Mostly Yarn-y Things

Just as I do with sewing/quilting projects, I've been rotating through three different yarn-y garment projects.

Continuing to work on the crocheted Summer Cardigan following Wan's YouTube video, I quickly realized I made a big mistake. To get gauge, I reduced the number of chains I crocheted for the back. But then when I chained each of the two front sides, I didn't reduce accordingly. I forgot, darn it! I realized my error when I laid out all the parts to begin sewing them together. The neck opening was much too small.

It needs to be more like this. 

I had no other option than to uncrochet the two sides. I'm very disappointed in myself, but I suppose this is part of learning how to crochet (and knit) garments to fit oneself. I can't imagine how much skill is required to crochet (or knit) to make something to fit someone else!

uncrocheted sides, hand wound into balls

I have now re-crocheted one side, and after doing so, sewed together parts - one side to the back and then one sleeve to the side. I've begun to re-crochet the second side. Though the neck opening will still be slightly smaller than Wan's instructions, I'm hoping it fits me. If not, I will take apart what's required to fix it. 

Following another of Wan's YouTube videos (I also bought this pattern on Etsy), I'm making Crochet Summer Lace Top. The design is effective because of dyed color gradations in the yarn.

Unfortunately, the cotton/acrylic fingering weight yarn Wan used is no longer available, so I bought this gradient cake from Okey Dokeys 

Wan's version ends as far as I've crocheted in this picture. I tried it on and found it much too short, so I'll be adding ten more rows. At least the color gradient will be more visible though I'm sure I won't make it to the gray color at the end. I think I'll be happy with this finished. 

I've discovered I really like yarn "cakes" which are meant to be used from the center. The yarn pulls out very easily. 

Since I've spent more time than I'd like winding yarn balls by hand, it would sure be nice to have a manual yarn winder, perhaps like this one. Until then, I'm hand winding yarn. I had to do that today with what's left of a yarn ball I started using in my Summer Soul Top knitting project. Yarn was getting very tangled.

I first wound figure eights around my left-hand thumb and index finger.

Then I placed the yarn ring from my index finger on top of the yarn ring already on my thumb.

Then I begin wrapping yarn around my thumb. After six to eight wraps, I turn the yarn ball and continue wrapping... then turning, then wrapping. 

It turns into a nice yarn ball, but it can be tedious when yarn has gotten tangled and needs to be untangled. Rather than deal with tangles, I'd prefer to wind a ball first, then start knitting (or crocheting). 

This week I've made progress on each of these project because hubs had knee replacement early Monday morning. Being at home with him this week has meant lots of fetching and delivering. Basically being at-the-ready if something is needed. Crocheting has been easy to pick up and put down. 

Helping him has helped me appreciate the seven times he helped me following angioplasties in my legs dut to having peripheral artery disease. Heart-pumping exercise is necessary for me to keep arteries clear of plaque. But even though I didn't exercise Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, so as to be available to him, on Tuesday I logged more than 13,000 steps amounting to 6.01 miles in the house! And our house isn't that big. Wednesday was slightly less demanding as I logged only 3.85 miles in the house. Ha! Today, since getting out to power walk 4 miles (my typical walk distance), I've hit 6 miles again. I am grateful I'm able-bodied enough to exercise and keep pace with whatever hubs needs. 

As we were driving toward Orlando for hub's early Monday morning surgery, we were surprised to see another Falcon 9 rocket launch right out the front car window! It was about 6:15 AM. You couldn't miss it!

This is probably the best view of a launch we've ever seen!

And what we'd never seen before was the massive expanding halo that comes at the end of a rocket launch. It's called the "space jellyfish" effect and is also known as the "SpaceX spiral." It happens when venting rocket propellant in a circular, rotating motion. Cool, isn't it? Linda