Knitting Chat

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

ZassZ — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:59:15 GMT

Hi Sharon,

I apologize, I meant to say "dogsitting". Yes you will be great gma for sure and we all look forward to the day for you! I hope it is a beautiful week for you as well.

Hi Merlich,

I know you are busy with family too, so hope you enjoyed your week with family as well!

Talk to you both soon i hope.

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

Merlich — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:51:29 GMT

Dear Sharon & ZassZ,

I also wish you a Very Happy Mother's Day!

XOXOXO!!!

Merlich

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

yogama — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:45:27 GMT

haha! mind? never! i say i'm practicing for when the real babies come. i will be the best gma because i know what i would have liked, but didnt have.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO BOTH OF YOU - AND ANY OTHER KNITTER OR NON-KNITTER READING THIS!

xox

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

ZassZ — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:56:08 GMT

Hi Sharon,

I just read this about your babysitting. Made me chuckle. Well you just tell those two boys that Zass said they should be nice to your two little ones, Henry and Rita. Now you all make nice and get along together, ok? ha ha So you won't be so worn out going back and forth. Oh we do what we have to do to make it work, I know you don't mind.

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

Merlich — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:41:05 GMT

Hi Sharon,

Thank you for your reply! I am happy you are doing well and you are having good days! I love the description of your garden, it looks gorgeous! I have pictured it in my mind!

So, you are having fun with those doggies, ha? What a problem! The good thing is that you don't mind doing the trip, I do not know how many times a day, so your little ones don't get annoyed! You are a great mom!!

About the racer. I am not done yet. I am almost, just about to start the neckline but, I don't like the way it looks the M1L, M1R, SSK and K2TOG from the edges, they don't look nice! I am thinking what to do about them. On the other hand, yes, I'll block it first, and if it is still rolling up, then, I'll pull it out and start it all over again with wider needles for chart 1 and No.3 for the rest of the body. I'll let you know.

In Mexico we celebrate Mother's Day on May 10th. It doesn't matter which day of the week is, we celebrate that very date. It is silly, because we have to do our everyday routine and after we come back from school and from work the celebration begins and, the next day... you have to do again your routine but tired and feeling like staying in bed. No way! I don't enjoy it very much. Fortunately, this year it will be on Friday, so, we will enjoy it with no worries about the hour. You will celebrate with a very big family. It is when you enjoy it more because you do things regularly don't use to. I love when we join our families, we have beautiful memories.

Changing the subject. If you don't have enough pillows, I don't know if it would mind asking your sister to bring theirs explaining her the situation. Or, you can buy a non expensive ones and keep them for the next time. You'll always be ready, haha!

Ok, I'll finish my ufo's first! They are ufo's because they have something I didn't figure out how to do but, maybe, it will come out! Thank you for your advise!

Keep on enjoying your day!!!

XOXOXO!!!!

Merlich

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

yogama — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:29:47 GMT

hi again.

forgot to answer that no, i was not on vacation - but my son and his gf were. we were babysitting their 2 big dogs. both sweethearts but really big. one 5, one 1. they do not get along with my little bostons, which is too bad. so we were back and forth between home and their apt making it work. it would be so much easier if they could all be here, but not to be. so oh well! what we do for our kids?

i am in between projects now. not inspired and waiting for something to catch my eye.

merlich i thnk its great if you can finish your projects. maybe keep that black and white top in mind. if you finish your old ones, you can then buy the yarn to start that one? personal bribery i call it! haha!

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

yogama — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:22:10 GMT

good morning zass and merlich!

and OH NO! poor zass. i am so sorry you have to rip out again. that is so frustrating for you. makes the project such a chore instead of being fun. good luck with that!

merlich before you rip, do as your son says. wet and block it and you may find the bottom does not roll. remember that was my big concern at the beginning of the project? i knitted a few inches of the bottom and then blocked to make sure it did not roll - mine does not. you may like the whole top better if you block it also. keeps its shape a bit better. and if you are not happy still, try the picot edging i did. it really gace it a finished look and i like mine so much now. not that i have worn it yet! waiting patiently for it to warm up. we have a nice day in the mid 60's with sun, then a few more chilly and windy in the 50's. today it is pouring rain. such thunder and lightening this morning, which is unusual for this time of year. one huge crash that scared my doggies. fortunately they do not have a problem with storms. they jumped up and stared around and listened for more, then settled back down.

