Meet-UP!
Saturday, October 15th, 1:00 PM
Outside Building E
(Which conveniently houses the Wine Tasting, the American Cheese Society,
Specialty Foods and an ATM. YaHOO!)
Leave me your name in the comments and I’ll add you to the list in the sidebar! Tell your friends!
so I’m not going to run today. I hurt my lower back the other day anyway so it’s nice to give it an extra day of rest. I’m doing well with it though – halfway through week 4 and enjoying it still. The colder it gets the better I like it! I love to run in the cold! We’re supposed to be getting some pretty dramatic storms today – so I’m not feeling as guilty as I might.
Speaking of guilt (seems to be the topic of the day, no?) I’m feeling pretty badly about the fact that I don’t think I’m going to Philly for Rosh Hashanah. My mom will probably be upset, but last night my class gave me 75+ pages to read for next Wednesday and I have two photography jobs to process from last weekend and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. Going to Philly means I don’t get anything done for 48 hours. I don’t feel like I can lose that time. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Thanks for all the sleeve advice yesterday. I cast on the 42 stitches and I think I’m going to increase up to 94 stitches. The distance between where I bound off for the modified sleeve and shoulder is about 10.5 inches, so that should work out just fine. I’ve got to learn me some more info about this designing stuff. I want to be Colleen when I grow up, and the process is a bit slow for me. It was funny – I had the dreaded Ann Budd book open on the bed and G came in – he took one look at and started to laugh – “Look at all that math!” he said. It’s really pathetic when I’m constantly calling out to him – what’s 27 minus 9? Or what’s 24 and 42? You know, really pathetic math.
[This is turning into one of those random posts. Hey Cate – can I have random Thursdays?]
Still no socks from my sock pal. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining, because really I’m not, but dear sweet sock pal, can you send me an email or something to tell me that the socks are coming – or an ETA maybe? Or if they’re NOT coming, tell me that too! I just want to know. Thank you. When I was at Kay’s the other night we were talking about the whole swap/secret pal thing. I sort of look at it like lending money – you have to be able to give full well knowing you’re probably not going to get anything back. My SP4 experience was sort of like that. (I got fine, just no real connection – on any end.) The Better Pal thing is getting along really well. I’m very much enjoying sending gifts to my BP. We’re pretty different and I’m loving thinking out of my box to spoil her. And MY BP, well, even though I don’t know who she is (YET- I’m STILL not looking!) I feel like we’ve really connected! Which is all I really wanted anyway.
Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck! It’s all you knitters talk about these days! 😉 I AM excited – there are lots of people I want to meet and see. And THE BIG CHEESE IS COMING! (See Ann, I have cute names for Vicki too!) Should we do another meet-up? Was the last one successful? Or should we just put a list of everyone coming? Did the non-attendees think it was mean to do that? Let me know. I’m game if you’re game. I gotta say though, I’m nervous about Rhinebeck too. Mainly because I’ve still got the anxiety thing going and anything out of my comfort zone is making me crazy these days. But I will be there. Xanax in hand. 😉 (You knitters are crazy – you know that, right?) And one more confession – I don’t feel like buying any yarn. There. I said it. I may just stand in that t-shirt line for four hours because I’m not even going to the Brooks Farm tent. I’ve got all this yarn from Maryland that I haven’t even touched. There are a few vendors I’ll be seeking out, but otherwise, I’m there for my peeps. And the lamb of course.
I leave you with this hysterical flash cartoon my brother emailed me yesterday. I guarantee the Tribe will be rolling in the aisles over this one – and even a few of the honorary members.
Ah the joys of size 8 needles and stockinette:
Behold I give you the finished back and fronts of the Almost Everyday Cardigan. I’ve got to say, I’m really enjoying photographing this sweater. Today’s pictures, I think, accurately capture the color of the sweater, but oh my goodness is the carpet off. My carpet is brown. Not a bad crappy kind of brown, but a nice brown that can sometimes seem a little purple and hides stains fairly well. A good carpet, rendered some weird ashy gray by the camera. Funny how that works, huh?
