14 January 2013

it's too cold to do anything but knit! ~ guest blogger lori


"soon at 144 stitches and lisbon airport, it was on the 24" needle and it zigzagged about europe with me for two or three weeks before returning home, completed. on its circular needle it formed its own knitting bag to contain the ball of wool."
 elizabeth zimmermann's ~ knitter's almanac

i've only been to santa barbara and back, but my knitting has come with me everywhere, in it's own bag!  i am on a 32" needle now with 576 stitches, the total increase amount in this pattern. and almost through the 2nd d chart. because i am easily distracted, there are stitch markers between each 20 stitch repeat, and a lifeline in for good measure too. we are having record breaking cold here on the central coast of california, as low as 30 degrees! perfect knitting weather!

20 comments:

  1. it's lovely, Lori! and I keep meaning to say that I love your tablecloth ~ it's so bright and cheerful

    and here I thought you were going to be bringing warm California sunshine to our kal and it's just as cold where you are ~ the chill does make for perfect knitting though, doesn't it? ;)

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  2. thank you melissa! it's so much fun to have my own room now (that the kids are gone) with thrift shop finds and crafts, and of course wool. i don't think anyone else in town is quite as happy as me with this freeze!

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    1. I'm inspired to get my room/attic finished when I see your space on your blog ~ maybe now that the holidays are over and my crazy yearlong secret knitting project is over I can put some time aside to get it done ~ I've never had a 'me space' before so it's exciting to think about!

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    2. you should defintely do it! there are some very good books out there on the subject, i had one i loved to look through, i think it was called 'organizing your craft space', very inspiring.

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    3. I'm just at that point ~ my space is ready and filled to the gills with every bit of craftiness I own...& I'm completely frozen in indecision about what to put where and what I need to purge (I do need to whittle down to the things that I really love since it's not a huge space and part of it does need to be for storage of a few household things)

      I think I need to just get it to a point that I can 'live in it' and then maybe it will be easier to decide what needs to be in a different spot and what can leave the room altogether...I'm the most organized person but I feel like I need a coach for this room...it's hard ;)

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  3. Oh you are making great progress. I love how it makes it's own bag! I am not that far yet. But I am casted on!

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  4. You go Lori!
    I am almost done with the body of my poncho and once
    it is complete I will be casting on my Leaves of Grass,
    I have the yarn and everything!
    Now I just need your cold weather :)

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    1. Lori, when you have the time would you talk alittle about how to run a lifeline? I have heard about them, but honestly have no idea how to
      do one and I think I would like to have one when I am knitting my
      Leaves of Grass too.

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    2. If you are using interchangeables, you can thread a piece of dental floss or similar weight string through the hole near the join. You knit with it attached as such and undo it at the end of the row. Easily placed lifeline.

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    3. knit picks has the hole in the needle feature, but not addi lace or signature. i did see that addi came out with a new lifeline cord, it might be a good thing to have!
      i think a little problem with attaching a lifeline this way would mean going through all the stitch markers, in this project there are 28, plus the one to mark the beginning of the row. you would then have to add in 28 more on the following row, since you couldn't retrieve your markers (which would be brilliant if you did have to rip back, markers are already in place). unless you were to use split markers.

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    4. Another way to run a lifeline is to thread a darning needle with the floss and follow the path of the needle; that would give you the option of omitting the stitch markers from the lifeline.

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    5. i like to do it that way too willy.

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  5. lori it is beautiful ! I again will be starting mine over but hopefully since i will be done with a different BIG project i really be able to concentrate ! I will be be usinf markers this time and a life line ..... thanks

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  6. Lovely work!! I am admiring all those colorful markers sprinkled on the needle :)

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  7. Love seeing your progress Lori. I am so glad that I am not the only one with tons of stitchmarkers between my 20 repeats! Better to be safe the sorry!
    We are with you with cold weather here in AZ. Lots of 40 degree daytime temps and freeze warnings a night. Indeed perfect knitting weather.

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    1. andi it helps to completely relax with knitting! since i bring my knitting to work (shhh...) and pick it up and down a lot, stitch markers are really necessary.

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  8. It has been so cold here too. 40 degrees in Arizona is treated like arctic temps. I haven't pulled out the markers, but I should since I have had to pull out a row or two when I have gotten distracted! Since in the land of the Cs, but hoping to reach the D chart by week's end.

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  9. I love the EZ quote and the beautiful photographs. What beautiful light!

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