tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351905442024-03-06T20:00:54.697-08:00Knit Like a Rock Star!Jilly's adventures in craftingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-10383353676229819582011-11-18T02:14:00.000-08:002011-11-18T02:18:16.160-08:00Word vomit.Right now can be summed up in a few context-free bullet points.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>I hate the waiting game. I would really like next week to be now. </li>
<li>I have a good support system. Additionally, I am a good support system for others. Both of these things make me feel incredibly lucky.</li>
<li>While I hate waiting, I am a little glad to have some free space. December is going to be crazy-full of house guests, things to do, (possibly) new opportunities, and twice as many "want to's" than there is time for. I welcome all of it, but it still makes me feel a bit tired to think about and I'm not sure how it's all going to work yet. </li>
<li>The mittens are probably too small. I don't actually know if this is true or not, as I don't hang around four-year-olds much. </li>
<li>I'm still not too fancy for $2 Chuck every once in a while. </li>
<li>I recently told someone that, while I would always have things I'd do differently in hindsight, I still have plenty to be proud of. It wasn't until I heard myself say it that I actually believed it. </li>
<li>Fall and winter make me miss living downtown, minus the week my apartment didn't have heat. That part sucked. </li>
<li>Every once in a while I still find myself able to be surprised by the people I think I know best. I'm not sure if that's good, bad, simply interesting or some combination of all three. </li>
</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-31556421482202503922011-11-16T15:52:00.000-08:002011-11-16T15:55:10.808-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX_R6piQjlq_AmQ3WGAPP4f3pb5ezDqKtqcVJ7A8ee1-MPOnbGLzaqZjjZskkEARWlIiczB5PQHaNyLJ9q-LBeOq6IBGMdOEss7WtIrj2bqfmfb2mU_Ze668dahZTULH26-RD/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX_R6piQjlq_AmQ3WGAPP4f3pb5ezDqKtqcVJ7A8ee1-MPOnbGLzaqZjjZskkEARWlIiczB5PQHaNyLJ9q-LBeOq6IBGMdOEss7WtIrj2bqfmfb2mU_Ze668dahZTULH26-RD/s320/IMG_1160.JPG" width="320" /></a>This is where stash diving gets me.<br />
<br />
I was searching for a coordinating sock yarn to finish off my dad's Christmas socks with, and ended up spending a good 45 minutes or so just digging through stash for no real reason.<br />
<br />
Depending on one's perspective, my stash is quite modest. Not counting unspun fiber and sweaters waiting to be unraveled, it all fits in one cubby-holed bookcase, roughly four feet tall by two feet wide. Okay, I'll admit things are slightly crammed into the bookcase, and there's another ten balls or so stashed in an ottoman in my living room, but the overall stash is more or less bookcase-sized. In comparison to the stories of stash I read on Ravelry, this isn't very big. According to my friend Shelly, who has been knitting for just over a year and tends to buy on a project-by-project basis, this is crazy huge. Like I said, it's all about one's perspective.<br />
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In any case, my sock yarn search made me go through everything again. Due to poorness, I'm trying to knit as much as possible from my stash, and Christmas presents are no exception. I realize not everything is going to come from here-- for example, my super-special snowflake mom gets socks every year, but can't wear any of the wool or wool-blend sock yarns I currently have on hand-- but I'd at least like to try. Realizing this, I started looking through, hoping for ideas to spring forth from the random hanks, skeins and balls.<br />
<br />
I got one. Just not for a Christmas present. As usual, my self-involvement meant that I thought of a perfect project from some long-forgotten handspun for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhrEt9EAaoui4z56kHucwOGvPNcbeeX7iKaWA5NmpomKwsGFRClZOomeTYURPRrttAT69XMNJZkXHdH0JHHQJU7GCvov-tTrje9L6bIlh1Eg2pJu1hM7CUS8J0MAa6T3KaAc8/s1600/IMG_1168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhrEt9EAaoui4z56kHucwOGvPNcbeeX7iKaWA5NmpomKwsGFRClZOomeTYURPRrttAT69XMNJZkXHdH0JHHQJU7GCvov-tTrje9L6bIlh1Eg2pJu1hM7CUS8J0MAa6T3KaAc8/s200/IMG_1168.JPG" width="200" /></a>I sometimes feel like I shouldn't keep my first handspun yarns in with the yarns. I don't even really think of them as actual usable fiber and instead tend to view them as an artifact of the learning process. My first plied yarn fell squarely into that category until the other day. It was a purple silk blend that I had started to ply with a grey merino, then switched to a white merino half-way through. In retrospect, for an uneven, horribly underplied mess, it was kind of pretty. Too bad there was only 42 yards of it. But then I came across a basic merino single I'd spun up who-knows-when, and an idea and a swatch or two eventually became a cowl.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: LEFT;"><br />
I was quite proud of myself-- I waited until I finished a pair of mittens for my brother before casting on, and it went quickly enough that it didn't take much time away from the holiday projects I have to get done. The ends still need to be woven in and it needs serious blocking, but I love the cowl that sprang u from my stash. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-28702831914225815402011-11-13T02:58:00.001-08:002011-11-13T02:58:39.661-08:00Nevermind.I just finished a post about stash diving and unearthing a cowl idea, but then the internet (or more specifically the mobile app that I was using due to being too lazy to turn on my laptop) ate it. We'll try this again tomorrow. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-74927961236847695472011-11-11T01:10:00.000-08:002011-11-11T01:13:21.533-08:00Today's First World Problems<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S8nroJd53NCRD_uJHBlPFTPvgfFz33tgFqs3BstQ3zqEc9g6VTED7XQLqaUrLAAMYwwdqvuRerUjYSjFz-Z2ypPsKVbmsTrA8lMArhyphenhyphenYLymX1nClHErERQTIzwtL0aj1uEM_/s1600/IMG_1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S8nroJd53NCRD_uJHBlPFTPvgfFz33tgFqs3BstQ3zqEc9g6VTED7XQLqaUrLAAMYwwdqvuRerUjYSjFz-Z2ypPsKVbmsTrA8lMArhyphenhyphenYLymX1nClHErERQTIzwtL0aj1uEM_/s200/IMG_1053.JPG" width="150" /></a>
