Dawn Brocco's Life and Design Blog

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!

I know I said I'd post photos of the CIC vests I've made, and I finally got over this cold enough to want to do it. Here's 2 photos, as I made 8 vests:



These were mailed off to Kathy yesterday along with the 2 previously-mentioned kids' sweater design samples and 1 pair socks.

Last night, while watching Spike TV's 007 Days of Christmas (I never miss a Bondathon!), I took apart a sweater sample in alpaca boucle that I didn't like and rewound the yarn. I also have a ribbed skirt sample in Bartlettyarns 2-ply to take apart and rewind. I thought I could cut it up and make something out of *all* that plain ribbed fabric, like pillow covers or something, but the color isn't what I'd want, so I'll have plenty yarn to make more CIC vests.

I'm also still working on the patterns for 2 new designs. I really need to get more yarn to do the 2nd samples for both, but am waiting on further info from the UK - am hoping the bluefaced leicester comes in hanks or on cones, as well as in center pull skeins, which will facilitate dyeing it.

And Lucy Neatby is sending color cards of her dyed mottled solids bluefaced leicester. I need to see *how* mottled* they are. I generally prefer my solids to be solid. For color interest, I prefer heathers or tweeds - I'm a traditionalist, when it comes to fibers, for sure.

I'm also waiting on Peace Fleece to be open again after the usual holiday close-up. I *do* enjoy wearing that cabled and rib cardie I made in their Samantha Katia-Pink (heavy) worsted wt. That 30% mohair adds a discernible degree of softness to the fabric, yet, it hasn't fuzzed up the way Lamb's Pride does at only 15% mohair. But these yarns are apples and oranges, as LP is a soft single ply and PF is a 2-ply. The spinning and plying *does* make a difference in yarn behavior.

So, I'm thinking I might enjoy a pullover as well, and am eyeing their Moscow Magic Pink - a pale pink, but it's a tweed with tiny bits of turquoise, magenta and purple. I submitted my info for their wholesale ordering. I may do kits, haven't decided yet. This is one very affordable, comfortably soft yarn (with a social conscience to boot)!

Happy and healthy New Year to all!

Elizabeth Durand has OK'd my enclosing her email and info from a post to the Socknitters list in September, regarding CIC knit garment needs.

Elizabeth's latest info:
"Karen Porter is going to Russia early in February -- it's not one of the classic Big Trips, but she sure can pack. She's visiting primarily the little kids homes, so toddler sizes are most needed. (For those who object, CIC tries to give money to the older kids' homes, for trade
programs, to try to prepare the kids to take care of themselves after they leave the orphanages -- and the bigger kids are taught to knit their own socks)."

And the info from the Sept. post:
"It's not a Big Trip, but Karen Porter will be going to Russia this winter, probably at the end of January. She'll be visiting the homes in Moscow where her boys spent their early lives, and she reports that things are not getting any better. In other words - kids are still cold!
Socknitters, start your needles! As always, a minimum of 50% wool (more is better) is required. For those who wonder what happens to the socks after they're delivered,whenever Karen goes over, she sees many familiar pairs of socks, now well worn, on the kids, even when the orphanage hasn't been told she's coming. These do get used, and really
make a difference in keeping these kids comfortable. Someone on another list I read reported that a friend's daughter, who spent her first few years in Russian orphanage care, remembers having miserably cold feet all the time and was thrilled to learn that large numbers of knitters are making socks for the kids still there.

Karen will be visiting the baby homes, so socks are needed to fit kids from about 1 year old to about 4-year-old size. (For those who worry about the bigger kids - and I always do -- Karen will be visiting older kid's orphanages too but will be taking money for the trades programs and as much wool as I can suck the air out of for the older kids to knit for themselves.) Use thick worsted and you're done before you know it. I'd love to see us really pile them up.

Use any pattern you like. If you need one, or need a new one, here are some links to free patterns for kids‚ socks available on the Internet (I just checked all these links, and they were all working within the last half hour):

Claudia Krisniski's short-row heel design, written for CIC

knit these in heavy worsted, and they'll fit bigger kids

if you're afraid of turning heels, these are still warm

Joan's Kids Socks

Click on Free Patterns, then on socks for babies and kids

Linda Nelson's design in sport weight yarn; picot edge (easy) and no ribbing. Standard heel flap

the kids wear socks indoors without shoes, so these are fine

SWEATERS AND VESTS
OK, now for the rest of the stuff. CIC knitters who don't want to do socks. Karen also would love to take a big pile of vests or sweaters for the kids, and shawls for the wonderful women who take care of them (for very little money, I might add). They're cold too! Use any pattern you like. Again, at least 50% wool, for sweaters, vests, and scarves and 75% or 100% is even better.

