Much easier than I thought

Have you ever tried to figure out something that you spent a long time searching for information, only to find out it's one of those 'duh' moments? This week I figured out how to roast corn on the cob on the grill! I've spent many years thinking (or is that over thinking) that I couldn't find the recipe for the 'secret' handshake method to making this at home. I was resigned to enjoying the roasted flavor only at city festivals. Well boys and girls, festival no more! I soaked the corn in a pan of cold water for about an hour and plopped them on the grill and waaaaaaaa-laaaaaaaaaaaaaa the starchiest of the veggie world was a success. Way.too.easy. Why I thought I couldn't figure this out, is beyond me. Hand me the DUH sign. I earned that one.

 

Now, a couple of years back I had actually given myself some New Years resolutions. One was color work. With the stranded work, I think I got the hang of it while knitting all those Norwegian hats back when I had been staying with Mom and Dad after Dad's surgery in 2010. Eh? Not too shabby. And while intarsia work was technically learned and used a bazillion years ago, like back in 1996 on a sweater for my youngest, I haven't used it all that much since. So....it's time. Notice the yummy stuff I'm going to use! (yes, it has been awhile since I bought it all. But to be fair, it had been sitting back in California when I came to Michigan for a 4 day trip. ha. Thanks Dad for 'stretching it out' a 'wee bit longer'!

 

 I have to say over and over again, how much I love this stuff!

 

Which is a really good thing because I had to start it over three times last night.

 

Turns out in my never ending quest to learn new things. I should stop over thinking what I'm working on at 2 am. And stranding a section that not only should be done with intarsia, but the directions also say to use intarsia...really should be done with intarsia. Good thing the feel of this stuff running through your fingers is sooooooooooooo blooming soft and the rosewood needles? What a wonderful combination. No, I don't need the double points for the flat work, right now I'm just enjoying the combination of the two together. 'like buttar'.

Here's another one of those items on the 'to do' list. I've read over and over in blogs, etc...how folks have bought the sponge floor mats to use with their knitting, etc... I picked up a set yesterday. Yes, I opted for the princesses pack rather than the cars, the sponges or the alphabet packages. We are a house full of girls here these days after all!

See how thick they are?

When they're all put together side one looks like this. Cute? Sure, but for function...

I'm going to use the back side which is white. I don't want to take any chances that the colors will run. The alphabet mats have colors on both sides. I do believe I'm going to pick up another set so they will cover the whole length of Mom's dinning room table. Compete coverage. I'm getting way too old..errrrrrr......pissy to want to cut fabric and dry lace work and sweaters on the floor.

In the meantime, I've started looking at fabric again. the two solids are rip stop nylon that I'm going to use to back the prints.

 

I want to make some 'adult bibs' that we're going to call 'short aprons' for Mom to wear while she's eating. For awhile now she's been using some old towels. I'm rather tired of the grungy look they have, plus they don't seem to want to stay up easily. I found some softer velcro to use as well that I'm hoping won't be so scratchy behind her neck.

In the meantime, it's gorgeous and sunny outside. So I'm going to take the start of another NMCRS Basketweave Baby Blanket with me to the park and do a little KIP today. This decision doesn't need a single bit of over thinking. No DUH moment here! I'll save the story of the boomerang box for another day and why I have to knit up another one and a few more to refill the box. *sigh*...always something. Happy Knitting!

Here's what's fun....

Ya know what's a lot of fun?  Getting a box like this....

From here.... 

Writting this on the box before dropping it off at the Post Office

Because this was delivered....

And now looks like this...

Thanks to Knitting Warehouse and Lion.com, their prices were better than Joann's. Hope Clint likes the returned box/loss of a sale!

I'm off to knit!

2 letters to Lion and Joann's.

Dear Lion Brand.
I'm so very upset that the day after I finished knitting 4 dishcloths from my NYD '05 Dishcloth pattern,

I found out you've discontinued the Lion Cotton.

Time after time I find something I really like and poof it's gone. Lion Cotton was my first choice in cotton yarn for knitting dishcloths. It's a great long staple cotton and wears very well without fading. Now, it's going to be gone. The Michael's nearby is totally out of it. Joann's has a few colors I'm not fond of left. Yarn Supply is trying to get some more in. I'm not a happy camper. Replacing it with your new yarn stinks. I can't make a complete hanging towel

out of only one skein like I could with your 5oz balls of Lion Cotton.

