Ok, usually I love frogging. The pop pop pop of stitches coming undone, the zzzzzzziiiiiiippppppp of the yarn, the almost hypnotic pattern as the yarn moves from side to side.
But frogging something of beauty hurts. I learned this. A friend, we'll call her "Tracker", hand-dyed some fluffy (yes, fluffy) Icelandic wool into beautiful shades of pink and green and blue. She did it with fades, and it came out so well. And when she knitted it (plain garter stitch in ridiculously perfect stitched), it patterned itself, the colors in a sort of repeating serpentine pattern. And.........she decided to make something in stockingette that will be more useful than skinny scarf. And thus started the frogging, and I had to watch this lovely item zigzig its way back into a ball of yarn. Sigh. She decided to so a different stitch pattern on the redo, and while the stitches themselves were lovely, I still liked the first one better.
Note to self: If you are frogging something lovely, just don't watch...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Design Elements
So I've been pecking away at this scarf for about a month. Lamb's Pride Worsted in a varigated brown colorway. It's a pattern I made up. Please forgive me as this is the first time I am writing out a pattern. Cast on 22 stitches. Row 1-4 k2p2. Row 5 k22. Row6 p22. Row 7 k22. Row 8 p22.* Repeat rows 1-8 until it is as long as you want it.
This is not a rocket science pattern. This is not intarsia, fair isle, or lace. It has no color changes. It doesn't require DPNs or stitch markers. There is no cableing. It completely lacks increases and decreases. It is a beginner's pattern. Right?
So you can understand my frustration when the right side becomes the wrong side and vice versa. Ok, in one part I know what happened. I did purl rows when I should have done knit rows. Fine. But then even when I got it right (and I swear I got it right) the right side still became the wrong side. Then the right side for a few repeats. Then the wrong side again.
I have ripped back and tried again. I have had other people rip back and try again. And it's still wonky.
I'm calling it a design element, because I really don't want to rip back two feet of scarf I have worked very hard for.
But really, either I'm stupid and cannot be trusted with a beginner's pattern, or the yarn just hates me. I know it hates starbucks, because that's where it acts up the worst. But last night, it started rebelling at B&N. What's a sort-of knitter to do?!
This is not a rocket science pattern. This is not intarsia, fair isle, or lace. It has no color changes. It doesn't require DPNs or stitch markers. There is no cableing. It completely lacks increases and decreases. It is a beginner's pattern. Right?
So you can understand my frustration when the right side becomes the wrong side and vice versa. Ok, in one part I know what happened. I did purl rows when I should have done knit rows. Fine. But then even when I got it right (and I swear I got it right) the right side still became the wrong side. Then the right side for a few repeats. Then the wrong side again.
I have ripped back and tried again. I have had other people rip back and try again. And it's still wonky.
I'm calling it a design element, because I really don't want to rip back two feet of scarf I have worked very hard for.
But really, either I'm stupid and cannot be trusted with a beginner's pattern, or the yarn just hates me. I know it hates starbucks, because that's where it acts up the worst. But last night, it started rebelling at B&N. What's a sort-of knitter to do?!
Felting
Let's talk for a moment about one of my other fiber hobbies, felting, specifically wet or flat felting.
Wet felting involves laying layers and layers on animal fibers on each other, then soaking them and squashing, pressing, rolling, and beating them until they form a piece of fabric. Theoretically, thick felted fabric is waterproof and insultating. Theoretically.
So here are a few tips if you decide to enter the wonderful world of beating-the-heck-out-of-a-pile-of-wool-until-it-gives-up:
1. When making warm, soapy water, remember that a shampoo is sudsy. A little goes a long way. Too much means you are scooping piles of soap suds off your workspace while more spill out of the pitiful pile of wool you are abusing. Too little and the wool just laughs at you and refuses to get felty.
2. When covered in aforementioned suds, your partner will laugh at you from the safety of the sofa.
3. The person you are teaching to make felt will have no such soap issues whatsoever.
4. Felty when wet can mean poufy-like-a-pillow when dry. Unless you are the person in #3, for whom felt takes the WYSIWYG path.
5. In some cases, no amount of beating/stomping/rolling/mashing the fiber will cause it to get all nice and solid. Unless you are once again the person in #3, who manages to produce good quality felt with a few twitches and presses and rolls.
6. Abstract felted designs are not appreciated by partner-on-couch, despite the fact that they truly believe a white piece of canvas painted white is art.
7. There is no cure for UGHly.
Wet felting involves laying layers and layers on animal fibers on each other, then soaking them and squashing, pressing, rolling, and beating them until they form a piece of fabric. Theoretically, thick felted fabric is waterproof and insultating. Theoretically.
So here are a few tips if you decide to enter the wonderful world of beating-the-heck-out-of-a-pile-of-wool-until-it-gives-up:
1. When making warm, soapy water, remember that a shampoo is sudsy. A little goes a long way. Too much means you are scooping piles of soap suds off your workspace while more spill out of the pitiful pile of wool you are abusing. Too little and the wool just laughs at you and refuses to get felty.
2. When covered in aforementioned suds, your partner will laugh at you from the safety of the sofa.
3. The person you are teaching to make felt will have no such soap issues whatsoever.
4. Felty when wet can mean poufy-like-a-pillow when dry. Unless you are the person in #3, for whom felt takes the WYSIWYG path.
5. In some cases, no amount of beating/stomping/rolling/mashing the fiber will cause it to get all nice and solid. Unless you are once again the person in #3, who manages to produce good quality felt with a few twitches and presses and rolls.
6. Abstract felted designs are not appreciated by partner-on-couch, despite the fact that they truly believe a white piece of canvas painted white is art.
7. There is no cure for UGHly.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Swap-o-spoilage
Swaps are wonderful things, especially when you realize that while karma can be a beeotch, she can also smile upon you in the form of lovely cable knit scarves with matching hand warmers, balls of Noro Kureyon, and rubber duckies.
Coffee Shop people
Inspired by a post by Franklin on Panopticon:
1. Knitters can be snooty. There were five of us in a Starbucks one night, and not three feet away at another table were three people actively knitting, talking about knitting, helping each other which knitting, and they would not even make eye contact with us. Not that we wanted to be their best friends, but an acknowledgement that we are all KIP knitters would have been nice.
2. People pray loudly at Starbucks. People also cuss loudly.
3. Starbucks' baristas like a challenge. Come up with something wildly exotic and order it with a smile, and chances are they will come through like champs, taste your drink, and never ever forget you. Of course, they probably also laugh at you when you leave.
4. No matter what hour of the day or night, at some point during your visit there will be a herd of cackling teenagers, plus two sorority-type girls that need VACANCY tattooed on their foreheads and two painfully metrosexual guys.
