My big news is that I finally finished the blasted Pi Shawl! On March 19 at 10:10 pm, to be exact. It was quite a happy moment. The blocking was another interesting first for me, and went reasonably well, but I think I learned from that as well. So without further ado...
However. After blocking, I noticed some weird holes in places just slightly out of alignment with where they should have been. So. I decided to try to make adjustments to the stitches to close those up a bit. That took about 10 hours, or so. I think.
I'm still not sure if the weird holes are due to: A) misplaced stitches (yarn overs), B) the way I moved the stitches along the needles as I knit (putting too much tension in the stitches by letting them pile up, or get pulled along at an uneven pace), or C) failing to move my stitch counters at some critical point which cause the end of the pattern to be off by a few stitches (which is sort of like misplaced stitches, but different in how they got there).
I don't think I'll ever know for sure, but the amount of time spent on the attempted repairs has taught me to be much more cautious in the future! I'm pretty sure I've learned that, at least. I've taken close-up pictures of the before repairs, and after repairs, and I will take more after it has been soaked and blocked again. Then I'll post them. Hopefully sooner than four months from now. The nagging problem remaining is that my stitches no longer look even in the sections that were repaired. Before they were even, but there were big holes. Hmmm. Which will be more noticable? I just don't know. Maybe that will block out, at least a little. I will always see the errors, I guess.
Still, on the bright side, I've learned a lot from this whole project that will make my next project go much more smoothly. I'm not sorry I did it, just sorry I jumped in without all the information I needed to do a better job of it. Oh well. I've never been one to look for an "easy" first project. Oh looky, the deep end! Let's go there first! LOL That's me.
So. Where have I been? Well, homeschooling, too much time on Ravelry and on the Wii I got for Christmas. In my defense, I got the Wii Fit Plus. It. Rocks. I hate exercise. Do. Not. Like It. I've done classes, videos, tried just getting out and walking, etc. Nothing sticks. I don't enjoy it and the least little thing gets me to stop. The Wii? I'm loving it! The days I'm not on it are upsetting to me. Yes. I think it is still me looking back from the mirror saying "I love my Wii". It could be a clone, though I haven't seen any pods lying around. I'm up to a 30 minute jog and a 10 minute Super Hoola-Hoop session every day + some yoga and strength exercises. But then, I bought Walk It Out, and now I can't stop walking in my house. Seriously. I average 4.2-5.2 miles. Every. Day. Sadly, I don't do both the Fit Plus and the WIO every day, it is an either/or thing.
Have I lost weight? Heck no. In fact, I think I've gained. But I can tell that my legs (in particular) are firming up, so I am losing fat. At least in my legs. My blue jeans seem to be fitting a bit differently. I do feel miles better, have more energy (in general) and I get all twitchy and upset if I can't get on my Wii every day. It is insane. But, I am grateful for the insanity and I am embracing it in the hopes that it will turn into a habit that I can live with and maybe even build on. You know, actually get exercise outside? Where all the pollen and other allergens are? Crazy, huh? I did four hours of yard work last week and didn't even feel it the next day. I wouldn't believe it if I couldn't see all the cleared out berry bushes and short lawn out there. LOL I'm pretty sure the pixies didn't do it.
Additional benefit: my formerly broken leg is working/feeling better after a few months on the Wii than it has felt in the tw years since I broke it. The balance programs and exercises are building up those little muscles that have so far escaped strengthening. That alone is worth the price of the Wii.
Disclaimer: I do not work for Wii. I am merely a very satisfied (and somewhat giddy) customer.
Next time, I'll tell you about my new lace project. I will simply say: I am an idiot. :)
3 comments:
Great to see you post again! That is a stunning shawl. By the time you fold it in half and wear it, who would see any mistakes? Sounds like you're going to town with Wii; good for you!
I am so happy you finished the Pi shawl. I am sure like all knitters, you are your own worst critic and that no one else would even notice the problems. But we can't help it.
Congrats on using the Wii. It sounds like you are strengthening which is even more important than losing weight. Keep it up!
You are reminding me that I really have to get back to doing some activity regularly. Paul and I take Elanor out for walks pretty regularly. Though not every day. We definitely should! Every little bit helps.
The shawl looks stunning, honestly! The maker of anything always looks at it really critically (I do with my projects) whereas the rest of us just see things to admire!
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