First a few years back you got rid of cotton-ease. After many of us hollered, you brought it back, but in stupid colors. I preferred the original colors. Why can't you yarn companies stop messing with what works? Crayola 8, sports teams colors and baby colors-you can never go wrong keeping them in stock. Especially when it's a great yarn for summer baby blankets. Thankfully, I have a little bit left from when I picked them up when you got rid of it years ago. And no, I'm not sharing. See how pretty it looks?

You should rethink both of these terrible decisions. Must not be knitters thinking this through these days. I won't even get started on what's happened with the Peaches & Creme labels since they were bought out by Spinrite. What's a kitchen knitter to do? What's left?
sincerely....me.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Joann's. You've gone and really pissed me off. Last night after I finished knitting 4 dishcloths, I came up with an idea for a new set of patterns. Since I 'saw' it in my head in a color that isn't always easy to find in store, I was happy to find it on your joann's dot com web site and placed an order. I paid full price for several balls. Now...fast forward to this afternoon when I walked into your store here in Michigan. Imagine how I felt when I found out that you have the same yarn for sale on your shelves at LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE I PAID FOR IT LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Now, it's bad enough that the manufacturer has made the dumb decision to stop making Lion Cotton. I've loved that stuff as my all time favorite since the first moment I laid hands and needles on it. It was only through finding the gazillion of colors that Peaches & Creme offered that I could get past the fact that Lion Cotton stopped selling so many of their colors by 1# cones. Peaches & Creme blew them out of the water with their color selection and customer service. Lion Cotton still had the quality that I wanted in my kitchen knitting cotton yarn. You get what you pay for.

However, You, dear joann's...have hit the all time low in the customer service department this afternoon. Just as I left the store after finding Lion Cotton for less than $3/ball, I received an email via my phone that my order from last night had shipped. I was hoping since the Lion Cotton has been clearanced from the stores, you would have given me a price adjustment on my order since you are the same company. After all, who in their right minds would WANT to spend more than double the price for an item they'd ordered online when the same company has it for less than half price in their stores???

Let me help you with that answer. NOT ME! In this time of economic downturn, on the day that the stock market dropped from a bad report of unemployment numbers, I would think someone trying to stay in business would do everything in their power to not piss off a 40+ year customer! I've been doing business with your company since it was Cloth World before Joann's bought them out. I called and talked with your supervisor, CLINT in your Hudson, Ohio offices today, and found him to be a very rude 'non-knitter'. By his own admission, he doesn't even buy products, specifically yarn from your own company. He told me he doesn't have yarn in his budget at all. Then, he just didn't 'get it' that all I asked for was a price adjustment since the yarn in question isn't being clearanced because you're not going to carry a particular color, but rather because the manufacturer has stopped making it. We both know that it won't be too long before you're going to drop the price on your web site and add it to your sale section.

So please explain to me why it's such a great corporate policy that when a knitter calls and asks for a price adjustment on an order that was placed for full price after your company put the same item on clearance in your stores for less than half price, you tell her no? Don't you know that we knitters have computers and can share our stories very quickly? I didn't call and ask you to match your price, but rather I asked you to give me a good faith gesture price adjustment to acknowledge the fact that there is a nearly 60% price difference between your store price and your online price. I'm thinking that your over all sales have dropped since the economic down turn back several years ago. Making your customers happy, will that's just smart business. That's what we refer to as GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. Because then, by word of mouth, or the touch of a computer keyboard, word travels fast. Both about good service...but even faster when it's very poor customer service. And Joann's. Let me explain to you. Today, with the words over the phone from CLINT in your corporate offices in Hudson, OHIO...it was very poor customer service. Being unwilling to apease a 40+ year customer and give me a bit of a price adjustment...means I've now posted this letter online.

And I'm hoping some of my knitter friends will want to pick up their phones and explain to CLINT of Joann's from your HUDSON, OHIO offices that he made a really bad choice to not try and close the gap on a nearly 60% difference in your online and store prices for my purchases last night on Lion Cotton yarn.

This type of very poor customer service, once my Lion Cotton stash that I had bought back when Hancock Fabric closed so many of their stores years ago is gone, might make me go to snooty fabric stores. After all, knitters don't need to live on wool alone, and the Loopy Ewe

has impeccable customer service! (Wollmeise in 2 days of shipping!) So I'll keep on knitting sweaters

and blankets

and socks.

But...when I run out of cotton, I'll have to find some snooty fabric store to shop in. Your customer service is horrific.

