Friday, June 27, 2008

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)


STR Mediumweight in Pride
Apparently I don't have a conference talk to be writing, childrens' suitcases to be packing (they're going to Ireland for a month. A MONTH.), or affairs to be gotten in order before my own journey abroad, because I seem to have a lot of free time...how else can one explain spending an entire day and a good part of yesterday evening figuring out the Socks That Rock Mediumweight 'Pride' Pooling Dilemma of June 2008™?

See, I ordered this little lovely several weeks ago and it has been burning a hole in my stash ever since. Everything about this skein was just screaming GET IT GIRL and CAST ME ON, GIRLFRIEND. The colors, the smell (you know the smell I'm talking about), the fact that I am probably a gay man trapped in a middle aged woman's body, the disproportionate relationship between numbers of socks already on the needles and the somewhat maniacal need to cast on for more sock projects. All these things meant that I was destined to wind 'er up and start the gears turning.

Pattern-wise I went to a tried and true stand-by, the Garter Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. Alas my first attempt (size 2.5 needles, 56 sts) left me deflated and dejected by the hideous pooling and creepy blotching that we have all come to despise. Blech.

After a peanut-butter sandwich and wine-gums break, my resolve had redoubled and I was ready to attempt the same pattern but on size 1.5 needles and with 64 sts. This iteration was indeed an improvement, but sadly the result was somewhat toward the piss poor side of things and certainly not worthy of my Gay Owned and Operated Skein. Back to the drawing board!


This is where it suddenly dawned on me that I had a legion of experts with fingers poised at their keyboards, constantly refreshing their screens on the Ravelry boards, waiting for a question such as mine. These cognoscenti did not disappoint: they ultimately led me to the pattern I should have been trying all along, the RPM (cue sunbursts and the sound of angels singing). Thanks, Ladies.
STR Pride RPMs...
Yes, these are the socks that Pride was meant to be. No horrid pooling, no unsightly liver spots, just luscious, queer-friendly spirals. And the fact that the pattern on Knitty has a quote from Dead or Alive's 'You Spin me Round...', well Sylvester herself couldn't have scripted this any better now, could she?




Tuesday, June 24, 2008

KAL floozy

For someone who has spent the better part of her life cultivating an outsider, 'Holden Caulfield' personality, boy do I seem to be a joiner. Right now I find myself signed up for no less than seven knitalongs, and I am sure that more will be coming down the pike. Obviously one of the things we all love about this Ravelry/knitblog daisy chain world of ours is the social interaction that it affords--so many tips and tricks to share and gather, what's not to love? What is pleasant about the kal is that it presents a microsphere for this interaction, its own little special project clusterf*ck. Break out the lube, that's what I say!

Jitterbug pals
Summer of Socks 2008: Jessica does such an amazing job with this, the sheer number of participants is mind boggling. I like this kal because of its sock-centric-ness. I have already gotten many ideas and pattern suggestions from fellow sock knitters and am way into the contests and such. Note that because of the SOS Kal, the Jitterbug above will all be socks by the end of the summer...

Project Spectrum 3.0: Ok, technically not a kal, but still a common project with participants from far and wide that all contribute. I have just loved the way that the colors have been organized this year, and while my sorry ass hasn't managed to complete a single project in time, I enjoy seeing everyone else's work.


Tour de France KAL: Like I said before, this kal has the potential for kismet writ large. A French teacher knitting a special project during the month of July and then cheering on her team on the Champs-Elysées at the finish? Yes, please.

Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in 'Cami Chic'
Cami Chic KAL: Have I cast on for this one yet? No. But what a great concept--knitters all using the same colorway (Cami Chic) of Hazel Knits artisan sock yarn and experimenting with different patterns, stitch counts and gauges. I am so theoretically on board with this one!

Bitter much?
Fair Along KAL: Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know the bitter disappointment I suffered last year at the hands of the local farm show judges and their punk ass third place ribbons. I have joined Larissa Brown's kal for state fairs not so much as a motivator to enter but rather as a support group for when my world comes crashing down again next September. And make no mistake, it will.