<li>I finished the bulk of my dad's Christmas socks last night, but don't have any appropriate sock yarn in my stash for the contrast afterthought heel and toe. The black is too black, the blue has too much green, and I used up all of my white/neutral dyeing mini-skeins for my sock yarn blanket. I'm too poor to buy anything that would work. I really want these socks to be finished!</li>
</ul><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Reason why this is not a real problem: </i>I won't be poor forever and should be able to find the right yarn and knit the heels and toes in plenty of time for Christmas.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>I ran out of yarn ten rows away from being finished with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oaklet-shawl">Oaklet shawl</a> I was working on for a friend. Can't buy more for both above reasons and because it's been stashed for the last couple of years, making matching dye-lots tricky. </li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<i>Reason why this is not a real problem: </i>I didn't actually like how the shawl/yarn combo looked in the first place.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>My second attempt at polenta cakes was a complete failure. Maybe I didn't give it enough time to set up, maybe I had the wrong heat, I don't know, but my broccoli polenta fell completely apart tonight into a big, slightly browned mess. </li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<i>Reason this is not a real problem: </i>Do I really need a reason for this one? It's freaking polenta for crying out loud.<br />
<br />
Despite such horrible setbacks, I managed to eke out a reasonably productive day, then grabbed a glass of raspberry mead and caught the tail end of my friends' set at <a href="http://www.honeymoonmead.net/">Honey Moon Winery</a>. Now I'm finishing up a West Wing: Season 1 dvd and planning the rest of my Christmas knitting in my cozy house with my adorable dog asleep at my feet.<br />
<br />
That last paragraph? That's the real reason that none of these are real problems.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-76752346736668273422011-11-09T22:20:00.000-08:002011-11-09T22:20:02.787-08:00Nothing, followed by more nothing.So I missed a day in my quest of blogging. On the flip side, no one would have missed the boring, useless blog post it would have been had I bothered to blog yesterday. I swear to god I am actually capable of being slightly interesting.<br />
<br />
Sadly, I have little to nothing to write today, except that I'm hoping that something I started this morning ends well. I won't know until next week if things are going to go the way I want, and it will be even more time before I get to know the final outcome. Nonetheless, I sit here today watching Mythbusters and being hopeful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-7731425693743976772011-11-07T23:43:00.000-08:002011-11-08T00:06:01.196-08:00Blah. Blah. Blah.It's only been four days and I already find myself slightly stuck for a topic today.<br />
<br />
I suppose I could write about what I made for dinner-- Veggie and Tempeh Curry with Eggplant Punjab and Basmati Rice--- but since I cheated and used things like curry paste and pre-made eggplant punjab, it's not a recipe, or even an interesting story.<br />
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I could write about how the passing of Halloween and the turning of the clocks this weekend have plunged us into instant winter, but a girl can only talk about the weather so much.<br />
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I could write about the progress I've made on my dad's Christmas socks, but it's a basic sock. At this point, the only visible change is that it looks like a slightly longer knit tube than it did a couple of days ago.<br />
<br />
....and those were the least crappy ideas of the bunch. So for once, I went and looked at NaBloPoMo's page for one of their recent writing prompts and was given this:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">When you are writing, do you prefer a pen or a computer?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's kind of nice coincidence that this question came up, but I'll get to that in a second. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I end up writing a lot on computers. Having had a blog in some form or another for over ten years now and being more attached to the internet now that at any other time of my life, the majority of what I write comes from keys punched on a keyboard, but there was a time when my daily routine included putting pen to paper. Writing was one of my decompression methods when I would come home from a particularly bad day of retail hell. I had an online journal at the time, but it wasn't the same as opening up a book and pouring something out on paper. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A few days ago, I was trying to remember when a particular event happened, so I reached up into the top shelf of my closet and pulled out the three or four beat-up sketchbooks that use to be my daily accessories. I ended up thumbing through them for nearly an hour, reading through a couple of books worth of late teen/early 20s self-involvement. It was kind of funny to read through the things I found important then, but I was more struck by the sketchbooks themselves. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had forgotten how much they really contained. More than just hand-written words about goofy times with friends and whatever dumb guy I was involved with; there were elaborate doodles and bits of poetry my friends wrote on napkins, ticket stubs to concerts and watercolor landscapes, random funny postcards and photographs of things that were only cool to me. My old journals felt so much more textured than anything I've written since and a part of me really missed being able to write without concern of who would read it or how it would be interpreted. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a new sketchbook. I don't know if I will be converting it from it's current purpose-- planning out craft ideas and the occasional recipe-- but I have a feeling more words may go into it in the future. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-27921305120906835902011-11-06T23:55:00.000-08:002011-11-08T02:26:45.171-08:00Weekends don't exactly make for great blogging.Football. Sub sandwiches. Tons of couch knitting. Spending a lazy Sunday with my two favorite guys. These are a few of my favorite things.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-23104630594576886772011-11-05T23:46:00.000-07:002011-11-08T02:29:06.628-08:00My Saturday was not quite as productive as I originally planned it to be, but I'm still pretty okay with it. I got to sleep in, free in the knowledge that I didn't have to talk to anyone important or official. I got to go out and do things without necessarily having a direct agenda. I got to watch movies with good friends and knit a good two inches on my Dad's Christmas socks.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Honestly, that pretty much sums up my day, though I've also been reveling in one other thing-- as I was going through my day, it occurred to me that the fingerless gloves I was wearing were the first ones I made, a good five or six years ago. Admittedly, I noticed that the upper palm of the right glove needed mending and is close to unraveling, but I loved the fact that I have made something that has lasted longer than most of the clothes I own. I fully realize that for some folks that's standard procedure-- hell, I know people who wear handknits their grandmothers made!-- but for me it was pretty awesome. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-46009447493128188412011-11-04T20:06:00.000-07:002011-11-04T20:06:33.660-07:00It's time.After Round 4 (or is it 5?) of battling with insurance companies this morning, I decided that today it was finally time to get back to the project I started before our surprise remodel. I spent my afternoon working on a felting project that I'll get around to writing and photographing later, but I think the rest of the weekend will be spent on my new quilt project.<br />
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Finishing the hexagon quilt left me pretty stoked about this whole ridiculous quilting thing, but wanting something more simple, preferably with seams longer than 3 inches. So a few weeks ago, I picked up a bunch of sale fat quarters and started sketching.<br />
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I'm still trying to get away from my fear of patterns, so I went wild with black, white, and blue prints. I liked the idea of a simple brick quilt, but wanted something a little skewed, so I my rows are being cut at 45 degrees and pieced diagonally starting at opposite corners. I also liked the idea of a project that used as as little waste as possible, so in addition to my 3x6 bricks, there are 3 x random length bricks thrown in for good measure. So far my leftover scraps consist of two 1x1 squares and a few 1/4" strips.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_ErpLoOg5N80y48fz5IU7Z3KRDfSUXSEnilUhxMVZfFeY4e2SfuKXAufJ1ZsmP9kZZuRJRcEMF5Z1A_TK7jW75DPQff8HGnsXXnLojjxQw6Oy-zH4H2E2eWoXDugdb4jLmtN/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_ErpLoOg5N80y48fz5IU7Z3KRDfSUXSEnilUhxMVZfFeY4e2SfuKXAufJ1ZsmP9kZZuRJRcEMF5Z1A_TK7jW75DPQff8HGnsXXnLojjxQw6Oy-zH4H2E2eWoXDugdb4jLmtN/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I swear to God, it's the last blue thing I'm sewing for a while. Seriously.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-20785309439638000102011-11-03T23:15:00.000-07:002011-11-03T23:46:22.997-07:00So here we are again.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-ZNmZl_sX2nNgnC3K5uqmDkpPpL3VnF2jV4kJFXQ_ucpuZfxXU_2cRGvqJRkdRSeP3NFVgcc3wHdwnpVJRvV9tPVSGwjiKZKqsmdRrbf_nB9LmtRa5nobtRCIrkspLyEnaYy/s1600/IMG_1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-ZNmZl_sX2nNgnC3K5uqmDkpPpL3VnF2jV4kJFXQ_ucpuZfxXU_2cRGvqJRkdRSeP3NFVgcc3wHdwnpVJRvV9tPVSGwjiKZKqsmdRrbf_nB9LmtRa5nobtRCIrkspLyEnaYy/s200/IMG_1047.JPG" width="200" /></a>Once again, it's November and I'm lagging on this whole blogging thing. I'm usually decent at the outset before eventually petering out, but this time I seem to have failed to even make it out of the starting gate.<br />
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Thing is, it's been that sort of a week. Actually, scratch that-- it's been that sort of two weeks. Two Sundays ago, my condo flooded due to a malfunctioning washer next door, dumping gallons of water under the adjoining walls into my kitchen, stairwell, and living room. We got a lot cleaned up that night, but it took four days, a cleanup crew, seven industrial fans, a dehumidifier the size of my stove, and the removal of half my downstairs flooring before everything was finally dry.<br />
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...and that was the easy part. Week 2 has been the hard part-- dealing with insurance companies. I generally expect insurance companies to do their job-- wearing us down to avoid having to release money-- but the run-around we've been getting has exceeded even my already-low standards. Luckily, I've armed myself with a trusty notebook full of info-- every name, every phone number, and every single scrap of documentation that might be remotely relevant. I'm also really lucky to have a couple of friends with insurance backgrounds who've let me pick their brains when needed, so I feel well-prepared for our fight with bullshit bureaucracy.<br />
