April Recap of Knitting, Surgery, Finishing

This April recap of knitting, surgery, and finishing seems an appropriate place to land after the last thirty days.  So much has happened, and not happened!

Recap of Surgery

I couldn’t drink coffee two mornings in a row. Because I am not alert, Mitch planted notes.

I missed putting a blog up on the 23rd as planned. I had surgery instead. Due to the shut down here in Washington state out-patient surgeries are highly curtailed and the surgeries are literally put on the schedule the day before.  I was fortunate to get a call on Monday, April 20 telling me I would be scheduled later in the week, so I began a mad dash to get ready to be out a few days earlier than planned. I was put on the schedule for Thursday. The pre-surgery stuff (planting seeds?, insertion of radioactive tracer, COVID-19 test) had to be fit in too. Fortunately I told the nuclear medicine tech that I was having bi-lateral lumpectomies because the full orders were not in my file. They were able to split the dose and I was on my way to the surgery center with time to wait.

Without the gory details, I ended up with a hematoma that had to be surgically cleaned up on the 24th. I spent a lot of time with ice on the couch.  Most of it dozing or dazed.  I think I now know what it is like to be a cat and be happy to gaze vacantly into space, then sleep, and do more of the same. I chose not to take the narcotics I was prescribed because the pain was not high (ibuprofen and tylenol were all I needed) and so I was able to have a small martini on Saturday.

Most of these flowers are yellow. This was so pretty I stopped.

Sleeping on my back isn’t my preference although I can do it. I’m feeling good enough that each night I at least once roll onto my side.  Not comfortable, so back to my back, which is the prescribed position. I do minor PT exercises and walk. Otherwise, reading, minor admin chores, and knitting are all I’ve managed. I’ve been fixing dinners, mostly from things I had already pre-prepped, so it doesn’t take a lot. Mitch has to reach down anything above shoulder height for me. Today I need to make meatballs, but I will likely have Mitch do the kneading.  We’ll see.

Recap of Finishing

I have been doing the JWK Finishing Challenge and it has been such a nice way to stay in touch with a few knitters, and to watch their progress, and my own. My key finishing goals were to 1) clear up the chaos in my office; 2) get all my projects sorted; 3) make 225g of i-cord for String Theory; 4) finish the bodies of two sweaters; 5) get my recipes sorted and filed; 6) block everything needing blocking in my office; 7) make 12 face masks; and 8) plan my calendar for the next three months.

Recap List

Want my short list of books that will be leaving here? Stitch dictionaries included.

1. Chaos in my office.  Cleared up, but still have too much stuff. I have some ideas for further culling, but it is a long-term project.  I created easy-to-use files and notebooks for things I am actively working on.  There is apparently no long-term solution to the creative mind!
2. Sort Projects. Projects sorted, although I admit I have not done the second step of creating planning sheets.  I pictured myself doing that post surgery, but I’m not up to it yet.  There are dozens of projects.  Yes, dozens.
3. I-cord. I have knit 200g of i-cord for String Theory.  This will not quite make the April 30 deadline.  It will needs the ends worked in and blocking before I knit the i-cord.  It has been a good project to work on as I’ve ridden this cancer roller coaster.  I am penciling String Theory in for knitting during May.
4. Sweater Bodies. Before the 23rd I finished the body of both of my Sakai projects.  The pullover has been blocked (love it!), and I still need to block the steeked cardigan. I am actually thinking about starting another one in Linen. I have sleeveless dresses which I love to wear when it is warm, butI might want to cover my arms more now.
   

   While in-progress. I’ve steeked the front and armholes!

5. Sort & File Recipes.  The recipes were more of a chore than I thought it would be. I sorted through everything and put them into categories. Then I copied everything  so I could punch them into a notebook. I then made a table of contents. I had too many for one notebook so I ended up splitting it into two. I found lots of things I want to make, so yay!  A third book for bread was made for Mitch. It was really nice to see him working on his bread today with the bread book nearby.
6. Blocking.  I found a few things that had not been blocked, so I wove in ends and did some blocking earlier in April. Now I just have to finish patterns. Just for the record, I found a sweater, three hats, and two sets of mitts, as well as some swatches.
7. 

   Recap: Mask Production. Not fun, but I finally got my sewing mojo going.

   Mask Production. I nearly forgot this one. I cut and sewed a dozen face masks.  Three each for me, Mitch, Nancy, and Sara. Mitch’s are from a plaid sarong we bought in Singapore in 1992. There was a nice Ikat in it too, so one has the Ikat. The others are from silk taffeta leftover from a raincoat relining and from a piece of favorite fabric. What a PITA that project was!

8. Plan Calendar. Apparently nothing will make me plan long-term. I blamed it on not knowing what my schedule is going to be, but I know I simply hate doing it. Plus, my brain hasn’t been what it could be, so no point. But I don’t like doing it. I did get calendars on the wall through July.  Today I’ll take down April, and add August.

Recap of Knitting

Dolly Shawl. Just garter stitch, and then a fun border that I modified from the original, as well as graduating the size of the loops.

A recap of knitting not recounted above includes making a triangular shawl for Dolly as part of my A System of Grading class. It is super basic, and I had to knit it three times (post surgery) but I think she’ll enjoy it. I had to consult Shawl Geometry by Holly Chayes when I realized my initial thinking hadn’t been for a triangle, but a rectangle.

I finished a swatch I started in Morocco!  We were so sick I had a really difficult time figuring out what I wanted to do with my Giverny idea, but when I pulled it out it turned out I just needed to finish the swatch and I knew how the whole thing would come together.  I knit that swatch about six times traveling around Morocco with a bad cold.

I knitted other swatches too.  Something new in Civility Sport, related to the Somerset Shawl. Can’t wait to get going on it, but since TNNA isn’t happening, it doesn’t need to be front burner right now. I swatched for a fitting shell in Merino Ribbon, then sent the knitting to Handiworks, Ltd. because I don’t have time. I’ve been resurrecting patterns (blame sorting out the chaos) and Judy has been working on short row sock-related projects for me.  I don’t like making socks, but I do like the problems they pose, so it is working out well.

I blocked a project that is related to another Civility Sport project, with a dash of Cashgora Sport.  Another one I would like to work on, but I am not because my brain is too fuzzy. I won’t do the knitting anyway. Judy knit the sample project so I can use it for writing the pattern.

Photos

I have a lot of photos that I like this month. Indulge me.

This is a photo of the starter I killed by turning on the oven while it was in there.

Mitch’ bread was the first thing I wanted after first surgery. I still love my perfect orthodontia bite.

I pictured some child arranging these blossoms. They really appealed to me.

Order from chaos. Part of my storage cabinet.

Early on in the i-cord knitting adventure. Nearly to 225g!

The starter likes it warmer than our house is. Halogen desk lamp to the rescue.

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