As If To Knit

Cheer Gear

2011-12-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

These items will come in handy as holiday gifts for family members who support OWS, even if only from their comfy chairs in front of the computer. The Ed Hat does look a little like the one on the cover of Time this week, honoring the protestor as Person of the Year. The yellow number is extra small, for pea-size headed Nate. The cowl actually looks quite attractive! I have only just begin. Bought more yarn today to make Tastey a cowl and maybe gloves.

Hot Head

The Ed Hat

Another Halloween, come and gone

2011-11-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

Halloween was postponed in out town due to the “freak” October snowstorm that toppled tree branches and power lines, making the streets unsafe for trick or treaters. I wasn’t up to celebrating Halloween on its calendar day, as I was still recovering from my very first root canal procedure, so I was relieved to be out the following Friday night. One benefit of the snow was that DH was able to create a Halloween themed snow sculpture, pictured here.

I’m thinking of taking a color knitting class at a LYS. I have attempted stranding but it is challenging. No samples to post yet. Not a lot of knitting getting done, either, overall. Maybe DH will have his slippers by Christmas. At least he can’t lose those at the Newark Public Library.

Lame-o Octopus

2011-08-09T08:51:00.000-04:00

Spent a very nice weekend in Long Branch with Patty and Doug. I attempted to make another knitted toy for them, along the lines of Larry the Lobster from a couple of years ago. I ended up with a pastel octopus. Patty loved it, of course, but I don’t. I made a few mods on the pattern to make it faster, and I now see I used all the wrong colors. Saturated next time, not some lame-o neutral. Here he is, though, with his new pal Larry.

The end of overthinking

2011-07-31T13:10:00.000-04:00

It is the calories, dummy! Whether or not they come from beer or brachiole, baby carrots or chocolate soy milk. I already knew this on some level. Kessler posits that hyperpalatable foods stimulate certain individuals to the point of losing control. Our brains are wired to respond to the most “salient stimuli," namely fat, salt, and sugar. Cues and environment play a big role (read: rituals) in causing overeating. Eating hyperpalatable food as a "reward” is where loss of control becomes a game of mind control. Without figuring out new ways to reward ourselves, we are doomed to treat ourselves to sugar, fat, and salt. The solution: learn new behaviors, avoid cues, externalize (talk about) your loss of control as if it were an outside force controlling you; basically, tell yourself to knock it off. Look at pictures of fat people. Make the connection between what you put in your mouth and your ability (or lack thereof) to bend down and tie your own shoes.

So it’s what we’ve all known all along: exercise more, practice portion control, eat only what you need for fuel. A lot of what Kessler writes about is directed to those who eat in chain restaurants and how the food industry plays on our weaknesses for the “salient stimuli.” We don’t eat out very often, but when we do, the choices for a healthy alternative are pretty dismal. It is making me re-think my cravings for Smashburger -- all those savory layers in the New Jersey burger. I am being manipulated! But I “like” it.

All things in moderation, n’est ce pas? Maybe I’m over-thinking my overeating.

Ganesh on the Jersey Shore

2011-07-16T14:40:00.000-04:00

While I didn’t do much knitting on vacation, DH did a lot of sand sculpting. Here’s one of his more fabulous creations. He didn’t get to the Belmar Sandcastle contest on Wednesday, but he did spread a lot of joy in Ocean Grove.

knitting on vacation

2011-07-07T11:21:00.000-04:00

I always bring knitting projects on vacation but seldom if ever work on them. I wonder why that is? I don’t particularly like to knit on the beach -- it’s an opportunity to stare into space, my favorite pastime, without drawing attention or ire. Back at the beach house, more starting from the porch, or reading. But I will probably bring a project, just in case.

The Hunger Game

2011-06-27T09:58:00.000-04:00

No, not the YA novel of almost the same name, but the game I am currently playing while tracking calories on livestrong.com. I need to learn to enjoy hunger pangs and drink water to quell them. I am determined to shed at least 5 lbs by the start of vacation, so when I gain 5 over the week I will just break even.

Sad, isn't it?

Frog on the needles

2011-06-22T13:39:00.004-04:00

I saw a cool book in Barnes and Noble today, a compendium of unusual knitted objects masquerading as art. This froggy was one of them; the pattern is available on etsy.

I would love to try to design something creative like that. But what? Something my friend Mare could sell in her new design shop without violating copyright laws.

Afterthought heel

2011-06-07T12:32:00.002-04:00

There’s nothing quite like working with a wool and mohair blend while it’s 89 degrees outside. I am done with the cuff on DH’s slippers, and the instructions for the heel are just to put the stitches on “waste yarn” and continue to the toe, then decrease. When I pick up the heel, it’s the same decrease instructions. Should make for some funny pre-felting pics.

Here’s the photo from the pattern.

cryptosporidium, I presume?

2011-06-06T12:29:00.002-04:00

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Nausea, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue. It must be public pool season! That tiny amount of water that made it into my mouth last Monday must have contained cryptosporidium, the details of which are too loathsome to relate. I think the graphic will suffice.

Swimmers beware.

The geography of ...

2011-06-03T12:09:00.005-04:00

Here’s what’s going on where I teach:

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to partner with the Center for Writing Excellence, First-Year Writing and Student Development and Campus Life, to launch the NAME OF UNIVERSITY Book Program. Students joining the XXX community in Fall 2011 will have the opportunity to have a common reading experience in a number of academic settings, with extracurricular activities planned around the book, The Geography of Bliss. We encourage faculty to consider using the book in their classes and to urge all students to participate in the events planned for Fall around The Geography of Bliss.

So guess what I’m reading. I just started, but the author has already visited the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Bhutan. Now he’s in Qatar. So far I can only see being happy in Switzerland, which has the cleanest public toilets. Until you’ve squatted in a public pit you can’t appreciate that idea. The Swiss are also happy because of the natural beauty around them. Living in the most densely populated state of the country, surrounded by air and noise pollution, I can get behind that idea, too.

I think I need accomplishment to be happy, which is odd, because most of my accomplishments are so infinitesimal that no one knows about them but me. I put laundry away -- yae! I cleaned the toilet! I swept the kitchen floor! And, oh yeah, I knitted a sweater!

The flip side of this happiness is the self recrimination that I indulge in when nothing gets accomplished. Napping, staring into space, listening to audiobooks and surfing the Internet do not count as accomplishments. Resting, relaxing, visiting with friends, sometimes. It usually takes more than that to keep the guilt away.

What’s a middle aged under achiever to do? Keep reading the assigned text, until the dog needs walking.

One sock syndrome, take two

2011-05-20T15:16:00.003-04:00

Well, now that I finally figured out how to make this, I don’t know if I want to make another one. I tried to do it with Knit Picks stroll, but I forgot how I can’t knit on anything smaller than a US No. 4. So, I used leftover CotLin and size 5’s to create the yoga sock. It’s a bit stretched out, but I hope washing will tighten it up. If the second one comes into being, maybe I’ll give them to Mare for her birthday. She doesn’t do yoga, though.

