.. you can always use the steam iron, works perfectly.

You can do it! We have faith in your abilities...

That CSI comment grossed me out so much that I don't think I will be able to touch a hotel room bedspread without surgical gloves again.

Umm, yeah, I try really hard not to think about those hotel coverlets. I try to be optimistic about the sheets - but thinking too hard about those scares me too. I'll be rooting for you to finish it before you leave!! :)

Steph, what's wrong with the middle of the night and the wee small hours? Who needs sleep anyway when there's a shawl to be finished? And you'll get on much faster if nobody else is awake...

You can always sleep on the plane!
Good luck with it.
Jo
celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com

DON"T BLOCK IT ON THE COVERLET!!! UGH!
You could pack a sheet of your own, or ask for an extra sheet (because you're cold?) at the hotel, and pin it to that!
Have a great trip.

Somehow, after all your descriptions, it seems entirely appropriate that this pattern was named after the guy who flew too close to the sun. :)

Good luck! You can do it!

Ewww! Don't do it! An all-night knitting endeavor would be far preferable to blocking in a hotel! I do not think the knitting muses would be pleased with fouling up the Icarus just at its end.

And here I was going to suggest the floor...

Don't forget the remote control in the hotel room -- studies show it's germier than the terlit!

You're right to suspect the coverlets. I have it on good authority (friend who worked in reputable hotel for years - cleaning hotel rooms) that the bedspreads are NEVER cleaned. When she stays at a hotel, she strips them right off the bed as soon as she walks in the door - and tosses them in the closet.

Take the bedspread off and block it on the clean sheets. Or take the sheet off and put it on the floor and block it there. Good luck.

I once blocked a shawl on the bed of a hotel room but I'd advise to toss a sheet in your suitcase to put over everything. If all else fails cover the bed in towels, hotel towels are always nice and clean. I finished the shawl on the drive to the city the wedding was in.

I'll have to show these comments to hubby. He thinks I'm the only one with this attitude about hotel room coverlets/remotes/bathrooms/etc.

Ask the hotel people for a few more towels, spread those on top of the coverlet, and block away.

Oh the perils of Icarus. Thought I wanted to do it when you first started yours but I've changed my mind - I'd rather do a Fiddlesticks! Got my Interweave Knits e-newsletter today and there was a plug for a blog just for Icarus. icarusalong.blogspot.com.

Yes, pack your own sheet to the hotel and get some rest Saturday night!

You could always take some towels from the bathroom and block it on those. Or, just skip sleep. You know, whatever works for you.
=)

I think I'd take some vinyl gloves, remove the coverlet (yuck...gross) and block it on the sheets while I was out. Sleep is overrated anyway!

5 rows and the cast off and its only Friday? It can be done, I tell you. But if you decide to block it in your hotel room, dont forget to bring about umpty-million pins along.

Steph, ask the hotel for another sheet. Assuming that you aren't staying at the No-tel Mo-tel on Aurora, this shouldn't be a problem.

Looking forward to meeting you in Seattle! Woo hoo!

Signed,
Molly-of-the-still-unfinished-olympic-knitting-gingham-cardigan

You can do it! Let the coverlet be your motivation. Yeah, I watch too much CSI too.

Just wondering...what needle type do you recommend for lace?

Knit like mad, snap at all who venture near, demand the children learn to cook and clean right now, drink much coffee, sleep no more and knit, knit, knit. Then you will have no trouble getting it done on time.

That or ask for two beds in your room, strip off the covers and block on the sheets.

The sheets are clean but, no, you don't want to pin lace on the coverlet. Trust me. My first job was as a motel maid...

uck.. eeewww... I wonder if they ever wash those bedspreads?
so you say you're off to hotel again soon??? ooppppsss :-)

We always, always, always take the 'coverlet' off the bed, first thing we do. I like the towel(I'd say they're clean) idea, otherwise ask for more sheets(I'd say they're clean too) and block it on either the bed or on a sheet on the floor..it can be done, and you can do it, (just think how Mirium will feel when she sees you in your Icarus).
3 days...

I've blocked in a hotel room before on extra towels on top of the carpet. It works. I also like the sheet on top of the carpet idea...

Umm, yes. Finish before you get to the hotel. Or, "Hello, room service. Could you please bring me 12 bath towels and 2 spare flat sheets. What for...? well...."

Some of the teenage girls I coach REFUSE to use the bedspreads in hotels, and throw them on the floor before getting into bed. They are of the age where speculation about what might be on those bedspreads -- and how it might have gotten there -- provides untold hours of conversation.

Every time someone suggests acts of violence against people that deserve it, I pipe up with, "No, I saw that on an episode of CSI."

Request extra sheets and towels and make up a spot on the floor. You at least know that the carpet's been cleaned/vacuumed, which is more love than the spread will ever get.

Don't think about what's on a hotel coverlet. Just. Don't.

That being said, I think you should finish it before you go. Those last five rows? You're going to kick their butt!

Note to Self: Look up the term "blocking." :) I have no idea what it is, but it's always a good idea to avoid hotel room comforters irregardless of the activity. In the meantime, hakuna matata - - Icarus will be completed when it's meant to be done. Don't stress yourself out or lose sleep.

