Tuesday, September 16, 2008

OTN Update with some genealogy news tossed in

Here's what I have on the needles:
1. Baby blanket using Bernat Baby Coordinates in "Sweet Pink" I'll donate this to a community outreach project downstream - the place was destroyed in the June flood, and I read on Ravelry that they happily accept knitting items. The pattern is very easy. However, the yarn I'm having a problem with. It was on sale and a lovely bright pink - just what I wanted. But it has a crinkily white strand that wraps the pink loosely. So loosely that I keep getting it caught when I do a stitch. So the fabic looks a bit 'snagged' I try to fix as I go [or when I go back on the reverse side] - but some snags are not fixable.
Would I use this pattern again -- most definitely. Would I use this yarn again. Well, I'm debating whether I'll make the blue blanket. Bought the yarn at the same time. Did I say it was on sale? I think I know why! If I decide I don't want to fuss with the blue ... I'll donate that yarn some where. And No I would not buy it again.

2. Another pair of socks for me. The yarn is Filatura Di Crosa - Maxime. Can't remember where I bought it at. Not locally that I know. Color is #16 - a dark forest green. I wanted to use Brigit - luv the cables. But the yardage on the two skeins of Maxime is not close to the suggested yardage for the Brigit pattern. Drat it.

Then I worried that whatever top down pattern I used, I might run out of yarn. Drat it again. I dug out Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts' Simple Socks and have two toe uppers started. I can remember my first attempt with PAGR's wraps about drove me nuts. [But, then I was still on post op drugs....] This time, tho. I had only a few minor issues. and now I'm beginning the foots. I'm doing st st. When I get to the legs, I'll do some cable pattern. Haven't decided what - just that it will be an 8 st pattern repeat from Charlene Schurch. I'll wait to look at the stitch patterns when I get that far.

So. I'm off now to knit and to watch Disk 2 of the HBO miniseries John Adams. No bad for a miniseries...and an introduction to John and Abigail. Two very intelligent, very forward thinking individuals. I would be proud to claim them as ancestors. But, alas no connection so far.

OH! Genealogy content: No J. & A. Adams, but, it looks as if Mayflower people are beginning to sprout from my family tree! My grandmother would not be too impressed - she would tell snooty acquaintances who were into the DAR and Mayflower Societies that HER ancestors MET the Mayflower. Maybe. I need one bit of proof tying my mother's mother's mother's mother's mother to a known descendent of four Mayflower passengers. In early 1800s western PA, they didn't leave a lot of records, so I might never find the proof. But. I'm 95% positive I've got it right.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

September Socks

Didn't get this finished by the end of the Olympics, but...they're done now! And they're still too blue in the photo. They are really more purple than blue. I tried several different settings. Oh, well.

Pattern: Generic. 1" K2, P2 cuff, then 5" of K3, P3 ribbed leg; and St St foot
Yarn: Brown Sheep Co.' s Wildfoote in Rhapsody
Needles: Knit Picks size 1 [US], two 24" circs
Knit for: Me
EDITED to add: The yarn was a gift from a non-knitting co-worker who visited the Brown Sheep Co. in Mitchell, NE, while on her vacation!!

Monday, September 1, 2008

Awesome Knitter Project

But, I'd rather have a blue one: Knitted Project