I was over at Carole's checking out her comment contest. Her post about knowing she has readers...but they don't comment got me thinking.
You know how dangerous that is....my thinking.
I am a true introvert as defined by the "test" (INFP)..someone who gets their energy from being alone rather than being with people. I would rather have one good friend than a lot of acquaintances. I was never in the popular groups....always had a small, tight-knit group of friends.
Yes, I am vain enough to look at how many visitors I have a day...I try really hard to respond to comments when I can...but work tends to sqaush that sometimes. I always go and look at commentor's blog and try to leave a comment of my own...sort of a reciprocal commenting thing. I was ridiculously pleased to find out I have five subscribers through Bloglines. Yep...5 made my day.
It brings back the question, yet again, why am I doing this? I am not on any rings...don't care to be either. I don't care that I will never have 100s of readers waiting with bated breath for my next post. Sort of makes me laugh to even consider it.
And once again...it is about connection. Connecting with a few people who "get" it. Who get why I knit...and/or being queer...or tend to depression....or some other connecting point.
Well worth it.
Knitting content: I have been taking pics and will be able to afford to actually develop them this weekend, then watch out...I'll be posting pics! wheeeee.
Hanging Vines and I are finally in sync. I like the method of one page per row print outs, makes the row "pop" and I can SEE what I'm doing....finally. Straight bamboo needles have taken the irritation out of the too-tight yarn overs sticking on the circ joins...and that has caused much more love to flow for the Knit Picks laceweight yarn, Alpaca Cloud in Tidepool. I am starting to enjoy myself with it...keeping in mind this will be a long-term project for me. That I will not quit half way through it....I will finish this scarf.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Perseverance
Last night on my way out of work, I enlarged the chart for Hanging Vines to 120%. At home, I tried a couple more yarns...some light blue/beige LL sock yarn....which I love...but...bleh. Went out and dragged out the Lagoon Twinkletoes yarn that makes my heart beat fast....I know it's still variegated, but I LOVE this yarn and the variegation is much more subtle. It looked much better than anything I've tried previously...but...still doesn't show the pattern too well. Realized part of my frustration is trying to knit this on circs. The yarn overs at the end of the rows tend to tighten up...hanging on the joins of the circ to the cable.
Finally....I went back to the garage and dug, seriously dug, until I found a pair of bamboo size 6 straight needles. These worked so much better...but still the pattern doesn't show well for all this work. So today I have the KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud back in the car along with the bamboo straights.
Thanks to a suggestion from the Summer of Lace Yahoo Group on knitting lace with charts, I made a copy of the pattern for each pattern row (12 rows, all WS are purled - so six copies). Each page I colored one row - Green for SSK, Blue for K2tog and Red for K3 tog. Stapled them together...and at break this a.m. I am back to this pattern again.
In the past, I would have given up a long time ago. Said "this is too hard". But all those posts by Margene are swirling in my head...about finishing. I seriously WANT this scarf....and all the trials of yarn, needles, and keeping track of the pattern are only steps to getting it, right? Right. At 41, I am discovering some things I don't like about myself. I do not have a lot of perseverance for things I want...I have said "this is too hard" about way too many things in my life. I have a lot of willingnes to stick with relationships...even those that are way past the expiration date. But doing something for myself? My dancing...costuming...knitting for myself...I don't seem to think I am worth a lot of trouble.
Time for that to change.
Finally....I went back to the garage and dug, seriously dug, until I found a pair of bamboo size 6 straight needles. These worked so much better...but still the pattern doesn't show well for all this work. So today I have the KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud back in the car along with the bamboo straights.
Thanks to a suggestion from the Summer of Lace Yahoo Group on knitting lace with charts, I made a copy of the pattern for each pattern row (12 rows, all WS are purled - so six copies). Each page I colored one row - Green for SSK, Blue for K2tog and Red for K3 tog. Stapled them together...and at break this a.m. I am back to this pattern again.
In the past, I would have given up a long time ago. Said "this is too hard". But all those posts by Margene are swirling in my head...about finishing. I seriously WANT this scarf....and all the trials of yarn, needles, and keeping track of the pattern are only steps to getting it, right? Right. At 41, I am discovering some things I don't like about myself. I do not have a lot of perseverance for things I want...I have said "this is too hard" about way too many things in my life. I have a lot of willingnes to stick with relationships...even those that are way past the expiration date. But doing something for myself? My dancing...costuming...knitting for myself...I don't seem to think I am worth a lot of trouble.
Time for that to change.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Hanging Vines Is Kicking My Butt....
I had high hopes that I would receive my order from Elann Friday or Saturday and have the opportunity to cast on for Hanging Vines. Friday...Nothing. Saturday....Nothing. 8 pm Sunday night the neighbor comes over with an envelope...the postman had gotten it in her box.
I found some wonderful Twinkletoes sock yarn Knitti-Me had gifted me with months ago....the only size 6 needles I own appear to be Addi Turbos so I grabbed those and cast on. Placed the markers as described, knit the foundation row. So far, so good. Row 1...knitting carefully as I am not a great chart knitter...done. Row 2, purl across...okay, did that. Row 3....uh oh. Too many stitches left over. Dang. Ripped, re-cast on. Foundation row, place markers....check. Row 1....check. Row 2......okay, check. Row 3.....Cursing ensues. Ripped again. Shut off the TV. Kids and Jodie went to bed. I sit at the kitchen table in good light. Ditch the markers because now I see there is a note for that row that the markers move....and well....I've had it with the markers. In silence...I dog my way through the 12 row repeat. All is well. Without the markers, I seem to do fine. I smooth out the one repeat I have on the needles.
As much as I love this yarn....the variegation completely obscures the lace pattern. You know....the lace pattern I have just spent well over an hour getting through one repeat done. I go to bed, deciding to sleep on it and see what I think in the morning.
In the morning, I think the same thing. This is, to me, "fussy knitting." I am going to have to pay attention through the entire project and the variegated yarn is going to hide all that work. No go. I trot out to the garage, dig out the KnitPicks laceweight and a pair of bamboo needles. Size 4 instead of 6...but it's what I have in bamboo. Already know from dealing with this yarn that it is bamboo or suicide for me.