See? I'm ready to start stocking up on fabric. After all, I may have started knitting when I was seven years old, but I've also been sewing my own clothes since I was ten. I'm no slouch. CLINT, on the other hand, needs to have a review of proper customer service attitudes.  And the value of long term customers. After all, not only have we been around long enough to remember the 'good old days' when companies wanted customers to return to shop again and again, but we generally have that many more friends to pass on word of mouth to about your customer service, or the lack of intelligent decision making skills.

sincerely...a really pissed off customer who is not only a knitter, but also, unlike CLINT, purchases products from your store thus providing CLINT with his paycheck, me.

I hate knots and photo time...

 A little late in posting, but we had a very nice Mother's Day around here. Mom in her new outfit...

And with the flowers she received.

 

My kids spoiled not just Mom but me as well. We are two lucky Moms!

Now, for the knitting updates. 

Last summer I started reknitting through each of my patterns. I came up with the idea of having a sample on hand for each of the original patterns I have posted. Some are faster than others. Yesterday I picked up some more of the stripes yarn that I used for the first set of Simply Striped Dishcloth pattern. Now, it has a new label on it and I'm not posting the pictures here. I'm not happy with what I found. Why put in knots? First of all, if you follow the pictures...not only did they knit the cotton...

but they didn't even keep it going in the same direction! They reversed the direction and sent the colors backward. Makes me frustrated.

So I took the next two balls I had and made them into cakes to double check, no knots here. Thankfully.

The dishcloth on the left and top had no knots and should have been the way the one on the right looked. Yes, I'll keep it because after all, when it hits the garbage disposal, it doesn't matter what pattern or direction after knots it was knit in. It all just chews it up without a care in the world. Yes, I am a bit bitter. I loved the original P&C yarn, and to have their 'new' label on the old Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Stripes, well...I'm not happy and I'll leave it at that. Seems to me you need much more than just a name on a label to make it count.

I finished the double stranded Basketweave Blanket that I was working on. I used Bernat Softee yarn in mint. It turned out nice and thick and soft. The momma-to-be picked the color and without all my yarn with me, this fit the bill for her baby boy. Before I popped it into the mail, we needed a little photo shoot.

I went to a park nearby and laid it out on a bench to 'lounge' under the trees. Gorgeous day!

I have been reknitting the same pattern in Lion Brand Cotton Ease in one of their original colors to keep as a sample. Here I laid it down on top of the double stranded version to get a visual of the difference in gauge. The double stranded version is knit with (US)8 (5.0mm) for the borders, and (US) 10 (6.0mm) for the body of the blanket. The cotton ease version is knit with a single strand using only a (US)8 (5.0mm) needle. Here the blanket was at the 50% mark of the length. Currently it's 80% done and shouldn't take too much more time so long as I don't keep finding other projects to escape off to. *wink*

Well, we're off to have some lunch and take Mom for a haircut today...Yes, I'm bringing the blanket with me...my socks that I started at the end of March? Well...you know how that goes, right? 

Until next time! Happy knitting!

Does this sound familiar?

 This morning I spent a bit of time reading another book. Then I spent a bit more time texting my friend Cyndi back in California. She would for certain understand the parts that made me laugh. There are times when only a knitter will 'get it'. Not my kids, oh, no. Not at all. Not Mom. While she used to crochet, she never bought yarn or knitting books like I do. For many years she's provided me with the 40% coupons from the Sunday paper so she could "keep you in yarn" as one of her notes said years ago. And yes, she did.

Now, at the same time, those 40% off coupons went to much more than just yarn. They've helped out with a lot of books, and threads, and fabric, rubber stamps, etc... Back in 2003 when I fell, I wanted my time to 'count for something.' To find a positive from time away from teaching that would be something good down the road. So I started actually reading some of the books and magazines that I'd been amassing all my life. It was time to actually learn something from all those knitting books and subscriptions that I'd collected over time, and not just look at the pictures. HA! Imagine that?! Actually reading the articles and learning from them.  

 

So figure out what shot through my head today when I read the above section?  Yep, more and more signs are pointing to me having to rip out my grey cabled sweater I'd finished back last June. Between having been brain dead when I measured the length of sleeves and the weight I've lost, I have to admit that the sweater is far too big. It's even too large for Mom and she's taller than I am. Those sleeves look like something that belongs on the Fantastic 4 from old Saturday morning cartoons. Now, I'm not in a hurry to rip it out, I do have a to-do list. But I have accepted the fact that it needs to be done. 

