I’m home. But only for like five minutes. We walked in the door this morning at 7:30AM and I’m getting on a train to go to my sister’s at 4:30. Whoofuckinghoo. I can say that. It’s not Yom Kippur yet.
I am so tired.
I have some stuff to tell you, but I fear that by the time I actually get a chance to get back to blogging and reading blogs I won’t feel like telling you anymore. You know how that goes. But I will say that I SAW STARS while I was in Hollyweird. ACTUAL KNITTING CELEBRITIES. I spent a fantastic day with Julia and MJ at the Getty Center. When I met back up with Georgie he asked about the museum. I told him I never went inside. He asked, did you knit a lot? I told him I never once picked up my needles. Did you go to the knitting stores you talked about? No. What did you do all afternoon? We talked. And talked. And took some goofy and also terrific pictures of me in my shawl and some flowers and then we talked some more. It was the best way to pass an afternoon! Thank you girls!! Thank you for braving LA traffic to spend some time with me!
The one thing I thought a lot about while I was on vacation was Grumperina‘s Ten Knitterly Things About Me That You Might Not Have Known Meme. I wanted to do it the whole time I was away, but I never had a chance, so I’m doing it now.
1. When I find a pair of shoes I like, I buy them in a lot of colors. Same goes with shirts, pants, underwear. I figure why mess with a good thing and who knows when they’ll stop making it (because they always do, trust me – anything good goes away.) I am the SAME WAY with my knitting. If I like a pattern, say, I don’t know, a sock pattern. Or maybe a sock yarn, I will buy it and knit it MANY TIMES OVER. And I see NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. I find great comfort in familiarity. And I always stop when I get bored. I like to exhaust things.
2. I am a very selfish knitter. You will RARELY see me knit for a charity, a square blanket, a loved one. I’ve made G one vest and one scarf (like the ONLY scarf I’ve ever made) and thankfully he doesn’t like knits because I don’t think I’ll be knitting him anything else anytime soon. I don’t even knit super cute kid stuff for the super cute kids in my life. My poor baby nephew has NOTHING handknit from me. The other kids have hats and a sweater each and blankets. The baby? Nothing. I’m very guilty about this but I still don’t do anything about it. That’s how selfish I am.
3. I have VERY specific preferences when it comes to yarn. Preferences that seem to get worse as my knitting goes on. I hate all hairy yarns: Mohair, Angora, Alpaca – anything that gets a halo. Hate it. I like sproingy very very soft yarns and refuse to knit with anything else. This limits me I know, but you know what? I do just fine with my choices. Basically I want to be able to wear it next to my skin and not know I have it on.
4. I only knit with Addi circular needles. EXCLUSIVELY. I really don’t even own any other needles and straight needles make me almost as crazy as DPNs. DPNs are the worst TO ME. Although I will admit to using Susan Bates DPNs when I move socks around on my two circulars. And they’re good for picking up gussets. I will admit that.
5. Knitting for me has a lot to do with color. Moreso than texture or design – which is why I think I like socks so much. A stockinette sock is all about the yarn. Same thing with a garter stitch log cabin. Although I love cables and the way they look and some knit/purl designs and even mosaics or fair isles, the fiddliness of the knitting turns me off a bit.
6. That said, I’m dying to knit a really complicated sweater. I think I’m going to do the Am Kamin finally. I thought about it A LOT while I was away. A lot. A lot a lot. My next project will definitely be a sweater and while I may finish the Barbara Walker neck down sweater, a very complicated (or at least it will look that way) cardigan will be in the works for me. I hope so, at least.
7. I love a purl back row. LOVE IT. I have no problems purling. I actually think I’m a faster purler, sometimes, than a knitter. BUT I hate ribbing with a passion. And I will avoid purling in socks at all costs. I’m not sure why this is – probably because you’re not working with a lot of stitches so there’s a lot of switching back and forth and what I really like is a purl back row. Just that nice long line of get in the rhythm purl. Goodness.
8. I wish I was better at figuring things out. Like finding a pattern I really like but knowing it’s not quite right for my body shape and being able to manipulate things so that it turns out to be what I really want that looks good and feels good and is perfect. I’m sure this is not beyond the scope of my abilities – I don’t doubt that I could figure these things out – but it seems like for some knitters this is intuitive and for me it’s not intuitive and when I think about the work involved I get really tired and want to pick up a sock.
9. I would really love to be able to design a lace shawl. This is something I’ve never spoken about before and I’ve even thought about collaborating with someone on it – but I’m afraid there’s a lot of math involved to get things all perfect and again – there’s that tired thing. Look at that! I just knit another sock!
10. I am a perfectionist. I will rip things back to get them right. Not saying it’s for everyone, and probably no one would notice a mistake, but I would know it’s there, and that’s just not gonna work for me. If I can fix it, I will.
Oh my god – there’s so much I owe you guys! Haiku winners! Updates to the Rhinebeck Blogger Meet Up List! Pictures of Seraphim! (Julia – the brief look I got at the pictures is GREAT!) Hopefully the meme and a couple Pretty Woman Pictures will suffice until I’m back to blogging all regular like. I miss you all!
aw isn’t the Getty the best museum not to go into? I actually don’t remember anything about their collections, just the garden (especially the cactus garden) and the views and the terrace. i miss los angeles.
