Working on the blanket

I got a lot of responses from the knitters on ravelry on my problem with the red fingers and my being allergic to the bamboo. I came to the conclusion that it's probably the chemicals that is used in the processing in making the yarn. The suggestions some good and some I won't even try. The not try was washing the yarn first. NOT! I think I will buy these "Finger Cots". They look like little condoms for your fingers. I have to be able to feel the yarn. I'm a touchy type of person. Gloves will be to bulky. Others said to try creams. I'm already using different Dr. recommended creams. Mean while I'm still knitting away.
I have to figure out how to add photos to this blog. A fellow blogger (fieldfen.blogspot.com) has a great blog with pictures and all. This way I can post the blanket as I go along. This means another lesson from my daughter and/or son.
One of the tricks that I tell my students when working on an intarsia piece is to weave in the ends, on the back, as you go along. The ends (of the yarn) happen when you add on a new color. This way you won't be overwhelmed at the end. It's also good to do this so the ends won't get in the way when you are changing colors. I do this about every 2-3 " or so. Depending on how many color changes were going on. I'm just about 1/3 of the way through. I also think this part had the most color changes happening. The middle should go fast. The only other area that will be slow is the windows & door. I have got to be able to get pictures on this blog!
Things I need to do today-
1- Go to Post Office to mail back broke Camcorder- present for Julian
2- rewind yarn- sock & hat yarn
3- try to figure out to add pictures to this blog
4- work on blanket- knit knit knit
The rewound yarn is for my DH to make him more socks & a new hat. This way I can take a break from the blanket and give my arms and fingers a rest. As the blanket gets bigger it gets heavier. Also all the bobbins make it heavy. It gets harder for me to hold up. Starts to trigger off my RSD. Then PAIN PAIN PAIN. So taking a break is a good thing. Socks weigh nothing and I don't have to concentrate. Though concentrating is a good thing for my brain. You don't use it, you lose it.
Signing off for now. I maybe back with some pictures if I'm successful.
Terry

Holidays Over!

I am soooo glad the holidays are over. Way to much stress. Stress leads to pain. Way too much pain. I was a bad mommy and a bad Nana. We spent way too much money that we really didn't have. I did not knit at all. My escape. No time and the blanket is not a good project to carry around. I need to also work on a more portable projects so I think I will make another pair of socks for Richard. I have the wool or the hat for him which I'm not sure I have enough wool for.
Now it's time for me to hibernate. Shut myself off from the rest of the world. Dig myself in. Just me, my knitting, & the tv with movies. Hopefully old movies. Living on Fire Island puts the protective bubble around me. Right now it's a good thing. I'm glad the Richard got to see the family. He never knows what is going on and he likes it that way. We watched old family movies from his family. Which was good for him. Off the computer and on to knitting.

Allergy??? Can't be... Oh no....

I think I maybe allergic to the yarn I'm using for the first baby blanket for the triplets. Why may you ask? I always get cracked finger tips year round and worse in the winter. However, I've noticed on my middle fingers and on my left thumb on the top it's getting all red and irritated. I wasn't sure why but last night while I was knitting the blanket I looked down and saw where my fingers were touching. Bingo! Red finger tips hit right on the blanket. Other fingers did not or not as much. Now what to do. This is the first time I'm using Debbie Bliss' Prima 80% Bamboo / 20% Merino Wool. It's got to be the Bamboo. I love the way it feels. It is very soft to the touch. I'm going to check it out on Ravelry to see if any one else is having a problem. I will have to finish the blanket and then change the yarns for the other 2. If it gets real bad I will take breaks and knit small projects in between. All for now.

BIG error

I can't believe what I did yesterday. I decide to make the hat for Gail. I knew it would take me a few hours. I had the yarn. I'm using the purple yarn left over from the fairy blanket. It's good yarn 100% marino wool, very soft. I did a test gauge, as always, and it worked out fine using 3 balls together. I also was able to use the plastic 3 ball separator that I got for free from Simply Knitting magazine, which worked great and stopped the 3 balls from twisting together. I casted on and counted. Or thought I counted. Now mine you I always count twice. And then knitted away. Knitting, knitting, knitting. Got to the part where the crown decrease started and it didn't work out. So I went to look for my mistake. I couldn't find it. I thought I missed k2tog or put k1 were it shouldn't be. I couldn't figure it out. So finally I decided to count my stitches. I was supposed to cast on 47 stitches and I had 42. OH NO!!! You see I count in 5's . 5, 10, 15, 20 see. I took the hat off the needles to see if it would fit anyways, NOT. It had to be Totaled, Frogged, Ripped, Gone! Start all over again. I wasted the day. Richard tried to ask isn't there any you can do to it so you wouldn't have to rip it. Isn't there anyone with a smaller head. I couldn't think of anyone. NO NO NO. So I ripped it and rewound the yarn into 1 big ball. Casted back on and counted 3 times. and after a few rows counted again. I sure I am not the first one that this has happen to. And I'm sure that this is not the first time that this has happened to me. Blocked it out. Time to get back to knitting.

What can I say

Here I am alone on a sunday. It's raining out side. It snowed for the last 2 days and now the rain is washing the snow away. It was pretty with the snow. The girls from the summer and winter knitting group gave me my holiday present. They were most generous and gave me $240. Of course I'm going to use it on knitting supplies and yarn. I already ordered from Bettz Designs a Double Pointed Needle case & a Supply Case made out of the same fabric as my knitting bag & needle case. I will hold off from getting more yarn because I'm still working on the babies blanket and I haven't even finished the silk shawl that I started from last years yarn purchase from the money that the girls gave me. I'm starting to make a dent in the first blanket and it's starting to move faster. I want to take a break and make some hats. The hats will go fast because I'm using very bulky yarn. I also want to have some easy projects to carry around when I go to Sheila's house for the holidays. Though I'm getting to the point that there are not so many color change on the graph making it easier to do. We will see. Well time to get off the computer and start knitting.

Back from Mexico

We came home late on Fri 12th. We had a good time. The weather could have been a little warm but it was better then here. As for my knitting- I haven't picked it back up yet. Been so busy unpacking and catching back up with bills and on-line ordering things for the holidays. By the time evening rolls around I'm just to tired. Got to start again because there are more things I want to make for winter projects that won't take so long. At this rate the babies will be in college before they get their blankets.

Home alone

Did more reading then anything else today. It's Richard 62nd B'day. I don't think he's very happy about it. His brother called him after many years. He didn't talk to him long since he was at work. I don't know if he will call him back. He said he might when we get back from Mexico.
Worked a little more on the blanket. Was on Ravelry for a while. Still trying to decide if I want to take a small knitting project with me on vacation. I took socks to work on last year and never touched them. Oh I don't know. If I do I have to rewind the yarn. Nothing like waiting for the last minute. Got to get off the computer to knit more. Bye for now.