tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213974832024-03-13T12:00:04.551-05:00Samurai KnitterJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.comBlogger1900125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-76616187723978189352018-07-20T13:46:00.000-05:002018-07-20T13:48:57.775-05:00Moss AgateOne of my favorite not-precious gemstones is in the news! The Obamas gave Queen Elizabeth a brooch made out of this stuff, and she wore it to do meet-and-greets on the day That President arrived in the UK to play golf and shake hands.<br />
<br />
Pictures of the brooch are absolutely terrible. And that's too bad, because moss agate is pretty.<br />
<br />
Agate, for you not-rock people, is a term that means "some kinda colored quartz that is distinctive enough I can give it a specific name and charge more for it". Moss agate looks like there's stuff growing in it. Dendritic agate is moss agate that looks like trees. Crazy Lace, Plume, Iris, there are dozens. It's all plain old quartz, with some kind of mineral added for color, and then crystallized in different ways. Some of the weirder colors are rare, but quartz itself is all over the place. (Sort of like you find beach glass everywhere, but not red. Oh - and a lot of that beach glass is quartz. So is the sand.)<br />
<br />
It so happens moss agate is one of my favorites, so I wandered through House O Samurai and picked up some likely bits and went out to take some photos on the back porch. (New people: <a href="http://samuraiknitter.blogspot.com/2011/11/vikings-and-navigation-and-rocks.html">This is known to happen.</a> Rocks are cool.)<br />
<br />
Here you are. Moss agate.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ_mUitzKXI/W1IqNGZ6bxI/AAAAAAAAR-c/JopU_xAsI4M2fn4w91E_HwsXXvUT-RiQgCLcBGAs/s1600/moss%2Bagate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ_mUitzKXI/W1IqNGZ6bxI/AAAAAAAAR-c/JopU_xAsI4M2fn4w91E_HwsXXvUT-RiQgCLcBGAs/s320/moss%2Bagate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The pic is over-exposed because I was trying to show the depth. This is a chunk of not-good rock, run through a rough polish. It's not gem-quality or anything. But if you look at it closely you can see there are layers and layers of clear, translucent, and opaque quartz laid over each other.<br />
<br />
Here's what's known as a 'landscape agate' that you can more clearly see the clear and opaque effect (image ganked off Pinterest):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghH6XJHAIVc/W1IsM30yRTI/AAAAAAAAR-o/uuYz651A9VMzJAEE5nL2RNewNCGaRnsvwCLcBGAs/s1600/landscape%2Bagate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="564" height="307" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghH6XJHAIVc/W1IsM30yRTI/AAAAAAAAR-o/uuYz651A9VMzJAEE5nL2RNewNCGaRnsvwCLcBGAs/s320/landscape%2Bagate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Cool, huh?<br />
<br />
Because it's so common, you can get bits of it for Not Much and that's why I have some of it. I've got shallow pockets. But the forms of quartz are almost infinite, and neat to look at.<br />
<br />
Here's some 'moss' in my chunk of rock:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TCCg5fg_qg/W1IsfoJAdkI/AAAAAAAAR-w/lltxClVniyUt12RsBjdD6TaeTpMsuVdOwCLcBGAs/s1600/moss%2Bclose%2B03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TCCg5fg_qg/W1IsfoJAdkI/AAAAAAAAR-w/lltxClVniyUt12RsBjdD6TaeTpMsuVdOwCLcBGAs/s320/moss%2Bclose%2B03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can see the cracks and stuff, not good for gem quality. But you put a flashlight under this sucker and stare into it? You can meditate for DAYS. Even without chemical assistance.<br />
<br />
Since it's easy to get, neat to look at, and comes in big hunks, it's inevitable that people carve it. Here's a tiny little bowl I have, that I bought because it's alllllmost got a picture in it. (You can sort of see a bird in the upper left, sun in the upper center, and a tree or three in the lower right.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ospFQ1eG-G4/W1Is9KZgQUI/AAAAAAAAR-4/eOtbuMt5JHoxz306a8Y5mz-8rwlHiIA1gCLcBGAs/s1600/moss%2Bpicture%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ospFQ1eG-G4/W1Is9KZgQUI/AAAAAAAAR-4/eOtbuMt5JHoxz306a8Y5mz-8rwlHiIA1gCLcBGAs/s320/moss%2Bpicture%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My finger and thumb included for scale; most of those picture agates you see on the internet aren't large. (Very cool. But not that big.)<br />
<br />
So for moss agate in the news. The Obamas gave the Queen of England a moss agate brooch on their last state visit to the UK. Pictures of it have been terrible. But what it looks like?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESRL7Vqwx9c/W1ItrU0-ZYI/AAAAAAAAR_E/wtOUcpEWphQkechdeVVORdypyuf4SdbgQCLcBGAs/s1600/moss%2Bbowl%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESRL7Vqwx9c/W1ItrU0-ZYI/AAAAAAAAR_E/wtOUcpEWphQkechdeVVORdypyuf4SdbgQCLcBGAs/s320/moss%2Bbowl%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is another of my moss agate bowls. the upper right of it, in this photo, is the highest quality part of it. I think the brooch is five flower-petals made out of that, with a little knot of diamonds in the center and a gold stem behind. That's what I'm getting from the really blurry photos and 'moss agate'.<br />
<br />
Maybe I'll talk rocks some more, NEXT time something laying around my house is in the news.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-18541533947364438272016-01-28T15:17:00.000-05:002016-01-28T15:17:20.635-05:00History and its impact on current events. Or, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents_Music_Resource_Center">Parent's Music Resource Center</a>, Censorship, and really pissed off Generation X punks sort of accidentally fucking up the world. We're kinda vaguely a cause of ISIS. In the same sense that the KKK is the cause of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_liberation">Gay Pride Movement</a>.+<br />
<br />
I swear we wouldn't have done it if we'd had a time machine. Honest.<br />
<br />
Older readers will already feel their blood boiling. Many of the younger readers are probably going, uh, what? right now. That's cool.<br />
<br />
Back in the early 80s, There was a movie called Purple Rain. Y'all may have heard of it. It was rated R (a bigger deal back then, than it is now). It was controversial. It addressed domestic abuse and all sorts of sexual controversies. There was also a sound track/album (that I still have tracks from, on my iThing, hang on, writing this needs music). So one day in Washington DC, some idiot housewife bought a ROCK ALBUM with music from an R RATED MOVIE ON IT, for her UNDER TEN KID. (I still roll my eyes, every time I think about it. I have a different view now, as a parent, and I raised my kid on music way more explicit than Purple Rain, but the real point here, I think, was Clueless Idiot Parent not paying attention to what their kid is exposed to.) As a parent myself, the solution to the kiddo getting hold of stuff with content I don't think she should have is to remove the content and have some Plain Talk with her. Done. No harm, no foul. It's a big wide world out there, and I wish someone would keep ME from seeing some of it, so yeah, kids don't need access to every damn thing. When "So Fucking What" comes on the iThing, the kid is told "yeah, generally, just... never repeat anything in this song." and she giggles and IT'S THAT FUCKING SIMPLE YOU MORONS.<br />
<br />
Yeah I'm ranting. Still mad.<br />
<br />
However, instead of taking responsibility for being a dumbass, this DC housewife called all her idiot housewife friends who also didn't want to actively parent their kids and have the world do it for them, and FORMED A COMMITTEE.<br />
<br />
Really. Wanna talk about censorship? That's what we should fucking censor. Clueless rich white housewives who are bored, forming committees. YEAH STILL ANGRY.<br />
<br />
One of the rich white housewives with no clue happened to be a senator's wife. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipper_Gore">Tipper Gore</a>, wife of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gore">Al Gore</a>. You know, the one who ran against George W Bush the Second Coming of Evil, and lost. By a couple thousand votes. SUDDENLY, RELEVANCE.<br />
<br />
First she and her buddies in the PMRC produced a list of inappropriate songs they called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents_Music_Resource_Center#Actions">"Filthy Fifteen"</a>. (Which resulted in more teens such as myself at the time, buying the albums and playing them. Incidentally, I raised my kid on half these, she sings Twisted Sister when I make her do chores and she doesn't want to.) THEN, Tipper decided what this really needed was warning labels on records, and a senate hearing. And instead of telling Tipper it was censorship and NOT HER FUCKING JOB, Senator Gore said "sure honey" and LET HER CONVENE A HEARING.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/large/public/2015/09/17/0917pmrc01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/large/public/2015/09/17/0917pmrc01.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
This is not the start of a Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, but I wish to hell it was.<br />
<br />
So we've got this... WOMAN, who is not an elected official, who is not an expert in anything much, and certainly not parenting because she's not considering overseeing her kid's influences as her job, who is NOBODY, firing up a senate subcommittee. Talk about things there should be a law against.<br />
<br />
Long story short, most kids my age watched CSPAN for the first time. (Or caught the hearings on PBS if you lived out in the boonies like I did.) We talked about due process and legal government and constitutional rights and censorship. We cheered when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa#Politics_and_religion">Frank Zappa</a> told a reporter to kiss his ass. We REALLY THOUGHT about what was appropriate and what wasn't, and what the government should be allowed to do. We talked about black lists and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army%E2%80%93McCarthy_hearings">Joseph McCarthy</a> in history class. We READ the Constitution and asked our teachers about it. In our teens, when everyone wants to tell the whole world to go fuck itself, on principle.<br />
<br />
Sting, at the time, pointed out that people DO have a right to know what they're buying, and lyrics to songs should be provided and the people could make their own decision from there on out. I always thought he was on the money; he got ignored. Too reasonable.<br />