Malabrigo Silky in 'Acorn'
Eye of Partridge KAL: Another Ravelry group. I started my shawl in some Malabrigo lace and now am thinking about restarting it in my new Malabrigo Silky Acorn (see above), mainly because I like saying 'silky acorn'.


Olympic Trials KAL: I haven't given this one too much thought, but when my craven little heart saw this group on Ravelry I just clicked 'add me to this group'. (See? A joiner). Apparently you knit an entire project during the Summer Games in August. I can do that, and so can you!

Please let me know which KALs you are participating in. Am I missing out on any?

Friday, June 20, 2008

The Snood

We have been in Philadelphia for the past day or two on a little family wing ding (with our California peeps also in tow). The car ride there allowed me the opportunity to get a little low cognitive load knitting done. The long trek on the turnpike also unfortunately allowed me to experience what is called in my family an 'ebm' (emergency bowel movement--it comes out of nowhere with the urgency and brightness of a thousand suns and cannot be ignored), which resulted in us bringing the car to a screeching halt and me making a break for it in the tall grass. Reason #86 why I love the Curmudgeon: after several glorious moments of blessed release (for me. The kids were what can only be described as desperately ashamed and humiliated) he simply got out of the car and approached me with a large blanket, thereby giving me the opportunity to, you know, wipe. Love this guy. Several handiwipes later and more than a few honks from truckers who must have had quite a guffaw at my expense, we were back in business. Was that too much information for you, gentle reader?
Back in the car I was able to finish my two easy projects. Both are cowls based on the Gloria cowl, but would be renamed later by their recipient. Here they are in their pre-gifted state:
Pre-Gifted State

I must say one of the joys of the cowl is that you really get to see what various fingering/dk yarns look like knitted up in something other than a sock. The result here was pure love, both on the part of the knitter and the recipient, who later redubbed these 'snoods' rather than cowls. This guy has a bit of a flare for the absurd and a gift for language, so I wasn't going to argue. 'Snood' is what happens when you make a scarf that looks like a hood with an extra 'n' thrown in for alitteration.

The Snood
The Specs:
Pattern: Based on the Gloria Cowl
Yarn: Lucy Neatby Celestial Bluefaced DK in Bottle (the greenish one) and Hand Maiden Casbah Sock (no color given). Both are fabulous, for very different reasons. The former for the interesting, deep color variations within one skein and the latter for its unbelievable softness.
Needles: Size 9 and 8, respectively
Mods: Both have a garter stitch border rather than the seed stitch called for in the pattern. In retrospect I would have made this much longer as there is a bit of the dreaded curling, but it's not that big of a deal, right?








Sunday, June 15, 2008

Keep It Simple Stupid: Summer Knitting Goals 2008

It's that time of the year to set some summer knitting goals. Thanks to Ali for reminding me to make my goals public, thereby insuring that none of them will ever come to fruition. Heh. Do we really need to revisit last summer's goals, which involved making cocktails a priority and didn't really seem to produce much in the way of impressive knitting objects? I'd be lying if I said that adult beverages weren't still a part of my summer plans this year, but hopefully they won't interfere with my knitting. Maybe we'll just try to use the k.i.s.s. principle (see title of post) and set the bar really, really low, so that I can feel triumphant at the end of the summer rather than diminished, dejected and bitter (emotions that I am very prone to feeling, but just hopefully not about my knitting this time around). So here goes:

Chevron in Progress
1. Continue on with the cavalcade of Chevron scarves. The one pictured above is almost half way completed--and I know this is a shocker, but some imprudent late night clickety on the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Website means that I have three more color combos on deck, so I'll be chevroning well into 2010. You can see the color combos below, one is my own, the other two are shamelessly cribbed from others, more intrepid than me:
Future Chevrons of America Unite!