For the kids, sizes 2 and 4 are most needed, and those are fast. For vests, the CIC list loves
Claudia Krisniski's bulky weight vest pattern

(Note: set it to landscape mode before you print, and you'll be a lot happier with the
results.) If you don't have bulky yarn, use two strands of worsted - the size 4 takes only about 400 yards, which is 2 skeins of most worsteds. And feel free not to knit the pocket if that worries you. And here are two sweater patterns:

V-Neck Pullover

a basic V-neck, and this pattern, written for CIC and ideal for using up lots of scraps

A friend of mine who's been to Russia in the winter says she's never seen a grayer place in her life, so color is good when you're knitting for these kids.


CAREGIVER SHAWLS
For caregiver shawls, a great resource for patterns is
www.knitlist.com Click on the right for the gift list, then sort by category. Red is a very popular color, so don't feel you have to be restrained. On the other hand, gray wool is every bit as warm and will be equally treasured.

If you're afraid of making something as big as a shawl, or have some great yarn, but a smaller amount, warm, woolen scarves are also acceptable. These should be the kind to keep you covered in the snow, not the glitzy kind to fling casually around your neck at a party - a bare minimum of 7 inches wide and 40 inches long. Again, if you don't have a pattern, the knitlist's gift list is a great resource.



TOYS
Finally, Karen REALLY wants to take a whole lot of knitted bears, 4 to 7 inches tall. Beanie Babies are great, but a hand knitted bear has lots more love in it! (Crocheted and hand-sewn bears are OK too.) Think smaller - three 4-inch teddies take less space than one 12-inch bear, because the little ones are proportionally skinnier. Feel free to use any pattern. If you need one, here are some links to free Internet patterns - remember, using skinnier yarn than called for, and adjusting arm and leg lengths accordingly, will produce a smaller bear:

Tiny Teddy Bear pattern˜these are three inches high and are crocheted

buddybears - these are knitted

This one is sewn

The pattern for either a knitted or crocheted bear distributed through Teddies for Tragedies is available here

Mr Bean Style Teddy Bear, knitted in garter stitch

The trip isn't going until January (now February), but by all means send things early
if that suits you so you don't (1) misplace them or (2) drown Kathy Graziani in a sea of last-minute shipments. Her address is:

Kathy Graziani
9124 Flamepool Way
Columbia, MD 21045

Thanks, everyone!!"
Elizabeth Durand's email

More CIC info from Elizabeth in my Heels and Toes Gazette, issue #8, the CIC issue:
"Children in Common is an information and relief group, administered by Adoptions Together, Inc., an accredited adoption agency that facilitates adoptions domestically and from countries of the former Soviet Union. It was started by a group of adoptive parents, who were horrified at the conditions they found in the orphanages, when they went to get their children, and were moved to try to do something to help. CIC's mission is to provide material support for the children left behind in orphanage care.

The group organizes goodwill trips that deliver tons of supplies, and throughout the year, every
parent who goes over, to pick up a newly adopted child, takes a suitcase or two of clothes, school supplies, medicines, etc. Everything is delivered by hand, so nothing gets "lost" in the mail. For more information on CIC, you can check
their web site

Conditions at the orphanages are desperately poor - many of the homes don't even have hot
water for baths and indoor temperatures, during the winter, may hover around 45 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 7 degrees Celsius). Some workers go for months without being paid, and some of the children are there because, even though they do have living parents, those parents literally cannot afford to feed them. Each pair of socks helps. "

Well, hubby was the one that was sick as a dog, now it's my turn! For 2 days I've stalled on the 9th CIC vest, as I'm too busy coughing and not sleeping. So, I'm trying not to do much of anything until I feel better. This cold blind sided us both, and we don't get sick often at all - years go by without us having a cold. But at least it's not the flu.