<br />
Frank Zappa's next album had to be REVIEWED BY A COMMITTEE and they decided it needed a warning label. Stores wouldn't carry it. He lost his recording contract. The entire album was instrumental music; the committee had never listened to it, just rubber-stamped the offensive guy's work.<br />
<br />
Warning labels went on records, then movies, then video games.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3ttv1INcFA/VbsEBZ49_DI/AAAAAAAAB8E/BE6GTTmayuY/s1600/parental_advisory_sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3ttv1INcFA/VbsEBZ49_DI/AAAAAAAAB8E/BE6GTTmayuY/s1600/parental_advisory_sticker.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Some artists countered with 'voluntary' labels of their own, like this one from Metallica's Master of Puppets:<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.feelnumb.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/metallica_master_of_puppets_PMRC_sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.feelnumb.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/metallica_master_of_puppets_PMRC_sticker.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You still see them on video games occasionally; if you ever wondered why Gen Xers snarl and froth at the mouth a bit when they see them, now you know.<br />
<br />
This all went down in the late eighties. It was kind of a coming of age for Gen X, and it was this event, more than any other, that made us as newly minted adults consider government and what we wanted from it. In retrospect, it was probably a bad choice on the government's part.<br />
<br />
And then in 2000, Al Gore ran for president. Gen Xers were in their late twenties, early thirties at that point, paying taxes and raising kids and having a serious investment in how the world ran. And every damn one of them that I've ever spoken to, we all said the same thing:<br />
<br />
NO WAY IN HOLY HELL AM I PUTTING TIPPER GORE IN THE GODDAMN WHITE HOUSE.<br />
<br />
And we either didn't vote, or we voted for Bush. (I didn't vote, as a conscious choice. Or I might have written in Kermit the Frog, which is a fallback of mine. But I do know I couldn't vote for either one and sleep at night.)<br />
<br />
Yeah. Um. Sorry about that.<br />
<br />
The 2000 election was really, really, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000#Results">famously close</a>. A couple thousand votes probably could have turned the election in Gore's favor. There are roughly fifty-five million GenXers. We really could have decided the election. (I also think Ohio went to Bush because Diebold's home office is there, and they <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diebold#Premier_Election_Solutions_.2F_Diebold_Election_Systems">made the voting machines</a>, but that's a rant for another day.)<br />
<br />
President Shrubya, his cackling demon on his shoulder Cheney, and Iraq the Sequel.<br />
<br />
All I can say is, if we knew then what we know now, we would have voted for Gore and then, I don't know, thrown rotten tomatoes and eggs at Tipper for the next four years. Something.<br />
<br />
I've always wondered if Gore realized Tipper essentially lost him that election. But when you Google Al Gore, Tipper's Wikipedia article pops up just below his. They separated in 2010, and he'd been trying to distance himself from her for years before that. Still hasn't worked. I'd feel sorry for him, but if he'd just followed constitutional and federal law as a senator is supposed to, none of it would have gone down the way it did.<br />
<br />
Y'know, on reflection, it wasn't Generation X who caused ISIS. It was Tipper Gore.<br />
<br />
History. It's a damn strange business. Every time you think you understand it, the bitch doubles back on you. (This is why everyone hates teaching 'modern' history and most public school history classes seem to run out of time to cover topics after World War two.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
+No, seriously. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan#Prohibition">KKK pushed Prohibition</a> because it would hurt immigrants, who were the ones making and profiting from wine and beer. But Prohibition led to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakeasy">speakeasies</a> (underground pubs, essentially), and the speakeasies were UNREGULATED, which led to desegregation and a whole lot of other rule-ignoring. One of those speakeasies was known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Inn">Stonewall Inn</a>, and catered to LGBQTA persons. And the rest is some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Inn#Legacy">pretty awesome history</a>.<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-60527844479691852232016-01-19T17:22:00.000-05:002016-01-19T17:26:16.093-05:00The Treaty of Kadesh. Today was supposed to be something else, but yay history!!<br />
<br />
Along about three thousand years ago, there were two world powers in the Middle East, the Egyptians (gold), and the Hittites (blue).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5WVzbNkNCU/Vp6ySMbUqsI/AAAAAAAAR4g/2Ln9Mstt37Y/s1600/Hittite%2BEgyptian%2Bmap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5WVzbNkNCU/Vp6ySMbUqsI/AAAAAAAAR4g/2Ln9Mstt37Y/s320/Hittite%2BEgyptian%2Bmap.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Also some green and pink guys, but that's for another day and I've already ranted on base twelve a couple times.<br />
<br />
So anyway, as superpowers are known to do, they fought over territory. Mostly over who was gonna control the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. The Egyptians had the power that wealth can buy you, and a really good standing army. The Hittites had iron. Yeeeeah.<br />
<br />
They slugged it out back and forth over the territories along the Med, typically not fighting too much within their own borders, because of course not. World powers. Some things never change. BUT! The whole thing reached critical mass at a battle historians call the Battle of Kadesh. Because that was the name of a village nearby.<br />
<br />
The battle took place somewhere around 1274 BCE, and was, honestly, a huge mess. Both sides had heavy losses. But of course, again in the way of world powers ever since, both sides claimed they won and set up monuments bragging about how badass they were. (Technically the Hittites gained more ground and therefore I guess "won" but I think most of the ground gained was sand, so, uh, yeah. Have fun with that, Hittites.)<br />
<br />
A few years later, Ramesses the Allegedly Great launched another campaign to take back the sand dunes. (Seriously, anyone remember the "war" over the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War">Falkland Islands</a>? I swear this is an ancient version of it. At the time it was described as 'two bald men fighting over a comb' and damn if that's not familiar.) The Egyptian army went AROUND Kadesh, took a town called Dapur, said "yay, we won!" and then went home, leaving the town to revert to Hittite control. SUPPOSEDLY, this is when the pharaoh realized he couldn't hold territory that far away and decided something had to be done.<br />
<br />
I like to imagine the pharaoh's wife, with hands on hips, hearing of another plan for another invasion, yelling "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" because that's usually what happens in these circumstances.<br />
<br />
And so, the world's first written-down-and-signed-by-everyone peace treaty. There are some agreements that we know of that were older, but this is the oldest we've got that was all formal and official. We have copies from both sides.<br />
<br />
Hittites:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aiNDbXkP6Is/Vp615q90cWI/AAAAAAAAR4s/NI8x3nX8M90/s1600/treaty%2Bof%2BKadesh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aiNDbXkP6Is/Vp615q90cWI/AAAAAAAAR4s/NI8x3nX8M90/s320/treaty%2Bof%2BKadesh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Egyptian:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DZyr-chcJ8/Vp62AJOgl1I/AAAAAAAAR40/ixlgYeyaZ1w/s1600/treaty%2Bof%2BKadesh%2BEgyptian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DZyr-chcJ8/Vp62AJOgl1I/AAAAAAAAR40/ixlgYeyaZ1w/s320/treaty%2Bof%2BKadesh%2BEgyptian.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
Looks like the Egyptian one may have been, uh, edited? in later years.<br />
<br />
It's actually pretty cool, and again shows nothing really changes but the language and material it's written with. It spells out where boundaries are between them, pledges mutual aid in case anyone else (Assyrians) attack that area, and even allowed for an exchange of prisoners and refugees.<br />
<br />
A copy of the Hittite version hangs in the entry of the United Nations, as a reminder that we can actually do this.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-8757691933040072492016-01-13T13:29:00.003-05:002016-01-13T13:29:47.281-05:00The year in pictures. Because I've been under a rock, sucking my thumb and hating life. (Seriously, the medical shit is still stupid.)<br />
<br />
My hair has continued to turn white. I'm sure asshole doctors and constant pain have NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzXYYR6419E/VpaSFedSZPI/AAAAAAAAR2A/wvv9UH0BbvU/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzXYYR6419E/VpaSFedSZPI/AAAAAAAAR2A/wvv9UH0BbvU/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Goobie turned ten.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEgRk0v59Io/VpaSrrB3OrI/AAAAAAAAR3E/AjvUHxWljx8/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEgRk0v59Io/VpaSrrB3OrI/AAAAAAAAR3E/AjvUHxWljx8/s320/IMG_0317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And started swimming with a friend for fun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0wtu4F26rI/VpaTDVAbvyI/AAAAAAAAR4I/gbtQUrcI_PU/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0wtu4F26rI/VpaTDVAbvyI/AAAAAAAAR4I/gbtQUrcI_PU/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And went to holiday parties.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwoaoLaZaP4/VpaTAeaJLVI/AAAAAAAAR38/_wYl8tzpicA/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwoaoLaZaP4/VpaTAeaJLVI/AAAAAAAAR38/_wYl8tzpicA/s320/IMG_0526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And discovered an app on my phone that allows doodling on photos. Then she sneaks my phone and leaves pictures in it that I KNOW I had nothing to do with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LOhsOmOMzeQ/VpaS5ei5v9I/AAAAAAAAR3k/RxZta71s3hQ/s1600/IMG_0456.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LOhsOmOMzeQ/VpaS5ei5v9I/AAAAAAAAR3k/RxZta71s3hQ/s320/IMG_0456.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div>
