Double Knitting - Edges

I made up a sample swatch of a few different edges for two color double knitting and have decided that I like the following for the edges. At least for now!

1. Slip the first stitch purlwise with yarn in front (2 loops are acting as one)
2. work across to last stitch
3. Knit the last stitch (2 loops are acting as one)

When doing this though, make sure that as you knit that last stitch that the yarn is coming up on the right needle in the same alternating color pattern. In other words if your piece is being worked in red and white and the last purl stitch worked was red then the the 2 loops that you add to the right needle need to come up white then red (the red being the closest to the end of the needle).

A Shot in the Butt

I had a procedure done in hopes of curing me of my pain in my right leg. The procedure was an Ultra-Sound Guided cortisone injection into the Piriformis muscle. For those not familiar, the piriformis is the muscle that you can feel right about where the bottom of your back pocket would be; unless of course you're much younger than I and prefer to wear your pants around your knees. My pain symptoms? Major pain in the hip/butt are when leaning forward. Major pain in the hip/butt/ and down the leg to the outer knee when rotating the foot. Excruciating pain when seated and attempt to rotate at the hip. Cause: Flying Freeda out of the seat of my truck where by I extended the knee while twisting and falling forward at the hip. It wasn't pretty.

Previous Diagnosis from Ultra Sound: Hamstring Tendonitis at the iscial tuberosity. That's basically the bone that you sit on; in other words inflammation of the hamstring where it meets your butt crease. That spot is also known as the "insertion" point of the hamstring.

MRI: In my world it didn't look to me like the report much of anything, but Dr. Moeller whom I was referred to told me it was Piriformis Syndrome. In real words that means constant inflammation of the hamstring where your hamstring meets your butt crease
.
Diagnosis after the second ultra sound and the injection:
Medial and Distal tears to the Biceps Femoris Hamstring. What's that mean? Basically that when I fell over that pop feeling in my butt was my hammy ligament pulling off the bone. YIKES.
What do I do now? I dunno. As far as I know there's nothing that can be done for the torn hamstring other than rest it and progressively strengthen it. I asked if the hamstring had reattached and they said it did, but they don't reattach where they're supposed to be. However, so far it feels far, far better than it has felt in a long, long time.

I'm feeling very emotional today, because I know that this might not last and I don't want to revert to feeling pain with every movement. So I'm trying to take it easy and not over stress it and let the cortisone do it's thing. I put in a call to Dr. Anderson's office to see if there's anything more they can tell me about this injury.

A Sewn Radiator Cover

I've had the radiator in the bathroom covered for some time now with a "top" and fabric basically draped over it and decided that I needed something more fitted and nicer looking. I changed the top a little bit from an oval to this top that's more square with rounded edges and glued a strip of hook and loop tape around the top edge of the board. Using this tutorial, I sewed up a lined bottom skirt and sewed on the matching hook/loop tape to the top of it. It's a perfect fit, but in honesty could be just a smidge shorter. I than made a nice lined top piece for it. While there could be some improvement on the shape of the items I sewed they both came out looking great! I'm quite pleased.

I used this web page to aid me in sewing the lining.

Swimming with Music

My new waterproof ipod headset came in the mail. Oh, it looks way too sweet and I can't wait to try it out! I'm exchanging out the other one, that I just posted about the other day, with this one that's much sleeker, supposedly has better sound, and is cheaper. Can't wait to try it out!

Shamrock Double Knit Hot Pad

This is my second double knit hot pad. As you can see it's reversible. Why two of them? Well, I'm actually trying to learn how to do this better so I can begin working on my strap for my pilates bag. I can't quite seem to get the right tension for the length of the one row because the two yarns held together get all tangled up around my tensioning pinky and won't pull through. If I don't wrap the yarns, I have like no tension for the purl color. I've tried double knitting devices, and while they do help to keep the strands separated, they really stink for workability when going from one color to the next and back. I've tried wrapping the knit strand with the pinky tensioning and over my index finger while the ring finger tensions the purl strand and comes up over both the middle and index fingers, but again they get twisted. The best approach I've been able to come up with so far is to hold both strands as I normally do which is without wrapping for tension and using an o-ring on my finger to keep the strands apart; a system that works, but needs a slightly larger o-ring for comfort and height.

