One Sixth Of The Way

 My 2024 Advent shawl hit the 1/6 of the way to completion.  To remind you I am using fingering weight yarn and a size 8/H/5 mm Tunisian Crochet hook on a cord.  I did include all 3 different size names from the same hook, because quite simply I have no idea where in the world you are reading this from and I don’t want you to have to figure out the right size hook name from a different country.   

Yes, last night I hit the last color of section 1 out of 6.  This section is 12 inches long or 31 cm. The last color was a variegated purple that will contrast nicely with the white.  There are 60 more rows which means that I will be doing 60 Tunisian forward pass rows and 60 return pass rows for each row counted which will be 12 inches or 31 cm of white.  I know it’s an awful lot of work, however; the fabric is turning out quite lovely. Just in case you were wondering about the width, it is 19 inches or approximately 48.5 cm wide.  Yes, I am using the Tunisian Simple Stitch for the entire pattern so far.  That may not apply to the broader.  That would be in case you just happen to have an extra advent box of fingering weight yarn or 18 mini skeins of fingering weight yarn and 2 full skeins of a neutral or contrasting color around and want to make one.  I am using the Russian join so that I do not have to weave in the ends.  This also lets the colors blend in more smoothly, with a natural grace. 

If you do not have an advent box and want to make this please feel free to stash dive. If you are anything like me you like to buy little skeins to try. The mini skeins are not that expensive to buy. Just little bit sized treats.  They just seem to pile up on the shelves. So go get creative with color. Using a color wheel if necessary. I am sure that there is an app for that.

Now the picture so far.  By the way, this advent box is from Conbread and Honey available in her shop with a pre order or mailed out to you just in time for the holidays. 

My Slow Project

 I always have a slow project that will take at least a couple of years to complete.  The picture below is my current slow project.  This is an Advent Calendar box by Cornbread and Honey.  It is a shawl of my own design, llllll—-llllll—llllll,  then I will put an edging around it in white.  The center dashes will be white also.  The pattern is included. See the above, the vertical lines and dashes.  Each vertical line is one color the dashes are white. I am doing this in Tunisian Crochet on a size H hook or 5 mm, with fingering weight yarn.  Yes, it is a very slow project.  I just started color number 6 out of 18 plus the white. I am elated that I finally got to the purple.  

I don’t work on this project everyday because of the size of the yarn and the small Tunisian Crochet Hook.  It requires intense concentration for every single stitch.  This project was frogged out once and I went up 2 needle sizes.  This is about as fine as I like to go.  You will also notice the Russian join on all the colors, this leaves a blend join and I am able to use all the yarn which will give me more wingspan when this is finished.  

You would be in the right to ask what the finished dimensions will be at this point.  I will say that I did not do the math to figure out what the dimensions will be. I did not even count the cast on stitches , just made sure it was close to my size. Since this is not going to be a published pattern, but a bespoke shawl just for me.  By the time I finish this it might even be a little bit bigger than planned.  I was losing sizes at a reasonable rate until I got sick in March 2024. I have found it hard to lose weight and inches while dealing with this issue.  Needless to say, I hope to get back to the point when I am losing weight and sizes again. Hopefully the shawl will right size with me.  

Taking New Skills Classes

 The best part about taking classes from a published author is that you can buy their books and take them home with you.  I found it was like taking Lori home with me to answer all my questions.  I recently took a class with Lori Harrison at Bird House Yarn here in Tucson. I do admit that the class pushed me in ways I would never have gone.  Almost everything up until that point was self taught by watching you tube tutorials and watching people do Tunisian crochet.  I do admit that I took one class while Eric was in declining health.  My mind was elsewhere, but I as trying to distract myself and get a few hours to just breathe.  It was not in hindsight the best plan to learn new subject matter. 

I wanted to learn to do Tunisian crochet in the round for awhile and a class came up.  I have learned so much from the class. I was able to rip out my class work and change the colors around.  The books and Lori’s on line videos helped immensely.  I am now about to start the 3 round again.  I did a little refresh by looking at the books. 

I also took pictures of the relevant pages to put in my phone, so I can take the project on the go and not carry 2 extra books with me.  That way I can use a much smaller bag for my project.  

