When Knitting Was a Manly Art

I don’t know if it’s because of the end of summer, or because the gansey is done, or if I’m tired of working every day of the week on the farm or something else — but I’m really got the ‘no motivation’ blues right now.

I’m still working on the DNA scarf, but not much else. The multidirectional will probably be ripped out as I really don’t like the hand/feel of the finished fabric. I don’t know if I need a larger needle or the yarn is just not right, but it ain’t working.

I should be working/planning the SOA, but I’m just not interested. My self-patterning socks haven’t been touched in days and I’m not interested in working on them either.

The gansey is washed and dried and looks pretty good. I’ve been convinced to enter it and the Lace Garland circular shawl in the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. Now all I need to do is get the registration formed filled out and mailed before next Saturday.

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Finished shearing this afternoon. We decided to do all the adults which meant a total of 12 animals total. Finished 7 ewes yesterday and that left 2 ewes and 3 rams for today. Ewes are easy, but rams have extra parts. Both little and big and that creates problems that slow down the process. Add to that about an extra 50 pounds, more muscle and larger horns and you end up with a *lot* more work and a few more bruises. Then to top it off, the last ram we sheared has lost the outer portions of his horns leaving only the cores. He managed to hook one on the horns on the shearing stand, broke of the tip which produced a bit of blood. There aren’t major blood vessels in the horns and we were able to quickly control what there was, but it just added to the mess. He’s looking all right tonight so we expect no problems. Trying to decide if we want to take the lamb fleeces now or wait for spring.

Gansey is finally complete…

Finished weaving in the last of the loose strands, washed and have it laid out this morning. I was really suprised how dirty it’s gotten over the past 4 months. Used Orvus paste which is really a mild, unscented shampoo, and easy to rinse out. Looks very good and I hope to have pictures sometime next week.

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It’s a bit early, but we start fall shearing today. It’ll be a lot easier this year as we’re down to 16 sheep, including 4 lambs. About 2/3 of the adults will be sheared and we hope to get it done over the next two days. Eileen does the shearing and I do the catching and holding along with bagging up any usable fleeces. We both will be covered with dirt, lanolin and sheep poop by the end of the day, but at least it’s overcast and much cooler today.

Progress continues on the scarves. Fourth of five cable repeats done on DNA scarf and a few more rows on the Multidirectional. The pair of socks for myself are going to end up as a carry along project. I intend to finish both scarves and then start serious planning and hopefully start the SOA by the end of September.

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I guess I like little projects. I can spend half my time on each and still see some real progress. The Multidirectional is kinda boring. Just straight stitch with an increase and a decrease each two rows. The DNA scarf is still fun. I really enjoy cables and the textures they bring to a piece. The DNA scarf has three complete cable repeats and two more to go on this leg. This will be a *long scarf*

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Eileen’s well aged socks were completed this morning. I think it’s got to be some kind of record. Over two years from start to completion. The colorway ‘Monet’ makes a very pretty pattern, but it appears that it’s no longer available. Now to finish the two scarves on needles.

Spent a *bit* of time weaving in loose yarn ends on the Gansey also this morning. Tha’ts not done, but I hope to get it washed and blocked next week and maybe some pictures on a model sometime later.

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The guys on the MenWhoKnit list are bad influences.

There’s been a bit of discussion about the Multi-Directional Scarf that a couple of the guys are working on - here and here. Fool that I was, I had to take a look at them, then find the pattern.

Mine isn’t in the really nice yarns these guys are using (I have champagne tastes and a beer budget), but I found some sock yarn with an interesting colorway and cast-on yesterday morning.

The results so far -

Other two projects are continuing. I’m about 5 rounds away from starting toe decreases on Eileen’s socks and starting third cable repeat on DNA scarf.

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would folks spend good money to sit the broiling sun to watch six hours of tractor pulls.

Every year Banks, OR holds a barbeque and tractor pull. Yesterday was the day and we ended up paying a few dollars more than the regular admission to be able to stand in the infield of the little 1/4 mile dirt track they use for the pull. We are both well sunburned, but had a great time. We both know a large number of the local folks and it was nice visiting and enjoying the sights and sounds. Here’s a link to a page I’ve put up with a few pictures.

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I swore I’d only do one project at a time and here I am with two little ones going on. Good progress on both. Only one with pressure is the socks, as Eileen keeps asking when they’ll be done.

About 2 1/2 inches to go on the sock before toe decreases begin. Taking longer than expected, but then I don’t seem to be able to do anything to schedule.

And almost through the second of five cable repeats on the DNA scarf. I’ve been trying various ways to do the two stitch mini cables on either side of the main cable pattern. Always seem to come back to the simplest done without cable needles. Not the neatest, but once it’s washed and blocked, I don’t think most folks will be able to tell the difference.

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I’d forgotten how fun cables can be.

I’ve completed the first of 5 repeats of the cable pattern and it’s looking pretty good. The cables show the double helix of DNA along with the hydrogen bonds between the helixes. The pattern is in the current Interweave Knits and also online.

And Eileen’s well aged sock is coming along nicely. Working down the straight stitch portion of the foot with a couple, three days left to do. Photos on completion.

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Why haven’t I heard about this before…

Today is the 11th annual Left-Hander’s Day. With folks like Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, Leonardo da Vinci, Jimi Hendrix and Nicole Kidman I’m in pretty good company…

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