Monday, May 2, 2011

On running hot and cold


I wrote something really whiny for the weekend, but didn't post. Something didn't seem right to me about that, especially after I saw a colleague at the hospital who was distraught over learning of the death of her niece in the Southern storms. Her family's hopes were lost when they found her body ten miles from where her children had been rescued. The family had all been together when the storm struck. How does my week even seem worthy of mention after that?

Still, it doesn't mean I didn't feel spent after the paces I went through. Though I had no hopes of a solution, I completed the expert rated Saturday Yahoo sudoku puzzle (in record time). Feeling buoyed by success, I went to the yarn store and bought a sweater's worth of yarn for another Icelandic sweater. Funny that...today I tried the easy puzzle and had a heck of a time finishing the dumb thing. And now....now I'm wondering if I made a mistake on the colors for the Lopi sweater.


I picked the pattern, Elka, from the book, The Best of Lopi (note--that link is to that top secret society to which I belong and unless you do, too, you can't go there). Though the colors didn't seem quite right to me, and nothing in the store exactly matched those used in the pattern, I came away with what I thought were close approximations. Saturday night I knit the border--no easy feat with US size 6 needles and bulky yarn--and on Sunday night, right about the time the big news was being splashed across the television, I knit the first of the color charts. As you can see by how much I accomplished, I stayed up late knitting and watching history unfold.


What do you think here? The brown has quite a bit of red, which to my eye, turns the ecru shade pale pink. The oatmeal colored yarn has no red, and a lot of gray. Do I keep on knitting, or start over with a another beige that's more a member of the gray family? It's not a great amount of work, so I'd rather rip now, or we all forever hold our peace.

Top photo--although there is a political elephant in the room, I thought I'd post a picture and a comment about the newest edition to my neighborhood. Here he (or she) is posing at the peak of my garage. I tried to get closer, but it ran away. He (or she) is probably one of the squirrels living in my attic.

14 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i love the colors actually! very pretty...

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxo

The Bug said...

I think it's nice too, but I'm not very good with colors either.

So sorry for your colleague's loss.

Silly squirrel :)

Unknown said...

Well,I'm sorry about your week as I am also sorry for your collegue's loss. It doesn't make your feelings any less legitimate, just on a different scale.
Are the squirrels really in your attic? They can cause some damage. Keep on keeping on, girlie...

unmitigated me said...

Know what I'd like to see? A really nice gray/Wedgwood blue in place of that chocolate.

Brenda said...

We had a possum in our attic years ago. What a pain that was to get it out. We have too many squirrels around here to count. I am so sorry to hear about your colleague's loss.
I think the sweater will be fine. Sometimes it is too hard to tell until it is finished.

SkippyMom said...

Sorry for your friend's loss Rudee - it is so hard. I had to stop watching, the devastation is just too much. Prayers are all I have.

I think the colors are just perfect. I like the way it picked up the red. And the gray is a nice mute/middle ground. Very pretty.

Gail said...

I understand. I feel silly whining about our flooding when we do have our home and our lives.

The colors are wonderful.

Devon said...

I really like the pattern... but to be honest.. the ecru is too pink for me. Maybe something more heathery(is that a word??). Either changing the ecru or the brown would help.

Hope that isn't too critical in light of the real important stuff you mentioned. How heart breaking for your coworker, just so tragic.

Silliyak said...

I would never insinuate you had squirrels in your attic.

ari_1965 said...

I like the ecru-turned-pink

lovestitch said...

It's very beautiful, I also love the colors. Great work!
I'm so sorry for your colleague's loss. I hope you're feeling better.
Take care and hope you have a lovely week!

Winifred said...

That's so sad about your colleagues niece. Gets everything into perspective doesn't it.

I love fair isle knitting. I see what you mean about the ecru looking pink. I agree with you that it's not too much of a hardship to pull it out now. Better than being dis-satisfied when you've finished.

Knitty said...

Hmm, since I am new to reading your blog and you and I don't know each others color preferences yet, commenting is difficult.

I think it looks fine as it is and will be a beautiful sweater, but for my personal taste, I would probably change one of the colors for this design.

My best advice would be to go with your gut instinct. I didn't listen to mine twice in yarn matters recently. This resulted in a sweater that I threw away and a pair of socks rarely worn.

Unknown said...

Sorry about your and your colleague.

Love the colors.

Squirrels in the attic, yeash. Had them once or twice when I was a kid.