QueerJoe Returns

Vacation isn't quite over, but I'm back home and blogging again.

Vacation
First of all, vacation has been great. Two weeks away from work has been a wonderful relief. We had incredible weather while up in Martha's Vineyard. Even when the forecast was for rain for the cape, the Vineyard had clear, sunny weather. We also got to do a lot of my favorite things. There was a lot of tanning, swimming, and eating.

Here's a picture of the house where we stayed.



And another of the view from the "backyard".



I'm also glad to see that Velma is back from her "vacation" too. I missed her blog and her energy.

Vacation Knitting
The socks for my niece came out beautifully. I was able to make two almost perfect twins. There is a minor differerence, because I ended up starting the heal one row early on the second sock, but it's hardly noticeable.



Since my niece has very narrow feet, it was nice to be able to make her a pair of custom-made socks that fit her perfectly.

I made very fast progress on these socks, so when it looked like I would be done with them by Saturday, I stalled on them a little. After I finished them on Sunday, I decided I needed a swatch of the Regia for my local yarn store, so I made this and taught my niece how to knit a little too.



I realized as I was nearing the end of the first sock, that I had forgotten to bring a darning needle with me. Since the socks were made toe-up, I needed to be able to simulate a stretchy bind off, so I did it with my double pointed needles. It took me forever, but it worked out fine. By the time the second sock was complete, my sister-out-of-law had found some good darning needles for me at the local grocery store.

See?!? Perfect vacation.

Mini Chock-a-Block
I will resume knitting on the Mini Chock-a-Block sweater today.

I don't know what the reaction of the editor from Unicorn was. I was on vacation when he was there this past weekend, and the ladies from Simply Knit are on vacation now. I'll have to wait a week or so till the store re-opens.

As always, I'll keep you updated with pictures and and reaction I find out.

Blog Vacation

Blog vacation starts today, and blogging will resume at the end of next week.

Vacation Knitting
First of all, I decided that I would knit some socks for my niece while I was on vacation. If I finish them while I'm there, I'll leave them with her, if not, I'll send them along afterwards. I bought some striping Regia in bright oranges and pinks with maroon. I think she'll like them.



Mini Chock-a-Block
While I was at the yarn store, it was like a mini reunion. I got to see Carol, CC and Nadine. They were all quite excited about MCaB, and asked me if I would leave it in the store so they could show the Unicorn Books editor, who was scheduled to be there on Saturday. I'll be interested to hear his reaction.

Then Kathy came in with her daughter, so it turned out to be a fun and social visit.

I did start the front of MCaB, although not much to speak of.




Next Design Ideas
Finallly, I'm not planning on starting the new design until I'm finished with MCaB or unless I get extremely bored with it, which isn't likely, since it's moving along very quickly.

When I was trying out contrast colors in the yarn store yesterday, Kathy reversed her decision. Number three in the color chart I posted yesterday doesn't show up quite as nicely as it does in person (although Marilyn seems to have a keen eye).

I think what I'll do is make the roll neck collar in Ivy (yarn #3), and then do multiple collars in different colors. Since the collars don't take very long, and I have dozens of Jamieson's colors, it might be fun to be able to change collar colors anytime I want.

See you all when I get back.

Busy

Who would have thought that my time off could be busier than my days at work.

Getting Ready
Getting ready for vacation has been a little hectic and keeping me very busy. I've also got some family things going on (good things) and I'm trying to fit in various social activity before I fly off on Wednesday.

Mini Chock-a-Block
Despite all that, I've been able to finish the back of MCaB.



I would have been done a little earlier, but realized that my design was one row of blocks short of the size I was shooting for. So I had to modify the graphic, and rebalance the color and design patterning by adding the new row of blocks. Overall, I'm happy with how it's coming out.

Next Design Ideas
Thanks everyone for their ideas on a contrast color for the new design. One of the good things about the MCaB is that I am using the color Sunrise, and so I've gotten a sense about how some of the Jamieson colors work with Sunrise. Here are some of the areas where Sunrise mixes with other colors.



I will only be using a very little of contrast color. Probably on the cuff and on the collar, so I can go a little wild. I'm thinking that the Moss (#3) might be very funky, but then again the Ivy (#9) would be very handsome. I still have lots of time, so I'm open to suggestions.

Reader Comments
First of all, let me apologize to Marcus (the self-identified "kind reader who sent me the Escher graphic). This entry won't make it any better, but I should at least explain myself.

Marcus sent me the beautiful graphic a couple of weeks ago, and I kept meaning to include it in the blog. By the time I finally got around to remembering, the original e-mail was no longer in my AOL mail account. For the life of me, I couldn't remember who had sent it. The moment I read Marcuses comment, it all came back to me, but it's clear my mind is leaving.

Ann asks whose designs are the Chock-a-Block patterns. These are my own designs, which will hopefully be published in a book of men's sweaters, designed by men.

Finally, Julie gave one of the best tips I've heard yet in all my knitting years.

