Home Alone 2-gether

This week, before work, on both Monday and Tuesday morning, I have managed to crawl out of bed, go downstairs and then go biking.  I find it strange that I couldn’t mount this effort back when the weather was unseasonably warm, but waited until November’s true nature showed itself, but I guess that is just me.  I got 10 and 16 miles, respectively.  I took the picture of the Muny and Pagoda Circle in the dark.  I rested the camera on a bridge pillar and took a one-second exposure.  I think that this technique deserves more exploration.

Anne is seen modeling, in her very own independent fashion, two of her latest knitting creations.  The headband and matching fingerless mittens are for Ashlan.  We were eating dinner together while the NPR Marketplace business show blared out from the kitchen radio.  I don’t know how exactly we got on the subject of retirement and the proposed raising of the standard retirement age from 65 to 69, but we couldn’t decide when the proposed increase would occur.   Would it occur in 2018, 2048 or somewhere in-between?  But why let the facts (or the lack of them) get in the way of one of Anne’s great soliloquies:

The year is 2048, the place a classroom in Saint Louis.
 “Oh no, it’s that old bag Mrs. R.  I bet you that she is a hundred years old.”
 “Not yet honey, not for another six years.  Then I can finally retire.  I remember way back in the day when a person could retire at the age of 65.”

After dinner, I blogged for a bit and then we sat down on the couch and watched Glee together.  It was a fun episode that managed to smash together, substitute teaching, Gwyneth Paltrow and the musical, Singing in the Rain.  Paltrow may do a better musical song and dance routine than Anne, but Anne is the better substitute teacher.  Nine out of ten teachers agree.  The tenth teacher was some disgruntal gym teacher named Sue Sylvester.

Ms. Blockhead models Anne’s new creation

Ms. Blockhead Models Anne's Newest Creation

Ms. Blockhead in the Conservatory with the Knitting Needles?  No, well then I don’t even have a Clue.  Pictured above is Anne’s latest knitting creation.  She calls it, Three Strikes and You’re Out!  She started knitting it a week ago Monday at the Cardinals baseball game, which they won, thank you very much.  It is destined to be donated to The Red Thread Project, this coming weekend.  Ms. Blockhead is my name for Dan’s sculpture that was used to model Anne’s cap.  She started off life all fit and trim, but after a few years in the weather, she has developed a rather severe case of curvature of the spine.  This is especially hard to treat, considering that she does not have any spine.  Now it is time for Anne’s guest post:

OK, for you knitters out there, here’s the scoop.  Pattern is a 5-stitch repeat, ribbing is K1, P1, and the crown decreases need a multiple of eight.  I used US 8 circular needles with Aran Worsted weight yarn, ( I think).  My gauge was 4.5 stitches per inch.  Cast on 90 stitches, join and do K1, P1 ribbing for ~1″, or six rows. Place marker to mark beginning of round if desired.

Three Strikes and Your’re Out Pattern.

Row 1:  *K3, YO, K2Tog*, repeat * to * around.    3 stitches =  3 strikes, get it?

Row 2 and all even rows: K all the way around. 

Row 3:  K2, *YO, K2Tog, K3*, ending with K1 on last repeat.

Row 5:  K1,  *YO, K2Tog, K3*, ending with K2 on last repeat.      3 pattern rows = 3 outs, time to switch sides.

Row 7:  K1, *SSK, YO, K3*,  ending with K2 on last repeat.

Row 9:  K2, *SSK, YO, K3*,  ending with K2 on last repeat.

Row 11:  *K3, *SSK, YO*, repeat * to * around.    3 pattern rows = 3 outs, time to switch sides back to first side.

Row 12:  K all the way around

Repeat Rows 1-12 until hat is desired height.  On this hat, I knit 1-12 twice, then 1-6 again.

Decreasing on the Crown

Decrease twice on first row of knitting to get stitch count from 90 to 88.  Place markers every 22 stitches. 

Row 1 (decrease row):  *After marker, SSK, K2Tog, K to next marker.*  Repeat around hat.  (8 stitches decreased)

Row 2:  K all the way around.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 16 stitches remain.  Repeat Row 1, so 8 stitches remain. 

Cut yarn ~ 8 inches long.  Thread on yarn needle and run through all eight stitches twice.  Remove knitting needle(s), and draw stitches together.  Weave in ends.

I was trying to get a nice square decrease, like a baseball diamond, but the decrease lines have a little bit of curve.  Oh well, I’m certainly not in the mood to rip it out and try again.