Monday, January 29, 2007

What a cool weekend…

Technologically, we had a banner weekend here :) A couple of special circumstances (read: sales) that we had been watching for, both occurred this weekend and we were ready to take advantage.  First, CompUSA had a loss-leader type sale on memory and we have both needed to upgrade the memory in our laptops for some time.  So, holding our breath (because you know they probably only had five pieces they were offering at that price) we headed up and lo and behold, there was actually memory in stock!  Back home, it was a matter of moments before Myria had upgraded both systems.  The difference is remarkable and more than welcome.  It was, if you’ll forgive an absurdly stretched metaphor, like getting Addi turbos for the laptops - whoosh!

The second instance of fortuitous, technological happenstance occurred when a chain game store offered a $50 trade-in on an older hand-held game system.  We happened to have one of those which we hadn’t bothered to trade in because the usual compensation is only about $10.  The caveat here is that the trade-in credit had to be applied to the purchase of a new Nintendo DS.  Well, Myria has a DS - but it’s a standard style (what I understand is called the “phat” DS) and she wanted one of the newer, slimmer models (called “Lite").  And she wanted a pink one.

This special turn-in price was only good through this weekend and the problem was that none of the stores in our area had any units - at all.  I asked one young man (pleasantly - after all, it wasn’t his fault that his employer was running a special deal without any stock to back it up) if that wasn’t pretty silly?  He agreed that it was very silly indeed.  However, yesterday we found a store quite a bit of a ways north of us that said they had two left - both in pink.  So out we went and, after a couple of wrong turns, finally found the place.  Myria turned in the old hand-held plus her phat DS and was able to get $90 to apply to the new hand-held which reduced its retail price from extortionary to negligible.

There was another pleasant surprise this weekend.  Yesterday, as I was working on something simple, my eye wandered over to my work basket and lit on the unfinished Summer Garden Sock (based on this pattern).  I wondered if maybe, if I went out into the kitchen and sat in the direct sunlight, maybe I could work a few rows on this?  Even if it wasn’t much, a few rounds a day would still complete it in time.  As it happened…

...I finished it!  Woo hoo!  Now, the heel is a bit shallow and the diameter is a bit larger than necessary so I will probably make some adaptations to the second sock which I hope to cast on later this week.  I just love the colors of this wool - so cheerful and vivid - and I can’t wait to actually be able to wear these.  Honestly, I’m practically giddy :)





It seems as though, while there may be periods where I can’t focus well enough to manage finer work, they aren’t going to be permanent and I may have as much as a week and a half where I can successfully manage things like socks and maybe even lace!  So I am very much looking forward to incorporating these things back into my knitting schedule and am thinking about - surprise! - more socks :)

The simple thing I was working on is a dishtowel which is almost finished.

The ones we have are cheap, thin cotton, old, stained and beyond disreputable.  It occurred to me as I was looking at them, that I have nearly a cabinet full of cotton that has been languishing as I carry on shamelessly with wool :) And that cotton could be put to practical and almost immediate use as dish towels.  So I measured one of the old ones - 16” x 22”, dug out some cotton and a size G/6 (4.25mm) hook and went to work.





The basis of this is this washcloth pattern.  Really, it’s exactly the same except for the size, though I’ll probably put an edging on this.  The Sedge stitch is very attractive and very simple - every row is worked the same.  I suspect that I’m working this towel a little too tightly - not a big problem though since this fabric isn’t intended to be worn and doesn’t really need to drape nicely :) However, I think I will use a larger hook for the next effort and see how things look and feel. 

I’d like to make three of four of these all together and will probably look to do each one in a different stitch.  The colors are going to be somewhat random as my cotton stash seems to run to random colors - but I don’t see that as any particular problem.  These are dishtowels, not decorator items :)

And, for the times when socks and lace aren’t possible, they’re perfect :)

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1. I do love that sock pattern!  And I am glad you were able to work on it.  Is the focusing problem due to the chemo?  That sucks big time.

   Posted by Rob  on  01/29  at  02:07 PM
   Location : (shhh -- at work)



2. Sounds like a fun weekend!  I can’t wait to do a little tech shopping with my tax refunds.  Those dishtowels would make an awesome gift, wouldn’t they?  What weight cotton are you using?

   Posted by Laura  on  01/29  at  03:04 PM
   Location :



3. I love tech presents! And seeing that sock just makes me *smile*!!!!!! A good dishcloth is an amazing thing

   Posted by nat  on  01/29  at  05:04 PM
   Location : happy as a clam



4. Rob - It sure is a great pattern and I can pretty much promise this won’t be the last pair of sock I make using it!

   Yeah - I have a serious case of chemo brain for about 10 days after a treatment.  But it’s not so bad - now I know to divide up my projects into those that require focus and concentration (for when after the fog clears!) and those that can be done while the knitter is asleep :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  01/29  at  06:48 PM
   Location : Swimming in the stash :)



5. Laura - For this one, I used Classic Elite Spotlight which is, sadly, discontinued but I believe it was sold as a worsted weight yarn.  The G/6 hook probably was a little small and I’m planning on trying an H/8 (5.00 mm) for the next one.

   You’re right - a set of these would make a great gift!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  01/29  at  06:51 PM
   Location : Swimming in the stash :)



6. Nat - We’re less “techie” around here than we used to be, but it really is fun when we do get into it now and again :)

   I’m glad you’re pleased about the sock - as you can see, your yarn is being put to very good use indeed and I shall bless your name with every step!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  01/29  at  06:53 PM
   Location : Swimming in the stash :)



7. Great sock! What cheerful colours.

   Posted by Opal  on  01/29  at  07:55 PM
   Location : Honolulu, Hawaii



8. Opal - Thanks :) THose colors just make me feel good!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  01/29  at  08:36 PM
   Location : Swimming in the stash :)

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