Anyway, back to the cardi. The back and fronts, as I said, are finished and I pseudo tried it on last night by lacing some circulars through the shoulders and I think the fit is going to be spot on! In length and everything. (I’m saying I think because when it doesn’t work out I can rescind.) One side of the crewneck cast off is a little weird, maybe because I bound off knitwise on the purl side? I may rip that and redo it, but otherwise, it’s all good.
I have a couple questions for all you intrepid designers out there (Colleen, listen up!) I’ve been using Ann Budd’s templates as a guide for my sweater. For instance, she has it that you should cast on 80 st for the back if you’re getting 4 st/in and 100 st if you’re getting 5 st/in – I cast on 94 st. And 44 (+1 selvedge for picking up the button bands – how smart am I!?) for each front. It’s time for the sleeves. Ann says 40 for 4 st/in and 50 for 5 st/in increasing up to 80 and 100. She has this 40 st or 50 st start for the 40″, 42″ and 44″ sizes. (I’m making somewhere between the 40″ and 42″) They all increase up to the original cast on number for the back. So – my question (if you’re still following along because I’m so convoluted at explaining these knitty things) is should I cast on 42 st (so that my ribs match up) and increase up to 94 stitches, which is what I cast on for the back? I’m not really sure what the other options here would be – this seems to make the most sense. Thanks for any and all input on this.
Also, I should block it before I connect the shoulders, right? I’m thinking yes since it’s so stockinette rolly.
I’d love to cast on both sleeves at the same time and really crank this sucker out, but I’m afraid it would become a tangled mess because of the alternating skein plan. It’s worked so well with the body that I’d hate to stop now, and I think it would take twice the time to do two sleeves with four skeins since I’d be untangling more than I’d be knitting. Any input here would be great as well.
So, so far so good. I’m happy, today that is, with my knits.
Sorry if I offended anyone with the Guilt-Along KAL. You do know it’s all in jest, yes? I’m not one for guilt in my life. Goes back to when I was an existentialist. I try VERY HARD to make choices in my life that leave little room for regret and guilt. Lately I’ve had a taste of what guilt can feel like and it’s not very nice. It’s not pleasant when it has to do with the big things in your life, and there’s certainly no room for it in my fun time, i.e. knitting. I’m still encouraging you all to play along, tongues planted firmly in your cheeks!
PS – Like my new button?
I found the button via Creazativity. Thanks!
‘Tis the season to feel guilty. And nothing brings that home more than going to an Afghan A-Long and realizing there are people out there who ONLY KNIT FOR CHARITY. I’m sitting there and really feeling sheepish what with my beautiful shawls and socks and sweaters – ALL FOR ME! Confession time: Guess what I sent to the Dulaan Project? Did I send any number of handknit hats, or mittens, or scarves or anything? NOT EVEN ONE SIMPLE HAT! I sent a box of hats and gloves and scarves that were all store bought and two winter coats that we don’t wear anymore. I know, I know, I still sent something, but I DIDN’T KNIT IT MYSELF! My knitting time is for me. Let’s dissect that sentence: my knitting TIME is for me. Granted I may have more knitting time than most. I don’t have any kids. I work for myself and at home (translation: if I feel like spending the day knitting, the only person who suffers is me. And maybe G, but he likes when I do that. Really! He does!) But that time is my own and I don’t want to share it. That’s not to say that I don’t knit for others – I do! But I knit for those close to me – so that I can still visit with my knits. (Notice the possessive pronoun there. MY knits. Even when I let them go they’re still mine.) You need money? I’ll give you the shirt off my back. Literally. But my knitting time – find your own! 😉
So, of course, it was a particularly sobering experience sitting in Kay‘s lovely living room, knitting to help others. Strangers. I may never see that afghan again (not counting the 365 more days it will take to complete this incredible work of art.) As I was picking up stitches and carefully knitting along the borders, I couldn’t help but think about the woman who spent countless hours knitting these squares. What made her choose this color combination? How did she decide on their names? What was she thinking while she was knitting? Was she wondering about the person who would be cuddling under the blanket? Someone sick? Someone young? Someone in love? The possibilities are endless, of course, but what did she choose to focus on? I tried my best to do her perfect squares justice, in heart and hand.
