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Restingmotion

  • Frustration

    I am disappointed, and more than a tad annoyed with myself.

    But I digress.  Let’s go back to the beginning.

    I sewed up the first Mermaid sleeve, and it was lovely.  I love the shape of the sleeve, the way the short rows create drape and a bit of a curve in the underarm shaping of the sleeve cap.  I love the bit of curve at the top of the sleeve.  This is not part of the pattern, I needed a bit more fullness across the shoulder lines so I added three short-row ridges across the top of the sleeve cap on either side of the dark gray stripe.  I really like the shape it gives the sleeve.

    Mermaid6_1

    The sleeve went into the body of the sweater beautifully and hangs really nicely when worn. 
    Mermaid7

    Sorry about the fuzzy picture, darkness has fallen and the light is a little thin.  The flat photo is much more clear.

    Mermaid8

    But the sleeve is too long! 

    Mermaida10

    Where did I go wrong?

    Well, it is obvious that I mis-measured, even after going through sewing up the body, trying it on and checking the sleeve length.  I was right about the extra width at the sleeve cap and that is fine.  But something went terribly wrong with the sleeve length and I can’t help thinking I should have known better.

    Perhaps I should have just drawn out a paper pattern from the diagram and measured that.  I know pretty well how patterns work and how long to make my sleeves.  But I checked the figures, and checked, or thought I thought I checked, how the measurements were being taken.  I had help from G because it is very hard to measure a sleeve length on oneself, but I can’t completely blame him.  In fact the length we measured still seemed short according to my sewing notes and the sleeve length I usually use when sewing garments. 

    So what happened?  does the sleeve stretch that much when it is hanging (remember that the sleeve is knit side to side so the stretch of the knitting will be down the length of the sleeve).  That might explain why the sleeve seemed unusually short in the diagram, the stretch was planned in to the garment. 

    But what do I do now?  Do I reknit the sleeve?  I really had wanted to avoid that.  Do I just turn it up and make a cuff?

    Mermaid9_1

    It actually looks nice with a cuff.   I think if I had made mermaid longer through the body (which would look very good on me) and not shortened the godets so they have less flare (because the sweater was too short) it would have a more feminine flare and the cuffs would seem incongruous.  But on this version, on me, they seem to look good. I haven’t put the i-cord edge on yet and I could apply that and stitch the cuff to the body of the sleeve simultaneously.  The underside of the stripe would show on the cuff, and I could re-seam the bottom edge so that the seam allowance is inside the turned up portion of the cuff instead of on the outside, as it is in the above photo.

    Will having the cuff remind me that I messed up big time?  Or will it remind me of the unexpected variables in life and how I managed to save the sweater?

    I need to think on this a little bit.

  • copper

    Copper

  • Then my cellphone rang

    I have been worrying about when I will finish Mermaid.  I am enjoying knitting it, but it has been a l.o.n.g time and as usual near the end of a project I am getting antsy for the next project to begin.  I want it finished before Christmas and I was beginning to have doubts about my ability to do so.

    But then yesterday changed all that.

    The day started off quietly enough with a little shopping.  I am in that fortunate position of being between wardrobes, at least as far as tops and sweaters are concerned.  Most of my more recent tops are too big, but the older ones, from a few years ago are still just a tad too small and snug.  Shopping was required.

    And so I took myself off to the mall.

    I used to go to the mall a fair bit when the "new" mall first opened.  I suppose I am more jaded now; there is not all that much I am interested in, the interesting stores closed, and generally I think the local merchandise selection is often less than inspiring.  I do better going down to Westchester, suburban New Jersey (preferably Short Hills) or NYC  — do I see an inclination toward upscale taste here? — yes, it is true.  Although often just say I’ll just make it myself, and then I never get around to it, or it takes months, (like mermaid) and I might have been better off just buying something. 

    I do occasionally shop at Chico’s, which is not at the mall, where I can sometimes find some nice country/suburban clothes.  I don’t like their travel wear and slinky collections, but that is because, unlike most people apparently, slinky looks awful on me in any size shape or color.  Of the local Chico’s, I like the Kingston store more than the Wappingers Falls store, even though Wappingers is bigger. 