This discussion brings me to re-thinking about all those "dubious adventures" deposited on the hotel's bed covers by previous guests. If we all feel like this and toss the cover off the bed with only the tips of ouf fingers then, perhaps, the covers are not as dirty than we think. Personally, I worry about the blankets under these covers. I don't think they get washed daily either. Block on the other bed, there are almost always two beds in a room. If you finished your Olympic project on time I know you can do it. I really didn't think you would finish that sweater. vj

Towels

I agree with the coverlet, first thing I always do is take the coverlet and put it in the closet on the floor.
Get a room with two double beds and use one to pin the shawl too. - The other one stays dry for you.

Teresa

well, I am a procrastination queen myself - so I recommend to get a LITTLE sleep, and block in the hotel, but as everyone else has said NOT on the coverlet :)

I finished a little knit purse 10 min. before the gift was to be presented to the birthday girl, and then stressed my sister out to sew in the lining AS the birthday girl arrived - that was cutting it AWFULLY close ;)

I'm with you, Steph. Time to start handing the kids pizza money again.

Untuck the sheets and blanket on the extra bed. Flip the whole shooting match over so that the sheet is on top, blanket in the middle, coverlet on the bottom. Block away.

You are going to Bridgeport Brewpub afterwards in Portland are you?

No, you don't watch too much CSI. The first thing I do in a hotel is fold the coverlet back onto the floor.

Better to leave it - and I know this is sacriledge - UNBLOCKED, that to taint it with the hotel bedcover.

If worst comes to worst: Get a room with two beds; strip down the second bed, use the towels and clean sheets and block the icarus (so beautiful!) on that one. If you dare...

"Skeeved out?" Where did you get that? I have NEVER have heard any one without a Brooklyn connection use that term....and so perfectly,too.
Please tell me that it is an old Acadian term....and that you are not related to the Sopranos....

Mim blocked her latest shawl on the floor at work, which leaves me to believe you can block a shawl anywhere. See you soon;-)

My vote is to bring a clean sheet from home and use that. :) Good luck with Icarus!! :)

Hey Steph,

Just read the article in Publishers Weekly for Aug. 28th called "The End of the Yarn?" by Natalie Danford. Nice picture!

Ummm, I'm new - but what's with the deadline? I learned to enjoy knitting infinitely more when I pitched the artificial deadlines. Are you meeting the Queen and haven't a think to wear? Jes' askin'.

Sheesh, Steph. You've got two whole days until Seattle. Of course you should finish it. Even if you can't block until you get back home (nothing in hotel rooms should ever really be touched, especially the bedding) having Icarus casted off is a monumental achievement. It will give you a huge boost. Plus, I'll be able to congratulate you in person in Seattle!! So very excited!! I'll be heading there tomorrow (coming from Montana). See you there!

And if I can solicit yarn suggestions, I am looking for a chunky weight yarn in a pretty purple color for a sweater. Must be machine washable (can't trust my mom to hand wash anything). Ideas of where to look?

The one time that I blocked something it was on towels on my bed. Was that inefficient? Since I have only hardwood and linoleum floors in my apartment, the bed is my only option. The luxury of having two beds in a hotel room - one for sleeping, one for blocking - is making me wonder if a night at a local motel would be a good investment the next time I have something to block. And there'd be that night of cable tv....

No, you don't want too much CSI...hotel bed coverlets are GROSS.
If the hotel room has two beds, you can always pull the coverlet off of one and block on the sheets. The housekeeping people will think you are crazy, but why should that stop you? :)
Good luck on finishing it, it is such a beautiful color....

OK - the coverlet might be gross but it's not like your putting the shawl in your mouth. I mean it's probably not even going to touch any skin other than your hands and who knows what kind of ickness they get into. ~just sayin' ;)

I was wondering the same thing. Why stress over a deadline? What will be wrong with blocking after the trip in an environment you know to be pure? Ok, well at least an environment where you know the thingys came from you and yours. Just asking. . . .

I usually bring my own light down sleeping bag... at least I know its history

That's funny, the last two hotels I stayed in just used white top sheets over the duvet as the bedspread. I rather liked it. Fitted sheet; top sheet; duvet; a second top sheet. Feels all crispy and fresh. When our duvet cover at home got dirty, I used this method until I could get it back on the bed.

I have a lace wrap that will need to be blocked soon. I'm planning to use away-at-college son's bed to do it....

I'd ask for a couple fresh sheets, lay them down on the fitted sheet that's already there and block to your heart's content. :)

I too, am a CSI watcher and before the CSI read articles specifically about hotel room bedspreads. You'd be better off blocking on the floor. Three words for the bedspread: ick, yack, yuck.

In a misguided attempt to instil responsibility in my teenage daughter, I sent her forth to work as a hotel maid during summer break. Mission accomplished on the responsibility front -- my dd will remember how hard she worked to earn her money, but that consciousness came at a dear price for me. (it always does, doesn't it?) After her "war stories", I will never be able to fully enjoy a stay in even the nicest hotel room.

Don't block your Icarus there.

And don't let your daughters work as hotel maids!

That's my advice.

I have faith in your ability to fly by the seat of your pants.

You'll figure it out.

I have blocked a shawl on the floor of a hotel room, using my top sheet to cover the carpet. I even took blocking wires in a mailing tube, but I forgot them in an airport & had to replace them when I got home... I have read about people using string or yarn as the wire and tensioning it past the garment being blocked on additional pins. Good luck.

The thought of pinning it out on the floor skeeves me out even more than the coverlet. Talk about your heebie-jeebies.