I started a pair of felted slipper for DH as well. That first round is HELL! But it’s going to go fast with Lamb’s Pride worsted on US No. 9’s. I don’t often get requests for items, so I have to take DH’s asking for new slippers seriously. He wore holes in the last pair I made him, so these may end up with those leather soles that they sell.

at an impasse

2011-04-09T09:40:00.002-04:00

Updating my blog while I should be grading papers, walking the dog, attending DD’s softball practice...I will take my WIP -- new 10-stitch afghan in Chroma New England to work on while I wait for practice to end. Wore my malabrigo pullover yesterday, but the sleeves are a little skimpy. I guess I can pull them even more next time I block them. At least they are even.

I want to start a pair of felted moccasins for DH, but eh. Maybe I’ll just make oversized socks.

Reefer madness

2011-03-23T17:16:00.002-04:00

Yes, I made a few mods, and I started it in July, but it’s done. For Baby Zoe , once it’s done blocking. Here it is in its pre-blocked form. Not sure I’ll ever knit another Debbie Bliss pattern tho. All that finishing and sewing in of ends! But the yarn - -Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton -- is so nice. On to the next.

WIP it good

2011-01-12T15:40:00.004-05:00

The short-row ten-stitch blanket is supposed to be my audiobook/tv knitting project. Sort of ugly, no? So is my top down pullover. Ugly, I mean.

Hats off to Christmas Eve

2011-01-01T14:25:00.004-05:00

Countdown to Christmas

2010-12-19T09:36:00.003-05:00

Six days to knit presents for DSIL and DM. I have one booty finished for DM-- the other I will finish today. I have some cute patterns picked out for the chunky malabrigo for a hat for DSIL. I had to scrap my plans for Thorpe -- I CANNOT get gauge after trying three different needles sizes. Enough already! Yes, I do have calluses but spent very little $ on yarn. We are in a recession, as you know. Been listening to Tim Curry reading “A Christmas Carol,” a free Audible download form last year. Pictured here is a kitty hat for my younger DSIL. I have since put a bow on the right ear. Meow. I’ll balance it out with a cute pic of Doxies unraveling yarn.

Signomi

2010-11-29T13:48:00.004-05:00

I think “signomi" means “sorry” in Greek, and that’s what I’ll say to whomever I give this gnomey hat. There are others on Ravelry, but this is the most interesting looking. I have more to go before the 25th, however.

Electric Kool Aid Acid hat

2010-11-21T11:29:00.002-05:00

IMG_6587
Originally uploaded by j0ligee

Groovy, man.

Warning: Chuck Cleaver content

2010-11-18T11:37:00.006-05:00

I wrote this essay with hopes of getting it published, but so far no takers. I decided to publish it here, just because I can, and because I feel obligated to write about Cleaver’s songwriting every so often, and I want the rest of you to know how I feel. The lyrics from the latest Wussy album are not included in the discussion, so keep an eye out for an update. In the meantime, get yer bug suit on.

Insects and Attitude: The Lyrics of Chuck Cleaver

Joli Furnari

When you were a kid, did you ever turn over a big rock just to see what was under it? Do you remember what you saw there?

Chuck Cleaver does. And he writes songs about it.

Chuck Cleaver is the erstwhile front man/singer/songwriter of Cincinnati’s Ass Ponys, who enjoyed moderate indie success in the 90’s and a bit beyond. Currently he’s a member of Wussy, another Cincy based band he founded with Lisa Walker. Repeat listenings of all of Cleaver’s music, especially 2001’s Lohio as well as his work with Wussy, reveal an inordinate number of references to the insect world. In order to understand the man, the music, and its appeal more completely, Cleaver’s lyrical bug references deserve closer examination. Not necessarily through a magnifying glass, or pinned and wriggling on the wall, but with the respect all great songwriting merits.

Chuck Cleaver has never shied away from the darker side of the natural world, exposing it, and his characters’ fears of it, in plaintive songs about love and loss. “Hey Swifty” (Mr. Superlove) is (in part) about road kill. “It’s Summer Here” (The Known Universe) describes a hell on earth where brown rivers foam, turtles bite your fingers off, and snakes sun themselves on rocks in plain view. One of Cleaver’s first insect references, however, comes from another song on that album, “John Boat.” The singer describes how his friend had to dump stinking, dead fish out of a boat. On the chorus, the singer anxiously exclaims, “That's the biggest bug I've ever seen/ And Jesus, here it comes this way/I can feel it crawling over me, today.” This plaint comes after the character addressed in the song is sickened by the memory of seeing maggots crawling underneath the skin of a dead bird, a ghastly image that once seen is rarely forgotten.

Cleaver’s also not averse to getting back at the bugs, watching them “dance” while using the old magnifying glass trick on “God Tells Me To” (The Known Universe). Big or small, Cleaver shows us that he is willing to leave no insect’s stone unturned in order to get his character’s feelings across.

It is on the record Lohio, however, that Cleaver really turns up the bug juice. In the mournful, dark, mysteriously titled “Donald Sutherland,” Cleaver sings on the chorus “Twilight is falling, the locusts are calling your name.” “Donald Sutherland” is not a long song, but the chorus is especially significant, coming at one point towards the end after a long pause, leaving the listener to picture a growing darkness, not tranquil or quiet, but filled with the sound of summer’s big bugs.

The locust of “Donald Sutherland” is a symbol loaded with significance, due in part to its role in Biblical literature. Joel’s prophesy regarding The Day of the Lord mentions locusts, which are often interpreted to be armies of men, supernatural apocalyptic invaders or swarms of actual insects. Revelations 9:7-8 also warns of locusts. In any case, the appearance of locusts is likely to bring with it some sort of destruction…the kind that might just blow out the back of your skull. In Cleaver’s song, thankfully, the locusts are staying in the trees, filling our ears, but leaving our bodies and farmland intact (for now).

“Donald Sutherland” isn’t the only song on Lohio that references our six-legged friends. “Calendar Days,” a late-August lament complete with brown grass and loneliness, functions as a sort of sequel to the seasonal horrors of “It’s Summer Here.” A crooning fiddle adds to the old-time feel to the song, where dragged ponds and divining rods are all part of the time we need to kill before September comes. As the singer decries his separation from his loved one, he asks us to “ignore the flies/and try to act surprised/at the dead end of summer.” It really is no surprise that the song ends with the cicadas, or crickets, or God knows what other insect that lives in the August woods of Ohio, singing louder than He does.

