Friday, September 26, 2008

Blocking Zetor

I find it hard to come to the computer and start writing about ordinary bloggy things after the school shooting that happened earlier this week. There is no way to understand it and it has us all devastated. My sincerest condolences to everyone affected with this in one way or another. I spent a big part of my early morning blocking Zetor. It looks bit different from the other Zetors out there. I did my cast off row with crocheting, I cast off one and then added two chain stitches between every cast-off stitch. This resulted in a very stretchy edge and I could pin it into scallops. I am not sure I like it this way and I might end up blocking it to the more usual pointy edge, but I had to try this. I made this as a replacement shawl to my daughter. I made her – two winters ago – beautiful lace shawl, Casino Shawl by Anne, and she has loved it ever since. I have washed it and blocked it all over again and every time I see it and do it again, I wonder to myself if it can be saved one more time. It is beginning to remind me of the security blanket of Linus in Peanuts. When she comes home in a few weeks I hope that she will bring it with her (no doubt she will) and I will wash it all over again. But I am hoping Zetor could end up being as much loved as the previous one. Although she has pointed out to me that she wants to have another with the same yarn and pattern. This is all wool yarn while Casino was made with wool/silk blend. I am a little afraid that she might be spoiled already…In other knitting news, I am still knitting Fall Colours, although with a lot less enthusiasm than earlier. I decided to do a long stretch of k1tbl/p1 and it is killing my left wrist. I am doing every other row in continental knitting, which is harder on the wrist, than throwing, so I am throwing every other, which is slowing down the process a lot. I have maybe two inches left of the body and then off to sleeves. They will be ribbed for the most part too, but then the rows are much shorter.

It is raining here today and sleet has been promised during the weekend. Good knitting weather! Should I wish for you good knitting weather or ordinary good weather?

Lene

18 comments:

  1. Onpa kaunis tuo reuna! Kiitos päättelyn selityksestä, luulen, että kokeilen sitä johonkin reunaan itsekin. Aina on tarvetta uusille joustaville päättelytyypeille!

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  2. I like the scallops. I'm going to bookmark a link to your post where I have this shawl queued on Ravelry.

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  3. I was so shocked to see the news about the shooting there, my heart goes out to all the people of your country.

    Zetor is a real Beauty, love the scalloped edge.
    Take great care with your wrist whilst knitting Fall Colours.

    We reached 86F yesterday, not uncommon for this neck of the woods. 'They' say we might have rain and temps in the 70sF this weekend, we'll see. :^)

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  4. Anonymous14:36

    Gorgeous shawl - I'm sure your daughter will love it. I would like to keep my ordinary good weather for just a while longer, we don't get to enjoy sleeping with the windows open for very many days during the year!

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  5. The news of the senseless shooting was a shock here too. I wish you and your family, your country, Peace.

    The photos you post are always so lovely, you are an artist indeed. I think she will love the new shawl, but probably she will keep the old one too.

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  6. Anonymous15:39

    Our thoughts are with you and all the Finnish people after the shooting.

    The edging on Zetor looks like tractor-tire tracks, so maybe the scallops keep the "theme" of the shawl? Then again, I am a pointy-edged person myself, so I understand. The best thing about blocking is that it can easily be undone. ;-)

    It is rainy here, too, as we have a large storm blowing in from the sea. But I shouldn't complain--the temp is about 15C, which is just lovely regardless of the rain. Time to settle down at the wheel and pull out the wool!

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  7. Anonymous16:20

    Aren't we knitters fortunate--we get to choose between good (weather) and good (knitting weather)!
    There have been shootings in Canada too--very disheartening, no matter where.

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  8. Anonymous16:24

    When I heard about the shooting, I thought of you immediately, wondered where your daughters were... Everyone is affected by a tragedy like this--you know someone who knows someone who was there perhaps--but even if you have no personal connection, your heart is connected.

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  9. There is just no way to get your mind around such shocking and senseless violence. My sympathy to your country. Beautiful shawl and lovely photographs of it. Please, please send us some good knitting weather.We haven't had rain for nearly 2 months and are now officially in a drought.

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  10. If your daughter is too spoiled to love Zetor, you can adopt me!
    I was so sorry to hear about the shootings myself. I worry for a world where people feel such anger or despair that such devastation is considered as an option.

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  11. I thought of you when I heard the sad news.
    Your pictures great and I admire the meticulous care you take in blocking your work. Your cast off is lovely. You are so clever.
    Rest your aches and pains and happy knitting!

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  12. Anonymous06:13

    I am so sorry that your country has had this terrible experience. My daughter was in her third year of high school when there was a shooting at her school here in California. Fortunately no one was killed although the sad, sad shooter later killed himself in jail. It is not an exaggeration to speak of a loss of innocence when something like this happens. Those who survive will go on, but always carrying a small something dark and sad.

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  13. Anonymous18:16

    Zetor is absolutely beautiful, I can't imagine your daughter not loving it as much if not more than her first shawl.

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  14. Anonymous04:27

    Lene
    I'm sorry that your country experienced this shooting.
    Maybe knitting helps us keep our sanity in the face of tragedy.

    Love the shawl and I really like the scallops ,
    Margie in Maryland

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  15. I wish for good knitting weather as our temps are in the 90F now and I want to start an afghan - but will wait til it cools a bit. So Cowls and socks are in order. I believe that blogging - especially the craft ones are comforting to people who are going thru trials, whether they be health or tramatic tragedies that occur in life. So blog on - it is not frivolous - it is encouraging and educational. I believe your daughter will learn to love this shawl for its beauty and the love that went into it.

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  16. Anonymous13:54

    Lace knitting is something I want to try but is very intimidating. I'll to pick your brain on tips....I don't even know what yarn to use...!

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