There was an episode of Monk a couple years ago where somebody showed Monk some kind of stain in his hotel room with an infrared light, and the next thing, he had a staff of like 5 maids in there, in the middle of the night, scrubbing away like mad just so he could sleep . . . Really, in that regard, I think we're better off just not knowing.

The shawl though? It's going to be gorgeous. And I LOVE the color! Good luck!

I think your forgetting the fact that you don't need to sleep. Cutting out the sleep should allow you to finish it. Also I love CSI, but it has changed my view of things in the world, hotels, cell phones, computer keyboards, etc. All yucky!!!!

There is no such thing as too much CSI. (As long as you mean the original series.) I am tingling with anticipation for season 7! It can't get here quickly enough for me.

And I feel your pain re: Icarus. I have been working on a gorgeous shawl, and the last long, long rows are just about killing me. I feel quite bad about complaining, since it's a fabulous pattern and I know it will be well worth the effort, but the end of a shawl is always torturous no matter how beautiful or well-designed it is.

We're looking forward to seeing you in Seattle!

Please, for the love of Pete, DON'T BLOCK USING HOTEL TOWELS! They use so much bleach that sometimes it's not all rinsed out - I had a lovely black skirt get ruined from my zealous work with water only and a hotel towel - no stain, but quite a bit less color in that spot, too - bleach!

You can use my workroom. I live in Seattle in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, just about in the middle between Third Place Books and Seattle Center. It's going to be very warm here this weekend, so it ought to dry very quickly.

I could even throw in a pan of brownies!
Cynthia

you and me both with the CSI, Steph. Hotel bedspreads (coverlets to you) totally gross me out. If I travelled as much as you, I'd purchase myself one of those silk sleep sacks by Dreamsack, just to be safe. http://www.sitincomfort.com/dreamsack.html

I'm a few charts behind you on Icarus, so I can't fully feel your pain.

Yet.

Just a matter of time...

Oh, and, good call on the hotel bedspreads. I just came back from a 2 1/2 week road junket for my work, and the horror of the hotel bedspreads is almost beyond expression.

Oh geez, I lost my appetite, there goes breakfast. I always ditch the hotel bedspread, yeech!
Floors are way better than coverlets, that's my vote.
I can't wait for our socks to meet.

So take off the hotel cover and pin it out on the sheets! at least you know those are freshly washed.

Or something like that. Or just block it when you get home(or to a hotel with 2 beds)...either way!

I don't watch any CSI, but hotel bedspreads still creep me out. ICK. My husband thought I was weird the first time he saw me pull it off and toss it at the foot of the bed, but then I explained. Yuck yuck yuck.

I can't wait to see the finished Icarus! This one is on my to-knit list.

Honey, if I can block my latest shawl on the low pile carpet behind my desk at work using sewing thread and thumbtacks, you can block it in a hotel room. I have faith in you!

Hi Stephanie--
Yes, take your pins and the room should have a steam iron -- block it on the extra bed. Or better yet, maybe, just maybe you'll get it done before you leave for Seattle.
We are traveling from Bellingham to Third Place Books to see you on Sunday! Talk about a group of excited gals!

When I first saw you were knitting this, you inspired me to start it too. It's true that those last rows are REALLY REALLY long, but it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it! Knit on! (yes, I finished too)

If you absolutely must block at hotel, you could strip off the covers & block on the sheets. Or pull off the top sheet & put it on top of the coverlet. Or, as someone suggested, ask for an extra top sheet. [I'm assuming you'll have the standard 2 double beds or 2 queen beds in your room. That's not always the case in large cities. In New Orleans we had a room that contained ONE queen bed with barely room to move around it. In that case, you'd have no choice but to wait until you're home again.] I have felt very squemish about hotel bedding ever since Dateline did that piece about it a few years ago. I even bought a Dream Sack for my daughter who travels a lot for work.

My sister once said to me, "Think of all the naked butts that have been on a hotel room bedspread!"

That was all it took. No more bedspreads pulled up to my chin.

You don't have to block it on the NAKED bedspread. You could put some plastic bags down first...

I wouldn't be too sure about the cleanliness of hotel sheets or anything else in a hotel room. And under no circumstances would I consider blocking your gorgeous shawl in a hotel room - I'm sure you've seen all the recent stories about the resurgence of bedbugs (yep, BEDBUGS) in even the better hotels in the past few years, right? If you haven't, Google on "hotel bed bugs" or check out the links below. (Ugly, I know, but ya gotta protect the knitting, just sayin...)

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/ADVISOR/02/10/hln.adviser.bedbugs/

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/04-05/04-24-05/d01bu355.htm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7829176/

Ew. EW. Do not, under any circumstances, let that beautimous piece of luxury touch a nasty-ass hotel bedspread. I recommend asking for extra towels. Nice, fluffy towels.

That is, if you don't knock it out by the time you need to catch your flight. :)

Would you like anything (other than a nice cold beer) brought to you in Eugene?

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished shawl in SLC next Friday. I'm flying out from DC just to see it (but don't tell my mother-in-law; she's under the impression we're coming to see her!).

The first thing I do when arriving in a hotel room is remove the bedspread. For CSI reasons--not romance reasons.