5. Starbucks, home of poser musicians with more hair product than good taste.
6. Remember my last post, when I said knitting was a great way to get people to leave you alone in a crowded place? This does not apply to Starbucks.
7. Stay until closing time, and then ask if they have any iced coffee or tea they are going to throw out. Chances are they will, and you will be caffeinated beyond your wildest dreams.
1. Knitters can be snooty. There were five of us in a Starbucks one night, and not three feet away at another table were three people actively knitting, talking about knitting, helping each other which knitting, and they would not even make eye contact with us. Not that we wanted to be their best friends, but an acknowledgement that we are all KIP knitters would have been nice.
2. People pray loudly at Starbucks. People also cuss loudly.
3. Starbucks' baristas like a challenge. Come up with something wildly exotic and order it with a smile, and chances are they will come through like champs, taste your drink, and never ever forget you. Of course, they probably also laugh at you when you leave.
4. No matter what hour of the day or night, at some point during your visit there will be a herd of cackling teenagers, plus two sorority-type girls that need VACANCY tattooed on their foreheads and two painfully metrosexual guys.
5. Starbucks, home of poser musicians with more hair product than good taste.
6. Remember my last post, when I said knitting was a great way to get people to leave you alone in a crowded place? This does not apply to Starbucks.
7. Stay until closing time, and then ask if they have any iced coffee or tea they are going to throw out. Chances are they will, and you will be caffeinated beyond your wildest dreams.
Since I'm a slacker
It's been a while, so let me begin with the biggest event of the last few months, my trip to Comic-con.
Thank goodness that I now like to knit, as it kept me from wanting to kill people. Seriously. But in addition to the joys of knitting in public, I learned the following very important lessons:
1. Knitting is a great way to keep open seats around you in a crowded room. People will either not sit next to you or, in one case, a guy GOT UP AND MOVED when I pulled out the WIP. And it wasn't even scary little pointy needles. It was chunky yarn on bamboo 15s. What did he think, I was going to gouge his eyes out? And ruin the lovely wool? In either case, a giant thanks to the knitting gods, for knitting is nearly as useful as earphones to keep people from talking to you (unless they are other knitters, which is ok).
2. Knitting dark-ish yarn in near darkness while distracted by the faces of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Finion leads to a very wonky scarf.
3. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Harold and Kumar leads to realizing when you get home a week later that you you completely and hopelessly screwed up the pattern and the project requires full frontal frogging.
4. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Kevin Smith leads to not even bothering to rip back the disaster and just hoping it works out.
5. Realizing you might run out of yarn before you run out of convention leads to panicked phone calls to SO to find a yarn store on a bus/trolley route so you can get more yarn. Better to miss a couple hours of convention than go yarn-less. Note: I should've gone to the other store, but I completely forgot that rather than take the hour+ bus trip to get there, I could've taken the 35 minute trolley trip. Oh well. I got yarn, which is all that mattered, and it is a Lamb's Pride Worsted brown varigated colorway that has everyone around me slobbering. Jealousy yarn = bonus! And pink Silky Wool for ridiculously cheap - double bonus.
6. Knitters are everywhere, even at the World's Biggest Gathering of Scificomicbookvideogameanimepopculture geeks.
Count: projects started and completed - 1; project brought with nearly completed, but back burnered because of the thought it required - 1; project started and later frogged due to John Cho and Kal Penn - 1
Thank goodness that I now like to knit, as it kept me from wanting to kill people. Seriously. But in addition to the joys of knitting in public, I learned the following very important lessons:
1. Knitting is a great way to keep open seats around you in a crowded room. People will either not sit next to you or, in one case, a guy GOT UP AND MOVED when I pulled out the WIP. And it wasn't even scary little pointy needles. It was chunky yarn on bamboo 15s. What did he think, I was going to gouge his eyes out? And ruin the lovely wool? In either case, a giant thanks to the knitting gods, for knitting is nearly as useful as earphones to keep people from talking to you (unless they are other knitters, which is ok).
2. Knitting dark-ish yarn in near darkness while distracted by the faces of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Finion leads to a very wonky scarf.
3. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Harold and Kumar leads to realizing when you get home a week later that you you completely and hopelessly screwed up the pattern and the project requires full frontal frogging.
4. Trying to knit a pattern while distracted by Kevin Smith leads to not even bothering to rip back the disaster and just hoping it works out.
5. Realizing you might run out of yarn before you run out of convention leads to panicked phone calls to SO to find a yarn store on a bus/trolley route so you can get more yarn. Better to miss a couple hours of convention than go yarn-less. Note: I should've gone to the other store, but I completely forgot that rather than take the hour+ bus trip to get there, I could've taken the 35 minute trolley trip. Oh well. I got yarn, which is all that mattered, and it is a Lamb's Pride Worsted brown varigated colorway that has everyone around me slobbering. Jealousy yarn = bonus! And pink Silky Wool for ridiculously cheap - double bonus.
6. Knitters are everywhere, even at the World's Biggest Gathering of Scificomicbookvideogameanimepopculture geeks.
Count: projects started and completed - 1; project brought with nearly completed, but back burnered because of the thought it required - 1; project started and later frogged due to John Cho and Kal Penn - 1
Monday, July 14, 2008
Time Management
Ok, for the record, I have way too many creative things to do (is there such a thing?:) )...so this is my record in case something happens to my notebook.
by 7/19 Mail Rav ATCs (completed, ready to fly)
by 8/6 Mail Rav Cardmakers (completed, ready to fly)
by 7/18 Mail Rav Knit Treasures
by 8/1 Mail Rav Scarf Exchange
by 8/29 Mail Rav Swap on a Budget
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Pinup Girls (6)
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Cuppa Joe (6) (bases done, needs embellishment)
by 8/27 Mail YG ATC Pink/Orange (3)
by 7/28 Mail Rav Oddball Stash Busters
by any Mail YG ATC Newbie (5)
by 7/19 Mail Rav ATCs (completed, ready to fly)
by 8/6 Mail Rav Cardmakers (completed, ready to fly)
by 7/18 Mail Rav Knit Treasures
by 8/1 Mail Rav Scarf Exchange
by 8/29 Mail Rav Swap on a Budget
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Pinup Girls (6)
by 7/23 Mail YG ATC Cuppa Joe (6) (bases done, needs embellishment)
by 8/27 Mail YG ATC Pink/Orange (3)
by 7/28 Mail Rav Oddball Stash Busters
by any Mail YG ATC Newbie (5)
New Place
So our Monday night knitting group moved fro mthe old BN to the new BN. Apparently, the powers that be at BN did not see fit to stay in their small location with the big cafe so we could knit happily. The inconsiderate bums decided to move into the chi chi new shopping center. The store is larger the cafe is smaller, the tables are round (not so easy to push together to accomodate a herd of people and I can't weave on them), and the chairs are decidedly more uncomfortable. I'm pretty sure we'll stay there for a while, but it's just not the same. The old BN has slightly worn wooden tables and chairs, the sort you expect to see in a bookstore cafe that caters to students with books and laptops and the need for caffeine. This one has "retro" tables and chairs, not conducive to hours of sitting. We were also quieter than usual, and I doubt that this BN will put up with the sort of adult language that you'd expect from a group that calls themselves Skanky Knitters. So we'll see.