everything is looking so pretty outside now. i do love this time of year. i have a pretty pink dogwood that is blooming, along with a red bud tree. the lilies are all growing and will be nice when they blossom. our family veggie garden is growing also. we had some lettuce from it the other day and time to go pick some more. when the sun does finally come out, it will be very lush!

any plans for mothers day? we will probably postpone till the 19th. my sis and hubs and one daughter will be visiting from connecticut. oldest son and fiancee will be in from va. a nice, fun weekend - but not sure where they will all sleep! i have to check to make sure i have enough pillows and blankets! haha!

enjoy your day and keep me posted on your progress!

xox, sharon

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

Merlich — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:39:54 GMT

Hi Dear Ladies!,

What a sad thing ZassZ !! Now, I don't know what to tell you.

I am almost done with mine. There is only missing the front from the armholes to the top. It is very fast. If I don't get distracted with anything else, I think it will be done by tonight. But... I don't like how it looks. I tried it on to see how it looked like. The bottom rolls up; it looks strange. I will rip it out all over. When I casted on the stitches, I didn't realized the measurements for the front and for the back were different. I calculated both parts equal and adjusted my numbers. My eldest son made me remember cotton always stretches and suggested me to wait until I give the racer a quick shampoo and let it dry so I can decide whether I rip it out or not. He is becoming a better knitter than me, at least technically.

I also was thinking if I had enough yarn left I could knit a little shawl just to cover my shoulders, but I think that won't be possible. Maybe I'll have one skein left and that is not enough yarn.

I don't have any project in mind. My hub wants me to finish the projects I started long ago instead of begin a new one. I have another top that is only one strap missing to be done. So, may be I'll do what he is suggesting me. It is a pity to have afforded the yarn and not giving it a good use. Although, if you asked me what would I've really liked to do, of course I would have done the black and white top. I have it on my mind.

Sharon, we haven't heard from you!!! It doesn't matter if you haven't had the chance to put up a pic of your racer. We would like to hear anything from you. How do you feel about being a knitting teacher? How is the blanket going? Do you already know who will be the recipient? And more things like that. I hope you are enjoying this experience.

Send you XOXOXO!!!

Merlich

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

ZassZ — Tue, 07 May 2013 03:18:45 GMT

Hi Merlich and Sharon and All,

Well Sharon, where have you been hiding? I just guess you've had a nice trip somewhere - ha ha! Ok so we want to see it? Did you take the pic already? I have bad news. I am going to have to take mine back down to nearly the beginning. It just was my own mistake when trying to read the chart. I had seen an article on the internet re converting from flat to round and the info in the article said how I should do the WS row etc. etc. But it didn't work out for THIS pattern. So it was either written incorrectly, or it just isn't possible for this pattern to do that way, so all the rows that ended with the purl stitches or yarn overs don't work when beginning the next row with a purl stitch instead of the knit stitch. I think it made the design not lay correctly. Well, I just have to bite the bullet and rip now.

How is your work coming along with the ladies you teach? That must be so enjoyable for them to have you there to be so patient and cheerful with them. It really is very, very good! Since you are done with your racerback what are you thinking of for your next project?

Merlich, i know you had some nice black and white tops in mind. Will you and Sharon do them? I will still be on the racerback for awhile I fear. Have a good nite all! x0x0xx00x

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

Merlich — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:22:11 GMT

Hi Sharon,

I've asked my friend the tea tree oil. May be this same week I'll have it. Now, there are no mosquitoes, hahaha!! Anyway, it is also for headaches and many other things.

I think the picot edge is an excellent idea. I can't wait to see yours. It is not the same to see a pic from a mazazine than one from your friend. It is like more real. I know yours is astonishing.

I also love knitting garments for babies. Yes, you knit them in a trice and they look so cute. I am happy for you; you are enjoying your knitting.

You are a very kind and nice person. Half of the blanket will end up done by you!!

Looking forward to seeing your pics soon!!

Have a nice day!!

XOXOXO!!