Well I think Cynthia just solved the problem IF it's not finished...Blockless til Seatle! But I suspect it will be "all done but the blogging" by Sunday :)

Definitely original CSI. NO Miami. Especially NOT New York CSI with my 21 yo daughter living there this last year. Don't want reality TV crime scenes so close for comfort. Leave me my delusions!

Same could be said for all the hotel creepies I had NOT thought of til reading these comments. eew.

I agree with the floor suggestion, if the hotel becomes necessary! Surely the carpets are vacuumed and cleaned regularly in hotels, right? Surely?

My first thought was the same as everyone else's: so pack a sheet.

I want to thank you, however, for bringing to my attention all of the possibilities inherent in hotel coverlets, which I'd never considered before. Eeewwwww.

Ok so here's what you do: first, take all your clothes off the hangers. Then strategically hang the hangers from various items in the room. Then pin Icarus to the hangers with a load of safety pins that you thoughtfully brought along. Turn the air conditioning on really high and go drink a beer at the hotel bar.

Ok so the only good advice was the beer.

I'm with Beth--no such thing as too much CSI, other than the fact that it slows my knitting down from time to time! I say don't worry about blocking in time. Come enjoy Seattle. We love you with or without the completed Icarus!

Definitely use the sheet! The Coverlet hits the floor when I get there and I use my own blankies!
Can't wait to see you in Eugene!

Yeah. I'm a bit freaked by sleeping in a bed other than mine while traveling (unless at a friends home). I always sleep wearing a lot of clothing because you never know exactly how clean the stuff actually is. *Shudder*

How long do you think it will take the blocking to dry? I think you should take it with you to "Bumbershoot" and do a blocking demonstration! Get a couple of high powered fans, block it in front of the knitterazzi fans and see if it's dry by the time your done speaking/signing!

Harlot countdown . . . eight days . . . am making preparations. The Icarus colors remind me of fall shots of sunlight thru dark aspen leaves . . . beautiful. I will be pleased to see it what ever shape it is in!

You could always request an extra top sheet from the front desk and pin it out on the floor...

Good luck.

Agreed. Just the thought of it grosses me out.

"Hello, front desk? I'm going to need a lot of towels up here...yes, my religion requires ritual sacrifice and I don't want to make too much of a mess."

I don't blame you for being freaked out. When hubby and I were in OKC for your talk, the room we stayed in (very pricey, although we got it on Priceline so it wasn't bad) had several unidentified spots on the duvet. The Gideon Bible and the phone book also had thin layers of an unidentifiable substance. *shudder*

All good suggestions, I'd take an extra sheet, if I needed to block after leaving home, and block on the floor. If there isn't enough time for it to dry, blocking with a steam iron isn't a bad substitute and it dries faster. Of course, Cynthia's generous offer may be the very best solution.

Reminds me of a dormmate in college, who worked at a hotel as a maid (when she dropped out and didn't want Mom to find out). She was (22 years ago) a total, total "valley girl" literally (from San Fernando) and figuratively. She couldn't figure out why she was fired - someone checked in and there were underwear in the made up bed.. GROSS

I wanted to come see you so badly! I moved here (North Idaho) from Seattle 4 years ago and since moving I have learned to knit and love your books. If I lived there I would be able to come for sure but, alas, I am here with two young kids about to start school. Maybe I can talk my sister who knits and still lives there to go and get me a picture or something. She also loves your books and your blog. Just so you know you have a big fan stuck in Idaho wishing to visit you in Seattle :)

I blocked an Adamas Shawl (curiously enough, also designed by Mim) in a hotel recently. Towels are the key. Using sheets can mean a damp bed - horrors!

http://www.lectio.ca/archives/2006_08_01_archive1.html#115610164354329648

The other trick is to try to filch the extra towels from the laundry shelves on the floor...or a rolling cart. And to leave the 'do not disturb' sign on the door. Nobody needs to walk in on what you're doing. Nobody.

Dude, that's less than 2500 stitches. For you? No worries. Besides which, 'interminable' has taken on a whole new meaning for me thanks to Ann and Kay, so my sympathy level is not perhaps what it ought to be for me to qualify as a nice person. Strangely I'm not bothered by that.

btw - my KnitPicks catalogue arrived this morning at the same time as the new Lee Valley Woodworking Tools catalogue. Decisions, decisions...

Well, everyone has completely grossed me out for the day. I already had issues with hotel rooms, can't say that I am happy to share the same icky feelings with you.

Steph - my concern for you, although you are amazing, is the crunch time. If you force yourself to finish THIS particular project in a hurry so that you can block it - how much more careful are you going to have to be so that you don't have to frog back to this point?

Enjoy the knitting. I know you want to be done, don't let it become a curse :-)

God that color is insane! That is going to be one lovely shawl!

Why not just get a room with 2 queen beds? Toss the coverlet off and block it on the top sheet. Sleep happily in the other bed.

Seems straightforward to me. Lots of hotels have rooms w/2 queens for the same price or only a smidge more. They might be happy to foist one off on you.

Oh please, for the love of all that's antibiotic, block it at home. I have read too many true stories (backed up on Snopes.com) of people finding dead bodies under the beds in their hotel rooms. CSI or not, there's bound to be something nasty in there.
You can do it, you warp space and time with your deadline knitting, remember? You hold babies in wombs past their dates with your needles. A few monster rows on a shawl is nothing to you.