And continues to be awesome and just generally a fun person. This is her spending a book store gift certificate after the solstice. Because books!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uZAWhMv1ac/VpaS54VEKJI/AAAAAAAAR3s/JNeZhkAwcVg/s1600/IMG_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uZAWhMv1ac/VpaS54VEKJI/AAAAAAAAR3s/JNeZhkAwcVg/s320/IMG_0457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Honu discovered the joys of sleeping on wool, which I really didn't need.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWP98g13ffM/VpaS8-rJxEI/AAAAAAAAR30/PHqzhhN33CI/s1600/IMG_0463%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWP98g13ffM/VpaS8-rJxEI/AAAAAAAAR30/PHqzhhN33CI/s320/IMG_0463%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes, that's a hand spun, hand knit scarf, from Into the Whirled (color Puesta del Sol) fiber that was a gift. She also likes to help me spin.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ShPcXJSAwbM/VpaTEIu7ArI/AAAAAAAAR4M/TNoGgcxPWOE/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ShPcXJSAwbM/VpaTEIu7ArI/AAAAAAAAR4M/TNoGgcxPWOE/s320/IMG_0463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Evil fucker. She was caught hanging off my living room curtains, five feet off the floor, just this morning.<br />
<br />
The Goobie helped me with the holiday baking, and together we are quite the cookie decorating team.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4fccbUrFTw/VpaTGfOaRtI/AAAAAAAAR4U/ohb0jqU844E/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4fccbUrFTw/VpaTGfOaRtI/AAAAAAAAR4U/ohb0jqU844E/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
She put eyes on some of them and told people they were monster snowflakes. She also wants me to make more, ice them in green, and tell everyone they're cold viruses. We just might. I like to reward geeky behavior.<br />
<br />
And then, fiber!<br /><br />
Last summer I decided to do a 'proof of concept' knit. I've done doilies for years, as we know, and I thought you should be able to take a round doily, knit half of it, and get a shawl. I took this,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VHWm-JO0W8/VpaSSeTEDJI/AAAAAAAAR2c/TnaLdjqTH0A/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VHWm-JO0W8/VpaSSeTEDJI/AAAAAAAAR2c/TnaLdjqTH0A/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
it's one of the crazy German charted doilies. I figured with all the stockinette and the symmetry that it'd be an easier choice than some of the others. I was kind of right, in that I'm sure there are other patterns that are harder, but the knit was kind of crazy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ui-WAAeVC0Y/VpaSXPMcpuI/AAAAAAAAR2k/1D5y31F_oo0/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ui-WAAeVC0Y/VpaSXPMcpuI/AAAAAAAAR2k/1D5y31F_oo0/s320/IMG_0258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I ran out of yarn and had to take out a row of the leaves at the outer edge, but since it was six feet wide as knit, it all turned out okay. (The yarn is Laci merino in color "Violet's Blues" by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. REALLY nice yarn. I think it's size three needles. Something like that.)<br />
<br />
At the end of the summer, was the county fair. I'd actually planned ahead and marked the calendar and all that good stuff, so I had entries. On a whim I entered the purple shawl, but other than that I only entered spinning because that's what I was really doing this year.<br />
<br />
I seem to have won. Um. All of the yarn categories.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJCn4nzlf7s/VpaSi8Laz2I/AAAAAAAAR2w/LtbBqhYShEM/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJCn4nzlf7s/VpaSi8Laz2I/AAAAAAAAR2w/LtbBqhYShEM/s320/IMG_0290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And the shawl?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0TccZwDqA0/VpaSnmadtYI/AAAAAAAAR28/fKiiIhC6MoA/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0TccZwDqA0/VpaSnmadtYI/AAAAAAAAR28/fKiiIhC6MoA/s320/IMG_0289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Completely unexpected. The lady who came in right behind me had entered a mosaic-knit sweater that was really nice. I wouldn't have minded losing to a nice sweater. It's not a fun fur purse. (No, I will never stop bitching about that.) Yay! Go me! I can knit!<br />
<br />
On my birthday, I got all kinds of goodies, including an eight-legged wasp sniffing weasel from Girl Genius.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbV5k2bg7Ro/VpaStmiPzcI/AAAAAAAAR3M/sEV_BP8uIc4/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbV5k2bg7Ro/VpaStmiPzcI/AAAAAAAAR3M/sEV_BP8uIc4/s320/IMG_0419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Other than that, I supervised homework and occasionally taught spinning and knitting, and muddled on through. Right now I'm knitting a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTfishy.php">Fish Hat</a> for my nephew, and spinning this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzYdJtkGie4/VpaSK70JpGI/AAAAAAAAR2U/aGRFNb0BsNA/s1600/FullSizeRender%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzYdJtkGie4/VpaSK70JpGI/AAAAAAAAR2U/aGRFNb0BsNA/s320/FullSizeRender%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's "Catamaran" color pencil roving from Fiber Optic. I have 3/4 of a pound (three bumps) and I'm trying to get enough yardage for it to be the contrast color in another go at the Russian Prime. It is taking forever because it's so fine, but I'm almost to the end of the first bump. I'm gonna go now and try to work around the cat on my lap and finish it.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-18075185460593187192016-01-02T18:13:00.000-05:002016-01-02T18:13:08.332-05:00Vogue Knitting, Winter '15-'16Hello and welcome to a new and better year, my lovelies! I've been wanting to get back into VK reviews, among others, and this issue is about Bohus Stickening was right up my alley. How could I resist? (For further info on me and Bohus Stickening, look at the "blue shimmer" posts under "projects of infamy" in the sidebar, and I also offer <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SamuraiKnitter/blue-shimmer">THIS</a> for street cred.)<br />
<br />
As always, quotes from the magazine, pics from the web site or my own "reactions" folder (I think it's clear which is which), commentary mine. You want a pattern, buy it, I'm not giving them out. And if you haven't read it yet, I suggest reading up on business models in my discussion of Twist Collective, <a href="http://samuraiknitter.blogspot.com/2014/09/twist-collective-fall-2014.html">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
And then the articles!<br />
<br />
There's the new yarn section, on fun fur again (may all the gods save us). They're calling it "Hot Fuzz" which makes me wonder if they got a new copy editor. As usual, they've just plonked down some balls of yarn and taken photos of them, rather than actually knitting a swatch that would make us want to buy some.<br />
<br />
The advertising, as always, is leaving me going "...wut." They're pushing bulky yarns again and claiming they're warm (you're far better off with two layers of stuff knit with thinner yarns) and also season-inappropriate weirdness.<br />
<br />
Little blurbs on different things, new yarns, new trends, new designers.<br />
<br />
Book reviews. I've been at the knitting thing since '87 so it's rare any more that I see a book that's revolutionary or new. There's a new book out on Bohus Stickning, available through Schoolhouse Press. It seems to be in Swedish. I'll probably buy it. (Just did.)<br />
<br />
"Bits of Bohus" by Meg Swansen. More about Bohus, and a good introduction if you're sitting there going "WTF is the big deal?" Good pictures, nice tech discussion. It's all about the purl stitches.<br />
<br />
Their art article (as I think of them) is "Thinking Big" about someone who does just that. The photo shows an artist/craftsperson standing in front of a knit hanging in which each knit stitch is bigger than her head. Some of the concepts are very cool, some... not. But definitely thought-provoking for how to decorate with knitting, or use knitting in new ways.<br />
<br />
Bohus article, "A Bohus Revival" with history and tech. Who puts a picture of a Bohus sweater
in a magazine and makes it BLACK AND WHITE?? And then the next page,
two color photos yay, but very nearly the same sweaters. Da fuq? AHA!
Page three, some variety, in color! Anyway, more detail if you're wondering what the hell the big deal is.<br />
<br />
And then, heavy sigh, the patterns.<br />
<br />
First section, SWEDISH MODERN!! Like Danish modern,
but not furniture or architecture. Har, they're so funny! But yay,
stuff in the tradition of Bohus Stickening! Let's hope they don't
call it Fair Isle and I can skip foaming at the mouth and waving my
arms around. That would be nice.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holy fuck, they called it “colorwork
patterning”. HOLY FUCK IS IT POSSIBLE THEY ACTUALLY FUCKING LEARNED
SOMETHING SINCE MY LAST REVIEW??!!??! </div>
<br />
1. Turtleneck pullover by Amy Gunderson.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tSXrallrT0/VohJ9HNEt-I/AAAAAAAARxo/hYhC0JvfW6A/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tSXrallrT0/VohJ9HNEt-I/AAAAAAAARxo/hYhC0JvfW6A/s320/01.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Four sizes from 38-48in/96-120cm. Turtle-neckie thingie with a yoke,
which is very Bohus. They used the little purl color blending thing
that's the hallmark of Bohus. The colors are a bit not, but that
could be fixed. Gauge is on the large side, but not everyone wants
to knit a sweater on size ones (original Bohus yoke sweaters were
knit at nine stitches to the inch). So... fixable? Use some colors
that blend a little better. But definitely wearable.<br />
<br />
2. Bohus Cardigan by Pat Olski.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oTgn9Lzr5Eg/VohKzsSw24I/AAAAAAAARx0/pgM6RrVyxoI/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oTgn9Lzr5Eg/VohKzsSw24I/AAAAAAAARx0/pgM6RrVyxoI/s320/02.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Five sizes from 37-52in/94-132cm. ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. Really really nice interpretation. I'd switch and put the
really elaborate sleeve pattern at the yoke, and put the not so
elaborate yoke pattern at the end of the sleeve (plus the dark green
at the cuff would hide dirt; always go with dark colors on the cuffs
WE ARE HERE TO HELP AT SAMURAI KNITTER). Really, really nice.
