Wheels fell of the Chariot

Well the optomistic prediction that removing and cleaning 358 needles and 358 needle pattern rods and their needle beds could be done in an afternoon, was, well, optomistic! the BACK bed is done. I started it first. I know me. If I'd started on the front bed, I would've NEVER not in a million years done the back bed. Things were going along so well. time consuming, but well. all 358 needle and bits came out of the back bed beautifully, look a bit of time to clean but worth it. I don't think it's EVER seen an everything removed clean and I bought it in 1981.

Now onto the front bed, the one used most, bllaaahhh, out came the needles, put into soak. then the pattern rods. jammed solid shut in the rail. * applied copious quantites of cleaning solution, pushed, proded, and jiggled ALL 179 of the little darlings, applied a gentle tap of encouragement from the hammer*, repeat from * to*, most of yesterday afternoon. Now all sitting in solution soaking themselves clean. the needle beds will need working on too, hopefully all the stuff I applied yesterday will have improved things.

Then last but not least, the chariots themselves. Applied the lubricant to all the bits the book said, but was still rough. Email ex-. Get really good reply from ex- buy silicone spray lubricant for chariot, if still troublesome, but will probably loosen up. Tomorrow: Have to find a good place for the Chariot and it's rails. I must not use Chariot where it is - will break window.

We have a Chariot

Out from under the bed and dustcover comes the chariot. I removed dust, shinied up the legs and managed to put them back on, and the whole thing has been inspected (sniffed) and apparently meets approval. Now it's time for arvo coffee and cuddles, then we (and I do mean me) will clean the needle beds and oil up the needles. Got the books out of the draw for inspection. So maybe tomorrow we will be ready for a test drive of the "chariot". (I've been getting some of the French patterns ready to knit, and the instructions say move the chariot a gauche and knit 1 more row.) So I can't in all honestly go back to calling it the carriage. nevermind, the bloody heavy darling will be just great. I've found instructions to knit socks even... there will be no stopping me now. I may even knit knee length ones. and all who have seen me know there is no way I'd be knitting world's biggest longest knee length socks any other way.

Spare time activities

Well I have been spending time this week on reworking an en francais pattern. I really like the site, and I really like some of the patterns, even though all en francais. I do believe if you are going to go to the trouble of knitting a garment, then make it spectacular - not too little and not too much, for either the yarn or the wearer. So far so good, never read the instructions anyway!

The pattern is
http://www.bergeredefrance.fr/trico/trico.phtml?limit=78&max=126&id_rubrique=2
the white twin set on the bottom of the page, # 467 & 468, now is that a twin set or what??
there is a great pattern for dotta #2, but she doesn't wear what I make her - no knitted gift from spectacular French design for her, however dotta #1, may find something nice and french (but not oh la la) in her Christmas parcel. Depends how long it is going to take me to do it, should say next birthday, and be safe. (that's for if she is secretly stalking the blog, she does that, I know, I should switch around the dotta # and confuse her, haha).

Jazz Up Your Paint Sock Pattern

I have looked at lots of patterns suitable to knit painted style socks. I gave up and designed my own. This is Panda Cotton- Dreamy.







excel chart

written patt

Click view to see more photos

First day on Ravelry and First day of blog

Got my invite for Ravelry this morning, and arranged the blog tonight. That is far far too much for one me to do in one day.