2022: Wk of 10/9-15; Sweater Update, Sock Cast-on, Advent Box

AH HA!!!

I have been super frustrated with my gauge not matching my sweater. Even checking my gauge once I’ve started knitting has resulted in sweaters still being too big. What the heck?! Well this week I measured the gauge of my husband’s sweater. I measured it while the garment was still on the needles but far enough below that I could ensure the fabric was smoothed out. According the gauge I’d measured, the sweater would be much too small. But since I’d already had him try on the sweater with a barber cord and it swam on him, I knew this couldn’t be true. So I transferred the sweater to the barber cord and rechecked gauge. Indeed a HUGE difference. While still on the needle cord, the gauge was 5.1″ for 30 stitches for a garment circumference of 43″. On the barber cord, the gauge was 5.8″ for 30 stitches for a garment circumference of 49″!!!! Apparently this means I need to transfer swatches to a barber cord since leaving them on the needle cord apparently doesn’t result in an accurate gauge for me.

I’m making good progress on hubby’s sweater. He sure needs it as this fall has been unusually cool. I’m enjoying getting to wear my sweaters before we head to Florida. Sadly it’s also been extremely dry so we’ve had to buy water for our cistern. We did find the leak and fortunately it was both an erratic toilet and a leaky outside faucet, not a broken water line.

COLORWORK SOCK

I was getting bored with all stockinette knitting on hubby’s sweater. While I wanted to cast-on a second Ranunculus sweater, I decided to cast-on a colorwork sock. This way I’m also alternating knitting styles – Continental for the sweater and English for the sock. This is supposed to be good for decreasing stress on my wrists. Now ergonomically speaking, I’m just missing a project with larger needles. Stay tuned as I just realized I should knit a Christmas stocking for my granddaughter.

Similar to the Christmas colorwork sock I knit last year, I’m knitting a “winter” colorwork sock. I’m hoping the sock could be worn not just in December but in January if the stripes aren’t blatant Christmas. The stripes will be snowflakes, pine trees, hot chocolate mugs, etc. I plan to gift them to my daughter.

ADVENT WINDOW BOX

I was hoping to find a nice “box” to store one of my advent calendars in as I unveil the minis over the month of Dec. I found a nice windowed box with 10 compartments. I used balsa wood to make 24 compartments and stained the outside wood. Sadly the compartments are definitely too small for 20g mini skeins. One advent calendar I bought is only 10g minis. It will be tight but I’m hoping they might fit if I wind the minis into a ball. Here’s a picture with some of my leftover yarns as examples. Oh well, it wasn’t expensive and I’m sure I’ll figure out something to do with the box for advent even if it’s just to fill the compartments with chocolates. 😉

SAD NOTE/HAPPY NOTE

On a sad note, I’ll be attending the funeral of a childhood friend this week. Her death wasn’t unexpected as she had ovarian cancer and it had gotten A LOT worse these past weeks. This one is upsetting me more than I expected. Probably because it hits too close to home. We had been meeting monthly for lunch these past 10 years. I will miss her.

On a happy note, the day after the funeral I will be traveling to Indiana for the weekend to celebrate my granddaughter’s first birthday. I will enjoy spending time with my stepdaughter, her hubby, and my granddaughter. Just the pick me up that I’ll need.

I can’t believe this year is winding down already!! The holidays are almost upon us. I hope you are enjoying this fall season and this week of crafting brings you joy.

This is a year of projects (YOP12) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts.  YOP started it’s 12th year in July and I’m starting my third year in the group. I’ve been knitting for six years.

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