In other news, besides some minor hyperventilating with regards to tinking part of a scarf I am working on, I got several inches done, and Boku in stockingette is just gorgeous. Worth the thought it takes me to purl.
In other news, besides some minor hyperventilating with regards to tinking part of a scarf I am working on, I got several inches done, and Boku in stockingette is just gorgeous. Worth the thought it takes me to purl.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
gone roving
Ok, so the last blue-and-green is off the loom, replaced with another blue-and-green, with a subtle color change yarn. Problem is that the transitions are very slow and long, and the green was lookinga bit monotonous. Thankfully, the LYS we were at is mostly a fiber store, and I found a great sample bag with a ton of rope roving in colors that would look lovely in current project.
So for the first time I am incorporating roving into a woven piece, and it looks wonderful. And it's a dirt cheap was to dress up something dull, because I am using pinches of roving each time. And I mean little pinches. This bag-o-soft-and-lovely-dyed-wool will last fo-evah. I need to do this more.
I love some of the funky and/or lovely double stranded stuff I've been doing, but this is waaay faster and easier. I'm just hoping this one doesn't go weird on me, or I'm going to consider this project cursed.
So for the first time I am incorporating roving into a woven piece, and it looks wonderful. And it's a dirt cheap was to dress up something dull, because I am using pinches of roving each time. And I mean little pinches. This bag-o-soft-and-lovely-dyed-wool will last fo-evah. I need to do this more.
I love some of the funky and/or lovely double stranded stuff I've been doing, but this is waaay faster and easier. I'm just hoping this one doesn't go weird on me, or I'm going to consider this project cursed.
gone wonky
Ok, so the project I was working on got cut-off early. It was just not working. I unrolled it to check the length, and low and behold found big gaping holes where there was once nice tight weaving. The cool part is when I slid the yarn around, it made some really groovy ripples and holes. The bad part is that it was completely impractical to wear, and I really did not want to deal with another 5 feet...plus a piece that is loose early on gets worse over length. So I decided to stop and cut my losses. I decided to wet it and throw it in the dryer to see what would happen. All I got was a fuzzy rippled creased thing. I'm going to block it and put it away until I find a use of a home for it.
Oh, and GF once again said she liked it and it was nice, and I asked her if she liked it enough to put it in her closet, because that's probably where it would land. She did the uh...uh...uh... stutter stall. I told her not to tell me she liked something if she would not want it in her closet. I think that will put a stop to the polite approval of items.
Nothing breeds honesty like threatening to put in a UGH in someone's closet because they (politely) say they like it.
Oh, and GF once again said she liked it and it was nice, and I asked her if she liked it enough to put it in her closet, because that's probably where it would land. She did the uh...uh...uh... stutter stall. I told her not to tell me she liked something if she would not want it in her closet. I think that will put a stop to the polite approval of items.
Nothing breeds honesty like threatening to put in a UGH in someone's closet because they (politely) say they like it.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Officer, git that goat offen mah mercedes
Heard on WLRH (local public radio) and seen in Huntsville Times:
(some paraphrasing-WLRH) Tuesday: In Limestone County [where we live], a dog and goat were taken into police custody last night. It happened on Hwy72 and East Limestone Road. A person saw the animals and got out of their car to help them. They called the sheriff when the goat jumped up on the hood of her mercedes. The sheriff loaded the goat into this patrol car and when he opened the back door, the dog jumped in. Anyone missing a dog and a goat should contact the Limestone County Sherrif's Department.
and the follow up in the Huntsville Times-apparently, the sheriff who is holdingthe goat has get-togethers for goat stew. He is asking for someone to claim the animals. People have asked to adopt the goat, and so far it has a stay of execution.
Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Dog and Goat...
(some paraphrasing-WLRH) Tuesday: In Limestone County [where we live], a dog and goat were taken into police custody last night. It happened on Hwy72 and East Limestone Road. A person saw the animals and got out of their car to help them. They called the sheriff when the goat jumped up on the hood of her mercedes. The sheriff loaded the goat into this patrol car and when he opened the back door, the dog jumped in. Anyone missing a dog and a goat should contact the Limestone County Sherrif's Department.
and the follow up in the Huntsville Times-apparently, the sheriff who is holdingthe goat has get-togethers for goat stew. He is asking for someone to claim the animals. People have asked to adopt the goat, and so far it has a stay of execution.
Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Dog and Goat...
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Darn Distractions
I meant to get more weaving done last night. Really I did. But the lure of the last night of 50% off sale at a book store proved to be too much, so I got somewhat less done. I also got postcards and cards I don't really need, and which I will most likely return, much to the irritation of people around me.
So back to the fiber at hand. I love the colors I am working with, but did not give myself enough variation in texture to keep it from getting repetitive. Repetitive is not bad, just not what I was intending. It may or may not go to its intended recipient. But as always, I have a backup plan. Stash is our friend. Stash allows for last minute changes in plans or backups in case a YUM turns into an UGH! Stash allows us creative freedom. Stash allows us to have a wide variety of resources at our fingertips, so we can be ready for any fiber arts emergency. Stash may not always cooperate, and certain parts of it might go into hiding at the worst possible moment, but at least it gives us options. And really, what bad day can't be made better by pawing through stash to fondle the fibers? Can we file cost of stash under mental health aid?
So back to the fiber at hand. I love the colors I am working with, but did not give myself enough variation in texture to keep it from getting repetitive. Repetitive is not bad, just not what I was intending. It may or may not go to its intended recipient. But as always, I have a backup plan. Stash is our friend. Stash allows for last minute changes in plans or backups in case a YUM turns into an UGH! Stash allows us creative freedom. Stash allows us to have a wide variety of resources at our fingertips, so we can be ready for any fiber arts emergency. Stash may not always cooperate, and certain parts of it might go into hiding at the worst possible moment, but at least it gives us options. And really, what bad day can't be made better by pawing through stash to fondle the fibers? Can we file cost of stash under mental health aid?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Reloaded - weekend
The loom is reloaded. Blue and greens and sari silk. A special project. It's going to be fabulous.
About to get a new toy--will squee the blog when I do.
The race yesterday was great--TNT live feeds on the computer and radio coverage for sound.
Today's homemade ice cream--so-so, but cold and creamy, so that's good enough.