Where is that knitting wine glass when I need it? ahahahahah....

So then, as I continued reading....I came across this passage. Yes, I wrote in my book. I underlined the part that made me laugh..and then added my 'editorial'. And then I pulled out my cell phone, took a picture and sent it off to Cyndi. She would for sure 'get it'! After 'shopping' in my stash to pass some yarn onto her....she would totally 'get it'. 

Why? Because yesterday I went to Joann's to return some yarn. (Don't laugh, it could happen.) I had picked up 2 different shades of green last week for my daughter to pick from for the baby blanket that is underway. I saw no reason to keep the color not picked as it wasn't one that I particularly like. (stop laughing, yes, you. I mean it this time.....) However, (stop it!) as I walked into the store and went to the customer service counter and the cashier was beginning to process the return, my alter ego pipped up noticing that the yarn had been bought on sale and it would be foolish to have wasted a sale price on yarn if I could just exchange it for a better color that I would be certain to use somewhere down the line. I asked if I could take a minute and see if they have another color I could swap them out for. Yep...not a problem! So off I went! Sure enough....4 blue swapped for the 4 sage green and another 3 blue to come home. That's when I saw the '40% off all knitting and crochet books' sign right there in the middle of the racks of books. And that's when I found the book.

The book, that had the section that made me laugh, made me pull out my cell phone and show Cyndi that Maggie obviously knew who I was and what had happened yesterday. But really. I am the only one who has a 'wee bit' of extra yarn sitting around the house and who buys yarn that she had absolutely no plans on buying when she's intending to return left over- never will be used yarn.

RIGHT?

Stop laughing. :-)

When Last we met....

I have been knitting, yes I have.

 

Yet another Watch cap, out of Plymouth Encore and this time it's for me! Doesn't happen often, does it?

We celebrated a little bit of March Madness...complete with cake and....

Basketball rings. Mom and I are modeling them here. Guess who has the bigger fingers?

 

Here in town is a big St. Pat's parade....Mom got into the spirit when the lady came by with a green can of hair spray. I can say, this was a first! I have never seen her in Green hair before.

These guys were Mom's favorite.

We celebrated another birthday. Check out the cake!

Pink AND purple so the daughter didn't have to choose one over the other.

Yep, she got some socks. Pink, of course.

(Lace Rib socks from the Little Box of Socks)

 

Baby daughter got some socks, too. These are called City of Boston by Regia. Can you remember why I would pick these for her?

 

 These are going to be for me. At some point. Another Regia pair. Because the Moment I start to knit for me,....

There turns out to be a baby girl on the way that needs a blanket. I'd share this one with you, but....it's not quite ready to be unveiled. Soon, I promise! But the purple sockies are pretty cute, right?

 

Check out what was finally mailed! Did you order your copy that was due out last year? Well worth the weight...errr....wait!

Just in time for Mom's Easter basket, I knit up and 'Easter Bonnet' for her. I think the watch caps are a good pattern for her to wear. No matter which hat I make her, she insists on folding up the cuff. This is the perfect pattern for that use. And this time, I used a skein of the left overs from her 'Too Teal' cabled sweater I made her a few years back. Yep...perfect match when you have the same dye lot.

 

I have decided a bit ago, that I wanted to start knitting up one of each of my patterns to keep on hand as a 'sample'. That way when I want to show someone a particular pattern, or take updated photos, I'll have them available to grab at a moment's notice. So, of course, as soon as I got this one started (can you guess which one it is?)....

 

Daughter went to a Bridal Shower last weekend. So, in the best UCLA colors we could find, came a set of Bridal Shower Lace Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel and Dishcloth and a few others to round out the knitted portion of her gift. Yes, she had a really good time with some friends.

How often do you look on Ebay? Check out what I found for $14 just two weeks ago! Yes, I believe it's about to be reprinted, if it hasn't been already, but having an original hard cover copy in terrific condition for $14, what a find! Yes, I have 3 sweaters already picked out and in my to-do list. 

But right now, I am trying to get this done for Baby Daughter's friend. Her little boy is on his way and I'm racing to get this finished and mailed back to California before he's ready to make his grand entrance. I'm using a double strand of Bernat Baby Softee in Mint. It was the closest I could find quickly in a green that says wrap me up and snuggle me all day long!

What are you working on? Sorry I took so long to pop back in. I know...I know...that's on my to-do list, too.