TNT: Size Matters

 

I'm really struggling with the last bit of Patchwork Automne. I have to wear two pairs of reading glasses on top of each other and sit under my brightest work lamp but it's still hard to see what I'm doing. I'm sad to say that I may have to be ending my cross stitch journey in the near future.

I pulled out a needlepoint project to make myself feel better about it but the wool was too itchy for my still a bit rashy arms. Big needles, big yarn. It probably has to be the way to go in the future.

This one has even bigger needles and bigger yarn. I've had no problem working on it other than trying to figure out what color goes where.  I've learned to wing it. 

Hand quilting, which uses the teeniest tiniest needle of all, doesn't seem to be a problem. I'm very grateful for that because I still have a long way to go.

Trial and Error

 

I haven't been in the sewing room in ages thanks to being itchy and scratchy but yesterday I felt normal enough to get back to work on the Butter Churn top. 

I finished up the last three Butter Churn blocks and was hoping to show them off all attached to the center panel but noooo.....I sewed one side on and then realized I had it in the wrong place and had to rip it out. That was a sign to go do something else for the rest of the afternoon.

That would be this. I had to unweave it once already last week and line the threads up again after I had skipped one of the slots in the reed but it looks like I've got it right this time. 

I'm in no rush to get that finished because look at what's coming next. That Mozart towel uses the thinnest yarn I've ever worked with and it's scaring me to death. This is a disaster in the making for sure but it won't stop me from giving it my best shot. The worst I can do is toss it in the trash. It wouldn't be the first time.

Old Tom

 

My rash is still visible but in retreat I'm happy to say. I dug out Old Tom Turkey not to work on but for Thanksgiving decor. I'm not putting my healing wrists anywhere near dusty wool and old burlap. I could easily finish him this year but I'll make a point of doing that next year when hopefully my outer layer is intact. Gobble, gobble.

Home Improvement

 

Ouf...what a day we had yesterday. First we tackled my new TV. It replaced the relatively new Fire TV that I HATED.  Would this one work with the cable box? Nope. We spent hours on the phone with Comcast trying to get it to work with no luck. It didn't matter to me because I don't watch anything on cable, I stream but The Mister, who must be the last person in the country who pays for cable, wants his Sunday football and firmly believes that cable is the only way to watch it. Sigh.... 

Then it was on to the new door knob. None of that was easy either or cheap. The replacement cost me almost $200. As much as the darn TV.  In between all of this we had to unclog the washing machine drain that runs through the crawl space that decided to back up. What a day. 

At least it was a rainy day. I love rainy days. This is the view from my kitchen sink. The rain made everything so pretty and cozy in spite of having to put on the AC. Now that those big trees are gone we have color out back. 

All our little native trees are putting on quite a show now that they are not overshadowed by the big guys. It hurt to see them go down but I love my new view. 

Friday Fluff: Possibilities

 

The fiber I ordered to try and match the Pimpeliesse has started to arrive. I've been looking for pinks, oranges and purples to cannabilize. I'm still waiting for one more to show up before I make any decisions.

The darker fiber is Malabrigo and it's the rattiest braid I've ever seen. 

I've bought a lot of fiber in my time but have never seen anything like this. It's a good thing I wasn't planning on spinning it as is. It would take a lot of pre-drafting to straighten this mess out. 

Two weeks in and I think I'm heading towards the back end of this rash thing. I'm still not tempted to pick up the wool and finish these singles but I did work on some socks and my Stephen West MKAL yesterday morning. That's a good sign that things are finally clearing up. 

Peak

 

There's been a lot of drama out in the ghost garden. First the good news. We passed the town's test and our case is officially closed. The city dude who came out yesterday was rather impressed with our efforts to replant the required 24 trees. 

The reason we called them to come out now is the bad news. We hadn't covered up any of the pines and the deer have destroyed them. Only this one loblolly out of four will survive the brutal attack. Two of the Eastern Pines were munched to death also.  We covered them all up so the city wouldn't notice what bad shape they were in. I cried for days after I saw what happened. Those pines were beautiful. So strong and healthy. I'm heartbroken.

All the other trees that have been covered all year are doing fine. The red maples are particularly beautiful under their shrouds. 

All the native trees are finally beginning to show off their fall color. Here's the view up my driveway.

I've even got a rose. The deer have been so busy destroying my trees that they must have missed this one. 

The wetlands that surround us are in their golden glory phase. Unfortunately, it's been so warm that I haven't been out much to enjoy any of it. Sunlight and rash do not get along and neither does sweating so I'm missing the best of the season being inside and grumpy. The old rash is starting to fade but I still seem to be breaking out in other places. I wish I could figure out the cause. I'm so over it. 

Wednesday WIPs: Acrylic Edition

 

In my present state of rashiness, wool and I are not friends. All of my woolly projects are on hold until I get some relief which I hope is soon. That means all of my non woolly knits are getting a lot more attention than they usually do. I finished an entire row of the Hue Shift in just a few days.

This is a chunky hat in Brava that I started last Christmas. I've picked it up again.

Then there is this. The Holiday Doodle Cowl is going back in action today as soon as I figure out what comes next. This thing is so big that I've run out of winter options in the pattern book.