I’ve been sick with a nasty chest cold this week, which is why I haven’t posted much. But before I got sick I got together with my new friend Bethany, sewing and crocheting extraordinaire, for a knitting lesson.
We met on Monday at one of the neighborhood Starbucks. I was surprised at how quickly she picked up the knit stitch. She’s a really quick learner! We probably would have gotten past the garter stitch of the dishcloth she was working on if we hadn’t been talking so much. I had such a good time!
Here’s a shot of her awesome knitted cast-on. She did every bit on her own!
While I’ve been recuperating from this round of the flu, I’ve still been knitting. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if I have enough yarn to finish the second sock of the Pomatomus socks for my mother. This is what I’ve gotten done so far and how much yarn is left.
If I were feeling better I’d get out my digital scale to get a more exact idea of where I am with regards to how much yarn I need to finish the second sock. Instead, I think I’ll simply use fervent prayer to the knitting goddesses.
Or I could start swatching for another project.
Yeah. Avoidance is the key.
That’s Cotton-Ease for the Ariann. The pattern calls for size 7US/4.5mm needles and I need to get 19 sts for 4 inches, but I’m a loose knitter. I got 16 sts for 4 inches and I’m now down to a size 5US/ 3.75mm needle. I really loved the drape of the fabric with the size 7′s, but I remain hopeful that the lace pattern on the size 5′s will be loose and beautiful.
That is if I get the 19 sts the pattern calls for on the size 5′s. Who knows, I might have to go down a needle size further. Only the smaller the needle the less give the yarn has and the less enjoyable it is to knit with. Which makes me think this would be the wrong yarn for the project.
So wish me luck in getting gauge! I’d hate to have to scrap this project before I even begin.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:47 am
Good luck with the sock yarn and getting gauge!
& Feel better soon.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:49 am
Glad you are starting to feel better.
Bummer about the knitting projects. I hope you have enough sock yarn because those socks are AWESOME in that color.
Your friend did very well. Her cast-on edge has a nice even tension.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
May the yarn goddesses grant your every wish. “I’ll think about that tomorrow, if I think about it today I’ll just go crazy.” Scarlet O’Hara
November 1st, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Just looking at your STR yarn, I think you will have enough. If not, could you do the toes in a different yarn? I love how they look, the colors play together so nicely! I hope your size 5 needles work for Ariann and I look forward to seeing more. I also hope you feel better very soon.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Get well soon!
I practice avoidance whenever possible.
And I love your Po-to’s! They are gorgeous!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Woah! I didn’t expect you to mention me on your blog! But I’m flattered. You’ve given me some great motivation to publish a new post, about my knitting, today. I’ll get on that ASAP!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I just hope you feel more like your old self very soon! I will pray to the knitting deities for your health and for sufficient yarn to finish your Pomotami.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
You won’t scrap it – I promise you will get through the pattern! I love the Pomotomus socks so much. Bethany did so well with her first lesson- she is a fast learner.
Get better soon!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I hope you feel better soon! And I really hope you have enough yarn for that sock – gorgeous! Ariann – yea – I’m glad you are finally doing it – good luck getting gauge!
November 1st, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Your friend looks like a crackerjack knitter in the making!
Hope you have enough for the socks and feel better!
November 1st, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Knit fast on that beautiful sock so you will be sure to have enough yarn!! Yes, it really works!
November 1st, 2007 at 2:59 pm
So sorry to hear you have been ill. Hope you will be back to normal very soon. The socks look great, so here’s a big prayer to the knitting gods to make that yarn stretch to finish the second sock. How nice that you are teaching a friend to knit. We have to keep this marvelous obsession of ours going strong.
November 1st, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Sorry to hear that you are still not feeling well. Hopefully, you will be over it soon.
As for the socks, they are lovely! I will keep my fingers (and toes) crossed that you have enough.
And good luck with the guage.
November 1st, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Good luck with getting gauge. But more importantly, get lots of rest and get well soon.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:10 pm
You poor thing! Get better really soon and remember, Gage is a state of mind!
November 1st, 2007 at 5:25 pm
hope you’re feeling better – take care! someone from work asked me to teach her how to knit cause she wants to knit herself a scarf by nov. 14! i think if she picks a nice yarn she’d be contented with a garter stitch scarf – any suggestions? she doesn’t want anything scratchy…..
November 1st, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Get well soon!
November 1st, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Hope you feel better soon. Your mom’s socks look great in that color. I’ll throw in a prayer to the sock goddess, too. ;-)
November 1st, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Hope you feel better soon:)
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:19 am
Sorry about the cold… I hope you feel tons better soon! Pomatomus is lovely!
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:07 am
feel better soon :) love those socks!
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:52 am
So sorry you’ve been under the weather…get well!
And look at it this way? If you don’t get gauge, the yarn is still available for something else, and you can go find NEW YARN for Ariann!
:)
I love excuses to shop…
(((hugs)))
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:00 am
Just eyeballing it, I’d say you’ll be okay with the sock yarn though you may be hard pressed to leave enough to weave in once you’ve closed the toe.
You’re right about the needle size and the consequent “firming” of the fabric – especially with cotton. Do you suppose a DK weight cotton (cotton blend) might give you the drape you want while acheiving gauge?
Sorry to hear about the flu yuckiness and glad you’re doing better :)
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Get well soon! It’s such a drag being sick. Bah.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:20 am
Hope you are feeling better, we missed you on Thursday!
November 5th, 2007 at 1:24 am
I’m so sorry to hear that you haven’t been feeling well lately – fingers crossed that you’re much, much better by now!
I also think, from having a good look at the pic, that you’ll be okay with the sock yarn – fingers crossed that it’ll work!
November 5th, 2007 at 5:30 am
It’s fun to teach a friend! Feel better.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Feel better soon, friend.
Sending prayers for healing your way, along with the inevitable…
Blessings!
November 5th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Feel bettter! I’m using cotton ease right now for a sweater too!
November 5th, 2007 at 9:19 am
I hope you are all better and that you had enough yarn for the Poms. Ariann and Cotton Ease, nice!
November 11th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Wow, Opal, I’m kinda late to the party, but I hope you are well over your flu bug by now! It stinks to be ill, but does allow for concentrated knitting time when you are on the mend :)