Of course you can get it done. You'll be blocking it by dinnertime tomorrow. It will be keeping your shoulders warm on the plane. I can say this with utter confidence, having carefully timed the "thousands of laceweight mohair stitches" phenomenon during the Knitting Olympics!

I can't wait to see you in Portland this next week! Though, I was wondering are you were going to visit any of the yarn shops while you were here?

Eeeeeeeew. No part of my person or anything that touches my person EVER touches a hotel bedspread. I CAREFULLY fold the top of the bedspread down using the turned-down sheet as a handle so that there is no chance it will touch my skin. I know I'm freakish about it (at least the husband thinks so) but I have seen one too many black-light news magazine investigation stories. Icarus deserves better!

I vote floor. Those get cleaned reasonably well, daily. The sheets and towels will be clean. I'm nowhere near as grossed out as some other people but the bedspreads do seem to have a yucky texture, everyplace I've ever stayed. Like they're made of fiberglass or something.

Bear in mind that Monk is not meant to be a role model.... :)

I must say that I'm very upset that you are coming to the U.S. just as I'm heading to Ontario ... Icarus looks fab. Just sing that song from finding Nemo ... "Just keep knitting, knitting knitting ..."

Goooooo Stephanie! You are a champ, you can do it!

For advice on shawl-blocking in a hotel room, visit Heather at http://www.lectio.ca/archives/2006_08_01_archive1.html#115610164354329648

Her vanquishing of the largest Adamas shawl known to man is impressive.

Everyone is missing the obvious. You can most certainly borrow a blocking board here in Seattle. Someone (I don't have one, but I need one and I'd buy it early for you) can drop it off at the hotel. And you can leave it at the hotel front desk for pickup - not even difficult logistics!

I luuuuurve your Icarus.

I live 3.7 miles from the bookstore, you can use my craft-room floor if you need it :).

Ask for a room with two beds and pull back the coverlet. Or, go ahead and use those extra towels. There is always a solution!

I 2nd two beds and some exrta towels. You can ask for more if you need to. Go for it!

We are birds of a feather!! I get so creeped out by what u know is exactly laying on every orafice of a hotel room, that I always lay towels (which are for the most part cleaned) over my pillow and sheet and lay on top! Isn't it a darn shame to spend anywhere up from $150 a night and still have to contend with what the blue light might show?!

Over the summer the hotel chain I patronize dumped all their bedspreads/coverlets in favor of "triple-sheeting" (as described by Alyson above) - here's hoping the trend spreads!

NO! Not the coverlet! I sell hotel rooms, for the love of GOD don't use the coverlet. I always strip those things right off the bed when I stay in a hotel. They rarely wash them. That pretty thing deserves a blocking in its own home where the threat of infection is significantly reduced.

Yukkk! I think one might want to wear a pair of latex gloves to even so much as turn the coverlet down...no way would I block something on it! Question (since you have so much spare time and all): What is meant by a "lace cast on"? Can't find any instructions in the many knitting books I have on hand.

you can do it

or hubby and i bought some thin fleece sleeping bags that we use when we travel so we dont have to use the coverlet....

if you have two queen size beds just take the coverlet off.

HUGS good luck in Seattle

I'm still howling over the person from the comments who said, "The housekeeping people will think you are crazy, but why should that stop you?"
She's saying this to a woman who runs around hotel hallways in her underwear??
See you in Seattle, girl!

Jessica at Fig & Plum blocked in a hotel room and it turned out fine.
http://www.figandplum.com/archives/000643.html

The bind off row took me an hour and a half. I thought I was going to die. My advice--bring several cosco sized towels (like six. To layer. multiple times.) At least control the germ-factor (I've heard that when the maid service is lazy they just fold the bed back up, so you don't know for sure if the sheets have been washed...ew.)

Much Love.

Even though everyone has been commenting about CSI, I still remember an episode of Monk where they brought in a machine and you could see stains everywhere.

I know you can do it! Just don't think about how much Icarus thought he could.

So you take all those nice, fluffy white towels they give you, and spread them all out to block on the floor. Hey, works for me.

(And those towels? Boy are those CLEAN. I worked in a hotel once, and I got to see the washer/dryer/steamer/disinfector/whatsit they use.)

Well, referring back to the school shopping...at least it's hard to spend money WHILE knitting! Knit away, sister, you can do it!

"Skeeved out"? Yes.

The only thing more disgusting than hotel bedspreads are the carpets! There was a segment on Dateline or 20/20 or one of those shows where they used blacklights and showed all of the disgusting things on hotel bedspreads -- eeewww! However, some of the nicer hotels now are doing away with bedspreads for covers that are completely washable between guests.

Sue -- you just posted my comment, only with actual facts (Dateline 20/20 or one of those shows)... thanks!

I never, ever let those bedcovers touch my face. Too gross.

Nobody's mentioned the possibility that that gorgeous shawl on full display could walk away while you were out of the hotel room--you'd have to have it blocking while you slept. It's just way easier to finish it now and block it at home; it's such a featherweight yarn, it'll dry in a few hours. For even faster drying, you can safely spin it out in Mr. Washie, if no water sprays on it during the spin.

If you are going to be staying in one area of Seattle for a day or so, you could always ask a LYS if you could block the shawl there, and then go back for it later in the day. I do most of my blocking at my LYS (Yellow Dog Knitting) since I don't have the tools or space. It's great!!