They're claiming it's in plus sizes. HOLY SHIT, FIVE SIZES
UP TO 52in/132cm!!! Knit this. For serious. Worth the cost of the
magazine. However much she got paid for this design, it wasn't enough. I am adding this to my to-knit list. It is very, VERY good. (Hopefully the tech editing doesn't make me regret this entire paragraph and want to eat the yarn.) Also knit with Cascade yarn so it's reasonably priced. Someone catch me. I'm gonna swoon.<br />
<br />
3. Fitted hat by Kate Gagnon Osborn<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sXE45WdqmwA/VohKz8BTUlI/AAAAAAAARyM/FpuBXCG5aFA/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sXE45WdqmwA/VohKz8BTUlI/AAAAAAAARyM/FpuBXCG5aFA/s320/03.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size. Hat. Again, Bohus' colors were
usually blendier than this, but they got the gist of it. Maybe adapt
it to a beret/tam sorta thingie, which was more Bohus' speed? I
dunno. It's a hat.<br />
<br />
4. Three-quarter sleeve pullover by Jaqueline vanDillen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4etq6O2GxcY/VohKzcCjOOI/AAAAAAAARx8/_EjzAB51tRM/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4etq6O2GxcY/VohKzcCjOOI/AAAAAAAARx8/_EjzAB51tRM/s320/04.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Four sizes from 36-45in/92-115cm. If I were gonna put a sweater in
an international magazine, I'd make sure the fucker was blocked
right. Or maybe the gauge in the stranded color vs. the plain color
stockinette is funky enough to allow the puckering? Hell, I dunno. I
do like this, but it's not very Bohusy. Bohussy? Bo. Hussy hussy
hussy. INTO THE MOSH PIT. Right. Anyway. Nice enough, possibly
consider some short rows 'round the neck to make the back higher
than the front so you don't look like you're choking. And I dunno
what's up with the slits at the cuffs, but they look like a mistake.
Maybe some edging would make them look on purpose? Are they on
purpose?<br />
<br />
5. Blanket poncho by Deborah Newton.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y8UYWtD7dc/VohK0H0z2-I/AAAAAAAARyQ/uklxPRGnB0M/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y8UYWtD7dc/VohK0H0z2-I/AAAAAAAARyQ/uklxPRGnB0M/s320/05.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size, which for once isn't making me roll my eyes. I want to yell about this, but I
don't. I don't know why I don't. It's shapeless, the gauge is
hunormous which loses all of the cool blendy-ness with the purl
stitches. But, um, am I the only one thinking acrylamide gel
electrophoresis? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lL4GpB7CrQ/VohM5sGGnvI/AAAAAAAARyc/crLrR2M1aX8/s1600/gel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lL4GpB7CrQ/VohM5sGGnvI/AAAAAAAARyc/crLrR2M1aX8/s1600/gel.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes? No? MOVING ON THEN!<br />
6. Chevron pattern cowl by Lars Rains.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqbfNiFn5CI/VohK0cMkf2I/AAAAAAAARyU/KSUcNxsYyrA/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqbfNiFn5CI/VohK0cMkf2I/AAAAAAAARyU/KSUcNxsYyrA/s320/06.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size, which again is appropriate for once. This is actually a pretty direct take
of a popular Bohus pattern, um, hang on let me look it up. Aha! The
Red Palm! It was done in five or six related shades of red and pink.
I think this too would be better in more blendy colors, but I guess
it's all in what you like, but, yeah, Bohus was usually blendier.<br />
<br />
I know I keep harping on the color, but REALLY FUCKING AMAZING COLOR was what Bohus was about. They had their yarns custom dyed and spun. Because COLOR.<br />
<br />
Anyway. We are out of Bohus knits to look at. I am sad. The new section is neon, which should cheer me up. However.<br />
<br />
Next section!<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
NEON SIGNS! Lets do bright colors and
shit! I love me some brights, I'm ready to be happy. (I once bought a
pastel yarn at the shop and the manager asked me if I was feeling all
right. She also tags me whenever they have bright pink in stock.) </div>
<br />
7. Welted cowl by Laura Bryant.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3rdu9RmIauY/VohNznMOnBI/AAAAAAAARyo/QuMgAlWDYHw/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3rdu9RmIauY/VohNznMOnBI/AAAAAAAARyo/QuMgAlWDYHw/s320/07.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
This right here is the kinda shit that makes me foam at the mouth. Why is there an all grey cowl in a neon
section? I DON'T UNNERSTAN. Seriously? Do the copywriters and the editors every talk to each other, or just randomly produce stuff they hope matches up?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrIpeS2dHPU/VohOkhFNpQI/AAAAAAAARzE/KtCJ5r38bZk/s1600/jackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrIpeS2dHPU/VohOkhFNpQI/AAAAAAAARzE/KtCJ5r38bZk/s1600/jackie.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
8. Pull through wrap by Jacqueline vanDillen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHhLpUf3P1o/VohNzeCcrNI/AAAAAAAARyw/bvP5KYwOggE/s1600/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHhLpUf3P1o/VohNzeCcrNI/AAAAAAAARyw/bvP5KYwOggE/s320/08.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size. Rolling my eyes anyway. Second try at brights. Slightly better.
Let's give them credit and assume that green is SUPER NEON and just
didn't print right. Right? Yeah. Totally bright green. Absolutely.
It's a grey... thing... with neon edges. Outfuckingstanding. Did
someone get paid for this? WAIT! It's not a plain rectangle, it has a
HOLE to pull an end through. THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT. It must be awesome, because the model has her hand over the join so we can't see it. (Also I looked
up the yarn, not neon green. BUT IT'S NEON BECAUSE IT SAYS SO.)<br />
<br />
9. Garter-stitch capelet by Lipp Holmfeld.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ5aH5nwMt4/VohNzvkSgRI/AAAAAAAARy4/ieq91On9AY8/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ5aH5nwMt4/VohNzvkSgRI/AAAAAAAARy4/ieq91On9AY8/s320/09.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size. Where do I even start. Okay. I
like the idea of this. I even like the execution of it. I wanna do
one in handspun. If anyone wants a fast and easy shawl-shrug thing,
this is a really nice project. WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL IS WITH THE
POMPOMS. Hub has a theory it's the head-liner from a low-rider that
dropped on her head. “It's got the little dingleballs, like the
head liner in a low-rider. Why isn't she holding a chain link
steering wheel.”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOiZpQj3PXw/VohQWYRYGSI/AAAAAAAARzQ/ELh-__QhHWo/s1600/low%2Brider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOiZpQj3PXw/VohQWYRYGSI/AAAAAAAARzQ/ELh-__QhHWo/s1600/low%2Brider.jpg" /></a></div>
I don't even fucking know.<br />
<br />
10. Keyhole scarf by Rebecca Kevelson.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GboH7DFJ8dc/VohNz415alI/AAAAAAAARzA/BEgBP7oVfsk/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GboH7DFJ8dc/VohNz415alI/AAAAAAAARzA/BEgBP7oVfsk/s320/10.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size. More grey with allegedly neon
edges. They're calling this yarn brushed cashmere. Looks like dryer
lint. And all that fluff is gonna pill like a motherfucker.
Otherwise it's another rectangle with a hole in it. Seriously?<br />
<br />
<br />
Another section. Hooray. I love that. Still busy being disappointed about the promise of neon and getting grey. "Everyday Brilliance". Shimmering metallics, blah blah,
daywear, blah. They used the term “glam-girly”. Draw your own
conclusions.<br />
<br />
11. Aran pullover by Rosemary Drysdale.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMYTNnoCvys/VohRCMc3miI/AAAAAAAARzk/KwSVnsqPYes/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMYTNnoCvys/VohRCMc3miI/AAAAAAAARzk/KwSVnsqPYes/s320/11.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Five sizes from 34-50in/86-127cm. Cable-aran thing with a collar and
half-length sleeves. Silk-mohair-lurex blend. Heat stroke AND
scratchy. $235 to knit the size large. Have fun with that.<br />
<br />
12. Sleeveless top by Mari Tobita.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plszi4noMqs/VohRCcOFpxI/AAAAAAAARzw/YgWGTzCW_xA/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plszi4noMqs/VohRCcOFpxI/AAAAAAAARzw/YgWGTzCW_xA/s320/12.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">This is so nineteen sixties, I can't even.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">13. Elbow length pullover by Zahra Jade Knott. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-191fITQOOns/VohRCC3PnzI/AAAAAAAARz4/nu01WzQ-3GM/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-191fITQOOns/VohRCC3PnzI/AAAAAAAARz4/nu01WzQ-3GM/s320/13.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Five sizes from 33-51in/84-130cm. </span>Fluffy sweater in big-butt length.
Mohair and bamboo blend, so it'll be at your knees by dinner time.
Should I look up how much it would cost? Do I care? But note the
yarn is mohair, and there's an actual stitch pattern – blackberry?