2. Choose a good project for the Tour de France KAL--one that won't instantly leave me dead in the water, like the Canal du Midi fiasco of 2007. It needs to be a project that I can bring along with me to Paris, where I'll actually be for the finish of the race. This potentially has kismet written all over it, so I need to choose well.
Blueberry Waffle Socks in STR Heavyweight in Lagoon.
3. Complete all of the various socks that I have on the go at the moment (that would be three singletons). Top of the list to finish are the Blueberry Waffle (above), a pattern which is beyond easy. STR Heavyweight on a size 4 needle? These should have done ages ago!

4. Knit a pair of socks for a new friend. Isn't making new friends such a thrill? I recently met a fantastic fellow with whom I instantly clicked, and since I'll be seeing him again soon, I figure I have plenty of time to whip up a pair of socks in some STR Heavyweight in Lagoon. Any pattern suggestions?

5. Watch as many Busby Berkeley musicals as I can get my hands on. Not a knitting goal, but those crazy dance routines are truly some of the nuttiest, most impressive moments of cinema ever created. And somehow watching depression-era escapist extravaganzas seems appropriate for these financially precarious times. See for yourself:



Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Tricoter/Tripoter

Monkeys in STR Sunstone
You know it's time to think about packing it in when the crazy guy in the public park (where you are doing your FO photo shoot, because it's right across from your hotel) stops his ham-fisted rant about the One World Bank and the Endtimes to sheepishly ask you "Hey, what are you doing?" in a very well-mannered, even reasonable tone. Why, I'm taking picture of socks that I made, why do you ask? NOW who's the crazy one?
Monkeys in STR Sunstone
The Socks That Need No Introduction are finished and I am predictably quite pleased with them. The Socks that Rock Sunstone color has been quite the conversation piece for me as the color seems to attract onlookers droves. "What a gorgeous color!" has been frequently heard as I have been working on these solidly during the past week. It kind of reminds me of my twenties when I used to read the comic book Eight Ball in public and get propositioned by nerdy guys on a regular basis. Such a great pick-up strategy, don't you think? Sadly none of them were old enough to drive, and barely-legal wasn't really my thing anyway...but I had a good thing going there for awhile.
Monkeys in STR Sunstone
The Specs:
Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in 'Sunstone'
Needles: HiyaHiya 1.5 circs
Time: Feb.-June 2008
Monkeys in STR Sunstone
I worked on these during breaks and work stoppages from the correcting I have been doing. One of the people who stopped to admire my knitting was a very gracious French woman who noted that she wished she's learned to tricoter (knit) so she too could have something to tripoter (fiddle with/fondle). The word can also have a slightly dirty connotation, like to feel someone up. Besides the obvious phonic and graphic similarity of these two words, there does appear to be a semantic link as well. It seems to me that it is this notion of fiddling/fondling that does contribute to the appeal of our little hobby.
The tactile sensation of knitting is in my mind one of its greatest appeals. It just feels right to have a little something soft between the fingers, doesn't it?

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

No matter how you say it, it's a great place to be.

Louisville: one freaking cool town
I am thinking that it's only fair to return the favor and start calling this fair state 'Kennsylvania'--why should Kentucky always be the butt of the joke? I am pleased to report that once again I am back in the border town of Louisville for an entire week as the AP Exam reading has rolled into town once again, bringing with it legions of academics and high school teacher who all have one thing on their minds: the buffet line the academic achievement of our nation's youth.

On my mind as well is one of my favorite LYSs ever: The Knit Nook. Now I would love this store even without the name, as my love of the word 'nook' is well-documented. But The Knit Nook has so much to recommend it: cool owners (Kristin and Cindy, a mother/daughter team), an ultra-friendly clientele, which includes a group of women who welcome you and make you feel like one of the gang (thanks for humoring me, ladies!), and of course, the yarn.
The Knit Nook in Louisville
I can't tell you how nice it felt after a series of early morning planes, trains and automobiles to sit down and knit a spell with these ladies at the big table. Now I am usually not a fan of the big table. In some less welcoming stores it spells pure treachery: you walk in, everyone at the big table in the center of the room gives you the stink eye while the owner issues a lukewarm "...can I help you with anything?", and you feel so uncomfortable that you leave after a few moments, convinced that they are all talking about you, of which you can in fact be certain, because you yourself have been at the big table before and know The Drill.

