An Itch From The Clap?

I think I mentioned in my last post that I had a bout of contact dermatitis. Oh, how it itched and burned with no apparent cause. And, no apparent cure. I tried antihistamines, I mixed antihistamines, I stopped using soap (don't worry, I didn't sweat!), I changed detergents and even changed my coffee, and I took down my Christmas tree. Still. No. Relief. I itched... I burned... I didn't sleep. A second trip to the urgent care resulted in a cute 25-year old doctor who apparently didn't want to live to see 26. He told me he didn't see the red but since I knew my skin better... then he left the room before I could hit him with Piglet's goldfish crackers. I guess someone told him that you don't mess with a woman who is sleep deprived because he came in with a miracle cure. Prednisone. Yesterday I started thinking that I still needed to figure out what was causing my pain so that I didn't have a repeat episode once the performance-enhancing drugs ran out. I thought and I thought and just before my hair caught on fire it came to me... THE CLAP...



I know you are all totally confused now right? I had been working feverishly on Clapotis for weeks. I have not itched since I washed and blocked it and basically, got it off my skin. I know what you are thinking ('cause I am psycho psychic)...

• Yes, the yarn is cotton/silk - I suspect it was something in the silk that made me itchy.
• Yes, the yarn has been in my life for over a year (thanks for the reminder) BUT, I only touched it a few hours total and not a few hours every day. And, the project was never large enough to cover my legs, etc.
• Yes, the yarn has been worked, washed and reworked. So, it is possible that it has something to do with the Euclan reacting on the yarn or my skin. Plus, when I washed the Clapotis there was a faint color in the water. At first I thought it was some bleed from the yarn but now I think it may have been something else in the yarn.
• Yes, I wear clothes when knitting. However, I often have on my jammies and this thing ended up being long enough to drape across my legs and a bulk of my itching was on my legs, knees and ankles.

Here are the details of the Clapotis:

• Yarn: Noro Lily Multi (now discontinued) in a yellow/pink/green/orange colorway. About six skeins.
• Needles: Size 6 Options
• Pattern: Clapotis
• Mods: I added extra repeats to make it long enough to be worn as a wrap. I think I did 24 straight rows instead of 12. It is super long.
• Who: It is a gift for a friend.

Oh, I have some yarns and needles for sale over on Ravelry. Check out my sale/trade goods!

The one where she is a little crazy...

The other night I thought I was losing my mind. I kept hearing a strange sound outside my bathroom window. Big Boy said that he had turned off the sprinklers so that wasn't it. The sound was too even to be Annabelle snoring. My fear was that something was living outside (and despite Big Boy's suggestion, I did not go outside in the cold dark to see what it might be) or under my whirlpool tub. I heard it two days in a row and was about to call Ghostbusters to come help when I found the source. Piglet's stuffed cow. Yep, cow has had a bad case of Insanus Bovinus ever since it arrived here. Calvin's attempts to revive him have only served to increase his unpredictability but now the random MOO's are more muted.

To add to my frustration, I finished Piglet's stocking. I know, after a year, that should not be frustrating. I attached the trim for the second time only to discover that I seamed the trim in the front of the stocking instead of the back. Now it is back in timeout while I decide if it is worth removing it or not.
The one piece of sanity in this house is that I did the sleeves to Piglet's sweater separately and somehow they came out the same length! This has never happened before! Now I have to attach them and work the yoke. Maybe it will be done in time for Thanksgiving.

As for the Thanksgiving knitting... I have been giving it some thought. I know it is still two weeks away but one has to have a plan. We have a 10-hour drive ahead of us as well as four nights in a hotel. I think I will cast on for Tangled Yoke using the Highland Silk from my stash. You would think that with Grandma and Grandpa around I would get more knitting time in, but it is doubtful. Instead I will be chasing the Piglet around, keeping him out of the fireplace, trash can and off the stairs.

I'm a Rainbow ?

So I took this test that I found over on Janna's blog. I don't think it is accurate. Is it because I like to pick flowers?

You Are a Rainbow

Breathtaking and rare You are totally enchanting and intriguing But you usually don't stick around long! You are best known for: your beauty Your dominant state: seducing

What Type of Weather Are You?

I'm Hooked!

I’m hooked… Jayne gets sucked into the black hole known as Etsy and I have been sucked into the black hole known as Court TV. The Phil Spector trial is going on and it is like watching a train wreck or Cops – I am thoroughly disgusted and yet, I am compelled to watch while we eat lunch and Piglet naps. Now, I realize you have to be “unique” in order to cut it in the entertainment industry but this guy left unique with his hairstyles and moved on to creepy, bizarre and psychotic with his lifestyle. He spends the entire day staring; I don't think I have ever seen him blink. Occasionally he looks over to the camera and it is eerie. It is like he is looking directly into my living room. How anyone could date him, marry him or raise children (he has two adopted children whom he would lock in their bedrooms!) with that freak is beyond me. The part that gets me are the women who still love him despite the fact that he held a gun to their head and held them hostage in his home! Sheesh! Some of them continued relationships with him after. HELLO! I can tell you with 100% certainty that should Big Boy ever do such a thing the relationship will be over. Big Boy, are you listening?

Thank you all for the comments about Piglet and his cuteness. I do not read him these comments because he already has a big head, literally.

Pitching a Tent at the LYS

My town has two yarn stores – one, that is famous and one, that is infamous. I went to the infamous one today. They have moved. I wanted to give them a second chance. The old building smelled funny. The help looked like a serial killer. I had hoped things had changed with the new building. They have great yarns - a fantastic selection and great colors. Alas… As I am unloading the stroller I notice the serial killer husband at the front door watching me. Oh well, he has no personality so he won’t be bothering me. He holds the door for Piglet and me. I lean down to fix Piglet’s blanket and that’s when I see it – The Tent. IN HIS PANTS! It can’t be. Maybe his pants are just bulky. Maybe his wife is just one lucky gal (but only if she puts a bag over his head first! YUK). He asks if I need anything. Um, A CAN OF MACE no thanks, just looking around. I keep him in sight at all times. It can’t be. I pretend to be looking at some yarn but I really look through the rack to where he is standing. IT IS STILL THERE. I hear someone in the corner (actually, behind the curtain that is supposed to divide some sort of office right in the middle of the store). Ok, maybe I can look around a little more. I look over again, IT IS STILL THERE! I leave, nearly bouncing Piglet from his car seat as we bounced over the sidewalk not bothering to look for a ramp. So, I won’t be going back there. They can sell the Hope Diamond and I will not be going there.

Of course this led me to ask a few questions…

1. This store has never had more than one customer at one time. How do they make enough money that the Serial Killer can hang out there during the day?
2. Serial Killer and his wife are never talking (at least civilly) so what is going on in the yarn store to make you want to pitch your tent? Is there Yarn Porn?
3. Or, is the Serial Killer just desperate and a woman who has showered today and is pushing a stroller all it takes?

Somehow these things always happen to me. I don’t know why. If it is weird and insane, it will run right smack into me.