It was a very fun night – I met new people, hung with old friends and had a blast. Can’t wait to go back for some more charity work. (Details over at Kay’s. I didn’t take any pictures. NONE! I was too busy concentrating on my work.)
BUT, that doesn’t mean the guilt is over. When we were talking last night we all realized there are projects promised to SOMEONE ELSE that sit in the corner gathering dust. Either we haven’t finished it, can’t find the pattern, the yarn’s not right – EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES! NO LONGER! Introducing, the newest KAL to hit blogland:
Now, this isn’t going to be one of those fancy KALs where I set up a separate blog and we all help each other feel guilty about not finishing our projects – the guilt is all your own! But leave a comment here and pledge that you’re going to FINISH THAT FREAKING THING! Take the button, put it on your blog, and remind yourself and all the others out there that you DIDN’T KNIT WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD! Maybe you told your mom, dad, kid, cousin, sister, brother, grandmom, grandpa, niece, nephew, best friend, neighbor, sister-in-law’s cousin’s friend’s son’s bus driver’s mail carrier’s dog that you’d knit them something and just never have. HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO ATONE! DO IT NOW! YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN!
Okay. To start the ball rolling, I’m going to pledge to knit my father that sweater I found in Anthropologie. I’ve taken the time to find the cables. Hell, he BOUGHT the yarn himself a year ago. (Well, I bought it, but he paid for it.) And I need a fun cably project anyway. So DAD, this GUILT-ALONG’s for YOU! I’m going to try to chart the cables in the next couple of weeks and cast on for a swatch. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.
Who wants to guilt along with me?
When I wasn’t taking pictures this weekend (birthday party on Saturday, portraits on Sunday), I was knitting.
I cast on Friday and split for the armholes last night. I’ve already got about 5.5 inches on the back, so I’ll try to finish that today. Maybe. Because of the way the pattern (Ann Budd) is written, I won’t be doing short rows for the shoulders (thanks Margene!) but instead will be keeping the stitches live and doing a three needle bind off. Still an new skill for me. Basically there is no need for short rows, because it’s all just straight across. Modified drop-shoulder, remember? I’m still loving the yarn and the fabric it’s creating. Red is SO HARD to photograph – it’s so contrasty, and this yarn is no exception. When I knit at night I’m so surprised at how RED it looks because during the day it’s filled with purples and pinks. They pretty much disappear as soon as the sun goes down. It’s quite interesting. There are a couple of spots where the yarn gets really thin and overtwisted and pink and I feel like they stand out too much so I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a duplicate stitch over them, but I’m going to NOT think about it until it’s finished. The more knitting I do, the spot gets smaller and smaller and I think it will end up being on the side, so I may not see it so much. The fit will be perfect (BITE YOUR TONGUE) – it’s looking a bit loose and oversized and exactly what I wanted. The only place I’m a bit concerned about is length, but I’m not panicking yet.
Want to know one of the things I absolutely LOVE about knitblogs? All the new patterns you find! Today I was reading Grumperina, a fairly newish blog for me, and she had some links to Oat Couture baby blankets. I’ve never heard of Oat Couture, but the patterns are beautiful and challenging. There was a time when all I knit were baby blankets. I immediately ordered all of their blanket patterns. I think they’re wonderful and you know, you can never have enough short rows that make you want to kill someone in your life. Thanks Grumperina!
Tonight I’m off to an Afghan Sew-Up! My first one! I’m a little nervous though, because I’m not sure I know how to sew up an Afghan, but my intrepid hostess assures me I will have no problems. I might bring a camera. Not THE camera, but a camera. I’m a little pictured out right now.
Oh and sock pal! I’m waiting anxiously!
For Sandy of the Skies:
2005-09-22T18:42:26-0:500
2005-09-22T19:13:27-0:500
All photos were taken from my balcony, looking west, out to the Hackensack River. I used the exif data to confirm picture times, but I think the clock in my camera is off. I’d like to think it’s fast by about 30 seconds. 😉
And since we’re showing off sky pictures, I thought I’d pull out some of my favorites over the years. As I mentioned, my apartment faces due west and we get some of THE MOST SPECTACULAR sunsets you’ve ever seen. I think it’s because of all the chemicals in the air. You know, New Joisey.
