I feel like a doctor

Before I go into the long haul of blogging that is overdue, let's start with some pics from the big Morocco trip, which I'm sure you all are waiting for.....

If you'd like to see the whole she-bang, click here.   While on holiday, I was able to put the finishing touches on these babies:

I am in fact, another Jaywalker lover :)
Yarn: two hanks of Claudia's Handpainted sock yarn
Mods: drop that heel flap, baby! I'm going short-row!!!
For: Moi.

Morocco was terrific. There was adventure, mystery, confusion, language barriers, the whole nine. I would go back in a minute, even if only to practice more of my high school French skills that were generously challenged. The food wasn't as good as I had hoped, and I recently learned that Moroccan's feel that restaurants are a waste of money, and the best food is found in mom's kitchen. Unfortunately, the only Moroccan we befriended was far from his own home, so we didn't get a taste of the real goods. I did however, purchase some spices and a tagine for myself, and lugged it all the way back home. I've made four different dishes with it so far, all of which have been winners, so our apartment has been smelling very nice.

Just after getting back I was shipped out to Fairfield, PA to a seminar and tour of a paper mill and a book manufacturing plant. For work, of course. I brought my camera but unfortuantly we were not allowed to take pictures of the process, but it was a very interesting to learn;  paper is basically made from 90% water, and 10% soaked tree plup. I also got to tour a paperback and hardcover manufacturing plant. It was really cool to see the machines that put books together. It was better than watching Mr. Rodgers visiting the crayon factory. Immediately after returning from that my Mom and niece came to NYC for a visit for a few days. It's been pretty busy since I got back.

I did however, manage to make a serisous dent on the Pink Tea Raglan, which I'm not showing any pictures of yet. Not that I won't share, I just don't find miles of moss stitch thrilling. I do however have some photos of Glee. It's soley this pattern that makes me feel like a doctor. See, when I cast on for this top,I was fully aware that my stitch gauge was on the money, but my row gauge was a little off. Keeping this in mind, I cast on for the smaller size, hoping to compensate. And while knitting I kept checking and measuring, and all was going to plan until I actually tried the damn thing on. The shoulders were waaaaay to wide. Now, this is would be fine if it were 1986, but I wasn't about to rip back all of my work- it's a top-down shirt, that'd be going back and redoing alllll that stockinette.  No, I decided I'd plunge ahead and finish the body, and then go back and pull out the sleeves only. Check out this photo, paying attention to the armhole on the left side.

See all that yarn just, uh, hanging there? I think the work needed to save this project deserves a medical degree. Because one couldn't just rip back- the sleeve stitches are worked in the round! So I ripped back as far as I needed to go, where my arm wasn't swimming in the material. Then I picked up the live stitches and alternatively cut one strand at a time, knitting it into the round of the live sleeve to the other end, weave in the end, cut a stand on the opposite end, work that into the sleeve round, weave in that end and around and around back and forth, until  it was too far to go back and pick up. By this time there were about 12 or so strands left, so I wove in the ends. Sounds like a feat, yes? It was knitting surgery.
Here's a photo of the wrong side post-surgery:

The right side is looking pretty good, and a picture will be forthcoming upon completion. I doubt that anyone who didn't know about these hideous strands wouldn't ever be able to tell they are there. It's totally embarrasing to me that I made this mistake, but at the same time, I impressed myself by taking a risk to fix it.  My task for this week is to finish the neck and then tackle the left shoulder the same as the right. I hope it goes just as smoothly.

Comments

[Veronique]

I'm mystified by this surgery! But it seems that your patient has significant clinical improvement :)
Love the pics of Morocco, and I'm sure your apartment now smells of lemon and olive tajine... Mmmmm.

[Schrodinger]

Look at you with your short rows!! Nice Jays. The surgical procedure looks as though it was a great success, although modelled shots would be able to tell us better.

There's some great pictures of your trip - good times.

[gleek]

great photos! wow, i have no idea what you did with glee but it looks difficult :)

[Lisa]

Holy cow - I'm amazed by the repairs you made on Glee. I would have never been able to figure out how to fix that. The socks look great and the Morocco pics are gorgeous.

[ann]

welcome home!! the Moroccan adventure sounds wonderful

[colleen]

Oooh! Pink Tea Raglan is lookin' mighty fine.

[carrie m]

i can't wait to look through all of the morocco pics. too bad about the food!

no one will ever be able to tell what you did with glee -- it will be our little secret.

[Katie]

I want to hear more about your trip! It sounds like quite an adventure.

As for glee, more power to you. I'd have taken one look and tossed it. You're amazing.

[Heather]

Nice to meet you last month, looking at those Morocco pics brought back memories for sure.

I am just finishing up some Jaywalkers and I finally see why people are so gaga for them...for me I had to go up a needle size, just to preserve my sanity!

[shireen]

it was good to see you on friday too! and if only i knew about this trip, i would have harrassed you for more information- it looks amazing.

[Vilyammd]

Hello! great idea of color of this siyte!