Friday, June 25, 2004

Projects and Commentaries

We went for a walk along the river yesterday evening.  While the park is pleasant, I couldn’t help but compare it to the park we wandered through on Sunday.  That park was silent - except for the birds and our own low conversation.  This one was full of raucous kids, experimenting with volume and profane vocabulary.  Actually, I remember doing that myself around 11 or 12.  I remember thinking that “bastard” (in my neck of the woods, pronounced - “bastidd") didn’t sound like a bad word.  In fact it sounded pretty funny.  How could that be a swear?

We meandered to the edge of the river and I promptly put my foot into a muskrat hole - right up to my knee.  Of course I fell with much flailing and chagrin.  I don’t have a great sense of balance under the best of circumstances.  No damage done, though my left wrist is pretty tender this morning.  I did lose my shoe in the hole and was ready to abandon it rather that argue with the hole’s resident.  However, Myria retrieved it for me - great kid, that Myria - enabling me to take this self-portrait for you :)

I started the hat last night and got through the first section; there are six all together.  The cable is rather indistinct in the picture, but shows up pretty well in person.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get a photo of it in natural light later on so you can see it a little more clearly. 

I used a provisional cast-on this time and will do a three-needle bind-off when I finish, rather than sewing it up, as I have done before.  I’m hoping this will produce a neater appearance.  Of course I could try grafting the thing too (laughing, helplessly) but we’ll have to wait and see if I can summon the necessary testicular fortitude when the time comes.

I also increased the length of the crown by adding 10 stitches to that area.  Because the hat is made sideways, I won’t know until I’ve done another couple of sections, whether this is going to work or not - but it’s looking good as far as I can tell at the moment.

I’m liking the Waterspun a lot!  Glides along easily, does everything I want it to reasonably well and without complaining.  This is a yarn I would definitely buy again.

And I started on the crochet shawl.

It’s quite a trip working with the Kid Seta.  It really is beautiful stuff and the feel of the fabric is absolutely decadent.  I’m taking this very slowly as this yarn is almost impossible to frog.  The first couple of rounds were pretty hair-raising, but once I got past that, things smoothed out some.  I was beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t try a smaller hook, but by the time I got to round 4, my hands had made peace with the yarn and I think things look pretty good so far.

Oh - and turn off the fan if you’re going to work with this stuff.  It doesn’t weigh squat and a breath (let alone the air stream from an enthusiastic fan) blows it all over the place!  I’m going to feel I’ve really accomplished something when this is complete :)

ABC finally deigned to finish it’s “Kingdom Hospital” series beginning last night with the first of the four final episodes.  This has been a real weirdie right from the start - both the story and the way the network has handled it.  I have enjoyed it though and am glad to be able to see the concluding shows.  The scuttlebutt is that a DVD version will be available in October and I’ll probably spring for it - just so I can see the whole thing without a 6 week hiatus :)

A final note.  Dad and I are going to our favorite restaurant for lunch tomorrow.  It’s the Kernwood in Lynnfield, MA and it’s going to be closing for good after business on Sunday.  Its specialty was relatively simple cooking with superb preparation and ingredients.  Now I have to learn how to make Delmonico Potatoes for myself if I want them.  I and my taste buds will miss the Kernwood very much.

Hope you all have simply mahhhvelous weekends!

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1. Hi Robbyn,

   I love the spiral hats.  Is that your own design or a commercial pattern?

   Posted by Rob  on  06/25  at  02:37 PM
   Location :



2. I figured out what that waterspun reminds me of: those Belgian chocolate seashells!  I knew I’d seen those colours together before, where did you get the yarn?

   Posted by Ali  on  06/25  at  02:55 PM
   Location :



3. The cable looks great. So doesth the shawl.  You’ll be hooking that one for a long time! But, it is going to be awesome!

   Posted by  on  06/25  at  03:53 PM
   Location : http://zeneedle.typepad.com/



4. Rob - I found the pattern on the web a couple of years ago but the site has vanished and I have been, so far, unable to trace the provenance of the pattern.

   Hi Ali - I got this yarn at the Classic Elite Mill outlet in Lowell, MA.  Belgian chocolates! You’re making me drool :)

   Margene - I fear you’re right about the shawl, but I’m looking forward to it.  It’s turning out to be less difficult that I thought.  It will be painstaking though :) And worth it!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  06/25  at  04:39 PM
   Location : Out on a limb



5. Shawl looks great, I love the way the Kid Seta looks with that pattern.

   Sorry about the muskrat hole, it could have been much worse.  Our local paper is warning to stay on the paths, and away from the water in the parks.  It’s copperhead mating season, and apparently it makes them a little testy!

   Posted by Sarra  on  06/25  at  06:33 PM
   Location :



6. YOW!  Just the thought of copperheads mating makes me testy too!  They aren’t too common in New England but we do have the occasional rattler
   

   Posted by Robbyn  on  06/25  at  07:10 PM
   Location : Out on a limb



7. That shawl is going to be a knock-out!  Can’t wait to see it in person.

   Posted by Caren  on  06/27  at  11:11 AM
   Location : Merrimack, NH



8. Thanks Caren :) - you do realize it’s going to be a while?

   Posted by Robbyn  on  06/27  at  05:11 PM
   Location : Lost in thought

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