I’m sure a psychiatrist would have lots to say about why I have an annual meltdown shortly before my birthday and start wondering What It’s All About and whether I’ve Done Anything Worth Doing, etc.
Luckily that pre-birthday phase is over and today is lovely!
Posted in Me Me Me
I’m in the Ravelry Kitty Toy Swap group. Today I received a wonderful box of kitty toys and a cat mat. My favorite part, as a human, was a skein of mohair/silk laceweight yarn !
My plan was to pose these goodies on the table
for a couple of still life photos, like this:
With a few pictures highlighting the yarn, like this –
The best laid plans of mice and men and cats, right?
First YT noticed the catnip wafting over from the table ..
No sooner had she started to play with the catnip toys …
Then Tupac arrived on the scene …
At first he “shared” the catnip mice ..
But, then he “encouraged” her to leave …
As YT’s tail vanished over the side of the table,
Tupac settles down to play with the catnip!
So it goes with these wild felines!
THANK YOU for the kitty toys, the Eucalan wash, the mat, and (as a non-feline) the yarn!
Dear President Obama,
I really do admire and applaud your bipartisan spirit and efforts to find common ground with the Republicans in congress. Perhaps I’m naive, but I actually hoped and expected that your approach might prove contagious and usher in an era of cooperation.
Such has not been the case. Unfortunately, the branch of the Republican Party getting the media attention consists of those who have not shown any sincere desire to cooperate or to reach any bipartisan agreement on any issue.
Worse yet, we’ve been subjected to a parade of absurd, baseless distractions, instead of a substantive debate.
Remember these “issues” –
1. Is Barack Obama really an American citizen? We’ve seen his birth certificate and the birth announcements in the paper, but can we be sure?
2. If doctors are allowed to get medicare reimbursement for consultation about end-of-life issues, doesn’t this mean there will be “death squads” and we’ll all have to justify our existence to a “death panel”?
3. Health insurance reform is socialism!
4. False outrage over “indoctrination” when you tell school children to study hard and stay in school.
We already have roads, a postal system, armed forces, schools, libraries, police and fire protection — all paid for with taxes. These aren’t considered “socialist” institutions. Why is it any different to add basic health care to this list of things that we as a society want to guarantee our citizens? We don’t buy special insurance to be allowed to drive on the roads, call the fire department, or attend public school.
But, let’s get to the point.
You’ve been kind of wimpy about this.
Time to man up, dude.
Out here on the front lines, we’re getting a bit restless. Brows are furrowing. This isn’t about reaching a compromise with folks who don’t want to compromise. It’s about reassuring us that you’ve got the strength and the nerve to stand up for us.
Bipartisanship is a worthy goal. But, doing what’s best for the American people is more important than a political abstraction. People are getting sick and dying while congressmen bicker. Trust me on this – we’d rather see you lose swinging that keep on being so timid.
Stand tall on Wednesday.
The masses out here need to know that you can and will do that.
Excuse me, can I have a hand, I need to hop off this soap box.
Hop!
Here’s hoping for a fiery speech tomorrow!
Give ’em hell!
Posted in The Outside World
When I learn how to design knitted lace, I’d like to
design a shawl inspired by “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”
The book does have a character with a dragon tattoo,
but other elements inspire me:
Water … Ice and snow … Islands … bridges … sailing …
many rivers to cross … the flow of the past into the present.
The plot weaves stories of past and preseent crimes against women,
financial skullduggery and personal relationships.
Lisbeth Salander is the girl of the title, with a dragon tattoo.
She plays a role in all the intertwined narrative threads.
So. A shawl?
I imagine a central motif with serpentine twists,
running from the back of the neck to the bottom.
It would look like both a body of water and a dragon’s tail.
Spiraling off of the curlicues and S curves of the central design
would be other elements suggesting islands, bridges, waterways.
Since I joined the Enchanted Wood shawl KAL,
I’ve dithered and debated about which color or colors to pick,
considering what would flatter my complexion,
go with my wardrobe, or match a particular outfit.
I’ve waffled among bright sunset colors,
cool acquarium shades, and “useful” neutrals.
This morning it suddenly hit me —
It doesn’t matter.