OMG! I’ve missed you but the shawls looks awsome (from here). I don’t think any of your knitting secrets were secrets!
Last time I was at the Getty I didn’t go inside either. The gardens and views are so wonderful the art inside can’t hold a candle to them.
The shaw is beautiful! Am Kamin is still on must get to list, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Can you sign me up for the meet-up please if we have to be officially signed up and all.
Have a relaxing Yom Kippur.
thank God your home. well, sort of home.
#2. Thank you for admitting this publicly. I admire all the wonderfully generous people who knit for charity, and knit for family and friends. In my next incarnation perhaps I can be one of them. But right now I relate completely with the selfish factor. It’s good to know I’m not alone. Thanks Cara.
You look adorable in those picture! I love the way the shawl matches your baseball cap.
I understand that there was an oversight when the Getty Museum was built and the only restroom is at the entrance before you go in. It could be another place, but I’m pretty sure it’s the Getty. Good enough reason to stay outside I think!
And that shawl is just lovely. Goes great with the shoes too!
great list, cara. i feel you on being a more intuitive knitter. i too hope you have a fabulous yom kippur.
What are you, my twin?! Numbers 2,6,7,8,9 and 10 are so me. I’m trying to change 2, and I went to the yarn store way, way up in Centre Harbor to get me some Naturespun Worsted so I could cast on for my Am Kamin tonight and they didn’t have enough of the colors I wanted so I have to wait to have it shipped. An effing good knitting in the pouring rain afternoon wasted.
I’ve been meaning to chat with you about a couple of things, but have been pretty busy and so have you obviously. Talk to you soon!
Thanks for answering, Cara! I share your hatred of hairy yarns (among other things). I look forward to photos of your shawl.
I saw two Am Kamin sweaters this weekend — TWO! Absolutely gorgeous. Breathtaking really.
And I had two classes with Fiona Ellis yesterday. Two words: Love her. Oh, two more: Short Rows.
Oh, two more: Love you.
Too. ; )
love love love the pretty woman shots!
You’re fab.
Enjoyed reading your meme. Re: #9-It would be interesting to see what motifs you would use in a shawl.
I really liked this meme – I still may do it, but I have another to do first. I am so glad the pictures turned out. I know I’m being difficult, but you have to give me a preview of ALL OF THEM (EVERY SINGLE ONE!) really, really soon or I am going to go nuts. I think the real star of our meeting was your shawl. I cannot believe how well that handspun knit up. Insane!
I just want to know if you fast tomorrow?
I love you on Rodeo Drive.
Your shawl is gorgeous!! I want to see more detail. I’ll wait patiently until you get home. Oh and I enjoyed reading about your knitting meme. I also want to design a shawl-I have my idea in my head but have yet to knit a stitch. You first.
Love the meme and the shawl, Cara. And I totally agree with you about yarns with halo. Yuck.
I’m with you on #1, although on clothes, not shoes. It’s a combination of hard-to-fit and hate-to-shop.
Your shawl looks lovely, especially the way it matches your ball cap 😉 Closeups, please, when you have time.
I’m working on being #2 that would knitting life so easy.
I’ve missed you, too! I haven’t been able to get to your site for ever because our filter was blocking it. (You’re porn!) But I just got the override so I’m baaaaaack!
I would so encourage you to pursue #9. The creativity you show in your other pursuits would be wonderful in a lace shawl.
I’ve taken a class on designing lace. It’s easier than you think. I’d gladly give you some pointers if you wanted to give it a try.
LOVE that shawl – so special that you spun the yarn – just gorgeous!! looking forward to closeups!
Ooh, I really want to see you make Am Kamin. You introduced me to the pattern, after all. And it’s such a gorgeous sweater!
Beautiful shawl! Can’t wait to meet you and everybody at the Rhinebeck meet up! Hope you had a good Yom Kippur.
Welcome home and have a safe trip on the next round. I’m glad you had a great time in sunny CA. Thanks for the meme answers – very enlightening (in a good way, of course).
Good meme answers.
Pretty shawl. You like the purl row, I never would have guessed that one.
I cannot believe you knit that with your handspun. I mean, I CAN, cause I saw your handspun. But I can’t, at the same time. 😉 😉
So pretty. Get some rest, you!
Gotta love the shawl.
I am using an Addi 0 to knit sock(s) (3 months later, there’s still only one) right now. It’s too stiff and not pointy enough. Have you ever done a k2tog or ssk with an Addi? Does it not drive you nuts? Well, maybe not. Chacune a son gout. (I love alpaca, too.)
I purl back faster too. 🙂 Can’t wait to see a close up of the shawl.
You can make yourself feel better by knitting for the Pretty in Pink Contest! Eh? Eh?
http://needles.guzzlingcakes.com/2006/09/19/pick-up-sticks-pretty-in-pink-contest/
oooh oooh add me to the meetup list I have been looking for the site.!!
Cool!