Archive for » April, 2007 «

17
Apr
What didn’t work in potty-training
debgray

So here we are three months after Lawrence finally became toilet trained. It’s as wonderful as I thought it would be. Not only do I not have to change poopy diapers anymore, but a lot of the pants that I thought were getting too small get another few months in them now that he doesn’t have the extra padding. Not to mention, the little briefs and boxer briefs are just so cute.

When we had had some small success with him wearing underpants and keeping them dry for a few hours, I was emboldened enough to ask if he wanted to wear underpants instead of diapers to the brunch for my sister’s birthday. When he said, “No” I realized that it was a turning point. If he didn’t care about soiling them, he would have been fine with the idea. Him saying no made me feel pretty sure that he saw it as his responsibility to keep them clean. And I was right! Lucky guess. So since then he’s only had three or four accidents, and none in the last two or three weeks.

So what was the secret? I have no friggin’ idea, to be honest. I can tell you what didn’t work, though:

Bribery
Coaxing
Withholding privileges
Peer pressure (we were so sure that starting preschool would do it, but he couldn’t have cared less that there were other kids using the potty)
Stickers and a chart
The potty picture books
The dinosaur toilet booster seat
Buying cool underwear

Now, of course, all of these things have worked on other kids. Just not ours. Lawrence is very stubborn, and while I wouldn’t say he’s strong-willed exactly, he’s pretty close.

I was right about one thing, at least. I predicted that when he was ready he would do it really well, and he has. He was determined from the outset that he would not wear diapers again (except at night, of course). He won’t even let his teacher put him in a diaper for naptime.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Category: Shopping  One Comment
16
Apr
Ruffled Felted Bowl Pattern
debgray

ruffled_striped_bowl.jpg

Ruffled Felted Bowl Pattern

Actually, I’m not sure I’d call this a bowl if I’m being technical, as it looks a bit more like a vase, but it’s probably closer to a bowl than a vase. I’m using it to hold my reading glasses, so maybe it’s a holder. Anyway…

Materials

Size 11 circular or double-pointed needles for the beginning, double-pointed needles for the end, when the decreases begin.

Two skeins of a worsted-weight yarn approx. 50 yds per skein – or one skein of a bulky weight yarn.

Instructions

Cast on 128 stitches. Place marker. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Please note that the number of stitches left at the end of the row may not be perfect – I will redo it at some point soon. Just don’t sweat it if you don’t have the exact number of stitches.

Round 1 and 2 – Knit
Round 3 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 84 sts
Round 4 – Knit
Round 5 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 56 sts
Round 6 – Knit
Round 7 – *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 42 sts

Knit in st st until the entire piece from the beginning is about 8″ long. Then decrease:

Round 1 – *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 37 sts
Round 2 – Knit
Round 3 – *K3, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 30 sts
Round 4 – Knit
Round 5 – *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 23 sts
Round 6 – Knit
Round 7 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 16 sts
Round 8 – Knit
Round 9 – K2tog until end of round – 8 sts

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving about an 8″ tail. Using a tapestry needle, pull the tail through the remaining stitches on the needle. Weave in all loose ends. Remember that felting will make the ends virtually disappear – however, you must eliminate any largish holes or gaps by darning them before felting. Felting will not close them up completely.

Felting

Before you felt, make absolutely sure that there’s nothing in the knitting that you don’t want there permanently. In other words, stray threads or lint, etc. It will get felted into the fabric permanently and be virtually impossible to remove.

Put the bowl in a lingerie bag or pillowcase tied at the top. This is important because otherwise you could end up with all sorts of fuzz in your washing machine that takes a few loads to get rid of. Put in the washing machine with a small amount of soap, at the hottest temperature possible. Use a fairly low water setting, either small or medium. Also add a pair of jeans that you don’t mind shrinking. Agitation is as important as hot water for felting, and if the bowl is in there by itself, there won’t be enough agitation.

Start the washer. Check the bowl every few minutes to see how it’s doing. There should be virtually no stitch definition left when it’s done. Keep resetting the washer if necessary. Don’t let it go into spin cycle. The spinning can stretch the bowl out. When it’s finished to your satisfaction, rinse in tepid water, squeeze out the water and roll the bowl up in a towel. Press out as much of the water as possible. Dry the bowl over the next couple of days. It’s good to put something in it to weigh it down and flatten the bottom. I use a full coffee can.

