Froggy

I decided to frog te Swiffer cover I knit over the weekend.  I pushed it into the grabbers and it grabbed it alright.  I will find another pattern so it slips over the ends and not into the grabbers.  Do you have a favorite Swiffer cover pattern?  Please leave a comment or link.

I knit to get a finished object but this froggy knitting did give me a chance to perfect my seed stitch.  I love its nubby texture.

Almost finished with the first secret project.  I spent a large part of last night trying to find the last bit that I needed to sew on.  I really, really, REALLY need to organize my yarn stash and supplies.  Waiting until I finish part of the basement is just too long of a wait.  I will be posting for help on this at a later date so start thinking of how you organize your supplies and yarn.

I’m going to call (as soon as the store opens) for an update on my computer.   No computer = more knitting time.  This has given me new insight into what emails I keep and what I delete.  I usually keep most of them except for advertisements.  With a poor memory like mine I need to reread a lot of correspondence.  My on-line Inbox is really full and I should decide what is important.

Goodwill, scissors, craziness, and knitting

Yes, I did it.  I took the bags of clothes to Goodwill.  All 14 bags.

The next questions is: Do I want to have a yard sale or just take the stuff to Goodwill?  Most of the stuff I have is not worth much but I don’t want to throw it away.  It’s still good/usable, just not for our lives/house anymore.

Maybe the “good” stuff will make it to Craigslist.

Mr. Aitch and I did not go the farmer’s market on Saturday to seek out the scissors repair man.  It was just too darn hot.  I did go into town (18 miles round trip) to my LYS for some knitting needles and the market for few things we needed for dinner.  Mr. Aitch said I was crazy for taking the motorcycle.  A good part of the ride is fairly shaded.  I did have to wait for a train to pass and it seemed like it took FOREVER.  I managed to get in the shade of the telephone pole (yeah, I was that desperate) so I didn’t totally melt into the pavement.

Mr. Aitch was right.  I was crazy.  99 degrees with a heat index of 103, a mesh jacket, helmet and black leather pants don’t play well together.  I was glad to get home and into air-conditioned bliss.

I’m into the neck shaping on the Lace Hem Topping shell.  I’m not as into it as I should be.  I guess the fitting disaster has toned down my enthusiasm for finishing it.  But I will persevere.

Water in the basement

We had a line of thunderstorms roll through yesterday afternoon which forced allowed Mr. Aitch and me to do some water removal or rather water squeegee-ing.  Is that even a word?  Anyway the drain outside our basement door was shut (defective, more likely) and the door just wouldn’t hold the EIGHT inches of water that accumulated outside.

The concrete stairs outside act like a waterfall and channel the rain to the drain.  I braved the torrential downpour with a screwdriver and released the drain cover.  I understand the concept behind this drain cover so stuff doesn’t go down it and clog the drain but anything more than a nice gentle rain, and the thing acts like a plug.  Poor design.  Or maybe it wasn’t designed for where it is at my house.  We really need to get this issue resolved if I want to turn part of the basement into a craft/sewing/knitting/painting area.  Water has its place in the world but not running across my floor.

Whatever.

Fortunately I had the foresight to place all the “good” junk up off the floor by using those foam-type shipping supports (that come around various computers, monitors, TVs, aquarium supplies, and furniture) under everything to keep it dry.  It was still a mess and some things were not on said foam-type supports.  So some things got wet.

Because of this wet mess, I decided I’m taking all the old but still wearable clothes that have been in a holding pattern in the basement to Goodwill today.  They were in plastic bags and protected.  It’s something I’ve been meaning to do but never got around to it yet.

And what does one do with old motorcycle helmets?  Is there a motorcycle helmet grave yard?

The Lace Hem Topping is slowly but surely coming along.  I have the back finished to where I think I need to start the shoulder shaping but I’m not going to do any more until I get the front done to the same place.  This way I try it on (sort of) and get an idea if the armholes are too short, too long or just right.  Then I will finish it.

Sloped bind off

I learned about the sloped bind off yesterday.  I’m up to the armhole shaping on the Lace Edge Top and remembered reading about the sloped bind off to prevent the stair-step effect when binding off for several rows so I decided to use it on the armhole. 

You can learn about it here.

I have been knitting for a very long time and did not know about this technique.  Wish I did.

Isn’t the internet great?!

I got a lot of knitting done yesterday since I’m off on Mondays during the summer.  My plan was to declutter/clean something but I couldn’t decide what it would be. 

I ended up going to the doctor for a pain I’ve had in my leg for about a month.  Over the weekend I discovered a lump or hard spot where the pain was centered so I thought I should have it checked out.  I really don’t like going to the doctor for every little ache or pain (or I’d be there every day!) but something told me I should go for this.   Good thing I went as I was diagnosed with superficial thrombosis.

So I got some meds in me, elevated my leg and knitted most of the afternoon and evening.