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The whole thing, along with a couple of related tensions and frustrations, left me pretty worn out and depressed. I was too tired to do much for Halloween, which bummed me out even further. So after a week of eating my feelings and a beer or three, I went back to my preferred method of coping-- following through with my restoration plan, reminding myself that this will also pass, and making lists of the things I have to be happy and grateful for.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuWhq0klliqnKXE9oebcvYeE8EWtWSWpa9MXgTJVnLdc8jrLC9pUUKgsH4c9srfY4K5WMtdlY8v5hRAKaRwMg6wS5Xy_Bq6iT8wecvJgqEvnZzgqKBD928w5RtoKr5JlEpKSw/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuWhq0klliqnKXE9oebcvYeE8EWtWSWpa9MXgTJVnLdc8jrLC9pUUKgsH4c9srfY4K5WMtdlY8v5hRAKaRwMg6wS5Xy_Bq6iT8wecvJgqEvnZzgqKBD928w5RtoKr5JlEpKSw/s320/IMG_1041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Right now I'm glad to be snuggled under my finished-at-long-last hex quilt. My finished size ended up being slightly bigger than throw-sized at 65"x65". I was originally planning on making a twin-sized piece, but after months of sewing I looked at my quilt where it was pinned on the wall and finally admitted that if I had to sew another hexagon I was going to hurt someone. "A throw would get more use anyway," I told myself while shoving 150 leftover hexes into my fabric trunk, and thusfar it's turned out to be true.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-25850881247516996432011-08-08T00:05:00.000-07:002011-08-08T00:05:11.122-07:00Summaries.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I had a lot of stuff to write about but, as per usual, I ended up getting a bit backed up, so I’m just going to sum up. While the rest of the country has been roasting, summer barely got off the ground until the 4th of July, so we’ve had to pack in quite a bit in a short time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDpkdQeTgejeUZP_T5374HDo9ELuoBM-OX0B-HJ6YvghjRanOBGO8x3rBj9Gx88eP9rI6GVPZHsI30TT5ipvTpNalE7XkdHU6o_LbMzHFQbA9Gr_MyTbp68izRI1mRS06qEw5/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDpkdQeTgejeUZP_T5374HDo9ELuoBM-OX0B-HJ6YvghjRanOBGO8x3rBj9Gx88eP9rI6GVPZHsI30TT5ipvTpNalE7XkdHU6o_LbMzHFQbA9Gr_MyTbp68izRI1mRS06qEw5/s200/IMG_0785.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Now that I’ve had a few weeks to recover, I can unequivocally say that<a href="http://warriordash.com/register2011_washington.php"> Warrior Dash</a> was a ragingly good time and I can’t wait to do it again in six weeks. My finish time was terrible and my body hated me afterwards, but I had a ridiculous amount of fun. I think there are so few opportunities for grown adults to do ridiculous things like slosh through the mud, so I find it important to take those opportunities when they arise. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsuzhq28looknSXyyrI11h21di6fahDa-sqc1tlq2YPnwAhONpUy9FUOFbZnVxEECQ_P1fuk9vgD_9RxrhGnkbryM18sVtTc1o393T_zO5MvE-pdI4y41B1yzGvLGbUOGmQh6/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsuzhq28looknSXyyrI11h21di6fahDa-sqc1tlq2YPnwAhONpUy9FUOFbZnVxEECQ_P1fuk9vgD_9RxrhGnkbryM18sVtTc1o393T_zO5MvE-pdI4y41B1yzGvLGbUOGmQh6/s200/IMG_0883.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There's also been quite a bit of camping. A small family trip to Deception Pass and some orca watching on Lime Kiln Point started the month, then we ended it with a big camping bash at Rasar State Park. We got a big group site for Elena’s annual birthday campout this year and it was so plush it almost felt like cheating at camping. The site featured a big grassy area with a huge covered annex featuring tables, electrical outlets, and a fireplace (though we kept to the firepit just outside of it.) Individual tent sites radiated out from the center like a child‘s drawing of the sun, giving a nice balance between having one’s own space and having a central place to flock. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In all, it was two days of sock knitting, beer-drinking, s’more-making, frisbee-throwing goodness. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IsV3IclzS8RQPJX3AOCqbxUntR1X2CKsGrgogpBYnqKQW5QRDqLCA_RcELAnbhtgXBLM_3gVoFdTx9iEZys7Nnx_c6FfAtimFKlJvoBec30TnZVPgZO3Z9WhU4d0ipQmpvTE/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IsV3IclzS8RQPJX3AOCqbxUntR1X2CKsGrgogpBYnqKQW5QRDqLCA_RcELAnbhtgXBLM_3gVoFdTx9iEZys7Nnx_c6FfAtimFKlJvoBec30TnZVPgZO3Z9WhU4d0ipQmpvTE/s200/IMG_0579.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Lastly, I made a dress, just in time for the summer's first camping trip. I pulled some random aqua jersey that had been bumming around my fabric stash for about ten years, and in my mom's stash for who knows how long before that, and decided it was time to finally make something out of it. Using the Camisole Dress pattern from<a href="http://alabamachanin.com/books/alabama-studio-style"> Alabama Studio Style</a>, I sewed myself up my new favorite item of summer clothing. I also airbrushed some darker blue swirls halfway up, added some decorative seam stitching, then stenciled and reverse-appliqued some leaves along the bottom. It's still a work in progress, but I'm wearing it in the meantime.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was probably more, but I think that just about catches me up. Now onto the rest of summer! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-72479393883662471892011-05-09T22:47:00.000-07:002011-05-10T00:38:34.548-07:00Obsession<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkJ4aR3O0X3ls6LBiDRplef2Sle0TbjxcRLOo17mCAjVlvIwhheA9nztp4dOkls0DIY-677yWFQ2oBBK2eAAAaMpqkR2ZxLU2MfGxgf3r5qCnOpjihwiDrzYLVQUy7-eqqUZt/s1600/space+needle+shaded.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkJ4aR3O0X3ls6LBiDRplef2Sle0TbjxcRLOo17mCAjVlvIwhheA9nztp4dOkls0DIY-677yWFQ2oBBK2eAAAaMpqkR2ZxLU2MfGxgf3r5qCnOpjihwiDrzYLVQUy7-eqqUZt/s320/space+needle+shaded.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595890415883419138" /></a><br />Since I gave up my fruitless fight for a decently snowy winter, I've been aching for spring. Technically, it already is spring, but the Northwest has a different sort of definition for that word. Here, "spring" means rain, a day of sunbreaks followed by rain, some temperatures that dip down into the forties, a tiny bit of the snow we didn't get in winter, then more rain. Now that we're getting into May, things are finally starting to warm up and get sunnier, but it's still a Northwest spring so things can change quite quickly. <div><br /></div><div>Spring is a tricky little bastard that delights in showing me a ten-minute flash of sunlight, and like the gullible idiot I am I think that means it's warm enough to forgo the fingerless gloves that have been a daily staple for the last six months. Within moments the rug is pulled out from under me and the giant dark clouds roll on in. Some people think they look like bunnies, some see dragons, and the truly odd see the face of President Nixon. Me, I see a giant hand pointing as Nature laughs at me.