Get to work 15 minutes early. Shut the car off...turn the radio off....take a couple of swigs of coffee (Dutch Brothers Ducth Freeze....my elixer of life). Cast on. Count twice...do I have the right amount of stitches? Yes, I do. Knit foundation row. Knit first row......What the *&%^@ ??
Way too many stitches left over at the end of the row. Not one...or two...like..... 9.
This is now sitting on the front seat of my car....thrown in absolute and complete disgust.
At break time, I am un-charting this pattern....writing it out....and trying again. This is not a hard pattern....a handful of stitches...the most complicated of which is a SSK. Yarn overs and SSKs with a few K2tog and every once in awhile K3tog.
Why is this pattern kicking my butt like this? I seriously think it's the chart thing. I don't know that I've done lace in a chart before....I did okay with Rogue's chart....sigh.
My 17yo said last night as she observed me steaming through ripping out....again... cursing under my breath......"I thought you said knitting was relaxing?"
I found some wonderful Twinkletoes sock yarn Knitti-Me had gifted me with months ago....the only size 6 needles I own appear to be Addi Turbos so I grabbed those and cast on. Placed the markers as described, knit the foundation row. So far, so good. Row 1...knitting carefully as I am not a great chart knitter...done. Row 2, purl across...okay, did that. Row 3....uh oh. Too many stitches left over. Dang. Ripped, re-cast on. Foundation row, place markers....check. Row 1....check. Row 2......okay, check. Row 3.....Cursing ensues. Ripped again. Shut off the TV. Kids and Jodie went to bed. I sit at the kitchen table in good light. Ditch the markers because now I see there is a note for that row that the markers move....and well....I've had it with the markers. In silence...I dog my way through the 12 row repeat. All is well. Without the markers, I seem to do fine. I smooth out the one repeat I have on the needles.
As much as I love this yarn....the variegation completely obscures the lace pattern. You know....the lace pattern I have just spent well over an hour getting through one repeat done. I go to bed, deciding to sleep on it and see what I think in the morning.
In the morning, I think the same thing. This is, to me, "fussy knitting." I am going to have to pay attention through the entire project and the variegated yarn is going to hide all that work. No go. I trot out to the garage, dig out the KnitPicks laceweight and a pair of bamboo needles. Size 4 instead of 6...but it's what I have in bamboo. Already know from dealing with this yarn that it is bamboo or suicide for me.
Get to work 15 minutes early. Shut the car off...turn the radio off....take a couple of swigs of coffee (Dutch Brothers Ducth Freeze....my elixer of life). Cast on. Count twice...do I have the right amount of stitches? Yes, I do. Knit foundation row. Knit first row......What the *&%^@ ??
Way too many stitches left over at the end of the row. Not one...or two...like..... 9.
This is now sitting on the front seat of my car....thrown in absolute and complete disgust.
At break time, I am un-charting this pattern....writing it out....and trying again. This is not a hard pattern....a handful of stitches...the most complicated of which is a SSK. Yarn overs and SSKs with a few K2tog and every once in awhile K3tog.
Why is this pattern kicking my butt like this? I seriously think it's the chart thing. I don't know that I've done lace in a chart before....I did okay with Rogue's chart....sigh.
My 17yo said last night as she observed me steaming through ripping out....again... cursing under my breath......"I thought you said knitting was relaxing?"
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Thinking
If you haven't been following Margene's posts on clutter....make time and go read them. She is eerily on the mark with my own issues.
I dreamed last night about blogging. I was somewhere, and the subject of local knit blogs came up. A woman said, "Do you read 'Sahara Knits'?" and one or two of the women said they did and they really enjoyed it. I blushed....opened my mouth to say, "That's my blog!" when the first woman said
"Yeah, I used to read her....but she whines too much......and she doesn't have pictures."
Then I woke up.
Knitting content: I finished the two-color multidirectional scarf for my son a day or so ago. Pic will be forthcoming as soon as I get the ends woven. This took a lot longer than the first, and I'm not sure I can pinpoint why. The color changes were every other row, not complex or anything. I can tell you...I got sick of it before I finished it. But, The Boy is happy....and that is what really counts, right?
Started another pattern from the Yahooh Multidirectional Knitting group, The Zig Zag scarf. This one in Kureyon too...greens, yellows, oranges with a little pink and purple. Honestly? eh. It's okay. Probably won't make more than one. Much more likely to make more of the original multidirectional scarf for gifts. This is good break time knitting. I can pick up either of these patterns and just see where I am .... no need to consult pattern or chart. This also makes it handy to ride in the front seat with me while commuting....Why I feel so pleased at nabbing a few rows at stoplights is beyond me, but it pleases me immensely.
Soon as my Heartstrings pattern arrives, I will be casting on for the Hanging Vines scarf. I have two hanks of laceweight from KnitPicks...plenty for a scarf. Hmm....maybe I'd better be scouting out needles...I know I won't be using Denise's with the laceweight, that was a disaster...now I'm wondering...do I have the right size needles? If I do....can I find them?
Ever sit at work (or wherever) and think about knitting? Am I the only one?
I dreamed last night about blogging. I was somewhere, and the subject of local knit blogs came up. A woman said, "Do you read 'Sahara Knits'?" and one or two of the women said they did and they really enjoyed it. I blushed....opened my mouth to say, "That's my blog!" when the first woman said
"Yeah, I used to read her....but she whines too much......and she doesn't have pictures."
Then I woke up.
Knitting content: I finished the two-color multidirectional scarf for my son a day or so ago. Pic will be forthcoming as soon as I get the ends woven. This took a lot longer than the first, and I'm not sure I can pinpoint why. The color changes were every other row, not complex or anything. I can tell you...I got sick of it before I finished it. But, The Boy is happy....and that is what really counts, right?