Not as celebrated as locusts but also making an appearance on Lohio are bird lice. On “A Dollar a Day,” someone’s brother ends up with a case after fashioning an impromptu Indian costume from a feather and a bobby pin, but it’s considered a minor inconvenience for “the privilege” of playing the doomed role of a Native American. The hard-rocking “Butterfly” equates this fragile insect with a loser’s flaccid penis. The song “Dried up” doesn’t mention insects per se, but it does refer to the summer activities of eating ice cream and stargazing, and refers to a photo of a girl who now resembles an August creek bed – dried up and disappeared. Everyday events and common memories, yes, but in the hands and voice of Cleaver, the mundane takes on a different quality, one where place and time matter and can’t be forgotten, no matter how hard you try.

The Ass Ponys may have ended as a band with the release of Lohio, but Cleaver’s obsession with insects did not. In his first outing with Wussy, the band he formed with Lisa Walker, Mark Messerly and Dawn Burman, the cicadas are back. “This is the night,” (Walker sings softly on the song “Crooked”) “that the insects appear, after 17 years on this side of town.” This is probably a reference to the magicicadas, which are now “Singing the songs/They learned underground.” The singer ruminates further: “They've been missing so long /I'm surprised they're around.” The only thing not surprising is that Chuck Cleaver is in a band that’s using the singing of insects to conjure up a wistful emotion.

On the second CD from Wussy, Left for Dead, Lisa Walker picks up the (citronella?) torch and writes about tiny spiders crawling over a couple lying in lust on a woodpile, and evokes a locust-like apocalypse with the mention of a cloud of insects in “Mayflies.” In this song “spindle-legged insects cloud the summer skies, flying fast to their demise.” This reference to the mayfly’s locust-like swarming and truncated life span make the song a particularly poignant one, and totally in line with Cleaver’s past canon.

So why are there so many insects in Cleaver’s lyrics? Observing insects connects us to our primal past, our childhood memories. As children, we spent our time closer to the ground, and noticed things like bugs. We turned over rocks and marveled at cicada shells. We caught moths and butterflies. We watched lightening bugs flash in the back yard. And we heard the locusts.
Cleaver’s songwriting is like that—it evokes the growing darkness of summer evenings, and the sounds of the natural world that are mysterious and sometimes frightening. The images may be wistful, or melancholy, like the locusts in “Donald Sutherland” and “Calendar Days,” or revoltingly real, like the brown river of “It’s Summer Here” or the maggots of “John Boat.”

Either way, Cleaver is a man – a songwriter – an artist -- in tune with his inner entomologist and unafraid to turn over that big rock, no matter what he may find there. And we should be thankful that his point of view is both close to the ground, and looking towards the treetops.

Lidsville is the koo-koo-kookiest

2010-11-15T14:42:00.005-05:00

A couple of hats I just finished. I can’t get enough of the purple and orange one, I think DD has claimed it for herself. The pink one is nice,but it was supposed t have ear flaps and came out too big. The one i am making for Ange turned out GREAT, with flaps. Pictures soon. Meanwhile, enjoy a girl and her dog and her hat.

Rock of Love

2010-11-07T20:39:00.004-05:00

Here we are. Can you tell the difference? I thought I was the sh*t until I saw Patty’s friend dressed as Justin Bieber. Damn! Next year i’m going as a bag of castoff clothing being donated to the veterans.

Used to be my favorite holiday

2010-10-30T09:42:00.003-04:00

I guess it still is. Haven’t had much time for knitting or posting here. Been following my pal D. on Twitter as she traipses through Europe, tasting wine. Last night we traipsed through the MSU campus to watch a student production of “Dracula.” It was fun but DD ate too much candy and threw up in her bed. Now I am feeling sorry for myself (and her) for being such a bad parent.
At least the temp has dropped and it really feels like fall. The garden is dying and looks spooky and melancholy, even in the bright sunlight.
I’ll include a picture here of my defining Halloween moment -- my prize winning costume of Mother Cabrini at the 2002 Weird NJ Halloween party at Tierney’s. I didn’t have the nerve to dress as Antoine Dodson (see previous post) so I guess I’ll just wear my blond wig tomorrow when we go out trick or treating on the block.
Happy All Saints Day, everybody.

Run and tell dat

2010-10-21T20:00:00.002-04:00

Sorry, but I can’t get enough of this. i want to make this guy’s outfit my Halloween costume. Run and tell THAT!

Summer's Over and the Fall is Here

2010-09-11T15:49:00.002-04:00

Well, not quite. But it is almost time to pull out the Knitting Pure and Simple top down roll neck sweater that has only 1 sleeve left to go. Maybe I finish it in time for New York Sheep and Wool in October. All I have to show for the summer is a bunch of cotton dishcloths. Jane has requested a pair of fingerless gloves in Jersey Giants blue. I think I can accommodate her. I think I finally have a plan for all the Jamie Harmon 2 ply angor I bought last year at Sheep and Wool -- Thorpe, a hat with earflaps. Sorry for the lack of links and pics -- by battery is at 15% and the sun is shining on my display. Soon!

Strawberry Letter 23

2010-07-03T11:13:00.003-04:00

Well, I only made 5 (and only four pictured). And now you have that dreadful song stuck in your head, I bet. By The Brothers Johnson, in case you were wondering who sang it. Here's a bowl full of fruity goodness.

Snape Runner Up

2010-06-19T10:20:00.002-04:00

I guess I should mention I received an Honorable Mention on Ravelry for the Bobby Awards Funniest Ravatar. Thanks to DH (and Alan Rickman) for creating this beloved image.

A new record -- for not blogging

2010-06-16T14:21:00.002-04:00

I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging. Well, I haven't been knitting that much, and the camera situation is less than ideal. I have one sleeve to go on my Pure and Simple pullover. When I realized the weather was going to get warm before I finished it, I lost my enthusiasm. I started calamari knitting with old t shirts. It's like an upper arm workout at the gym. I was using US No. 19, and realized I should have the 30 or 35's. I got 35's, but only the 10 inchers. And then the dog ate the tip off the 19's. I like the "rug," so far, however. I may or may not bind it off and try again.

I have made a few dishcloths with some leftover cotton. They are good TV projects and I do use them to wipe the counter with. My niece expressed interest in a sleep mask, and I would like to make an apple fro DD's teacher. I am in the usual dilemma -- lots of yarn but not enough for a real project. I have been cruising the finished projects among the "Got Vests?" group on Ravelry for ideas. Some beautiful stuff there. Maybe a baby hat for Zoe next, or a crab for Patty's shore house.

Here's a pic of The Dog after destroying his latest toy. I should have kept the stuffing for future projects.

More pics of old product

2010-02-19T16:37:00.005-05:00

They turned out pretty nice.

New pics of old projects

2010-02-18T20:22:00.004-05:00

Photo shoot in the back garden reveals the design flaws of coachella and the vibrant colors of Adirondack yarns. I always wanted to wear a halter in the snow!

Wee stockings

2009-12-13T14:27:00.002-05:00

Big enough to hold a chapstick or bit of jewelry!