What Kind of Yarn?

Believe it or not, you do not need to use 100% wool (or other animal fibers) in felted items. I have used Lion Brand Landscapes yarn in one of my felted bowls, which is 50% wool and 50% polyester, I believe.

You can also use a 100% man-made fiber as a carry-along with the natural fiber, as I did in this bowl:

pink_felted_bowl.jpg

I would definitely not use any yarn with less than 50% animal fiber, though, and I would definitely do a swatch with any mixed fiber yarn. Also, do not use superwash wool. It’s been specially treated to NOT felt in the washing machine. In addition, white or off-white yarns do not felt well, as the bleach has usually destroyed the fibers to some extent.

Knitting Terms and Abbreviations

beg – beginning
dec – decrease
dpn – double pointed needles
K1 – Knit one stitch
k2tog – Knit two stitches together
M1 – Make one stitch
ssk – slip, slip, knit
st(s) – stitches
st st – stockinette stitch (knit right side and purl wrong side)

Category: Knitting  4 Comments
16
Apr
Celebrate Spring by Working Toward Wellness
debgray

Here in Northern California, as in much of the world, we’re enjoying the official beginning of spring. I’m still trying to get used to the fact that flowers started blooming around here in February, after spending my whole life in the Northeastern U.S., where even the earliest flowers wait until at least March to poke their heads out. But here the flowers have been blooming so long that the hummingbirds have abandoned the feeder that I had to refill every few days all winter.

I’m doing a version of my former turn-everything-inside-out spring cleaning, modified for my Multiple Sclerosis. If we still lived in the Northeast, I would be driving the whole family crazy by opening all the windows in 50 degree weather. Fortunately we’re now in 70 degree weather, so I’m not making everyone freeze to death in my quest for fresh air.

I’m not the only one infected by spring fever. I’m noticing that more people than usual are walking or jogging past our house, and people who walked or jogged alone all winter now have companions who are perfectly happy to exercise if the weather is nice. When I go to the hardware/garden store I see gardeners out in full force filling up their cars with spring annuals.

Spring truly is the season of renewal and rebirth. Not only is it prime birthing time for plants and animals, but it’s the time that we poke our heads out of our dens to begin the annual renewal of our senses.

But maybe you’re thinking, “La di da. It’s spring. Whatever.” It doesn’t mean anything to you because you’re suffering from depression. Or worse, you’re noticing it, but the beautiful weather and flowers and other heralds of spring just serve to make you feel guilty that you can’t enjoy it.

Read on

Category: Mental Health Writing  2 Comments
12
Apr
Pattern for Knitted Felted Bowl with Smaller Opening
debgray

Large Shallow Felted Bowl with Smaller Opening

Knitted Felted Bowl with Smaller Opening

This was not the best color to use, as it’s a little too dark to see well, so I will probably redo it in a lighter color. I’ll also do one that is deeper. Right now, though, I’m working on a bowl with a ruffle.

Materials

Size 11 circular or double-pointed needles for the beginning, double-pointed needles for the end, when the decreases begin.

Two skeins of Noro Kureyon or another worsted-weight yarn approx. 110 yds per skein – or one skein of a bulky weight yarn.

What Kind of Yarn?

Believe it or not, you do not need to use 100% wool (or other animal fibers) in felted items. I have used Lion Brand Landscapes yarn in one of my felted bowls, which is 50% wool and 50% polyester, I believe.

You can also use a 100% man-made fiber as a carry-along with the natural fiber, as I did in this bowl:

pink_felted_bowl.jpg

I would definitely not use any yarn with less than 50% animal fiber, though, and I would definitely do a swatch with any mixed fiber yarn. Also, do not use superwash wool. It’s been specially treated to NOT felt in the washing machine. In addition, white or off-white yarns do not felt well, as the bleach has usually destroyed the fibers to some extent.

