Exciting...A new bride?

Hello, Everyone,

It's a cold, rainy Sunday night in San Diego.  I just got back from Mexican food at El Patron.  Pretty good.

I got some questions from someone knitting my Shannon's bridal shawl.  Since the answers to one person's questions usually benefit the next person as well, I thought I would post my reply to her here.

"Hello,
I would use 25 stitches for a swatch, as the repeat is 12 stitches plus one.  That way you could see how 2 branches of nupps fit side by side.   The shawl also has a garter edge, but I do not think you need that on the swatch. 

If you are new to nupps, just do the pattern as written.  It is enough to start with that.  Do not try to make the branches wave back and forth just yet.   Each right side row features a K2tog at both edges of the pattern repeat for a decrease of 2, and also  2 YO at each side of the nupp for a corresponding increase of 2, so it balances out... +2-2=0  That means that there should always be 12 stitches between the markers on the even (mostly purl except the edging) rows.  I was counting them as I purled them, so that I could catch any mistakes when there was still time to fix them without ripping. 

Each right side row, the pattern repeat  increases the number of stitches by 1 before you make the (yo, nupp, yo) and decreases the number by 1 after the nupp.  This is what makes the branches curve (wave).  So, yes, on the first row of pattern (the 9th after 8 rows of garter stitch) it is one knit stitch before and 5 knit stitches after the (yo, nupp, yo).

You will knit 4 for the garter edge. Then place a marker to show where the edging ends and the main body starts.  Then K2tog.  The central pattern section always begins and ends the right side rows with a K2tog.  This is what creates the half-moon shape of the shawl.  Every right side row the shawl is 2 stitches narrower than the last right side row.  After the edging and the k2tog you will begin making the pattern, placing markers as it tells you to.  I recommend putting a loop of brightly contrast-colored yarn on the 2 edging markers so you can tell them from the "between the repeats" markers.  At the end of the row you will have the last k2tog and the 4 edge stitches.  As the stitches gradually decrease,  you will find that at the edges you do not have enough stitches for a whole pattern repeat.  These partial repeats are worked in stockinette stitch (knit 'em on the right side and purl 'em on the wrong side).  As the edge decreases continue the partial repeats will gradually disappear, only to make a new partial repeat when the next repeat begins to disappear.  Extra markers can be removed as they are no longer needed. Toward the end of the shawl there will only be a few stitches left and it will go very fast indeed.

Be sure to make the nupps very loose so that you will be able to get your needle under all 5 loops on the purl row.  If the nupps are too tight, use a very small crochet hook to pull the stitch through all 5 loops and then put the stitch on the right hand needle as if you just knit it. 

When you wet block your swatch, you will see how it pulls out to make lovely lace.  I always find this to be magic, no matter how many times I do it.  Just wait until you block the shawl!!!  The transformation will positively amaze you!

Please feel free to email me if you have any other questions.  I'm so glad you are working my shawl, it's beautiful!
Kind regards,
Julie"

Lilo is hating the rain tonight.  She says a grumpy "hello" with her ears laid right back.  "Rain, rain, go away...Pretty Lilo wants to play...outside..."

Seeee ya,
Julie

words

Hi, Everyone,

It's a lovely Wednesday night after a hot day in San Diego.  March???  I feel OK, I thought I had a cold, but it left quickly, yeah!!  No music right now.

1. open::
2. bull::
3. knit::
4. cat::
5. think::
6. karma::
7. love::
8. happy::
9. baby::
10. Momma::
Here are some new words. Please post the list to the comments of my blog and add the first thing that comes to mind for each item.  Then, after a few people post, we'll see how differently people think.

My answers are below, in the comments.


I finished the 4 quarters of the quilt top I'm working on, but I have now decided on the best way to join them yet.


Meanwhile, I'm knitting on baby stuff for the new grandson and socks for various people in my life. And Evva's lace.


Panda Express sent me a coupon, so I went, but never again.  Greasy, sweet, awful after taste and not that cheap.  I kept burping the taste of bad grease all afternoon.  Never again.

Lilo is nowhere to be found.  It's such a lovely warm night, she must be out taking a tour.
G'night,
Julie

Ready to connect?

Hello, Everyone,

It's a coolish rainy Sunday late night, I'm knitting a powder blue baby jacket, listening to the rain fall at home.  I feel ok, a little stiff.  Listening to Debussy.

We had a nice dinner with Dare at Kabob Shop in Mira Mesa.  I had a Doner Kabob like this:  http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zBmz_hhOUX03JEFORQN-FQ?select=RotSX_rSrojiJNA89BRxYg  It was really good.  I'd go again in a heart beat.  They have vegan options.

I found this word game at Claudia at Unconscious Mutterings. Lunanina started it.  I can't make the link work, so just google her if you want to see the original.

This is how you play:  You just copy this list into my comments and after each word prompt type the first word that comes to mind.  Then post it.  It's fun to compare with what others have posted.  Different minds....  do not think alike...

1. Ugly ::
   2. Shed ::
   3. Contrary ::
   4. Yellow ::
   5. New Jersey :: 
   6. Point ::
   7. Actually ::
   8. Endeavor ::
   9. Blondie ::
  10. Speck ::

 Maybe we can play this from time to time.

We had desert a few days ago at Donovan 's Circle of Fifths. Banana crepes Foster.  Now, Donovan's is a famous steak place in the Gaslamp district, known for excellent meat.  It took them longer than 40 minutes to bring it out and then the caramel on the Foster was badly burned, dark and stiff.  The whole thing was bitter and not really edible.  When we mentioned this to the waitress, she was sorry but charged us $9 for it anyway.  Shame on you, Donovan's.  I will not be back for the steak, ever!

Walking from our car we saw a very funny busker dancing for tips.  He had boots on both his hands and his feet, fake arms along his sides and two heads on his back.   When he bent over and danced to the music from his boom box, it looked like 2 small marionettes dancing.  The jackets of the dancers swung down like skirts to hide his head.  Very funny.

Lilo came to help blog and sez Hello.  All her answers to the word game were the same for every word. Like this: 1. Ugly :: feed me yummies. ...10 speck:: feed me yummies.  Maybe an occasional ":: scratch my ears" just for variety. 

g'night,
Julie