Below are  pictures of the front covers of Lori’s books.  Signed copies of both books are available at Bird House Yarns.  I encourage you to buy the Books from Bird House Yarns, both books are available online, or your Local Yarn Shops.  All small businesses are in need of sales right now.  You can find Lori’s website at Aklori Designs.  You will find videos and her complete pattern collection there too.  

A Kickback Day

 Today I took it easy. A few chores.  I finally finished the next pair of mittens, for a total of 4 pairs in the last couple of months.  I put the glove bag away as is, because I still want to make a few more pairs for myself.  I set up the next project bag , which is a shawl that I want to finish.  I worked on a new pattern tonight.  Pick up and put away random things around the house.  Even the rain took it easy at my house today, only 1/8 of an inch.  

I am wishing everyone a good week ahead.  

A little progress everywhere

 The good news is that my tummy has almost finished it reset after last week’s dinner disaster.  What finally worked was bagels, cream of buckwheat , water, applesauce and bananas.  

I over did it when cleaning up the knitting room today. The bright side is that there are 2 empty large shopping bags. Now turned inside out in the laundry basket.  One project was put in permanent time out to be rehoused. Speaking of housing, I found another place for a basket to get it off the floor. That’s a lot of progress. Lots of things landed in trash or recycling.  The knitting room was finally neat enough to map out, it has something to do with the programmed cleaning. It’s new technology, so you know it’s not my thing.  I also put 3 bags of roving in the closet. I have decided to give one basket away too. I can’t refill it if it is n longer in the house. 

As tempted as I was, I did not start any new knitting or crocheting Projects today. That’s the hard part about straightening up the knitting room there’s always prettiest to play with. But I am trying to finish all my UFOs..

Restoration Work

 I got to help restore a vintage Ashford Traditional Spinning Wheel from the 1970’s today.  First we had to get rid of the bad screws.  At some point, someone did not take the time to pick the proper size screws.  Some of the screws were installed in a haphazardly way.  I suspect that someone took apart the wheel and put it in storage for a while and lost the original parts. I was surprised when I took apart the flyer to check and oil the metal rod in the flyer.  The metal rod in the flyer looked brand new, so it obviously had not been used much.  The rest of the spinning wheel was lightly oiled in the right places. 

Once all the screws were replaced it was on to putting a new drive band on.  Getting the tension adjusted, was the hard part for me. Being that I only use either a Lendrum DT, a Louet Victoria or a Hansen miniSpinner Pro.  So there was a bit of getting the configuration of the tension line and drive band in the proper position.  Once that was accomplished I was able to spin a variety of different yarn widths, from lace weight to worsted weight singles. This spinning wheel really wanted to be used and liked. The spinning wheel was in great shape for its age.  Then it was time to pack everything off so the new owner could do the sanding and polishing. This wheel will then be gifted to someone who wants to learn to spin yarn for her crochet work.  I set the spinning wheel off with some roving to get started with.  Also directions on how to make an inexpensive Knitty noddy.  

I know that spinning your own yarn can be much more expensive than buying ready made yarn.  However, I do find it a very relaxing hobby.  I also found it very fun and enjoyable to get the Ashford Traditional Wheel in working order.  

Monsoons and More

 It is a bit late into the rainy season, for our summer monsoons in Tucson to just perk up. Over the last 2 days we have gotten a total of 1 inch or 2.54 centimeters.  Which is more rain than we have gotten all summer at our house. This is what a long term drought looks like well into the second decade.  I am not sure if this is a man made problem or a normal 1,000 year cycle type of event.  For that you would need to talk to the scientists.  

I do know that our desert landscape is enjoying the rain fall.  Native desert plants are very good at soaking up water very fast.  Our yard looked very good today.  Everything was a bit more perky and clean.  There is nothing like a good rain to get the dust off things.  

I am well on my way to finishing my second set of mittens for my purse.  I always carry 2 pairs of mittens one set is short enough to eat or knit with.  The other pair are longer for just keeping my hands warm.  Somehow over the summer I lost both pairs of mittens.  I put them some place safe so I would not lose them. I forgot where I put them, hence making 2 more pairs when I already have 2 serviceable pairs.  

In between resting  today, I am managing to move projects around to put the ones I want to work on up front.  The others will go to the knitting room for a temporary time out.  This should help me focus a little bit better.  I am running out of battery do more tomorrow.  TTFN

Rumors Abound

 There are some very disturbing rumors going around that I may have too many unfinished projects scattered around the house. This may or may not be true depending on how you determine if there are too many or too few projects that need to be completed.  

