Stasia's Place Of Grace

Saturday, September 28, 2002

 

Something New

I have a very small house and I have very cheap furniture (and not a lot of it). I think the only furniture we purchased, rather than receiving it as hand-me-downs from our parents, was our futon! I am not a very confident decorator, and of course with our pets all over everything, we didn't want to buy expensive things.

I spend a lot of time here, as Jeff travels often and I'm unable to go with him. Well, it must be something in the air - a sense of preparing to cozy up indoors during the coming months - and I decided that after almost ten years of marriage, and because I'm here so much, it was time we had a coffee table; someplace to put my feet up while knitting, lay my knitting and my Sister Wendy's "1000 Masterpieces" coffeetable book, and keep a cup of tea handy.

So I went to Fleet Farm - the local farmer and fisherman supply warehouse - and found three really inexpensive pine tables!

Jeff assembled the first two, and after watching him, I did the third while he was at work (patience is not one of my virtues!) I learned to use a ratchet (which is a good thing for a girl to know how to do) and also how to put in a screw shaft which doesn't have a top or bolt on it; you put two nuts on, tighten them against each other so they can't move at all, and then use that as a "handle" to screw the screw in with the ratchet. Pretty neat, huh? Handyman Stasia!

Then I finished them all with non-toxic and sweet-smelling Wood Beams. What else would I trust? You can breathe it in and it will only make your head feel clearer and won't poison your brain; the dogs can lick it and it won't do a bit of harm to them; and you can finish your furniture right on the carpet of the room where it will be used. Fantastic stuff!

I also did my Tabachek pierogi paddles while I was waiting for it to sink into the tables - Wood Beams is safe for food utensils and prep surfaces.

Wood Beams, a/k/a Mrs. Bindle's Spindle Balm, brought out the graining of the wood and it looks glossy and lovely now. I'm not a big fan of wood finished in a way that isn't natural, so I really like what the it did for the new tables. They are now protected from doggie drool and are moisturized so they won't warp. I expect them to darken naturally with exposure to the air and light.

And here they are! Finally, a "grown-up" living room! A hard day's work, but it feels good.

Fiona on sofa with new tables.

Fi again; the lamp is new, too.

Tori inspects a new end table.

I also broke down and got the lamps you see - a great deal at Target. They are wood, which keeps this northern room feeling warm and cozy, and if the dogs knock them over (they like to walk across the low shelf in the bay window behind the sofa), they will not break.

Yes, those are Green Bay Packers vinyl clings on my window - they prevent bird crashes and keep Jeff inspired for the games!

Aside from being grateful for finding the new, inexpensive tables and lamps, and learning to use a ratchet, I am grateful for credit cards!

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My Fibery World...

I did it. The little voice of reason spoke, and I ripped out the Meilenweit (color 617) Halloween Socks.

But not before I used them to swatch some new ideas (something I never do - I hate swatching in sock knitting!)

"A" is what happens if I do the following:

Every row, *K4, K2tog, K4, K2 into next stitch*, repeat from * to * around. This might be neat to make some kind of "false entrelac" if you switched the direction of the decreases and increases after a few rounds.

"B" is what happens if I do:

Modified feather and fan/old shale stitch in threes. Round 1: *K2tog 3x; K2 in next stitch 3x**, repeat around. Round 2 and 3, knit plain. Repeat. It is really bunchy. It might look neater if I did the YOs the real feather and fan/old shale stitch called for.

"C" is what happens with:

On the second full round of an individual color... Round 1: *K2, K2tog, K2, K2 in next st.*, repeat around. Then knit plain rounds until you're on on the second full round of the next color band.

I wanted to make little "waves" in the stripes, but without making weird dashes of color by using purls. I had to keep futzing with this last version until it came out right for the 60 stitches I'm doing in a round - that means I *K7, K2tog, K7, K2 in next st.* and repeat around. The "waves" or "ripples" are still noticeable while the increases and decreases are not as visible as they are in example "C" above.

This took me two days to figure out! I do not think well in terms of math or geometry, apparently!

Thanks to Amy Mielke whose Old Shale Mohair Scarf pattern helped me to figure out how to make little waves in the self-striping yarn. I couldn't have figured it out on my own! So I'm doing version "C" but in multiples of 7 stitches now and hope to have something to show you soon.

Changing My Mind On Twisted Rib In Stripes...

Previously, I'd mentioned that with the twisted rib stripe running up the center of the instep (which you can sort of see in the lower portion of the photo above), I'd wished I'd put purl stitches before and after to set it off.

In retrospect, I would not do this, as the purl stitches would make little dashes of color in the striped bands. This is also the reason I chose not to do these socks in ribbing, even though I would have preferred that construction. Live and learn...

Now I am off to enjoy my new knitting room! You have a wonderful weekend!

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