I know. I didn’t warn you I was going on vacation. I guess that’s bad blog etiquette.

Unfortunately, I’m a bit paranoid about posting that both Jim and I are away on a blog. My in laws stay here to take care of the cats… but still….

Anyway, we drove down. I know I could tell you all about the drive down and the beauty of Siesta Key (and who knows, maybe I will). I could tell you how my Dad is doing. But I’d rather tell you about my knitting: I started another shawl!

Why another shawl? Well, as you know, Mom wanted my white Barbara Shawl, so I gave it to her for Christmas. That meant I didn’t have a neutral white “wear with anything” shawl anymore.

Lucky for me, I did have a 3 year old cone of 2/18 weight JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk which I’d bought back when I knit by machine. In hand knitting terminology this is either lace weight or cobweb weight.

Anyway, since the Barbara shawl was very long, I decided to make this shawl very long. Since I was knitting in the car, I also decided to use a the “double triangle” shape and knit mostly garter stitch– just like my “Jenny Shawl” shown to the right. It’s pretty mindless to work, especially at the beginning.

What could be better for car knitting? I know there are people who can knit complicated lace while hitting bumps on the road, but not me!

Anyway, this is going to look a lot like the Jenny Shawl.

Are there differences? Well, yes. The increases for this one use yarn-overs instead of kfb’s (knit front and back). That makes decorative holes down the center and edge. Also, I’m going to make a deeper “lacy” trim at the bottom, and make this longer in general. I’m also not going to make the edges curl around at the end. This will be a classic double triangle.

How did the knitting go? On the two day trip down, I worked garter stitch. (That’s about 20 hours.) Then, every now and then during vacation, I knit a bit more garter stitch — that would be a total of maybe 6 hours in a week.

Mind you, this yarn is over 1000 yards per inch, so after 26 hours I was still not finished!

So on, the drive back on Sunday, I knit more garter stitch– until about 3 pm when I switched to the “lace” trim. Monday: Worked on trim for 10 hours in the car.

Don’t be deceived by the time this took: this lace trim is easy. The only reason the trim is taking so long compared to the garter stitch portion of the shawl is that you end up with zillions of stitches on the needle when you reach the hem. (I started with 1 stitch. I don’t even know how many are on there now. 500? 1000? The trim is a two stitch repeat, and you can fudge if you are off by one. So, there is no way I’m counting.)

Anyway, as you can see, I’m still not done! But I’ll finish pretty soon. And now, I’ll have Mo at my side to encourage me.

As you can see, he is happy to see me home. He’s been following me around non-stop. If I go upstairs, he comes upstairs. If I carry laundry to the basement, there he is in the basement. When I went out to take photos of plants and knitting, he scritched at the door followed me out there! (Right now, he’s wedge up next to the computer making it difficult for me to type!)

I think he was pretty lonely and is glad Jim and I are back. (Too bad I can’t get him to write my haikus while I’m gone, huh? )

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | 8 comments
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Ok..he admits the real title of the CBS news article is Pet Food Toxin Said To Be Common In China.

Evidently, the melamine that contaminated cat food in the US and killed some of our beloved pets is added on purpose in China. When used in small doses it doesn’t necessarily kill the pets. What it does do is trick protein measurement devices, making the food appear to have a higher protein level than actually contained in the food. (So, at best, it would appear it’s used to defraud consumers without actually killing their pets or livestock. Oh, that’s just splendid!)

China is now banning the use of melamine and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has blocked wheat and rice gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. and Binzhou Futian Bio-technology Co. after melamine was found in samples taken from batches used to make pet food. (Melamine is generally used to make furniture and fertilizer.)

Mo tells me he does not approve of Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. or the Binzhou Futian Bio-technology Co.

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | 7 comments
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If you want a higher authority than Mo, or think this is old news, you can visit the FDA’s page, where today they report:

FDA is advising pet owners that recalled pet food may still be on the shelves in some retail establishments. FDA urges retailers across the country to be vigilant in removing all products associated with the pet food recall, which began on March 16, 2007.

To verify the effectiveness of the recall, FDA has conducted approximately 400 checks of retail stores across the country. Based on the checks, FDA believes most companies have removed the recalled product; however, some have not. FDA will continue to monitor retailers’ efforts to remove these items from the shelves.

The current list of individual foods being recalled is kept here. Neither Mo nor Piewacket are eating anything on any of these lists.

