Snowed in and iced over

We had no snow at all through December....visions of a mild winter, but we remember Boston winters. Nothing at all through December, followed in quick succession by blizzards in January, blizzards in February, blizzards in March. The skies cleared, and daffodils pushed up out of the ground between the parallels....only to be covered in snow by one last storm in....April!

In any case, we have had seven snowstorms in quick succession, and have had already seven snow days when we only had four scheduled. Today's was the worst, not the fine, powdery fluff that is useless for making snowballs and snowmen and snow ducks, but brushes off cars easily. Instead, an ice storm, billed as "wintry mix" but instead, a wet rain that froze at ground level leaving the branches encased in ice and the cars similarly encased. There is a two inch layer of ice on the walks and asphalt surfaces. Tis rumored that delivery men are coming and going on hands and knees to avoid falling down.

In all this, we are doing regular work, and some pleasant activities as well. We finished a bias knit "dishcloth" baby blanket, made 3 ft x 4 ft to last longer, in Lion Brand Homespun "Sierra" a mix of golden brown, burgundy and moss green which does stripe, as "Regency" the green mix does, and as "Colonial" the marine blue does not. That and a nice little "Tomato" hat for Bee's newborn. We made another 100 stitch Moebius in worsted cranberry, sepia and tan tones, this time with 3 rows each knit, purl, knit, purl, knit. A wider scarf for the Mommy, who tends to be left out at this time of life. Everyone looking at the baby.

But today we have a very pretty Moebius, in an interesting yarn, called Amazing by Lion Brand. As usual, the name tells us absolutely nothing about the yarn. Remember that Incredible was their polyester ribbon yarn. Amazing caught my attention, being in skeins the shape of Noro Kureyon and similar color blends. It is, unlike other Lion Brand blends, 53% wool and 47% acrylic, with a lofty, mohair-like halo around a rather thin base. It's that halo that allows it to knit up as a "medium" #4, with a recommended needle size of 9 (5.5 mm). Well, I didn't have a 9 tip handy, so am using a 60" cable and size 8 Harmony wood tips. The join is not as smooth as the permanently attached Clover Bamboo, and it unscrewed at one point and fell apart. But eventually we regain equilibrium and are merrily knitting and purling 220 stitches which fit very nicely on the 60" needle. But it is a long way around, all those little stitches! I'm using a little rubber ring as the stitch marker as it tends not to run away when I get to it and it tries to drop off. The yarn is very soft to touch and doesn't split despite the very sharp tips on Harmony needles. I think it will be lovely and much warmer than the acrylic only Moebius scarves I've been making. Moebius really looks very beautiful with a variegated yarn.

I'm thinking of doing another as a shawl or shoulder drape in the light tan and cream textured yarn, on size 13 needles, which I have, in Zephyr.

This weekend we are invited to a Super Bowl party at the home of the woman I made the Shedir cap for. She's doing well, for which there is much to be grateful.

Mobius, Moebius

I have known how to make a Mobius scarf in one long strip without making a half twist and grafting the ends, for perhaps 2 or 3 years. This is how Elizabeth Zimmermann would have created a lovely scarf, or shoulder wrapping shawl. I read Cat Bordhi's book , bravely cast on with two Denise needles clicked together, and used up that baby-rainbow colored Red Heart regular yarn. It got left behind at least once, at MIL's house, and then got it back. Two summers ago, not last summer. Summer 2009. Eventually got it back, bound it off the usual way (loop over loop like a potholder), and humbly presented it to MIL. Not my favorite color or texture.

In any case, this skill of MCO (Moebius cast-on) sat in the back of my head for some time, eventually filing itself away in a place inaccessible to me. So this past summer, I took out the Book of Magical Knitting again and used its very clear illustrations to cast on again. I had the idea of making a beautiful HAT, so cast on 96 sts of soft worsted (probably Berroco) to make the Moebius brim. Okay. So you are supposed to cast off half the stitches, forming the bottom edge of the hat and pick up for the brim. Di d I tell you this was a lovely autumnal combination distinctive in having cranberry, gray, camel tones? Not a hint of orange or green. Did I tell you it has a lovely soft hand and knit smoothly, effortlessly making a clean material? Did I tell you that it was much too big for a hat? At least it wasn't a hula hoop. So I cast off the remaining 96 sts leaving....not big enough to call a scarf....we shall call it a HUG.

Very pretty, and it went promptly to friend Beth, who suddenly lost her husband and needs hugs of all kinds. It was admired for its colors and its Moebius-ness, and I resolved to make more. I used a size 10 needle, 36 inches long Clover bamboo, and having once MCO 96 sts, proceeded to knit 3 rows
purl 3 rows
knit 3 rows

It looks prettier and fuller and is more functional if you do another
purl 3 rows
knit 3 rows.

Bought another skein of different colors -magenta, tan, gold, white, which did not make such a pretty scarf. Muted tones were better.

Whilst stash-diving, found a treasure: a skein of Blue Sky Alpacas bulky alpaca, dyed in tan and gray and black. It's a roving as thick as a pencil and as soft as cashmere. I used size 15 needles, cast on 5 stitches and knit almost to the end, whence I did make a half twist and grafted. Ala EZ. One of the great advantages and disadvantages of this scarf is that it is a continuous loop. So it is difficult to lose (doesn't slither off neck or need tending), but is not appropriate for children (choking/strangulation hazard). Pediatrician would not consider it safe for kids. Kids are not supposed to have anything hanging around their necks that can't break free under strain. All neck cords are built with breakaway safeties. While L was here at Christmas time, I gave her one although she is only 10. I think she knows what to do.