The Tubular Bind Off Rocks

Something good has come from my ankle mishap. I have to stay on my tuckus, doing nothing active. I've had time to read, and reread how to do the tubular bind off and I did it!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!! It was worth the effort.

It's nice and stretchy and doesn't have that end of the knitting appearance that you get with a regular bind off. I can see all kinds of uses for it when I want my knitting to just hang straight and not pull in at the end of the knitted piece.

My only regret is that by knitting the Diminishing Rib Cardigan in cotton/bamboo every irregularity shows. Therefore my tubular bindoff doesn't look as smooth as I think it would look in a more forgiving yarn - like wool. However I will keep in mind that I haven't washed and blocked this yet.

Chocolate High

I think I've finally figured out how other people manage to write regular blogs: they eat chocolate. Yep, that's what has happened to me. I actually cooked a nice dinner - pork tenderloin, rice and kolrabi cole slaw. That didn't satisfy us. Both Taylor and I desired a little dessert so I whipped up a batch of brownies after dinner. Big mistake. Brownies before bed has left me with a chocolate high. So, after tossing around in bed, I'm up knitting and thinking it's a good time to blog.

Here's the latest in knitting at my house. I'm chugging along nicely on the Diminishing Rib Cardigan from the Spring 2009 Interweave Knits. I'm actually getting close to the bottom which means I'm starting to be a little concerned about learning how to do the tubular bind off. It will work out, I'm sure. Just a little pre completion anxiety. I have to remind myself I managed the tubular cast on so what's to keep me from the bind off?

In the meantime, I noticed that the June/July Tangled Web knit along is the Summer Shell designed by no other than Momogus. Should I join in, or not? Of course I should. So I went down to the Web on Wednesday and picked up some nubbly Waikiki yarn in a color called Cool Jazz. It has blues/purples/greens. It's been sitting in it's bag calling me for several days but I've been focused on the Diminishing Ribs.

Well, after late night chocolate, Cool Jazz finally won. Here I am, making my swatch and starting the Summer Shell in the middle of the night. I cast on my 208 stitches without running out of yarn, and I've completed two rows. I'm hoping that I've got things set up properly so I don't have the mobius business going on. The circular needle is all wonky, the nubbly yarn is hard to control, I'm doing seed stitch and it is the middle of the night. I've checked and doubled checked but who knows how things will look in the morning? I forgot to mention that I don't actually have the pattern either. Diana (Momogus) was all sold out of the V-neck pattern so she just told me how to get started. I've got my notes scribbled on a piece of scrap paper that I found in my purse. If that isn't trust, I don't know what is. She'll get the pattern to me next week, so I've got enough info to start.
I cannot believe I am up so late!!!! I think I'll go knit a few more rows and perhaps read my book in hopes that exhaustion sets in soon. After all, I always get up early and a lack of sleep won't be good at all.