    As I also tend to be fond of Banana Republic I thought it was time to head to the mall and check out the new store. Although I did make a few purchases, I am not convinced that Banana Repbulic alone will be enough to lure me to the local mall, although a shortage of beauty supplies might push me over the edge and even get me into the new Macy’s, which so far has been a big dissapointment. It is more likely that my Banana
    Republic ventures will occur when I am traveling or
    trekking to the above mentioned shopping meccas.

    I finished my shopping by noon and thought I had the afternoon to work on a few things.  Then my cellphone rang…

    It was a friend, all upset because her mom had been taken to the hospital and was being airlifted to Albany, where she was going to need some emergency surgery.

    And so off to Albany I went.  Luckily I had mermaid in the car.  All that sitting around hospitals drinking bad coffee led to a fair amount of knitting and talking and I finished the first sleeve:

    Mermaid5

    I have decided to sew it together rather than knit it together.  I should seam it and set it in this weekend.  If all goes well, I can start the next sleeve by Monday and I should have the sweater finished in time to wear it by Christmas Eve.

    Oh yes; friend and mom are doing well.  It was nice to be able to just sit and talk for a while, even under less than auspicious circumstances.  Both of our lives had been too hectic the last few months and we had not put enough effort into trying to get together.  By the time we had drunk too much coffee, eaten too much junk food, and talked for hours, her family and other friends arrived.  This was about 7 or 8 at night and I headed home and promptly to bed, early for me, but I was just exhausted. My punishment was to be up and ready to face the day by 5 AM, much earlier than usual.

    The shopping bags from Chico’s and Banana Republic were tossed on the floor of my closet where they have remained. Will  I unpack and play with clothes first? or work on mermaid? Probably mermaid.  I know the clothes fit me and fit in my wardrobe, but I want to finish some ongoing projects.  I want to wear some things that I have made myself.  Anyone can go to the mall and plonk down a credit card. Wearing something you made yourself; now that has value.

  • Contented meanderings

    I had hoped that I would continue my thoughts from yesterday but I have been far too contented to spend time fretting over issues or thinking interesting thoughts.  Contentment is too complete a state to allow for fretting and stewing, or for an excess of interesting argument.  I suspect we do not give enough credit to pure contented indolence as a prerequisite for happiness…

    Anyway today was spent at the gym, office and computer with a generous helping of reading time (curled up with a cup of coffee) and knitting time, while listening the Neil Diamond’s 12 Songs, his new to me album from last year.  It can be a difficult album, very close-miked, new songs which seem almost painfully poignant and personal at times, with a kind of talk-song delivery that can be very weary-worn.  I am enjoying the album, and although it is definitely not uplifting, it is, in a way, heart-warming, with a mature voice that can hit close to home.

    I admit to always liking Neil Diamond.  I think he always had talent and I liked him even when he seemed to have sold his soul to success and sang mostly treacly-saccharine songs — but then I have always had a weakness for the sappy side of things.  This album is something different and the more I hear it the more I am glad I have heard it.  I’m no music critic though, and goodness knows many people run from MY choices in music. Still, made for a nice afternoon.

    Simple dinner tonight:  slow-cooked barbecued pork ribs from the freezer that needed to be used up so I could make another batch, and a lovely red bell pepper and red cabbage slaw, served warm-room temperature.  I don’t like my red cabbage too icy cold, especially not in a vinegar mustard base.

    Redcabbageslaw

    Red Cabbage and Bell Pepper Slaw

    1/2    cup               white vinegar
    1/2    cup                water
    1/4    cup                sugar
    3/4    teaspoon.     salt
    1       tablespoon    mustard powder
    2        tablespoon    olive oil
    1       tablespoon    black mustard seeds
    1        pound          cabbage, shredded
    3                           red bell peppers, cut in strips

    In a saucepan bring vinegar and water to a boil with sugar, salt, and mustard, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. 

    Heat a large heavy skillet het the oil over moderately hight heat until hot but not smoking.  Add mustard seeds and saute until they begin to popl.  Stir in the red cabbage  and saute, stirring, for 2 mintues.  Stir in peppers and saute, stirring for 2 minutes more.  Add vinegar mixture and simmer for 1 minute.