Your Icarus yarn is AMAZING! Reminds me of Flaming June:
http://tinyurl.com/gmj6s

I can't wait to see it blocked.

Immortal words:

Plankton: I am goint to RULE THE WORLD!!!

Sponge Bob: Uh, good luck with that!

Sorry for the typo, that is "goinG to rule the world" and I hope that you have Sponge Bob in Canada to understand the reference. If not, please ignore.

And seriously...no blocking on the coverlet. Hotels, even nice ones, are having a serious bedbug problem, it's been reported. Ick.

But again, amazing shawl!

I understand why you're worried about the bedspread - however, do you really think you can get that many pins through airport security? My vote is to take it unblocked if you have to (especially if you finish the knitting on the plane).

NO DO NOT USE COVERLET FOR *ANYTHING*.
"Hotel Secrets of the Travel Detective"...never washed, those things are. And the floor isn't necessarily vacuumed either. Skeeved out by the floor in an otherwise nice Scottish B & B. Was about to do pushups when I noticed the matting of human hair. EWWWWWW!!!

I don't trust hotel coverlets at all (I read that they never wash them) and even sheets can be iffy. I always roll up the coverlet and get it off the bed without looking too closely. Anyway, your Icarus is lovely. I say, block it at home.

I love the colors of your Icarus, it will be a beautiful fall shawl. I saw that in IK and KNEW that there was no way I could knit that; you have reconvinced me.

I would totally understand if you don't block the shawl in the hotel room. I think it could be a bit tricky to explain why you have a bunch of pins stuck in the bed...and I probably wouldn't block it on the floor (why are hotel carpets always so dark--are they hiding something?). Have a wonderful tour and I will see you in Los Altos!

Definitely take a sheet from home or use towels from the hotel (they're white, right?) and put those down first.

I can't wait to see it all done and blocked out.

Attention:
Can I ask a couple questions:

1) Is Icarus interesting to knit?

2) Am I doing something wrong because the Snowdrop shall, which is starting up the second set of three snowdrops does not look like what I am told lace is supposed to look like?

Oh honey, of all the things to do in hotel rooms--blocking just never got to the top of my list.

I'm sure it would look wonderful if you steamed the cr*p out of it in a Seattle hotel. Or you may just finish it at home given the right level of caffeine and no sleep.

Take a sheet or buy one when you get there (when you buy the pins you forgot to check through), and use the other bed. In airports: Check the needles if you must, but put the shawl on a string if it isn't done, and carry it on. (Or at least put in a lifeline, in case somebody gets antsy about the long circular needle.)

Arachnera: All lace looks like noodles until it's blocked. Knitting a large piece of lace is an act of faith.

I made a shawl and blocked it in a hotel room. I put towels on the bedspread first and then layed the shawl on the towels. I love CSI too.

I worked at a hotel my freshman year of college. We washed two coverlets each day. There were fifty rooms in the hotel. So, in peak season, your beadspread could have covered at least 24 different bodies before you.
This was at an AmericInn, one of the cleanest hotel chains in the midwest.
Gross, huh?

I actually have blocked out knitting in Hotel rooms. I just ask for extra towles, and lay them on the floor, then pin through the towles into the carpeting, so as not to take up the bed, so I can sleep on it. It worked well for me... Hope something works for you.

That looks amazing. Hopefully the hotel has a steam iron

As much as the coverlets creep me out in hotel rooms, the carpets creep me out to almost a Monk-ish level. I feel sick just thinking about it.

Plow your way through and block it before you go... afterall, you can sleep on the plane. Heck, you could probably speak during your talk and get away with it! Do you talk in your sleep by any chance? ;-)

Elementary, my dear - get a room with two beds and pin it to the sheets of the non-sleep-destined bed.

I would probably try and do it before you leave. I would like to say that I am so excited for you to come see us in Seattle!!!! I am hoping to go to both events and to show you my way cool knitting tattoo. I'm also going to bring my traveling sock. :-) Have a safe and uneventful flight to the beautiful Pacific Northwest!!

Stephanie, I am here to tell you that you can in deed block Icarus on the hotel floor, just get several towels from housekeeping. I blocked mine atop a hotel bathrobe and towel the night before the wedding I wore it to. You can see it blocking at http://zardra.blogspot.com/2006/08/vacation-recap-boston.html

It can be done; I am proof. :D

Oh, ick--the hotel coverlet. I can just hear Grissom making humorous remarks.

Though Zardra's idea holds some promise...

I alway HOPE that the sheets are clean - I NEVER think there's a chance that the coverlet is!

Remember that all those coverlets should be burned whether or not you are blocking. Do not even sit down on them. Horrible things past all understanding have happened upon them. The DNA alone should delight all divorce lawyers. Gah. If you can't get it done, do it when you come home!

I have seen 20/20-48 minutes-60 hours type shows that look at the cleanliness of bed covers at hotels. It was scary! Rip it off, and the blankets too! THe sheets and towels are fine, LOL.

Steph, here is a way and proof of blocking a wedding shawl in the hotel =)
http://www.figandplum.com/archives/000643.html

When I finished my Charlotte's Web shawl last year I discovered that my dining room table was not big enough upon which to block it. The only bed in the house big enough is the one we need to sleep on...so, I covered the carpet between living room and dining room with thick bath towels and stretched the thing, T-pinning it to the carpet lining. Left it there for 2 days, spritzing it for most of the time, and it came out great!!! You could undoubtedly do the same on the carpet in the hotel room, doubling their towels. Just be sure to bring along a spray bottle. Or, you could finish and block it before you go. My money's on the latter. Either way, good luck!!

