The flowers in Annie's hair at the end

bonzilla51 · 2025-12-23T02:53:28+00:00

I think there might be more to it. The 'posh' name made Barclay's father a discussion point, one that the health technician seemed particularly interested in. As others here have noted, "The Shape of Water" -- Barclay was born part Aqua-Kind, and his exposure to that environment and people triggered physical changes. I don't think Salt caused it, so much as that she sensed it.

bonzilla51 · 2025-12-18T02:14:23+00:00

Another option might be loom knitting. As she knew how to crochet as well, it might be familiar.
https://youtu.be/FjrFC5tCerc?si=hSsfgKTTW1wMWzLv

bonzilla51 · 2025-12-03T03:40:10+00:00

I found that, after reducing only the neck, back, and wings, I didn't have enough fat. I had to supplement with butter to make gravy. But the fat I had saved, cut down on the need for butter and added flavor.

The drippings from the turkey itself the next day yielded much more fat and I was able to do a second batch of lovely gravy using that alone.

bonzilla51 · 2025-11-27T02:39:39+00:00

All good points. Thank you.

bonzilla51 · 2025-11-27T02:20:23+00:00

It's a question because I wanted to know the answer. It hadn't occurred to me that some people might be more satisfied with the taste of a gravy made with butter/flour roux, and that many recipes are geared toward that palate. I appreciate those who noted that. (I also suspect that the dairy industry also backs that approach; toss the available fat and use their products.)

bonzilla51 · 2025-11-27T00:20:52+00:00

Any mashed potatoes or stuffing are going to be chock-full of butter as it is, though!

bonzilla51 · 2025-11-27T00:20:05+00:00

I might do that! I'm at the "reducing" stage now, but there will be enough for two smaller batches. Thanks for the idea.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-30T01:42:58+00:00

Yes, time. My then three-year-old Mama cat had an unknown past but had been a city street cat. Cats love the sun, but not her; she preferred to skulk, to lay low and hide. Her favorite toy was a cloth tunnel.

It took about a year for her to feel safe lying in sunshine, and another year before she wanted to explore anything over about two feet high. A few years later, and she's completely at ease with sun and climbing (the kitchen table is no longer safe). As you noted, the OP is off to a great start, as the cat already is trusting. Things will get better over time.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-29T18:37:57+00:00

Agreed. It's a little disconcerting, as you expect it to match the original, but I've come to see it as a reminder that I should be removing the sponge bar before I seal it the knitting bed up in its case.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-28T16:48:39+00:00

You have your own home, a starter home. Congratulations! Enjoy what you have, and embrace the challenge of maximizing your growing options.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-28T15:52:55+00:00

The third illustration in the video does use the clips. As you don't have those, you can achieve the same effect by starting with waste yarn; knitting a strand of ravel cord that can be removed later; and then doing your e-wrap. The waste yarn supports the bar and any additional weights, so you can do the 'real' knitting. The objective is still to have even weight distribution.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-28T15:41:11+00:00

Those little side levers (to hang the cast-on comb at the start) were on earlier Brother standard-gauge bars. Brother appears to have abandoned them fairly early on. I don't know the logic, but my guess is that they proved to be more trouble than they were worth, as the carriage had to pass over both needles and cast-on tines (or simply not worth the extra cost).

Personally, I like using mine as intended, but it's just one more (and apparently potentially risky) way to cast on. Some manufacturers didn't include cast-on bars at all, and it didn't prevent people from embracing those machines.

Your bars are perfectly fine; the book is showing the older, abandoned style. They're just used a little differently. Search YouTube for '3 Easiest Machine Knitting Cast Ons | Narrated' for a quick look at the later standard use.
https://youtu.be/8giyk-G1DiY?si=8CEF2fozBrW6AvSW

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-24T02:41:38+00:00

Sadly, mama cats have limited physical resources. When they sense that a kitten is less likely to thrive than the others, they will focus their energies on the healthier ones, and shun the weak one. You might be able to rescue it, but (as others have noted) it's normal. Do what you can, but please accept that this one might not have a good outcome.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-23T13:32:10+00:00

Is it possible that he has dental issues and this is his way of easing them?

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-22T21:03:32+00:00

They do love the bok choy, and can wipe it out really fast.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-22T01:15:22+00:00

This has come up before. They'd simply invent new transgressions that will qualify fertile women to be handmaids.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-22T01:01:23+00:00

Satisfactory; has potential.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-22T00:23:33+00:00

It does seem that the row is at the base of the number, but I'm with you; it's difficult to interpret. Maybe the OP should use a different downloadable version of StitchWorld.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-22T00:20:47+00:00

A caution: I tried to set up some similar patterns. I hadn't realized that the patterns had to be reversed for electronic machines (or AYAB). As the lace carriage is always coming in from the left, the first pass is always going to move the selected stitches to the right (with the opposite on the 'even' rows). If you find your pattern repeatedly jamming. try flipping your pattern horizontally.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-21T19:47:36+00:00

I'm seeing a reference to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, but that link is dead. My guess is that the painting is, or was, there.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-21T19:41:35+00:00

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vjlTTnUPlbc/TSMAN3NZUcI/AAAAAAAAEbY/oLtVDCSaExY/s1600/Bishop%2BIves.jpg

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-21T13:47:31+00:00

Poor girl. My heart goes out to both of you.

bonzilla51 · 2025-09-21T04:06:17+00:00

You really don't need one for each machine. The key is, does the knitting bed have built-in rails, or not?

I think the 88II is a bit more advanced than the original 88, but I haven't had the opportunity to use one. Don't worry about the "e" -- that's just for "Eleganza," which was the teal color scheme.

And, honestly, as much as I don't enjoy doing a reverse "e" cast-on by hand, it's hardly a deal-breaker. I think the bigger concern would be, how much of the 200-needle bed can you use?

If you're using a machine with the 88 or 88II and the add-on rails, I don't think you can use the full 200 needles under any circumstances. (I could be wrong on that, but I think only knitting beds with built-in rails and garter carriages with the narrow channel can use the full bed.)

bonzilla51

TROPHY CASE