Monday, January 18, 2010

The Concerto KAL





   In the last post I mentioned I joined a KAL to learn about Knitting Lace and working from Charts. The group was "Yarnfeathers" and I found it on Ravelry.
  The Pattern was written by De-De Heater who is a very talented, generous Knitter /Teacher. The name of the pattern is "Concerto" and has 7 sections. Each section has a different pattern of lace, and teaches something new. There is a chart, written pattern directions, and a tutorial with tips and tricks used by experienced knitters which are not usually written into directions.
  I fought with it at first. I was use to mindless knitting. I would knit and watch "Dancing with the Stars" at the same time. NOT while knitting lace! Not when you are too tired! Not with slippery yarn and Nickel Plated needles! I learned about "life Lines" which I really don't care for, and had to get used to using stitch markers again. I wanted a challange.......I got one. After one trip to the Frog Pond, and changing needle sizes I got it all together. So much so that I could not wait for the next weeks section.
  So I started another one. The second Stole is knit in a yarn by Blue Moon Fiber Arts, called Geisha. It's Kidmo/Silk Blend and wonderful to work with. I usually can't stand Mohair but this is so soft to the skin and just Luscious! These were Great Presents and lead to Sarah's Scarf which was my opening post.

After all I learned on this KAL I felt like I could take on almost anything. I keep reading several lace kniting lists to learn more. Wait until you see what my Next big project is. You won't believe it. I can't believe I had the Nerve to take it on!

Coming soon...."Simurgh."

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

So We Start!

   I thought it woud nice to start with "Sarah's Scarf"  since it was my favorite New piece. I had taken on the challange of learning to knit Lace AND work from a Chart, not a Written Pattern. I joined a KAL and learned an amazing amount. (more about that later). But not enough to realize what I was getting myself into when I dreamed up this Scarf!

   "The Plan" was to take a section of the Stole learned on the KAL and use it to make the whole scarf. It would be 2 skeins of yarn, Malabrgo Lace, and knit in one direction until the ball was gone. Then remove the temporary cast on and knit in the other direction until the other ball of yarn was gone. It sounds so simple dosen't it? It always starts out that way. As the scarf progressed I had conversations with my other daughter about scarves with beads. I had never used beads in knitting before, "Why not add a few to this scarf? it shouldn't be that hard."


   So I ran myself right out to JoAnns Fabrics to find beads the next day. The beads all looked So Big!  "I like these shinny little 11/0 seed beads and they won't overwhelm the knitting!" I didn't realize they would be so hard to put on, or see!  So I went home and dug out the #16 Steel Crochet Hook that was passed down to me and went to work. Where to place them? How Long it took to place them......... One Friggin Bead at a time really slows down the Whole Process! So in my new found wisdome I chose to place them every other section in random patterns. You could only see them as a small flash in the right light anyway.

  Then I ordered 8/0 seed beads in 2 other colors. As light weight as the lace material was turning out to be I wanted to add some weight at the ends. I get so carried away I don't ever do things the easy way.  I was able to use a larger crochet hook but it did not take any less time. I beaded a section in the lighter color, skipped a section, and then beaded in the darker color. Whew! I was finally getting close to the end of the ball of yarn! Then what do I do at the end? I did not have an edging in mind. "Oh I will do a beaded edging!" I am so Brilliant, not. The heavily beaded piece you see in the picture is the edging. I was so relieved to be done with it. It was so Tedious. "Thank God It's Done!"

   Then I remembered I had the Other Half to do!! Did I mention this was a Chrismas Present and I only had a coulpe of weeks to finish almost 4 feet of Lace and Beading so it could be washed, blocked, dried, and shipped  in time to get to California? Oh and to work the Christmas rush  too........  When I was finished there was 16 in. by over 8 ft. of Beaded Lace Beauty! I hope she loves it because I will never do that again.  LOLOLOL so I said then. I am such a Glutton for punishment.


WEDNESDAY 1/13/10
Full Circle..............Family


  When my son was young he had "Severe Chronic Asthma". Which means he had severe Allergic Reactions to many things made worse by emotion (getting scared because you can't breath). He would turn Blue at the drop of a hat. We became very close he and I, spending all that time in emergency rooms and learning how to deal with it together. We put together a "Mini Emergency Room" in our bathroom with a Stethoscope, Peak Flow Meter, Ultrasonic Nebulizer, and Epi Pens. Not to mention all the drugs he had to take and the side effects.

  He survived, grew up, went to college, earned two degrees, got married, and has a 7 month old baby of his own now. My son takes very few Asthma Medications these days, all preventative and has a good quality of life. He still keeps the Nebulizer in the house, because when he dose gets sick, it settles in his lungs. The little shit.  Ahem........Young Man, even smokes cigarettes now and still breaths. Harmones are an amazing thing. Puberty made all the difference in the world.ON To The Point!

  My Grandson Max was very sick yesterday and so was his mother. My Son took the baby to the Doctor. Max has a virus that setteled into his lungs, and two ear infections. My son sent me a picture from his iPhone showing Max chewing on the mouth piece of the Nubulizer. I can't tell you what it did to my heart. I was glad he was teething and wanted chew on the mouth piece. It is So Hard to Nebulize a baby! (inhailed medication vapor) He did get a great deal of relief and I am so glad they have the Nebulizer in the house. Being able to use it at home will keep him so much more comfortable."Full Circle."

  So the only thing to do was to make a big batch of his Grandmothers Chicken Soup."Jewish Penicillin." I talked him through the process and he made extra carrots to put in a blender with Chicken, Matzo Ball (soft dumpling) and Broth to make a meal for Max."Full Circle".It makes me wonder How Many Circles? My mother in law went through same thing with my husband. I now know how "She" felt when it was "My Son" and "Her Grandson".........and she taught me how to make "Jewish Penicillin."

Labels: family