Instructions

Cast on 55 stitches. Place marker. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1 and 2 – Knit
Round 3 – *K11, M1, repeat from * to end – 60 sts
Round 4 – *K12, M1, repeat from * to end – 65 sts
Round 5 – *K13, M1, repeat from * to end – 70 sts
Round 6 – *K14, M1, repeat from * to end – 75 sts

Knit in the round using st st until the the length is 5 1/2 – 6″

Decrease as follows, changing to dpn as nec:
Round 1 *ssk, k11, k2tog; rep from * to end of row – 65 sts
Round 2 Knit
Round 3 *ssk, k9, k2tog; rep from * to end – 55 sts
Round 4 Knit
Round 5 *ssk, k7, k2tog; rep from * to end – 45 sts
Round 6 Knit
Round 7 *ssk, k5, k2tog; rep from * to end – 35 sts
Round 8 Knit
Round 9 *ssk, k3, k2tog; rep from * to end – 25 sts
Round 10 Knit
Round 11 *ssk, k1, k2tog; rep from * to end – 15 sts
Round 12 *ssk, k2tog; rep from * to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 – 8 sts remain

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving about an 8″ tail. Using a tapestry needle, pull the tail through the remaining stitches on the needle. Weave in all loose ends. Remember that felting will make the ends virtually disappear – however, you must eliminate any largish holes or gaps by darning them before felting. Felting will not close them up completely.

Felting

Before you felt, make absolutely sure that there’s nothing in the knitting that you don’t want there permanently. In other words, stray threads or lint, etc. It will get felted into the fabric permanently and be virtually impossible to remove.

Put the bowl in a lingerie bag or pillowcase tied at the top. This is important because otherwise you could end up with all sorts of fuzz in your washing machine that takes a few loads to get rid of. Put in the washing machine with a small amount of soap, at the hottest temperature possible. Also add a pair of jeans that you don’t mind shrinking. Agitation is as important as hot water for felting, and if the bowl is in there by itself, there won’t be enough agitation.

Start the washer. Check the bowl every few minutes to see how it’s doing. There should be virtually no stitch definition left when it’s done. Keep resetting the washer if necessary. Don’t let it go into spin cycle. The spinning can stretch the bowl out. When it’s finished to your satisfaction, rinse in tepid water, squeeze out the water and roll the bowl up in a towel. Press out as much of the water as possible. Dry the bowl over the next couple of days. It’s good to put something in it to weigh it down and flatten the bottom. I use a full coffee can.

Knitting Terms and Abbreviations

beg – beginning
dec – decrease
dpn – double pointed needles
K1 – Knit one stitch
k2tog – Knit two stitches together
M1 – Make one stitch
ssk – slip, slip, knit
st(s) – stitches
st st – stockinette stitch (knit right side and purl wrong side)

Category: Knitting  3 Comments
11
Apr
Felted Bowl Pattern Modification
debgray

I should be posting the pattern for the bowl modification that was requested, with the opening slightly smaller than the sides tomorrow. I have it done – I just have to felt it.

I’m also working on a pattern for a bowl with a ruffled edge.

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10
Apr
An offer from my son
debgray

“Mommy, I can teach you how to pee standing up.”

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02
Apr
Coping With Physical vs. Mental Health Conditions: Which is More Difficult?
debgray

My father has late-stage Lou Gehrig’s disease. Actually, he’s technically not my father since my stepfather legally became my father in an adult adoption a few years ago. But Stephen was my father for the first two years of my life, and I look a lot like him. One reason we moved from Connecticut to California was to be near him at the end of his life.

When he was first diagnosed with ALS about two and a half years ago, the only symptoms were some trouble walking and difficulty holding things. The doctors gave him only a few months to live before his lungs succumbed to the disease and stopped working.

In the beginning, I said, “Welcome to my world,” a lot, if only in my head, because many of his problems were similar to my Multiple Sclerosis. He stumbled; I stumbled. He dropped things; I dropped things. Etc. But since then I’ve stayed the same, probably due to the interferon medicine I’ve been taking since the onset of my MS. Meanwhile his ALS has marched inexorably on, as it always does.

Read on

Category: Mental Health Writing  2 Comments
01
Apr
Baby Alpaca Grande socks
debgray

Alpaca sock

These are the bedsocks that I knit for Lawrence’s teacher for Christmas. I used Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande in #2567 and used a pattern from the first issue of Knitscene, although I ribbed the cuffs. It’s a fairly basic sock pattern. I call them bedsocks because they’re so thick that they’re really best for keeping your feet warm in/on bed.

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