This was made from my own pattern. I should have the pattern uploaded on April 29

UPDATE: there is a chart for the 3 Leaf Clover and a more recent post, too.

Hot Tub Tables

There's been something missing from our Thursday night dinners with our running buddies for some time now and it's certainly not the lack of interesting conversations either. What we've been missing are side tables for our hot tub. That's right, we do actually set our beers down from time to time. So I came up with these nifty tables designed to follow the contour of the hot tub. The one for the back of the hot tub has a different design because of the plug being back there. They are constructed of plywood, pressed wood, 4x4's and 1" round dowels plus the 3/8" dowels that add the extra support for the back table. I primed the wood at first with a spray paint primer and decided that I really wanted to cover the texture of the wood more so I followed the first primer with a brushed on exterior primer. The tops are finished with a satin spray paint followed by 3 coats of a satin lacquer. The legs and base were primed the same way and finished off with 2 coats of "Hammered" spray paint; it creates on a hammered metal look. I wasn't going to finish the dowels of the back table, but after one use I see that they got a little wet; the back table 4x4 is made out of treated wood so it's fine the way it is.

I just uploaded the picture of the third table which fits in the back corner behind the hot tub. I'm adding a picture here, but there is another post about it too.

Lance was quite impressed with my creations and my steady hand with a jigsaw.

Marathon Monday

Yep, that's right today was the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. The race started at 10 am and I was all prepped to record the airing of the marathon and to track my runners online. It was a beautiful day for a race with temps in the mid 40's to start and reaching about 65 by the afternoon. I haven't heard all the stories yet as they are scheduled to return Tuesday evening. Here are their times though!
Dave ....... 3:05:59 (he said he had no will to run this fast)Katie ....... 3:07:08 (what a race!)Mark ....... 3:09:39 (A great race!)Lance .......3:23:14 (You're looking consistant!)

Ivy Christmas Tree

I Ah, finally I've gotten around to taking a picture of my lit Ivy tree thing. I lit it up by shoving a string of Christmas lights up inside it. That's a recycled bow from something. Yes, it's still sitting out since Christmas. I kinda like it there and when it's not lit up it doesn't really look Christmassy; well, maybe the bow should go.

A previous post regarding the ivy tree is on my blog here.

Apple Pepper Jelly and Cinnamon Spiced Apple Jelly

This is "apple pepper jelly"; it's the first time I've made it. No I don't really know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I didn't want to make all regular jelly thus this creation was born. Ok, I lie a little bit; I did basically follow an online recipe. The floaties in there are jalapeno peppers. I'm thinking this stuff will be good as a topper for cream cheese and crackers. I hope somebody likes it because I made 7 jars of it.

10/10/2008 - I've served this up several times now on variety crackers smeared with a bit of cream cheese and it's been a big hit. Some people are turned away by it being called jelly so I've decided to call it a spread instead. It's a rather odd combination of sweet and hot. The heat is actually pretty mild / mild plus IMO and the sugar could have been reduced. Anyway, since I've seen a lot of folks hitting my page searching for this recipe I'm adding my recipe and notes to this post.

Marni's Apple-Pepper Spread

2/3 cups jalapeno peppers (6-7 should be enough); I used my hand grinder to "mince" them

2 1/2 cups apple juice (I used the cinnamon flavored apple juice from my 2007 applesauce canning)

2 tablespoons white vinegar

6 cups granulated sugar (I suppose you could try the reduced sugar pectin to lower the amount of sugar needed)

3/4 cups water

1/2 teaspoon butter (real butter, salted. This keeps the jelly from foaming)

4 drops of green food coloring

1 package pectin + 1 teaspoon of pectin from another packet (The extra bit seems to be needed to ensure jellies will set up properly)