- and if you screw it up and tink back later, the mohair will make
the job like one of the inner circles of hell. $209 to knit. If you
can find the yarn, it's new and not carried many places.<br />
<br />
14. Houndstooth mitts by Amy Keefer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RMswxrgB0sI/VohRCoTMl_I/AAAAAAAAR0A/-rB8knr5fCo/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RMswxrgB0sI/VohRCoTMl_I/AAAAAAAAR0A/-rB8knr5fCo/s320/14.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size that doesn't fit.<br />
<br />
15. Long sleeve pullover by Lidia Karabenech.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6QTWac5_VE/VohRC_JsC0I/AAAAAAAARz8/aL4E50N2DFA/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6QTWac5_VE/VohRC_JsC0I/AAAAAAAARz8/aL4E50N2DFA/s320/15.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Five sizes from 38-54in/96-137cm. “Graphic style meets subtle
sparkle”. Do the copywriters even know what they're writing about,
or do they just pound out random words on keyboards? Loose, unfitted
pullover in look-how-wide-I-am stripes. I'd just do a percentage
system sweater and throw in some stripes if I had my heart set on
this. It'd fit better.<br />
<br />
Fair Isle Cardi by Yoko Hatta.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4soNlsVDhg/VohRDKuIlAI/AAAAAAAAR0E/Uz1E07LOWzY/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4soNlsVDhg/VohRDKuIlAI/AAAAAAAAR0E/Uz1E07LOWzY/s320/16.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Six sizes from 37-51in/94-131cm. Fair-Isle for real, it's got the
XO thing going on. It's fitted, which is nice for something
claiming to be fashion. It's in metallic yarn, which isn't
traditional, but I have lace here in fluorescent pink so who am I to
say. However, it is KNIT FLAT, which is a major I-don't-get-it,
because our foremothers spent how many centuries developing the
knit-in-the-round system to crank out sweaters JUST LIKE THIS, and
then we go around and ignore their work. I need a confused squinty
face emoji.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTRaCCTOtGo/VohTw4hymtI/AAAAAAAAR0M/gEVUOEdyPPM/s1600/confused%2BCas.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTRaCCTOtGo/VohTw4hymtI/AAAAAAAAR0M/gEVUOEdyPPM/s1600/confused%2BCas.gif" /></a></div>
There we go.<br />
<br />
<br />
Next section, "Off the Grid" except it's really ON the grid, because it's about learning to do colorwork charts and I'm back to "WTELF, copywriters?" ANYWAY. Two projects to help you learn to do colorwork from charts. (Is anyone still doing colorwork from written out directions?)<br /><br />
17. Plaid Cardigan by Deborah Newton.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWJSUjlEuUI/VohUNbcDusI/AAAAAAAAR0c/bFJG7bf_uvc/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWJSUjlEuUI/VohUNbcDusI/AAAAAAAAR0c/bFJG7bf_uvc/s320/17.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
I don't know what in HELL is up with those glasses. Five sizes (seems to be the new thing; sure beats one) from 37-51in/94-130cm. “Roomy plaid jacket”. Yup,
that's what it is. I'd probably like it more, if it had some color
going. But it's being used to teach how to read color knitting
charts, and it's a pretty good choice for that. It's knit with a
Berroco yarn so you won't break the bank on a learning project,
which is nice. Unfortunately the yarn has mohair in it, which makes
pulling out mistakes kind of a pain, BUT the mohair is also going to
fluff out and hide minor mistakes. Wow. Intelligent yarn choice with
a pattern. I don't see that often around here.<br />
<br />
18. Plaid fringed wrap by Ann McDonald Kelly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bkd2cS2HEUs/VohUNUOME_I/AAAAAAAAR0Y/lWCcFyCzR6o/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bkd2cS2HEUs/VohUNUOME_I/AAAAAAAAR0Y/lWCcFyCzR6o/s320/18.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size. Same frigging pattern from the
last jacket, in a giant square to practice steeking with. They could
have accomplished both lessons with the last project, but that would
be thinking. So here's an extra “pattern” for a rectangle with
fringe, if you wanted it. <br />
<br />
Okay Julie, we're over halfway done, you can do this. Get some more tea, hug the cat, grind it out. GO TEAM!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next section, “Snow Days” where
they claim originality and high fashion in winter whites. Can we have
one fucking winter section of cable knits that aren't beige? No way
in hell the beige is traditional (imagine sending YOUR husband out on
a fishing boat to work, in a nearly-white sweater, before modern
detergents existed; those fuckers were nearly black with indigo).
Half the world looks like a week old corpse in 'seashell', and we can
BUY sixty thousand beige cable knits in any store in North America or
Europe. HOW ABOUT SOME GODDAMN COLOR? I know I think neon pink is a
valid wardrobe choice and most people don't, but we've got a world of
fucking choices between nearly-white and eye-searing pink. COME ON,
DAMN IT. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
19. Shawl collar pullover by Audrey Drysdale. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FtBiJl5lhWQ/VohVhKLPpNI/AAAAAAAAR0o/5MdIWzlVrtA/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FtBiJl5lhWQ/VohVhKLPpNI/AAAAAAAAR0o/5MdIWzlVrtA/s320/19.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Five sizes from 35-52in/89-133cm. Feh. It's a beige cable-knit with
a shawl collar at big-butt length. I like it. It's completely
inoffensive. I'd just buy one at a store.</div>
<br />
20. Poncho pullover by Jeannie Chin.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1L_rBOX_gCc/VohVhJuWNTI/AAAAAAAAR1k/KyK-AhJrc-A/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1L_rBOX_gCc/VohVhJuWNTI/AAAAAAAAR1k/KyK-AhJrc-A/s320/20.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size. Rolling my eyes anyway. Is this two or three completely shapeless THINGS for this issue? Overgrown sleeveless not-poncho
thing with side seams. Probably cozy for lolling around the house,
which is what the magazine is claiming for this thing. Done in BFL
worsted, so it'd be darn sturdy and reasonably affordable to knit.
(That's a lot of surface area to cover.) So, yeah, have a cabled
snug sack? IN BEIGE to show the cheese popcorn crumbs and chocolate smears and wine spills.<br />
<br />
21. Chunky fair isle vest by Yoko Hatta.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YTnsKl3hF3g/VohVhXCx5LI/AAAAAAAAR1E/p0aS2xIwXQA/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YTnsKl3hF3g/VohVhXCx5LI/AAAAAAAAR1E/p0aS2xIwXQA/s320/21.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Do you REALLY wanna wear something named CHUNKY? Five sizes, usual range. Oh, hey, color. At a horrifying
price, but it's color. Even pretty color. Knit with bulky alpaca on
size fifteen needles. Wait, wait, I need another face. This thing
will not look good on you. I don't care who you are, or how thin you
are. It will be literally almost two inches thick. It will not
drape. It will not move with you. And it will pill like OMGHOLYFUCK. Take the colors as inspiration (they are pretty) and knit the same patterns in the same colors with sock yarn and have something wearable. But hey, it's actually Fair Isle!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekvo3skflw4/VohXHIr4xfI/AAAAAAAAR1s/BJBeoe_WbyU/s1600/Facedesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekvo3skflw4/VohXHIr4xfI/AAAAAAAAR1s/BJBeoe_WbyU/s320/Facedesk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
22. Reversible fur vest by Zahra Jade Knott.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrr6eLrpzyk/VohVhupZsOI/AAAAAAAAR1g/5hTnFDsW2RI/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrr6eLrpzyk/VohVhupZsOI/AAAAAAAAR1g/5hTnFDsW2RI/s320/22.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
TWO SIZES! 36 or 40in/91 or 101cm. A cool idea gone wrong. Floofy fun
fur double knit with a smooth wool. They're claiming it's reversible
and it might even be. But look at how it's flaring out behind the
model's arms. She's doing the Arm Thing to look like she has a
waist, but it's not saving her. It looks like a cone of shame upside down.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
23. Mock turtleneck pullover by Katharine Hunt.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xIMNkRZd79g/VohVhyIl44I/AAAAAAAAR1U/NbyMtSst0RU/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xIMNkRZd79g/VohVhyIl44I/AAAAAAAAR1U/NbyMtSst0RU/s320/23.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Four sizes from 39-55in/99-140cm. Another completely inoffensive
knit. I think the pattern's from Barbara Walker; I know it's very
similar to some of the stitch dictionaries. Just... yup. Beige
pullover.<br />
<br />
24. Fair Isle hat by Katarina Segerbrand.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1e2H6yaMH9s/VohViE0O2wI/AAAAAAAAR1M/8Ji2hsiELlU/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1e2H6yaMH9s/VohViE0O2wI/AAAAAAAAR1M/8Ji2hsiELlU/s320/24.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size, and probably even Fair Isle. White and beige hat with rolled
edge to look like you don't know how to knit ribbing. This would be
a good first stranded-color project. And if you stick with this
color combo, you can't tell the stitches apart well enough to easily
identify any mistakes.<br />
<br />
25. Textured scarf by Lori Steinberg.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eq9Axv1RT9Q/VohViAuZvTI/AAAAAAAAR1Y/C5TCxI2fRdc/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eq9Axv1RT9Q/VohViAuZvTI/AAAAAAAAR1Y/C5TCxI2fRdc/s320/25.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
One size, thanks be to the gods. A classic yarn company special
where they don't know what in hell to do with a yarn an advertiser
wants used, so they just throw a few stripes into a scarf and call
it good. The yarn's only about seven bucks, but for only 50g/42m. I,
just... what? Does anyone voluntarily work with fun fur any more?<br />
<br />
26. Aran coat with fur collar, by Mari Lynn Patrick.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-el83Ndpux6I/VohVie8YSFI/AAAAAAAAR1c/sFsjEM6f2JY/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-el83Ndpux6I/VohVie8YSFI/AAAAAAAAR1c/sFsjEM6f2JY/s320/26.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
Two sizes, 44-47in/111-119cm. Which is a joke for something meant to go over other clothing. A large-gauge not entirely
horrible coat. With fun fur collar for extra annoyance. The gauge is
big enough that the wind will whistle right through, though it'd be
a nice layer with about four others for outdoors.<br />
<br />
<br />
And that's it for this issue, thanks to Hecatae and Satan. I do think VK is improving, especially on the size issue. Maybe they finally started to believe what everyone said, that more sizes meant more potential customers? Maybe they got over their fat hate? Maybe it's a fluke and the next issue will be full of one-size wonders? Tune in and possibly find out. I think I ran out of new stuff to say about VK somewhere in 2010.<br />