No, I DON’T mean that “it doesn’t matter” because
“It’s not important and life is too short.”
I mean it doesn’t matter because,
no matter how gorgeous the colors, how meticulous the stitching –
I’ll probably never wear it!
This KAL is many things for me –
It’s a fun recreational activity.
It’s a very congenial online social group.
It’s an enjoyable way to learn new knitting skills.
I’ll make an attractive piece of art.
It’s a great way to display and/or show off lace knitting technique.
But, in my actual life, I’m likely to spend about as much time
picturesquely gathering a shawl around my shoulders
as I do in a hula skirt!
It might be fun to be that person who, in classic feline fashion,
tucks her paws/feet under her on the couch,
arranges her curls and tugs her long skirt (or skinny jeans)
over her bare feet (or stiletto heels),
and settles down to sip tea, read a new mystery,
and reflect on the mysteries of life.
But in real life?
I’m always doing something, usually something that requires both hands and might well include spilled tomato sauce, cat scratches, potting soil, dishwater, a dropped cup of coffee, or all of the above.
I hardly ever get cold and often wear tee shirts all winter.
I don’t go to church, attend openings,
pay social calls, or sit on the veranda.
I don’t remember any event ever where I actually thought
“You know what’s missing? A nice beaded lace shawl!”
I find this realization very liberating.
The KAL is fun. It’s a game. It’s a work of art.
It’s led me to resolve to increase my shawl-wearing activities.
More time drinking tea on the couch!
Time to go to a play or concert!
But, I’m going to quit acting like this is Serious Business
as if I’m making a super-practical, never-seen-without-it,
one-to-wash-one-to-wear workhorse for daily chores in the barn.
It can be any colors I feel like playing with,
looking at, or draping on the couch!
Tagged Enchanted Wood, Lace Shawls
My birthday in a few weeks will put me irretrievably into my “late 50’s” if I’m not there already. To celebrate, I’ve decided to list some of the good things about this advanced age.
1. Amusing and/or aggravating younger people by pretending to be confused about “modern terminology” as for example referring to “those internet things you do, My Face and Space Book” when I know perfectly well what they’re called.
2. Unabashed kitten-doting-on. What’s the point of being an old lady if you can’t talk baby talk to your cats?
3. The ability to get the cashier in the grocery store to open a new register when the lines are too long, simply by giving her the look. Hey, they know that when there are 8 people waiting, they’re supposed to roust the folks out of the break room, my puzzled eyebrow and furrowed brow are just a little reminder!
4. Actually having the occasional helpful insight or words of wisdom, assuming anyone wants to hear them.
5. Really, the whole birth-control device thing isn’t the fun part about being a girl, is it?
More to follow!
My birthday in a few weeks will put me irretrievably into my “late 50’s” if I’m not there already. To celebrate, I’ve decided to list some of the good things about this advanced age.
1. Amusing and/or aggravating younger people by pretending to be confused about “modern terminology” as for example referring to “those internet things you do, My Face and Space Book” when I know perfectly well what they’re called.
2. Unabashed kitten-doting-on. What’s the point of being an old lady if you can’t talk baby talk to your cats?
3. The ability to get the cashier in the grocery store to open a new register when the lines are too long, simply by giving her the look. Hey, they know that when there are 8 people waiting, they’re supposed to roust the folks out of the break room, my puzzled eyebrow and furrowed brow are just a little reminder!
4. Actually having the occasional helpful insight or words of wisdom, assuming anyone wants to hear them.
5. Really, the whole birth-control device thing isn’t the fun part about being a girl, is it?
More to follow!
My birthday is in two weeks and I asked for the birthday present of joining the Enchanted Wood KAL which is the next lace shawl KAL from The Unique Sheep.
After drooling over their colors for hours, I stumbled on this one and couldn’t resist:
Mordor
Tagged Enchanted Wood
These are the Swap questions for the Ravelry Recession Special Swap.
1. Do you knit or crochet, or both? How long have you been at the craft?
I knit constantly, but have no real interest in crocheting, just knitting.
2. Do you spin?
No, although it would be fun to learn someday.
3. What yarns/fibers are your favorites?
My favorites yarns are:
Soft – I hate scratchy!