Back after a long absence, as if you noticed

2009-12-05T11:43:00.003-05:00

My last blog post back in August coincided with a new addition to our household -- Henry, the hound dog. Henry is a 11-month old hound mix who likes to go on loooong walks, romp at the dog park, and tear up the house. I have been so busy providing for Henry's needs that much of my knitting has been back-burnered. I did finish a couple of items, and started knitting Christmas ornaments for our house and for gifts.

Now that we have had Henry for a couple of months, he has settled down a little, almost enough for me to begin blogging again. As soon as I find the digital camera, pictures of finished projects and wips. For now, here's Henry.

Finally!

2009-08-25T14:37:00.002-04:00

Finally done with my first real pair of socks. What a trial! So why did I just plunk down some cash on sock yarn from KnitPicks? Because, to paraphrase Tina Turner, I nevah evah do nothin' nice... and easy.

Sock Summit 09: The allure of knitting socks

2009-08-22T09:17:00.002-04:00

Sock Summit 09: The allure of knitting socks
This is my second article for the examiner. I'm still finding my way around, discovering how to use photos that don't require permission and all that. Using my own is still the best way, I guess.

I wanted to write more about sock knitting here in my blog, as the Examiner is more for "news" and the like. But time is always pressing.
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Modern Yarn re-opens in Montclair

2009-08-18T19:53:00.003-04:00

Modern Yarn re-opens in Montclair
This is my first article as the Newark Knitter Examiner. What does that mean, exactly? Well, Here’s a little bit about Examiner.com from one of their press releases:

Launched in April 2008, Examiner.com serves 109 markets across the country and is the insider source for everything local. Examiner.com’s content is contributed by Examiners; passionate, informed, and knowledgeable local influencers. Examiner.com is a division of the Clarity Media Group, owned by The Anschutz Company, one of the largest media investment companies in the world. For more information, visit Examiner.com.

So! I am expected to post a couple times a week, to keep my page "fresh" and current. I featured Modern Yarn, one of three LYS's in Montclair, for my first article. Co-owner Paige agreed to a quick phone interview and I took a pic of her storefront. So far, so good!

I have been brainstorming for article ideas and have a couple of things planned. Stay tuned!

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Finishing School

2009-07-31T15:45:00.003-04:00

Yes, this Knitting Pure and Simple pullover is all done except for the weaving in. It is a bit small on me, so I'm not sure who will be receiving it as a gift. It's also scratchy, necessitating a turtleneck or similar garment. The final sleeve was accomplished while watching Duck Soup and Horse Feathers on consecutive sultry nights. Nothing like a wool sweater on your lap in mid July!

Naughty bits removed

2009-07-10T08:58:00.003-04:00

I may have finally found the perfect sock pattern. I still have to use US No. 3's, but with the naughty bits (heel turning, toe grafting) removed, I may actually be able to complete two matching socks and (gasp) wear them! Here's a pic of the pattern by Claire Herne, from Ravelry.

Larry the Lobster

2009-06-25T17:29:00.005-04:00

Remember that old SNL skit with Eddie Murphy and a lucky lobster going on a date? If not, enjoy this fellow, all ready for drawn butter and lemon juice.

Baby Cabin

2009-06-22T12:11:00.003-04:00

Finally completed. This is for Jonathan James McCarthy, who is about a week old by now.

Cotton candy

2009-06-19T10:14:00.004-04:00

I "inherited" this stash of knit-cro-sheen from a neighbor who was cleaning out the effects of a deceased relative. Since I don't crochet bedspreads, I am hard pressed with what to do with it all. Christmas ornaments? Book marks? A curtain? Mosquito netting? Enclosed porch?

J Lopi

2009-06-18T10:10:00.002-04:00

I made another one of these bags, with the intention of giving it away to some lucky recipient. I like the color combo, which is not too evident due to less than optimal photographic conditions! Now that summeris here, it's time to stretch my brain and create new neural pathways with some color work or (gasp!) crochet.

Teacher's Pet

2009-06-10T12:54:00.002-04:00

This is a thank-you gift for DD's teacher this year, who sent home lovely notes about how well our girl was doing in school. DD says she will miss her teacher, thus the knitted keepsake.

Working on this small project has inspired me to do more. A whole fruit basket next?

Audible vs. Tangible

2009-05-21T14:11:00.003-04:00

I resisted the idea of audible books for a long time, after a frustrating experience with poor quality cassette tapes from the library in my car stereo. I decided to re-examine the concept after hearing Kelley from KnitPicks comment that she likes to listen to Jane Austen novels on her iPod while knitting. I had subscribed to quite a few podcasts, off and on, to listen to while knitting, but never a novel. When Audible.com ran a promotion a few months ago I decided to take the plunge.

Using Salon.com as a guide, I made up a wish list of novels I felt I didn't need to own but still wanted to read. "When will there be good news," an intelligent thriller by Kate Atkinson, was my first choice. I loved it but ended up listening before I went to bed, not while knitting. My most recent download was "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters. I actually finished Coachella while listening to this creepy ghost story.

While I have warmed to the listenable format, I miss being able to "see" the story. There were parts in "The Little Stranger" I wanted to read over before moving on. I like leafing through a book after I've read it and picking up at some random point to see if I missed anything.

I wonder if any data exist about how well we absorb material when it's listened to as opposed to read.

Maybe I'll go check.

Stashish!

2009-05-11T13:59:00.002-04:00

Re-upped at two LYs's last week, the results pictured here. Got some real nice South American giggle we.., err, I mean "fun fibers." As I mentioned, I scored some some malabrigo, as well as some Blue Sky dyed cotton and a couple of skeins of Manos. Sorry, no hemp. Can't wait to get rolling on some of this stuff!

Ambivalent about LYS owner

2009-05-08T11:27:00.003-04:00

Went to the LYS the other day because they were having an "educators" sale, or 20% if you could prove you are a teacher. I don't know why I keep going to this LYS; it is the definition of insanity. I keep going, hoping to find something I like, or even something I need, and I am consistently disappointed.

First shocker: They are no longer carrying malabrigo because customers complained about the pilling, even so far as to bring back knitted garments to the store to complain."And we can't have that," the second in command told me, sotto voce. Wealthy matrons should have been advised before hand that Hello! It's a single ply yarn! I bought two of the few remaining skeins, which were not even marked down.
Second shocker: the owner is either hard of hearing or willfully rude. Whenever the second in command at the store attempted to engage me in conversation, the owner would interrupt her in mid sentence, loudly, with a non-related question, stopping our chat cold.

Well, her being rude isn't the real shocker, but her constant yelling the word "What?" every time someone tried to talk to her made me wonder. Thanks very much, but I'll take my chances with Webs and Knit Picks and the like. I have tried many times to like this place, and alas, their LYS competitors are closing one by one.

can't put this on Facebook

2009-05-07T19:35:00.000-04:00

Before going into the pit of hell, a woman should say one thing: "Behold! I am a woman." That's all. Look at matters consciously. Right there the matter will end.

