Today, I learned how to knit left-handed.
I've been teaching knitting lessons for a few months, now. I've had no fewer than 3 people ask for directions on how to knit left-handed (not holding yarn in left hand, which is knitting continental, but actually knitting from left to right instead of right to left) and now, finally, I've given in and learned to do it myself. I'm sick of being stumped by questions. And though I'm still figuring out a few of the kinks, I did it all by myself.
How will this help beyond helping other people to knit? If I can get proficient at it, I'll be able to replace purling entirely with simply knitting back the other direction. Pretty cool, if I do say so!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ready, Set, Knit
It's amazing how children take up every bit of time without leaving a whole lot to say about it. My little boy is almost a year old. In the past weeks, he's learned to stand free of objects, cruises along the couch and chair and tables, will take a step (but only one step) before falling down to his knees. He's a truly amazing little man, and despite all the work involved, it's worth it to be staying home with him.
And I've been knitting, but not as much. Here's what's in the pipeline, though:
Clara is a shawlette worked from the center out, but can easily be sized up for a full shawl. She is named for the daughter I lost in March 2009 at 11 weeks gestation. Grief is a very long and personal process, and the design of this shawl mirrors the path of my recovery: the center is a soothing, repetitive garter stitch - the only thing I could bring myself to knit after losing her - while the border becomes more complex, as my grief changed over time. The shawl is designed in honor of the ladies of Ravelry’s Healing After Pregnancy Loss group: the strongest women I’ve ever met, and whom I have the great honor of calling friends.
And I've been knitting, but not as much. Here's what's in the pipeline, though:
Clara is a shawlette worked from the center out, but can easily be sized up for a full shawl. She is named for the daughter I lost in March 2009 at 11 weeks gestation. Grief is a very long and personal process, and the design of this shawl mirrors the path of my recovery: the center is a soothing, repetitive garter stitch - the only thing I could bring myself to knit after losing her - while the border becomes more complex, as my grief changed over time. The shawl is designed in honor of the ladies of Ravelry’s Healing After Pregnancy Loss group: the strongest women I’ve ever met, and whom I have the great honor of calling friends.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Joy
Today, I picked up my new Ashford Joy spinning wheel. It's a double treadle, portable wheel, and I am in love. She's small, she's quiet, and (perhaps best of all at the moment) she's babyproof, thanks to her traveling case.
Sadly, this means I'll be parting with my dear Kromski Minstrel. I haven't found a buyer, yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to - the Kromski is a wonderful wheel, just not babyproof enough for my home. I'll miss Magda, but I'm thrilled to welcome Joy.
My inaugural spin is an Abby Franquemont batt in Shiraz, a deep purpley burgundy, merino/tencel mix. It's delightful to spin, as any Abby batt always proves to be, and I'm easily managing an even long-draw on Joy's smallest ratio. Joy's a fast one (probably faster than Magda, as I don't have the lace flyer for the Kromski) and is proving to be just what the doctor ordered.
Sadly, this means I'll be parting with my dear Kromski Minstrel. I haven't found a buyer, yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to - the Kromski is a wonderful wheel, just not babyproof enough for my home. I'll miss Magda, but I'm thrilled to welcome Joy.
My inaugural spin is an Abby Franquemont batt in Shiraz, a deep purpley burgundy, merino/tencel mix. It's delightful to spin, as any Abby batt always proves to be, and I'm easily managing an even long-draw on Joy's smallest ratio. Joy's a fast one (probably faster than Magda, as I don't have the lace flyer for the Kromski) and is proving to be just what the doctor ordered.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Why so many question marks, eh?
Dear Person on a forum I read,
Why so many question marks and exclamation points? We understand your point with just one of each. Why end each question with three??? Or even four???? And omg four exclamation points!!!! Adding so many detracts from the points you're attempting to make. I won't even touch on the point of your poor spelling or very odd emoticon faces. What the heck does "=S" mean, anyway? It's not a smiley. It's not a frown. I am befuddled.
