August 2007 Archives

Sometimes I amaze even myself.  No baby steps for me, I want to run full-tilt!  I only began knitting last November but the typical beginner projects of washcloths and scarves bored me to tears just to look at the pattern.  Me?  My first project was a sock, with ribbing to boot!  My theory?  IF I'm going to fail let me fail doing something challenging.  And WHEN (cuz it's just a matter of time) I succeed I feel even more accomplished because it was something challenging.

So what is my latest leap of faith?  ENTRELAC.  Now that I've got the hang of it I find it deceptively simple whilst appearing complex.  Entrelac is my new instant-gratification knitting.  If you haven't tried it, give it a shot.  If this newbie can do it you can too (with a few helpful hints from some knitty friends).

My other instant-grat knitting project is the Saartje's Bootees.  28 rows for newborn size and I have the cutest little bootees EVAH!  I'm a rather slow knitter and I finished up a pair (sans buttons) in under 3 hours and I was dawdling part of that time.  Ravelry rocks because that is where I stumbled upon her pattern in other folks queues.  Don't throw tomatoes at me, your invite is coming!

Have a Happy Friday and remember....

DON'T FEAR THE KNITTING!

It's my day to post and I don't have a lot to say.

Or maybe I do.

I have been asked to teach the spinning classes (wheel) at a local yarn shop and in doing so, I will get to write up the entire curriculum and have some input into what types of fiber the store stocks.

Does anyone have an online resource for beginning spinners? I'd like to make sure that I include enough information in the course materials for my students that they can take home enough information to keep going. I know that not everyone is a "blaze your on trail" kind of student like me, and I'd like to send these guys home with some good information. Or does anyone have ONE spinning resource book that they have found to be the best?

In other news, I designed a really cool item and was considering submitting it to Knitty.com, but I am currently leaning towards self-publication. Does anyone have an opinion on that? I'm having a second person test knit it now and we are finding some stuff that needs to be corrected, so that's good.

I just need to decide what I want to do about publication.

I have a couple of LYS owners who I know would buy the pattern if I had it for sale and there are a ton of knitters who have asked me about it, so I know that it would sell.

What to do?

So, I was listening to Sticks and String pod cast today, and David Reidy's essay was called "Carpe Lanam".  Seize the wool.  It got me thinking.  I know, not necessarily a good thing...thanks peanut gallery.  Anyway, what a rallying cry for knitters.  Don't be afraid.   Try something new.  Steeking?  Sure, take scissors to the hours of work  and loads of $$ I just put into a sweater.  Lace, it's just multiple combinations of essentially 3 stitches...knit, purl, yarn over.  Bleach?  Sure, why not.  If it doesn't work, that can be the back!  Whatever it is, it's just knitting.  Mistakes happen.  Call it a design element. Frogging just means more time to perfect a technique.  There is nothing to be afraid of.  There are no knitting police.  So, if a technique looks to hard, grab your yarn and your needles and look it in the eye and say "I AIN'T SKEERED". 

So now that I have my Braveheart moment out of the way, I have been knitting along. I finished a second baby sweater today.  Too cute. No pictures.  I worked a bit on the pillow from Knitty Gritty.  Have some socks on the needles.  Have renamed the Log Cabin Blanket to the Never ending blanket.  Am definitely taking it to the mountains this weekend.  Saying in Log Cabin, working on a Log Cabin...hmph.

Knitch Sunday was enjoyable.  Encountered a crazy man. (That's what crazy looks like!) Finished a bag.  Had some empanadas.  Helped a fairly new, young knitter finish off a hat and weave in the ends.  I also explained and tried to demonstrate the theory for Entrelac to Sherrie.  I hope I didn't confuse you too much.  I wish I liked teaching more. 

See ya!

Hello all!  I hope this blog finds you well!  I have nothing to report in the way of knitting projects.  My knitting still looks pretty much the same as the last time you saw it.  The sock & scarf that time forgot!  So I thought I'd show a few pics of where I live.

Our property backs up to Shem Creek.  There's a little pier on one end of the property that looks over the marsh.  It's so calm & peaceful!  I love it!

Other views from the pier...

Anyway, there's a screened-in gazebo right next to the pier that just screams, "Come here to knit!"

There's even a picnic area nearby with grills!  We could cook out, if we were so inclined!  Just a suggestion!  I miss you all & hope you'll think about a trip this way soon!

Love,
A Real Boy

P.S.  I tried to center the top pictures, but no such luck.  I know there's got to be a way to do it!