Once completed that will lead to different problems, such as too many empty project bags and baskets.  Drawers overflowing with knitting needles, Tunisian crochet hooks, crochet hooks, bobbins for spinning wheels. Hanks of newly spun yarn needing to be washed and dried. Then woven and distributed. Where to put all the drop spindles?

This may also lead to off schedule donations. A fire place that can actually be seen. Clear counter tops with no baskets overflowing with unfinished projects.  

This will then lead to the question, do I have too many knitting needles and crochet hooks.  There are too many empty project bags.? Do I have too much yarn? Should I limit the amount of projects that I have going at a time.  Some projects are big that require a table or a couch in the winter to finish, but they all started off as little projects and grew. Some projects are small enough to put in my purse or a small project bag.  Should I carve extra double pointed knitting needles into hard to obtain Tunisian Crochet Hooks?

I can tell you with the upmost confidence that all my stashes are smaller than at the beginning of COVID19. I can’t remember if I gave 2 or 3 loads of fabric to Project Linus, Eric would have liked that all his favorite fabrics went to help other sick kids.  50% of my fiber stash was divided between two friends.  Lastly there is very little yarn left in the garage, it used to be stacked to the ceiling.  One truck load went to The Old Pueblo Knitting Guild in Tucson.  I lost count of how much went to the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona.  Some went to my students and friends.  The empty boxes are still in the garage to transfer things in the storage room to clear boxes for easier identification and access.  

One thing that I know for certain is that I am going to be spending at least 20% of my work time on projects for myself.  After 26 years of knitting hundred’s of projects for charity, I need a few items for myself.  Below is the 1st of 2 Quick Knit Mittens by Jen Hintz.  I love this style of mittens for knitting and eating out in the cold.   Any useful advice will be looked at.  

A tired day

 Today turn into a shopping and rest day.  I let Shipit deliver the Target order.  John and I went to Sprouts. I mainly picked out the fresh fruit and vegetables, while John zoomed around the store getting everything else on the list.  Although I think I forgot to add bread to the shopping list.  

I also managed to clean the kitchen up and not take a 2 hour nap after my shower, that is baby steps on the road to recovery.  I would occasionally like to take a giant leap. That is not happening now.  

Dinner was cooked together with John handling the vegetables while I made the omelette.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with having breakfast for dinner on warm humid days.  

I only knit about 2 inches on a broken rib pattern scarf.   

Now it’s time to call it a day.   TTFN 

Tunisian Crochet in the Round

 Today I took a class on Tunisian crochet in the round at Bird House Yarn on 5th Avenue and Tucson Blvd.The class was fun. I had a good time. I found the cup warmer easier than the beginning of the hat. I think I’m gonna have to make a few new stitch markers to finish the new hat project. That should be an easy 20 or 30 minute task. I promised write all about the class and books tomorrow when I have more energy.

Despite resting all morning, I am exhausted. I drove to mid town, spent 3 hours at the yarn shop. Then drove home.  John took me out to dinner.  I sat and knit most of the evening.  I am definitely out of spoons, but much too hot to sleep.  TTFN

An Editorial to Share Far and Wide

Please feel free to copy this blog and send it to your insurance company. Feel free to post it to you social media posts. Thank you, Sheri

 Dear United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Well Point, Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and other Carriers,

We the public have not heard how you plan to handle the actions of the new healthcare mandate from Florida and the growing wave of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children against the common but in some cases extremely dangerous and deadly childhood diseases that are preventable.  I am talking about Poliomyelitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Chickenpox, RSV, Chickenpox, HPV, and a host of other infectious diseases.  

Have you talked with your actuaries about the increased risks and costs associated with each of these diseases? Including, but not limited to the cost of lifelong use of ventilators, braces, wheelchairs, and special equipment associated with  Poliomyelitis? This is important because the federal government is cutting back on Medicaid funding that would normally cover these costs . The March of Dimes has changed their goals with the advent of the Poliomyelitis vaccine. The March of Dimes no longer covers the costs associated with Poliomyelitis for individual patients. Instead they now work to reduce birth defects. The increased stays in Pediatric Intensive Care Units for infants who get Whooping Cough? With each disease having its own associated costs.  

