dropped stitch? no problemo

So I was innocently weaving in my ends last night when I came across this:

A dropped stitch. Crap! And it’s like 2/3 of the way down, there is no way I am ripping this out. Luckily it's near the edge so my fix doesn't need to be pretty.

I consulted the plethora of knowledge on the Knitlist listserv for some help. Using a piece of scrap yarn, I will weave it in for a few stitches to stabilize the scrap, then stick the needle through the dropped stitch, and weave for a new more stitches. Violia, dropped stitch is repaired.

Panic is averted. Thank you ladies.

Admit defeat

Knitting

I was on business travel in Sarasota, Fla. for the past few days, which makes for lots of knitting-on-planes time. I brought the Jaywalker sock because it’s easy to transport and I had memorized the pattern so I wouldn’t be fumbling with my patterns and my complimentary bag of 8 pretzels.

I finished the leg and started the heel flap when I realized that I was knitting the largest heel flap in the history of sock knitting. This was one more red flag (how many did I need for crying out loud) that this pattern is just not for me. I am throwing in the towel. There are many other sock patterns I want to try. I will just pine away when I visit all of your blogs and see all of your beautiful Jaywalker socks. Sniffle.

Now that I am home I am going to block the Bell Sleeve Shrug and sew it together. I hope to have a FO for you later in the week. That project I am psyched about. The yarn is so groovy.

Dating
Date #2 with Shannon went fine, but I don’t think I want to go out with him again. There is no spark, he doesn’t have the same sense of humor as me, he’s a little mean-spirited, yadda yadda yadda. I have been ruminating on this, thinking I am not giving him a chance, but I hardly even thought about him when I was away this week so the decision is made.

I never called workaholic guy because he’s a workaholic and …

I met Gabriel. Well, we met online and have spoken on the phone a few times. Haven’t met face-to-face yet. He seems really interesting, has had a varied life, grew up in Germany and Canada, lot of energy. Seems like a prospect.

Houston, we have a problem

What is it with people who can’t comprehend personal space?

I was on the bus this morning, one of about 4 people standing. This guy gets on after me and stands right in front of me. He had the whole aisle in front of him, gobs of space to spread out. But no, with his back to me, stands with in inches of me. He even bumped into me a couple of times, a signal I thought would have told him that he was very close to me. Ugh.

I am big proponent of public transportation. The downside is the people.

Knitting
I can’t believe how fast my first Jaywalker is coming along. I hope this gauge is right. Part of me is afraid to even try it on for fear that it won’t fit and I will have to start all over again.


I also realized last night that this will be my second pair of socks made with this yarn. I really love the yarn (Paton’s Kroy in Fancy Free), but do I need two pairs of socks? Maybe I will keep this pair for a gift or something.








Dating
Shannon and I met for a late lunch yesterday in Arlington and then the Textile Museum. The date was fine. I don’t have any major complaints about him, but I am not excited by him either. I am most likely sending him “the vibe” that I send when I am not sure about someone. I might tell him I don’t want to go out again even though when put on the spot, in my car, his face inches from mine, I told him that yes, I would like to go out again. What was I supposed to say?

The Japanese painted silk exhibit was fantastic. It closes Feb. 12 so hurry to the museum (23rd and S St. NW, Washington, DC, in gorgeous Kalorama).

cell phone conversations

Overheard cell phone conversation, last night, corner of Mass. and Wisconsin avenues:

….so when you’re done having an orgasm….

Possible translations:

• Was she talking to someone who was in the middle of an orgasm?

• Relaying a conversation she had the night before?

• What to say when you’re just too bored by the act?

Anyone else care to chime in?


Knitting
On to safer topics. Like languishing projects.

After doing a little more work on the Jaywalker socks I started late last year but put away out of frustration/had to start Christmas knitting, I decided to frog and start over. My initial problem was that the leg was too stiff and tight but I have read somewhere to keep going. I tried on what I had done and couldn’t get it past the middle of my foot. So I swatched, like I should have done all along, and changed to #3 DPNs. Hopefully the larger needles will fix the stiffness problem.


Dating
I am meeting Shannon tomorrow for date #2: lunch and Textile Museum. I had a small epiphany recently that I really don’t give guys a chance if there isn’t that initial chemistry. Not saying that Shannon is a keeper. Just that I have a new approach.

Have another match.com prospect. He is a self-proclaimed workaholic which worries me because that is one of the biggest issue I have with many of the men I date. We’ll see if he gets back to me.