The Leaf Yoke cardigan is starting to be Choke Yoke Cardigan - b/c I want to strangle the pattern writer!   I figured out about 4 rows past the bobble row that there's a problem.  See, if I follow the instructions exactly, the ribbing doesn't line up as shown in the photo - which is what looks good.  How it's lining up as written looks like crap.  So I'm tearing it back and am ready to re-start just after the bobbles and I figure I should head back to Knitch for another look at the shop model.  I'm not looking forward to doing that during the weekday, but at least maybe the parking will be easier.  Between how they wrote the bobble instructions (I swear I did that row 4x!) and this, I'm a wee frustrated. 

Went to spinning guild on Saturday.  Took me forever to get there b/c if I'm going through town I MUST stop at The Varsity.  yeah yeah I know.  disgusting.  NOT!!!  The Varsity is a happy place for me. See, despite being a yankee my entire family is from Atlanta.  So, at Christmas and maybe one other time a year we'd head down to Atlanta to see my grandparents.  A much more pleasant place than home.  There was always a trip to The Varsity for a burger, pimento sandwich (Mother's fave... blech.),ice cream and of course, a fried peach pie.  I think it was always the atmosphere of the place more than the food.  It's huge.  It had its own parking garage (something unheard of in my little 1970s world) and it had all this activity and action going on.  the counters are really high up so they always had an air of mysteriousness about what was going on back there.       well, anyway, it's always a happy association.  Sort of like comfort food and church incense. 

Back to the point of my story...  I got lost.   This seems to be the case every time I go to the Varsity.  Usually, I can figure out how to get back to the highway, but going somewhere else...  HAH!!  In the end, Katey guided me back to safety and I met with her and Sherrie at the spinning guild.  Wow.  Lots of wheels.  lots of roving.  mmmmm....  preeettty colors....  I have a lead on a wheel a lady is trying to sell, but she wants whoever is going to buy it to test drive it for a few days first.  So, that's the plan.  I'll call her and see what we might arrange - after I speak with Mr. Slave about it.  I don't think he's real thrilled about the prospect of another craft in the house.  I think he's still in shock over the sewing machine.

Big Love is on.  gotta go!

First, spoiler alert if you haven't seen Little Miss Sunshine:

You know the end of the movie, where she's dancing her heart out to Rick James?  That song is SOOOOO stuck in my head.  And in my head I'm dancing like a mad woman and laughing my butt off!  Yep, I'm that mom that would of jumped on stage and danced with her.  Hell, I am that little girl in many ways.  Right now, it's my knitting that's making me feel a little Freaky.

End spoiler

So with the song in mind listen to my trouble.  See, like, um, I've never done a project that required seaming see?  I've only been knitting since last November and yea my first projects were socks, baby and adult.  I've done blankets and bunnies and socks.  'Tis true that I can kitchener like nobody's business.  I'm even doing lace, k?  So what in the hell is my problem with seaming????

I've finished a Mason/Dixon baby kimono for a dear in-law who's due in October.  It's all blocked and looks gorgeous and just needs some "mattress stitch" seaming per the pattern.  Umm, they talk as if I've got a clue what they are talking about.

       
Ok, I'm resourceful.  I'm the insanely brave knitter (according to the other knitters I've met).  So I trudge to Google, search, look at some text/pics, look at some videos.  Think I've got it!  Start to seam.  Looks like crap!  Rip out and stare.  Try again.  Rip out again.  Look at books, read instructions, study the pictures.  Get brave.  Try again.  STILL LOOKS LIKE CRAP!!!!  I was about to whip-stitch the thing in frustration but instead threw it across the room, picked it up and put it back in the project bag till it can learn to behave itself and be seamed like it's 'spose to!

So yea.  I'm a freak, this girl's a super freak, yea yea.  I'm going to Spinning Guild tomorrow and Knitch on Sunday and I'll bring the sad little kimono.  Someone will be patient enough to teach me and then I can be brave again.

Happy Friday Everybody!!!!

Sherrie

P.S.  To sooth myself I started working on the Shadow Stripes Hat.  I think it looks real cute in Boomerang (Alaska) by Fiesta Yarns.

Be the wind - (noun) an activity in which the participants fling themselves about in a somewhat ungainly manner, frequently drawing strange stares from passers by. Primarily used as a method to restore energy to the participants. Also very funny. Requires a lot of space. (Technical note: It is important to jump up and turn in midair somewhat frequently while being the wind.)

Bless her (his) heart - (statement of dismissal or sarcasm) - Southernism used in such a way as to seem polite and caring, but really means, "What a moron/idiot/retard."