1. Mix first 4 ingredients and set aside
2. Put the water, butter and food coloring in a sauce pan and gradually add the pectin while bringing the mixture to a rapid boil that won't stir away.
3. Add the jalapeno mixture and bring it to a hard, rapid boil stirring constantly for 1 minute. (the 1 minute countdown begins after the mixture has reached the rapid boil point.
4. Strain the juice into a warmed vessel (just warm it up with running water and wipe otherwise the jelly will cool too quickly on the sides and begin to set up on the sides.)
5. I stirred in about 1/4 cup of the strained jalapeno back into the jelly before filling the prepared jars. (I thought it would look nicer and add more heat)
6. Skim any foam if necessary and ladle into prepared jars leaving 1/4" head space and process for 10 minutes
7. I turned the jelly jars a few times as it cooled to distribute the jalapeno pieces (yes, normally a big no-no to touch the jars while they cool!)

My Yield = Six 1/2 pint jars and one 12 ounce jar

I'd already put the jellies in the basement before taking the picture of it. Sure I've made regular old apple jelly before, but this year I decided to make apple jelly with a touch of cinnamon and a sprinkle of other spices like nutmeg, ginger and all spice.

The apple juice that was used to make both of these flavors was from last fall when Kelly and I made applesauce. The best apple jelly is actually made from the apple peels and not the apples themselves. Seems strange I know, but I've made it both ways and the peel method is better. This time I added a couple of cinnamon sticks to the pot as it simmered on the stove to give the apple juice a pleasant cinnamony flavor.

Apple jelly is probably the easiest jelly to make and can because apples already have a natural pectin which imo really helps with setting up the jelly when used with a regular packet of pectin of course. I have read where you can actually make your own pectin from apples, but my name is Marni... not Martha!

When the cat's away the mouse will.... work?

DH and most of the running group left this morning for Boston for Monday's marathon. While I do like some space to myself four days is a long time for me to be at home and him to be away. Ahh, I see a problem here; I never have a problem taking off for 2 weeks to visit my brother in FL, but here as day 1 that DH has been gone I find myself missing him somewhat. Oh sure I filled my day.

I started today with some sewing but left that project unfinished because I want that final fit before I hem up the leg openings and secure the elastic to the correct size and I need DH for that! Then I got the wild hair to work on the bathroom I got the ceiling tile about as de-funked as it will get without some serious chemicals (not on hand), washed down the walls, scoured the sink the toilet and the tub; changed out the plastic curtain liner and washed the curtains, painted the gasket things on the feet of the radiator and washed the cover for that; pulled out the runner and put some of that rug backing stuff on the far ends. I've decided that the board that covers the radiator really needs to be a different shape and that I need to make a "fitted" radiator cover that will go over the board/shelf. See, I already have more projects for tomorrow. I worked on the darn eggs again; seriously, I'm wasting anymore time on them.... after I finish the one I'm working on. I changed the sheets on the bed. So you're thinking, "big deal!" Oh it is though 'cause DH usually does that. I started a new knitting project and went to the Y to swim and shower. I tried out my new toy which is a waterproof Ipod case for swimming and it is too sweet! I seriously have no idea how many laps I did (not quite 2o I think) because I was just listening and swimming. I was bummed at first because I forgot to bring the arm and waist bands that hold the case, but I wound up clipping it to the back of my swimsuit and that worked just fine. Click the picture below for a link to the H2O website. My purchase was made through swimoutlet.com; I must warn though that they messed up twice but were happy to resolve the problem and didn't resist at all when I demanded Next Day Service after the second screw up. OMG, would you believe that when I went to find the picture to post here I found another shuffle case by H2O that fits right on the headset?! I might have to do an exchange!

I should include a knee update since I did just see my OS on Wednesday. He suggested another 6 weeks; I don't think it will take that long though. I hope I can stay out of work until the 1st then I might only have like a week of TAW before returning to my regular job/job. So why not return now? It's sucks to squat down on it. I'm getting better at it though and I can tell that I can stay in a squatted position for a little longer each time. Of course this not a maneuver that I'm trying out all the time, but there are incidents like today at the hardware store when I dumped the little bin of O-rings all over the floor and it was a lower bin and then there was trying to get down to look at the de-humidifier in the basement; I could not succeed at the later and wound up lifting the de-humidifier onto a higher surface so I could see into it. How long will it take? Heck if I know. Maybe 2 weeks, but maybe 4. I'm progressing well, but I can't see into the future!