Knitting

Here’s the progress on the shrug. The third ball of yarn isn’t pooling as nicely as the first 2 so I have pulled some of the large areas of brown and started at a more colorful point on the ball of yarn. But I think I am in the home stretch.

I went to pick up my new glasses, that I am still on the fence about, today at Ballston Mall so I treated myself to a manicure. One of the manicurist’s had a small bag with her as she walked in that had knitting needles sticking out of it. I chuckled.

Other Amusements
So little is happening around here. I stayed home Saturday night to watch the Patriots hand the Broncos a win. Jeez, what a ridiculous game that was.

None of the remaining teams (Broncos, Steelers, Seahawks, Panthers) mean anything at all to me. Now that the Patriots are out it seems that Leon’s Sans Super bowl party is on. For the past 10 years, or more, he has thrown a party on Super bowl Sunday, but not football is watched. Hence the name. So clever.

But the Patriots have been in the Super bowl a lot lately, causing much consternation (he’s from N.H.). To keep his friends from New England (me included) happy and in attendance, the game is on in a secluded room. The first year he was really torn because he thought he was letting his (boring) anti-establishment friends down. But now older and wiser, his attitude has morphed into “fuck’em, they know where I am.”

But looks like we are back to no football-watching, sitting around talking about politics and world peace and talking about which third world country I just returned from and keeping small children from sticking their hands in the hummus. Luckily the party is within walking distance of my house.

Girly or not, I like it

Knitting

I finished the charity scarf. It took longer than 2 hours but I finished it over the course of a

couple of days. I was hoping it would be unisex but Corey thought the yarn was girly. I like it, though, and it was quick. Two-strands of yarn made all the difference.

What is this, you ask?

I read on the KnitList about a scarf knitting project for orphans. They are collecting hand-knit or –crocheted red scarves for male and female college students who have aged out of the foster care system. Deadline is Jan. 20.

Here’s some more info if you are interested:

Webpage: http://www.orphan.org/redscarf.htm

Mailing address is:RED SCARF PROJECT, 21351 Gentry Drive, Sterling, VA 20166

Contact person: Annalisa Assaadi


Other Amusements

Gracie’s Poppies is hosting a virtual poetry reading on February 2.


Dating
I called Charles Sunday night and we chatted for a few minutes. Corey thinks I am crazy for keeping in touch with him, but what does he know! I think he is actually a little jealous of Charles. I would like to keep the lines of communication open with him even though he has relocated to St. Louis.

I am meeting Shannon tomorrow night for the first time. We have been emailing for the past week or so and it was going really well. He comes across as smart, interesting, we have things in common like art.

But I talked to him last night and I am not feeling so great about him anymore. He is a professor so he talked like an academic which kind of turned me off. And he kept referring to about all the “young kids” that live in D.C. and he’s only 32!! Cripes. The conversation was kind of negative and critical which also turned me off. And he was defensive about not being a homeowner.

But I am still going to meet him. I don’t like to judge people until I meet them in the flesh.

The rejection recap:
Greg – didn’t hear back after one date and couple of phone calls
Will the Parisian – was getting weird in his emails, like doesn’t go to the movie theater because he doesn’t like to hear people eating popcorn
Rick – I nixed him after deciding his describing competitiveness as a positive trait was too much
The Brit – boring, nothing in common – he probably didn’t even read my profile

Knitting for orphans

Knitting

I ended up frogging what I had done on the Bell-sleeved Shrug because the sleeve was too tight. So I recalculated, increased to #10 ½ needles, and started yet again. So far, so good. And I can see a difference in the way the variegated colors are coming together, and I really like it.

I read on the KnitList about a scarf knitting project for orphans. They are collecting hand-knit or –crocheted red scarves for male and female college students who have aged out of the foster care system. Deadline is Jan. 20.

Here’s some more info if you are interested:

Webpage: http://www.orphan.org/redscarf.htm

Mailing address is:
RED SCARF PROJECT
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

Contact person: Annalisa Assaadi.

I found some Lion Brand Homespun in the closet, and a cute free pattern for a 2-hour scarf so I started it this morning. The color isn’t a true red, but falls into the red family in my opinion. It’s that reddish purple color that some people call purple but I have never considered it purple.


Other Amusements
A few of my colleagues and I went to see “Brokeback Mountain” last night in Dupont. It was kind of disappointing. After all the hype and award nominations I am usually let down by the movie. Deanna and I went for beers at Buffalo Billiards afterwards. She really liked the movie but agreed there were some undeveloped story lines. Jake Gyllenhaal sure is gorgeous, though. Heath Leger, not so much.