Started another pattern from the Yahooh Multidirectional Knitting group, The Zig Zag scarf. This one in Kureyon too...greens, yellows, oranges with a little pink and purple. Honestly? eh. It's okay. Probably won't make more than one. Much more likely to make more of the original multidirectional scarf for gifts. This is good break time knitting. I can pick up either of these patterns and just see where I am .... no need to consult pattern or chart. This also makes it handy to ride in the front seat with me while commuting....Why I feel so pleased at nabbing a few rows at stoplights is beyond me, but it pleases me immensely.
Soon as my Heartstrings pattern arrives, I will be casting on for the Hanging Vines scarf. I have two hanks of laceweight from KnitPicks...plenty for a scarf. Hmm....maybe I'd better be scouting out needles...I know I won't be using Denise's with the laceweight, that was a disaster...now I'm wondering...do I have the right size needles? If I do....can I find them?
Ever sit at work (or wherever) and think about knitting? Am I the only one?
Friday, August 19, 2005
A Little Nap Can Work Wonders....
Edit: forgot to add the link to the Heartstrings pattern...sorry...
Thanks, those who commented yesterday...and the private emails too. Yup, "this too shall pass" is important to remember. Mostly, I feel a lot better today, thanks to a longish nap and a good night's sleep. I have been running sleep deprived most of my adult life...but once I cross a certain point of fatigue...I get ugly. Leaves the door open for depression and self-pity to slip in as well.
Well, I broke my spending fast last night...but in a good way, not overindulging. Jodie mentioned that when she was at Fred Meyer they had yarn in the clearance bin again. My head snapped up..."Really? ..... what kind of yarn?" For I know FM stocks Lion Brand...not my favorite but good standby stuff for easy frou-frou scarves, WoolEase for charity knitting, and their cotton is my favorite.
Seeing a spark of interest where before there had been only tired and crabby-ness...Jodie loaded me up in the car and we whizzed down to the clearance aisle. Sure enough, not only on clearance, but with an EXTRA 40% off clearance sign! I got enough frou-frou (LB boucle) for two scarves for Jodie's neices this Christmas and a stole/shawl in LB railroad frou-frou for another gift, all for less than $17! Not bad, eh? Then, I went to Elann this a.m. and ordered a few patterns. I have lots of yarn, but finding patterns I like and feel competent to complete is another matter. Being heavy into lace at the moment, I ordered this Heartstrings pattern, probably to be completed out of sock yarn sitting in my stash. I'm telling you....I have a lot of sock yarn. Also ordered this and this. No yarn, only patterns.
I am at the half way mark on the two-color Multidirectional scarf for my son. You wouldn't think using two colors for such a simple knit would take a lot more time...but it seems to be. I am committed to FINISHING it tho before casting on for anything.
Thanks, those who commented yesterday...and the private emails too. Yup, "this too shall pass" is important to remember. Mostly, I feel a lot better today, thanks to a longish nap and a good night's sleep. I have been running sleep deprived most of my adult life...but once I cross a certain point of fatigue...I get ugly. Leaves the door open for depression and self-pity to slip in as well.
Well, I broke my spending fast last night...but in a good way, not overindulging. Jodie mentioned that when she was at Fred Meyer they had yarn in the clearance bin again. My head snapped up..."Really? ..... what kind of yarn?" For I know FM stocks Lion Brand...not my favorite but good standby stuff for easy frou-frou scarves, WoolEase for charity knitting, and their cotton is my favorite.
Seeing a spark of interest where before there had been only tired and crabby-ness...Jodie loaded me up in the car and we whizzed down to the clearance aisle. Sure enough, not only on clearance, but with an EXTRA 40% off clearance sign! I got enough frou-frou (LB boucle) for two scarves for Jodie's neices this Christmas and a stole/shawl in LB railroad frou-frou for another gift, all for less than $17! Not bad, eh? Then, I went to Elann this a.m. and ordered a few patterns. I have lots of yarn, but finding patterns I like and feel competent to complete is another matter. Being heavy into lace at the moment, I ordered this Heartstrings pattern, probably to be completed out of sock yarn sitting in my stash. I'm telling you....I have a lot of sock yarn. Also ordered this and this. No yarn, only patterns.
I am at the half way mark on the two-color Multidirectional scarf for my son. You wouldn't think using two colors for such a simple knit would take a lot more time...but it seems to be. I am committed to FINISHING it tho before casting on for anything.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Well.....Isn't This....Disappointing.
I'm not in a good mood today...Norma is blaming the moon for her own case of the crankies...and I'm not too proud to jump on that bandwagon. I'm cranky. I'm oversensitive and overtired as well. It's not pretty.
Last night we went to Barnes & Noble. I made up my mind I would treat myself...I would get the book "Modular Knits" I mentioned earlier this week. They had it....I snatched it off the shelf...flipped through.....and put it back. I know I'm not in a good mood and I will have to revisit it later, but right now...bleh. I am disappointed. The yahoo group for multidirectional knitting is gushing buckets...but, excuse my sarcasm, is that becase the moderator is the author of the book? I enjoyed the multidirectional scarf soooooo much...I had really looked forward to the book. Then spied Nicky Epstein's new "Knitting Over The Edge".....and put it back too. So I wandered over to the magazine section....and was equally unimpressed. Nothing "grabbed" me.
That was when it hit me...I'm cranky. When I go to the bookstore...with cash in my pocket and "permission" from myself to spend....and nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, looks good to me...there is a problem with my attitude.
In parenting there are many opportunities to tell your children (one way or another) "change your attitude!" Right now, I am sincerely regretting ever saying anything of the sort...because I can't seem to change my attitude and I'm supposedly an adult.
I gave myself permission to purchase something, I have the cash for it....and I can't find anything because I am in such a crappy mood. So...Question of the Day...how do you get yourself out of the doldrums...the crankies....the "I feel sorry for myself for no good reason's"??
Last night we went to Barnes & Noble. I made up my mind I would treat myself...I would get the book "Modular Knits" I mentioned earlier this week. They had it....I snatched it off the shelf...flipped through.....and put it back. I know I'm not in a good mood and I will have to revisit it later, but right now...bleh. I am disappointed. The yahoo group for multidirectional knitting is gushing buckets...but, excuse my sarcasm, is that becase the moderator is the author of the book? I enjoyed the multidirectional scarf soooooo much...I had really looked forward to the book. Then spied Nicky Epstein's new "Knitting Over The Edge".....and put it back too. So I wandered over to the magazine section....and was equally unimpressed. Nothing "grabbed" me.