© The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, July 19, 1984

Hello I won't be going

2009-05-02T08:54:00.003-04:00

THE 36TH ANNUAL MARYLAND SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL

begins today, but alas, I am here typing about it in my bathrobe. There's a sale at my local LYS for "educators" that I plan to take advantage of. I started Coachella and it's going along okay. I have many essays to grade this weekend and my Media Bistro assignment as well, so I'm not sure how much progress I'll make this weekend. I did buy a convertible bra to wear underneath, so I am optimistic. The next big decision I will have to make will be to include "bust shaping" or not. Can't seem to get my head around that concept! I guess if there's a big difference between your bust and your midsection, the shaping will make it fit better?

Anyhoo, gotta get my day started. I'll be checking Ravelry for any Maryland updates.

Shoshin

2009-04-29T20:45:00.003-04:00

Beginner's Mind!

Beginner's mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgements and prejudices. Beginner's mind is just present to explore and observe and see "things as-it-is." I think of beginner's mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement. "I wonder what this is? I wonder what that is? I wonder what this means?" Without approaching things with a fixed point of view or a prior judgement, just asking "what is it?"

Excerpts from Beginner's Mind

Abbess Zenkei Blanche Hartman

Flea Market Find

2009-04-28T09:14:00.002-04:00

Yes, I actually found usable yarn at a flea market! "Jess" was selling off her late mother's stash, with all yarn marked $3 a skein, $14 for 5. I ended up with ten skeins of Berroco suede in Belle Starr (see pic). And I guess my search for the perfect tank pattern is over, as Coachella from Knitty calls for this yarn. Serendipity, you say?

Jess gave me her number -- she is getting rid of needles and books also. Not sure if I will call or not. I feel like I should teach Jess to knit instead.

A win-win situation

2009-04-25T09:29:00.001-04:00

'nuff said.

Intarsia Wars

2009-04-23T08:32:00.004-04:00

So I bought a new, expensive book called The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques in order to teach myself intarsia. I think by now I have many knitting basics down, and it's time to branch out and challenge my neural synapses with a new technique or two. A quick Ravelry search for intarsia patters gave me a couple of ideas, pics posted here. The Brainwash Bag instructions call for "some sanity required." The bag is felted, however, so mistakes can be smoothed over. A bigger challenge would be to knit the Dark Mark bag, and carry it to the premiere of HP and the Half Blood Prince (played by geezer heartthrob Alan Rickman). I only have until July 17 -- better get started!

If I had a job with desk...

2009-04-20T17:27:00.001-04:00

This would be on it.

Modern Yarn on Early Show

2009-04-07T13:35:00.001-04:00

I have shopped at this place! They carry Rowan.

Watch CBS Videos Online

One-armed time bandit

2009-04-05T17:02:00.002-04:00

This thing is taking forever to finish, and I still have one more arm to do. The sad thing is I didn't get gauge, and it's quite small. I do like the pattern, but I haven't exactly been motivated to finish a sweater that won't fit! I do like the way the picture came out, though. Reminds me of a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, called "Pied Beauty." So, in honor of Palm Sunday:

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; 5
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: 10
Praise him.

It's all over but the seaming

2009-04-05T17:00:00.003-04:00

Rib warmer #2 finally finished, except for the sewing up. A bit bright, isn't it?

Knitted bird invades northern NJ

2009-03-23T17:55:00.005-04:00

No, it's just part of a baby's mobile from the latest issue of Knitty. If I were a knitter worth her salt, I'd be making this for the new Baby McCarthy instead of a lame-o log cabin. More pics soon!

Mardi Gras

2009-02-24T09:34:00.001-05:00

No beads, just this, courtesy of a pal from Ravelry.

Knitting at work

2009-02-21T09:53:00.006-05:00

A "Take Back the Craft" group has been formed at the university where I teach. Every Friday at noon, knitters and crocheters gather to help newbies learn the basics and work on their own projects. There have been at least twenty people at the last two meetings, with considerably more crochet-only members than knitters. I'm not sure what to make of that skew, except that maybe I'll finally learn to do more than the chain stitch.

Finally done with this thing

2009-01-24T13:23:00.004-05:00

Wove in all the ends and now it's blocking. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I like the log cabin concept, but I really blew it by knitting something in these colors. It will make a nice lap blanket, but that's about it.

Amateur photographer

2009-01-19T08:34:00.002-05:00

That's why I look so ... zaftig.

January for JoliGee

2009-01-16T12:08:00.008-05:00

New year, new projects.

I am attempting the baby kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting for Baby McCarthy. Since the gender is unknown, I will make a "practice" kimono in Knit Picks CotLin Desert Turquoise, with the option to give or make another one in a more appropriate color. I also started another rib warmer with the Yummy multicolor Great Adirondack yarn I bought in Rhinebeck. Work also continues with my first human-sized neck down pullover. It's going much more slowly than the tiny sweaters, with about 600 x more stitches! But I am enjoying working with the Fisherman's wool.
The rib warmer went over big at a visit I made with my old ma to Cousin Marian's house this week. They joking called it a "boob warmer," but I patiently explained that the boob warmer is another pattern. I'm still not happy with the photographic representation of the RW, however. Another photo shoot is in order.

Next up: finishing the log cabin -- one more stripe to go! Not much left in my stash to work with after that.I would like to make the Lucy Bag with whatever leftover Fisherman's I have. I am balking at the $8 price tag for the patten though. Doesn't that seem like a lot for one lousy pattern?

Here's my RW, blocking

2009-01-12T11:32:00.004-05:00

Finished it last night, and now it's drying on a towel. Sort of reminds me of the vests worn by those cute little organ grinder monkeys. Lots of this yarn left over. The color in the pic isn't so great-- it's more blue than purple. More pics after it dries and I try it on. Someone on Ravelry added i-cord around the sleeves, and it looked really cute. I may research that, as the armholes looked a little sloppy before blocking.

THIS...is a ribwarmer

2009-01-05T19:20:00.001-05:00

"F" is my favorite letter, as you know

2008-12-29T15:40:00.003-05:00

And not because I just finished grading my students. I have been cursing the rib warmer, as you see here, about 30% complete. The directions are very laissez-faire, and I have been using the little illustration to make sure I am turning in the right direction. After ripping out once, and realizing I "f"-ed up again, I decided to keep going and just rip out that little neck section at the top, and graft on those ten rows at the end. The pattern calls for two identical pieces, sewn up the back. I'm using a minimally processed wool I bought at Rhinebeck. It's scratchy but warm. I really like how the pattern has turned out for others, and I have been reading comments on Ravelry about the pattern. This is my first experience with Elizabeth Zimmerman, and while I like her in theory, I have had no practice with her patterns before this. I'm going to continue.

Cheers!

