must have caught it on something. I have the yarn, and I'll fix it."

Nonononononononono.

It's a DROPPED STITCH. Laddered down only two or three rows.

I KNOW.

Here's a pic of the bastard:

Now, we don't drop stitches over here at HEK. It's simply not allowed. Ever. SO:

I accuse her of never wearing it. There's no way that stitch could have only laddered a few rows if she wears it. Her boyfriend assures me she does wear it.

I accuse her of never washing it. In fact, she has. She's giggling uncontrollably now at me.

I make her remove it immediately and give it to me for further inspection. She's laughing so hard she can't breathe and remove the sweater at the same time.

I am aghast. I cannot believe it. I think: "It must have been a decrease or something." But there are no decreases there. It's just a plain ol' dropped stitch that STAYED essentially PUT for a YEAR.

Scully would be extremely skeptical. I am more like Mulder, though. I believe.

The end of the world may be near. Kiss your loved ones.

(For your enjoyment, here's a pop-up slide show of me fixing it.)

Cool stuff.

That you might be interested in...

Hey all. Just a quick update on a couple o' things.

1) Nona is a new blogger whose blog I really enjoy! She's a great knitter with great tips. Check her out!

2) General Ginger, another cool new-ish blogger, is having a little contest for a copy of Stitch & Bitch Nation, so run right over there and check it out! The entry involves the coolest yarn - from camels! CAMELS!

3) When I told my hubby about the yarn from camels, and that I want yarn made from camel hair, he said I should make good use of all the extra cat hair around here. He thinks he is sooo funny.

Lucky One.

Thank you, Secret Pal!

Well, I got me a valentine. My Secret Pal sent me these loverly items. The card is full of bath sprinkles, and how did she know HEJ has a new bathtub to go with her new house???? She wins super big points. She also sent a breast cancer bracelet, which I didn't have, and love.

Thanks, SP!

Another FO!

We're going crrrrrraaaaazzzzzzzzy around here at HEK. I have finished another knitted item. Well, two actually. I made a pair of fingerless gloves.

I know. Even though lots of super cool knitters have made some, I really didn't think I would wear such a thing. But we are trying to conserve energy and have a fancy new thermostat the hubby installed. It turns itself up and down at different times of the day.

But because of working at night frequently, I'm often awake when the thermostat is not. So it turns out having a pair of these nifty items really keeps me warm. I can be toasty under the covers except my hands, which might be holding a book, or, every now and again, knitting.

These are from Savannah Chik. Her pattern is called Natalya - you can download it, as in, it's FREE!!! Thanks, Savannah Chik!!! Very well written.

Click here for an ACTION SHOT. Really, click it, it's funny.

I used Lambs Pride Superwash which is becoming a new super favorite. So soft, easy to knit with, good colors. LOVE IT. On US 3's. I made the mitts shorter, as you can see. For practical reasons.

You should be ashamed.

Well, OK. Yes. I started and did like 1/3 of Clapotis last year, but never blogged about it, never even took a picture. I have no earthly idea why.

Was I trying to pretend I had never heard of it, in case the knitting authorities arrest me?

Authorities: What is this blue yarn on your needles? Looks a lot like Clapotis, ma'am.

HEJ: Officer, I have never seen that yarn before in my life, I swear.

Or was I trying to pretend I did NOT have another UFO on the needles?

Therapist: Let's talk today about your denial of your knitting obsession.

HEJ: What knitting?

Was I afraid Kate would say I wasn't good enough to make it?

Well, Kate's too nice, so that's not it. And whatever the reason, I never took a pic. Until today.

Cat-potis.

I'm using (as it says in the sidebar, but why not take up cyberspace and say it again) "2nd Time Cotton" by K1C2. It's recycled clothing industry yarn, and it's very soft. I like working with it a lot.

Roll the credits.