DK, fingering, or laceweight.
Natural animal fibers, such as merino, alpaca, other four legged creatures. Or, luxury fibers like cashmere and silk, innovative fibers like linen, and bamboo.
4. What yarns/fibers do you not like?
I confess to yarn snobbery.
I don’t like synthetic fibers, acrylic, etc., or anything that might be characterized as a “novelty” yarn, and anything made of ribbon, festooned with metallic thread, decorated with glitter, or otherwise tarted up.
I hate chunky yarns and scratchy yarns and yarns that give you shivers like fingernails on a blackboard.
5. What yarns/fibers would you like to try but haven’t?
The yarns I haven’t tried tend to be ones that don’t fit in with a recession swap! So, if you have a buffalo, llama, or quivit in the backyard, you could surprise me!
6. What are your favorite colors? Colors that you don’t like?
I’m starting to feel like the world’s pickiest swapee, but here goes:
Colors I absolutely never use/wear/look good in:
black — white — navy — royal blue — kelly green — magenta
grey — baby blue or baby pink — neon colors — harsh colors.
Colors I really like:
medium dark forest green
deep teal
periwinkle lavender
most shades of brown
rich yellow-y cream
aubergine
generally, I like orange, red, yellow, greens, violets, brown, deep cream, taupe, and burgundy.
7. What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?
I’m currently infatuated with lace. I’m also trying to finish a pile of UFOs, with some success. And, I have several not-yet-started sweaters. Plus, I aspire to actually finish a pair of socks!
8. What are you currently working on?
Todos Scarf, Secret Garden Shawl, a silk scarf of my own pattern, an “Assmat” for the Ravelry Kitty Toy Swap, and a pair of socks for my daughter.
9. What is your favorite FO? (Please post a picture if you have one.)
It will be the Secret Garden Shawl, just as soon as I finish it!
10. Are there any techniques that you want to learn?
I would like to know how to work with different colors. Not the geometric fair isle, but the modular and intarsia and the glorious Kaffe Fasset knits. I books on these subjects, but haven’t been able to figure it out yet.
11. Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, but they sound useful.
12. How do you store your needles/hooks?
I have a lovely silk case that kind of works. I’m trying to design one that works even better!
13. Do you collect anything?
Um, besides Koigu rainbow yarn? And laceweight yarn? I collect smooth, non-snagging baskets for yarn holding, glass paperweights, pottery, handmade soaps, hooks to hang things on, and gimcracks in general.
14. Do you like sweets?
No. I have to monitor my blood sugar, so I try to avoid sweets.
15. What are your favorite scents?
earthy, patchouli, unexpected scents, I actually love perfume!
16. Are you having a birthday during this swap?
My birthday is September 13.
17. Do you have any online wish lists? (Amazon, Loopy Ewe, etc.) Please include a link for your pal.
I will start such a list and then come back and post a link.
18. What is your living situation (Are you married? Do you have kids, pets, or both?)
I have been married for 27 years, and we have two “kids” ages 22 and 25. We have 2 dogs that we like, and 3 cats that we love.
19. Are you allergic to anything?
No.
20. Is there anything else that you would like your pal to know?
Two things.
First, I don’t join swaps for the yarn, but as a fun way to get to know other knitters, and the “making friends” part means more to me than the yarn.
Secondly, (and I realize this contradicts what I just said) I really appreciate in advance any bit of “spoiling” right now. It’s kind of a rough patch for me, because I’m a month into a year-long medical treatment with difficult side-effects, and I also have to find a new job by the end of the year. I’m generally staying cheerful and positive. But, I must admit that, even though I don’t join swaps to get things (I hardly have room for the yarn I already have!) , at this moment a few little surprises wouldn’t go amiss!
Chapter One
In which I decide to write the book I can’t find anywhere.
I’ve been looking for a book that would provide guidance on what to do next. Since I can’t find one, I’ll have to write it myself!
Oh, lest I forget, this is Copywrited by me.
Chapters, neither organized nor in final order just thrown out there.
These are just chapter descriptions, to be actually written later. And, if there doesn’t turn out to be that much to say, then this will start out as a magazine article not a book.
