Sheep Shots

I am one of those Crazy Math People.

Some of you noticed in a previous post how I managed to rationalize throwing in the towel stopping the knitting on my throw at 56" (plus border) by Doing The Math. I have carried that even further today.

Exhibit A:

Another project in the partially completed stage. (No, it isn't a sweater. At least not in the conventional sense.)

I have completed the set-up section (need another at the other end) and 3 pattern repeats(2 more needed).

A round (90 stitches) takes me a hair under 3 minutes to complete. Each pattern repeat is 20 rounds. The end section is 17 rounds.


That means I have (57 more rounds X 3 minutes)/60 minutes in an hour or just under 3 hours of knitting time (plus some i-cord, but that requires no concentration on my part). Definitely doable and certainly a lot less than the 436 hours I would estimate still needs to be done as I try to read tiny chart or my knitting or both while squinting and surfing ::coff::

Exhibit B:

My Red Scarf

I am using the Twin Rib Pattern found here because I wanted something mindless (it's relative) but classy, unisex, and non-rolling.

Scarves need to be 60" long. I am at 31" right now (more than halfway done--YES!).

Again, timing 1 row (2 minutes or thereabouts) and the number of rows per inch (7.5 or 15 for 2") tells me that I have miles to go before I sleep a little less than 7.5 hours of (relatively) mindless knitting before I can call this one finished, a fair entry, and a gift to a young man or woman who could use a pat on the back and a (gentle) shove in the right direction.

Not nearly as frustrating as thinking "only 3 more years and I'll be done."

Math--it saves the day.


And in somewhat related news, we stopped at Borders yesterday. I didn't even wander back to where the knitting books are shelved.

Shot my entire "extra cash" on 2 British knitting magazines (each came with a bonus). They are expensive compared to the domestic mags on the rack (besides, I already subscribe to the ones I want), but the designs often have an edge that is refreshing.



I doubt that I will be making anything following the patterns exactly, but I will be inspired, I am sure.

Message to "cornflower": The penguin pattern is an adaptation of a pattern in this oop Jean Greenhowe book, I believe. It's here somewhere, I know not where for sure, so cannot confirm.

Labels: fair entries, magazines, silliness

We are switching Internet providers.

Supposedly, this will be faster and cheaper. So far, it is neither. I will have a new email address. Watch for details.

And Blogger was causing me fits this morning. I couldn't upload photos. It should be obvious that I finally found a "work-around" for that problem.

Gentle Readers may be wondering what knitting would keep me busy now that the fair entries have been dropped off. Would the Sheepie take a break of several weeks? Or what? *

Well, in a sense, I am taking a break. Nothing "competition worthy," just some little things on the needles.

First up: 4" squares in "baby colors" for January's Blanket Blitz for the Reservation. This Blitz is sponsored by the Yahoo Group (Native American Support) and the Ravelry Group (Helping Hearts for Cheyenne River Reservation).

Nine and four inch squares, completed hand crafted blankets (all sizes) and purchased blankets are all needed. Leave me a comment if this interests you and you'd like more information.

In addition to the squares, I am working on a "scrapghan" in some sorta-boy colors--not baby colors exactly, but definitely not "girly girl." I have another collection of girl colors (pinks, lavender, minty green) and will start that one next.

Good old Red Heart (and other ack-rillic) for washability and wearability.

There's some soft, fuzzy stuff (Caron, Whatever That Nasty Stuff Was Called, the name escapes me at the mo') and the last of my Aussie yarn (3rd stripe in from the right side, that creamy beige) that Nanna sent me a while back.

Yesterday, since the Fairgrounds Farmers Market was closed (because of the fair!) for the next couple of weeks, we went on a "shopping expedition" to all of the high spots in the Valley.

A trip to Ollie's (previously described as a "downscale" Big Lots store) yielded these two new books for the collection.
Books at Ollie's are often damaged (didn't see any on either book) or remaindered, or something. They are also (usually) very cheap.

I paid $6.98 for both of them (cover prices were $14.95 and $12.95).

So, both have some interesting ideas--stepping off places, if you will.



They'll be used. . .eventually.





Next stop was Border's (for a slushie coffee drinkie thing for the ride home that I really didn't need--Brain Freeze!) and a quick look on the magazine rack.

I had checked the "usual places" for Knit Simple (don't you know that it will be on the magazine rack at the grocery store the next time I look?). There are some cute mittens and a very basic cardigan and a tea cozy shaped like a pumpkin. Very solid issue. Nothing strange or exotic.

Knitting is a very British magazine and comes sealed in plastic, so gawping first isn't an option. It came with a copy of Beautiful Baby Knits (loved the cover sweater) so I figured that alone made it worth the sticker price ($9.99). There's not a lot in the main mag that I will knit (truthfully, I doubt that there's anything there that I will make. though the article on lace will bear further notice) but the baby supplement. . oh, my! Six lovely sweaters, 4 clearly "girl" with flowers and ruffles, 2 unisex and knitted up in "boy" and photographed on wee laddies, two hats and a pair of booties.

Then, there's Belle Armoire subtitled Art to Wear which is inspiring and fun (and no, I don't think I'll make anything from that one either, but it's fun to look at and fun to imagine with, you know, fun).

Oh, and since Border's is a book store, We bought books for late summer-into-fall reading.

It was Buy-one-get-one (50% off) pile that attracted both the Other Half and me. Before long, I had selected my 2. He had found one, then I added another, then he did and next thing I knew, we had a pile of 6.

I'll probably read all of them. Four are clearly of interest to me mostly (chickish lit, but high quaity "chick lit!") so those will be passed along to the Daughter In Law and (eventually) to her friends.