None of that at the Knit Nook, it's not that kind of place. And I love that.

Are there LYSs on your circuit that have the same hospitable vibe going for it? Let's compare notes...

Monday, June 02, 2008

The Chevron is finished. Long Live the Chevron!

Velvet Grapes for Alice!
Thank you for revealing your knitting weaknesses to me in the last post. I will now be using them against you and serving them back up when you least expect it. Remember: my name is Heather and we are all evil...pure evil...*cuing Vincent Prince music*

Many of you wondered which cast-on I actually use since the long-tail method is beyond my capabilities. I vacillate between the cable and the knitted methods, and used to happily use the thumb cast-on until a local knitting acquaintance/wench called it the "kindergarten" cast-on, thereby ruining it for me forever but also giving me the opportunity to cut her out of my life. Many of you also noted your difficulties with the provisional cast-on, which I can inexplicably do, especially after watching the Lucy Neatby video on Youtube. Check it out, it might be helpful.

Regarding that Velvet Grapes that I no longer need, someone noted that perhaps I should be holding on to it since the Malabrigo mill experienced a fire last week. One glance at my stash on Ravelry will reveal that I won't likely experience a Malabrigo shortage any time soon, but thanks for your concern. The random number generator worked its magic and now the skein will be winding its way across hill and dale to Alice!
chevron in koigu
This weekend marked a very special moment in this knitter's life: I finished a Chevron scarf. I mean, how many times in your knitting life can you make that claim? I have to say that despite my passive-aggressive moments and anger management issues related to this scarf, I totally get why people love this project. Finally.
chevron in koigu
Yes, it takes forever.
chevron in koigu
Yes, you feel like a knittingbot that knits and knits and still doesn't get anywhere.

However maybe the Chevron's role is not that of main knitting project (i.e. you need it to satisfy your needs for a finished object) but rather that of stalwart side-project companion (you have it by your bedside, take it to you kids' orchestra concerts, work on it when your husband is lecturing you about money--oops, that's still passive aggressive), that is knit not with the expectation that it will be finished anytime soon, but fulfills your physical urge to stitch away and watch the nutty colors change up nonetheless.
chevron in koigu
The Specs
Pattern: Chevron Scarf, LMKG
Yarn: One skein each of Koigu can't-read-the-numbers and Koigu P-something-or-other-9
Needles: size 5 addi turbos
Dates: December 07-May 08
Mods: A fairly significant one, in fact. I only used one skein each, so in fact that the scarf is half the recommended length, which as it turns out is plenty long for me. It passed my French scarf tying technique and fit, so I am happy.

Another appealing aspect of the Chevron is the dizzying color combinations that it affords. You can spend hours and hours on the Ravelry gallery page and imagine all sorts of different outcomes. "Oh, STR Puck's Mischief and Titania, that would be amazing for so many reasons....". I do have another one on the needles and another one planned (STR County Clareand Lemongrass--I know, right?), but hopefully reality will set in and I will rein myself in. Ha!
and

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Bobby Blue, Confession Time and some Malabrigo for you (maybe!)

Eye of Partridge Shawl in Malabrigo Lace "Bobby Blue"
Bobby Blue
There are so many shades of teh Malabrigo to love, but I think that I might be currently knitting with my all-time number-one-with-a-bullet: Bobby Blue. It's just...the perfect blue. And I am not really even a blue person, but this color just sends me into paroxysms of delight. Yesterday I cast on for the
'Eye of Partridge' shawl with some Malabrigo Lace and I am just feelin' it, in fact I can't put it down, despite the massive amount of textbook editing I should be doing. Work--it just gets in the way.