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | One comment
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Unfortunately, one of my plugins was causing problems with feeds by adding a blank line. Bloglines seemed to auto-correct the problem, but Feedburner didn’t. That particular plugin was supposed to help people who arrived from google find their search text. I thought that was a handy feature, but since it really messed up feeds, I turned it off once I found the problem. I’m still not sure my feed is “perfect”, but I think the majorbugs is fixed.

If feeds are fully functional, you’ll see this delightful picture of Cosmo, who, you will notice is not knitting. . You should also see some links to categories “Cats” and “Blogging” and other miscellaneous stuff at the bottom of the feed.

Comments seem to be working.

The few calculators I tested seem to work.

Anyway, let me know if you see any glitches. (Meanwhile, I’ll be deleting the short “test” blog entries so people arriving at my site don’t need to read those.)

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | 6 comments
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After all, the boy has gotten fat, fat, fat! I thought he might exercise. Here he is “exercising”. Luckily, the “no longer always open bowl” policy seems to be working out. He doesn’t howl . . . too much. And he’s still cuddly and affectionate. (Hopefully, he will still be cooperative and pick out nice colors of yarn.

Meanwhile, I’m doing ok on my diet, and posting recipes, and some diet calculators over at The Diet Diary! I’ll be off to exercise at 2:30 pm. I’ll do a better job than Cosmo.

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | 2 comments
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Here’s an update on Cosmo who, as you may recall, picked out the colors for my entrelac scarf, and a bit of dieting news:

Cosmo is fat!

Six weeks ago when we adopted him, he was at his ideal weight. But, he’s been enjoying the “open bowl” policy in our house, and eating non-stop. Gaining a half a pound a week is not good for a human, and I can’t image what it does to a cat. (I wouldn’t have even thought it possible.)

I’m trying to get him to work out, but as you can see, he’s not interested. No more open bowl policy for him!

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | 3 comments
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Table of contents for ribbed-entrelac

1. Ribbed Entrelac Test Knit
2. Ribbed Entrelac: The scarf begins!

When we adopted Cosmo from the Humane Society, we made one thing very clear: He was expected to be a working cat. He told us he was more than willing to work for his keep. So, yesterday, I assigned him his first task: Pick out yarn for my entrelac scarf. And guess what? He picked some great stuff!

The yarn is DK weight, 100% wool, and Cosmo picked two beautiful shades of blue. Inspired by his color choices, I cast on. To the left, you can see what I’ve done so far.

I labeled the “bits”. Bits, 1&2 are knit following the directions for “Section 1″. Bits 3,4 & 5, are the left triangle, center rectangle and right triangle created following the directions in “Section 2″. Bit 6 is the first rectangle following directions for “Section 3″. The magenta line indicates a row of stitches.

In case you want to give this a whirl, here are sort of directions — but notice they aren’t complete! I’ll write the full directions up when I’m done, and I’ll write a calculator so you can vary. (Ok, you know the real reason these directiosn are here. It’s so I can print them out and check as I keep knitting section 2 and 3 over and over again. If they are confusing, please ask questions– then I can fix wording. There may be mistakes! )

MATERIALS
Main Color [MC]: Dark blue stash yarn DK [100% wool; 105 yd per 50g skein] 1 skein;
Contrast Color [CC]: Light blue stash yarn DK [100% wool; 105 yd per 50g skein].
(This happens to be Aarlan Swa Laine. I doubt this is made anymore. You can use any DK or sport yarn.)

1 set 4 mm needles

GAUGE
?? sts/?? rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

ABBREVIATIONS:
Pfb: Purl into front, then back of stitch. 1 st increased.
Kfb: Knit into front, them back of stitch. 1 st increased.
SSK: Slip 1 knit wise, slip knit wise, knit two slipped stitches together.

DIRECTIONS
IMPORTANT NOTE: Turn work at the end of each row throughout pattern, unless instructed otherwise. I’ll remind you once after row 1.

NOTES: The directions mention the “right side” and “wrong side”. There really isn’t a right side and wrong side, but the notes help you keep track of the directions, and remind you to turn the work. I mark the “right side” with a safety pin after a few rows.

Slip purlwise unless the directions instruct otherwise.

I sometimes use blue font to emphasize what’s changed since two rows earlier in the directions. This should help you understand directions like “continue in pattern established.”

SECTION 1:Two Base Triangles.

Using MC, CO 20 sts. (Note: This makes two blocks with 10 stitches each. )

Row 1 [RS]: K1,P1. (Turn the work even though there are tons of stitches on the left hand needle. Really!)
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p1.

Row 3 [RS]: K1, p1, k1.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl1, k1, p1.

Notice, you should be able to tell this is becoming 1 x 1 ribbing. Also, the point of triangle 1 will begin to from.

