Now, for something fun!

I am still reading Hertzog, but thankfully, this nightmare is over:

The last time I posted about this sweater, I was wary of the pattern because I knew it had mistakes.  None other than the designer himself commented, and directed me to a forum post on ravelry.  I also noted the errata.

I did everything by the book: I swatched, and blocked before I seamed.  Yet I found, like everyone else who complained, that the saddle was too long.  The fact that the designer insisted that the dimensions were correct interfered with my instincts.  I wrote to him. (three times...)  He was kind, but really, not helpful.

I will not go into details here, it is too complicated, but trust me: the errata for this pattern is wrong. If you ever knit this, ignore the schematic (the saddle should be about 2 inches shorter), and when you shape the saddle, decrease every row.  Or else you will
 *seam, message the designer, rip seam, frog, reknit, repeat 3 times from *  before you are done.

 I like the way it turned out.  The recipient is at work, and I only finished the neckband this morning (it still has to be blocked), so I am wearing it.  (It is 90 degrees outside.)

Melva finished the second sock among other things, but I am very happy to report that she finished a pair.

Melva is knitting Ginny's Sunday sweater (we will adapt it to fit her), and I am looking forward to knitting something smaller next, a sweater for Christian.

Joining Ginny over at her yarn along.

Update: 52 projects, and The Weather

I am still making things.  I have lost count, I think I may finish 52 objects this year, and I am failing at taking a picture every week and posting about it, but at least I am still making things.

The nesting baskets were inspired by this post over at "Rhythm of the Home".

Upside down

They are very pretty, made out of left over pieces of fabric that I cut into 1 inch wide strips with a rotary cutter.

I also needed a place to store the millions of cheap-ish double pointed needles that I have bought on Amazon.  They do the job well enough, and I do not feel so desperate when I lose one of them.  But I do not plan to lose any more, hence the neat case to store them in:

I made this pattern up, it was really easy once I sat down and fiddled with the actual needles and fabric.  That is fortunate, since I will need a couple more cases before all the needles are organized...

And since I am writing, I might add that the weather in Central Texas has definitely turned.  This summer wasn't that bad, but when I went outside yesterday and suddenly felt as if I could breathe the air, I remembered how much I actually dislike this climate.  I guess it is a good sign if you start to notice something only in its absence?

When it was over 95 (35) degrees, I did what I had to and really felt as if it was not that bad.  But the moment it dropped below 88 (31) degrees, I felt at home.  It is going to be a good three months.

Knits men want (yawn)...

Part I

I felt excited when I saw this book on amazon, and clicked before doing any research.  I gave the book to Jacques and asked him which sweater he wanted - he chose the Baseball Jersey and could not be convinced otherwise.  I like the pictures of the sweater too, but I know about seaming and huge panels, I have never done a "saddle shoulder", and the first projects I looked at on ravelry all complained about mistakes in the pattern and the designer not being very helpful. However, I have been very careful, I have made notes and I am counting and measuring every step of the way, so there is hope!  Two sleeves and half a front/back panel down, and I feel optimistic about the end product.  I am sure I will have to tweak around the neckline to make everything fit, but that's okay.  It is never that cold in Texas anyway, I have time.
About the book:  I recommend it, the patterns all involve miles and miles of stockinette in a shade of brown or gray, but that is very realistic. Jacques would wear every one of them.

The sleeves and half a panel, spread out, could cover at least 3 babies!

 I cast on a honey cowl for me, too.  I am modifying it a bit (see Ravelry notes).  I discovered linen stitch and all the other types of slip stitches very recently, which made me wonder, again: will knitting ever get boring? 
On a different note, I need input:  I want to give this cowl a crocheted edging - considering that I plan to wear this mostly with a white t-shirt and a denim (i.e. my uniform), what solid color would work best?

See the notes?

 About the literature:  Jacques recommended Herzog, by Saul Bellow.  It is very entertaining.  Some of my favorite quotes so far: "If I am out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog."

The book is about a troubled man, in New York, who writes letters.  Incessantly, and to everyone that he happens to think about.  I am not yet sure if he mails any of them, or if it is just his internal dialogue.   Introspective is a good one word description.

I love books written a while ago - it serves to remind us that the problems we face today, the debates raging today, have been raging for ages.  All is not lost, if you feel as if all is lost, yet you cannot be sure that anything is won, either.  For instance, he writes:
" Dear Mr President, Internal Revenue regulations will turn us into a nation of bookkeepers.  The life of every citizen is becoming a business.  This, it seems to me, is one of the worst interpretations of the meaning of life history has ever seen.  Man's life is not a business."

The book was published in 1964.  It does not elaborate, this is just a snippet, almost an intrusive thought, while his (Herzog's) real life is continuing.  I fear you might now think the book is very political; it is not.  Most of the book is about interpersonal relationships, from the perspective of a man that has, to a degree, lost his mind. Fascinating.

Part II

 Melva's latest project.  It started with a science experiment, where we used red cabbage to make a pH indicator. It evolved into dying yarn using the indicator and baking soda, and knitting Baby Fan Mitts.  She adapted the pattern to ensure that it fits perfectly.  She made some knitting needles too.

 More about all of that in a different post.

Once again, linking up with Ginny's yarn along at Small Things, and looking forward to seeing what everyone has been up to!