Confession Time
I cannot do a long tail cast on to save my life. It has been shown and explained to me by at least 4 different knitters with various presentational styles at different points in my knitting career. Explanations have ranged from the kinesthetic "move the yarn like a triangle and then... ", the visual "do you see how you are creating a triangle? Next...", and finally, the text-heavy "In order to do th long tail cast-on you must create a triangle, you'll then proceed to..." None of these were even remotely successful--I just don't get it. Does not compute. I've even spent extensive time trolling around Youtube for helpful videos and have yet to find the video that will make it all make sense. I've actually really tried as opposed to fake tried (like I used to do with math in middle school) and just can't grasp it at all. Weirdly I am sort of good at things that can be hard for other knitters, like the kitchener stitch, stranding and even seaming. But the long-tail cast is just not happening for me.

Malabrigo for you?
What do you not get? What technique has been dumbed down by patient knitters who somewhat incredulously try to understand what your exact damage is, and yet still eludes you? I have a leftover skein of Malabrigo 'Velvet Grapes' that I would love to give away to someone who'll love it more than I do. Bobby Blue I am true blue for you, but Velvet Grapes? Not so much. Just leave a comment before Sat. at midnight and I'll choose a random individual to receive it. Not to be all gimmicky with the contests, but I just know that I won't use this skein when there are so many other colors I'd rather use...

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Bloggable moments

You all are too kind to me--I appreciate the nice comments about the shawl as well as the tips for using the camera. My niece (a photographer at an ad agency) had perhaps the most impertinent suggestion of all : "...well, why don't you read the manual and then just play around with it?". Huh? Come again? This younger generation, they think they have it all figured out. Sheesh!
Yarn from Twin Cities
I have just returned from a 5 day trip to Minneapolis . My trip back home just happened to coincide with a monumental sale of staggering proportions at my fave Twin Cities brick and mortar yarn shop (Miss Thing Linda at Yarnzilla doesn't count as she is mainly doing Internet business), Borealis Yarns. Being a Minneapolis chick all the way, it was a bit of a strain to drive those extra 8 minutes to St. Paul, but it was well worth it as everything in the joint was 20% off. You can see the damage above.(N.B. The Hazel Knits was not purchased in Mpls. but sent to me there. Just trying to manage my deliveries if you know what I mean).
Hand Maiden Casbah
While in St. Paul, I also checked in with my second favorite yarn store, The Yarnery, where I got my grubby little hands on more Hand Maiden Casbah sock yarn. It's official, I am now stalking/hording this stuff. It is luscious and gorgeous and shiny, and possesses that most beguiling of all yarn fetish attributes: it's somewhat hard to get your hands on. Yes, scarcity really does it to me every time and the acquisition machine just kicks into overdrive. "Oh, this is hard to get? I'll take seven, please". Sad, but true.
Flower Basket Lace Shawl in Debbie Bliss in Cashmerino dk
This blog has gotten so FO-centric recently that I have decided to show a little more WIP action. At a café after my LYS yarn-induced high I cast on for another shawl--the Flower Basket Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark. I am on a roll with the heavier weight yarn for shawls and wraps, so I am doing it out of an all time favorite dk weight yarn, Debblie Bliss Cashmerino dk. Looove this stuff. The pattern demands attention and is definitely 'shut up I'm counting' material. I find the chart much easier to follow that the written directions, and am curious if this is the case for others as well. The written out directions instantly confuse me and make me feel like I'm in 8th grade doing a math word problem, which is a terrible place to be...
Helen and Phil
My parents and I paid a visit to my oldest friend on the books, Phil. He and his partner Randy have a farm in Star Valley, Wisconsin. Last fall they acquired a flock of sheep and several guard llamas to boot, so visiting was a must. When we were there he accused me of "...only visiting him to get blog material". Puh-leeze, what is wrong with him? Come on now. We had a fantastic albeit short visit. Above you see a picture of him holding Helen, a bottle-fed blind lamb that spent the entire time he held her suckling on his ear. Helen, many tragic individuals have been there before you, so take a number, sister!
Star Valley, Wisconsin
My dad and furry friends