1. A tidal wave is just soooo disruptive.
Something has happened to throw everything off track. It might be divorce, illness, job loss, kids moving out, kids moving in, death, birth, it doesn’t matter what, but something has just messed things up.
In my case, it’s the need to find a new job in the next few months.
2. A time to wallow.
Go on, take a little time to feel sorry for yourself, whine, pout, be irrational, indulge in your vices of choice, bore your friends, delight your enemies, blog about it, whatever. Why am I such a loser? Why do bad things always happen to me? Exaggerate, get it out of your system.
In fact, why not exaggerate to a ludicrous extreme?
“This is so awful, and it’s just my luck. Nothing good has ever happened to me, nothing ever will, it’s all awful, and it’s all my fault. ____ was right when they said I was nothing but a ____ .”
3. But, I liked my old life!
And, why not idealize what’s lost, as long as it’s lost. Romanticize that job, person, friend, lover, town, partner, vacation, house, occupation, that is lost forever. Airbrush over the complaints you had, and mourn it.
In my case, I really did like my job. And now is the time to only think about what I loved about it … and forget the commute, the awkward fit between me and the job description, the essential lonliness of being 35 years older the other people in my position.
4. It’s not fair!
Really, it’s not fair, is it?
But, you do know what Jimmy Carter said, don’t you?
5. It’s NEVER the right time.
Of course, this has happened at the absolutely worst time, right? Here’s a tip – it’s always going to be the worst time.
In my case, I am figuring out a new job and/or career at the worst possible time. The economy is awful, I’m dealing with medical issues, and I’m having a bad hair day.
6. It’s a big project.
This is what I need to do:
Identify what I would like to do next.
Figure out how to get there.
Get there (into a new job)
In order to accomplish this, I will have to
Dream big, but, keep it realistic.
This will involve, first of all:
7. Get to know myself a bit better
What kind of fool am I?
What are my gifts and graces? What are my faults?
What are my essential values?
I don’t know about you, but when I see these lists in self-help books, I always have the same answer: “I dunno.”
Followed by a spiral loop back into self-recrimination and self-pity.
I picture all these other people decisively knowing themselves, and briskly circling the answers to “know yourself” quizzes, while the only answer I can really relate to is the last question in the quiz:
Circle A if you wish you could explain all your answers.
More later! Don’t worry that this is starting out negative. Once I sort out my psyche, heal all unresolved emotional issues, identify my Core Values, figure out my Best Life, and then synthesize my personal vision with the current economic climate – well, Bob’s your uncle, I’ll be sitting pretty!
Posted in Me Me Me
I’m one month into a year long medical treatment with obnoxious side effects.
Yesterday I learned that my present employment will end effective 31 December 2009.
So, yes, I’m allowing myself to wallow for 36 hours before regrouping.
Well, my shoulders are stiff, my eyes are red,
but it’s all worth it, because Clue the Third is done!
can’t resist a few photos –
WendyKnits has posted photos of an incredible shawl that she designed and knit. I am always astounded that people can do things like this. Here’s a photo, but there are more on her blog:
Tagged exonumist shawl, lace shawl, wendyknits
Saturday 25 July 2009
Follow Up:
The skeins have arrived! MyHedgeHogKnits sent them promptly, and included a little charm that says “knitter.” The laceweight is prettier than in the picture, because the grey is a bit more taupe-y, maybe it’s called “mink.” The sock yarn is also lovely, and/but slightly different that it looked on my monitor.
No regrets!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
No discipline.
Complete inability to resist.
Cannot just walk away, when I know I should.
Exhibits A and B, from MyHedgeHogKnits:
1300 yards of laceweight alpaca/cashmere/silk in the Agatha colorway:
400 yards of gorgeous hand-dyed sock yarn in Autumn:
I never stood a chance against those skeins!
I have three skeins of Pima Petite yarn from The Unique Sheep in the delightful colorway, Land of the Sweets:
I’ve been looking around for a good pattern, that would split the difference between sweater and vest, and now I’ve found it.
Behold! Gilet Sleeveless Cardigan from Sirdar Spinning
I’m making the Secret Garden Shawl, and I had a lot of trouble getting started. After I whined, moaned, sulked, screamed, and generally acted like a baby, I vowed to take lots of photos and collect lots of links, so that other klutzes would have a roadmap.