Even if no food shopping (other than lunch and the Brain-Freeze inducing drinkies) was involved, it was a very productive trip!

* Christmas knitting (couple of sweaters) will be next, and a baby gift that I must finish (but first, I must start it!), and then (shortly after the new year dawns, I think) I will be starting 2009 Fair Knitting. I have no intention of waiting until the last minute to make All Those Projects! (Is there an echo in here?)

Labels: books, charity, Cheyenne River, magazines

The Sheepie Household has been taken over by cattly toys.

Sparky got Undercover Mouse for Christmas. She spent the last 2+ weeks trying to decide what she thinks of it.

It rustles. It moves. It makes a funny noise.

Yesterday, she got a little closer and by George, I think she likes it!

See that feathery thing in the lower left corner? It "runs" around the yellow circle in fits and starts, just like a real mouse.

Sort of.

Or like Bed Mice.




I have a confession to make.

The Magical Moccasins are the creation of the wonderful colorist who also wrote the book (eyes left) that I got last week.

This book is terrific. There's nothing else I can say!

I will probably never knit any of the 27 projects, but I am truly inspired to break out of my brown/gray/ beige color scheme and knit something full of fantastic colors.

Oh. wait! Moccasins!

I am looking forward to curling up with Kristin Knits!




I got this, too, because, you know, free shipping if you spend $25.

It's inspiring in a different way and I'm pretty sure that I will cast on more than a few of the projects to use up odd balls of yarn.

Probably for the reservation.

And for gifts.

And for me! Just like they are written. Imagine!

I will say, though that I consider it a bit "cheaty" when some of the single skeins are 300+ meters of Worsted Weight.



And what would Caterday be without a little shopping expedition?

We hit Borders (not very hard; we like them, after all) because there was a rumor that this was a particularly excellent issue of Piecework.

It is, oh, it is.

All knitting! The entire thing! It's a skinny one (48 pages, only, and $5.99) but worth it. So worth it!.

Rovaniemi Mittens (and mitts), Poetry Mittens (the ones with the verse knitted in), a lovely Estonian scarf, Lithuanian baby mittens, a pair of men's gloves, and an Ann Budd sweater.

Lots that I might actually make!


Then, these were these calling my name.

British, all of them. Sealed in plastic. Hmmm.

But I had it on good authority that Simply Knitting had a pattern for Shaun the Sheep. I should have paid closer attention.

Shaun made his appearance in the December issue. This is January's! ::poop::

The issue of Simply Knitting was disappointing on a number of levels, besides the non-Shaun. Clearly, the "best" patterns were featured in the ads. Patterns in this issue included a Rowan Big Wool jacket, A kid's "argyle" vest with "wings" where the armholes belong, a Louisa Harding cardigan shown off-the- shoulder on the model, a pillow, some Barbie clothes (the Alan Dart pattern for this issue), a knitted wire necklace that looks for all the world like a lacy version of a spiked bulldog collar,a crochet shopping bag, and a pair of socks. There was a set of yarn/sheep-themed postcards to make up for some of the disappointment. It didn't.

Knitting, on the other hand, started off with three cardigans (one I might knit) and a lacy tunic. Of course, there were the lacy leggings that made me scratch my head and vow "never!, a knit beaded choker, a big square floor cushion and a ruffled tea cozy that is not on my to-do list. There are a cute, well-fitting vest (dk weight fair isle with proper armholes) and a tunic length "jumper" for kids, 2 pairs of socks--one kid size, one for adults, 4 Christmas stockings. There was a "Gift Supplement" that include patterns for knee socks (Joan McGowan-Michael), slippers (Erika Knight), a lovely beaded evening bag, and a hat, glove, scarf set.

Clearly, at least to me, Knitting is a better value than Simply Knitting.

I will leave it to all of you to decide which makes sense for you (or maybe neither will), but get the Piecework, or at least look through it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Labels: books, cats, magazines

Labels: food, magazines

Labels: magazines

The car knitting will not be car knitting for a day or so. That second sleeve requires more attention than I can give it, so I'll cast on something else mindless to work on at traffic signals.

This is an itty bitty sweater, about 22" around the chest. Pattern is Elizabeth Zimmermann's Tomten (available in many publications, though I happen to be working from The Opinionated Knitter). The yarn is 100% wool (superwash) Lane Borgosesia Knitaly. Well-aged.

It's a good strong green. I'll be trimming it with an equally strong blue. Buttons from the stash.



This came in the mail.

It's a spring/summer issue and they are generally "light" on things I would make.

This spring/summer issue is no exception.

Even the advice is lacking.

One example: "I consider myself an advanced beginner, but my knitting seems to grow as I keep making extra stitches at the edge." (The other three questions posed to Jil Eaton in this issue deal with frogging.)

Once upon a time, Knit Simple's predecessor (FCEK)addressed knitting skills that would allow a new knitter to advance. I don't see that any longer.


This issue is full of tank tops and beachwear. And Crochet. There's lots of crochet!




There was one pattern that I found appealing. Some cute little t-strap baby booties.

But frankly, there are versions of this pattern in some of the Debbie Bliss baby pattern books I own and several versions in Zoë Mellor's 50 Baby Bootees to Knit. So tell me, why do I need yet another one?

If I weren't a subscriber, this is not one I'd have bought on the newsstand.



Oh, and this came with it. Renewal notice.

Um, not unless the next issue is bunches better.

This issue is up for grabs.

Drop me an email (amcmanus-at-ptd-dot-net) (Make the obvious corrections) with Knit Simple in the subject line. I'll do a random draw from all "entries" received by oh, 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 24.

Labels: baby things, magazines