Progress Report

I feel a need for a progress report on Dianne's vest. Here are the fronts. As per request, the fronts are disimilar. Very.

And here is the back. As far as it has progressed. All of the colors of the front are used on it. But, as you can see, it doesn't resemble the front in the least. The front is an example of the gauge swatch having nothing to do with actuality. I knit the swatch. And added the nice solid border at the bottom edge to make up the difference in size. Knit along for a while, finally measured it against the other pieces and it was HUGE. I had two choices... frog back the entire piece, or cast off and decide that the back could be cut to fit (a la machine knits. sigh) As you can see, that was the decision. I like the pattern stitch on the back, I think the whole vest would have looked good this way, but I don't think Dianne would have been happy.

My thought is to make 2 stitch i-cord of each color, braid them together (yes, 4 color braids) and have them for the edgings. Except for the bottom, which will be left plain.

Back from migraine depths

I'm back from the depths of migraines -- 9 days of them. Finally had to have an IV to stop them. Not sure what set them off this time, but I will say I'm delighted to be able to feel better!

Aural hallucinations are, um, interesting, I could SEE the sounds around me during those 9 days. As it was cold, the furnace was running. Remember in the first part of Fantasia where the orchestra plays music and colors flash? Think of that happening in your head all the time for ordinary sounds. The furnace running was dusty brown, rust, and an occasional red rumble.

No knitting was done during that time. Friends and family know that is my gauge of health. If I can't knit -- I'm sick.

Yesterday was the first day I actually felt as if I could knit again. YAY!

Pictures coming soon of the parts of the vest I do have completed.

subtle differences

it is really odd to have five colors provided in a kit by a company, and then try to do something totally different with them than the company wanted. My friend Dianne sent the kit to me to make a vest for her (fair exchange of work, she wove 2 blankets) and I've been nibbling away at it. The problem, as I see it, is that the colors don't play well together. I can get four of the five to play together, but the fifth refuses. How did the company manage it? Shadow Vest There is a pink in there that doesn't play well with the other colors when it isn't tightly controlled by the teal, but in the context of the shadow knitting, it does very well. The problem is, I'm not doing Shadow knitting!

Dianne requested that this vest be, um, unusual. Both fronts were to be of different colors and stitch patterns, and not to resemble the back. No horizontal patterns.

The two fronts are done. I'll try to get pictures up. The back has been subject of much internal debate and swatching. Do I do a solid color? Do I incorporate all 5 colors? (That pink still didn't play will.) Do I do the 4 colors? 3? 2? Horizonal pattern? Vertical? Tweed stitch? Ya know, if I'd completed any one of the ones I'd started, the vest could have been mailed already! I think I finally have the right one, and it is on the way.

Wheezing along

I am still struggling with low oxygen levels. So, while I intend to post and tell you all about the things I'm doing, in reality, I'm not doing much. I did have a brief burst with spinning. That lasted a day and a half. Since then, it is back to struggling. sorry