Knitting again

Friday night my sliced finger was sufficiently healed that I was able to switch from a giant gauze wrapped finger which, even as it was less tender, got in the way of knitting, to one wrapped in a normal (if slightly large) bandaid. And thus, I could recommence knitting. Thank goodness. Because this past week has sucked for not being able to knit. First, I was anxious about the Georgia Senate races. And then any joy at winning those was quickly eclipsed by the violence at the Capitol on Wednesday. Being six hours ahead has it’s ups and downs. It’s easier to just go to bed instead of waiting for election results, because the polls aren’t closing until after 1am my time. On the other hand… it meant going to bed Wednesday night not knowing to just what news we’d wake up on Thursday. How bad (and it was already bad) might it get? Sadly, while I’m appalled by the violence, I would have been surprised if nothing happened before Inauguration day. I’m just hoping they have adequate security for the inauguration itself. And I’d like to see him Impeached. Again.

So yeah… knitting, spinning, and the like are one of the things I use to stay focused and/or not become emotionally overwhelmed while listening to the news (or audio books, or watchin tv, or in conference calls, or… you get the idea). And I didn’t have that. I know my concentration at work also suffered as a result. So it was with relief whne I picked up my needles again and made some progress on the Through the Trees cowl (Rav link) for TheEnabler:

It’s looking really nice. We’ve settled on a total length of 18-19in, which means 16-17in for the lace part. I have another 4-5in to go. I think I may actually put it on scrap yarn and block it lightly before starting the inside to make sure I knit the lining long enough. All that lace could stretch a good bit.

Now, I love the twilight colors of the yarn, and they seem right for a unicorn hidden in the woods among magic. But it’s also been gray as gray can be for a week now. So I also decided to finally start swatching for a much brighter top I’ve been planning for myself:

The yarn is Undercover Otter in two of the Clan of Igor colorways from last year, so you know they aren’t going to be subtle. I’m trying running markers for the first time, after watching Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s Patreon video on them. And WOW they make life easier. I mean, it’s a bit of a pain while swatching, but it’s also my first time and I’m not used to remembering to flip them back and forth every Xrows. But it sure made measuring easier. And I could see at a glance that the 21st in the fingering was the same width as 19st in the DK, which was exactly what I needed. And then measuring row gauge without trying to keep my eyes from crossing as I counted the row? I am DEFINITELY doing this from now on.

My only mistake? I ought to have switched the “right” side when I switched colors. The pattern, Oppositional (Rav link), calls for reverse stockinette in the DK, and it would give a better sense of the final look. Luckily, for once I didn’t skimp on my swatch, so I could fold it up:

I gotta say, I like the look!

Oh right, did I actually get gauge? No… but because the stitch gauge is proportional and I like the fabric of each, I think I can just use a larger size. I’m at 3.25in instead of 4in, so that’s 81% of what I need. The XXL x .81% should get me around the right size and I’m doing a little short sleeve cardigan top which isn’t meant to be carefully fitted. Only snag may be making sure that the top-down sleeve increases get me the body length I need. I may need to do some adjustments there as my row gauge is too tight as well…

Um… and I’ll probably add some bust darts in there. Because you know me. I can’t resist making a simple top more complicated.