Fair Isle: February 2006 Archives

Things are starting to come together as I make progress on the vest. I've gotten into the rhythm and having fun watching the patterning come together. The fun part is that the color combination changes with every back and fore color, so for every russet, you'll see it paired with blue, then purple heather, and then with tartan. It really takes someone with a good color sense to come up with a pleasing combination that will work with every color in the palette. This is a very hypnotic, and simple pattern, and I'm hoping to have 7 inches done before end of the week before I get started on the armhole shaping.

And meanwhile, I've been spinning - I found black Romney fleece in one of the boxes where I keep, so I took out maybe two pounds of it, washed, and then combed these. And here's what I've spun up so far. I'm hoping to use this for the Eris cardigan. I'm undecided as to whether I'll go for 2 or 3 ply. I think I'l wait and swatch with 2-ply yarn before I decide whether to persevere with spinning for 3-ply yarn.

While prowling the web, I came across this post on Smoking Gun website about this guy, Travis Frey, who's been charged with trying to kidnap his wife in Iowa. Apparently his wife turned out this contract, which she'd never signed (as you'll see why), over to police. This guy sounds like a control freak - he set up guidelines for her in regards to sexual behavior, hygiene, and clothing. Much of what is outlined in the contract is a PG-17, perhaps X, rate level.

But I can give you an example of what he wanted his wife to be during "His Time":

1. Be subservient, submissive, and totally obedient.
2. To do what you're aseked, when you're asked, exactly how you are asked.
3. Be cheerful and adoring towards me.
4. Be close at all times, unless otherwise told to.
5. Perform any and all sexual acts, [and go read the rest at the link above]

And this contract goes on for four pages. He specifies what she had to do to earn Good Behavior Days. What a nutcase. It's a good thing there's a picture up so women can know who he is and to stay away from him.

Yesterday I decided to get started on the vest since I couldn't wait any longer. Earlier in the day I had made a xerox of the pattern chart and gotten it laminated, and punched holes for the color key. I made sure to break off a good-sized length of each color. This xerox is in the background with the purple blobs - Since you can clearly see it, I decided to blob out the pattern itself since it wouldn't be fair to the designer who's put a lot of hard work into it.

So, I cast on for Chart A and worked the first row. And I'm preparing to knit the second row, when I discover . . . two ends knotted together. Auuuggghhh!!! I'm just thankful it happened this early and not when I'm into the 12th row. Off the needle and starting over again. Now up to the 7th row or so . . .

While I was on one of my cleaning binges, I found a ziplock bag with a circular needle and the vest points on it. I can't remember where I found it, but I think it was in a box with some other stuff. Several days later I was looking on top of one of the bookcase for something else, and I found another ziplock bag with the wound skeins. So I was right all along. So now I should have more than enough yarn for two vests, I hope. I guess I had better get on with swatching.

I've been doing quite a bit of spinning, lately, trying to use up the small lots. I'm thinking about starting to sell my handspun yarn, so I can earn money to put into The Fund for the Aga stove. I know I have quite a ways to go, but one might as well start somewhere.

Still inching along with the norge pullover. I've had to tape together the blown-up copies of the back and front pattern and prop up the metal board as I knit along, so I can't take it out in public locations. So that makes it slow-going. And meanwhile, my job search is lumbering along, very slowly. It's getting a bit frustrating, and I'm trying to figure out what it is that I may be doing wrong. I've been sending out my resumes to posts that I see on places such as Monster.com, but not much luck other than recruiters who don't always good matches for me. So, I guess I'll have to see what I can do about that.