penultimate-minute decisions

[juldea]

The computer is staying on, tonight. I will disassemble it in the morning.

I have done my best at making my belongings, especially those that are large andor heavy, ready to be removed from my property by londo et al. I am freaking out, certain that they will be amazed at the sheer amount of STUFF I have, and that this will somehow translate into them refusing to move my stuff, or londo breaking up with me, or both. But perhaps that's just the stress talking.

I wish I could stay home from work tomorrow, but there's this big departmental meeting that's been muttered about for a while now, and I don't think any amount of me puking into the phone would convince them that I really was sick and not just skipping the meeting. :P

*STRESS OUT*

Okay, I must sleep. The meeting, incidentally, has been scheduled for half an hour earlier than I usually am scheduled to work. *hair tearing*

Repeat to self: I've done what I can, and it will do... I've done what I can, and it will do... I've done what I can, and it will do... I've done what I can, and it will do...

Comments

[43duckies.livejournal.com]

Ideally, a mindless project for me is one in stockinette or garter with no counting required at all. Simple garter scarves in a fuzzy yarn suffice; and simple self striping socks work for me too, except for the toes, heels, and ribbing/cast-off, where I have to pay attention.

I once knit on a sock in the dentist's chair...impressed the heck out of him. I also once knit during on of the Lord of the Rings movie; got four inches done, but I had to pull out some of it because I knit past where the heel needed to be. Should have used a scarf for that movie :-)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Ha - what method do you use for socks? DPs, or two circulars, or magic loop, what? Because the idea of being able to knit SOCKS in the dentists' chair amuses me - small dpns are rough for me to handle.

[43duckies.livejournal.com]

I usually use a set of five DPNs; needles made in Europe (like my favorite brand, Inox) usually come with five, unlike American brands (though I have been known to buy two sets of four in a pinch just so I could knit with five needles). But keep in mind that a) I learned to knit on DPNs, so they are less intimidating to me than many people*; and b) I've been knitting for years so knitting stockinette with my eyes closed isn't that hard anymore.

I have used two circulars to knit socks (and also a Harry Potter scarf that I knit in the round so it would be stockinette from all sides) and it works very very well. There's still some practice involved to make sure you use the correct needle and to get used to switching from needle to needle, but it works well. I'd use it more, except that I have more DPNs than shortish circs.

I haven't gotten around to trying the Magic Loop technique, but I'd definately like to try it. I keep meaning to buy the booklet which describes the technique, but I always find something else I want more and sooner. :-)

It'a also perfectly acceptable to knit socks flat and sew them up; many people do. I wouldn't want the seam, but there are ways to make seams that aren't too bulky, and it must work ok because, as I said, many people do it.

*Note, however, that I am not so enamored of DPNs that I will continue to use them on, say, a shawl past the point where there are enough stiches for a circ. Kim Salazar, knitting goddess and SCA countess (see her website), does this, just adding more and more DPNs. Knitting larger garments in the round on DPNs is period, however(there's a painting of the Madonna knitting an undershirt in the round), but they used much longer needles, a foot or longer, and they usually used a knitting belt or sheath. Ouch, stop me before I go nuts with period knitting geeking. Though I will say...someday I will make myself a knitting belt, and buy or make nice long DPNs, and then Geoffrey (my 16th century journeyman knitter persona) will be a speed demon!

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Well, I can knit stockinette and ribs and all sorts of stuff with my eyes closed - on straight or circular needles. ;) I just haven't worked enough with dpns to get the same familiarity with them. I do know what you mean about five-sets though. I prefer them to fours, as well.

I believe you can just download the Magic Loop instructions and not have to buy them... I'll check it out. Heck it might be what entertains me for the rest of today at work. ;)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Easy to follow video of Magic Loop: http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/advanced_techniques/

[43duckies.livejournal.com]

Cool! I can't wait to try that!

Thanks for finding it for me!

[43duckies.livejournal.com]

Though I have to say --and I haven't tried it yet, so we'll see-- that pulling the needles in and out like that seems a little awkward. But I think it will work better with a longer needle and a few more stitches.

I meant to say yesterday, that's an awesome site. I like the little videos, they're a great idea.

Also, I thought of one more way to knit small diameters in the round: use just three DPNs. I think I read that this was a scandinavian method. It takes a little practice at the beginning and ending of each needle but it has the advantage of having fewer DPNs to juggle. And it's easy to store the WIP because the two needles that the knitting rests on are flat against each other.

God, I love geeking about knitting! :-)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I love that site. I use it for almost anything knitting-related.

The three DPN method sounds like it'd cause horrid ladders. :-/