Crop dusting - (verb) - The act of walking through a crowded room while farting in an effort to make sure that as many people as possible can enjoy your stench.

Damn, Damn - (expletive) - used in place of Katey's preference for g*ddamn

Do you know me (us)? - (statement of confusion or disdain) - Used when the person addressed has lost any remembrance of the speaker's personality quirks. Also appropriate when the person addressed has asked a dumb question. (See also: Have you met me (us)?)

Dropping kids off at the pool - (euphemism) - pooping

Dumb looks are free - (statement of fact) - The appropriate response to the request, "Can I ask you a question?"

Fecording - (verb) - Used in place of the more common "recording"

Fish taco - (noun) - A woman's genital area. Laurie's area of professional experience. (She's a certified nurse-midwife folks!)

Get off me, man! - (exclamation) - Can be used in a variety of situations where something unwanted is occurring. This can include undesirable objects in contact with your person, annoying people in your vicinity and/or any other situation involving interaction with other persons or objects.

I'm a real boy! - (exclamation) - Typically shouted in triumph when learning a new skill. Frequently preceded by, "I did it!"

I'm not scared - (statement of fact) - Used to indicate that the speaker is not afraid. Usually applied to cases where there is no reason to be afraid. (ex. "I'll post to the blog, I'm not scared.")

Have you met me (us)? - (statement of confusion or disdain) - Used when the person addressed has lost any remembrance of the speaker's personality quirks. Also appropriate when the person addressed has asked a dumb question. (See also: Do you know me (us)?)

Hot Doughnuts Now Later - (statement of timeframe/desire) - A reference to Krispy Kreme's "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign and a desire to have said hot doughnuts at a later time.

Hungarian - (adjective) - One of the three levels of hungry. The mildest. The degrees of hungry are rated by the amount of violence one is willing to do in order to get food. Hungarian is marked by a willingness to pinch or slap to get food. (See also:  "Hungry like a hostage"  and "Like Marvin")

Hungry like a hostage - (adjective) - One of the three levels of hungry. The strongest. The degrees of hungry are rated by the amount of violence one is willing to do in order to get food. "Hungry like a hostage" is marked by a willingness to draw blood to get food. (See also: "Hungarian" and "Like Marvin")

I pay all the rent up in here - (statement of dismissal) - Used to indicate to the target of the sentiment that they have no say in X location due to the fact that they are not contributing owners of location, be it a home, an apartment, a car or a blog. (also: I pay all the rent up in this bitch.)

Like Marvin - (adjective) - One of the three levels of hungry. The median level. The degrees of hungry are rated by the amount of violence one is willing to do in order to get food. "Like Marvin" is marked by a willingness to hit or punch to get food. (See also: "Hungarian" and "Hungry like a hostage")

Math is hard - (statement of fact/sarcasm) - usually used by someone who is having trouble with basic math skills, or with disdain to someone who is experiencing trouble counting.

Negative, Ghostrider, the pattern is full - (statement of fact/sarcasm) - Usually used to let someone know that there is no way you can help them, due to the fact that you are already helping 99 other people (usually under duress).

One of the kids didn't want to go down the slide - (euphemism) - poop that is too big to go easily down the toilet, resulting in a fear of having to get a broom handle or other inplement and break it up manually. (see also: dropping the kids off at the pool)

PindaBudder - (noun) - The preferred pronunciation for Laurie's rats of the words "peanut butter."

Shark week - (euphemism) - having one's menstrual period (also: attracting lesbian vampires, pussy cat having a nose bleed, big red, aunt ruby in town)

Shoot a nugget - (verb) - Accidentally pooping while trying to fart. (also: Shart)

Snarkerati - (noun) - women of stitches and wit, also sometimes bitchy

Something bad is happening! - (exclamation) - General cry for help or attention. Often used when whatever is "bad" is not really bad, just out of the ordinary and not necessarily good.

Sparkle Tits - (noun) - What happens to your cleavage when attending "Knit All Night" where a Body Shop at Home representative is present and providing samples of body glitter.

Spike - (noun) Generic term used to describe any knitter at a knitting or fiber gathering who is especially obnoxious and/or who goes on at length at extreme volume about how she can purchase "this" online for less money. Subtlety is not her strong point. Meeting "Spike" is usually accompanied by a desire to "taco kick" her.

Taco Kick - (verb) - A kick to a woman's genital area, more often threatened than actually delivered. (In reality, this has never been carried out.)