Fried cheese for dinner--outstanding.
Birds on my birdfeeders--very cool.
Birdcage in the DVD player--reminds me that I am frequently in the company of a Very Gay Straight Man Who is Not My DPs Best Friend. And that John Wayne really does walk that way.
About to get a new toy--will squee the blog when I do.
The race yesterday was great--TNT live feeds on the computer and radio coverage for sound.
Today's homemade ice cream--so-so, but cold and creamy, so that's good enough.
Fried cheese for dinner--outstanding.
Birds on my birdfeeders--very cool.
Birdcage in the DVD player--reminds me that I am frequently in the company of a Very Gay Straight Man Who is Not My DPs Best Friend. And that John Wayne really does walk that way.
Dogs and Fireworks
A little tail from the 4th of July.
We live in a county area, which means no fireworks restrictions. Which means lots of people setting them off. Which means lots of cracks and bangs and pops and whistles. Which means two little dogs go bats**t crazy barking and barking and barking. We are trying to watch one of the two tv shows we care about, and the tv does not go loud enough to drown them out. So we decide to send them out into their yard, figuring if they are going to bark anyway, they might as well bark out there. After a few minutes, we go to check on them, and decide to watch the neighborhoods' fireworks displays.
And wouldn't you know it. Outside amongst the flashing lights and cracks and bangs and pops and whistles, the dogs....are absolutely quiet. Yeah. One bark in thirty minutes. Yeah. These are the same animals that bark if they hear a car door next door. They bark if you close a cabinet door and it goes bump. They bark if you drop anything. The bark if a cat is being naughty. But outdoors, with fireworks going off 100 yards away? Nada.
So we decide that Saturday night, we are going to preempt the Loud Dog Headaches and put them outside ahead of the fireworks. We decide not to because their is CRAZY lightening and thunder....and the dogs are, yes, completely silent.
Someone care to explain this to me?
We live in a county area, which means no fireworks restrictions. Which means lots of people setting them off. Which means lots of cracks and bangs and pops and whistles. Which means two little dogs go bats**t crazy barking and barking and barking. We are trying to watch one of the two tv shows we care about, and the tv does not go loud enough to drown them out. So we decide to send them out into their yard, figuring if they are going to bark anyway, they might as well bark out there. After a few minutes, we go to check on them, and decide to watch the neighborhoods' fireworks displays.
And wouldn't you know it. Outside amongst the flashing lights and cracks and bangs and pops and whistles, the dogs....are absolutely quiet. Yeah. One bark in thirty minutes. Yeah. These are the same animals that bark if they hear a car door next door. They bark if you close a cabinet door and it goes bump. They bark if you drop anything. The bark if a cat is being naughty. But outdoors, with fireworks going off 100 yards away? Nada.
So we decide that Saturday night, we are going to preempt the Loud Dog Headaches and put them outside ahead of the fireworks. We decide not to because their is CRAZY lightening and thunder....and the dogs are, yes, completely silent.
Someone care to explain this to me?
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Done!
Productive day:
13 handmade sets (5 each) of stitch markers - done
craft area completely cleaned and organized - done
all yarn in zipper bags - done
fragrance oil cleaned up after it spilled all over work surface - done
watched Nascar Race - done
fabulous dinner, featuring fried cheese - done
chocolate milkshakes with homemade ice cream consumed - done
and.......
the ugly scarf - done done done!
There is a strip club chain out there with the motto "Hundreds of beautiful girls...and three ugly ones.". Well, my FO bag is now 35 beautiful objects...and one butt-ugly one.
13 handmade sets (5 each) of stitch markers - done
craft area completely cleaned and organized - done
all yarn in zipper bags - done
fragrance oil cleaned up after it spilled all over work surface - done
watched Nascar Race - done
fabulous dinner, featuring fried cheese - done
chocolate milkshakes with homemade ice cream consumed - done
and.......
the ugly scarf - done done done!
There is a strip club chain out there with the motto "Hundreds of beautiful girls...and three ugly ones.". Well, my FO bag is now 35 beautiful objects...and one butt-ugly one.
Craft area cleaning and the law of gravity
Yesterday, DH and I decided to do a major garage clean and reorganize. This means we found craft stuff-papers, yarn, pencils, etc-and they need to move inside. So I decided to redo the craft room/area to organize and makeroom for more stuff (thank goodness for three drawer rolling carts). And apparently the universe decided that I needed a remedial physics lesson. Yarn, stacked and unconfined, tumbles downward. Boxes, when overfilled, heavy, and lifted improperly, tumble with a great crash. And containers haphazardly stacked with cards and paper and bags and other ephemera, eventually lose their balance and tip....all over the craft and living room floors. Oh, and as yet untumbled yarn, when subjected to bumping and banging, decides to head south.
The moral of this story: Gravity works.
The moral of this story: Gravity works.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
A Good Thought Gone Bad
When one is contemplating lace, one should not look at a pattern with lots of big numbers next to lots of little letters.
One should stick to their original idea of combinations of k and yo and k2t.
One should also be proud that when a Knitter rattles off a pattern, one can follow what Knitter is saying.
One should not then look at something on the internets that is the same pattern writen down.
Just sayin.
One should stick to their original idea of combinations of k and yo and k2t.
One should also be proud that when a Knitter rattles off a pattern, one can follow what Knitter is saying.
One should not then look at something on the internets that is the same pattern writen down.
Just sayin.
Ugly is the Word
Sometimes there is no other word for a project.
Start with (or don't, in this case) wonderful, soft, squishy thick (up to 1cm) and thin (fingering weight) brown/orange/white wool. Lovely on the skein. Lovely as a yarn cake. Then knit it on the prescribed size 17 needles. And watch it turn to UGH! Seriously, this looks like a dollar store reject, the sort of things that make people go deer-in-the-headlights as they try to find something nice to say about it. It's crossed the fine line from funky to fugly.
Seriously, the people around me say they like it. And considering the wonderful socksscarvesdishclothessweatersblankets they produce, I will not question their taste. I'll finish out the yarn cake and block it. Maybe the wonder of water and T-pins will turn it into something that doesn't make me cringe. Maybe I'll learn to love this beastly thing. Maybe GF won't be sorry she said she liked it (after she did, I threatened that it would land in her closet, to which she smiled politely). Maybe it won't wind up in the land of What Were They Thinking. Maybe. But I'm not optimistic. It's not a nightmare. It's not difficult yarn. It's plain garter stitch and reasonably fast.
But it's just plain no other words for it UGLY.
Start with (or don't, in this case) wonderful, soft, squishy thick (up to 1cm) and thin (fingering weight) brown/orange/white wool. Lovely on the skein. Lovely as a yarn cake. Then knit it on the prescribed size 17 needles. And watch it turn to UGH! Seriously, this looks like a dollar store reject, the sort of things that make people go deer-in-the-headlights as they try to find something nice to say about it. It's crossed the fine line from funky to fugly.