Last week I saw “Syriana” which I liked a lot. It’s a thinking movie, pay attention. I will see it again because there was so much that I missed. I left the theater feeling really angry. Who really runs this country?

Corey and I are going t see the lights at Brookside Gardens tonight in Wheaton. It closes tomorrow so go if you have been thinking about it. And then the Patriots are on, at 8PM.

Wishy-Washy

Knitting

Since Monday I have been going through my bookmarked knitting blogs, visiting each and every one of you. I just finished. Phew, you people tire me out! So busy traveling, visiting, partying, eating, knitting, eating, resolving, cooking, sneezing.

The general consensus is that the holidays are over, let’s get back to non-gift knitting and real life. Bravo! Great idea.

And the resolutions, so many resolutions. I haven’t done mine yet, but I will. Really.

This past fall I lost my tolerance to bad TV. I could usually stomach a bad show here or there, but I just can’t do it anymore. So now I have more time to spend on the Internet. It’s much more fun.


Dating
Well the match.com floodgates have opened. Must be the New Year’s resolutions (find a date, find a wife, torment some poor unsuspecting girl…) kicking in. Too many prospects, not enough time:

Greg, probably too old (+10)
Will the Parisian
Rick who thinks being competitive is a positive trait - might have to rethink him
Shannon the younger man (-5)
The Brit

I am embarrassed to admit that I bought Dr. Phil’s new book “Love Match.” I don’t ever buy love-self-help books, but it was kind of free because I had a gift card. So far it’s OK, nothing I don’t know. But sometimes you just need a reminder of what you are really looking for in a mate.

I think my biggest block in finding Mr. Right is that I am not sure that I want to be married at all. I think I send a vibe that I am not sure and they run. Charles even called me wishy-washy the other day. I can’t deny it. I am afraid of giving up the life I have made for myself. I have everything set the way I want it. Does that make me selfish? Or deranged? Kidding. It’s hard for me to let anyone into my life, even into my 600 square-foot space. Something to work on this year. Hey, a resolution!

My first FO for 2006

Knitting


I have my first FO for 2006. It might be cheating because this has been sitting in my knitting basket for more than 8 months waiting to be seamed. (That’s it, just seaming. A 30-minute job took me 8 months.) So Sunday morning while watching “Meet the Press,” and sipping my decaf, I finished the sides and the other arm.

This is the Garter Band Pullover from Berroco’s “My First Project volume 2.” Yarn is Cotton Colori from Tahki Yarns, in black. It is very hard to photograph.

Here’s the garter stitch detail around the neck and shoulders, down the center, and around the cuff and bottom edge. I just realized that the sleeves aren’t the same length! LOL


It’s fun to pull this old stuff out to see how much my knitting has improved. The edges were wonky so it was hard to sew – we will see if it holds together. The yarn doesn’t have a lot of stretch to it and the gauge is too big, making this kind of see-through. But I can wear a cami underneath. I like this sweater pattern and would consider making it again. Only better as my skills have improved.


I am working on the Bell Sleeve Shrug.

The yarn I am using is much heavier than the one she used so I am playing with the gauge and altering the pattern. Last night I knitted about 4 inches and decided that the #8 needles were making the fabric to dense. Today I frogged and started with #10s. I think this will work better. I love the colors of this yarn!

Dating
I can’t believe this is happening to me! Why do all the men I have ever had a relationship with linger out there in the ether, waiting to reappear when I have done my best to get over them?

Does this happen to you, too?

Charles called me yesterday, after not hearing from him, or hearing back from him, for a couple of months. I thought that was that, it’s over, I don’t have to think about it anymore. I thought it was going to be easy to forget about him.

Gosh, I like him so much. And I can’t really explain what I find so appealing. He seems so together and “grown up” compared to me.

He sold his house in D.C. and is in St. Louis permanently, “or until a better offer comes along.” What the hell does that mean?

Of all the men I have dated, he is the only one who can talk about his feelings and what he is thinking openly and intelligently. It’s refreshing and very endearing.

We are so different in so many ways. Maybe opposites do attract.

On a completely different note, my date with Greg went well. We had a beer at Murphy’s and watched some of the Redskins game and then went to Asia Café (is that the name of it??) for dinner. He’s the oldest guy I have been on a date with (he’s 10 years older) so that was kind of weird. He looks middle aged which sort of bothered me. But he was very nice, we talked about a lot of different things.

Will this go anywhere? Probably not. I don’t think we have a lot in common, and the age thing could be an issue for me. But I will go out with him again if he asks.