Wooo Hoooo!
You cannot believe how excited I am that we got snow last night. Yes, I just returned from MN which was white (though did not have as much snow as usual for February) and even snowed for my departure. However, while overall I love Colorado, I get soooooo tired of the brown. It seems like we’re green for about 2 or 3 months if we’re lucky and then it’s brown the rest of the year and it really drags me down. So, to see fresh white snow covering everything this morning with a clear blue sky was like being in heaven. Even though it makes it harder to be motivated to go to water aerobics.
Last night DH declared it too cold for me to go out (which really was quite silly seeing as how the temp when he got home was still warmer than it was most of my time out in MN, though to be fair I didn’t have a spasm in full tilt until I got home). So, I ripped back my sock to the toe and began the instep once again while catching up on all my television shows I missed while I was gone. I’m not caught up on the shows yet, but I am caught up on the sock. In fact, I think I’m about 1/2 inch farther than I was before for a total foot length so far of 4.5 inches out of 7.5 inches. I’m suspecting with the opening ceremonies tonight I’ll get the heel turned tonight. That is if I’m not too busy eating antipasto and rissoto at our little party (little is right too, as only two couples are able to make it). And, while we’re celebrating the opening ceremonies, I am not participating in the Knitting Olympics. No need to pressure myself with that.
I do have a question though… Look at the photo of the sock and the ball of yarn in the photo above. Can anyone tell me why my center pull balls explode and look like &$)*?? I have kind of tucked some of it back into the ball so it doesn’t look quite as bad as it has, but the first ball was really bad too. Is there something I can adjust in the way I wind them to reduce that? It seems messier than store bought skeins to me and it is driving me nuts. Plus, it makes it a bit less portable than if it stayed relatively tidy. What am I doing wrong????
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I wonder if you’re winding your yarn TOO loosely? Try putting a bit more tension on it (with a guiding hand) when you wind - but not too much. I love how the color looks knit up.
You mention “spasm” - do you have Reynaud’s? I just recently got confirmation that I have it. And we got more snow last night and this morning here in MN. :)
Comment by Chris — 2/10/2006 @ 10:03 am
Re: exploding balls!
I’d guess on too tight or too loose when winding from a skein. Do you use a manual or an electric ball winder? If it’s manual, like mine, I’ve learnt (the hard way) to wind slowly and steadily with the yarn running through my hand from the swift. This puts a little bit of tension on the yarn, but not too much. HTH.
Comment by AmyP — 2/10/2006 @ 10:18 am
I have a bit of a differnt swift than most people (it isnt’ an umbrella one) and it’s designed to not put too much tension on the ball when it’s wound. So, I have some experience with this exploding ball problem. I’d say it’s would a bit too loose or the center is wound tighter than the outside so after you use the center little bit, it doesn’t have the stability it needs to stay firm and compact. Try letting the yarn run between your loose fingers before it gets to the ball winder and see if that helps (and maybe wind a bit slower?). I was happy about the snow too. If you think you have brown issues, you ought to spend some time in Laramie. It’s worse than CO by far. Oh, who in Ft. Collins sells addis?
Comment by Stephanie — 2/10/2006 @ 10:38 am
The little net thingys that are sometimes sold as “yarn bras” seem to do a nice job of holding everything together. I have a bunch of them. I’ll try to remember to bring a couple to SnB on Monday.
Comment by Snow — 2/10/2006 @ 3:04 pm
I cannot help with the exploding ball problem since I do balls by hand but I am IN LOVE with that yarn. Will you share the info with me? I must find some of it for myself!
Comment by Jill — 2/10/2006 @ 3:42 pm
Hey there Kristi! I’m glad it snowed, too. :) My balls of yarn do that, as well … sorry I’m of no help there. Take care!
Comment by Jenifer — 2/12/2006 @ 12:55 pm