I think once I get this 9th vest done, I'll send them off with the 2 high v-neck raglan kids's sweaters, the pair of socks I knit before the vests and whatever kids' sized socks I can find upstairs in the closet where I keep my design samples. I think there may still be a pair or 2 hiding somewhere.

Then I can get started on the end of year inventory / record collation for the accountant.

Still knitting CIC vests - am almost done with vest #7, have enough yarn laid out for 2 more. But that's it, I'm down to the dark and dreary colors, which no child wants to wear in dark, dreary, cold Russia.

But I have a stash of Brown Sheep Top of The Lamb Sport in some bright colors. Doubled gives a heavy worsted wt, and so, more socks will be knit. Hmm, unless I pull out that LK 100 knitting machine and run up some more vests? It really does bulky wt better and I have no more bulky wt left. Using 2 or 3 strands to get bulky wt. will surely give me problems. No, I think socks are best and least troublesome!

Hubby is sick as a dog, and I'm trying not to catch it, as I always get sick via a sinus infection causing 1/2 my face to blow up like a chipmunk! I am hoping he gets better soon, as DD is coming Sunday and she gets sick easily. Being a full-time temp, she can't afford to take days off, as it means no pay. Nice how companies hire permanent temps, so they don't have to cough up health coverage, sick days nor vacation time. Buffalo, NY is no bastion of decent, high-paying jobs, so she's lucky to even have the job. If anyone's thinking of moving to NY, don't even think about Buffalo. What am I saying! People are *leaving* NY (state, not city), thanks to the lack of good jobs and high taxes.

Happy (and Healthy!) Holidays to all!

Am on a CIC (Children In Common) vest-knitting kick! As of last night have 4 vests done and the 5th begun, plus that first pair of socks. I usually only knit socks for CIC, but vests are quick, too, esp. at super bulky gauges.

I started with the Bartlettyarns Fisherman Bulky and had enough for 2 vests. Then I began using up my Lamb's Pride Worsted stash, using 3 strands together with the US 13's.

I've been doing the 2 sizes they need most - size 2 and 4, casting on 58/62 sts, so that there is an odd # for front and back to set up a v-neck. I work a few rnds k1, p1 ribbing, then St st until the body is 6.5/8" long. I split for front and back, BO 2 sts each side for the back, then dec 1 or 2 sts each side on next row, work St st until the back measures 5.5/6" and BO.

The front gets split for the v-neck with the center front st put onto a holder. Each side gets the same underarm shaping as the back and 3/4 sts decreased for the v-neck. Work even until same length as the back then BO. Seam the shoulders, then do sc edging around the armholes and v-neck edges.

They weigh in about 6-10 or so ozs each. And, of course, they get hand washed and laid flat to dry. I'll post some photos when they are dry.

Kurt Fowler wrote into the Aranknit list yesterday with some research he did on the superwash treatment for yarns. Thank you, Kurt, for researching it and passing it along. I think if we all knew *what exactly* goes into making the goods we use, maybe we wouldn't use/buy all the stuff we do. It certainly is interesting to know how much our momentary *convenience* is costing our earth and water supplies. He has agreed to let me post his post here! Thank you!

Below is Kurt's post, with only minor adjustments made so the links would be clickable in Blogger.

"What follows is a little summary about the process.

The resin process is by far the most common now, which applies a microscopic coating that seals the scales on the surface of the wool fiber. Patents and proprietary secrets make it difficult to uncover just what the heck is going on with superwash wool, but in general broad terms, here is a
typical resin process:

1. Oxidative pretreatment: chlorine and hypochlorous acid pre-treatment bath, hopefully in such a controlled way that it affects only the surface without yellowing and only minor damage to the wool. This step makes the fibre surface charged in such a way that oppositely charged resin molecules are attracted and chemically bonded. (I'll show you my electrons if you show me yours--that sort of thing.) The pre-treatment also raises the surface tension, which makes the resin goo spread evenly during treatment and drying. Finally, pre-treatment adds a low level of shrinkage-resistance.

2. Rinse and neutralization and rinse again: After chlorination, the wool is rinsed, and then the residual acid and chlorine must be deactivated, usually with sodium sulphite, sodium bisulphate, or both. And then the wool is rinsed again, because residual sulphite would be bad for later dyeing.