That was when it hit me...I'm cranky. When I go to the bookstore...with cash in my pocket and "permission" from myself to spend....and nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, looks good to me...there is a problem with my attitude.
In parenting there are many opportunities to tell your children (one way or another) "change your attitude!" Right now, I am sincerely regretting ever saying anything of the sort...because I can't seem to change my attitude and I'm supposedly an adult.
I gave myself permission to purchase something, I have the cash for it....and I can't find anything because I am in such a crappy mood. So...Question of the Day...how do you get yourself out of the doldrums...the crankies....the "I feel sorry for myself for no good reason's"??
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
FO....and a picture
Finished the Multidirectional Scarf yesterday...love this pattern! Easy knitting....nice result. Immediately cast on for a two-color Multidirectional Scarf for my son out of stash - aren't you proud? - in Lion Brand Wool Ease, a cranberry red and variegated browns. Looks good, just as easy as a one-color scarf and it's going quickly. I can see lots of these kinds of scarves for Christmas presents...Now..drumroll....I have a picture !! The question of the day is...will it work? Tried to add it to the blog....blog said NO. Not sure if this is because I am trying to do it at work, I am trying to load a pic from a cell phone, or I am inept...or all of the above. Said pic is blurry....but it's a pic, right??
Monday, August 15, 2005
Multidirectional Knitting
Surfing around the web Friday....killing a little dead time at work...I came across a Yahoo group for modular knitting hosted by the woman who wrote Modular Knits, Iris Schreier. If you join the group, you get the pattern for a multidirectional scarf free, as well as other patterns as you go along. I know there are a couple multidirectional scarf patterns on the web, but I was intrigued, and joined. The pattern was sent by Friday afternoon...and I went home and dug out three skeins of Noro Kuryeon that have been languishing in the stash. Have had a really fun time knitting this scarf. After the first triangle I didn't need the pattern, it just becomes obvious where you turn the short rows. I got through one skein and started on the second. Love the way the pattern makes the Noro block into triangles...very cool.
Is this "rocket science" knitting? Uh...no. But is it fun? Yes! Can I watch TV...hold a half intelligent conversation and still knit? Yes! Will I be making more of these? Yes! I have enough Noro for another in stash, and there is a variation to use two colors of yarn that I would like to try as well, which could use up some of the stash as well.
Speaking of stash....ahem. We worked on the hell hole, uh "garage", this weekend. Boxes and boxes, many having been opened and rummaged through...then not closed...crowded half the garage. One by one, Jodie dragged them over to me and I went through...tossing, putting into a pile for Goodwill, or repacking. Ever organized...she had everything put in sections...kids toys, books, bellydance stuff, craft stuff, and yarn. She was flabbergasted at the amount of yarn and craft stuff I have accumulated...hate to tell ya...but we haven't got to all of it yet, especially yarn. Probably another 1/3 of it is still waiting to be discovered. It was sort of like Christmas for me...."oh HERE that is! I was wondering what I did with that...." Having it all in one spot...gee, what a concept. Not having to wander from stash spot to stash spot all over the house, rummaging through boxes? Huh. That's an idea.
I am committed (or is that I should be committed??) to knitting out of stash for a while.... a looooong while. Trying to get my finances in order is time consuming...and means no new yarn, period. Not going to the yarn shop, not looking on the internet at yarn, and especially not even peeking at Ebay. No new books...that one hurts, let me tell you. I did get the new Vogue Knitting mag...and considered it a huge treat.
Have to get the Baby Surprise Jacket sewn up, the shower is this weekend. I hate the sewing up/weaving in ends part. Once I am done knitting on it...I'm done. Need to get my Sofie felted, time ran out this weekend. Longing for the days of taking a half day and going home to knit....but I guess I am paying for all the days I did that when I couldn't afford it....
This is the last week the Boys and Girls Club is open. It is closed the last two weeks of summer....you know...when the two youngest are at the height of their boredom threshold and completely sick of each other. Yay. Color me excited.
Is this "rocket science" knitting? Uh...no. But is it fun? Yes! Can I watch TV...hold a half intelligent conversation and still knit? Yes! Will I be making more of these? Yes! I have enough Noro for another in stash, and there is a variation to use two colors of yarn that I would like to try as well, which could use up some of the stash as well.
Speaking of stash....ahem. We worked on the hell hole, uh "garage", this weekend. Boxes and boxes, many having been opened and rummaged through...then not closed...crowded half the garage. One by one, Jodie dragged them over to me and I went through...tossing, putting into a pile for Goodwill, or repacking. Ever organized...she had everything put in sections...kids toys, books, bellydance stuff, craft stuff, and yarn. She was flabbergasted at the amount of yarn and craft stuff I have accumulated...hate to tell ya...but we haven't got to all of it yet, especially yarn. Probably another 1/3 of it is still waiting to be discovered. It was sort of like Christmas for me...."oh HERE that is! I was wondering what I did with that...." Having it all in one spot...gee, what a concept. Not having to wander from stash spot to stash spot all over the house, rummaging through boxes? Huh. That's an idea.
I am committed (or is that I should be committed??) to knitting out of stash for a while.... a looooong while. Trying to get my finances in order is time consuming...and means no new yarn, period. Not going to the yarn shop, not looking on the internet at yarn, and especially not even peeking at Ebay. No new books...that one hurts, let me tell you. I did get the new Vogue Knitting mag...and considered it a huge treat.
Have to get the Baby Surprise Jacket sewn up, the shower is this weekend. I hate the sewing up/weaving in ends part. Once I am done knitting on it...I'm done. Need to get my Sofie felted, time ran out this weekend. Longing for the days of taking a half day and going home to knit....but I guess I am paying for all the days I did that when I couldn't afford it....
This is the last week the Boys and Girls Club is open. It is closed the last two weeks of summer....you know...when the two youngest are at the height of their boredom threshold and completely sick of each other. Yay. Color me excited.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Rambling Post
When last I left you, I believe I was gushing about the Knit Picks Shimmer laceweight with which I had begun another Branching Out.
