Icarus
I really, really to point out, that there is nothing wrong with the Icarus pattern. The shawl is gorgeous. The pattern is very well-written. Interweave and Miriam both did a fine job. All the problems with the knitting is entirely due to the knitter, um, that would be me, so please don't let my tales of woe discourage you from this pattern.
Maybe, its because of the hot, sticky weather (without air conditioning), combined with hungry mosquitoes, has made me tired and more prone to making mistakes with my knitting. I would like to report that I'm up to the feathers. Who knows, maybe there'll be an FO this weekend... but I won't count on it at the moment, because there are about 400 stitches each row and there are still about 50 rows to go.
A Sock is born
Here's my commuting project. I haven't made much (any progress) in days. I did dig it out and do 2 rows while waiting for my train this evening. There is a little wiggling lace surrounded by a bit of ribbing in the pattern, even if you can't see it because dark yarns are not very good for showing off patterns.
I really like the blue though. I cut out the stripes for the heel and gusset pick up so that I could roughly get even size swatched of blue. I rather like the effect. The sock is resting on what used to be a BLUE hyndrangea. What gives? It was blue but now it's gone pink. Do I need to give it a feed of blue fountain pen ink or somethings?
Thomas is exactly right. It's the soil pH. My Nana used a seriously low-tech approach to soil amendment. She put rusty old nails in the soil around the plants. Sometimes she put them in isolated areas so her plants would have blue and pink "sections". Why we didn't all die of tetanus I have no idea. You could wrap some nails up in a piece of screening, though. Food coloring should work in the vase water, after you pick the blossoms. If you add blue coloring to pink flowers, will you get lavender? Try it and let us know! I can't grow hydrangeas here. Way to hot. I envy your garden. And love your blog. And maybe I'll try some lace tomorrow. I think you have inspired me. Thanks. I think.
Posted by: Willa Jean at June 21, 2006 07:38 AMI think you re a glutton for punishment.....have you seen that Yarn Harlot is also doing Icarus?
Posted by: Jill at June 16, 2006 11:01 PMWow, what yarn is that? I'm thinking maybe Regia, or some older Opal?...
Posted by: Beth S. at June 16, 2006 03:43 PMThe blues of the sock remind me of an old comfortable pair of jeans - yummy.
Posted by: trek at June 16, 2006 06:21 AMdarn thomas beat me to the hydrangea answer :)
Posted by: jean at June 16, 2006 05:02 AMI like your sock, Polly, I can just make out the lacy bits amidst the blue. The coloured stripes look great too.
I think you are doing just great with Icarus, especially with the hot and sticky weather we are having. You must have infinite patience to consider knitting another 20,000 stitches on it without a fit of the screaming abdabs! I love it, and am considering daring a fit of the abdabs myself.
Posted by: Louise at June 16, 2006 01:20 AMYou are so lucky to have a pink hydrangea! Our soil here on the 'wet coast' is very acidic and almost all the hydrangeas are blue or purple/blue. Last year, the hydrangeas scared my husband by blooming pink. And that's only because I mixed in a bunch of lime into the soil surrounding the shrub. It's so nice to be able to change the colours of the blooms without actually changing the whole plant.
Posted by: Dotty at June 16, 2006 12:27 AMThe colour of hydrangea flowers is determined by soil pH. Above pH 5.5 they are pink, below 5.5 they are blue. Your local garden centre should have some aluminium sulphate to adjust soil pH with. Best done in spring when the new year's growth is just beginning.
Posted by: Thomas at June 15, 2006 10:51 PM