D is for

Dresser scarves. Old crocheted ones.







When I was digging out the crocheted bedspread, I found these dresser scarves.

This time, however, I don't think anybody in my family crocheted them.

Years ago, a friend was cleaning out his parents' apartment and he gave me a bagful of crochet work done by his mother. I'm fairly sure these are from then.

I never met his mother -- she died when my friend was fairly young. But, as I look at these crocheted dresser scarves, I imagine she enjoyed the challenge and the beauty of these pieces. She must have been very proud of them. And I feel guilty that I've put them aside and forgot about them.

What to do on a Snowy Day

Lots of snow here in NYC and it's still snowing.

So what did I do today?

Shovel the stuff? Nope.



Walk a dog? No way.



My snow day world:

Spring in the Air

We're expecting snow over the next two days--but I plan to keep looking at this photo. I took it yesterday from a bus window and it's not great. If you click on it, the photo will become larger and you'll see that the sign says, "40 days until Opening Day."

The spring equinox may be on March 20th. But, for me, Spring truly begins on Opening Day--April 4th--now 39 days away!

Another Lesson Learned

Since this is my first sweater, I didn't trust myself to just follow the pattern. I had to overthink it!

One thing I questioned was the what, how, where and even the why of the waist shaping. I bugged other knitters. I took notes. I drew charts and made lists. And, despite all the help I was getting, it didn't click.



I should know better. I'm a retired learning specialist. I went to workshops--geez, I gave workshops--on learning styles!

Teacher--teach, thyself!

Am I a visual learner? Not really. I like displays and charts--but I need something more.
Auditory? Nope--not at all. Talk goes in one ear and out the other!
Kinesthetic? Hands on? Feel it? Touch it? BINGO! That's me!

So I knit another swatch where I worked the shaping. I put the words of the pattern into action.



OHHHH! Now I get it!

This pattern is fabulous--it's so intuitive. Perfect for a new to sweater-knitting knitter! After this week's detour, I'll be casting on again.

Winter Weary

I'm ready to say so long to

grimy snow,



winter socks,



wooly scarves



and pom pom hats.



Flowers, not snow and sneakers, should be blooming around trees.



And at outdoor cafes, we should be sippng iced teas.



Snow on steps



and a slide---



Adieu, farewell, good-bye!

Lesson Learned

Here's where I am with the sweater:



But I'm OK about it!

As I was knitting the sweater and reading the pattern, there were a couple of things that didn't make sense to me. I checked, double-checked and hundredth-checked my math. Wrote out rows, charts. But something wasn't clicking.

Yesterday I sat with somebody and we went over the pattern. I learned that no matter how well-written patterns are--and this is an exceptionally well-written pattern--a pattern should be looked upon as a suggestion. It's the knitter who does the final tweaking and decisions.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the pattern (or my math!) -- it's just that I'm more comfortable making a couple of minor changes. And guess what? I'm the knitter--I can do that!

So I frogged it. It was only twelve rows. No big deal. When I cast back on, I'll be casting on as a more confident knitter.

Needled

Remember the sock I cast on?



Look at it now. Something's different.



Yep, different needles. I started the sock on a size 1, 9 inch Hiya Hiya needle. I love that little needle! My short fingers can easily handle it. I knit on them for about a day and a half--no trouble. Then I cast on for the sweater. Size 5 needle, 24 inches. Huge by comparison!

I worked on the sweater for a while and then went back to the sock. And I couldn't handle the little needle anymore! I tried a couple of rounds and it was torture. Not only did my fingers cramp, they had also forgotten how to even hold the needle. I took an overnight break from knitting the sweater to see if my touch for the Hiya Hiya needle returned. It didn't.

So I transferred the sock over to double points--size 0. I like to go down to 0 for the sock body--the fabric is firmer. A tight knit sock won't wear out as quickly as one that's knit looser.

So as much as I complained about dpns and swore I would never, ever use them again--there I was happily and quickly knitting on them! When using them, there's a feeling of substance.

I thought about two needles and magic loop--but I just wasn't in the mood for them. And, besides, I really like using the needle tube!