We had a great visit, and my Dad, who has somewhat advanced Alzheimer's, especially enjoyed all the animals on the farm. When you have that disease, uncomplicated interactions are so welcome, and animals can provide that in meaningful ways.
Cocktails in Star Valley

Refreshing cocktails as well as delicious Morel mushrooms were plentiful during our visit. At dinner we heard our first whippoorwill of the season which was truly a thrill. I am so glad I went. You know, for the blog material and all;)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Falling Grape Leaves

Falling Grape Leaves Shawl
I am very pleased to announce the completion of a semi-impressive WIP. Yes, I have actually finished something that a. is for someone that weighs over 5 pounds, b. is not a knitted tube and c. wasn't started 8 months ago and therefore only had a little bit to go before it was considered completed. Please don't think that I am recanting my position on the cowl (hell no, I fiercely love that knitted tube), it's just that occasionally it's nice to finish a project that feels like it has some import to it. I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about.
Falling Grape Leaves Shawl
I am calling this the Falling Grape Leaves Shawl, and it might be the first dark purple thing that I have ever owned--for real! I am still not thoroughly convinced about the color, but have just decided to go with it. Last month I wore blue for the first time in about 6 years and I received extremely positive feedback for it from shocked friends and colleagues, so branching out color-wise seems to be a good idea once in a while.
Falling Grape Leaves Shawl
The Specs
Pattern: Falling Leaves Shawl by Katy Wight
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Velvet Grapes, 2.25 skeins
Needles: Size 9
Dates: March 16-May 20. Can you believe I thought I was going to be finished with this in time for my trip to Montpellier? Puh-leeze..
Falling Grape Leaves Shawl
There is another first to report--my new camera is making its' debut with this post. There was quite a build up to being able to get this camera. My entire repertoire of charming adolescent behaviors were dusted off. These included begging, pleading, pouting, slamming doors, promising the moon, unfortunate petulant remarks, and the hardest of all, patience. But in the end my generous mate came through and gave it to me for our anniversary, which is today. As my mother would say "he's a good lad" and I am a lucky, lucky girl.

I am still learning the ropes and making my way through the manual. Please share any smart tips you might have for using the Canon Digital Rebel xti, and feel free to point me in the direction of more information about photography with this type of camera if you can. So. Excited!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Cowlify: You know you want to!

Gloria in 'A Verb for Keeping Warm' Alpaca/Silk 'LuxTo say that the cowl, a humble garment with inauspicious origins and an unfortunate link to the 'cowl neck sweater' of the mid-70s that I think most of us husky gals would have done well to avoid, is sweeping the nation by storm would be an understatement. I mean we have many prototypes to choose from on Ravelry, and if you are reading blogs you know that this one and this one and this one are nothing short of hand knit perfection. And if this stunning picture right here doesn't send you into cowliscious paroxysms, well you just don't get it, my friend. (Leslie you are right, all this linking wears a girl OUT).
Gloria in 'A Verb for Keeping Warm' Alpaca/Silk 'Lux
I have come to believe several things about the cowl. If affords the knitter the satisfaction of working on a truly short project (not a fake short project like socks or a scarf, for example) and yet ending up with a nice big piece of fabric. Like a giant gauge swatch, you can really see what the yarn does under certain conditions, something very exciting when you're talking about sock yarn. It also is the ultimate stash buster project. Why would you need to purchase yarn specifically for a cowl? You know you have one or two skeins of something or other in your stash that will fit the bill. Give in to the cowl, it will do you right every time.
Gloria in 'A Verb for Keeping Warm' Alpaca/Silk 'Lux
The Specs
Pattern: Gloria by Orinda5
Yarn: Exactly one skein of 'A Verb for Keeping Warm' Alpaca/Silk in 'Lux'
Needles: Addi turbo 4.5mm, 16 inches
Mods: None
Gloria in 'A Verb for Keeping Warm' Alpaca/Silk 'Lux
This yarn knits up into a fabric that is soooo soooft and has a lovely sheen. I bought this skein at MDS&W several weeks ago. Since I didn't know I was going to make it into a cowl at the time, I have technically not violated my own 'don't buy yarn for a cowl' rule, because it didn't exist yet. See how that works?
Gloria in 'A Verb for Keeping Warm' Alpaca/Silk 'Lux
This post marks a special occasion on this blog. This is the last time I will be using my current camera, as I have graciously been given the green light by my frugal mate to get a brand-new digital slr camera. Yes, the tarrying is over. Those that know the person with whom I negotiate such purchases will likely not believe me, but it's true. Watch this space for super special pictures, starting Tuesday!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Discipline and Punish: Summer 2008