As I look at the bigger picture you have a number of different factors that come into play.  First and foremost are your stockholders. How will they react to lower dividend rates brought about by higher healthcare costs? Will the stockholders ask for higher rates from your customers so they’re dividends are not impacted? Will they ask for policies to be terminated?

 You also have those that pay for the insurance. This includes many businesses and some individual policyholders. Will they stand for higher rates because people refuse to do preventive care? Will they demand the people be excluded from benefits for refusing to vaccinate? Will they be willing to pay higher price prices to cover the cost of people who refuse to vaccinate? 

Then you have the individuals with the insurance. How will they react to the insurance company telling them they must vaccinate their children or their children will be excluded from their policy for the following conditions of normal childhood illnesses that are preventable by vaccines. How do you plan to educate these people? People tend not to look at the entire picture these days. Some people say vaccines are bad no matter what so you can’t make us give our kids vaccines. Others are saying we must vaccinate for the public good. How are you going to balance that out?.

The reality is that most people of childbearing age are not old enough to remember the effects of these childhood illnesses. They don’t remember how entire schools got vaccinated on the same day by the public health departments across the country. They don’t remember losing friends to childhood illnesses. Most of these people have been vaccinated themselves and don’t remember weeks of isolation until you were well enough to go out in public again. They also don’t remember the dark rooms children had to stay in for a couple weeks at a time to prevent blindness from rubella. No books, or television allowed, because it would damage the eyes. Two to 3 weeks of solid boredom. Can parents afford to stay home the entire time?

Where are you going to take your stand? Right now the country's last line of defense, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is in tatters. They have lost their focus on preventing disease and trying to keep the country as healthy as possible. The CDC is losing a vast number of doctors and scientists. Their only job was to keep America healthy. They are being replaced by people without medical degrees or the knowledge of science needed to do the work. They are being replaced by gossip mongers. These gossip mongers are spreading lies and would not know the basic science if you put the book right in front of them. Are you willing as companies to take a stand for the health of America? Are you willing to let your bottom line be ruled by gossip mongers without facts? Are you going to demand that science must lead the effort for health in this country? US major health insurance companies have more power than the average person to change the course of this discussion. All I ask is that you gather your facts as soon as possible. Talk with your actuaries. Talk with your board of directors. Talk with your major stockholders. Come up with a reasonable plan. Most importantly put their plan to action. You have the power to change the course of history. You have the power to make America healthy. Use your power wisely.

Sincerely,

Sheri Karobonik 

Retired Disability Rights Activist 

Mrs. Karobonik retired as a Disability Rights Activist when her youngest child died from an incurable metabolic disease in 2019.

Busy getting things finished.

 I have been busy finishing projects, but too tired to take pictures.  The count for this week is 3 scarfs finished.  1 pair of Maxi Fingerless Gloves completed.  Another pair a mini mittens started, the first one is almost done, and I think I have a better way to do them. Time for pencil and paper first. I personally prefer bottom up instead of top down.  Also knitting on 2 knitting needles or one pair of circular needles is easier for beginners than juggling 5 double pointed knitting needles.  

I restarted a Tunisian crochet scarf and am making quick progress.  My purse project is 25% finished.  My 3 pound cone scarf project is making great progress.  No it’s just the odds and ends of the UFO’s that need to be finished.  I just need to find a place out of the house either no distractions.  

I have at least 1 new pattern to type up too.

I even found the time for a few 5 minute chores around the house today.  Now it’s time to call it a day.  

Another BBD

 Today was another BBD.  I managed to sleep most of the day.  However I did get myself together enough to go out to Loving Spoonful’s for a lunch of tomato soup and a corn muffin.  The great thing about a good vegan restaurant is that I can order anything without having to ask if there is milk in the dish.  

After lunch was more napping.  John took me out to Beyond Bread for 1/2 sandwiches for dinner.   Followed by a trip to Safeway to get more fresh produce.  

I started a new Tunisian crochet scarf. I just meandered my way through the first few inches.  I also got a few rows of my purse project finished before dinner.   

Both restaurants are locally owned and have good food.  We like to support local businesses whenever we possibly can.   If you are ever in Tucson, I can recommend both restaurants personally.