Still here...just grafting away...

It seems the blog world is changing. Lately many of the bloggers who's blogs I frequent are calling it quits. Moving on to Ravelry, twitter, facebook and such. I am tempted at times to throw the towel in. I realize my post are far and few between, but I am still typing away. I often feel like I have nothing more to say.

I knit it, here it is.

Occasionally there are things that are new to me or things that peek my interest, giving me something to write about.

I am still here, but you can find me on twitter now...I am playing with the microblogging.

My knitting has taken a turn as well. I am knitting alot for Shall We Knit and loving it! I have also agreed to take on some repairs. I was unsure about this move at first...but it is quite stimulating! The latest repair is to an obvious favourite cotton sweater. It is well worn...errr...loved. I really should have taken before pictures. There were a couple dropped stitches and the bottom of the sweater ribbing as well as the cuff ribbing was not really salvageable. There were two routes to take with it. Knit down a rolled cuff and hem or reknit the ribbing and graft it on.

Of course the rolled cuff and hem would be the easiest. Cut and pick away the blue cuff and hem and then put the live stitches on needles. Because it is knit from the bottom up you cannot just then knit down the ribbing and all will be well. It won't match up. You would just knit down in st st and the hem and cuff would be rolled.
The other choice is making it the same as it is. Knit the cuff and hem from the bottom up with a tubular cast on. Then graft that to the sweater. Very time consuming...and ALOT of grafting.
And the winner is....forever grafting!

When the sweater arrives (yes, it was delivered by a man on a motorcycle - Tom - along with some sample yarn and pattern for an upcoming piece) I think to myself...why did I agree to this? Then I start looking at the sweater and imagine how important it is to the owner...for them to spend this money on such a repair.
Look at this challenge!
That is why I have agreed to this! I have to really use all of my knitting knowledge and experience to fix this machine knit sweater!



220 stitches around the hem and 60 stitches on each cuff. That is grafting together 560 stitches...not for the faint of heart.
Oh and 2x2 tubular cast on...yeah...I've never done that. Have no fear, other knitters are there!! Search the web and find, or rediscover, Ysolda. I've never cast on this way before...and the 2x2 is so easy!! I will absolutely be using this technique again.
SEE! A new technique! I love it.



The hem is done...one cuff left to go. A few little fixes in the intarsia (just a little tightening here and there) and pulling some threads through. Your favourite sweater will be back in no time.
Thanks for the challenge:)

More socks...

I have really had this sock thing lately. I wore holes (like ginormous holes that you cannot possibly repair) in two pair of my socks this winter, so I need to stock up on hand knit socks for me!

Oak ribbed socks



Started: June 20, 2009
Finished: July 14, 2009
Pattern: Nancy Bush's Oak Ribbed socks from Knitting Vintage Socks.



Yarn: This was a treat! The socks were actually knit from a sock blank I hand dyed at Shall We Knit during the knit in public day. The yarn is "Buffy's" from Shelridge farms. It is sooooo soft. This is the first time using her yarns, but I have heard only great things about it. The exact yarn for these blanks will not be widely available, if at all (I think it was some sort of special) but I definitely will knit with shelridge farms yarn again. I had a great time dying the blanks. This is something I will explore more in the future.
Adjustments: I knit these toe up using Judy's magic cast on, Cat Bordhi's increases and heel. All of which are my most favourite techniques that seem to be used in all of my toe up socks!

I have also been working away on many knits.
I have cast on another square for the GAAA.
There is a baby blanket for a friend on the needles.
A pair of socks for Dad...belated birthday gift...that are at a standstill until I check the size on the actual foot.
I have finished one diagonal lace sock and will probably cast on the other tonight.
Lastly, I have finished up another sample knit for Shall We Knit....here is a sneak peak!



Other than that, the kitchen is painted, the toy room has been cleaned (and 1/2 the toys given away!), the yardwork is done, the garage is clean and the laudryroom/furnaceroom is organized. Next up is the masterbedroom...goodbye purple!
I will leave you with this...



Yesterday was a backyard swimming day....and the sun had it's own rainbow. What could be better than that?