So, Eunny Jang’s Biased Eyelet Stole in the Fall 2008 Interweave Knits–is anybody else making it? I just started it and am having problems, and am wondering if anybody else is.

The problem is the 3-strand garter rows. See, every 12 rows, there are 2 rows of garter stitch knit with three strands of yarn held together. Two of them are cut at the end and then rejoined 12 rows later when you come to the next garter row, and the instructions say “weave in ends as you go.”

Am I the only person finding this to be difficult?

Weave in the ends HOW, exactly? Where? If I try running the thread along the back, it slips too much and ends up looking terrible. I tried knitting it into the row, but then ended up with ends sticking out in the middle. Both very tacky looking. Should I pull out the tapestry needle every 12 rows and just sew the ends in? That’s awkward and inconvenient, and I’m not happy about it–it seems way too “fiddly.” Not to mention juggling two different size needles for the garter rows and the lace rows. All those dangling ends, getting tangled in all the extra strands of yarn … um. I like the way this looks, but I’m not loving the process so far.

Oh, and the yarn I’m using? Claudia’s handpainted silk (I showed you last week). It’s beautiful and very sleek, so it slips, rather than “sticking” to itself like wool would, but even so, I’d still be having the same problem. Is it just me?

And–is it just me, or does it seem like I’m whining and complaining about a lot of things lately? Ranting about unhelpful customer service, worrying about money, wheezing over my hair color. … Considering what an optimistic, sunshine-and-light person I usually am, this is SO unlike me! Anyway, if so, I apologize. I was just thinking back over my last few posts and seemed to notice an unwelcome trend.

Of course, I can always smile over Chappy. I thought this looked particularly cute last night–he piled his towel up and laid his chin on the top and fell sound asleep.

Yes, I think he’s adorable when he’s asleep. I can’t help it!

Tomorrow should be fun–kind of an extended family day. We’re going up to my sister’s house, but it won’t just be the eight of us (because of course Chappy is coming). My aunt and cousin are coming up also, along with the three daughters of my OTHER cousin, who’ve been visiting Dianne’s horse farm for the summer. I’ve been racking my brain to try to figure out the last time I saw the girls. The older two are twins and are around 14, and their younger sister is … 10? 8? But, either way, I’m not altogether sure that I’ve ever actually met her–and if I have, she was very, very little. It’s been a while. The rest of the family have seen them, but they’ve usually scheduled their visits down to the farm on weekdays when I’ve been at work, so this is my first chance in a while.

For Chappy, too, who’s never been invited to the Farm (so, really, why would I want to go if he can’t?) I mean, we’ve never been told NOT to bring him, either, but I haven’t asked because I’d be crushed if they said he wasn’t invited–by leaving it vague, there are no hard feelings. Though he’d probably love a horse farm, and he really IS a good guest.

Anyway, it should be an interesting visit!

And, added–OMG, Michael Phelps! What a FINISH! That race could not have been any closer … the gold medal by .01 second. Wow. Just. Wow.

• Tags: Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Too Biased Against the Stole? //