3. Application of the resin: can you say "cationic amine polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin" fast 3 times? A resin coating process using Hercosett 57 was developed in the 1960s by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia) to prevent
shrinking and felting, and it's still widely used. You can see a Before and After resin treatment photo composite at the bottom of
this page. Time marches on, and we are up to Hercosett 125 now.
this page.

4. Application of a softener: it softens, removes unbonded resin, and reduces sticking-together of resin-coated fibres during the drying process.

Most of the process variations appear to apply to the method of pre-treatment -differences in the oxidation agent recipe and method of applying it. However, every recipe and application has at least a little damaging effect on the wool. The improvement of the process has been all
about the improvement of damage control. And the resin coating itself restores some strength.

What is this goo?

Polyamide: a compound characterized by more than one amide group; especially a polymeric amide (as nylon or a polypeptide or a protein)

Epichlorohydrin: a volatile liquid toxic epoxide C3H5ClO having an odor like chloroform, made usually by alkaline hydrolysis of dichlorohydrins, and used chiefly in making epoxy resins

Yummy. What happens to the environment from the making and disposal of superwash yarn? You can do that research yourself, using some of the terms above." Kurt Fowler

12/18
As I do every year, the week or so before the end of the year, I do a batch of CIC knitting. I also usually do a batch in the summer, about 12 pairs of socks or so for each batch. But not this year, between all the work on the outside of the house this spring, summer and fall, in between all that rain!, and my stupid retina deciding to rip near the end of September, I didn't get that summer batch knitted up.

What's great is that even with my eye still not having a contact lens, bulky yarn in bright colors in stockinette and ribbing is easy to see! So, I'm working down the foot of the first sock so far today and should have a pair done by this evening. Lamb's Pride Bulky, US size 8 (5.5mm) dpns, 30 sts, 14 rows k1, p1 rib, heel flap 14 rows on 15 sts, french heel to 9 sts, pick up and knit 10 sts at each gusset, dec EOR down to the original 30 sts. Total length about 6.25" long, then do the toe shaping, which is about 1" in length.

I'll also do pairs on 28 and/or 26 sts and make them shorter. I have some bits of Bartlettyarns Fisherman Bulky - the super bulky wt - and will see if I can't get a couple small vests (size 2 or 4) out of what I have. I also have odd amounts of Lamb's Pride Worsted which doubled will give a super bulky wt. So, we'll see how far I get in 12 days.

12/20
By last night, 1 pair of socks and the first vest are done! Have CO the 2nd vest in the Fisherman Bulky. Did the 1st on US 11's, am doing the 2nd on 13's. The tips on my 11's are rather pokey and my fingertips were getting a bit sore.

Went to the eye doc today - got there early ( I hate being late for anything) and sat awhile, then sat some more half-way through the exam, as he had to dilate both eyes to check the retinas. Hubby ended up leaving late for work, and I've spent the entire day dilated!

So, it appears (as if I didn't know already!) that the astigmatism in the surgeried eye is now much worse than the other eye, which had severe enough astigmatism, thank you! But he can get a contact that will come close to the prescription I need. They don't actually make a contact for astigmatism that bad, and I can't wear glasses any longer - after wearing contacts all these years, glasses make me dizzy, and even if they didn't make me dizzy, there's my vanity.

I spent my entire youth wearing bottleneck glasses and having eyeballs that looked the size of peas behind these huge lenses. One can't look sideways out of glasses, not with my myopia, as everything's a blur if one does. They fog up, they're cold in winter, hot in summer, heavy ALL the time, and ugly. Once hubby got me my first set of contacts, I was in heaven. Unless you've lived with such glasses all your life and still not ever seeing the blackboards!, you don't know what a relief having full vision is like - that everywhere you look, your sight is even and corrected! They don't hang on your face, denting your nose, hurting your ears. They're so light, you don't feel them sitting on your eyes. Heaven!

So, there's no way in h*ll I'm ever doing glasses again. I'll live with the not-quite-ideal prescription. He said as my eye continues to heal, the prescription may well change and I'll have to be refitted, anyway. He even asked if I wouldn't want to wait! Wait! And spend, what?, more months squinting one eye closed all the time so I can read and write. I don't think so!