Discipline and Punish: Summer 08

Summer vay-cay has arrived for this here academic. Last summer that meant severe binge knitting and indolent cocktail-induced lolly-gagging around, but this summer I actually have a lot to accomplish, so there will be lots more worky-worky and much less knitty-drinky.
As you can see above, I am awash in WIPs (from top left, Falling Leaves Shawl in Malabrigo 'Velvet Grapes', Gloria Cowl in A Verb for Keeping Warm Alpaca/Silk 'Lux', Basic Sock in Hazel Knits 'Sailor's Delight', Jaywalkers in LL 'Grumperina'). Incidentally those are only the seasonal WIPs, I have left out all scarf and hat WIPs for the sake of clarity. The situation is severely out of control. And what is the only thing I want to do right now? That would be winding my newly acquired skein of Handmaiden Casbah Sock (Paris Two) and doing unspeakable things to it with a size 1.5 HiyaHiya circular needle. What is wrong with me?
Handmaiden Casbah in 'Paris Two'
I'm trying to get away from the feast-or-famine approach to work and leisure and fine a way to keep it all running at a constant speed as last year's back-to-school world of pain scenario is one that I'm trying to avoid. Any tips you all might have for striking a good balance between work and knitting? How does a normal person integrate job/family/home responsibilities with the desire to self-immolate with yarn? Can'tcha help a person with terrible work habits out?


Wednesday, May 07, 2008

A Verb for Spending Money and Being Self-Involved

Reading all of the post-Maryland Sheep and Wool blog entries in knitblogland has brought to the fore in a very glaring way (at least to me) the shallowness of this here attendee. While others used verbs such as "meet", "encounter", "experience" as they detailed the fabulous time they had hooking up with friends new and old, admiring the animals, and appreciating the mountain music practitioners, my verbs were all related to consumption and acquisition: "buy", "obtain", "purchase", "score" and "eat". I am a bad person. But I am still riding high on my new yarn, and have it in a special bag that I take out at night for talismanic fondling and whiffing.
Grassy
I did put my new yarn away long enough to make another cowl. Now you know I am all about LB, and any pattern that she comes out with, I am just automatically on board. (Kind of like those bands you loved when people still bought albums, and you waited patiently for their album to come out on that magical Tuesday and you scooped it up immediately). So when Miss Thing posted Grassy on Stitch Marker, I was all over it, enough so that I bought my pal Kim a copy, in a passive-aggressive attempt to shame her into doing it, too.

Grassy
Pattern: Grassy by Larissa Brown
Yarn: Crystal Palace Merino Print 5 in #108, one skein exactly
Needles: Size 6 16'' circs
Mods: Seriously? Why?
Grassy
I just love this cowl, it might be favorite one yet. I love the fanning out of the lace pattern. I could well imagine this cowl in many, many different yarns and think this might be at the head of the class in terms of last minute knitted gifts (you hear that chevron?). Let's all remember this majestic cowl sometime next fall when we are scrambling for holiday gifts. I have one more cowl up my sleeve, and then I might be taking a break: the Gloria cowl in my A Verb For Keeping Warm new silk/alpaca blend...