Now that I have a blog I feel ok about commenting on the blogs of others, so I must say:
Eeeeeewwwwww. Under no circumstances should you fool yourself into thinking it would be acceptable to block your lovely shawl on the hotel bedspread.
Someday, Stephanie, I will email you and tell you how you inspired me to start knitting. Well, you, and NPR.

You can do it, Step! Good luck.

Don't worry about the wee small hours; due to the high city-wide caffeine content, no one here in Seattle sleeps anyways.

Given the level of skeeved-out-ness among the commenters, I suggest that nobody in the comments ever travel in Russia.

I can tell you from working in hotels that coverlets are washed between once and twice A YEAR. Unless, of course, something noticeable is "spilled" on it (like wine or um... other things). I think the Marriot now has special coverlets that can stand up to being washed weekly; do a google search if this really interests you as it's been a while since I worked in one. Still... and these weren't cheap motels either. (My favorite, though? "The No Tell Motel" in Phoenix. That's their actual name! Crazy!)

Peggy! Are you coming to the Third Place Books signing? If so, look for me, I will be the gal with the short spikey brunette hair (don't look at the grey!) knitting on the navy blue shawl - hopefully in the front row! I would love to meet another Harlotophile!

I was a maid in a small hotel (15 rooms), and I was just about to make up a chart to track the coverlet, blanket and mattress-cover cleaning shedule I was planning, when I got fired. It seems I was taking too much time with each room, doing silly extra things like trying to sanitize the phone reciever and the remote.

I can tell you on my watch, the sheets were always clean, as were the towels. Ratty, but clean.

I'd still take my own sheet, though, for the blocking.

You know you can do it. You can sleep on the plane! Why tempt fate with hopes of being able to block in the hotel?

Ugh - that definitely falls into the realm of TMI (too much information). You're more than welcome to come back with me up to Whidbey Island (Google Deception Pass to see where I live) and use my bedroom floor. I'll even vacuum in your honor. We'll see you Sunday!

Oh, no... I'd finish that puppy just so I could start something new for the next trip... I'd stay up late and make myself stupid tired so I could have that baby blocked in time to start three other projects for my next round of travel. I'd blow off family and order pizza to get this done. Of course, I'd like to think that you're a lot smarter than me, Steph, but no worries...it's a benign weakness, at least that's what my family tells me...

Oh my God. DO NOT PUT IT ON THE HOTEL BED!!!!
Disgusting.
I used to be a chambermaid in Whistler. DO NOT EVEN LAY YOUR BODY ON THAT - but if you must, don't think about it. And don't watch CSI!
Too funny.

Praise the Goddess, I am not alone in the world. I thought I was the only freak who thinks hotel coverlets are VILE. People do all kinds of things in hotels, on every available surface, and I don't even want to think about the TV remotes.

I once blocked a scarf (gift finished en route on trip) on the sheets on a hotel bed. II liike to believe that the sheets are reasonably clean. But never, ever on the coverlet. Might as well use the floor of a gas station bathroom. BLEAH!

But "skeeved" out? Wow, what a good word. I like that word.

Ewww, I saw an episode of CSI that made me want to sanitize all hotel rooms (heh, remember that old old Saturday Night Live where they used a flamethrower to sanitize the toilet seat?). If you can't finish the shawl at home, bring your own towels to pin it out.

BTW, reading your blog IN CANADA now. Go, me!

You blocked the Rhinebeck sweater in a hotel room, why not Icarus?

You can always block it out on the hotel coverlet and give it to my Uncle's second wife. Make sure you rub it around the floor too and I'll send you her address.

Oh no -- you are so very right about the hotel coverlet. y friend works for a to-remain-nameles major hotel chain, and she has advised me that the FIRST thing to do in a hotel is TAKE THE COVER OFF. Ick. Icarus should NEVER touch down on that. Come on now -- knit, knit, knit! You can do it!

I hadn't let myself think about the hotel bedspreads... but the thoughts crept into my mind every time we stay in one...the bedspread, of styrofoam fabric, living a life of its own. Now, I definitely will STRIP THAT BABY OFF every time I am in a hotel. FIRST THING. Ewwwww. Disgusting. The shawl is gorgeous. Making myself finish a blanket of Manos for my daughter at U Maryland, who is very homesick... : (

Yep, I agree. Have read too many stories about hotel room issues re: cleanliness lately.

"Skeeved out"??? I think I get the gist but this is new to me. A definition please if you get time among the rows....

Can you pack your own sheet, so you don't have to use the hotel's? They could always a little bit erm...hairy. I really love the colours of your Icarus.

Skeeved - I believe comes from an americanization of Italian - schiave or something like that. I was an Irish kid in an Italian area in NJ (seen in every episode of the Sopranos) - scheeve was used as many parts of speech - e.g. "ew, that's scheevy." Perhaps some true Italian speaker can clarify.

You mean it gives you THE SHIVERS? (From _A Prayer for Owen Meany_ by John Irving.)

When I was a kid, my Mom always made us put on shoes before our feet ever touched the floor in a hotel room -- even to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. She was always convinced that those carpets and floors were dizz-gusting. I've never quite lost that feeling, although I don't put my shoes on to walk around anymore. So for me it's a toss-up as to which is grosser, the bedspread or the carpet.