So, it's been interesting finishing up Dad's hat. I had to rework the crown decreasing, so I sat under bright light, squeezed the *bad* eye closed and still fumbled through it. But it's done, washed and laying on the shelf atop the radiator to dry, so I can wrap it up and mail it tomorrow - ufda!

Also still continuing with the linen re-washing. Am down to my handspun, handwoven wool rugs and pillows to wash and let hang to dry in the basement and on the rad. Gotta get a few more of those clear plastic tubs with lids - have more linens than I thought.

I keep checking email, hoping for list talk, but, naturally, everyone's quite busy preparing for the holidays. We gotta get the tree tomorrow and put it in the dining room, DD and boyfriend will only be here a day and a bit, so there's no point putting it in the parlor and turning on that room's heat, as once she leaves, we gotta turn the heat off and shut the room, so at least in the dining room, we can enjoy the tree, as we pass through.

I'm thinking the next house should be decorated seaside cottage. I looked at my handwoven rugs and they would fit in rather nicely with a creamy white and blue decor. I love red, though, so one room, my office, would have to be a rich dark red, papered, with lots of wood - very English country gentleman's study. They say that those rooms are masculine, but I'm drawn to them and think they are very warm and relaxing and not at all masculine. All those bright rooms aren't relaxing, they're *awake* rooms. Relaxing needs dim light, deep colors, and deep, comfortable sofas or armchairs, nothing startling or too high contrast. That's the kind of room you go into to read a book, get 10 pages in and end up sound asleep! Perfect!

Almost done with the hat. Had to do other things the past 2 days, in addition to all that linen re-washing - there's been the presents to wrap, and box up for shipping and cards to write!

Ordered some small crochet hooks and a small latch hook from JKLNeedles, to try out with these beads and the cashmere yarn. My only small hook, an aluminum size 5, from the year of the flood, isn't hooky enough. It's hook end is rather flat and it splits the yarn. So, I bought a few different sizes and brands to see if there's something which will work better.

The samples of beads from Caravan came in today - nice beads - all Miyuki. And the size 5/0 beads (they call them E beads, though I've seen other sizes referred to as E beads) *seem* to have a hole very similar in size to the size 3/0 pebble beads I have from Mill Hill, though the actual bead is a bit smaller. But this is only in the round beads, the triangles and squares? seem to have smaller holes, but then again, the dazzling shine and colors! are making it hard for me to see/focus on the holes (with just the one eye still) - and they *are* stringed up on the card, which I won't break.

But, when I'm ready to plan another project, I'll surely try them out.

Finally got a Ikea catalog yesterday - never had one, except for one from 1988, I think it was, that I got at a yard sale, I think. I've had the book, "Leading by Design, The Ikea Story" by Bertil Torekull, for some time, also bought at a yard sale, but never got around to reading it (or most of the books in my library collection, for that matter!).So, I read some today - again, squinting one eye shut - what a pain this is, all this time and not being able to see properly. It's OK for doing stupid housework, but try and *read* something! Ha!

Good thing I see the ophthalmologist tomorrow and see what he can do lens-wise. But the wait. It's gonna be a couple weeks to get it, I'm sure. Heck, when I order my old lenses online, it always takes 2 weeks, as they never have my tauric lenses in stock, as it's so high a prescription!

Well, back to knitting that hat, At least k2, p2 I can do by feel!

Still making my way through the endless linen re-washing. So far, up and down the stairs nearly 30x. Yesterday was the same. The mold is getting to me though. I'm most allergic to mold and dust (and angora, but I can avoid angora!) - it's really hard to avoid mold and dust.

The cashmere yarn came in this afternoon and I immediately wound up a ball of the natural black and CO the faux cabled design I had *intended* to do. Well, this black is really black, not the usual deep charcoal black one sees in *natural black* wool - nope, black like one finds in natural black alpaca. Now, I can't see well, as it is, with this eye still uncorrected (no contact yet), but try and do slipped stitch cables in black while squinting one eye closed. I got 3 rows up and pulled it off the needle. I'll now CO a plain k2, p2 ribbed hat for Dad - beans.

As I was waiting for the yarn to come in, I thought a slipped stitch design in the natural black and natural white might be interesting, but he wants all black. What we do for love!

I'm having a simple dinner and will work on the hat - only have a few days before it needs mailing off!