    Drain vegetables into a large fine sieve set over a saucpan. Transfer the drained vegetables to a bowl.  Boil the liquid in the saucepan over moderately high heat until it is reduced to about 3 tablespoons.  Stir reduced liquid into the vegetables.  Chill slaw, covered, at least 1 hour, or overnight.

    ** As I mentioned above I like this at room temperature or slightly warm, but I am not a slaw eater by and large.  The rest of the family likes it just fine cold.

  • Work…Work…Work

    I am almost caught up from our trip over Thanksgiving week.  There are only two small piles of paperwork to finish,

    Work

    and a pair of pants that needs to have the buttons sewn back on in the background.  They are from Chico’s and are about 2 years old so if the buttons held up this long I can’t really complain. 

    Hiding out of site is a pile of ironing and some shoes that need polishing.  They are on the cutting table so that I don’t give myself permission to start sewing before I have finished basic maintenance.  Tomorrow is grocery shopping day and I haven’t finished the list yet — this is the first winter-season shopping since the farmer’s market closed, and I am wondering how much I should plan in advance and how much I should leave open to market finds.  I can take my portable computer with me, I have all my recipes there (although not the extensive cookbook collection) as well as my pantry and freezer lists.  I have spent some time coordinating the freezer list to the menu and shopping list so that now, when I plan a menu, it should tell me what I have in the pantry and automatically reduce the quantities on the list as I use items in the menus.  Of course this week will be the test run, so I don’t yet know that it will actually work…..

    Needless to say, I have been busy enough that I haven’t actually missed sewing yet.  The jacket is sitting patiently on the side and I can see it, filled with promise, and I know I will get there yet.  I have spent some time knitting so I am getting some fiberly therapy.

    I have also been s.l.o.w.l.y sorting through my extensive pattern collection, deciding what I will save and what will get stored in the file cabinets in the sewing room.  It is a very slow process, usually taking a couple of passes through each category.  I find that ruthlessness doesn’t come as easily here as in other aspects of household decluttering.  Perhaps this because patterns have both physical worth (or lack of it) and dream potential.  It is that dream state that is hard to analyze and categorize adequately.

    I have also sent off thread packages to most of the people who requested them; you should be receiving them shortly. 

     

  • Kansas: the pause that refreshes

    Kansas_1

    As we were preparing to leave for the airport last week, G reminded me
    to take my camera.  I was not inclined.  I am not, by nature, a
    picture-taker, but I thought he had a point and it is small so I tossed
    it into my purse.  I suppose it was a good thing I did because I was
    able to take the above picture at the Lied Center at the University of
    Kansas in Lawrence.  Note this is the only photo I took during the
    entire trip:  no pictures of rolling Kansas hills, no charming farm
    scenes, no cows grazing on the plains, no pictures of a happy toddler
    bouncing up and down on my brother’s leg as he cooked Thanksgiving
    dinner or of same child being lifted up to the ceiling by my other
    brother.  One picture.  I love the play of the light and shadow, the
    angles and the color.  I am happy.

    The lack of pictures makes no
    commentary on the quality of the trip, except perhaps that I was
    enjoying myself so fully that I did not have to occupy myself running
    around snapping pictures of everything in sight.  It was a great trip
    and we had a great time.

    Of course I packed far too much
    knitting.  There was no progress on the socks; they could have stayed
    home, but had I been bored things might have been different.  Only one
    sleeve of Mermaid was partially finished:

    Mermaid4

    It was nice to relax in the mornings and evenings at the hotel,
    sometimes reading, sometimes knitting, with no thought of what had to
    be done, no schedule, just pure indolence.  I apparently needed this
    little period of refreshment and things look so much more positive now
    than they had before, less harried and pressured, although nothing has
    really changed.  Only I have changed, in little ways perhaps, but a
    calmer Mardel seems to have returned, calmer at least than the one who
    left.  We will see how long she lasts.

  • perigrinations on vacation plans and energy use

    We have just returned from a trip to Kansas where we had a
    wonderful time, with a fair amount of driving around. The entire trip and the prospect of the trip
    have found me engaging in occasional peregrinations on energy use, vacations,
    and the world in general that are not really directly related to the trip, but
    more a pastiche of random bits that have been all stuck together in a kind of
    “current state of the world vs. my life” montage.

    As this blog was intended to be a
    journal of sorts, I have decided to indulge these random bits and see if
    anything interesting comes out of them, although I am not really seeking or
    expecting answers or insights.