Seriously, the people around me say they like it. And considering the wonderful socksscarvesdishclothessweatersblankets they produce, I will not question their taste. I'll finish out the yarn cake and block it. Maybe the wonder of water and T-pins will turn it into something that doesn't make me cringe. Maybe I'll learn to love this beastly thing. Maybe GF won't be sorry she said she liked it (after she did, I threatened that it would land in her closet, to which she smiled politely). Maybe it won't wind up in the land of What Were They Thinking. Maybe. But I'm not optimistic. It's not a nightmare. It's not difficult yarn. It's plain garter stitch and reasonably fast.
But it's just plain no other words for it UGLY.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Made of Bed Fail
I have a tear in my let shoulder rotator cuff. But it rarely bothers me, unless I do something stupid. And tonight was an example of how stupidity really can be painful.
The basic lesson of the evening: When making the bed, if you have a ceiling fan, don't flip the sheet high up to open it and settle it on the bed. Because if you do, the sheet catches on the ceiling fan and wrenches the shoulder connected to the arm connected to the hand still holding the sheet. And then you have to go confess to DP that you are made of fail, and will be turning off the ceiling fan for the duration of bedmaking because you are too stupid to leave it on.
He says I need to be wrapped in bubble wrap. Sometimes I agree.
The basic lesson of the evening: When making the bed, if you have a ceiling fan, don't flip the sheet high up to open it and settle it on the bed. Because if you do, the sheet catches on the ceiling fan and wrenches the shoulder connected to the arm connected to the hand still holding the sheet. And then you have to go confess to DP that you are made of fail, and will be turning off the ceiling fan for the duration of bedmaking because you are too stupid to leave it on.
He says I need to be wrapped in bubble wrap. Sometimes I agree.
k, p, yo
I did them. I did them all. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth (by me and my many knitting instructors), I learned to purl and yarn over. One of our local knitters just seems to understand how my brain works and got me on the right track. DP swears that I changed how I knit between two weeks ago and now, but I guarantee I did not. And now I've moved into actual, real-life stitches. Go me!
Of course, I wouldn't be me if there wasn't some weirdness in my knitting. This particular project is size 17 needles with this serious thick and thin. By that I mean it goes from barely spun centimeter+ wide yarn down to fingering weight. So you can imagine that with my loosy-goosy-gauge-be-damned style and the eccentricities of the yarn, this thing looks weird. Like no-two-stitches alike weird. Like designer top model runway hairdo weird. Like I'll be damned if I can find where the purls and yarnovers are, because it all looks funky. This will be heavily blocked. I figure I can wrangle it into something that looks like a scarf, instead of hours of yarn barf. And I figure that it's a one of a kind designer hand-knit scarf. Or I'll file it under Ugh! and give everyone a good laugh.
Of course, I wouldn't be me if there wasn't some weirdness in my knitting. This particular project is size 17 needles with this serious thick and thin. By that I mean it goes from barely spun centimeter+ wide yarn down to fingering weight. So you can imagine that with my loosy-goosy-gauge-be-damned style and the eccentricities of the yarn, this thing looks weird. Like no-two-stitches alike weird. Like designer top model runway hairdo weird. Like I'll be damned if I can find where the purls and yarnovers are, because it all looks funky. This will be heavily blocked. I figure I can wrangle it into something that looks like a scarf, instead of hours of yarn barf. And I figure that it's a one of a kind designer hand-knit scarf. Or I'll file it under Ugh! and give everyone a good laugh.
Forgot This Lesson
They way it feels in the skein does not necessarily equal the way it feels worked up.
The way it feels knitted does not necessarily equal the way it feels woven.
The way it feels woven can turn a lovely scarf to a big pile of fail.
I want to block this thing, but I'm afraid it won't get any better.
Meh.
The way it feels knitted does not necessarily equal the way it feels woven.
The way it feels woven can turn a lovely scarf to a big pile of fail.
I want to block this thing, but I'm afraid it won't get any better.
Meh.
KnitAtWork
So I was deciding what to do on my lunch break, and as I was walking to Costco (needed a grape fix), I pondered hurrying up my trip so that I could cast on and maybe get a few rows in on the new scarf. Then I decided that I am subject to enough hairy eyeball looks at work, and bringing my knitting in might be too much for my coworkers, and they might get head explody. It's one thing for me to talk about knitting and weaving. It's another to sit at my desk listening to Frank Sinatra and knitting.
Now, they have seen my partner knit. And it's sort of a novelty, because they seem him knitting at concerts...and community events...and places where a knitter is a neat oddity. But having it brought in the office? I dunno. Besides, while I am out about being a fiber artist, it's one thing to have it as an abstraction, another entirely to have it right in front of them. Sort of like a lot of people feel about gayness. They say they are fine with it, but if they see two men kiss, they get all squicky. I say men specifically because no one seems to have a problem with two women kissing.
Maybe one day I'll have to get really feisty and bring in something pink and glittery and knit on breaks. Hey, if I'm going to make a spectacle of myself, I might as well go all out.
Now, they have seen my partner knit. And it's sort of a novelty, because they seem him knitting at concerts...and community events...and places where a knitter is a neat oddity. But having it brought in the office? I dunno. Besides, while I am out about being a fiber artist, it's one thing to have it as an abstraction, another entirely to have it right in front of them. Sort of like a lot of people feel about gayness. They say they are fine with it, but if they see two men kiss, they get all squicky. I say men specifically because no one seems to have a problem with two women kissing.
Maybe one day I'll have to get really feisty and bring in something pink and glittery and knit on breaks. Hey, if I'm going to make a spectacle of myself, I might as well go all out.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
It's Gone Funky
I knocked out another scarf. I'll not say how long it took because that makes the local knitters grouchy, but suffice to say it was fast. And strange. The yarn was Berroco Optik, a multi-strand, multi-fiber yanr that I double stranded with a coordinating ladder yarn. It's gorgeous blues and greens....except for the weird mohair circlets running though it. Every few inches ther are a few rows of this curly blonde mohair. The rest of it is fairly shiny, with some blobs of thick wooley fibers. It's skinny, made to be draped around a coat. But it definitely pushes the limits of odd. But someone, somewhere will love it.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Another ones in the bag
Last night was a finishing night. CSI and Swingtown provided the background for me to finish a second knitted scarf (very soft, which I cast off with only verbal help!) and a woven scarf.
I'm really, REALLY hoping that this one softens up with some good conditioner and TLC. It's all wool, a heavy worsted double stranded with a laceweight fuzzy wool with halo. Think mohair, but without the sticky.