Sewed the antique gold clasps on the aran cardigan yesterday, but I'm thinking I'd like a pullover version of this as well, which will add more appeal to the pattern. Maybe the Fine Merino - which I need to call about again tomorrow or maybe the Bluefaced Leicester whose info from the UK I'm still waiting on. So much knitting to do!

Time sure does fly! 4 days since my last post.

Yesterday was the beginning of some housework/rearranging that needed doing. As with most old houses, there aren't nearly as many closets as one needs, so I had a 48" x 18" white coated metal shelving unit in one of the (unheated) upstairs bedrooms holding most of our linens. We have currently 4 bedrooms in this house - there were 7 when we moved in, but the 2 small ones that were the kids' rooms are now my office and yarn storage/shipping/booklet & Gazette layout rooms.

That brought us to 5, then another very small rear bedroom was stripped of its 8 layers of wallpaper, as so many rooms had to be, but then we didn't get back to fixing it up - as other more pressing jobs needed to be tackled. I also didn't want it to be a bedroom again, as it was when we bought the house. This place was divided into 3 apartments when we bought it, so we've been trying to determine the *original* use of the rooms as when the house was built in 1800 or so and added onto in 1845-1850.

So, this back room is off the dining room and behind the front hall stairs - an odd-shaped room and really shouldn't be a bedroom. As its future use is yet undetermined, it is currently a tool and project-parts storage room, for things being worked on elsewhere around the house.

So, that leaves 4 bedrooms. But this is a big house and we're not Rockefellers, so heating all 13 rooms is way beyond out budget. So, every year, the radiators get turned off in the parlor, the library, the 3 bedrooms, and that back room, as well as the pantry (or the room that *will be* the pantry). That leaves 6 rooms and a large upstairs/downstairs hall and 3 baths to keep heated. One *doesn't* turn off heat in bathrooms, unless one wants pipe problems!

But, with the very wet past 2 years we've had, we've also had some moisture problems in the unheated rooms. The entire closet full of linens and rugs began smelling moofah, and have to be washed and stored in another way. So, hubby went to Lowe's and bought 6 large, semi-clear plastic bins to put it all in after I'm done with the washing. I don't *purposefully* go out and buy plastic *anything* but, it looks like the only way to keep them clean.

So, I thought, great - I really could use that covered metal shelving unit in my office closet. Til now, it had 2 long shelves in it, that were functional, but definitely looked unappealing. As we *will* be trying to sell this house once its painted this spring/summer, making everything look as good as possible is a *must*, so I carried the loads of linens to the basement, took everything out of this closet, then hubby took out the shelves and the gazillion house-building nails the previous owner used to *secure* 2 home-made wooden brackets for the closet's original clothing rod. They never bought the *proper* fittings for anything, they always cobbled together something out of scrap wood, newspaper, you name it, and used enough housing-sized nails, staples, and/or tacks to secure it for 3 lifetimes.

But the shelf unit is in the closet now and I've put all my stuff back into it.

And, I did laundry yesterday, I'm doing laundry today and I'll be doing laundry - some of it hand washing - the wool rugs and such - for several days to come. They say climbing stairs is god exercise!

Saturday, we braved the mall - well for 2.5 hours anyway. Not easy with the one out-of-focus eye. The past few years, hubby would just drop me off on each of 2 days, and I'd do it all myself, as he *really* can't stand the crowds, the pushy moms and baby carriages, the parents who let their kids run around, the slow pokes who have all day to wander aimlessly, well, you know. But with this stupid eye, I can't tackle it myself this year, but all we could manage was the 2.5 hours. There's nothing like holiday shopping to take the joy out of Christmas! The rest of the gift -buying I'm doing online or have made already.

Today - wrapping and more pattern-writing. And that yarn better come soon, I have dad's hat and scarf to knit yet! But the Mill Hill beads did finally come in. I bought just a small bag to see if the size was right and it was perfect. So, Saturday, I online-ordered 1/2 kilo (2,500) of the 3/0 (5.5 mm) oriental pearl glass beads for the white cashmere hat and scarf samples for this new design. I also ordered some Miyuki bead sample cards from Caravan Beads, and need to order another bead catalog, this time from Shipwreck Beads, as I'm not happy with the Bead Warehouse selection or prices. So many places have the same things - tiny 11/0 beads and for larger beads, the Miyuki Triangles. There *must* be other good-quality larger beads available. And, after seeing the size of the 3/0 (5.5 mm) glass beads, we're not talking huge here. These are still small beads, but everything is clearly geared towards jewelry making, not using with knits or crochet.