    I suppose it all started with thoughts of holiday
    travel. Am I going to stop traveling
    because it requires excessive energy use? No. There are certain aspects of
    being an American, and being affluent enough to afford travel that I relish and
    am unwilling to give up. But still I
    think about it, perhaps more than I should. The issue has come up several times as I have booked a few trips over the
    next few months.

    Kansas: approximately 1400 miles

    Tennessee: approximately 770 miles

    Arizona/California: cross-country.

     

    We decided to drive to Tennessee, mostly because we have time
    available over the Christmas Holiday and G doesn’t feel like flying. G would remind me that the cost of two
    airline tickets is only a few hours of work and is not cheaper in terms of pure
    personal economics. But the office will be closed during the period in question
    and therefore time is available. It is
    not a bad drive. I think that for the
    two of us driving is a more efficient use of fossil fuel derived energy even
    though it takes longer. A train might be
    better, but I am not sure of train service. I could look into it but won’t bother. As I said, I am not seeking answers here. I know the information about
    schedules and energy use are available and I know how to find them but that
    knowledge really won’t change the outcome. We will take the trip, we will enjoy the drive because we enjoy driving
    trips, and sometimes we will fly to Tennessee because there are always others
    factors involved in planning trips and we are lucky enough that the children can
    live far away and we can still visit them.

    Were we to fly to Tennessee, it would require two short plane
    rides of about 1 to 1 ½ hours each on relatively small jets. These are not efficient. It would be better if we could fly directly
    to Tennessee
    on one flight, and this is indeed
    possible if we drive down to Newark. There are two direct flights a day. The approximately 2 to 2 ½ hour drive to the airport (each way 5 hours
    total in heavy traffic) may or may not use up the difference in fossil fuel
    spent per person for the trip. But even
    if the actual flight time is shorter, the total travel time becomes longer
    simply because of the longer drive to the airport. The added trouble caused by the fact that the
    direct flights are very inconvenient if one is driving to the airport does not
    help. The morning flight is at 6 AM,
    which would make for a VERY long day, or an overnight in Newark, which just adds to
    the time and expense of the trip.

    The Arizona/California trip is also an easy trip because we
    will obviously fly cross-country. This
    trip may even be efficient in our normal two-leg itinerary, requiring a stop in Chicago. This time however, we are flying directly
    from NYC to Arizona with a return to NYC
    directly from California. This of course means that we must get to the NYC airport, a 2 hour trip
    by car. The difference in fares is
    significant. In winter, the difference
    between a direct flight and one-stop is also significant as it reduces the
    chances for weather delays and layovers.

    Of course, once we arrive we are renting a car and driving
    from Tucson to Palm Desert to San
    Diego. This
    makes far more sense than flying out on two or three separate occasions and I
    suppose this is the only argument I can use to justify the energy use. But we enjoy driving, and I thought of this
    in
    Kansasas
    well, as we drove along, looking at the rolling hills, stopping in various
    little towns. Perhaps it is an American
    thing, this piling in a car and driving, but I love seeing the countryside this
    way. I grew up in Texas after all. The other fact is that much of this country
    is spread out over great distances and most people will never really be able to
    live in a way where they can walk from store to home to work. I am not sure this is even desirable.

    So how do we balance our love of tools and modern
    conveniences (all of which use power) and the ability to talk, move, or go
    anywhere in the world with the problems of providing enough energy for everyone
    to be able to share in this kind of bounty? It is a difficult question. I
    think we should all be more aware of our energy use and where our energy comes
    from, as well as its true cost. Cheaper gasoline is not an answer but raising the price won’t solve the
    problem either. Too many people need to drive. Too much of this country was planned on the idea of cheap gasoline. It will take a long time to change, if that
    change is even possible. I will still
    take my driving trip even if gasoline were $5 a gallon. I am fortunate to be able to do that. I would probably change my daily routines,
    coordinate trips to use less gasoline, change the priorities in our daily
    life. I honestly don’t feel that I have
    a right to cheap gas or cheap airfares for that matter but I will take advantage
    of them if I can.  There is much to do and much awareness-raising
    still to be done. But we really can’t go
    back, and we must also face the fact that much of the world wants to be us and
    have what we have. We have no ability or
    right to deny them that. The only
    solution is to find a better way, and perhaps all take a little more
    responsibility and pay a little more of our fair share.