I had cast on...and knit the five rows of garter. I felt a little clumsy, but put it off to knitting quickly in a few stolen moments before work. At break time....I realized I have no hope of knitting with this yarn on Denise's. The tips are too blunt...too round. About drove me insane trying to get through two rows of the lace pattern. At lunch time, I dug around for a set of bamboo in the needed size. Could I find the right size? Of course not. I used a good portion of my lunch making myself crazy looking too. Finally, in desperation that I would have no knitting at my afternoon break if I didn't do something - horrors!- I grabbed more Lion Brand Cotton, correct size needles and decided another dishcloth would be preferable to nothing. Cast on for this dishcloth pattern, Lacy Mock Cable....and I am enjoying it very much.
What is it with dishcloths? Somehow they seem so....blah. But in truth...I really enjoy them. I love knitting with cotton...they are small enough to not trigger my adult-onset knitter's ADD...Dishcloths are an opportunity to try patterns in small doses...like swatches...with purpose.
One of the things I did last year that I really enjoyed....and have somehow stopped doing...was buying just one skein of a yarn I really loved and just playing with it. Trying it on different needles...different gauges...assorted patterns. I enjoyed it...but it also triggered some childhood leftover stuff about "wasting." Mostly I think, who cares? Who cares if I use up a ball of yarn and have "nothing" to show for it but some swatches? It's the experience gained...the pleasure in experimenting...dare I say, "the process" that counts, isn't it? So I use up $7-10 worth of yarn and have "nothing to show" for it...isn't that cheap therapy?
Which leads me to ask, why do I knit in the first place? Why blog? Why post on the internet for the boredom of the masses? I knit because I can't NOT knit. It soothes my soul...delights me in a very deep way...calms the anxieties that hound me. I blog because...it is about connection. I have a handful of blogs I read daily...and these women (so far all women anyway) make me think. They make me think about my knitting....about my life. Today, Margene posted and it could have been me, everthing she said about clutter.
Knitting connects me internally....blogging connects me to other knitters....other women who "get it." So I don't have a lot to show...still haven't figured out the picture posting thing...still haven't finished complex sweaters or designed my own patterns. So what. I'm happy. Good enough, aye?
I had cast on...and knit the five rows of garter. I felt a little clumsy, but put it off to knitting quickly in a few stolen moments before work. At break time....I realized I have no hope of knitting with this yarn on Denise's. The tips are too blunt...too round. About drove me insane trying to get through two rows of the lace pattern. At lunch time, I dug around for a set of bamboo in the needed size. Could I find the right size? Of course not. I used a good portion of my lunch making myself crazy looking too. Finally, in desperation that I would have no knitting at my afternoon break if I didn't do something - horrors!- I grabbed more Lion Brand Cotton, correct size needles and decided another dishcloth would be preferable to nothing. Cast on for this dishcloth pattern, Lacy Mock Cable....and I am enjoying it very much.
What is it with dishcloths? Somehow they seem so....blah. But in truth...I really enjoy them. I love knitting with cotton...they are small enough to not trigger my adult-onset knitter's ADD...Dishcloths are an opportunity to try patterns in small doses...like swatches...with purpose.
One of the things I did last year that I really enjoyed....and have somehow stopped doing...was buying just one skein of a yarn I really loved and just playing with it. Trying it on different needles...different gauges...assorted patterns. I enjoyed it...but it also triggered some childhood leftover stuff about "wasting." Mostly I think, who cares? Who cares if I use up a ball of yarn and have "nothing" to show for it but some swatches? It's the experience gained...the pleasure in experimenting...dare I say, "the process" that counts, isn't it? So I use up $7-10 worth of yarn and have "nothing to show" for it...isn't that cheap therapy?
Which leads me to ask, why do I knit in the first place? Why blog? Why post on the internet for the boredom of the masses? I knit because I can't NOT knit. It soothes my soul...delights me in a very deep way...calms the anxieties that hound me. I blog because...it is about connection. I have a handful of blogs I read daily...and these women (so far all women anyway) make me think. They make me think about my knitting....about my life. Today, Margene posted and it could have been me, everthing she said about clutter.
Knitting connects me internally....blogging connects me to other knitters....other women who "get it." So I don't have a lot to show...still haven't figured out the picture posting thing...still haven't finished complex sweaters or designed my own patterns. So what. I'm happy. Good enough, aye?
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
If I Could Just Make Up My Mind....
Following the decision to rip the too-soft silk/merino Branching Out....I took my trusty 365 Day Perpetual Calender of Knitting Stitches (or whatever it's called, I left it at home...) and sat with my Knit Picks Shimmer laceweight and played with a few patterns.
Didn't like anything. I have a hard time envisioning a fabric knit up in a different yarn than pictured. None of the patterns are pictured in laceweight....so I played. Even tho it was not necessarily a successful venture as far as finding a pattern I wanted to follow...it was fun. I enjoyed playing with the yarn itself...in fact, I am quite smitten with it. I love the feel (silk/alpaca blend), I love the color (blue/green heathery look)...
So I brought it along to work this a.m. and since I got here 10 minutes early....cast on for another Branching Out. What is it with this pattern? I usually get bored really quick.....and I do mean, really quick. But I want to make another...so...here goes. It will be vastly different that the previous one I knit in Silky Wool....but I am pleasantly curious as to what the fabric will turn out with this yarn. If it works...hooray. If it doesn't.....oh well. That's the lovely thing about yarn....just take it off the needles and wind it back on the ball.
Yearning for more yarn from Knit Picks....especially since they have many new styles. But...still working on that whole notion of behaving like an adult and not just getting it cause I want it.
So far so good. One day at a time, regardless of what kind of addict one is, aye?
Didn't like anything. I have a hard time envisioning a fabric knit up in a different yarn than pictured. None of the patterns are pictured in laceweight....so I played. Even tho it was not necessarily a successful venture as far as finding a pattern I wanted to follow...it was fun. I enjoyed playing with the yarn itself...in fact, I am quite smitten with it. I love the feel (silk/alpaca blend), I love the color (blue/green heathery look)...