<br />
Anyway. I'm actually glad I got the issue for the Bohus stuff and the second pattern. Well worth the cost. Happy knitting!<br />
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-54284846035632199992015-04-29T21:37:00.001-05:002015-04-29T21:37:54.768-05:00Damn it, Honu. She's gone invisible again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ovo9g8h1ws/VUGVc_NwWxI/AAAAAAAARv0/vbbiFdMXHnI/s1600/IMG_20150418_214604_150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ovo9g8h1ws/VUGVc_NwWxI/AAAAAAAARv0/vbbiFdMXHnI/s1600/IMG_20150418_214604_150.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-68208423867710251072015-04-13T15:36:00.002-05:002015-04-13T15:36:26.974-05:00A QUESTION! There was a question in the comments, and I never know WTF to blog about these days, so yeah! I can answer that!<br /><br />
Measurement of hand-spun yarn is rather... hit or miss. Accuracy can vary quite a lot, and then it can vary quite a lot again, when it hits water. (It his highly advisable to skein your new yarn, wash, and dry it, before trying to use it for knitting/crochet/weaving/macrame/tatting/rigging sailing ships. Sets the twist [like setting a curl in your hair] and makes it easier to work with.)<br />
<br />
There are two ways to measure. One that is PROBABLY, under ideal conditions, most accurate, is by weight. You need a really accurate scale:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EM1pPoGqAuw/VSwlkiTNg5I/AAAAAAAARvQ/GqzM79Ilbdg/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EM1pPoGqAuw/VSwlkiTNg5I/AAAAAAAARvQ/GqzM79Ilbdg/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one is from Harbor Freight, and weighs in tenths of a gram. I think I got it on sale for $14. I know it was under twenty. You get a yard of your yarn, weigh it, weigh the rest of the skein, and do the math. If you stick with metric, the math is even easy. Drawbacks are, for real accuracy, you need to cut the yard from the rest of the skein, if you've spun frog hair (finer than frog hair? that saying?) you may need to weigh five or more yards to get it to freaking register as weight, and if you spin unevenly, the whole thing's out the window. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The more traditional method is to wrap the yarn around something of known circumference, count as you go, and do that math. (This is where the song "Pop Goes the Weasel" is from. Around and around the swift, and old production ones would make a pop or click every one, five, or ten yards. Which is cool, except this song is guaranteed to piss me off thanks to my friend W, who introduced me to Plants Vs. Zombies. BUT I DIGRESS.) For winding off, I use a 1.5 yard niddy-noddy: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkS-tTIcsWQ/VSwlktsAj7I/AAAAAAAARvM/6UzcoSa2qRk/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkS-tTIcsWQ/VSwlktsAj7I/AAAAAAAARvM/6UzcoSa2qRk/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(Fun story, since I'm digressing all the hell over the place anyway: I used to hang out with a former pro hokey player, and when he'd jokingly threaten about hockey sticks, I'd tell him I was ready to take him down with my niddy-noddy. After a couple years, he finally saw a picture of one and was all "THOSE THINGS LOOK DEADLY!" and I was "Well, duh, I'm not gonna threaten an intruder with a pillow for fuck's sake.") Anyway. My usual method is to count as I wrap, unless the hub, kid, and cat are anywhere near me, then I lose count, yell at everybody, and go back and count later. Depending on how much it shrinks in the wash, I will multiply by 1.25 instead of 1.5. Drawbacks include all the above, plus for true devotees of accuracy, the way the wrap gets larger/longer as you go on really big spins will make you kinda crazy. But it's a good way to get a ballpark when you can't even guess to within a hundred yards because you had a migraine while you spun it. I know I chronically underestimate this way, but I've never run out of yarn and haven't ever heard from anyone else who bought my yarn that it was underestimated. This is the method I use most often, and is used most by spinners, at least the ones I hang out with. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since I was taking pictures anyway, and this was on the niddy-noddy, I got a closeup: </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OYIFeCX3n0/VSwlklOn4oI/AAAAAAAARvU/ZMCvOe9SUtk/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OYIFeCX3n0/VSwlklOn4oI/AAAAAAAARvU/ZMCvOe9SUtk/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a four-strand hawser ply. It's how they used to make rope. Z-twist four singles, then do two pairs of them, Z-twisting AGAIN, then S-ply the whole shooting match. For as much twist as there is in this stuff, it is awfully not-squishy. When I finished it, my thought process went "awfully sturdy... feels like rope... no shit Julie, you think?" But there are spinners who swear by this for cuffs and socks. Dunno, I think I'll be sticking cable ply if I want to knit or weave body armor. </div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-33002354801539575792015-04-11T22:51:00.002-05:002015-04-11T22:54:20.538-05:00Better! ...and then worse. Um.I got a nerve block at the beginning of March. That and the milder weather combined to make me feel better. So I went insane, unpacked moving boxes (THERE ARE STILL MORE HERE OMG JULIE WTELF?) and cleaned half my kitchen.<br />
<br />
Now I have an appointment next week to go in and arrange another nerve block. Whoops.<br />
<br />
The good news is, in terms of drugs and my health, I can have pretty much unlimited nerve blocks. I'm only limited by the assholes making decisions at my insurance company. But I'm covered by two policies (military retirees, hub's work) so even then I should be good. Also, my pain doc gets operating room space to do this stuff one day a week at <a href="http://www.aestique.com/">a plastic surgery spa</a>, so the whole thing is just hilarious from start to finish. (We've all started calling nerve blocks "spa days".) They have to do the block in an OR 'cause they stick needles in my neck and if they miss I can quit breathing, so yay, life support equipment and all kinds of trained people nearby. I've had four now, and the three with this crew have all gone so smoothly I almost didn't even have a sore spot after. (The one at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center gave me a migraine for a month. I intend to rag on them incessantly, for the rest of my Old Sailor's Bitch Wife time on this planet.) So, the pain thing is leveling out, in that I've got qualified care that's serious about making things work, but it's not leveling out because as I feel better, I do more, and actually need more pain drugs.<br />
<br />
Needing more meds as you feel better is weirdly common, and with experienced people, you only get eye rolls and "We know, we know."<br />
<br />
I'm rambling. But anyway. Oddly better yet not. Bodies are weird.<br />
<br />
When I'm not cleaning or throwing things away, I finished the pink to orange spin. Got really crap yardage, like 200 yards, so I'm dyeing 8oz (this was four) and trying again. Because damn it, I want a really elaborate shawl in this gradient, DAMN IT.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PzKPfWwy_s/VSnoXtssvaI/AAAAAAAARuE/mzkHQuIf7b8/s1600/IMG_20150313_210350_531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PzKPfWwy_s/VSnoXtssvaI/AAAAAAAARuE/mzkHQuIf7b8/s1600/IMG_20150313_210350_531.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
Been knitting. The chart I'm on looks like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hav2y629NM4/VSnoXYeoBkI/AAAAAAAARuA/GVcbqT-GWdk/s1600/IMG_20150411_155749_466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hav2y629NM4/VSnoXYeoBkI/AAAAAAAARuA/GVcbqT-GWdk/s1600/IMG_20150411_155749_466.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Something about the fiber has made Honu goony, and she's been scent-marking it every chance she gets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sBAqjAD8Glk/VSnoWPRjaCI/AAAAAAAARt4/DnWKXmbLfR4/s1600/IMG_20150317_212608_060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sBAqjAD8Glk/VSnoWPRjaCI/AAAAAAAARt4/DnWKXmbLfR4/s1600/IMG_20150317_212608_060.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUCNrWV1PsI/VSnpSu9ehJI/AAAAAAAARuU/KZi0Me0k5n0/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUCNrWV1PsI/VSnpSu9ehJI/AAAAAAAARuU/KZi0Me0k5n0/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So far all she's done is rub her face on it, so I've let her live. That can change if the evil fucker starts messing with it. <br />
<br />
Spun some tencel and wool, got crap yardage. WTF do you do with 185 yards of something?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBO1uRita5g/VSnpSgLfqmI/AAAAAAAARuQ/ATbdYL-1glA/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBO1uRita5g/VSnpSgLfqmI/AAAAAAAARuQ/ATbdYL-1glA/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Also spun a cabled yarn, copying the structure of a 15,000 year old cord found in the caves at Lascaux, with the paintings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbpAL9UlXpk/VSnpSl1xHjI/AAAAAAAARuY/FchZpYIeNLc/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbpAL9UlXpk/VSnpSl1xHjI/AAAAAAAARuY/FchZpYIeNLc/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Twenty yards from four ounces of fiber (!!!!) but at least this is six ply, really thick, and practically bullet proof. I'm actually teaching a class on cabled yarns at the end of May at <a href="http://naturalstitches.com/Calendar/cal-may15.html">Natural Stitches</a>. Just sayin'. This went to the shop as a sample. I get better sign-ups when there's something for people to touch and fondle.<br />
<br />
I'm also experimenting with hawser plying, but that's how they make rope and so far my efforts are pretty bad. Pictures when they don't suck.<br />
<br />
Also, fed up with the shitty yardage I've been getting, I started on a practice run for some lace yarn I've wanted to do for years. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/gossamer-webs-the-history-and-techniques-of-orenburg-lace-shawls">Orenburg lace</a> (Rav link) is traditionally knit with yarn made of one strand of silk and one strand of "goat" that's essentially cashmere (they're right over the mountains from Kashmir). I'm doing the same, but with an American-ish twist. Western Europe, for sure: one ply silk, and one ply angora.<br />
<br />
So far I'm working on the silk ply.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13rCJ9uqEoE/VSnpW4d1iII/AAAAAAAARuo/GyqjfM2bvUE/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13rCJ9uqEoE/VSnpW4d1iII/AAAAAAAARuo/GyqjfM2bvUE/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ1qAZtxsDA/VSnpYzlA6yI/AAAAAAAARu4/kVoRU0ooBJs/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ1qAZtxsDA/VSnpYzlA6yI/AAAAAAAARu4/kVoRU0ooBJs/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
