crankyisgood ([info]crankyisgood) wrote,
@ 2006-08-17 11:49:00
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Entry tags:alpaca, fountain lace sweater, knitblog, knitting, woes

worn out
I think we should have 30-hour workweeks. Seriously. Six hours is my good work limit and forcing myself to work hard beyond that, as I have done all week, just kills me. Six-hour days would mean getting everything done, having a tiny bit of time to catch up with people, sometimes getting a bit behind, sometimes having a little time on my hands...

So look, I'm tired and I really don't feel like applying myself. Yet there's work to do and if I don't take charge it will just be little bits and pieces and feel unproductive right? (Somebody help me out here...)

I know, I'm just babbling and not even giving you any good pictures. Part of that is because lately I've just not been in charge of my free time and not producing anything. HOWEVER the one thing I have done is pick up the Adrienne Vittadini Fountain Lace sweater and work on the last piece, the collar. Last night, the collar nearly done, I tried pinning the sweater pieces onto myself to see if I: a) had already wasted all that time/yarn/money on a sweater that won't fit, before I waste time seaming it; b) was going to have to proceed to the next step of time-wasting potentially in vain. This didn't work. Also, I'm somewhat allergic to alpaca. The sweater is in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. So, what I might end up with is an itchy sweater that doesn't fit. I can just imagine the hours of washing the yarn to reknit it now... I am going to show you a picture of the nearly-finished collar to spice up this post.

Nearly finished collar.


Finally, a quote from a voicemail message from my colleague: "I went to the doctor yesterday and she told me to stay home if I wasn't feeling better tomorrow." Um, yeah. Poor coworker.

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[info]lexophile
2006-08-17 10:19 pm UTC (link)
That's funny- her doctor told me the same thing.

Love that knitting up there; heavenly color, too. I'm imagining that it smells like lavender.

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-17 11:00 pm UTC (link)
Maybe I should introduce some lavender to the sweater. I have plenty in the yard and it might distract the cat from the alpaca smell, which she likes a lot.

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-17 10:55 pm UTC (link)
If the sweater doesn't fit, I'll take it off your hands. I'll even seam it myself. No sense you wasting your time on a non-fitting sweater you're allergic too.

Of course, that's all nonsense because it will fit because naturally you did a gauge swatch. As far as the allergy thing - the DB alpaca silk is pretty darn itchy. I wouldn't wear it against my skin. Did you go with the DK or worsted weight?

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-17 11:02 pm UTC (link)
It's not just me, then... good to know. It seems so soft until it's against your arm. It's worsted weight and probably eleventy million balls.

I did a swatch but then... oh but then. I don't know. I think it's maybe a row-gauge issue? Or perhaps a drape problem? Or maybe I'm just crazy.

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-17 11:30 pm UTC (link)
If I remember from my mom's sweater, it does soften up some after it's washed and blocked. Crazy warm though, and still not totally skin-friendly. (I don't know who could wear that necklace thing we sell - it would drive me crazy.)

Row gauge can be a bit of a devil, eh? Don't give up on her yet! The yarn's beautiful enough to carry sizing issues!

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-17 11:58 pm UTC (link)
are you suggesting I soak it?

have I told you how I hate the term "wet block"?

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 12:07 am UTC (link)
you hate "wet block"?? The wet part? Or the whole thing? Or do you hate the process of wet blocking?

But yes, I would soak it and lay it out. I don't know how tightly you were knitting it, but mine softened up and became more drapy after some quality time in the sink.

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 12:29 am UTC (link)
no! i hate the phrase/term! "I wet-blocked it." "It needs a good wet-blocking." etc. yuck yuck.

I shall soak -- in lavender soapy water -- and block. this adds at least a full day to my completion date, though.

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 04:19 am UTC (link)
We'll just to come up with something better then. Full-immersion blocking? A long, hot soaker? (A soaker is a word I've come to detest in the knitting world). Deep sea blocking?

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 04:20 am UTC (link)
And I would like to add that at least you've got a completion date in view. This is very good news!

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 04:29 am UTC (link)
it's good news... I think. Is the neck too tight?!? I DON'T KNOW! waaaaaaaaah.

I like deep-sea blocking.

I also hate "dry blocking." god. it should be steam blocking or just blocking and none of this wishywashy crap!!!

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 04:37 am UTC (link)
necks can easily be reknit. Or deep-sea blocked to within an inch of their lives. (Okay, that's another pet peeve of mine. Knitted objects are not alive. They are very cool potentially have personalities, but definitely not alive.)

Maybe you just don't like blocking? How about "moist blocking"? (Eww, even I don't like that one.)

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 05:06 am UTC (link)
sigh. it's raglan. i guess I could seam from the pits up so i can undo the bind off later if needed.

see? it's all this water-reference that's the problem.

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[info]lexophile
2006-08-18 02:19 am UTC (link)
Sorry to interrupt, but I have a mental block- who at Colby used to say in this horrible smoker's voice with a bit of a nyc accent "Madge, I soaked in it"?

I know you were there. I know it.

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 03:20 am UTC (link)
no prob. you did notice that i will be soaking it in lavender soap, right?

also: my sister's friend who went to colby just married. look at her flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65936866@N00/

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 04:30 am UTC (link)
was the ceremony itself on the fantastic little knoll overlooking Camden harbor? That's one of my favorite spots in the world.

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 04:30 am UTC (link)
i have no freaking clue. apparently.

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 04:34 am UTC (link)
damn I wish Maine was closer. Why can't it be a nice 3 hour drive from everywhere??

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 05:04 am UTC (link)
it would suddenly suck.

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[info]vellumblue
2006-08-18 04:22 am UTC (link)
I want to say it was Jeff. At least I know he adopted saying it, if he was not the originator.

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[info]doggedknits
2006-08-18 02:27 am UTC (link)
It would suck if it were too itchy because I LOVE that sweater. I didn't know you were knitting it! Can't wait to see it dome. Take some Benadryl if you have to...

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[info]crankyisgood
2006-08-18 03:22 am UTC (link)
Ha! Thanks for the encouragement, I think. Don't worry, I take off-brand claritin daily (or similar, I'm an allergic person w/asthma).

So you're familiar with the sweater then? It's been in progress since last winter. I seem to have picked up a habit of starting lots of stuff in winter and not finishing it all until a few seasons later.

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Fannie
(Anonymous)
2006-08-18 07:21 am UTC (link)
Hi there, hope everything goes smooth with the sweater, the design is great! Funny your conversation on soaking and blocking and all. There is no such terms in French as applied to knitting, but b/c of you English speaking blog community French people started using "je l'ai bloqué"... to express the same idea. In the past we just washed, I had never heared of actually pinning a wet sweater before...

But what I really wish to comment about was the 30 hour work week... You know that in France 35 hours is now the legal working week, and it is great. I feel, personnally, that I am more productive because a - my deadlines are tighter (I work better against a deadline), but b - I have a life outside of work. I would find it very difficult to switch back to a 40 hours work week... And, to top it off, since the first day of the third month of my pregnancy I have been entitled to one hour less per day... so for the past three months I have been on a 30 hours work week... And appreciating every minute of it! I get tired very easily, so the extra nap time is very welcome.

Keep it up Daphné! Fannie

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(Anonymous)
2006-08-18 07:33 pm UTC (link)
that's really pretty—i can't wear that style, so i am envious!

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