So I brought it along to work this a.m. and since I got here 10 minutes early....cast on for another Branching Out. What is it with this pattern? I usually get bored really quick.....and I do mean, really quick. But I want to make another...so...here goes. It will be vastly different that the previous one I knit in Silky Wool....but I am pleasantly curious as to what the fabric will turn out with this yarn. If it works...hooray. If it doesn't.....oh well. That's the lovely thing about yarn....just take it off the needles and wind it back on the ball.
Yearning for more yarn from Knit Picks....especially since they have many new styles. But...still working on that whole notion of behaving like an adult and not just getting it cause I want it.
So far so good. One day at a time, regardless of what kind of addict one is, aye?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Weekend From Hell
Surfing around this a.m., I see that my household was not the only one hit with one of those weekends.
Last Wednesday, my youngest came a'knocking at my door at about 1 a.m.....sick, puky....and proceeded to repeat the process about 10 times from 1-6 a.m. Sick as a dog...ate nothing but one piece of toast the next day. This is a boy who eats unendingly....who was willing to eat only one piece of toast all day. That tells you just how bad it was.
Friday afternoon, his sister comes down with it. Friday night....Jodie and the 17-year-0ld are ensconced in separate bathrooms, ralphing in tandem. The twist is...Jodie is diabetic.
Take a diabetic, add the flu....not good. I ended up calling the ambulance at about 3 a.m. We spent over 4 hours in ER and two liters of fluid, multiple rounds of phenergan and I don't remember what else, we went home to spend an exhausted Saturday.
Sunday night....it hit me. Missed work yesterday...and while I made it to work today, my back is out from retching so hard all night.
Seems the planets were misaligned for more than my little household....the blog world this a.m. is full of injuries and ills.
I did knit a bit in ER Friday night....but only enough to realize...I don't like what I'm knitting. I am using luscious, and I do mean luscious, 50% silk/50% merino from Spirit Trail and was knitting another Branching Out. I don't like the combination...the yarn is too soft if that makes any sense. I can't articulate it better...it just isn't working. So today, I'm gonna rip it out. Hit the web a bit for another pattern to try. Could be, this yarn is too soft for a lace pattern...does anyone have any thoughts on that? I don't think blocking would solve the problem.....I wish I could describe what I mean in a better way... does anyone get what I mean here???
If this weekend was ugly for you too....my sincere condolences. If you had a great weekend....well, you are a lucky gal (or feller).
Last Wednesday, my youngest came a'knocking at my door at about 1 a.m.....sick, puky....and proceeded to repeat the process about 10 times from 1-6 a.m. Sick as a dog...ate nothing but one piece of toast the next day. This is a boy who eats unendingly....who was willing to eat only one piece of toast all day. That tells you just how bad it was.
Friday afternoon, his sister comes down with it. Friday night....Jodie and the 17-year-0ld are ensconced in separate bathrooms, ralphing in tandem. The twist is...Jodie is diabetic.
Take a diabetic, add the flu....not good. I ended up calling the ambulance at about 3 a.m. We spent over 4 hours in ER and two liters of fluid, multiple rounds of phenergan and I don't remember what else, we went home to spend an exhausted Saturday.
Sunday night....it hit me. Missed work yesterday...and while I made it to work today, my back is out from retching so hard all night.
Seems the planets were misaligned for more than my little household....the blog world this a.m. is full of injuries and ills.
I did knit a bit in ER Friday night....but only enough to realize...I don't like what I'm knitting. I am using luscious, and I do mean luscious, 50% silk/50% merino from Spirit Trail and was knitting another Branching Out. I don't like the combination...the yarn is too soft if that makes any sense. I can't articulate it better...it just isn't working. So today, I'm gonna rip it out. Hit the web a bit for another pattern to try. Could be, this yarn is too soft for a lace pattern...does anyone have any thoughts on that? I don't think blocking would solve the problem.....I wish I could describe what I mean in a better way... does anyone get what I mean here???
If this weekend was ugly for you too....my sincere condolences. If you had a great weekend....well, you are a lucky gal (or feller).
Friday, August 05, 2005
P-P-P-Pressure
If I could get away with it...I would spend today in a quiet room knitting until my fingers went numb. Then, I would have one, just one, Mike's Hard Lemonade. Then I would go to bed and sleep for about 3 days.
But, alas, that ain't gonna happen.
Cassie over at Too Much Wool said something the other day about how we don't always blog about all the stuff going on in our lives....then I read Lene for the first time today, and thought about the subject of pretending...pretending that everything is okay...hiding behind the "okayness"....not wanting to make people feel uncomfortable.
God forbid, we should make someone feel uncomfortable.
That is the story of my life....making sure everyone else was okay....wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable....that would be bad. I'd pretty much give up a limb rather than make someone feel uncomfortable. An exaggeration? uh...not much of one.
Today is a hard day. It doesn't matter why. Today I am feeling vulnerable and anxious. The one thing that really keeps me from going off the deep end is knitting. People who don't knit do not understand that. Some who do knit don't understand it. I don't know if I really understand it.
It's a beautiful day...I am alive for another day...another chance to try to get it right, this business of living. Working on living in the moment, which for me is counting the minutes (31 minutes) until I can escape to sit in my car for 15 minutes and feel the softness of the yarn slide through my fingers....the soothing regularity of knit and purl.........the just-enough-complexity-so-I-don't-think-too-much-ness of a simple lace pattern.
Just keep knitting.
But, alas, that ain't gonna happen.
Cassie over at Too Much Wool said something the other day about how we don't always blog about all the stuff going on in our lives....then I read Lene for the first time today, and thought about the subject of pretending...pretending that everything is okay...hiding behind the "okayness"....not wanting to make people feel uncomfortable.
God forbid, we should make someone feel uncomfortable.
That is the story of my life....making sure everyone else was okay....wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable....that would be bad. I'd pretty much give up a limb rather than make someone feel uncomfortable. An exaggeration? uh...not much of one.