It's pretty slow going, but it's really shiny and kinda blue. Love it. Will dye the angora the same way I dyed the silk. (Bottle cap for scale, by request from my Kiwi friends. They pointed out most of them have never seen an American quarter.)<br />
<br />
So, yeah, same old, same old. Once I finish this purple lace monster (I'm on row 205 of 257, but each row gets longer, exponentially) I'm going back to the blue and white stranded color sweater I started last winter. It needs sleeves. Two. TWO SLEEVES.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, Honu is laying on my lap, and occasionally reaching out to smack the ruler that keeps my place:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czILMR-s8FU/VSnpYcLj1uI/AAAAAAAARuw/bhEXY49q03I/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czILMR-s8FU/VSnpYcLj1uI/AAAAAAAARuw/bhEXY49q03I/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Elizabeth Wayland Barber is giving a talk in Pittsburgh Tuesday night, and I'm going. After, there will probably be shrieking over fiber history. Or Scythians. Or frozen tombs containing felt fabric in Kazakhstan. Or something.<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-85334103123866280542015-03-23T19:06:00.001-05:002015-03-23T19:06:42.382-05:00Musings while re-knitting lace mistakes. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--D0JpywpRx8/VRCqOeOJOZI/AAAAAAAARtc/e2rj73cQuCM/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--D0JpywpRx8/VRCqOeOJOZI/AAAAAAAARtc/e2rj73cQuCM/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
While "mostly stockinette" does translate to "less difficult", having umpty-eleven double yarnovers all over the place bumps up the difficulty again. Pulling the whole thing off the needles and simply unraveling is almost impossible with double and triple yarnovers, so you have to tink back stitch by stitch to correct mistakes, and that's always fucking tedious. Especially on center-out laces that have more stitches per row, the further on you knit.<br />
<br />
Various types of yarnovers jumbled into a single row also ups the difficulty. I've got here, I shit thee not, a row with single, double, and triple yarnovers in it. You'd think 'oh, it's just like any other stitch', but no. It can get pretty damn confusing.<br />
<br />
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. IT IS NOT COMPLICATED, BRAIN, SO QUIT FUCKING IT UP YOU STUPID PUDDLE OF WATER.<br />
<br />
I really like a good blurple.<br />
<br />
Variegated yarn and lace to not mix well. Even an ombre/semi-solid like this one isn't the best choice. BUT, the varied colors do make it easier to see where in hell the yarn is going, when you need to tink back or fix something later.<br />
<br />
Feh.<br />
<br />
COUNT YOUR FUCKING STITCHES AND QUIT WITH THIS SMUG "I can read my knitting, I'll go by landmarks" BULLSHIT. This is how you wind up ten rows into something going "hey, where did that fourth pattern repeat go?" you idiot.<br />
<br />
HOW IS IT I AM MISSING ANOTHER MOTHERFUCKING STITCH WHEN I GODDAMN COUNTED THESE LAST THREE MOTHERFUCKING ROWS?<br />
<br />
...brain, you piece of shit. I said EIGHTEEN.<br />
<br />
I need more medication. Or less. Hmmmm. Caffeine could solve this. Sleep is for the weak.<br />
<br />
For a balanced single decrease (hey, I'm obsessive about symmetry), slip one, knit ONE, pass the slipped stitch over. Two stitches into one, and it doesn't lean in either direction. You're welcome.<br />
<br />
Back to where I started tinking back. Pretty sure all my yarnovers are where they belong and the stitch counts came out right. Instead of hitting post, I guess I'm gonna stay on, blather a bit, and then do some commentary about a shawl I need to block.<br />
<br />
Next, row eighty-two. Of two hundred and fifty-seven. <br />
<br />
"It'll be an interesting zombie project" I said. BULLSHIT, BITCH, YOU'RE ALTERING GERMAN LACE ARE YOU CRAZY?<br />
<br />
Took a break to play one of those stupid Facebook-integrated games on my iThing. I have been destroyed by fanged Easter eggs and a zombie bunny. Where do I file the complaint.<br />
<br />
ROW EIGHTY TWO. DAMN IT.<br />
<br />
Checking on a calculator to make sure eight and eight make sixteen. It is turning into that kind of a day. Now singing the inchworm song I can only remember the numbers part of.<br />
<br />
If this ear worm doesn't back off soon, I will play John Phillip Sousa and show it who is boss. Except then I'd have JPS marches stuck in my head. Decisions.<br />
<br />
If Honu had thumbs, I could teach her to make me tea.<br />
<br />
I cannot begin to express how much I wish medical marijuana was legal in this state. LOTS. LOTS AND LOTS. AND THEN MORE.<br />
<br />
Got the blocking boards out of the basement while I threw in a load of laundry. I think I heard the husbeast muttering something about an apocalypse while I was sorting laundry.<br />
<br />
Dropping the needles in the middle of a row to explain fractions and ratios and numerators and denominators to the Goober is not doing a single damn thing to help my ability to count to eight.<br />
<br />
My beloved child has decided to play SkyLanders loudly in the same room I'm in. May the sweet baby Buddha and his eight tiny reindeer save me. Upcoming, Goob quotes.<br />
<br />
"Wait, that guy's a guy?" Now spelling out her name with destruction and shrapnel. "Okay, this is awesome!"<br />
<br />
Me: "You do know, if I catch you doing this to real, actual sheep, I will kill you, right?"<br />
<br />
I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Memphis. She tried to take me upstairs for a ride. (Kid doing backup vocals.)<br />
<br />
As soon as I picked up the knitting after dinner, the laundry buzzer went off. Heavy sigh.<br />
<br />
<br />
...right. Headache medication finally kicked in and I've decided tomorrow is soon enough for blocking ANYTHING that requires eleventy-hundred pins. I'm going to bed. Here, have pictures of the finished spinning and the cat helping me knit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ra6vgiaq30/VRCqN_ZlNvI/AAAAAAAARtM/AQFhCfKZysA/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ra6vgiaq30/VRCqN_ZlNvI/AAAAAAAARtM/AQFhCfKZysA/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-IKNY10m2g/VRCqOaqs-OI/AAAAAAAARtQ/QA6swOOSeFY/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-IKNY10m2g/VRCqOaqs-OI/AAAAAAAARtQ/QA6swOOSeFY/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-5417400562182067242015-03-17T19:28:00.001-05:002015-03-17T19:28:17.223-05:00And then, fiber! Yay, I'm back to my 'normal' behavior of hunkering down over yarn and spinning wheels and similar things when I'm running low. It's maybe kinda slightly possible that my brain is kicking back into gear. This is the best winter I've had for pain control since we moved north.<br />
<br />
A couple days ago I pulled out some "Into the Whirled" 80/10/10 wool/cashmere/nylon fiber and started spinning. The colors hooked me, and I'm making good progress.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uB6JcSKyuYk/VQjD9pnmq9I/AAAAAAAARsg/b-kUoiWFSUI/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uB6JcSKyuYk/VQjD9pnmq9I/AAAAAAAARsg/b-kUoiWFSUI/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I loooove it and want to hug it and keep it and love it. I'm settling for making it into a scarf. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I finished the grey-blue-lavender-periwinkle lace shawl (except for blocking) and am casting around for another lace knit, since my brain seems to be going for it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfOWU2kqP3E/VQjD-dLUWsI/AAAAAAAARss/0-ONtmIztvE/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfOWU2kqP3E/VQjD-dLUWsI/AAAAAAAARss/0-ONtmIztvE/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think I'm going with this. It's "Herbst", one of the insane German lace patterns. Not sure if it's a Niebling, don't think so. Just kinda crazy. I'm dividing it in half and knitting it flat for extra challenge, because I'm crazy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WN7xjIix5dg/VQjD-XQuBgI/AAAAAAAARso/ghBOzOPnUMc/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WN7xjIix5dg/VQjD-XQuBgI/AAAAAAAARso/ghBOzOPnUMc/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This ought to be interesting. (No, that's not the right chart, but it gives you an idea what these charts look like, if you've never seen one.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I finished the pink and orange. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rH2wZhpZSQw/VQjD6g1WDoI/AAAAAAAARsQ/35A95eElgGw/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rH2wZhpZSQw/VQjD6g1WDoI/AAAAAAAARsQ/35A95eElgGw/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
275 stinking yards. What in hell am I supposed to do with 275 yards?? I think I'm going to re-dye on eight ounces of fiber this time (that was five ounces), get more serious about producing frog hair, and TRY AGAIN. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's a Fiber Optic gradient here, "Blackbird" waiting for me to get my shit together. Hmm. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh, and this was a class project, I was teaching how to ply from both ends of a center ply ball. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hDUxgQHMG8/VQjD6cL3TJI/AAAAAAAARsI/S7RM_37jve4/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hDUxgQHMG8/VQjD6cL3TJI/AAAAAAAARsI/S7RM_37jve4/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh, and this, just for the hell of it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwhfV1aU6KI/VQjD6ie2vDI/AAAAAAAARsM/pA2lH68OIXU/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwhfV1aU6KI/VQjD6ie2vDI/AAAAAAAARsM/pA2lH68OIXU/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know it looks like I was super productive and stuff, but imagine me in a corner (literally, my wheel and knitting nest are in the corner of the living room) communicating in grunts and fighting with the cat. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And, in the middle of all that, while bitching about my hair, I managed to get a picture of myself that I kind of actually like. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXIcmrbnLY/VQjD19ZsDvI/AAAAAAAARsA/4cfuF-AwXQc/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXIcmrbnLY/VQjD19ZsDvI/AAAAAAAARsA/4cfuF-AwXQc/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had this discussion: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
ME: I'm changing my name to Ursula and getting some pet eels. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