Row 5 [RS]: K1, p1, k1, p1.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl1, p1, k1, p1.

Row 7 [RS]: K1, p1, k1, p1, k1.
Row 6 [WS]: Sl1, k1, p1, k1, p1.

Continue in pattern established by rows 5-8 until row 14. (Math note, that’s 2*10 – 6.) Just in case you get lost, here are the directions for rows 13 & 14!

Row 13 [RS]: **K1, p1 repeat from ** 3 times, end k1. (You worked a total of 9 stitches.)
Row 14 [WS]: Sl1, p1, **k1, p1 repeat from ** to end.

Row 15 [RS]: **K1, p1 repeat from ** 6 times. (Note: You work a total of 12 stitches on this row. That’s 10 to complete the first base triangle and 2 for the next base triangle.)

Repeat Rows 2-14 once more.

Next Row [RS]: **K1, p1 repeat from ** 5 times. Break yarn. Mark “right side” [RS] with safety pin.

If you want to see how these triangles are going to look when after you finish, take one of the triangles off onto a spare needle. and draw the cast on into a straight line. There will be 10 stitches at the top of each base triangle. (If you do this, do put the stitches back on the needle to continue working. )
==================================
SECTION 2: Edge triangles and rectangles in CC.

Left Edge Triangle: Start with “wrong side” facing. You’ll be attaching yarn at the edge of triangle 2.
Row 1 [WS]: Kfb into same stitch, p2tog. (The kfb increases a stitch at the edge; the p2tog eats up one of the dark blue stitches on the top of triangle 2. Remember to turn the work.)
Row 2 [RS]: K1, p1, p1.

Row 3 [WS]: (K1,p1) into same stitch, k1, p2tog. (The k1, p1 into same stitch increases a stitch at the edge.)
Row 4 [RS]: K1, p1, k1, p1.

Row 5 [WS]: Kfb, p1, k1, p2tog.
Row 6 [RS]: K1, p1, k1, p1, p1.

Row 7 [WS]: (K1,p1) into same stitch, k1, p1, k1, p2tog.
Row 6 [RS]: K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1.
Continue in pattern established until you reach row 15.

Row 15 [WS]: (K1,p1) into same stitch, **k1, p1, repeat from ** 3 times, k1, p2tog. Do not turn work. Note: 10 sts on right needle.

Note: Directions for Center Square and Right Edge Triangle will instruct you to pick up sts along the edge of a square. The first time you work Section 1, you will be picking these sts up along the edges of the base triangles.

Center Square:
Pick up 10 stitches along edge of square adjacent to right needle.
Now (k1, p1) across until 3 stitches remain, end (k1, then ssk.)

Next Row [RS]: **k1, p1 repeat 5 times.
Next Row [WS]: **k1,p1 repeat from ** 4 times, end k1, p2tog.
Repeat these 2 rows * times more. All sts have been worked; 20 sts on right needle. Do not turn work at end of last row.

Right Edge Triangle:
Along edge of square adjacent to right side, pick up 10 stitches and beginning with a knit stitch work in 1 x 1 rib until two stitches remain, ssk.

Row 1 [RS]: *p1, k1 repeat from *, end k1.
Row 2 [WS]: * k1, p1, repeat from * until 3 stitches remain, k1, ssk.
Row 3 [RS]: p1, *p1, k1 repeat from *.
Row 4 [WS]: *k1, p1, repeat from * until 2 stitches remain ssk.

Continue in pattern established.

Row 16 [WS]: Ssk. Break yarn. Attach other color.

==================================
SECTION 3: Two rectangles in MC.

First Square:
With RS facing and using MC, p1, pick up and work 9 sts in 1 x 1 rib along edge of Right Edge Triangle beginning with a knit stitch, when you reach the last picked up stitch, work an ssk to “seam” with the first stitch on the top of the next rectangle.)

*Next Row [WS]: *p1, k1, repeat from *.
Next Row [RS]: *p1, k1, repeat from * 3 times, end p1, ssk.
Repeat these 2 rows 8 times more. 10 sts on right needle. Do not turn work at end of last row.*

Second Square:
Along edge of Center square, pick up 10 stitches and work the first 9 in 1 x 1 rib beginning with a purl stitch, end with ssk.

Work from * to * as for First Square. Break yarn.
=======================
Repeat Section 2 and Section 3 until work measures “some long length” inches, ending with Section 2.
=====

Finishing bit!
I haven’t finished! These instructions aren’t here yet!

© lucia for The Knitting Fiend, 2007. | Permalink | 7 comments
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