Knit vs. Purl - A double knit hot pad

I was working on my first double knit pattern that I got for free from knittinghelp.com it was in red and white and had a heart design in it. Well, I accidentally messed up an edge and couldn't get it fixed right plus I really should have knitted with even a smaller needle; so I frogged it. Now of course I want to learn how to do this, but wasn't terribly thrilled with the heart pattern and really which I'd only chose it because it was readily available and seemed simple enough for a first time project. So I got a little creative. It took me like all day to do this design plot it out and get it uploaded and what not, but hey here it is! Actually I started with a love/hate design which I'll also upload.

Here's the Knit Vs. Purl Chart, but be warned that when I knit it up it wasn't square so I have to redo the chart. Stay tuned. I should have it done and uploaded on APR 29.

Alternating 2 color long tail cast on

A good cast on method for 2 color double knitting.

WOW, my running buddies did really well at the Martian. Well, Dave didn't finish because of some sort of leg problem, but he was doing well.

Katie took 3rd overall female though she led the females into the last few miles only to be passed by an all star on a training run and another superb U of M runner. She set a new personal record though and squashed her previous 1/2 time by over 3 minutes! Holy crap... see what a little sleep will do for you!

Mark took 1st in his age group! WOW! Very nice! I was surprised when I saw him come by at about the 10 mile mark and he was in 5th! Nice time Mark! And a new PR too! I'm sure the shoes will come in handy. :)

Lance beat out Ken in the last mile and came near his PR time. Imagine what kind of time you'd gotten if you hadn't roller bladed 20 miles and biked 25 the day before the race. hey and you never know 5 beer and bratwursts at 10PM might just be the magic you need!

Ken ran a very respectable race coming in a little after Lance; sorry I don't know all his stats. He looked unfaltered out there on the course. This was Anna's 2nd 1/2 marathon and she did set a PR although we all know she can run faster ;P.

You all did fantastic!

Space Girl - Martian Marathon

I volunteered for the Martian Marathon; an event that I've volunteered and ran in the last 2 years. Well, this year because of my recent knee surgery I can only volunteer. Yes, I'm bummed.

I just have to dress up for this event! This year I added a knit wig in a silvery white to go with my costume. This is a Halloween costume that I made a few years back and of course you can't wear the same thing every year for Halloween but you can for the Martian Marathon! The pattern for the wig can be found at Knitty. There's more about the wig on my Ravelry site.

Moccasin Slippers #2

I've finished my Moccasin Slippers. This is the second pair of these I've made. This time I used straight needles and cast on as if my foot were 9 1/2" rather than 9". They fit, but they could really use some tweaking in the heel area. Maybe I'll get around to making another pair and try something a little different for the heel. The length seems better than the first pair.

Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19th

Here's a Pirate Translator should help me natter better fer "Talk Like a Pirate Day" on September 19th. Why???.... why NOT?

Hash #1001: The Fat Boy

The morning sun ripping through the curtains woke me bright and early at 9AM. I gathered my thoughts for a moment, studied the room to assess whether or not the lumps under the covers were the people that were suppose to be there. They were; which made the morning a little bit easier. I quietly announced the time and that they had an hour to get to the Fat Boy; there were a lot of groans which followed as you can imagine. Everyone russled out of bed and actually packed up in time to get to the Fat Boy where I had flat pancakes and a Bloody Mary followed up with beer. I actually felt really good considering I was on a mission last night to finish off all the pudding shots! We did a circle up which consisted of a seriously brutal naming of Just Anna to 2Drunk2Fuck then we played an intense game of hash kickball on very soggy terrain. Forgetting that it was my 17th year analversary earned me a dousing of beer on my head by my DH, Diaper Rash. We laughed and drank and had a lot of fun. We went inside and laughed some more, people left and yet we laughed and drank some more. At about 7PM with sore abs from laughing so hard Easy, Heavy, Mother, Sex, Diaper, and I left Self-Rising and Ineeda Morehead. It was a good day.