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is also typically the time of year when I start to go off the rails a tiny bit and, judging by the attitudes of the people I encounter throughout my day, I'm definitely not the only one. There are plenty of places in the world where the elements are more extreme and harsh, but the Northwest requires its own special sort of endurance. A mini-vacation to Disneyland(!) in early March and a visit from my sister helped stave off my usual early spring depression, but now I find myself aching for color and light and skirts and warmth and bikes and mojitos.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think that's how I ended up on this hexagon quilt thing. I had been thinking about starting one a few months ago. I went as far as going over to my mom's to pull out the flower garden quilt my great-great-grandmother made to study it a bit, and buy a hexagon cutting template. After a couple of days, I shelved the idea in favor of sitting on my couch and knitting squares for my sock yarn blanket.</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rj0qQP7Jf0c/TcjhYpHGzoI/AAAAAAAAAXc/zf-YR8NFtTo/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rj0qQP7Jf0c/TcjhYpHGzoI/AAAAAAAAAXc/zf-YR8NFtTo/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604977549731352194" /></a><br /><br />However, as the weather got wetter and my patience for grayness grew thinner, I thought about it again. Before I knew what hit me, I was at my local JoAnn buying a couple dozen fat quarters in shades of blue and green, and making dozens upon dozens of hexagons. Now, I find myself stealing every moment I can to go up to my sewing room and sew just a few more seams. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm foregoing paper piecing methods in favor of machine sewing based on the <a href="http://www.ladyharvatine.com/2010/03/hexagonia.html">Lady Harvatine tutorial</a> on the subject. When I consulted my mother, she was reasonably certain that my great-great grandmother never used the paper piecing method on her quilts. Frankly, if machine sewing was good enough for Kate, it's good enough for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Given how many hexes I cut out, this quilt is going to end up being about twin size, but I'm envisioning large picnics and snuggling under it in camping tents. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-34122730464222466422011-03-29T23:49:00.001-07:002011-03-30T02:39:27.640-07:00There's been a lot going on the last few weeks, both internally and externally, but since it's still going I'm gonna wait until I can organize it all. <div><br /></div><div>In related news, I'm not sure how to explain the awesomeness/warm-fuzziness/scariness of my little sister visiting the place I've called home for the last 13-ish years for the first time.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-22492446623239553122011-01-20T00:31:00.001-08:002011-01-20T00:31:47.112-08:00<div>I have a slightly weird habit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, that's not true. I have many weird habits, ranging from just the tiniest bit off-kilter to... nevermind, where was I? Today I thought of one in particular. </div><div><br /></div><div>I count stitches. I don't mean that I count stitches to make sure i've got the right number. I sit down and do the math to figure out how many stitches make up the thing I'm knitting. I'm usually not too concerned with having more than a ballpark figure. I expect my margin of error is within about 10% or so. Even if it isn't, it's really not important since it's a meaningless and arbitrary number anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest, I'm not sure why I even do it, but I think it's because I like to amaze myself sometimes. I started a pair of Ice Age Boots on last week's (no-)snow day, figuring that would be enough to keep me busy without distracting me from my movie marathon. The rough total for the size I'm making (with adjustments) is 35,838 stitches. </div><div><br /></div><div>Isn't that just a mind-boggling number? And it's not just because I'm making double-layered, ridiculously large boots. Even a chunky hat on big needles adds up to hundreds of stitches. If someone told me when I first learned to knit, "hey, that thing that seems tricky to you now? In a little while, you'll be able to do this thousands of times without even breaking a sweat," I would have been pretty incredulous. Now, I just like to marvel at the everyday awesomeness that we crafters are capable of. </div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-40969831185737613152011-01-11T22:20:00.000-08:002011-01-11T22:21:50.555-08:00Robots may break your heart. <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div>So far the epic winter that our meteorologists threatened us with throughout the fall has proven, depending on one's perspective, disappointing. We are experiencing only our second snowfall of the season, and by most predictions it will all be over and melting by tomorrow afternoon. As a person who grew up in tropical climates until late adolescence/early teens, I seem to have retained a child-like fascination with snow. I've even gotten to the point where I don't mind driving in it, though other drivers still scare the bejeezus out of me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hell, I have a love of snow that even a winter-related car accident two years ago and a week without heat at our old apartment hasn't diminished. </div><div><br /></div><div>So in the interest of winter wishful thinking, I'm declaring tomorrow a SNOW DAY. As it stands, I'm a little in need of a recovery day anyway. A flare-up of a chronic knee injury combined with continuing to push myself too hard has left me sore and hobbling. Most of the pressing things have been taken care of, so tomorrow is going to consist of icing my knee, making Baked Potato Soup, and finishing about six projects that are in the "99% done" stage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finishing is my least favorite part of knitting. The knitting portion is done, but there are still yarn ends to weave in, buttons to sew on, or one little seam before it can be worn or used. In my mind, once I've bound off on something, it's done. Everything afterwards is just an irritating chore. Luckily, if I can get myself to sew on just one button, it's usually smooth sailing from there. </div><div><br /></div><div>For now, though, I'm just going to watch the snow fall, and start knitting something else. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-16410720624564342822011-01-04T00:45:00.000-08:002011-11-06T12:31:29.294-08:00My January list of...things.I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions. I'm sure for some people they are a good idea. However, for folks like me-- the enthusiastic but easily distracted-- it just feels like setting oneself up for disappointment. Sure, I can tell myself that I'm going to stop eating fast food, take a picture everyday, or some other very grand endeavor, but inevitably I will slip up one day and be forced to face the giant letdown of ruining a year-long goal.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I also recently saw <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHopJHSlVo4">this TED video</a> that explained why it's better to keep one's goals to oneself, so the life goal list I have in my head is going to stay there for the time being. My last "11 in 2011" is admittedly a goal of sorts, but since it's more of a nice idea that's subject to change at any moment, it doesn't really count in my book. If anything, I wanted to write it down so I could see exactly how it differed later, because again-- enthusiastic but easily distracted. </div><div><br />
</div><div>In the meantime, I've found yet another cool thing to add to my distraction: <a href="http://theironcraft.blogspot.com/">Iron Craft</a> -- A weekly crafting challenge using different themes and materials each week. Complete commitment isn't required, but it seems like a fun idea that I could definetely get behind. </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Edited to add: I did remember my one major New Year's Resolution-- to stop watching Lonely Island videos so much. It's time to let "I'm On A Boat" go. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-74162769531228479192010-12-31T02:54:00.001-08:002010-12-31T02:56:48.535-08:0011 in 2011Just a list for me. Links are all ravelry links. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beaded-cami" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Beaded cami</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/versatility" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Versatility</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hege" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Hege</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ice-age-boots" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Ice Age Boots</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/downtown-clutch" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Downtown Clutch</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">A modified <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/backward-cabled-pullover" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Backward Cable Pullover</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">WIP-- <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jilliana/tappan-zee-cardigan" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Tappan Zee</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">WIP-- <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jilliana/rambling-rose" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Rambling Rose Cardigan</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">WIP-- Ripping out and reworking <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jilliana/houndstooth-mitts" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Houndstooth Mitts</a></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">At least one pair of socks</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Something else</li></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-52884736585908786312010-11-18T19:43:00.000-08:002010-11-18T20:17:32.380-08:00We knew it had to end sometime.So it finally happened. I finally caved and turned my heat on. <div><br /></div><div>I haven't been going heatless for any practical reason, though electric bill savings and being green are both nice little byproducts. My refusal to turn on my heat was nothing but a pointless and completely arbitrary act of defiance towards Mother Nature. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the winds first started blowing and the days started getting chillier and the nights started getting longer, I laughed. <i>C'mon, Weather! Don't you know who you're dealing with?, </i>I thought. <i>You clearly have not seen my sweater shelves or my accessory wall. I am a knitter. I keep myself warm FOR FUN. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Then it got a little colder, but I still wasn't fazed. I simply threw a blanket over my toes and made myself some tea-- and a french press cozy to keep it extra warm. <i>Silly Nature, I haven't even put on my fingerless gloves yet. You let me know when you decide to start playing for real. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>It went roughly like that for the last month or so. The weather got wetter, then drier, colder, then warmer. I put on sweaters and took them off. Every once in a while, the Boyfriend and I would look at each other with that "should we?" look, then smile and say "nah! Let's just keep going!" I mentioned my heating stand-off on Facebook to find that everyone else I knew had already given up and turned up the thermostat. Nonetheless, I soldiered on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until today. Today it was 45 degrees and dropping and when I woke up this morning, my knees ached like an old man's when it's about to rain, my toes were chilly even with socks, and the air smelled like snow. So I finally ended this (again, pointless and completely arbitrary) battle with the elements and did what most normal people did a month and at least 10 degrees ago-- turned on the heat. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I've had to concede defeat in a battle I had no chance of winning anyway, I'm quite proud of how far into Fall we made it. I'm still not sure what that says about me and my possible lack of a life. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-77108584959781909802010-11-08T23:24:00.000-08:002010-11-09T02:50:07.037-08:00Homemade ravioli is quite possibly one of the most awesome things ever.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-69103530071345357492010-11-07T17:04:00.000-08:002010-11-07T21:07:20.089-08:00Lazy Sunday.Today has consisted of nothing but football watching and crockpot chili. I'm currently debating whether it's worth the effort to make cornbread as a side or just skip it. <div><br /></div><div>....and now that it's been two hours since I wrote that sentence, it's pretty much confirmed that I'm skipping it. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a few..... okay, six months of feeling a bit lost, I'm finally starting to get myself pointed in a direction as far as my life and career go. Up to now, I've been drifting along-- applying for jobs, contemplating the idea of going back to school while trying to sort out if it would hurt my unemployment status, feeling generally unsure of what my next move was, not knowing what I wanted to do but knowing I need to get out of the service industry. I'd been trying to figure out what exactly it was I wanted, but kept stuck with this overwhelming indecisiveness. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the last week or so, I've had a couple of important conversations with the people who love me and it may have finally been the kick in the pants I needed. It feels good to finally have a goal.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-53858836593856242362010-11-04T11:22:00.000-07:002010-11-05T03:03:06.691-07:00I find it a little sad that three days into my daily blogging challenge and I'm already slipping. I usually last at least a week. <div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow will be all about breaking vows, choose-your-own-adventure pizza, and why I really need to replace my shower curtain with a door. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-48400713817035317282010-11-02T23:45:00.001-07:002010-11-03T00:40:15.830-07:00Voting and semi-ridiculous ideas.Yay, election day! I dropped our ballots off earlier today. Even though it would have been simpler to drop it into the nearest ballot box, or heck, the nearest mailbox, but I like taking it to the courthouse to hand it in in person so that I can get the "I Voted!" sticker. <div><br /></div><div>(It's a bit sad that I'm willing to go miles out of my way and wait in a line of cars just for a sticker. God only knows what I would probably do for a gold star.)</div><div><br /></div><div>After other errands and a really good "happy birthday, Old Guy" conversation with my dad, I sat down and tore into some knitting. I still have a pair of armwarmers and a scarf from last month that need finishing touches, but today and yesterday called for some new projects for November. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a show of solidarity with my boyfriend and other facial-haired friends participating in <a href="http://us.movember.com/">Movember</a>, I started <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTincognito.php">Incognito</a>. Since I can't (thank God) grow my own mustache, making one out of yarn seemed to be the next best thing. I'm already halfway through the body of it, so with another day and some duplicate stitches, I should be ready to rock the 'stashe by the end of the week! With any luck, only 30% of people who see me will point when they laugh. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even more ridiculous, however, was the Sock Yarn blanket I (sort of) started. The whole thing in itself is a bit crazy-- an entire blanket knit on size 2's from sock yarn? Seriously?-- but then I had to go and take the crazy to a whole new level. I currently have the hair-brained idea that I want to keep similar color groups together for a blanket that slowly shifts through the color wheel. I'm still not entirely sure how I'm going to do this, as I don't have nearly enough sock yarn leftovers to make the whole thing and will be picking up new colors as I go, but for now I'm still in that early "wonderful possibility" stage of the idea. I'm sure the "logistical nightmare" stage won't be too far behind. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-82881349570052537052010-11-01T23:30:00.000-07:002010-11-02T00:34:36.158-07:00National Blog Posting Month!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Along with NaNoWriMo, today marks the beginning of <a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/">NaBloPoMo</a> or, in other words, a month where a bunch of people set about the task of writing a lot.<br /><br />I was previously all set to go this month, but truth be told, my heart's not really in it today. Maybe it's some sort of post-holiday hangover, or possibly the dreary weather, but I woke up feeling uninspired, listless, and just generally brood-y. Generally when I'm feeling like that, I try to simply hunker down with a cozy blanket, a pot of tea, and television I know by heart, but that just wasn't doing it for me today.<br /><br />So I did something I haven't done in some time-- I attempted to indulge in some retail therapy. Although I'm not a currently active member, I've been diligently sticking with my Wardrobe Refashion challenge. With the exception of picking up a dress to wear to a wedding last summer, I haven't bought new clothing that wasn't underwear since February. Apparently my clothing diet has left me way out of practice, because I left the mall with a bath mat and conditioner. Having said that, if I can find a pair of knee-high boots I like, all bets are off. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">I did, however, fall off the wagon pretty hard when it comes to knitting books-- Hat Heads, 101 Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, and Stitch & Bitch Superstar Knitting are all sitting on the couch next to me. My Christmas knitting has just begun, so I can use all the ideas I can get. I'm already months behind!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-69697492821901675102010-10-21T19:07:00.000-07:002010-10-21T20:44:11.197-07:00Some things probably don't deserve the thought I give them.So I wrote a pattern. To be specific, I wrote a hat pattern.<div><br /></div><div>I still have to wash, block, and take pictures of the finished product before I'll be ready to fully write it up, but I'm already liking it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although this isn't the first time I've knit something on my own, I've never written anything that I would call a pattern, the tongue-in-cheek <a href="http://knitlikearockstar.blogspot.com/2007/02/dont-stop-believin-hold-onto-that.html">Random Cowl</a> notwithstanding. I've always been hesitant to do so for two reasons.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. I'm pretty terrible about keeping track of my knitting. I might get as far as writing down how much I cast on and occasionally will mark the number of increases and such, but most of the time I forget at least one step or, even better, change my knitting but not my notes. I've found myself having to try and reverse-engineer a second sock or glove on more than one occasion because of my terrible note-taking. </div><div><br /></div><div>2. I've been struggling with the concept of "original pattern." Don't get me wrong, after reading more than my share of long and painful discussions on Ravelry about copyright law, copyright ethics, general pattern wankery and why both designers and the people who knit others' designs are all wrong, I have a very firm grasp on the law. The problem I find comes from trying to concretely define for myself what constitutes an original pattern.</div><div><br /></div><div>So much of my work takes bits and pieces from things I've knit before. Although none of it is exactly like anyone else's pattern, it just doesn't feel like MINE because I borrowed the gauge from another pattern or the stitch from a dictionary. Secondly, some of my knitting is simple enough that, although I didn't use a pattern, it seems silly to call it a pattern at all. Having said that, a quick look through a lot of the patterns on Ravelry --including the garter stitch scarves, the ribbed-brim beanies, and basic cable baby blankets-- tells me that I'm in the minority with this thinking. Although there's a need for these patterns-- beginners have to start somewhere-- trying to call that one individual's pattern feels like trying to copyright knitting itself. Some say it's the specific wording that makes Jane Q. Public's beanie an original work, different from every other beanie on the planet, but really? I honestly don't know how to feel or what to think on the subject. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then again, here I am writing a hat pattern that most knitters could probably sort out for themselves, so who am I to judge? </div><div><br /></div><div>Ultimately, though laws are relatively clear, I'm finding trying to define the concept of "original" is like trying to define "art" or "beauty", so while it's still something my brain is constantly muddling over, I've managed to push it into the background white noise of my thoughts. </div><div><br /></div><div>....well, until I started writing about it anyway. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35190544.post-74791268947290370732010-10-08T15:02:00.000-07:002010-10-08T15:25:26.957-07:00Ghouls Night Out.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmoFJEVM5jgiNhjHZO-z5-EGNwJoHxGvgshnn4zOIPD27M0BBwCvGF71b4Z2SgX66P068xvLAuxoJaakpynBzIqdBwhyFExWAdUt1OBWTrFv_kijJxAfBb6blCgPIqSxllVb-/s1600/Halloweenie.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmoFJEVM5jgiNhjHZO-z5-EGNwJoHxGvgshnn4zOIPD27M0BBwCvGF71b4Z2SgX66P068xvLAuxoJaakpynBzIqdBwhyFExWAdUt1OBWTrFv_kijJxAfBb6blCgPIqSxllVb-/s320/Halloweenie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525802041104453922" /></a><br /><br />And so it commences. <div><br /></div><div>I've been spinning up my first "art" yarn. I've always had a bit of difficulty with art yarn-- it just doesn't suit me. Over the years, I've figured out that my personal knitting style tends to veer away from the novelty towards the practical. I love details like lace and cables, but if things are too fuzzy or have too many colors or added embellishments, I tend to run in the other direction. Although I've always found art yarns pretty, I tend to avoid them because I know I will never knit with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until today.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDrChHTWcZzToolV-FOgetYzWTaPUhZSVBjh47gERWAu77KVscSS84ptyLOJus9yShvvV6CDpdrhmxmlXuYvte1CwjKBjoANoToy66-jHB_sbWc4Oi7C5Hq74C8uWQFSzrrSz/s200/Halloweenie+skull+detail.jpg" />I happened to find some skull beads at the bead shop while looking for something else, and it sparked a notion of making a Halloween themed yarn. So I started digging through my fiber stash. Instead of the traditional black/orange combo, I decided for something a little less literal and opted for some black merino with bits of gray and white NZ wool and along with the skulls, there are gears and small keys and big swirly glass beads. It's not a true art yarn-- for starters it's a relatively even thickness throughout-- but it's probably as close as I'm going to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>Frankly, I'm rather giddy over the whole thing. Now my month of Halloween can begin. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171867469308547411noreply@blogger.com0