BUT, lesson learned: Just because it feels nice in the skein does not mean it will feel nice worked up. The fuzzy wool felt good, and looked good, but in reality feels like those nylon dish scrubbies, which are great for dishwashing, not so great for clothing. Even in the yarn cake it felt ok, but woven up? ICK! I would not want this anywhere near my person. This is getting some good conditioner and a good soaking, and if that doesn't work I'll throw it in the dryer to felt and turn it into "art".
Would someone like to expain to my how wool gets wiry? Not just scratchy or coarse, but wiry. Like scraggly dog hair wiry. I'll keep you posted on whether or not I can change this Item of Torture into an Item of Lovely.
I'm really, REALLY hoping that this one softens up with some good conditioner and TLC. It's all wool, a heavy worsted double stranded with a laceweight fuzzy wool with halo. Think mohair, but without the sticky.
BUT, lesson learned: Just because it feels nice in the skein does not mean it will feel nice worked up. The fuzzy wool felt good, and looked good, but in reality feels like those nylon dish scrubbies, which are great for dishwashing, not so great for clothing. Even in the yarn cake it felt ok, but woven up? ICK! I would not want this anywhere near my person. This is getting some good conditioner and a good soaking, and if that doesn't work I'll throw it in the dryer to felt and turn it into "art".
Would someone like to expain to my how wool gets wiry? Not just scratchy or coarse, but wiry. Like scraggly dog hair wiry. I'll keep you posted on whether or not I can change this Item of Torture into an Item of Lovely.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Fuzzy?
Ok, so I have a new project on the loom, a heavy worsted wool with a fingering carry along that has a mohair-like halo, but without the mohair stickiness. Cream and pink and grey.
Problem: While the look is soft and lovely, the texture is like fuzzy plastic. I think it will be fine as soon as I wash and block it, but sadly right now it feels like cheap acrylic.
A young woman was watching what I was doing (we were at Starbucks), and I think I convinced her on-the-spot to get an Ashford Knitter's Loom, and in any case we invited her to Monday Night knitting to show her what fun it can be, bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha.
And I had to do a very painful frogging tonight. DH's Montego Bay Scarf. The pattern just hates him. It flatly refuses to work for more than a few rows before the demonic pattern begins to twist and turn yarn and randomly add and subtract stitches. He has tried it with different yarns with the same effect, so it's not that the pattern hates the yarn, it just hates him. I hated ripping it back. He had gotten so far and it looked so nice.....but now armed with a giganto yarn cake of the various colored yarn, I think he's gonna give it one more try.
Me? I think he should burn the pattern, erase it from his memory. and find a whole new use for the Giant Yarn Cake.
Problem: While the look is soft and lovely, the texture is like fuzzy plastic. I think it will be fine as soon as I wash and block it, but sadly right now it feels like cheap acrylic.
A young woman was watching what I was doing (we were at Starbucks), and I think I convinced her on-the-spot to get an Ashford Knitter's Loom, and in any case we invited her to Monday Night knitting to show her what fun it can be, bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha.
And I had to do a very painful frogging tonight. DH's Montego Bay Scarf. The pattern just hates him. It flatly refuses to work for more than a few rows before the demonic pattern begins to twist and turn yarn and randomly add and subtract stitches. He has tried it with different yarns with the same effect, so it's not that the pattern hates the yarn, it just hates him. I hated ripping it back. He had gotten so far and it looked so nice.....but now armed with a giganto yarn cake of the various colored yarn, I think he's gonna give it one more try.
Me? I think he should burn the pattern, erase it from his memory. and find a whole new use for the Giant Yarn Cake.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
How to make a man scream
1. Take out skeins of bulky wool that have been in stash for a while.
2. Rip off ball labels.
3. Begin to untie ties around skein.
4. Listen as man screams.
5. Listen to his explanation of why he is screaming, which is that he is doing it now rather than later when he will have to untangle it.
How to make same man smile?
Ask for the swift and ball winder.
2. Rip off ball labels.
3. Begin to untie ties around skein.
4. Listen as man screams.
5. Listen to his explanation of why he is screaming, which is that he is doing it now rather than later when he will have to untangle it.
How to make same man smile?
Ask for the swift and ball winder.
Cat in the Bag
Where's a camera when you need it? (In the car is the answer).
So I looked down at my loom bag a few minutes ago. It was lying on its side on the floor. With a cat 2/3 of the way in it. There was half a catbutt and a tail hanging out. I tapped the back end and the cat retreated. She usually leaves yarn alone unless it is moving, so I have no clue what she thought she was doing in there. And she left her tail out. Did she think I wouldn't see her?!
But then again, this is the weird cat, the one I have to fight for grapes. Seriously, if I am eating them, she will do everything in her kitty-powers to steal them. And if I leave the stems out, she'll chew on THEM.
So I think I need to add Turkish Wool to the list of Things the Cate Likes to eat. At leats she's front declawed, so my yarn was in no imminent danger, although I think she might have felted an inch.
So I looked down at my loom bag a few minutes ago. It was lying on its side on the floor. With a cat 2/3 of the way in it. There was half a catbutt and a tail hanging out. I tapped the back end and the cat retreated. She usually leaves yarn alone unless it is moving, so I have no clue what she thought she was doing in there. And she left her tail out. Did she think I wouldn't see her?!
But then again, this is the weird cat, the one I have to fight for grapes. Seriously, if I am eating them, she will do everything in her kitty-powers to steal them. And if I leave the stems out, she'll chew on THEM.
So I think I need to add Turkish Wool to the list of Things the Cate Likes to eat. At leats she's front declawed, so my yarn was in no imminent danger, although I think she might have felted an inch.
The Good, The Bad, and the Purl
Good: I will finish the Scarf from heck tonight and rewarp the loom. I will, I really really will. If I hadn't been seduced by the 50% racks at BN last night I would have finished.
Bad: Well, I suppose this depends on how you look at it. I took my knitting to bed last night. I needed something to shut my brain off. Knitting almost worked. DH laughed at me, which I deserved for the number of times I have derided him for knitting in bed. Plus the number of times I have laughed when his PDH (platonic DH) has visited and they have spent the day in bed together....knitting. Or sleeping. Or knitting and sleeping, not at the same time. He's also learning what it feel like to want me to do something only to have me say, "Wait, just let me finish this row."
The Purl: DH figured out how I can purl, or do a purl -ike stitch that will create stockingette. Squeeeeeeee! If this works, wonky american continental backwards knitters like me will fall and worship at his feet.
Must...finish...scarf....
Bad: Well, I suppose this depends on how you look at it. I took my knitting to bed last night. I needed something to shut my brain off. Knitting almost worked. DH laughed at me, which I deserved for the number of times I have derided him for knitting in bed. Plus the number of times I have laughed when his PDH (platonic DH) has visited and they have spent the day in bed together....knitting. Or sleeping. Or knitting and sleeping, not at the same time. He's also learning what it feel like to want me to do something only to have me say, "Wait, just let me finish this row."