2008-12-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

I made about a dozen of these little things, but didn't take any pictures. The coupe de grace sweater was one knitted and decorated to look like a Cavi sweater, a clothing company partly owned by a good friend of ours. Check out the website! I do have a picture of that one, coming soon, I promise.

As usual, the knitted gifts I sent my nieces went unacknowledged. I can only hope my nephews liked the Christian bookstore gift certificates I sent them, but I'm sure I will hear nothing from them either.

I'm going to the mall today to buy something for myself, since my haul was a little disappointing this year. I still have my regifting party with my girlfriends to look forward to. And I can also look forward to going back to knitting my rib warmer and other things for myself.

me of course

2008-12-21T19:07:00.002-05:00

Twelve Days of Rickman

2008-12-09T10:00:00.005-05:00

Here's my holiday card. No knitting content. My fingers are raw from knitting ball-band dishcloths that ended up being TOO SMALL after washing. Enjoy!

I love you mitt all my heart

2008-11-18T17:56:00.005-05:00

The pic is a bit "amber," but you get the idea. I wore them with the hat today - -cute, and cozy.

The candy-colored clown they call joligee...

2008-11-09T12:28:00.005-05:00

These Jamie Harmon yarns knit up so beautifully. Here's a better pic of my beret, and my recently completed diagonal scarf in a slightly different color way. Sorry I couldn't find my mask for the picture -- I look better from the back anyway, so I've been told.

I have one Maine Morning Mitt completed in the same yarn as the beret. It's interesting to see how the smaller circumference of the mitts makes for such wider stripes.

No slouch in the hat department

2008-11-05T15:35:00.002-05:00

That's an understatement. This beret is slouchy all right. I had to rip back the brim and switch to smaller needles to get it to fit. It's the one day beret but it took me about 2 weeks. I love the yarn, but it's not the most flattering slouchy beret.

I see many berets on campus, so I am wondering if the look is too "young" for me. But a beret's a beret, n'est pas? My elementary school art teacher, Miss Meek, used to wear one, along with tartan plaid kilts. I guess my point is that the beret is "classic."

I am also nearing completion of my diagonal scarf, in the same yarn but different color way. The seafoam scarf in Merisoft HP74 is underway also. It looks like one of my friend Susan's weavings. Pictures pending!

Rhinebeck 2008

2008-10-20T10:00:00.008-04:00

Food and friends! Sheep and goats! Celebrity sighting! And of course, wool, wool wool. It was a beautiful day last Saturday at the NY Sheep and Wool festival in Rhinebeck, NY.

We were thrilled to have friends Patty and Doug, with their friends John and Margaret, join us for our annual outing. The fellas watched the sheep dog trials, and the gals shopped for scarf material.

As we were exiting Barn 35, we overheard someone asking "Is that scarf from Mason Dixon Knitting?" The wearer hesitated, then revealed that she "was" Mason Dixon knitting, or Kay Gardiner to be exact. We snapped a quick pic of her in her knitted finery.

Over by the kiddie rides, DH, who has an eye for such things, spotted independent filmmaker Jim Jarmush, taking pictures of kids on the carousel.

I finally purchased some yarn from Adirondack Yarn Company, who sell such beautiful and exotic fibers and colorways. More angora/merino blend from Jaime, and some commercially spun but locally grown worsted wool.

I snapped a pic of two Ravelers from Brooklyn and Queens, respectively, copping a squat before heading out to the Ravelry party in Red Hook. We didn't attend--but I look forward to reading others' accounts. Ravelry really has become a "knitting nation" of sorts. Lots of Ravelers sported their name buttons at the fair. Is there any knitter who isn't "on Ravelry?"

Pics of my new stash additions coming soon. I can't wait to start swatching!

Got frosting?

2008-10-13T09:16:00.004-04:00

We attended a wedding recently where instead of wedding cake, the guests were served cute little German chocolate cupcakes. I have been trying to recreate one as a memento for the happy couple, but as you can see, I have been having mixed results. The pink frosted one was actually faved by someone on Ravelry, so perhaps I should stick with Berrocco Plush as my icing.

Mr. November

2008-10-08T13:53:00.002-04:00

Yes, I know there is still a lot of October to go...but I couldn't resist this pic of my favorite pin up, AR (as Snape). I love I love I love my handsome calendar man....
Knitting content coming soon.

Sunkist Finished!

2008-09-15T09:17:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned on Ravelry, I am very pleased with the way this turned out. I can only hope it won't shed the way Something Red does. It's soft against my bare skin. Ah, the wonders of Malabrigo! Now I just need for the weather to change from 90 plus to about 40.

Something Fuzzy

2008-09-13T11:15:00.002-04:00

I proudly wore my recently completed Something Red to class yesterday, over a black tank and pants, at my friend Diane's suggestion. The outfit looked OK at first, but I soon discovered, to my horror, that my clothes were covered with gray fuzz. Not a few strays here and there, oh no. I had a coating of fuzz a quarter of an inch thick. Luckily, most of the fuzz was under the sweater, so as long as I didn't take it off (or anyone got too close) it wasn't that visible. But sheesh! I wasn't aware that Knit Picks Shine was so fluffy like. To add insult to injury, the day turned rainy and I had to make the long trek back to my car sans umbrella. I'm not sure if the pants (or top) will ever be the same. I am going to wash the sweater again and see if that helps with the shedding. In the meantime, knitters beware. And I will wear this sweater with jeans and a white top, after all.

Home Stretching

2008-09-11T09:52:00.004-04:00

I have finally gotten to picking up the front and collar stitches on Sunkist. With barely .25 of a skein left, I hope I have enough! I really am surprised that this sweater pattern is gobbling up so much yarn. I have to check my stash to see if I have another skein unaccounted for. I'm planning a "pewter" clasp a la Dale of Norway -- you know the kind. Because the sweater has negative ease, it isn't meant to close all the way in the front, so a clasp at the top should work. I love the way it feels when I try it on, even next to my bare skin. Viva Malabrigo!

Picking up those border stitches is impossible while watching my latest TV obsession: Dexter. I just finished Disk 2 of Season 2, and should have Disk 3 arriving from NetFlix for the weekend. Yesterday I watched all four episodes and it was really just too much. Not having to wait a week between episodes sets me up to overdose on all the psychodrama, blood, and humor (yes, humor!).

I'm off to my other obsession -- Kundalini yoga at Starseed.

rickman's process

2008-08-29T12:31:00.003-04:00

This from the Fresno Bee,

Labels aside, Rickman has attacked every role the same way. "The only way I know how to work is to kind of make a gift of yourself to the writing and then you are the channel by which that writing is given to an audience," Rickman says.

Here's AR with one of the writers he's worked with, a Jersey guy who likes to say [expletive deleted].