Ta Da! Start-of-a-circular-shawl!
So, without further ado,
Starting a Circular Shawl for Complete Idiot Dummy Morons:
I used Emily Ocker’s cast on. Emily passed her cast on method to Elizabeth Zimmerman, who passed it on to the world. The basic technique is this: Wrap yarn around your finger a couple of times, make a chain of crochet stitches, then slide them onto needles.
The details:
Here is a good pictorial version of Emily Ocker’s cast on, found on
Bagatell’s Blog.
Two videos of the technique, both on YouTube:
One from kellypetkun, and
the other by MountainMom.
This is a photo of the cast on stitches on a crochet hook:
The next step was to “pick up stitches with double pointed needles (dpns)” I finally realized I could “pick up” the stitches by simply sliding them from the crochet hook onto the needles. First, slide all the stitches onto one needle:
Next, divide them up onto the other three needles. Since I had 12 stitches, the math is simple – three stitches on each needle.
Here are the 12 stitches divided in half and put on 2 needles:
And then divide them again, till they’re on four needles:
Place a stitch marker between the working yarn and the first stitch.
Next, start knitting the first row. Use the extra (5th) needle to knit with. Each time you finish with one dpn, it will become the extra.
The Secret Garden pattern required knitting into the front and back of each stitch, doubling the total number of stitches, one dpn at a time. In this photo, I’ve just started and have knit into the front and back of one group of 3 stitches, transforming it into 6 stitches!
You know when you’ve gone all the way around, because you get back to the stitch marker! Photo please:
That’s it! You’ve done it!
Hot Tips:
1. Wrap the yarn around your finger twice, not just once. I have no idea why, but knitters whom I respect keep saying this.
2. Work the beginning on a pillow, and turn the pillow, instead of trying to turn the work.
More Resources:
This is yet another alternative cast on, from the incomparable
Fleegle. Fleegle’s Alternative cast on.
And, this one is just a very
encouraging blog post from Seed who also learned a lot from this!
Finally, Heirloom Knitting is just an amazing lace knitting site.
More later!
Dear Alison,
Who are you? Are you on Ravelry and are you also making the Secret Garden Shawl? Anyway, thanks! for the kind and supportive comments.
I have persisted,
Listened to some great advice,
Collected links to videos and photos,
Frogged a few times,
Persisted a bit more,
Photographed every inch of the way, in case I can ever help another hapless soul trying to start out a circular shawl,
And expect to finish Clue One tonight if I can stay awake long enough.
Onward …
Tagged alison, secret garden
The directions say:
1. Cast on 12 stitches by making a 12 st. chain with a crochet hook.
okay, I don’t know how to do that.
2. Pick up 12 stitches from the crochet chain, with dpns.
okay, I loathe dpns.
3. Join in the round.
okay, I could do that, if I could ever get a daisy chain of crochet-ed, dpn-ed stitches in a nice l’il circle.
I’ve tried various “easy alternatives” and can’t figure them out. I think the result is supposed to be a small circle of 12 stitches, which then expands to 24, and thus to a lovely pattern that is the beginning of a shawl.
I am frustrated, hot, sweaty, and feeling really really lame. Every other person in the whole universe has already posted a beautiful picture of their finished “Clue 1” with many comments about how absurdly easy, how laughably brief, how comically quick ‘n easy, this first clue is. Ha bloody ha.
*whimper*
Have you ever used Facebook to get in touch with someone you hadn’t talked to in many years?
Sometimes, it’s simple, fun, and easy. For example, I’m now FB Friends with a bunch of my younger second cousins, a far flung group some of whose members may barely remember me. I get a kick out of keeping up with them. One young woman is a cool San Francisco artist whom I last saw when she was a year old.
Other times, the whole reconnecting thing seems trickier. C’mon, you must know what I mean, right? Well, maybe I’m the only one, but there have been occasions when something like this happens:
1. Idly enter Long Vanished Person’s name in FB search.
2. There they are!!
3. I click “add friend” and “enter personal message.”
4. Then, I dither and debate the perfect tone and content for the brief message:
“Hi, remember me?!” (of course he remembers me, we flipping lived together for over a year.)