The Purl: DH figured out how I can purl, or do a purl -ike stitch that will create stockingette. Squeeeeeeee! If this works, wonky american continental backwards knitters like me will fall and worship at his feet.
Must...finish...scarf....
Monday, June 23, 2008
Nearly done
Ok, so if I hadn't taken time tonight to peruse the bargain books at BN, I would've finished The Scarf. It's so close. So so close. I intend to finish it tomorrow night and rewarp the loom with a swap scarf that hopefully will not drive me crazy.
And speaking of crazy-making, one of tonight's knitters had a kniting disaster, and put away her WIP. At that point, she noticed my yarns (the roughly 9 I am working with on this scarf) were well on their way to becoming a big mound of yarn barf. Bless her, she unscrambled and rewrapped most of it, so the leftovers will be used or go neatly into my scrap-and-blob bag.
I am making progress, tho. My yarns for The Scarf are all in one bag. My knitting WIP is neatly rolled and wrapped around its needles. My loom tools are in their bag. My shuttles are in their pocket, as are my scissors. I cleaned out my bag over the weekend, and after extracting a dozen or more ball bands, four ties, one water bottle, assorted paper scraps, four pieces of newspaper, three yarn scraps, two partial balls from gosh-knows-when, my camera, and a piece of wood I intend to use as a pick-up stick, my bag became a much happier place for my loom and WIPs to live.
I predicts the happy organization of the bag lasts two weeks. That's about as long as I can keep anything neat and organized.
And speaking of crazy-making, one of tonight's knitters had a kniting disaster, and put away her WIP. At that point, she noticed my yarns (the roughly 9 I am working with on this scarf) were well on their way to becoming a big mound of yarn barf. Bless her, she unscrambled and rewrapped most of it, so the leftovers will be used or go neatly into my scrap-and-blob bag.
I am making progress, tho. My yarns for The Scarf are all in one bag. My knitting WIP is neatly rolled and wrapped around its needles. My loom tools are in their bag. My shuttles are in their pocket, as are my scissors. I cleaned out my bag over the weekend, and after extracting a dozen or more ball bands, four ties, one water bottle, assorted paper scraps, four pieces of newspaper, three yarn scraps, two partial balls from gosh-knows-when, my camera, and a piece of wood I intend to use as a pick-up stick, my bag became a much happier place for my loom and WIPs to live.
I predicts the happy organization of the bag lasts two weeks. That's about as long as I can keep anything neat and organized.
Thrift Score!
So on my lunch today, I decided to get lunch from a local natural foods place which just happens to be right next to a Downtown Rescue Mission Thrift Store. I go in there occasionally, and today thought, "Hmmm, wonder if they have any knitting stuff?"
I emerged with 9 skeins of Crystal Palace Mikado Ribbon (lemonade and key lime colorways) and 10 skeins of Plymouth Wildflower DK (48 54 57 58 colorways). All matching dyelots. Plus 8 greeting cards, three white canvas painting boards, and a green storage basket.
For $41.
Yeah, I rock.
I emerged with 9 skeins of Crystal Palace Mikado Ribbon (lemonade and key lime colorways) and 10 skeins of Plymouth Wildflower DK (48 54 57 58 colorways). All matching dyelots. Plus 8 greeting cards, three white canvas painting boards, and a green storage basket.
For $41.
Yeah, I rock.
A Most Excellent Adventure
George Carlin, aka Cardinal Glick, aka Rufus, aka The Book of the Road Hitchhiker, has gone to the big comedy club in the sky.
Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as we enjoyed riding with you.
Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as we enjoyed riding with you.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Bachelor Stash
I admire organized stasher. Even more I envy people with attractively organized stashes, or at least neatly concealed stashes.
DP and I have been together for over four years, and living together for more than three of those. And being two gay men, you'd think we would have attractive and tastefully decorated home, with objets d'art and coordinated paintings on the wall. Well, you'd be soooo wrong.
It's not that we lack the decorating gene. It's just that our current furnishings are Early Modern Garage Sale. This is not a joke. Several of our tables come from garage sales or FOSOR (found on side of road). Grandmother's quilts are cleverly masquerading as sofa covers. Dining room chairs don't match, and we only have four, so we have to seat dinner guests creatively. Well, you get the picture.
Which brings me to the craft space, which would make most of you cry. Most of our wire shelving was FOSOR. We store yarn in the zipper bags comforters and curtains come in, and sometimes in tied shut garbage bags and LYS bags. My yarn is near a window. And while Martha Stewart would whip up some chintz curtains to conceal the masses of semi-sorted-by-color yarns and protect them from the sunlight, I am not Martha Stewart. My yarn is protected by two clean towels deemed too ratty for personal use, and a couple of old t-shirts destined to become DP's quilt. Because these are sitting on aforementioned plastic bags, they have to be carefully draped and tucked in so as not to slip I am very good at this. It takes a special talent to turn old worn towels into yarn drapes. Yeah. For serious.
DP and I have been together for over four years, and living together for more than three of those. And being two gay men, you'd think we would have attractive and tastefully decorated home, with objets d'art and coordinated paintings on the wall. Well, you'd be soooo wrong.
It's not that we lack the decorating gene. It's just that our current furnishings are Early Modern Garage Sale. This is not a joke. Several of our tables come from garage sales or FOSOR (found on side of road). Grandmother's quilts are cleverly masquerading as sofa covers. Dining room chairs don't match, and we only have four, so we have to seat dinner guests creatively. Well, you get the picture.
Which brings me to the craft space, which would make most of you cry. Most of our wire shelving was FOSOR. We store yarn in the zipper bags comforters and curtains come in, and sometimes in tied shut garbage bags and LYS bags. My yarn is near a window. And while Martha Stewart would whip up some chintz curtains to conceal the masses of semi-sorted-by-color yarns and protect them from the sunlight, I am not Martha Stewart. My yarn is protected by two clean towels deemed too ratty for personal use, and a couple of old t-shirts destined to become DP's quilt. Because these are sitting on aforementioned plastic bags, they have to be carefully draped and tucked in so as not to slip I am very good at this. It takes a special talent to turn old worn towels into yarn drapes. Yeah. For serious.
Boredom sets in...
I want this scarf to be done. Ok, I just started it last night, and I've only invested about 6 hours in it. And it's a freeform scarf with a lot of lovely rich jewel tone yarns and colors. And I should love it. But I've become bored with it. This rarely happens, partly because I love colorwork, and partly because these projects go so darn fast.
I've decided it's because of a combination of factors.
