More Hair
It was cold this morning (really cold), so I decided I would wear my beautiful, soft, warm, gorgeous Brooks Farm shawl to work today.
It looked just fabulous, but . . . one problem.
It shed.
Boy, did it shed!
I took it off briefly around 9:30, took one look at my sweater and promptly put it back on again. Just before lunch, I sent Mom an e-mail. "Do you have a lint roller? Because you wouldn't believe how badly I need one." When I came home at lunch and took my coat off, she almost fell off her chair. Because, yes, it shed that much. So much that I just gave up on even trying to get all that mohair off my merino sweater before my lunch break was over, and just completely changed my outfit instead. The sweater, you see, is supposed to be smooth, unfuzzy, merino in a dark plum. By lunch, as you can see, it looked like I'd been rolling under somebody's bed. Lint is one thing. This is ridiculous!
Um, anybody know how to keep Mohair from shedding this much? (grin)
Oh well. On the plus side, look what I finished yesterday. My first Jaywalker sock. Huzzah! And I've got a whole 1/2" of the ribbing for the second one, too. (I know, how impressive is that, huh?) It's nice to know that I'm making good, solid progress and should actually make Cara's February 13th deadline and be eligible for the Socks That Rock that she actually claims she'll be giving away.
Edited to add: I entirely believe Cara to be an honest person, and believe that she believes she will give away this, her holy grail of sock yarn . . . but I won't entirely believe it until I see it! Not because I doubt her intentions, but because I hear she's human, and there's that whole temptation thing....
Not only that, but it's just faintly possible I might finish the sleeves of my sweater tonight. If not tonight, definitely tomorrow night (barring unforeseen non-knitting catastrophes like migraine headaches or global thermonuclear war, or something like that).
Speaking of knitting. I am well-prepared for at least five more pairs of Jaywalkers, if I see fit. No, it's not the legendary Socks That Rock, but it is almost as note-worthy. Koigu KPPPM. Enough for five pairs. Isn't it beautiful? Colors from left to right: Autumn Harvest (P110-33), Harry Potter (P132-110), Simply Beautiful (P316-46), Jewel (P407-110), and (awful name, but gorgeous color) Healing Bruises (P708-41). It's all just so wonderful! I bought it from Personal Threads.
You know, a thought just struck me. I don't actually have until the 13th to finish my Jaywalkers. And it's Stephanie's fault....
See, Stephanie has a brilliant idea for a knit-along, perfect for an Olympics-junkie like me. You may not have noticed, but I'm not exactly a sports fan. At all. Of any kind. And yet, put those 5 rings on the screen, and I'll watch almost anything. (It drives my mother nuts.) Anyway, here it is, the first Knitting Olympics. The idea? Cast on a project during the Opening Ceremonies on February 10th and finish by the end of the Closing Ceremonies sixteen days later, on February 26th. Isn't that brilliant? You're supposed to pick something challenging enough that it will be tough (like, say, winning an Olympic gold medal is tough), but not actually impossible. I'm not sure if I can finish a sweater in 16 days, but I'm definitely going to give it a try . . . or something! I'll start browsing patterns tonight. (Swatching is allowed--it's called "training.")
I AM giving away STR - not a claim. A fact. :)
Posted by: Cara | January 16, 2006 at 07:05 PM
Umm, you mean you don't think Cara will part with the STR? Oh well, your sock is great. I might have finished mine if I hadn't had to go to lunch with DH, go to the doctor and blog and read blogs, and knit DH a tea cozy. Good luck on the sweater. I will stick to Jaywalkers.
Posted by: Paula | January 16, 2006 at 07:13 PM
Oh, look at all that Koigu. Yum yum yum yum yum. Your first Jaywalker looks fab!
I'm doing the Knitting Olympics, too. Just have to figure out what I'm going to knit...
Hmm. Put the shawl in the freezer?? Or is that angora... I would google on stop mohair shed and see what you get. :)
Posted by: Chris | January 16, 2006 at 07:15 PM
I'm going to enter the Knitting Olympics too - fabulous idea! I'm such an Olympic Geek. Since my 1st sweater took 7 months to knit, 16 days will be a big challenge so it's OK if I do very basic in bulky yarn, right?
Posted by: Beth | January 16, 2006 at 07:29 PM
Gorgeous koigu. I'm joining the Olympic knitting event. I'm going to try and finish the cable moss vest that I've been promising Dale since last summer.
Posted by: Carole | January 16, 2006 at 07:41 PM
I was bad and bought two gorgeous cardigans from Anne Taylor, the same mohair sweater in two colors. It sheds on wool pants like it's bleeding.
I found that once I wore it atleast 3 times it was mostly shed out, but that it was best to wear with jeans, and best to wear on a silk shirt that the mogair won't stick too.
A bit to high end for me lol, but fun to endulge.
Posted by: pixie | January 16, 2006 at 08:05 PM
I'm doing the knitting olympics too - not sure what I'm knitting but it'll be a sweater of some sort. A pullover knit in the round to save time ;o)
Love the koigu! I have to use up more sock yarn before I can buy any but I have my eye on some of that next! The jaywalker looks great!
Posted by: JessaLu | January 16, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Oh and if anyone is still doubting my abilities to give amazing yarn away, I can provide a list of people who have received STR from me, as well as many other gorgeous yarns. I've got plenty to go around and have no problem sharing. Besides, I can just get more if I want it.
Posted by: Cara | January 17, 2006 at 12:36 AM
Saw your comment on Norma's post and wanted to let you know a great exercise for your abs that involves the little guy. Lie on your back. Raise your legs but keep them bent so your lower leg is parallel to the floor. Put the kid on your legs and hold hands. Then bring your knees towards your face and away a few times. Works like crunches but with a bit of weight. You need to keep them pretty steady which is also good. And the kid feels involved. Hits all the bases.
Posted by: JoVE | January 17, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Your poor poor sweater! Love the kpppm!
Posted by: amanda | January 17, 2006 at 10:05 AM
Oy. Sorry no hints for keeping the mohair from shedding. What a mess.
Nice socks! I might be the last blogging sock knitter to go after the Jaywalkers, but I think my next pair will have to be some. Love that koigu!
Yay for the Olympics. Not the biggest sports fan either, but I do love me the olympic games. I'm going for the fair isle vest.. and a pair of mittens as training, having never done fair isle before.
Posted by: Risa | January 17, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Whew, Deb! I was called away to my folks' suddenly on the 8th and just got back last night (Monday the 16th). You must have thought I dropped off the edge of the earth! I lost all my e-mail messages at AOL written during that week so have no idea if you wrote me or not. And my new address is blocked by AOL. So . . if you wish further communication you must now use the above e-mail address. Loved your blog and recent pictures. The "boys" are a sight to behold!!! Do hope to hear from you.
Carolyn
Posted by: Carolyn Karlstrom | January 17, 2006 at 12:47 PM
Yes, the downside to mohair, the shedding. I have several items that do this to me. It should get better with time, but I wonder if a light spray of "static guard" might help lower some of the shedding done by friction and electrical charge. It does get less over time and as the fibers bind together more from wear.
I so love Koigu too! Great colors!
Posted by: Shelley | January 17, 2006 at 02:56 PM
I made my clapotis out of brooks farm and am in the same boat. The amount of shedding is truly shocking. unfortunately, it limits how much I wear it by a lot. I love their colors, but I'm not going to knit with their yarn again. Stinks.
Hey, where did you find color names for KPPPM? I thought it was all just numbers. There's no way you came up with "healing bruises" on your own--yeesh!
Posted by: mamacate | January 17, 2006 at 03:52 PM