Gorgeous shawl..how about a sleeping bag ?I don't think I could face hotel beds now!

Steph

Finish it at home and block it there. Don't let Icarus become Ick-arus by hotel blocking!

Ah. The dreaded 95% syndrome.
I get that when I'm spinning the last batt of wool or last landful of roving, I get a tightening in the chest, a true physical stress and really, really need to muster myself to finish and now throw the rest of it away just to be done with it.
Keep going, going go....

Cheers Ann

I did finish my icarus (schaeffer hand painted anne in a stunning pink - i hate pink but this is a real woman's pink not some wimpy washed out pink) and so i can assure you that every moment of effort will be worth it. just think of it draped over your shoulders and the knitting will move along. i love mine and hope to see more designs from this "miriam" you've been referring to. as boring side bar - do you really read all these comments?

This is totally an off base comment I'm sure, because your '500 stitches to a row' comment only made me think that this is good training for you to prepare you for knitting your eldest daughter's wedding gown! You might ought to be thinking about getting started...she is in her teen years isn't she?

I saw that 60 minutes about hotel cleanliness and I don't think the sheets were that clean either....subsequently I will not tell you what I found on my "clean" sheets at a hotel in San Diego. Can't wait for you to come to Portland on Wednesday.

I actually pack a blanket from home and that coverlet is the first thing to go when we get into our hotel room. I also leave a note for housekeeping that we have allergies so please remove the coverlet and use our blanket to make up the bed. My SO thought I was going to extremes before he saw CSI - now he checks to make sure I haven't forgotten the blanket ;o)

and yes, this may be why one of our bags we brought to Florida was 62 lbs. Or it could have been all the shampoo & conditioner you have to lug along (and now check) because teenage girls must shower 2+ times per day or the world will come to a screeching halt.

hi happy knit gang! just wondering if any of you in southern ontario have ever gone to the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters' Fair. I've always wanted to go, but never quite make it there. I'm looking for an opinion on whether or not anyone out there finds it fabulous or worth a miss... drop me a line and let me know.

I literally stumbled upon this page (stumbleupon.com) and my first thought when I saw the picture of Icarus was, boy, that lasagna looks delicious! ;-)

I wouldn't do it in the Hotel Room?

There are 3 of us from our knitting group in Billings, Montana who are driving down to SLC this coming Friday to hear/see you speak at an event. Good thing we checked and got our tickets. We're so excited! We're bringing sock-knitting for the car, trading drivers, and staying at the house of a friend in SLC. Bringing our books to have you sign and hopefully take a photo with you. Yay! You haven't made it to Montana yet, so we're coming to you.

Yes. I've worked in hotels. Sheets clean! Coverlet, not so much!!!!

Sheets get washed daily in very, very hot water with lots of detergent and bleach. The coverlets get done, more often than not, seasonally rather than daily!!!

I would not, for instance, trust the coverlet of the Econolodge that i stayed at over in Scarborough...one never knows what kind of shady character was sleeping with it before i was in town for Lilith Fair!!

Eeeeek!!

Hope you got it done before you left home!

~Suz~

Can you stick pins in dry wall? block the sucker right on the wall.

so glad I don't watch the T.V. to much.

so why is the coverlet so dirty anyway?

Can you stick pins in dry wall? block the sucker right on the wall.

so glad I don't watch the T.V. to much.

so why is the coverlet so dirty anyway?

Hey harlot! :) Please tell us if you run out of yarn - there are a few of us breathlessly waiting out in blogland. I have two skeins of Haiku and am knitting along, but have heard very widely varying amounts of wool used - anywhere from 650 yds to 990 yds (!!) all for the "regular" sized shawl, no repeats added or subtracted. So let us know as soon as you finish! Pretty please. :)

gorgeous colorway!

CSI knowledge is not a bad thing.

Finish BEFORE you leave. The 'cleanliness' of hotel linen -- of ANY type, sheets, towels, bedspreads -- is debatable, to say the least. Unless you're staying at a five-star hotel, and even then . . .

What a gorgeous color...

You can do it, though!

Block on the coverlet! Germs are good, they'll ensure Icarus has a strong immune system when he grows up. You can't protect your children forever.

The problem: My shawl does not look wrong. It looks a bit scrunched, but that is because I am using 14" needles instead of circulars. So am I doing something wrong? It does NOT look like noodles. This is my first knitting with lace weight yarn. I am a confident knitter and usually can figure out patterns with out difficulty. Is something wrong?

It's a done deal......can you say

LETTUCE DENNY!!!!!!!

I'm getting nervous here. It's Sept. 5 and no posting that I can see since the first. Are you alright, Harlot?

Ha, Ha, Ha.. You are more than right about those comforters.. They are just the opposite, uncomforters or uncoverlets.

Um,no, don't block it on the wall. No matter how disgusting hotel linens are that doesn't give anyone the justification to damage the room.

I never understand how people can stand in their bare feet in public gym showers, either.

Olá, I call Soraya and I am of Porto Alegre /RS.Amei yours blog, am magic with you and your works. I have problems with depression, and whenever I can I make tricô, my dream is to make half of tricô, this I not yet knows. How I make to acquire your books? I want to give the congratulations to you, for beings the wonderful person that you are. Congratulations! KISSES!

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