Today is a hard day. It doesn't matter why. Today I am feeling vulnerable and anxious. The one thing that really keeps me from going off the deep end is knitting. People who don't knit do not understand that. Some who do knit don't understand it. I don't know if I really understand it.
It's a beautiful day...I am alive for another day...another chance to try to get it right, this business of living. Working on living in the moment, which for me is counting the minutes (31 minutes) until I can escape to sit in my car for 15 minutes and feel the softness of the yarn slide through my fingers....the soothing regularity of knit and purl.........the just-enough-complexity-so-I-don't-think-too-much-ness of a simple lace pattern.
Just keep knitting.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Sofie...ready for her bath
Ms Sofie is ready for her felting bath. I love it, simply love it at this point. I think I might have been able to squeeze out another row from the yarn I had left...but wasn't willing to risk it....or I was too lazy. Or something. This was a FAST knit! Wow! FAST! Very satisfying. I haven't decided what I will do for handles...I am not interested in knitting them...can't afford to send for the cool ones like Mizz Norma used...contemplating making them...also contemplating completely cheating and buying some from the craft store. We'll see.
Fickle as usual....I've already moved on.
I looked at the stash kept in my closet last night....about 6-8 medium size Sterlite bins. This reminds me....this was brought up the other day, my stash. I said something about I had to figure out what to do with the rest of the yarn in the garage. Jodie said "There's MORE?"
Kayla (my lovely almost 17yo) shot a glance at me from the corner of her eye....I blushed. "Uh...yeah. There's more...a LOT more." Kayla murmured something unintelligible about "yarn fetish" under her breath....Ahem. Jodie is becoming initiated into what it is like to be partnered with a yarn-addicted craft ho. Hee.....
At any rate...ramble, ramble....I dragged out some of the gorgeous 50% silk/50% merino I got from Spirit Trail last year. I have 800 yards....and I always put it back thinking, "I should save this for something special." Hello. I've had it a year. I just closed my eyes and lept...grabbed a hank, wound it into a ball, and it is going to be the next version of Branching Out.
I have a LOT of yarn I am "saving." This is not useful to me...cause I will "save" it till hell freezes over. Why not use it? Why not enjoy it? I love this yarn, SERIOUSLY love this yarn.
So I'm going to use it. Then, I'm going to continue on and ENJOY the yarn I have....and stop "saving" it for something "special."
Anyone else have this whole mental block to using the 'nice' stuff...saving it for later? It seems to be a family trait...one I hate. So it's time to break myself of it!
Fickle as usual....I've already moved on.
I looked at the stash kept in my closet last night....about 6-8 medium size Sterlite bins. This reminds me....this was brought up the other day, my stash. I said something about I had to figure out what to do with the rest of the yarn in the garage. Jodie said "There's MORE?"
Kayla (my lovely almost 17yo) shot a glance at me from the corner of her eye....I blushed. "Uh...yeah. There's more...a LOT more." Kayla murmured something unintelligible about "yarn fetish" under her breath....Ahem. Jodie is becoming initiated into what it is like to be partnered with a yarn-addicted craft ho. Hee.....
At any rate...ramble, ramble....I dragged out some of the gorgeous 50% silk/50% merino I got from Spirit Trail last year. I have 800 yards....and I always put it back thinking, "I should save this for something special." Hello. I've had it a year. I just closed my eyes and lept...grabbed a hank, wound it into a ball, and it is going to be the next version of Branching Out.
I have a LOT of yarn I am "saving." This is not useful to me...cause I will "save" it till hell freezes over. Why not use it? Why not enjoy it? I love this yarn, SERIOUSLY love this yarn.
So I'm going to use it. Then, I'm going to continue on and ENJOY the yarn I have....and stop "saving" it for something "special."
Anyone else have this whole mental block to using the 'nice' stuff...saving it for later? It seems to be a family trait...one I hate. So it's time to break myself of it!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Sofie
Bound off Branching Out last night. I kept fighting it and fighting it....and finally said, you know what? I'm done with you. So I did the five rows of garter, bound off, and stuffed it in the "to be blocked" bag. Let's not talk about what else is in there. I like it, I really do like it. It just sorta p*ssed me off the last bit.
Immediately cast on for Norma's version of Sofie. I love it. I love the sturdy feel of knitting with doubled yarn on size 11 needles. I love the thick, cushiness of the fabric it is creating. I love the way the bag already has shape and can "see" how it will felt down perfectly. It is going fast...which is a good thing. I am already rethinking the Cascade 220 in my stash...how many Sofie's could I make?????
Then, there is Rogue's sister...Eris. You know I want one. But...I'm learning restraint. I scrapped Rogue for various reasons....mostly that I just didn't like the way the fabric was turning out with the yarn I chose. I really do want a Rogue. I already have the pattern for Rogue. I already have yarn that would be suitable for Rogue. I will make Rogue first. I will not even buy the pattern for Eris until The New Rogue is close to finish. And.....I will not re-start Rogue Until I Finish Ribby.
I won't.
It's time to pull up my big girl panties*. I will be responsible. I will not purchase or start another BIG (to me anyway) project when I have yet to finish Ribby.
*This is something Jodie says (always in jest, mind you) that makes me laugh hysterically. "Oh pull up your big girl panties and get over it."
Immediately cast on for Norma's version of Sofie. I love it. I love the sturdy feel of knitting with doubled yarn on size 11 needles. I love the thick, cushiness of the fabric it is creating. I love the way the bag already has shape and can "see" how it will felt down perfectly. It is going fast...which is a good thing. I am already rethinking the Cascade 220 in my stash...how many Sofie's could I make?????
Then, there is Rogue's sister...Eris. You know I want one. But...I'm learning restraint. I scrapped Rogue for various reasons....mostly that I just didn't like the way the fabric was turning out with the yarn I chose. I really do want a Rogue. I already have the pattern for Rogue. I already have yarn that would be suitable for Rogue. I will make Rogue first. I will not even buy the pattern for Eris until The New Rogue is close to finish. And.....I will not re-start Rogue Until I Finish Ribby.
I won't.
It's time to pull up my big girl panties*. I will be responsible. I will not purchase or start another BIG (to me anyway) project when I have yet to finish Ribby.