That last one is one of my absolute favorites. The city in the distance is Newark and the way the clouds and sun were it literally looked like the city was on fire. Amazing.
Okay. Now onto business. So I made a swatch. And guess what?
*The title of this post is brought to you by a google search where I came up fifth on the first page. I thought it sounded poetic and oh so Bruce. I love kissing in cars too. G and I did a lot of that early on. Not so much anymore, but sometimes.
That’s the time Autumn arrives. My plan is to step outside on my balcony and take a picture of the sky at precisely 6:23 PM. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, I don’t want to miss it. But, Sandy, if I win the Gold Hill, I’d like you to send it to Norma. She definitely needs it more than me.
Thanks, all, for stating the obvious. I started the AEC swatch yesterday. Bastards. The whole point of screwing up the first sleeve was so I wouldn’t have to make a swatch! Luckily, the kids (all five of them – the joy of families traveling together!) and their exhausted parents stopped by yesterday on their way home from vacation and I didn’t have time to put the ball winder or swift away before they got there. So we frogged the errant sleeve together. Everyone got to turn the handle for the count of five. Max was pretty funny. Every time they started to play with a new toy he would annouce that he got to go first because I was HIS Aunt Cara.
When they left I cast on for the swatch. Ugh. Luckily I had class to occupy my mind last night because otherwise I’d be really bored and kind of pissed. So far I’m getting about 4.5 stitches to the inch. Which is pretty much what I’ve been getting on the AEC body. Vicki asked me yesterday what my gut said and my gut says rip it out and start over with an extra ten stitches. But my gut likes to knit larger than I am, you know, body issues and all, so I’m trying to resist. I’m thinking, maybe, it will be okay after all. We’ll see when I’m done with the swatch.
Class was good! They laughed! Which is a great improvement over the last class. They seem enthusiastic and asked questions – it’s so disconcerting when they sit there and stare at you. I feel like such a freak. I was mildly panicked at the start, but that quickly went away. Self-depricating humor is always a life saver.
I’ve got these guys here working on the tile wall in one of the showers and already I’m pissed. First they’re an hour late. Second, well, second, I don’t like people in my house. Especially when I’m going to have to leave them here by themselves.
Oh – I almost forgot! My sock pal, Leslie, got her socks yesterday! She sent me the sweetest email about them. She’s a reader so she watched me knit her socks! How much fun! And today is her birthday, so happy birthday Leslie! I’m so glad you love them. It was a real pleasure to knit for you. (Leslie doesn’t have a blog, but I’ve invited her to send in a picture with her new socks. C’mon Leslie! I want to see you IN the socks!)
Still no socks for me. Maybe today?
Happy Fall!
STUPID! Stupid! Stupid! NEVER, never talk about your knitting and how good it’s going. How much you LOVE it. How much you can’t wait to knit and fondle and oogle your wonderful knits. It’s a surefire way to FUCK everything up. Cockiness will get you NO WHERE.
So, I’m knitting along fabulously on my Almost Everyday Cardigan, sailing really, stopping every few rows to marvel at the wonder that is color and Manos and stockinette stitch. Every so often I take out the tape measure to see how much progress I’m making. I’m doing good. I’m thinking I will have the body finished TONIGHT! Only a few more inches to go.
And then I decide to check my gauge. M-I-S-T-A-K-E In my defence, Manos is hard to gauge because the yarn is so uneven. You’ll get this really huge felted parts and these really small dental flossy parts and most of the time though you do get even stitches. When I measured the dreaded swatch/sleeve somehow I tried to convice myself I was getting about 4-4.5 stitches per inch on size 8s. Now I’m getting 4.5-5 stitches per inch on size 8s. I think the damn thing’s too small.