Well, once again you've wasted hours of your valuable time here at HEK. As always, I have more to say than the time-space continuum will allow ("Eddie's in the time-space continuum? Is this his sofa?"*). So, until next time. Thanks again to all you readers out there. Truly, I love it. THIRTEEN comments last time! Thanks for making me feel special!

*Someone out there must know what this quote is from. Hint: it's a book. Or the first of a series of books...

Run run run away, like a train runnin' off the track

(A little Van Halen for you.)

Happy Runniversary!

That's right. Although I haven't been mentioning it much, I have been running, and I have been a runner for one year. I feel pretty good about this. My last blood pressure was 106/68, and my heart rate 62. Those are good numbers. I think I have really made a positive change.

Finished Object!

[trumpets blaring, processional music, crowd roaring]

I FINALLY have a FO for 2005. I finished my dad's "killing me softly socks." Wow, men's socks take a long time. (Not to be sexist.) Could also be I have like 6 ongoing projects? Hmmm.

Click on the pics for close-ups.

The socks.	A close-up of the leg decreases.

I think they will wear well for hiking and camping, especially.

New SOCKS!

What's this, HEJ? Didn't you promise yourself you wouldn't start something new? Yes, well, cough, hmmm. But these socks are due Mar. 15 for Sockapaloooooza (insert whiny voice here) so I had to start them! And, also, I love them. 100%. With all my heart.

And that fancy bit's the HEEL.

These are Walking Away Socks by Fibertrends. The yarn is Koigu PPM. Super fly.

So you lied.

Ok, well I have one, well, two other FO for 2005. I made two London Beanies the other day. Because the hubby needed a new hat. These were made with Lion Brand Kool Wool, which I now love, and the particular design shamelessly stolen from my friend Carrie. (See link to the original London Beanie page in her gallery.)

Now, that stripe was a big deal. At least it's placement was. My hubby frequently says, "oh, whatever" or "you choose" when deciding things like stripe placement, but this is not what he means, trust me. It's like when we picked out china when we got married. He said he didn't care. He blew it off. He didn't want to go look around the store.

But when I dragged him there, with every plate it was, "too white", "too brown", "too girly", "too round" (what?).

So I knew better with the stripes. I made suggestions, which were all wrong.
"Not THERE! That'd look stupid."
"Not two stripes!"
"Not too wide!"

After 10 yrs of marriage you would think this wouldn't surprise me. But he loved the finished product and has been wearing it every day. And I will go on pretending he isn't at all particular when it comes to these things. ;-)

Updates!

Well, it's about damn time.

Yes, hmmm, you all might think I have not been knitting, what with the lack of pics and all. But it's not true!

A) I have TURNED THE HEEL on my 2nd "killing me softly" sock for my dad - [sirens, klaxons, people moving fast] - THE HEEL HAS BEEN TURNED, I REPEAT, THE HEEL HAS BEEN TURNED.

B) I finished the body of Vimmerby.

And it goes so well with the shirt I have on.

Some Vimmerby project notes music, Paul...

Let's have a bit of a chat about this sweater, for the newbies.

1) I knit it in the round, and steeked the sleeves. The pattern was written to knit flat. If you convert a pattern like this, be aware if it has edge stitches built in you have to take those out when you knit it in the round.

2) Let's have a slideshow of the steeking, shall we? Click here. You CAN steek, my dear ones. You must not be afraid to cut the sweater. "Do, or do not. There is no try."*

3) I am knitting the sleeves in the round too. I have one sleeve half done. Knitting fair isle on dpns is still a challenge for me.

4) Fair isle in general: I use wooden needles, and yarn in each hand. I spread the stitches out before changing to the next color, to help it not bunch up. This takes much practice, so do not be upset if at first your fair isle is a bit puckered.

Valentines

I leave you with pictures of two things I LOVE.

Knittin' buds**: Me, Steph, and MJ.

Oh, Necco Sweethearts. Every year we await your return.

*My other favorite Yoda quote being the Skywalker-mocking, "Hmmm, cannot get his ship out."
**Carrie tagged me for the movie quiz. Click here to read my answers.