“Wow, Facebook is really something, isn’t it!” (too lame.)
“Gosh, it’s been so long. I grew up, got married, had kids, and what about you?” (I’d never friend someone who said that.)
“I heard about your dad passing away, and I’m really sorry. What else is new?” (wrong, wrong, wrong.)
5. Finally I compose a message, hit send, and wait.
6. Well, lo and behold, I’m now FB Friends with Long Vanished Person!
So far, so good, but what happens next?
I’ve decided to try to reconnect with a few of these folks.
Just in case that’s not modern enough, I’ll blog about it!
Here are the victims, er, beloved new FB Friends:
1. First, and easiest, an old friend from the town where my DH and I lived as newlyweds, * cough * about 27 years ago. This friend I’ll call “Nancy” because that’s her name. She was one of a shifting group of SAHMs with babies & kids in the same age range. I remember her as really funny, smart, and kind.
However, I didn’t much like living in this particular hot, sprawling, military town whose name starts with an F (I’m looking at you, Fayette-Nam), and in 1988 we moved to the Land of the Tarred Heels and never looked back. She sent me a funny birthday card about 17 years ago, but basically we’re totally out of touch.
Her son gave me the email address and encouraged me to write, but What to say? What if she’s joined a cult? Wants to convert me?
2. and 3. are equally challenging, so, flipping a mental coin,
2. A young man whom I last saw when he was 3 years old and who is now in his 20’s. I was a good friend of his father’s. Unfortunately, his dad committed suicide when the young man was a toddler. I was So Mad at his father for doing that, although in retrospect, I see warning signs that weren’t obvious then.
I was determined that, when the little boy grew up, I would be available – maybe to tell him more about the positive fun side of his dad, or just to listen if that’s helpful, maybe pass on souveneirs I’ve kept all these years. The son has the same wild look in his eyes as his dad did, it’s spooky.
Anyway, after I wrote a mild-mannered, hopefully-not-crazy-sounding message, we are FB friends. I have no idea where to go next, but I’ll let my nonexistent public know when/if I figure it out.
3. Last, and a bit of a classic – my first “serious” boyfriend. With the perspective of * another cough * decades, I see that we were just doing what young 20-somethings always do – engaging in Much Drama About Nothing – you know, jealousy about such burning issues as “you talked to her all during the party!!”
I liked him before all the drama, and would like to be friends again, but there are a couple of weird quirks (aren’t there always?)
First, we grew up in the same area. I knew his siblings and still know a couple of them, and in general we know each other’s childhood families. I don’t know, maybe that’s not such a weird quirk.
Secondly, after we split up (*cough in the 1970’s *) he went on to become a fabulously successful film producer. Name 10 blockbuster movies of the past decade, I guarantee you he was involved with a couple. He’s basically in that “rich and famous” category that includes a lot of public information about a person. So, I don’t know, you don’t suppose he’ll think that is why I’ve looked him up, do you?
So, where on earth to start? I’m going to take these people in order, decide whether or not it’s a good idea to contact them, and see what happens!
If you’ve had similar experiences, bring ’em on!
A dear friend of my daughter’s was recently drowned off the coast of Washington State. His body was not recovered and his death has greatly upset my daughter. She’s drinking too much, chain smoking, and generally weeping and wailing. Last night I dreamed that I wrote a song in which she described her online posts and general sadness.
The song began like this:
“I been drunk-dialing heaven but I can’t get through to you,
I made a hang-up call to Jesus, thought I’d ask him what to do,
I sat down by the ocean, but we’re both so Goddamn blue,
I keep drunk-dialing heaven, trying to get ahold of you.”
Weird dream, right? But, I love the concept of “drunk-dialing heaven.”
I hereby declare it copyrighted.
I love this colorway – it’s like a lineup of all the colors that I look good in!
Well, it’s June 21, Midsummer’s Eve, and I have finally succeeded in keeping a New Year’s resolution to start finishing my UFO’s in the knitting basket. This is a wretched picture of me, but the scarf turned out quite nicely. I gave it to my dad when I took him out for a Father’s Day brunch.
I am inordinately pleased at completing this. Now I can move on to the next!
Many Happy Returns 