Cape May Capers

2008-08-18T11:40:00.002-04:00

Well, I went to Cape May, New Jersey, and all I got was sunburned. No yarn! I went to the lovely yarn shop there, but didn't get anything. I did get some knitting done on Sunkist.

Latest projects

2008-08-10T12:28:00.005-04:00

I have had a spurt of inspiration recently, resulting in the creation of a multidirectional diagonal scarf with the yarn I had originally tagged for Quant that resulted in much frogging (see previous posts). The scarf is going well, and I am enjoying the yarn very much. In the tradition of Something Red, I am also creating another gray cardigan. This is a free pattern called Sunkist that I found on Ravelry, a raglan knit from the top down. I think I finally understand the concept now, and can tell by just looking at my work when to YO to create the holes. It is going so much more smoothly than Something Red I have to ask myself, was it the yarn, or me? Knitting with cotton is challenging for me-- so slippery, hard to create nice tight purls...but the malabrigo is so enjoyable and so much easier to work with! I can only hope I built up a couple of new neural synapses with Something Red, which is why I "get" this pattern. And I love malabrigo. And using larger needles (US No. 10).

That said< I still have about a dozen skeins of Knit Picks CotLin in beautiful turquoise. Is this an appropriate color for holiday dishcloths? Because I really can't see myself making a garment out of it!

summertime tunic -- long back and sides

2008-07-31T12:38:00.001-04:00

Here it is, modeled. The gray knit shorts are not part of the finished effect I am looking for. However, you get the idea. According to my Ravelry page, I started this at the end of March. And while I did finish it before the end of the summer, I'm not sure how much wear I am going to get out of it. I now have at least 3 summer tops completed and haven't worn them at all this summer. Is it time to start thinking of fall knitting? Or Christmas presents?

Summertime tunic finished!

2008-07-30T14:27:00.004-04:00

Here it is, all laid out on a chair. I do not like the cheap synthetic ribbon that I put in there, but it will have to do until I find something else. I do like the little silver heart buttons I am using as beads for the ties.

It's difficult to get a feel for this top from this photo- modeling photos coming shortly.

I'm going to try the tube top again from Fitted Knits - but not before practicing the LLI and RLI on my gauge swatch.

A log cabin grows in Jersey

2008-07-14T13:16:00.002-04:00

Slowly but surely. I was working on it yesterday when one of my Denise needles SNAPPED! Who says plastic lasts forever?

I have not been doing much in the way of knitting lately. I do go to Ravelry every day, but only to check the Alan Rickman message board. I have been laboriously whip-stitching the first hem on my summer tunic, but it is an arduous task complicated by my uncertainty about doing it correctly. I actually finished a square of the retro throw, but have yet to cast on for a second. I have been spending my leisure hours reading Charles Dickens. Currently I'm about 2/3 through Nicholas Nickelby. My DD just finished an abridged version of David Copperfield, so I think a film version of the same is in order. I would love the chance to see the filmed version of the Broadway production of Nicholas Nickleby with Roger Rees, but I haven't been able to find it.

I feel myself drifting from my craft. What project will pull me back?

Wooly Monmouth CLOSED on Sunday!

2008-06-23T17:05:00.002-04:00

While down at the beach visiting friends in Long Branch, I was anticipating a visit to Wooly Monmouth, where last year I purchased some discontinued Rowan Biggy Print on sale. Unfortunately, Sunday is a day of rest for these folks, anniversary sale or no.

A Minor Revelation

2008-06-03T19:49:00.006-04:00

OK, here's what happened:

While working on the turtleneck tube, I attempted LLI and RLI and failed...again. Ripped it back. Disgusted, I went to my yoga room to do my "yoga for PMS" set. While relaxing in legs up the wall, a gentle breeze blew the curtain fringe into the room, where it brushed my hand. Instead of accepting this as a loving sign from the Divine, I jumped up, heart pounding, thinking an ant or spider had crawled across my hand. So much for deep relaxation! My meditation ruined, I began to think of my most recent knitting failure. Then the revelation came: the reason my purls are so loose is that I'm knitting with COTTON. And though it hurts my pride to admit it, I need to practice my LLI and RLI before attempting the technique in an actual project. And, I have several "big balls" of Malabrigo to use for the turtleneck tube, and the KnitPicks CotLin would be better suited to a tank or something knit in the round with no purling required.

So there you have it: Now I have renewed faith, in the Divine, and my knitting skills.

Lean to the left, lean to the right...

2008-06-02T11:58:00.003-04:00

stand up, sit down, fight fight fight!
I am currently fighting to master LLI and RLI, which is required for shaping the Perfect Periwinkle Turtleneck Tube Vest from Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel. This is such a cool pattern. It looks so good on everyone who makes it and posts pics on Ravelry.
As usualy, I have had to frog the thing once already, as I struggle to master LLI and RLI. I sat watching the instructional video about a hundred times last week, with my knitting on my lap, but I am still not doing it right. What is wrong with my brain? Is it perimenopause, too much beer, or a combination of both?
I have to keep telling myself that if I can finish Something Red, I can finish this thing. I'm using CotLin from Knit Picks, in Desert Turquioise (I believe). Not a bad yarn -- I'm hoping it will tighten up a little when washed/blocked.
I am using the same knitting bag I used for Something Red to inspire me, or at least cheer me up whenthe going gets tough.

I'm in a roundabout

2008-05-30T09:56:00.005-04:00

No, not a British traffic circle, or that old chestnut from Yes. I have been circling and circling around on the summertime tunic so much lately that I have developed callouses on my fingers from the pointy brass needles I'm using. This is my watch-tv-while-knitting project. So far I've watched the movie Juno and the season finale of Lost while working on this. The points actually make it easier to go faster. The only mistake I can see is that I knit my circular stitch holder into the sweater and will have to cut if off eventually. Just 1.5 inches to go before I can divide for the armholes.
But enough about knitting. Click here for a pic of sexy Josh Holloway carrying Claire's baby. *Sigh*

Does this make me look fat?

2008-05-15T14:53:00.005-04:00

Something Red is completed, except for the button. After all that work, it's just not that flattering! More like fattening. I sort of remember taking a fasion quiz that told me to avoid raglan sleeves...wish I had remembered that. And that ribbing ends up adding volume to my most voluminous area. OK, so I know crop sweaters don't look good on me, and now neither do below hip lengths. What's a Mamma with a pot belly to do?

Good karma thing to do

2008-05-06T14:26:00.003-04:00

Well, I sent out a call for help on Ravelry for some yarn to finish Something Red, and I got it! I am a member of the Knit Picks Group, so I asked there for help. I had KnittinVegan offer me some, for shipping only, and it arrived a couple of days ago. I guess there is a lesson in here somewhere...1) buy that extra skein 2) if you don't, ask politely and you shall receive 3) you give back accordingly when the time comes.

