Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Hello Oklahoma

It is still amazing to me that I can get on a plane and 3 hours later be half way across the country! Despite my disbelief, it is true, and I am now in Oklahoma.

My flight yesterday on Express Jet was FABULOUS! I say this after a number of missed flights, cancelled flights, and delays on other airlines this summer. Express Jet had lots of people to check us in at the airport, were helpful, provided great service on the plane, left on time, actually arrived early, and provided the fastest luggage service I've seen in some time. I'll definitely be flying with these guys again!

Flying yesterday also gave me a chance to genuinely earn a Cast On Knitting Scouts badge... the MacGyver 1 to be specific.



The description of the MacGyver says "The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a non-knitting tool in a knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used paper clips as stitch markers, or successfully whittled and then utilized bamboo skewers as dpns." I think this is too funny to read now because this is exactly what I did, use a paper clip as a stitch marker!



As you may remember, before I left CA I carefully planned out my knitting for the trip and even got clapotis all the way to the straight section. I then packed for my trip, leaving an appropriate knitting stash in my carry on for the trip. Because of the crazy flying guidelines I always err on the cautious size and so pack away my notions bag which includes my scrap yarn and sissors. You can see where this is going can't you. Row 6 (yes 6 mere rows of knitting after getting onto the plane) you need to place another stitch marker. The horrors! What was I to do? Abandon my knitting until I got to Oklahoma? Try to wing it without a marker (which in hindsight I probably could have managed but was beyond my capacity to consider at that moment)? Try to chew through some alpaca with my teeth to make a new marker? What did I have... a search through my check on bags uncovered the fabulous paperclip. Worked like a charm!

Catastrophe avoided, I continued on my happy way and made some nice progress. You can see below the final width my stole will be.



And my first drop stitch section.



Sigh. The relief of successful knitting.

2 comments:

Octopus Knits said...

Good substitution! It looks great so far!

Winnie said...

Way to go! I took some knitting just to work when I went to Mexico City in August and forgot stitch markers, so I used your little trick with using different colored string. I also had to use string as a stitch holder! Your genius has rubbed off :)

Hope you have a great trip!