The Koigu Cross Stitch scarf uses a pattern stitch that calls for wrapping the yarn 4 times around the needle.



Not only does that require a very long needle when you're doing the scarf with 225 stitches, but it also makes it very difficult to move the yarn over the needle. If you've ever done this pattern stitch, you'll know what I mean. Changing to a bigger needle and only wrapping twice is a huge time saver on this scarf. I'm going to have to make another one of these using her technique. Thank you Julie.

Time Off

Time off from work allows me to do the things I enjoy most. Relax, sit on the beach, read, and of course, knit.

Knitting Progress
Since my last day at work was yesterday, I've already made some progress on the Mini Chock-a-Block pullover. We had another visit to the laser eye surgery place, so I got some work done there, and of course just sitting around home.



This picture allows you to see a little bit more of the different pattern designs. This "sampler" concept is working out very well in helping to keep my interest up in working this sweater.

Next Design Ideas
A kind reader sent the following graphic, a couple of weeks ago on Escher's birthday.



They thought it would make a great Fair Isle design, and I am in total agreement. I'm not a huge fan of Escher's work, although I do appreciate the cleverness of his interlocking designs. This one, however, I find quite beautiful. The gecko design is whimsical and interesting, and the colors are surprising and rich. I'll have to consider using this for a sweater some time in the future.

Another idea I got when I saw Nathan Lane being interviewed on television. He was wearing a very nice sweater done in an interesting rib, and had a cool neck treatment in a contrasting color of yarn. Since I had already decided that I needed to use Jamieson's color "Sunrise" for my next project, I figured this would be a perfect opportunity.

I bought the yarn last week, but I haven't yet decided what color I will use for the contrast color.





Since the main color will be dark and tweedy, here are some of the considerations I'm taking into account when deciding on the contrasting color:

1. I prefer to use another tweedy yarn to make sure the design holds together
2. I don't want the contrast yarn to be too light so that it will blend in with my skin color
3. I want the contrast color to be surprising, but still yet look perfect with the main color yarn.

Reader Question
Chris asks if I've ever seen the Ron Schweizter design, Aberlemno in person.

I can't recall if I've ever seen this sweater in person, but I can say the that pattern design looks almost identical to Donegal. The colors are quite different (at least from what I can tell in the picture), but it looks very much like Alice's Donegal that I just finished.

One of the things I liked when I first bought the kit for Donegal was the subtle contrast between the foreground and background colors. Ron's version of Aberlemno has quite a bit more contrast in the majority of the design, except for a dark stripe of lower contrast. For me, this gives the sweater a horizontal striping that I'm not quite as fond of as Donegal.

Where I Knit

No, I don't mean where in public do I knit. I mean where in my house or hotel do I knit.

Knitting in Beds
I do the majority of my knitting in a bed.



When I'm in the hotel, I usually sit up in bed watching television and knitting. When I'm home, I prop myself up on multiple pillows, and knit while Thaddeus plays on the computer which is in the little alcove in our master bedroom. I also knit on the couch in my living room and in my big, soft, leather chair in my t.v. room.

Knitting Progress
All that being said, I haven't done a lot of knitting the last two nights in the hotel. Work has been frantic, and kept me in the office pretty late. I've also been getting up early to run, since vacation is scheduled for next week and the week after. I have to look good in a bathing suit.

So all-in-all, I get in a row or two each night and morning, but it's not progressing as fast as when I'm home.

Vacation
Yes, you read right. I'll be on vacation for two weeks. The time off from work is sorely needed, and I'm looking forward to it with much joy. I'll be spending 8 days in Martha's Vineyard (Edgartown, for those of you familiar with the island). Thaddeus' sister and brother-in-law have a house up there that is just perfect. We'll fly up there on Wednesday, and fly home the following Thursday. I can't wait.

Don't worry, we have a very responsible teenager come in to take care of Gage and water the plants while we're away.

As for knitting, I usually get the opportunity to knit while I'm there, but not as obsessively as I do at home. Fortunately, I'm home for a few days before and after Martha's Vineyard, so I should make pretty good progress on the current design and hopefully even start the next one.

Vacation Knitting
I'm debating on whether I will bring the Mini Chock-a-Block with me. Since I'm using around 20 different colors, I'm not sure I want to schlep all that yarn with me. I'm thinking I need to bring one of my other projects, or buy some more patterned sock yarn before I go and just work on socks.

Vacation Blogging
I don't think that I will have much access (if any) to the internet while I'm away, so the blog will also go on vacation. But don't worry, that won't be until next Wednesday.

Knitting In Public
As I've mentioned before, I often knit in public and I will probably be knitting in the Philadelphia airport and on the plane up to Massachusetts. If we had decided to drive and take the ferry, I would also have been knitting on the ferry. Associated with that thought, I leave you with a funny cartoon that Nicky, one of the blog readers sent me.



It wouldn't be outside of the scope of my twisted reality to do something just like this.