Plugging the Pick

2008-04-29T11:16:00.005-04:00

Ok, so it's not exactly knitting related...but some pals of ours have been playing gigs in the area and they ROCK! Check out the website for Fainting Chair, an "eclectic group of musicians" who have had a lot of practice playing, just not in front of a room full of people. Last week I was lucky enough to catch lead guitarist Gerd Dagne's orange pick. "It's a shitty one," he confided in me sadly. Check out his website -- he's not only a musician, but an artist as well.

Not a lot of knitting is getting done as I have been busy grading essays. After this week, I will not longer have to stand in front of a room full of people for 3 whole months!

Project: update

2008-04-17T17:29:00.005-04:00

A few pics of my progress on Something Red, Summertime Tunic, and Retro Throw.
I have finished one sleeve of Something, and started on the second. As I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, I think I am going to run out of yarn. The Summertime Tunic is progressing...only 12 more inches to go!!! And the retro throw, well...I have had about 6 more stitches to do before binding off that first square for about a month now. The Big Log hasn't seen any action in a couple of months now. But my friend P is working on a felted bag, and we are planning to get together and knit a lot this summer. I just want to finish that durn cardigan!

Are you doing the job you should do?

2008-04-15T09:16:00.001-04:00

From an interview on Darkhorizons:

Question: Why did you want to do it [become an actor]? Do you remember?

Rickman: Oh, you just answer a need. I think we all live in our head too much. And there's the poor old neck-down bit that's screaming for attention a lot of the time and you have to go, "What? Oh, you want to do that? Okay." Then you - you put the two together. And when your head and your body are working together, then whether you're a chef or a actor or a cabdriver, you're doing the job you should do.

A Brass Set

2008-04-01T16:46:00.003-04:00

No, not knuckles (or anything else like that). I mean these brass-tipped knitting needles from Addi. These are designed with pointy tips for lace knitting. My LYS sold me these because they were all out of the regular nickle blunt tips. While I do like a pointy tip, knitting the first row in the round was tortuous. You can see from the picture how red my left index finger is, even for my fishmonger's wife hands. This is going to be my mindless TV watching project.

I finished the ribbing and bound off the bottom for my Something Red cardigan. I only have 3 skeins of the Shine Worsted left -- I am going to have to get more. I don't plan on making the sleeves as long as the pattern says, but I can't imagine I'll have enough for the collar.

My friend P. joined Ravelry, so now I have a friend there. Next: a gauge swatch for something from Fitted Knits.

Which side are you on?

2008-03-30T10:16:00.003-04:00

When you knit, are you engaging your left or right brain, or both? From what I can glean, it is a bit of both. You need your left brain to calculate gauge and stitch ratio, and your right brain to choose colors. It sounds like your right brain is the part that actually enjoys, and benefits from, knitting. Here's a quote from Sally Melville's book "The Knit Stitch, , courtesy of Knitty,
that sums it up:
"We are a left-brain dominant society . . . we need to get out of the dominant full-of-rules left brain and into the more innovative, solution-advancing right brain. And we get into the right brain by engaging in activities that are:

physically repetitive
intellectually undemanding
visually stimulating

This explains the wonderful place to which my mind goes when I'm knitting. "

I'm going to add a link from Ted Talks in which a brain scientist tells about her experience having a stroke(!) and how she was able to access her right brain almost exclusively during the stroke. Turns out it was a -- a -- an undefinable moment. Watch for yourself and see what I mean.
Since having a stroke is not exactly desirable for most people, we have to rely on activities like Hong Sau method of concentration and knitting to access that "wonderful place." Good luck!

52 Pick Up

2008-03-25T12:34:00.003-04:00

Today I tried a new kundalini kriya called "Let the liver live." In addition to requiring the practitioner to spend 4 whole minutes in wheel pose, the kriya also indicated that the student should sit down and get up 52 times, without using the hands. Let me tell you, it was HARD. In my teen years what we called a "backbend" or "limber" was a gateway move to more difficult gymnastics, such as front and back walkovers. What was once so easy is now almost impossible. I was able to hold the wheel for a few seconds, but not 4 minutes, no way, no how. Something to work towards, I guess. At least I was able to sit down and get up 52 times, yelling out the numbers until I was hoarse. Try it sometime. Now at least, I can sit and knit and know I did my workout for the day.

Big Log

2008-03-22T10:44:00.003-04:00

Here's my Mason Dixon log cabin so far. It's slowly growing. I will keep on until the yarn runs out.Of course, the colors do not correspond to any of the colors in my house, so this will probably end up being a "gift."

Ribbing back on track

2008-03-21T16:26:00.002-04:00

Here is the ripped and restarted ribbing on Something Red. I sat with the Vogue Knitting book on my lap, opened to the page on M1 instructions. Guess I was knitting into the back of the loop, not the front, thus the holes. It still looks squiggly but it's NOT WRONG! A few more inches and it's on to the sleeves. What fresh hell awaits there?

Welcome to my life, tattoo

2008-03-20T08:47:00.008-04:00

Here's a pic of a knitting tattoo someone posted on Knitters Review Forum.
While I admire it, I'm not sure I have earned the right to mark myself for life with knitting needles and yarn. I have always dreamed of having a tattoo of my all-time favorite musical misanthrope, pictured here in a tattoo adapted from the artwork on his second album. DH would not be pleased, however, if I went ahead and did this. "I don't want a tatooed woman," was his remark. Besides, I would be opening myself up to snide remarks about Diana Krall.

Shoulder season

2008-03-18T15:57:00.003-04:00

I hope I'm not too old of a hag to wear this sweater. I think I'll use Knit Picks Shine, either Sport or Worsted. I heard on the KnitPicks Podcast that new colors of Shine are forthcoming. I have used most of the "cool" colors on projects already, so I'm ready to see what's new. I'd also like to make this kiddie top (called Monica, from knitty.com) for DD with leftover Shine.

Back in the day, the word "shine" was a racial slur against African Americans, at least in my middle school. I am often filled with shame and regret when I think of how ignorant I was in my youth. However, today I found myself nodding in agreement with Obama today during his speech on race .
Thank goodness for growth and yes, change.
I promised my pal Tastey I would read her Master's thesis for her, but I haven't done it yet. I have plans for lots of schoolwork tomorrow, so it will fit into my plans for the day. I am still toying with the idea of a pedicure and (gasp) tanning salon visit. If I can just stay unsick for a while longer!

Shell Game

2008-03-18T12:02:00.003-04:00

OK, all that work, and now it's done. Couldn't wait for DH to take my pic, so here I am, reflected in my bedroom mirror. My finishing skills are still pretty poor. But it fits! So I guess I did something right.
Up next: a couple of free patterns .

Something Ripped

2008-03-16T19:53:00.002-04:00

I ripped out the ribbing, back to the k2p2. I was doing the M1's wrong. I'lldo them correctly this time.
The shell is complete -- but I effed up the pickingup of stitches around the neck and it looks a little sloppy. Picture coming soon. It actually looks nice on.