Merlich

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

yogama — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:56:27 GMT

hi merlich!

hope that tea tree oil helps. no fun haveing itchy bites.

so happy to hear you are back knitting our kal. let me know what you think when you see what i mean about the edges. i just knew i would not be happy and would not wear it as is. so, i'm happy i put the effort in and did the picot edging.

i am now knitting on baby socks. my son's best friend's wife's sister is having her first baby in july. i love knitting baby things. so small and fun - and done!

i am also working on plain garter stitch squares. i volunteer with old ladies and we are making a blanket. i have 7-8 of them. most do just fine, but 3 always make mistakes. so, i sneak them out in a canvas bag, bring them home, reknit them and take them back. they never know!

enjoy your day! xox

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

Merlich — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:02:48 GMT

Hi Sharon & ZassZ,

Thank you for your tip about the tea tree oil. A friend of mine sells it, I am going to get in touch with her to have a bottle.

Wow! Those are really good news!!

Thank you for your advice about the picot edge. I am already on the go with the racer. I'll try to hurry to have it finished too, hahaha!!

Yes, we will be waiting for your pic too!! Thank you!!

It is raining now, you are right!! I rather the rainy season than the heat wave one!

What's next? Have you already decided what top will you knit? Or, will you knit something else?

Take care and thanks for everything!

XOXOXO!!!

Merlich

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

yogama — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:45:45 GMT

good morning merlich and zass,

oh no merlich! allergic to repellents! and with lots of mosquitos around. not fun at all. have your tried something else, like tea tree oil? that might help.

i am so happy to report i finished my top. i thought and thought about it and tried it on many times. finally decided its not the racer back that was bothering me, it was the unfinished edges. so it took more time to go through other patterns and books and decide what to do about it. i went with the picot edging around armholes and neck. i love it!

here is what i did - i combined lots of different instructions about how to pick up stitches. i tried a few times and went with pick up one stitch in each horizontal stitch, 3 out of 4 stitches on vertical or sloped rows. this worked for me.

purl the first row through the back loop to tighten the first row. knit 2 rows. yo, k2tog for one row. k 3 rows and bind off. turn edge and sew.

i blocked it again last night so hopefully i can get a pic soon. i will have daughter help me!

and then wait patiently for it to warm up so i can wear it. i think i have the opposite problem from merlich! rainy season, does that mean it is getting chilly by you now? hoping you enjoy your weather whatever it is!

happy knitting! xox

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

Merlich — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:36:21 GMT

Hi Sharon,

It is very pleasant when you have to do something to improve the look of your home. You feel like renew although it is not a huge thing. Your garden will be the envy of the neighbourhood!! I am so happy for you. I wish I had a garden too. I am not good taking care of plants. I always ruin them. A garden is different. I used to have one some other place we used to live in many years ago and it was beautiful. I know you will choose good vegetables to plant. I think the ones you use more in your cooking and are easy care.

About the racer. I haven't been able to knit a stitch. I've been very busy with some other priority things. I hope I can keep on this week working on it. Rainy season is coming and I won't be able to show it off (hahaha!) without wearing a cardigan or anything else.

It has been very hot. Now, we are suffering from mosquitoes bites. Unfortunately, we are allergic to repellents, so you can imagine we are really into trouble. No way!!

Wish you the best!! Looking forward to hearing from you!!

XOXOXO!!!

Merlich

Re: !RACER BACK TOP (proposed non-official kal) Lisa Hoffman

yogama — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:37:07 GMT

good morning ladies!

hope all is well and calm and you are busily knitting away? haha! i am not.

taking a break as i am redoing a bathroom. just cosmetic. painting and new light fixtures. but did have someone retile around the tub so it looks better. evrything looks good with a fresh coat of paint.

i'm also working on my yard trying to reclaim it from the post-sandy mess. most things survived - minus the big trees we lost. we are planting a hedge of forsythia, skip laurel and hydrangia so it will look pretty. everything is popping up now and going to look so pretty. not as warm as i would like, but it is spring! we are high 50's to low 60's. it would be nice if we were high 60's and no wind, but sun! soon enough.

i'm planting a vegatable garden this year also. need to get that going. the dirt is all turned over, but now i need to decide what to plant! oh so many decision! my son and his gf are involved and they have no yard with their apt - so they are happy to help.

that's about it from here. hoping we all get back into our knitting and finish! i'm aiming for this weekend!

xox, sharon