Well, I've rambled enough, i think, to make up for not writing in for 4 days! I was so pooped yesterday, though, there was no way I could sit here and type for 1/2 and hour. Work awaist!

Retina doc says the retina is holding just fine and should not be pulling any funny business on me anymore. There's still another pitifully nearsighted eye, though, so I am going for a checkup in 4 months.

So, today, I uploaded the Winter Gazette issue's links, and am working on the aran cardigan's collar and front bands.

I wish I could splurge, but can't, especially as I need to find out how much the new contact is gonna set me back, and I need a new cap, been needing it for a year, to replace one that's about 12 years old, but I saw a Blue and White G3 400 online with tons of ram, 13 gig HD, internal zip and DVD drive with the matching 17" B/W monitor - cheap, only $300. This old crusty desktop really could use a replacement, and tho this Wallstreet is a G3, it's just a 266 and only has a 4 gig HD. It's not even worth selling the old desktop - they're not worth much more than $25 these days. It's a donator. I do have a B/W HP laser printer to unload and the HP 1120C inkjet, but they're not worth much either - certainly not the time it would take to put them up for auction, then deal with the emails and then shipping the things. I'll need a warehouse soon, though, if I don't start unloading some of this equipment!

Maybe the new year will allow for me to get caught up with expenses I'm still reeling from and the ones I absolutely need to yet incur, *then* I can get some new equipment. One can only hope!

Last checkup with retina doc tomorrow morning, then I can finally make the ophthalmologist app't for a new contact lens.

Am still working on all the code for the new wholesale page. 140 separate codes for links, then I need to enter them into the cart online. By the evening though, I've had enough of sitting at the computer - it's really been tensing up my shoulders and neck lately - too many hours.

I took a photo of those scarves mentioned a few days back and have finally posted it below.


Am still waiting on yarn and those beads to come in. So, without new designs to work up, more computer work needs doing.

And the Winter Gazettes have all been mailed out today - not as late as I thought they'd be, from the time lost from the eye surgery!

Well, Jo-Ann's didn't have any clasps, when we went there on Saturday, so I ordered clasps and some neat celtic buttons from JHB. Am just about done figuring out the 3 sizes for the aran cardigan and need to get it into the laptop today, print it then begin proofing it.

I also need to get the front bands and collar knit then do that part of the pattern. Fortunately, when using clasps in a design, one doesn't have to torture over the exact # of sts to pick up and knit and worry about buttonhole placement. It's also unusual. one doesn't *expect* to see clasps on an aran, only on Norwegian-style sweaters! But I think they are great closures. More costly than most buttons, but more elegant and stylish and much easier for the knitter to deal with.

It's our first white day outside. It began yesterday, on our anniversary, and is just enough to coat the grounds and trees. But rain is due today and all the end of the week, so it's not to last.

I'm also working on a wholesale ordering page for shop accounts. I began yesterday but it will be a few days at least, as it's a lot of shopping cart codes to write for each item, then go online at night and enter them all into the system, as well as resizing photos for each item and making sure the ordering rules are clear.

Hubby picked up my US stamps yesterday, so I can get them all stamped and ready to send. Then he's gotta stand in line at the PO and weigh/stamp the 20 or so Canadian Gazettes and dozen or so European and Aussie/NZ Gazettes. What a guy!

12/2
Been busy printing the Winter Gazette, and getting a jump on the end-of-year tax info collation, for the accountant.

Also been busy searching for an alternate super-soft wool yarn, in case the merino I'm waiting on doesn't work out well. Not easy, am tiring of the search. I emailed who used to be, and maybe still is, UK exporter of an aran weight bluefaced leicester wool yarn, oh, way back at the middle of October, before my surgery and have not heard from them. So, I'm resending it. But, I've done this before with them. It's not that the emails bounce back, so if they're not in business, I wish they'd just let me know. But they still have a website, though different from the one they had years ago. Aargh.