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Maryland Sheep and Wool Yarn Gluttony: Don't Judge Me

Maryland Sheep and Wool 2008
Peeper-Lou (my Maryland Sheep and Wool knockaround pal) and I had a glorious time today. The amount of yarn purchased was, as you can well imagine, akin to what Ma and Pa Ingalls or other some such homesteaders might have purchased in provisions before leaving the Big Woods. In other words, a shit load. We'll get to all that in a minute. First some observations about what you can expect if you attend Maryland Sheep and Wool with Peeper-Lou:

-within minutes of arriving, you will likely be consuming a funnel cake and a lime fizz. And then repeating this gesture right before leaving, thereby insuring that you might likely feel like vomiting and sleeping at the same time.

-she is strongly attracted to any and all demonstrations, and used the power of her charms/ability to invade the personal space of others to get the demonstrators to let her try whatever they're doing. In this case I am talking about basket weaving and spinning. She now is begging for a drop spindle. Help. Uncle WonderMike, can you be of some assistance here?

-she will be inexorably drawn to any and all creative anachronism people (this is so the opposite of me) and bluntly ask them "Who are you supposed to be?", which after speaking with several of these comely wenches becomes "
What are you supposed to be?".

-if the possibility of free buttons at a Ravlery meet-up has been suggested, and these said free buttons run out, well, that is going to set her off. Because this girl is all about buttons. "My mom is on Ravelry, are you sure you don't have any more? No, not the small ones, the bigger ones that you write on with the sharpie...".

Behold the spoils:
Maryland Sheep and Wool 2008

Despite the peculiar behaviors above, we had a great time. There were the vendors that I was looking forward to seeing, like Shelridge Farm , Tess and Brooks Farm, who all had their usual fabulous yarn and patterns. Miraculously the Fold booth was not crowded and the shoppers were civil. There were other unexpected surprises: The Llamajama alpaca yarn was new to me, as was the Cloverhill shop from Baltimore which had an incredible selection of indie-type sock yarn.

Perhaps I need to be concerned about the lessons I am teaching my daughter with my yarn behaviors. When we pulled up to the house after our long sojourn and I began to get out of the car, Peeper-Lou frantically said "But mom, wait...aren't you even going to try to hide what you bought?". Yes, I might as well have her hand me a bong and a lighter at this point...

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Calling all lace mavens!

Malabrigo Lace in 'Pagoda'
What better way to shake off the Chevron wip doldrums that to cast on for another project, one that promises not the instant gratification of the cowl (Grassy: you will be mine, but all in due time) nor the mindless round-and-round of the stockinette sweater (Wicked, I've got your number and you're on deck), but rather the extreme intricacy and high cognitive demand of lace? Hey, I'm nothing if not utterly impractical, but terrible predictable (check the name of the blog, people).
Malabrigo Lace in 'Tuareg'
Malabrigo Lace: Bobby Blue
I want to make a shawl for a very important person, and am asking for some recommendations. I have made one lace project, the Shetland Triangle, a project that real lace knitters might potentially dismiss as not really a lace project at all. But it was a gas, and I was happy with it. Above you seen three skeins of Malabrigo lace weight (470 yards each) that are each just itching to become a shawl, and so I am asking you all for your shawl suggestions. Please weigh in on this important matter.

MDS&W alert: Peeper-lou and I will once again be hitting Maryland Sheep and Wool this year, this time with Purlfriend in tow. So. Excited. Remember last year's hi jinx, when the little miss was featured on Let'sknit2gether with her "I only knit with corn" schtick? We're hoping for more fun this year, which will certainly include Brooks Farm and Tess yarn, funnel cakes and NOT going to the Fold booth and getting elbowed by craven shoppers. We'll be there on Sunday, and hope to see some of you there!