*This is something Jodie says (always in jest, mind you) that makes me laugh hysterically. "Oh pull up your big girl panties and get over it."
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Stupid Scarf
Pardon, my angst is showing again....
I am 1-2 repeats away from the binding off of Branching Out. I have mucked up the last few rows again and again....and again. Just now, I spent my 15 minute break merrily knitting...then frogging...then reknitting...then frogging....Argh. I say 1-2 repeats because the pattern indicates you *should* get 27 repeats out of a hank of Silky Wool....but I am wondering if I have enough yarn left. Made up my mind I would do one more repeat and then decide to do the five rows of garter and bind off or continue on.
As soon as I decided that....couldn't knit worth a hoot. I can usually get a 10-row repeat done on my break, give or take a bit. I ended up frogging everything I had done.
I think I am distracted, you know? Sheesh.
I think my knitting is putting me back in my place, is what I think. I had these ideas, you see. "Hmm, I'm almost done with branching out...maybe when I go home at lunch, I can pick up the Cascade 220 and needles for the Sofie...."
Apparently Branching Out is miffed that I am already looking elsewhere before she's finished....and is stalling.
Today is day 2 of a 12-day-in-a-row workweek. Now, honestly, I won't have to work 8 hours a day every day. On the weekend, I'll just work a few hours each day. But not having a whole day off in 12 days? Can you say C-R-A-N-K-Y? Truthfully, I think I'm already cranky just anticipating it.
I found the most wonderful site....which I bookmarked for another day, far into the distant future, when I have used enough yarn from my stash and gotten my finances in order and can buy guilt free....A site that only sells sock yarn...(well, a bit more): Simply Socks Yarn Company.
Heaven, I tell you...heaven.
I am 1-2 repeats away from the binding off of Branching Out. I have mucked up the last few rows again and again....and again. Just now, I spent my 15 minute break merrily knitting...then frogging...then reknitting...then frogging....Argh. I say 1-2 repeats because the pattern indicates you *should* get 27 repeats out of a hank of Silky Wool....but I am wondering if I have enough yarn left. Made up my mind I would do one more repeat and then decide to do the five rows of garter and bind off or continue on.
As soon as I decided that....couldn't knit worth a hoot. I can usually get a 10-row repeat done on my break, give or take a bit. I ended up frogging everything I had done.
I think I am distracted, you know? Sheesh.
I think my knitting is putting me back in my place, is what I think. I had these ideas, you see. "Hmm, I'm almost done with branching out...maybe when I go home at lunch, I can pick up the Cascade 220 and needles for the Sofie...."
Apparently Branching Out is miffed that I am already looking elsewhere before she's finished....and is stalling.
Today is day 2 of a 12-day-in-a-row workweek. Now, honestly, I won't have to work 8 hours a day every day. On the weekend, I'll just work a few hours each day. But not having a whole day off in 12 days? Can you say C-R-A-N-K-Y? Truthfully, I think I'm already cranky just anticipating it.
I found the most wonderful site....which I bookmarked for another day, far into the distant future, when I have used enough yarn from my stash and gotten my finances in order and can buy guilt free....A site that only sells sock yarn...(well, a bit more): Simply Socks Yarn Company.
Heaven, I tell you...heaven.
Monday, August 01, 2005
The Fast Lane
Here we are...Monday, Monday. Yee haw. My goal this week is to work as many hours as possible. If I can get to 40 hours this week, I think it will be a blooming miracle....but it is the goal.
Trying very, very hard to get control of my finances. Jodie is very good with this...and is holding my hand through it. Actually...I have completely given control of my finances over to her. You have NO IDEA how significant this is to me. I am so incredibly tired of the financial rollercoaster ride I have been on...it is a relief in many ways. It is also scary as hell. I handed over my debit cards and sole credit card. Working only with cash.
I could break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
The independant side of me says....dammit. If I wanna go to lunch....or buy yarn...or a knitting magazine...or whatever...I'm gonna do it! But that kind of self-absorbed behavior has got me to where I am...in debt, behind on everything, afraid-t0-answer-the-phone state. Not a fun place to be. I am 41 years old...and I don't like how I've been handling (or not handling as the case may be) my money.
So...you will be seeing a lot of stash busting here at Sahara Knits. Good thing I have plenty o' stash, now isn't it? Hee*******
Branching Out is *this* close to being done. Soon as I bind off...I'm casting on for a "Norma's" version of Sofie using some lovely celery/sagey green Cascade 220. Still haven't dragged out Ribby Cardi, but dang it's hot....
Question of the Day: Can you pass up a bundle of old metal knitting needles at a garage sale...in favor of Addi's or bamboo? Not me. I see a bundle of old Boye needles for a buck...it's mine. When I teach someone to knit, I give them a pair to start out with. YOU?
Trying very, very hard to get control of my finances. Jodie is very good with this...and is holding my hand through it. Actually...I have completely given control of my finances over to her. You have NO IDEA how significant this is to me. I am so incredibly tired of the financial rollercoaster ride I have been on...it is a relief in many ways. It is also scary as hell. I handed over my debit cards and sole credit card. Working only with cash.
I could break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
The independant side of me says....dammit. If I wanna go to lunch....or buy yarn...or a knitting magazine...or whatever...I'm gonna do it! But that kind of self-absorbed behavior has got me to where I am...in debt, behind on everything, afraid-t0-answer-the-phone state. Not a fun place to be. I am 41 years old...and I don't like how I've been handling (or not handling as the case may be) my money.
So...you will be seeing a lot of stash busting here at Sahara Knits. Good thing I have plenty o' stash, now isn't it? Hee*******
Branching Out is *this* close to being done. Soon as I bind off...I'm casting on for a "Norma's" version of Sofie using some lovely celery/sagey green Cascade 220. Still haven't dragged out Ribby Cardi, but dang it's hot....
Question of the Day: Can you pass up a bundle of old metal knitting needles at a garage sale...in favor of Addi's or bamboo? Not me. I see a bundle of old Boye needles for a buck...it's mine. When I teach someone to knit, I give them a pair to start out with. YOU?
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