That's what crazy looks like - (statement of dismissal) - Used in any circumstance where someone is being ridiculously unreasonable or illogical. Esp. when an "anonymous" commenter makes enough personal and nasty comments about the post author to identify themselves, therefore undermining their own "anonymity".

Uterine Elves - (noun) - the magical beings who live in the uterus of a woman with an IUD that help kill off any sperm who dare the enter.

Yikesenjammer (Yikes and Jammer) - (exclamation) - Used in situations where "Yikes!" is not quite enough. Can also be delivered by two people. The first says "Yikes!" and the second, in agreement, says emphatically, "and Jammer" (var. Yikesenberry or Yikes and Berry)

You shuffle your feet, you lose your seat. - (statement of fact) - Comment made as one takes the seat that was recently vacated by another in the group. Usually when that seat was vacated in order to get food or use the restroom.

Formerly of the (now defunct) Purly Gates in Marietta, Georgia, we are a group of knitters who meet weekly to knit and have a good time.

The cast is as follows:

AmyDe - Used to work at the shop. Has an encyclopedic knowledge of yarn and patterns, is a fantastic sewer, crocheter, and is a homeschooling mom to two great kids. (In addition to being a great knitter.) There is some debate as to whether it is AmyDe or Stephanie who has the largest stash, but the world will never know. (AmyDe on Ravelry)

AmyN - Our most prolific knitter. Also a huge Tony Stewart fan. Works as a executive travel agent for Home Depot (which explains her obsession with orange as well). She's the one you call when you "break" your lace. (ANunmaker on Ravelry)

Heather - Our newest knitter. She recently moved to Charleston, South Cackalackie. She is the source of many of our funny sayings (see Snarky Dictionary) Frequently a "real boy." Occasionally knits. Mostly makes the rest of us laugh. Also, the coolest dork you'll ever meet.

Katey - Definitely the Snarky-est of all of us. She's a chronic starter who specializes in making one sock and never starting the second one. Also starts a lot of lace. Loves to frog (especially when a project is done). (KateyJ on Ravelry)

Laurie - An obsessive knitter (who has been stuck on socks for a while, luckily she's got tiny feet), rogue midwife, and lover of all things that creep and crawl.  And yes, that inclues rats. She's who you talk to if you have "taco" concerns.

Sherrie - A recent transplant from New Mexico. Maker of "baby socks" (many baby socks), obsessed knitter. Best. Laugh. Ever. (Sherrie on Ravelry)

Stephanie - Mom to two boys (with a girl on the way - AKA BFF Jill) married to our resident patent attorney. Owns the biggest stash of all of us (we think) we STILL haven't seen the whole thing yet. Can't design a pattern to save her life. (Also: colors inside the lines)

Formerly of the (now defunct) Purly Gates in Marietta, Georgia, we are a group of knitters who meet weekly to knit and have a good time.

The cast is as follows:

AmyDe - Used to work at the shop. Has an encyclopedic knowledge of yarn and patterns, is a fantastic sewer, crocheter, and is a homeschooling mom to two great kids. (In addition to being a great knitter.) There is some debate as to whether it is AmyDe or Stephanie who has the largest stash, but the world will never know. (AmyDe on Ravelry)

AmyN - Our most prolific knitter. Also a huge Tony Stewart fan. Works as a executive travel agent for Home Depot (which explains her obsession with orange as well). She's the one you call when you "break" your lace.

Heather - Our newest knitter. She recently moved to Charleston, South Cackalackie. She is the source of many of our funny sayings (see Snarky Dictionary) Frequently a "real boy." Occasionally knits. Mostly makes the rest of us laugh. Also, the coolest dork you'll ever meet.

Katey - Definitely the Snarky-est of all of us. She's a chronic starter who specializes in making one sock and never starting the second one. Also starts a lot of lace. Loves to frog (especially when a project is done). (KateyJ on Ravelry)

Laurie - An obsessive knitter (who has been stuck on socks for a while, luckily she's got tiny feet), rogue midwife, and lover of all things that creep and crawl.  And yes, that inclues rats. She's who you talk to if you have "taco" concerns.

Sherrie - A recent transplant from New Mexico. Maker of "baby socks" (many baby socks), obsessed knitter. Best. Laugh. Ever. (Sherrie on Ravelry)

Stephanie - Mom to two boys (with a girl on the way - AKA BFF Jill) married to our resident patent attorney. Owns the biggest stash of all of us (we think) we STILL haven't seen the whole thing yet. Can't design a pattern to save her life. (Also: colors inside the lines)