12/3
I heard from the UK distributor this morning! They replied to my last email but I never received it. My addy has been sent to them and colorcards with retail and trade price lists will be on its way to me - yippee! There used to be a US distributor for these British breed-specific wool yarns, like Jacob, Bluefaced Leicester, Wensleydale, etc, but they didn't stay in business long. So, although I received their natural color card, they never got to getting in the dyed cards nor enough yarn to satisfy orders.

But, I am happy! I've finally got contact with the UK distributor and can't wait to try the aran weight Bluefaced Leicester wool. I have a few balls of the BFL that Berroco sold, and has been discontinued some time now. I haven't made anything with it yet - I just pet the yarn every now and then, as it was all I had of that breed. Well, now I can use it for something, because more can be had! I don't have much - a few 50 g balls - enough for a scarf or socks or a hat. If you've never touched BFL wool, you don't know what you are missing! It's heavenly.

I have labels for the Gazettes to print today, then I can buy the postage tomorrow or Monday - Saturday at the PO can be a bear. And, as Monday is our 17th wedding anniversary, sweetie and I are going to dinner on Sunday and spending Saturday driving in the country - across the river in Columbia county, taking in the ambience and checking real estate. I know some people think that *this* is country - in Saugerties, but nay, it's really just a small town center, with 70's and 80's housing communities here and there - ugh. Some of the roads are more rural with older farmhouses, but when I think of rural, I think of farms and there's only a few small farms around here. They don't call this Bluestone and Quarryville for nothing! I can walk up the old carriage path abutting our property and see the remnants of an old bluestone quarry.

But we've driven through Columbia County and it's much more historic and pastoral in setting. Much more my ideal of *country*, as it is in many New England towns. And Col. cty abuts the Berkshires!

Of course, I wish I could afford to take him to Europe! Oh, all the places we'd go - we'd need many, many months to take it all in!

Well, work awaits. I'm finally working up the pattern for that aran cardigan I began back in the year of the flood. I haven't done the button band or collar yet, as I don't have the right buttons for it and actually, I'd prefer clasps, but the pewter ones, I hear, may not be the best choice for light-colored wool (or so Meg's Schoolhouse Press site says, and I trust her judgement).

So, I'd need gold ones, but not a bright gold. I'll have to stop at Jo-Ann's Fabrics to see if they have what I want. I could order them wholesale from JHB, but I would need to order more than I want at this time, and then wait to get them. Would be nice to just get this cardigan *finished*!

11/30 scarves
As a designer, I am occasionally sent sample skeins of new yarns. These come particularly from a yarn manufacturer who makes mostly synthetic yarns. Anyone that knows me and my designing style knows I'm no big fan of synthetics. I save up these skeins and donate them to knitters who need them.

In yesterday's mail came some more yarns. One caught my eye, but, more importantly, my fingers! It felt like fur, like silky fur. Of course, it was nylon and polyester, with the nylon causing that silky feeling. It is "Carmen" by Patons, 50 g / 64 yds, color #2315 Graphic Grape.

In a previous batch of yarns came one of those railroad yarns, like Eros, typically used for scarves. This one is called "Matrix" by Bernat, also nylon and polyester, 50 g /140 yds, color #7013 Chocolate.

The 2 yarns looked like they would be perfect together. And, serendipity prevailed in that they both have exactly the same care instruction!: machine wool delicate cycle cool, then tumble dry low.

As my gift budget this year isn't the same as for past years, there's a relative whose coloring would look great with these colors.

So, with US size 15 (10 mm) ndls, I cast on 10 sts and worked garter stitch until nearly the 64 yds of the first yarn ran out, then bound off.

It came out rather nicely, so the other skeins of yarns I have are also becoming scarves: Patons Bohemian and Bernat Velour.

It's been a busy day: last Gazette go-though, then printed a small batch (more Gazette printing will start tomorrow and go on for a few days), created the issue's preview page and uploaded it, the jpegs and the other html pages that get changes, whenever a new issue comes out. Then laundry, vacuuming, dishes, wrote bills, washed and dried 2 of the new scarves, prepped the ad sale day ads, and sewed on 2 elbow patches I knit a few days ago, for an Old Navy sweater with worn thin elbows.

Am working on the 3rd scarf. I think our mail lady will get this one. I used to give her some of my homemade cookies, but I think she gave them to her kids, as she's weight-watching (aren't we all), so maybe she'll keep the scarf for herself?!

I'll try and get a photo up today or tomorrow.