When Knitting Was a Manly Art

It’s been kind of slow progress on the gansey sleeve over the past two days. The joys of farm work and good weather.

I’ve made a bit of progress on the second of four pattern sections. Haven’t made it down to Woodland Woolworks yet and so I’m still knitting on two circulars, which I really dislike. I also discovered that one the two #5 circulars I have is a Crystal Palace bamboo circular and I’ve come to hate it. The join uses a brass piece that hangs on *every* stitch and it’s driving me crazy. I love Crystal Palace bamboo DPs, but I’ll never buy another of their circulars.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Sloooowly, but surely, the sleeve gets longer.

Gusset has been decreased away, leaving only the six stitch seam and the first pattern section is complete and the first two rows of garter stitch seperators are knitted.

Popularity: 7% [?]

I don’t know if I’m just noticing them more this year or if we really have more butterflies, but they seem to be everywhere. There not easy to take pictures of, because most don’t stay still enough for my digital camera to auto-focus on them.

I’ve managed to get shots of a couple, though. The first is a Lorquin’s Admiral. A very pretty little fellow.

And the next is a Swallowtail Butterfly. I’ve been trying for weeks to get a shot of one of these. They seem to be everywhere, but don’t sit quietly enough for me to get a shot. This afternoon whlle I was watering plants in the greenhouse, I notice two swallowtails fluttering against the plastic covering. One finally settled down on a metal cross-member at the front of the greenhouse and I was able to get a shot. I later caught and released both butterflys outside.

OKC: The Gansey continues. A bit more progress on the sleeves today. I’ll post a picture sometime tomorrow.

Popularity: 7% [?]

It’s been a couple of days since my last post. As I mentioned earlier, things are starting to get busy here on the farm. It’s hay season and as we have lots of hay eating animals, it’s one the chores that comes around yearly. We stacked 3 ton of clover hay for the sheep yesterday, with another 3 ton coming in sometime next week. Luckily we’ve found a farmer who will deliver stacker loads right to the front of the barn. Also took care of the horses at the end of last week again with another local hay farmer who delivers *and* helps to stack. Eileen and I are just getting too old to do all of the hauling and stacking and it’s nice to have a little help.

With all the farm work, the sleeve is coming along nicely. Gussets are slowly disappearing. Two more stitches (6 more rounds) and I’ll be left with the six stitch seam that will continue to cuff. First pattern section is 9 rounds from completion and I’m *mostly* happy with the results. This sweater could never be entered in a judged competition (too many pesky little mistakes), but I’m really liking the way it looks. When I first saw the photos in Beth’s book I was intrigued with all the textures and I’m definitely not disappointed in my results.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Picked up stitches and started the first sleeve this morning. I thought I had a shorter #5 circular but found that my shortest was still too long. I’m currently knitting on two circulars, which is something I’ve never been fond of doing. I’m planning on travelling down to Woodland Woolworks in Carlton, OR and see what they have in stock in 16″. I’ve had a gift certificate from them, just waiting to be spent, since my birthday in March.

And guess what… I’m not happy with the look of the picked up stitches. Kind of large holes under each of the stitches. I’m really beginning to think I’m too picky. It already looks like the two rows of garter stitch at the beginning of the sleeve pattern is doing a pretty good job of covering up the start and now that I look at both the underarm gussets and neck gussets, I’ve decided they aren’t so bad after all.

I’m well into the third month on this project and it looks like it’s not going to be completed before the end of July and things are *just* starting to get busy here on the farm. Ah well.. Onward and outward.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Finally completed the neck band this morning and tried it on. It actually fits pretty well, and as Eileen is about my size it will fit her fine also. Overall, I’m very pleased. Start picking up stitches and start first sleeve tomorrow.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Didn’t get as far as I had hoped on the neck band. About 3/4″ of the 2″ needed was completed before I had to put it down for the day.

I guess I’m not as disappointed in the neck gussets as I thought I was. They look better today as I’ve been picking up stitches and knitting the neck. I guess I’m just too picky…

Popularity: 7% [?]

Well, both shoulders are bound off and neck gussets have been worked, but oh my….

It took nearly 1 1/2 hours to do both sides and it felt like I was all thumbs. This is the first time I’ve done this sort of three needle knitted bind off and boy was I clumsy. The finished product actually looks pretty nice, but the gussets are another thing. I’m really not happy with the way they look. Once again, it’s the holes that appear at each end of the rows. I’m hoping this is another of those things that will even out when I finally wash and block the sweater.

Still need to finish the neck band, but it’s just two inches of straight stitch and it’s going to have to wait for tomorrow.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Finished the last rows of the upper back this morning. Everything looks good and I *expect* to finish binding off the shoulders and knitting the neck gussets tomorrow. No new photo, but I’ll post when I really finish the body.

A very sheepy day today. We’ve found homes for 6 of the 10 sheep we are trying to reduce and spent the morning/early afternoon worming and vaccinating everybody. I was covered with lanolin, sheep poop and cobwebs, but the indoor kitties loved the way I smelled….

Popularity: 7% [?]

While I’m not *really* sure why I’m doing this, both Joe and Marilyn have managed to find shots of much younger versions of themselves and while cleaning out a storage area, I came across my High School Yearbook - circa 1965. I’m personally amazed at how much I’ve change over the last 38 years, both physically and personally. Anyway, without further comment I present — Before and After

OKC: As I expected, not a stitch done the past two days. But…. I’m determined to finish the back tomorrow.

Popularity: 7% [?]