Learn how to type.
No love,
A former editor
Why so many question marks and exclamation points? We understand your point with just one of each. Why end each question with three??? Or even four???? And omg four exclamation points!!!! Adding so many detracts from the points you're attempting to make. I won't even touch on the point of your poor spelling or very odd emoticon faces. What the heck does "=S" mean, anyway? It's not a smiley. It's not a frown. I am befuddled.
Learn how to type.
No love,
A former editor
Friday, January 7, 2011
2010 In Review
2010 was pretty good to me. A significant improvement over 2009, which can still bite me in the rear.
2010 FAVORITES IN REVIEW:
BOOK: This is going to embarrass me beyond belief, but Abigail Renold's "The Last Man on Earth." It's a Jane Austen sequel. I'm a tad obsessed with them at the moment. I happened to finish the whole book in one day.
PLACE VISITED: Asheville, NC with my hubby and son
MEAL COOKED: It might be silly, but I made one kickass meatloaf this year! I've been trying to improve my cooking. Meatloaf is easy, but GOOD meatloaf can be difficult.
MEAL EATEN: At Bamian in Arlington, VA. Hubby and I used to live there, and went back to our favorite restaurants when we were up for a meeting. I really, really like this restaurant.
MOVIE: Harry Potter 7a.
INFORMATION LEARNED: Babies fart. A LOT.
ITEM BOUGHT: BFL/silk from Maryland Sheep and Wool. OMG soft. I also succeeded in my first spinningwheel laceweight using it.
MOMENT: My son's birth. Yes, it's cheesy. It's still true.
2010 FAVORITES IN REVIEW:
BOOK: This is going to embarrass me beyond belief, but Abigail Renold's "The Last Man on Earth." It's a Jane Austen sequel. I'm a tad obsessed with them at the moment. I happened to finish the whole book in one day.
PLACE VISITED: Asheville, NC with my hubby and son
MEAL COOKED: It might be silly, but I made one kickass meatloaf this year! I've been trying to improve my cooking. Meatloaf is easy, but GOOD meatloaf can be difficult.
MEAL EATEN: At Bamian in Arlington, VA. Hubby and I used to live there, and went back to our favorite restaurants when we were up for a meeting. I really, really like this restaurant.
MOVIE: Harry Potter 7a.
INFORMATION LEARNED: Babies fart. A LOT.
ITEM BOUGHT: BFL/silk from Maryland Sheep and Wool. OMG soft. I also succeeded in my first spinningwheel laceweight using it.
MOMENT: My son's birth. Yes, it's cheesy. It's still true.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Out of thread
How does it always seem to happen that I run out of something just as I'm about to finish? Fate, I suppose. This time, it's thread. Plain boring brown thread. I thought my house was stocked to the gills with brown thread. But no. Three seams from finishing my Mother in Law's Christmas gift, the spool ran dry.
And there are no more spools.
Thankfully, I pressed myself to try to finish ahead of time, so I have several days to make a run to pick up some more - but I really wanted to be done tonight! Oh well. Off to video games, instead.
And there are no more spools.
Thankfully, I pressed myself to try to finish ahead of time, so I have several days to make a run to pick up some more - but I really wanted to be done tonight! Oh well. Off to video games, instead.
Monday, December 13, 2010
NaNoSpinMo results
I didn't make my goal. Ended up spinning about 10 oz. of fiber out of the 16 oz I hoped for. I got distracted by getting my patterns up and running, but that's fine with me. I ended up with some gorgeous yarn, and I can't wait to knit with it.
The pink is the Miss Babs, the brown multi is Susan's Spinning Bunny, and the orange is fiber fest fiber which is sadly missing its tag. Overall: success!
The pink is the Miss Babs, the brown multi is Susan's Spinning Bunny, and the orange is fiber fest fiber which is sadly missing its tag. Overall: success!
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