I honestly know how to plug in a camera battery charger. Really, I do.
But for some reason, I can't seem to get myself to remember to do it. Right now, it'd look silly if I did, because there's a man in my apartment putting a new lock on my door. Because we need to keep our knitting safe. Hopefully when he leaves, I'll remember to plug in the camera battery charger, and then tomorrow you can see photos of the square with the medallion from Tara, as well as the Barbara Selesnick square, which I should finish tonight. Then I just have to finish the mini-sweater square and the one where I have to pick up a bunch of stitches, and after that, it's on to the blocking and sewing!
Which leads me to this: while I've been a good cable-r, and thanks to the inspiration that is Wendy, I have taught myself to cable without a cable needle, I still have never seriously blocked anything, and some of these squares are in major need of blocking. Because, well, some of them are nowhere near square. So I'm asking you, dear readers, especially those of you who might live in tiny apartments and don't have room to own a big ole blocking board or something like that, what do you use to block on? If I covered a cardboard box with a towel, then pinned the squares to that, would it be a good solution? Your advise is desired!
And your advice will be rewarded with photos of green squares, or at least rectangles...
Anyhow, last week was spent, most joyously, in the company of my two favorite babies, She of Rosetta, and her older brother. Her older brother is at the potty-training stage, and he went for me three times, which is a good track record, particularly given that he is travelling and was jet lagged and so forth. But it was hard to leave him. He and I were both crying a little bit. So here's hoping we get to see each other again soon!
Posted by Jon at April 24, 2006 12:12 PMJon, for small items like your squares, you should be able to use your ironing board with a few layers of towel on it. That's what I use for scarves and other small stuff; the folding cutting board (leftover from my sewing days) laid out on a bed works well for larger items.
Good luck
Posted by: AuntyNin at April 24, 2006 02:06 PMFor small items (less than a couple feet wide), I place a thick bath towel folded in half on a table and pin the squares to that.
For long or larger items, such as lace scarves or a sweater, I use an old blanket. It's made out of some smooth, spongy, synthetic material that's great for pinning on. I fold it in half lengthwise or in whatever way is needed to fit the item(s) being blocked. For scarves I lay the blanket folded in half lengthwise along the top of my sofa. That way it's at a comfortable height. Leaning over a low table or bed, or kneeling on the floor, kills my back!
Posted by: Bonnie at April 24, 2006 04:34 PMGet a sheet of foamcore (foam core?) from an art supply store. It's used for mounting signs and labels and such. It's water-resistant and pins stay in. It will fit behind the dresser when you're not using it.
Posted by: MarQ1 at April 25, 2006 11:18 PM