Still here

I have started this post a dozen times in my head, but I just never seem to get the opportunity to actually sit down and write it. My life has taken on a whirlwind pace that I am not enjoying hating. Unfortunately, I am quite afraid that it will be like this for a bit longer. I just don't see the stuff at work ending anytime soon. Add to it that I got my hand slapped at work (and rightfully so) today, life has sucked of late. But, on to knitting. My anal qualities are shining through. I have been knitting both the front and back of the tank top at the same time because, well, just because. I've already documented how I tore the whole thing out because it was too big. So, to say that I am experiencing project burn out on this one would not do the feelings justice. I still like it, but I just feel like I have done it already. I got all the way through the bust increases on both pieces and was starting the decreases when I realized that I hated the way the increases looked. (Excuse the blurry focus on the camera - I was playing with the settings and apparently I didn't know what I was/am doing.) The patterned called for a M1 for the increases on either side without reversing the M1 type which left a stairstep look that I didn't like.

So I fixed it.

I fixed all four increase lines.

I ended up doing a raised increase (my favorite increase) on the knit side on the right side and doing a raised increase on the purl side on the way back. Although the increases are off-set by a row, they mirror each other almost perfectly and most importantly (to me) they better match the K2tog and SSK decreases used throughout the garment without leaving the stair-step look.

Because I only have 3 skeins of the Cotton Fleece, once I divided for the neckline, I have been knitting off both ends of the 3rd skein. It drives me crazy. The situations is exacerbated by the fact that there was a tremendous yarn-barf at some point and I ended up with a glob of yarn that tangled around everything. I now have the big skein from which I am knitting off the outside and a smaller center-pull ball that was the yarn-barf that is coming from the inside of the skein. I nearly grabbed the ball winder and a pair of scissors, but ended up light-headed just thinking about joins and ends and whatifIcutinthewrongspot and no spit-splice and howwillthenendsholdupinthewasher. I think I will just suffer through the twisty, crazy-making snarl of yarn that ensues. I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but at the beginning of summer our next door neighbor who was quite elderly passed away. (This was a blessing, she was in poor health and significant pain. She was able to remain at home until the end, which was exactly what she wanted.) She was an avid knitter and sewer and kept at both until her ailments prevented her from doing so. Earlier this week, I ran into one of the daughters who is cleaning out the house (imagine 50+ years of crap in the attic, basement and spare bedroom!) and we chatted for a bit. She said that they have organized more that 1000 (yes 1000) pieces of fabric to sell, not including what they were keeping themselves. I mentioned that I knit too and that Marie (the neighbor) and I used to talk about it a bit. I told her that I would love to purchase any knitting items that they are not keeping themselves because I collect old needles and patterns. Thankfully she took it properly and said that she would let me know. I can hardly contain my excitement. More stuff!