Dolores update

The troubles I had with her pattern have been addressed.  Unfortunately it wasn’t until several days after I completed her.  Fortunately most of what I did was correct or close enough.  Somehow some things fell through the cracks during the tech editing phase, so it wasn’t my fault.

If anyone reading this wants to do a Dolores, there’s a knitalong for her starting on Ravelry soon.   I think it could be done successfully solo with the updated pattern and the pictures that have been added to Ravelry.  It might be more fun to do with others, though.

Preorders are open for her Rhinebeck outfit.  It is a sweater dress with a patterned yoke, leg warmers, a hat, and a parasol.  Webs already has my order.

Tour de Sock Stage 2

These were done correctly but you can barely tell because I stretched the definition of Tonal yarn a bit too far.  The next stage also wants tonal.  I have already replaced my original choice with an almost solid darkish blue and clear beads.

It was a little disappointing to finish two days faster than the first pair and still ranking about the same.  It is time to reset my expectations.  It is still good to supply my team with some points.

ETA:  another check of the Leaderboard shows that I was 48th, not 151st on this stage.  Much happier and encouraged by this.

I don’t have to go

::hopping around the house singing “I don’t have to go!”::

My standby group for jury duty has been cleared.  I don’t mind the idea of doing my civic duty.  However it would involve getting up at 5 am and driving into downtown Atlanta during rush hour.  I am not sure whether or not I am capable of the drive because my legs get stiff and crampy if I attempt anything too extensive.  I am a little over a year from getting out of the pool of jurors permanently.  Thus the singing.

What the heck does this have to do with knitting?  I will be able to start the next leg of Tour de Sock right on time and maybe get some more points for my team.  Yay!

She’s Heee-eeeere

It’s Dolores, Georgia style.  The only major difference between this one and the original are the ears.  They were placed as the pattern directed, but it turned out to be too high.  Her sunglasses won’t fit over the ears.  I am leaving them as is because I like the startled look it gives her.

She’s soft enough so I can rearrange her stuffing which I keep doing after seeing this picture.  Her measurements are correct so her future wardrobe should fit.  I am working on her shawlette.  She doesn’t seem to mind sitting around in nothing but her fleece.  It is hot here.

Must Stash, in more ways than one

Darn it, that came out kind of dark after excessive uploading drama.  These came from Must Stash Yarns today.  The top one is Dark Side EVP.  The middle is Woodstock.  The bottom is Bohemian (like in rhapsody).  They came with a teeny vinyl record that looks like it could be played if I had a teeny record player.

The colors are great.  I will stash them away and be happily surprised to pull them out in the future.

Each skein is actually two identical self-striping skeins.  I’ve knit with this before and they really are identical.  There’s no pulling out yards of yarn, trying to figure out where the repeat starts.  You pay a bit more for that.  If you want two things that match, it is totally worth it.

13/10, would happily stash again.  Oops, too much time reading We Rate Dogs on Twitter.

Tour de Sock Stage One

These took longer than planned, but at least they are done.  I was early enough that my points will count for my team.  That makes it good enough for me.

It is possible that the next stage will be later than planned.  I’m on standby for jury duty close to when it starts.  I won’t know until the night before if I have to go or not.

What’s new that isn’t good:  the war on fleas continues, I got sick, the cat destroyed a second computer in a year, and my latest yarn order is on a magical mystery tour.  I have had the yarn situation before.  It will have gotten to the correct post office to get to me next.  USPS will then inexplicably ship the package to San Francisco or Anchorage.  It will come back to Kansas City and/or St Louis and then spend days bouncing back and forth between Roswell and Alpharetta.  I will get it eventually.  It is still better than trying to get something via Amazon shipping.

What’s new that’s good:  cautiously optimistic on flea efforts, I got better, my tablet is working fine until the new computer comes, and my Dolores kit is here.  I will be watching the classic Doctor Who marathon and knitting the ill-bred purebred sheep of Rassilon.

Still no new knitting

Tour de Sock starts on Sunday.  I attempted a swatch and it appears that I will be using 00 dpns.  I am not a happy bunny.  They have to be metal because I break anything else that thin.  They are very pointy and they poke me.  ::sulk::

I started a cross stitch kit that I have had since 1991.  Holy cow, that’s 27 years.  That must be a stash record.  

The Dolores sheep kit should arrive today or tomorrow.  I will definitely be grabbing needles to start her as soon as she appears.  Franklin Habit described her purple rolling suitcase and
I am planning on making one for her wardrobe.  A trip to a craft store is in the works for the supplies. It should be fun and a stress reliever between TDS rounds