A Little Yarn On The Side

I know how to work my sewing machine, but it isn't here.  I barely know how to work the serger, but it is here.  So is the big instructional workbook I bought because the manual that actually came with the serger is almost completely worthless (I say almost because on a hot day, I can fan myself with it, so there is that....).  Rather than mope about the lack of Jeeves like somebody I know, I decided it was time to actually learn to use the serger for more than 2 stitches. I have actually taken the new serger owner class at my local dealership, where I learned (among other things) to never turn the handwheel away from me.  The instructor said she thought it was because it was hard on the machine.  Nope.  On page 5 it clearly states to always turn the handwheel TOWARD yourself because to turn the other direction will flip the threads off the take-up lever and the serger will have to be re-threaded (which will strike fear into the heart of anyone who ...

The magic of the Pi shawl is in its simplicity.  You start with a certain number of stitches, which can actually be any number though single digits make the most sense.  Then after one row, you double the number of stitches.  Then after after a couple rows, you double it again, doubling the number of rows each time as well.  It always sounds so simple...... ....... and I always forget how freakin' many stitches that last increase turns out to be!

Okay, not a lot of knitting, but some.  Mostly this week has been gardening and socializing.  Which is all good--especially the socializing--but it does sort of cut into the knitting time. After playing around with different ideas, I decided to go with the original pattern for the final Pi shawl section, largely because it was based on the same number of stitches and I thought would "blend" well: Since I now have double the number of stitches as the last section, it's going much more slowly, but I think this will make an interesting effect when done.  If not, I have LOTS more yarn........:)

Jeeves has officially been gone for 3 weeks now--not counting the earlier two weeks.  So yesterday I called my dealer, and the repair guy said the part is still on back order because they're having to make it.   OK. I bought Jeeves in 2006.  I got a good deal on Jeeves because they were phasing him out as the newer version--the 955e--was coming out, which doesn't seem to exist any more either.  The repair guy (yeah, the same one who doesn't check his work) said that they haven't had this problem before.  So my question is:  if they haven't had this problem before, then somewhere there should be a nice full box of spare parts if they haven't needed them.  Unless, as soon as the last machine rolled off the assembly line, they burned all the extra parts, destroyed any unsold machines, and then--like whoever it was in history who had his architect murdered so no one would ever be able to duplicate his palace--shot all the people who had ever made ...

I am just finishing up the last rows of the 48-row set on the Pi shawl, so I'm about to start the what-would-be-96-row-set-if-it-didn't-make-a-monster-sized-shawl part.  I'm trying really hard to NOT have to take it all off the needles, so with the aid of some stuffing, here's where I'm at Everything so far has been sort of V-shaped, though the center part looks more like a flower than anything else.  I'm thinking of using this for the next part, or is it a little too much "V" happening?  I could do something in more of an over-all pattern like cat's paw, or even something really open like faggotting.  Thoughts?

Just minutes ago, the beaded ostrich plume was finished! Blocking will come later, but I am quite pleased with it.  I pressed a bit with the iron as I was working just to be able to see how it looked, but I have been promising myself I could get back to the Pi shawl as soon as this was done, so if you'll excuse me.....I have a hot Friday night date with some merino!

I called the dealership yesterday, and the part still hadn't arrived yet.  I believe he said it was coming from Tennessee.  According to Google Maps, it would take 1 day and 8 hours to drive from Boise, Idaho to Tennessee.  Throwing in a night to sleep and a few stops for eating & peeing, that still doesn't explain how it could take longer than 16 days for a part to come ONE DIRECTION ONLY.  I realize they probably shipped it via the cheapest rate possible because it is warranty work & they can't stick me with the bill, but it does make me wonder about shipping companies.  If you give them insane amounts of money, your stuff arrives pretty darn quickly--like in that 1 day, 8 hour time frame.  If you give them a slightly less insane amount of money, they'll deliver it less speedily--like someone taking breaks to stop, eat, and occasionally pee.  If you give them the least amount of money possible, how do they stretch it out for longer than 2 wee...