I took it off the needles and laid it out to try and measure it. I’m doing both the fronts and the back remember so I thought if I laid it all out and everything I could just measure across the whole thing and get what I needed. Inconclusive. Sometimes I got like 38″ and sometimes I seemed to get 42″ (which is more like I want.) Was I stretching it out? Then I tried to try it on, wrapping it around my body. It’s so hard to tell. How much do you allow for the buttonhole bands? The stockinette part seems like it will fit but the ribbing is pretty tight and I wanted this sweater to be loose – everyday loose – like a sweatshirt that you throw on and run out and just love. I’m thinking it WON’T be that loose. Can you say devastated?
And to top it off I wake up this morning with a dire warning from Johanna in the comments: “Don’t end up with a manos sweater like Moth Heaven Julia! We want you to love your knits!” What does THAT mean?!?!
Oy. When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut?
I’m not sure what to do. Should I keep going and see what happens once I split for the shoulders and fronts? Should I cast on for a different body and go up about ten stitches in all areas? I do love the Ann Budd book for all the different sizes and shapes and such. I know it’s fast – it only took me a couple days to do most of the body – but I want this for Rhinebeck! Even if Cassie says sweaters are so 20th Century! I’m a modern girl!
Pride goeth before a fall. If I EVER start to brag about my knitting again, please cover my mouth with your hand! Even if I start to gnaw at your fingers – DON’T LET ME SAY IT!
Class starts tonight. I’m nervous, as always. Wish me luck.
Sharon Olds sends a letter to Mrs. Bush.
I attended NYU’s Creative Writing Program where Sharon Olds teaches poetry. While I never took her class, I did meet her and hear her read. Her poems are personal and powerful. I’ve also been to readings by Goldwater Students (the program she refers to in the letter) and each time the readings were beyond profound, awesomely inspiring and exceedingly entertaining.
I know I’m going to be pissing off some kind of knitting god out there, but can I just say how much I’m enjoying my knitting? Really – I can’t stop! How nice is that?!
My Almost Everyday Cardigan is moving along nicely and the yarn is just GORGEOUS. Every now and again I just stop to love it. I did have a moment of panic last night that the first skein I used has much more pink in it than the second skein and even though I wasn’t going to do it, I ended up joining another skein so I could switch off every other row. The Manos is hard – there are no dyelots on the yarn – but I didn’t buy it all in the same place at the same time. I tried to match it best I could, so hopefully this will help things out. The variegation is so, so pretty. I just want to knit on it ALL DAY LONG. There’s nothing wrong with that right?
I’m thinking about lace again. Who a thunk I’d like it so much? Well, some people, maybe, but I didn’t think it! Same with socks. I’m just silly sometimes. I know I mentioned that I have this pattern I found in a BW treasury that I really, really love and I’m thinking of making into a shawl. I bought the Martha Waterman book, Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls, which is supposed to help you design your own, but I don’t know. Allowing for all those increases and decreases and edgings, I was feeling a little sick and discouraged. This might take me YEARS to figure out. Probably what I should do is swatch the damn lace and see if I even like it knitted up. In the meantime, my eyes are out there for another lace pattern. I might go with one of those Robert Powell patterns I bought and use the other Twinkletoes yarn I have in stash. The bottom line is I’m really liking the lace. And all my other knitting.
Today I’m going to do some picture work – maybe clean up a little bit – and work on AEC. Also, I need to cast on for the second sunshine sock. I start teaching again tomorrow and I’m always REALLY anxious before class. I need some easy knitting to get me through and help me relax. A sock is perfect.
New GOAL!
Here’s my new goal – the Almost Everyday Cardigan will be DONE for Rhinebeck. I initially thought maybe Short Rows, but I’m not feeling it there – this project will have taken so long that I don’t need to rush it. It’s more important that it gets done and gets done right. (Yeah. It’s called procrastination.) Back to Rhinebeck. I’m planning on doing the same trip I did with Maryland. Go up Friday and stay through Saturday. Maybe dinner Saturday night since it’s not THAT far away from me? So thems the details for all who have been asking. Rhinebeck will (sort of) coincide with my blogiversary. October 26th will be a year. So I’m thinking a super cool Rhinebeck inspired contest will be in order when I get back. I know you’ll all stick around for that. 😉
Last but not least, our prom picture from Hearst Castle. Isn’t G so handsome?!