1. I've been doing quicky projects with worsted-or-heavier yarn, and this scarf is heavy on the sockweight, which takes longer and is much more fiddley. Slow=bored.
2. There are only so many ways to combine the colors, and I'm trying not to be repetitive. Repetitive+slow small yarn=really bored.
3. I'm nearly out of the most exciting yarn in the scarf. No Nashua Sitar+repetitive+slow small yarn = really really bored.
4. I was focusing so intently on it to tune out MIL who was getting under my skin that I was over concentrating, and anything I have to closely concentrate on for a long period of time makes me crazy. ADHD+out of yarn+repetitive+slow=me very nearly tying the thing off two feet short of its goal and shipping it somewhere on the first available postal truck.
Now, I unwrapped it and looked at it and it is gorgeous. I don't have that much more to do. I can finish this. Really I can. Tomorrow night at SnB. And probably still finish my 2nd WWKIP scarf. But this is one of the few times I wish some little fairy would come visit in the middle of the night and finish this blasted thing for me.
I've decided it's because of a combination of factors.
1. I've been doing quicky projects with worsted-or-heavier yarn, and this scarf is heavy on the sockweight, which takes longer and is much more fiddley. Slow=bored.
2. There are only so many ways to combine the colors, and I'm trying not to be repetitive. Repetitive+slow small yarn=really bored.
3. I'm nearly out of the most exciting yarn in the scarf. No Nashua Sitar+repetitive+slow small yarn = really really bored.
4. I was focusing so intently on it to tune out MIL who was getting under my skin that I was over concentrating, and anything I have to closely concentrate on for a long period of time makes me crazy. ADHD+out of yarn+repetitive+slow=me very nearly tying the thing off two feet short of its goal and shipping it somewhere on the first available postal truck.
Now, I unwrapped it and looked at it and it is gorgeous. I don't have that much more to do. I can finish this. Really I can. Tomorrow night at SnB. And probably still finish my 2nd WWKIP scarf. But this is one of the few times I wish some little fairy would come visit in the middle of the night and finish this blasted thing for me.
Picnic anyone?
So I went to my GF's annual company picnic with her yesterday (while DP (Dear Partner) sat at home on the sofa and talked ALL DAY to his platonic DH, who lives on the West Coast). I found myself more then once thinking, "Gee, I wish I'd brought my knitting." I'm sure she was thinking the same thing. The facility really was made for kids to play in, although at 5'4" I was able to climb into a wooden John Deere and pose for a picture. But seriously, I could've spent the 30 minutes we were waiting for lunch knitting.
Now, just so's you know what a big deal this is, let me tell you that I technically learned to knit over two years ago, and spent most of the intervening time proclaiming loudly how much I hated knitting--too complicated, required too much thought, took too long. In those two years, I completed exactly ONE project....a 6"x6" sqaure that I felted.
Fast forward to WWKIP Day. I told my local knitters that I would actually bring needles and yarn with me and knit for this event. DH\P was skeptical, questioning whether or not I would be throwing those needles at anyone. This was not an out-of-line question, as I have thrown my needles on the ground in frustration many times. I decided to go easy...bulky yarn and big (15) needles. And I cast on seven stitches. And I knit. And knit. And about 3 hours later, had a very respectable 4' skinny scarf. And a new addiction. I had to go to a local craft store for weaving project supplies, and decided I needed another bulky skein so I could continue to KIP at a gay pride event and a mall. Found a cheap skein of blue and pink.
Now, if you ever want to get the weird eyeball from people, spend an hour as a short, skinny guy with big gauged piercings and a visible tattoo knitting with pink-and-blue yarn stashed in his cargo shorts pocket in a local shopping mall. That was me. Oh yeah, and I was in Alabama.
See, I've been wanting a craft that is more portable than my loom. I love love love my Ashford 16" Rigid Heddle Knitter's Loom, but it's not real convenient for walking around with or doing in a line or waiting room. Crochet just baffles me, and I am too cheap to buy the little Weavette loom I want. So I'm actually very excited about finally liking knitting.
And bonus: it gives me something to do with my single skeins I bought before realizing that 75 yards doesn't go very far on a port-a-loom.
Now, just so's you know what a big deal this is, let me tell you that I technically learned to knit over two years ago, and spent most of the intervening time proclaiming loudly how much I hated knitting--too complicated, required too much thought, took too long. In those two years, I completed exactly ONE project....a 6"x6" sqaure that I felted.
Fast forward to WWKIP Day. I told my local knitters that I would actually bring needles and yarn with me and knit for this event. DH\P was skeptical, questioning whether or not I would be throwing those needles at anyone. This was not an out-of-line question, as I have thrown my needles on the ground in frustration many times. I decided to go easy...bulky yarn and big (15) needles. And I cast on seven stitches. And I knit. And knit. And about 3 hours later, had a very respectable 4' skinny scarf. And a new addiction. I had to go to a local craft store for weaving project supplies, and decided I needed another bulky skein so I could continue to KIP at a gay pride event and a mall. Found a cheap skein of blue and pink.
Now, if you ever want to get the weird eyeball from people, spend an hour as a short, skinny guy with big gauged piercings and a visible tattoo knitting with pink-and-blue yarn stashed in his cargo shorts pocket in a local shopping mall. That was me. Oh yeah, and I was in Alabama.
See, I've been wanting a craft that is more portable than my loom. I love love love my Ashford 16" Rigid Heddle Knitter's Loom, but it's not real convenient for walking around with or doing in a line or waiting room. Crochet just baffles me, and I am too cheap to buy the little Weavette loom I want. So I'm actually very excited about finally liking knitting.
And bonus: it gives me something to do with my single skeins I bought before realizing that 75 yards doesn't go very far on a port-a-loom.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Gave in
There are lots of fiber-related things I'd like to post to Ravelry, but can't find a place for, so I broke down and got a blog.
The genesis of this was a comment I made tonight, whilst looking at an accessory for my laptop. Said accessory (a skin that looks like my disheveled bookshelves) is $29.95. I pondered it a moment, then said, "29.95. That's a lot of yarn." Yes, I have begun valueing things by their value in yarn. I decided I needed to post this, but to where....
Blogger, that's where.
And so begins the continuing adventures of an avid weaver, a sort-of knitter, and a wanna-be crocheter who just can't get the hang of it.
The genesis of this was a comment I made tonight, whilst looking at an accessory for my laptop. Said accessory (a skin that looks like my disheveled bookshelves) is $29.95. I pondered it a moment, then said, "29.95. That's a lot of yarn." Yes, I have begun valueing things by their value in yarn. I decided I needed to post this, but to where....
Blogger, that's where.
And so begins the continuing adventures of an avid weaver, a sort-of knitter, and a wanna-be crocheter who just can't get the hang of it.
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