  • My bags are packed….

    We head off to Kansas tomorrow for an extended Thanksgiving trip and will be back next weekend.

    Although I am packed, I still hope to make it to the gym this evening and squeeze in a couple of hours of office work, just so I will not be quite so inundated when I get back. 

    The jacket waits…and waits….and waits….

    Have a happy Thanksgiving.

  • Off to Kansas

    We leave early tomorrow for Kansas and will be gone for the week.

    My bag is packed and not even full even though I have both knitting projects (mermaid sleeves, and the socks), two books, and the little speaker/charger device for the Ipod so that we can have music in the hotel room.  Even though I have the small 21" suitcase, I am not planning on carrying it on as G wants to check his bag anyway.  That is OK with me.  I don’t mind waiting and I do increasingly mind hauling stuff around with me.  I wish to travel through life as unencumbered as possible, when my back lets me.  I also have an extra feather pillow in that small suitcase, and I am only carrying a purse on the plane, albeit a roomy purse.

    We are planning to spend a little time in Lawrence on our way from Kansas City to Manhattan and I have scheduled a visit to Yarn Barn of Kansas.  Gee I guess I can even take my purchases with me, although I was planning on having them shipped.

    No computer is making the trip so there will not be likely be any updates until I return a week from Monday.

    Be Thankful!

  • Moving on

    Looking at the ripped and wound yarns that I had planned to use for Twisty Turns, I seriously doubt my powers of observation or attention to detail.  These two skeins could not possibly work together:

    Despair1

    bright autumn

    Despair2

    muted plums.

    What was I thinking?  I have trouble believing that they looked at all similar in the skein either and am inclined to think I was blinded by love and fiberly over stimulation.  That I didn’t notice while I wound them up is another matter, but it was late afternoon and I was in a hurry to run out the door, yarn in hand.

    Needless to say they are now destined for entirely different and separate projects, perhaps hats and scarves for the children at Morse School.  I will be happy to have knit them into something used, if not loved, by someone.

    Most of Thursday knitting was spent unknitting, rewinding, and then winding sock yarn into skeins.  I took the Hydrangea  sock yarn from Sundara, thinking this might be a possible travel project as well, although I am still planning on working on Mermaid’s sleeves as well.

    I had a great deal of trouble untangling the yarn from the skein, getting it on the winder, and winding it into a center-pull ball.  I had enough trouble with the first skein that I asked for Theresa’s help with the second and she grumbled a bit as well.  But we managed. 

    I absolutely love knitting this yarn!!! However I have little progress to show yet:

    Sundara1

    I had started on the recommended size 2 DPNs, knowing better of course, but as usually hoping beyond hope that it would work.  The first sock top came in at 6 stitches/inch when it should have been 8.  I am not following the pattern exactly, I am sticking on my now favorite picot edge top and then perhaps I will follow the pattern, no commitments have been made as yet.

    But back to gauge: I was 2 stitches too loose which means I need to go down 4 needle sizes, or at least that was what I was taught as a mere novice knitter, and I have found that advice to be pretty good so far. 

    But I balked.

    I immediately realized that I would have to knit on 000 needles.  I don’t mind knitting tiny, my other socks have been 7 1/2 to 9 stitches per inch, but not yet on 000’s.  I own the 000’s and even 0000’s but no 00’s, so the triple 0’s had better work.   

    So far it looks good, but I don’t have enough to really tell.  The fabric is firmer which is good as the first sock was too floppy.  My only complaint is that I can’t find tiny tiny needles in 6 inch lengths, which I prefer, and I find the 8 inch 000’s a bit more cumbersome to work with.  My only other caution at this point is that I am not sure if I can knit these socks on these needles on the plane, but I don’t have two circulars this size.  I have never had problems with knitting on flights, but then I have never tried carrying 5 long narrow pointy 8" size 000 double points either.  They look like weapons to me.

    Today’s tasks are to get a little further on my sock and confirm that I am on gauge and also to seam the body of Mermaid so I can measure and start the sleeves.   Once I have decided on the travel knitting, I can move on to packing those other, less necessary items.