HUSBEAST, without missing a beat, knows I'm talking about Little Mermaid: Hey, I'm not the one who did my hair that way. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm thinking that silver needs some color. Like purple. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been thinking of doing more history. There's a show on TV here called Drunk History, where they get people drunk and have them tell the story of their favorite episode in American history. There is lots of bleeping. And famous people stop in to help act out the stories. I was thinking hey, I could do that on my blog, but then I realized, I kind of already do. I mean, my history posts aren't composed while LITERALLY drunk, but they're definitely bleep-able and not exactly ivory tower material. Maybe I just need to do more history posts. I'm thinking Africa. People need more African history. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the mean time, I'm gonna go cast on this shawl like a lunatic, and yell at the cat when she smacks the ruler off it and I get lost. Must be Tuesday. </div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-53366765128386798492015-03-09T15:24:00.001-05:002015-03-09T18:56:29.192-05:00It's all fun and gamesuntil you see the hand specialist.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Honest, I'm sitting here trying to figure out where the entire last week went. I mean, I know where it went, but dude. AN ENTIRE WEEK.<br />
<br />
Last Wednesday, I saw a hand specialist. One who didn't suck. His conclusion was pretty much "you're doing better than any other case like this I know of, OMG, don't look at your hand wrong or breathe funny, you'll jinx it". (Okay, thanks, I think?) But the exam consisted of lots of poking and twisting and at one point shifting the bones in my wrist, and when they ground together, the doc goes "you feel that?" and I said "you're kidding, right?" and he looked sheepish and said, well, that was the arthritis and messed up cartilage taking. Then he went on to smoosh the other wrist to show how it doesn't do grinding stuff. THANKS. I WOULD TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.<br />
<br />
Anyway. That torn ligament that's driving me nuts? Fixing it would make a worse mess than it already is. All those little bones and tiny spaces between them, So apparently the laundry list of WTF that is setting off the pain thing is a permanent fixture and I'm back to the usual bullshit.<br />
<br />
Although, a steady diet of nerve blocks is helping that, too, so with luck I might be functional one of these days.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
Last night was the shop's holiday party (everyone's always busy at Christmas, so they do it in the spring, it is very awesome, no one is stressed and it is a very good time). Everyone gives each other knits, and I'd done a Batkus with some yarnovers and beads, in some of my hand spun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w_lOSouTUlw/VP3-x-34rHI/AAAAAAAARrM/ywGnD8RIWZ4/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w_lOSouTUlw/VP3-x-34rHI/AAAAAAAARrM/ywGnD8RIWZ4/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdwODJhwfHI/VP3-xWw08ZI/AAAAAAAARrE/KGPZk8VC9A8/s1600/IMG_20150117_213837_679-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdwODJhwfHI/VP3-xWw08ZI/AAAAAAAARrE/KGPZk8VC9A8/s1600/IMG_20150117_213837_679-1.jpg" height="320" width="305" /></a></div>
I never got a full picture of it, because I'm a ding-dong. But! World's easiest beaded edge! You know how when you're normally knitting along, for a selvedge, you slip every first stitch in the row? Use a crochet hook and put a bead on every other slipped stitch. Looks fab, is fast and easy, and it's never so many beads at one time you go crazy. I love how it worked, and now want to put beaded edges on everything. (And probably will.)<br />
<br />
The person I gave it to made squeaky noises and wore it the rest of the night, so that's a win.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
The spinning continues. Remember the pink and orange gradient? Honu decided to help me with that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-khXHs62cz4M/VP3_ed-h2rI/AAAAAAAARrU/pWu06Bqa_YM/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-khXHs62cz4M/VP3_ed-h2rI/AAAAAAAARrU/pWu06Bqa_YM/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
Did the fucker eat one of the ENDS? No. It's a gradient, so OF COURSE she chewed up a hunk in the middle. I picked out the cat spit and kept spinning. Damned cat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0neDpWBbfk/VP3_ypWLwPI/AAAAAAAARrc/8JnlyDPq1NE/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0neDpWBbfk/VP3_ypWLwPI/AAAAAAAARrc/8JnlyDPq1NE/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
Uh, still working on the blue shawl? And some evidence for why I let the cat live. She's very warm.<br />
<br />
Oh, the foot stool? Yeah. It's got storage space in it. We were buying it, and hub said oh, we should get a bigger one. I told him a bigger one would be filled up with fiber. Right then, small one! (Instead of fiber, it's full of electronics odds and ends - cords, Wii bits and bobs, the usual. So far no fiber. I'm fighting the urge.)<br />
<br />
Ah! One last bit. My buddy W does millinery, and hooked me up with an on line shop that sells hand dyed silk ribbon for not-extortionate prices. www.fabricandart.com is the place. Ordered last Friday, and here they are.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79-7wxeH67Q/VP4BCsstKZI/AAAAAAAARrk/sDDXqKJNvzs/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79-7wxeH67Q/VP4BCsstKZI/AAAAAAAARrk/sDDXqKJNvzs/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
Aren't they PREEEEETTY? I love how silk takes dye. Hub was muttering until I said this may finally motivate me to unpack my work room. That cheered him right up.<br />
<br />
With luck I'll actually do something this week, that'll be more interesting than taking painkillers, watching Netflix, and going "buh?" blearily at loud noises. At the least, no more doctor's visits for a while.<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-48954871103166240222015-03-01T21:09:00.001-05:002015-03-01T21:09:02.101-05:00And then-Nothing really happened. I've got a nerve block Tuesday and the cold's been brutal, so I've been hunkered down reading and doing fiber stuff. How about pictures? That's all I've got.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPp-O7t8-5M/VPPEhDvYsuI/AAAAAAAARoE/o7bzONDtI4o/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPp-O7t8-5M/VPPEhDvYsuI/AAAAAAAARoE/o7bzONDtI4o/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Honu's getting into this spinning thing. She keeps investigating the wheel, poking at it mostly. She tried to bite the drive band WHILE IT WAS SPINNING the other night, I'm waiting for it to pull out a whisker.<br />
<br />
She also likes yarn, which is news to no one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dLbUl_OFLZg/VPPE0ychwzI/AAAAAAAARoM/p37YMYmfzEY/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dLbUl_OFLZg/VPPE0ychwzI/AAAAAAAARoM/p37YMYmfzEY/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A couple weeks back, I had the dye stuff out and decided to do a gradient. They're getting more popular, but are hard to find in really bright colors, or unusual combinations. This one probably counts as both.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wwZKnN3Qgd8/VPPFMHtJi5I/AAAAAAAARoU/cURKcevgVyE/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wwZKnN3Qgd8/VPPFMHtJi5I/AAAAAAAARoU/cURKcevgVyE/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm trying to get some decent yardage, so I can knit a lace shawl with it. Something really traditional. So far, so good:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDIMjIyPTw8/VPPFd7AJxRI/AAAAAAAARoc/PdJK15ZnX2w/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDIMjIyPTw8/VPPFd7AJxRI/AAAAAAAARoc/PdJK15ZnX2w/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SFfLCZZ9m0g/VPPFf60Y7rI/AAAAAAAARok/OAd8vtL1cn0/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SFfLCZZ9m0g/VPPFf60Y7rI/AAAAAAAARok/OAd8vtL1cn0/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
That's a comparison shot, with my hand. On the left is the spinning, on the right is #10 crochet cotton. I'm hoping for 800 yards but would settle for 600.<br />
<br />
I also am trying to knock out a really quick gift, a shawl, "Damask".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohHEEz8ZOrk/VPPF3FlCauI/AAAAAAAARos/49MavNWwRio/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohHEEz8ZOrk/VPPF3FlCauI/AAAAAAAARos/49MavNWwRio/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
I feel rather 'eh' about it. It's not a bad pattern, just not one of my favorites. Part of the problem is that the lace charts use a blank square for purl and I'm used to blank meaning no stitch or knit, so it's really screwing me up. And apparently I can't count to seven, either.<br />
<br />
So, not much going on. Typical end of winter behavior for me, I've hunkered down with some fiber and I'm not moving again 'til it gets warmer out.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-53719882319739267712015-02-20T01:17:00.000-05:002015-02-20T12:45:33.911-05:00I married a crazy man, part -- what was it, again? I'm a slob. I mean, I know I'm a slob, I'm not arguing that, but. Having lived with that for a while, wouldn't someone begin to realize that, hey, stuff on the floor doesn't mean, well, much of anything?<br />
<br />
Last autumn, a fleece blanket (NOT HAND KNIT) I was rather fond of was thrown on the floor. It disappeared, and I figured the husbeast had taken it downstairs to the man cave, where it usually lives on the back of the couch. Eventually I asked where it was, and he said, oh, he'd put it in his truck.<br />
<br />
That made sense. We're sitting here now under a severe cold advisory, and it's -2 F outside. So even though his commute is six minutes long, I could see keeping a blanket in the truck for the winter. I keep a towel in my Jeep. (All love to Douglas Adams aside, I got in the habit when I was in school the last time, when I never knew when a "study group" would wind up on a beach somewhere.)<br />
<br />
Tonight, with the cancellation of school tomorrow, the Goober started the construction of an epic blanket cave. Over dinner, I asked if the blanket was still in the husbeast's truck. He said it was. I said, if we brought it inside now, it might be thawed for the kiddo to build with tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Well, no, he'd used the blanket to pack the rusting-out wheel well. It would need washed.<br />
<br />
Washed. It's been picking up road muck for three months of winter and it "needs washed".<br />
<br />
If I'm out tomorrow I'll just swing through Target and buy another blanket.<br />
<br />
I... just... what?<br />
<br />
ETA: He brought the blanket in and was very nice and didn't act like I'd flipped out at all. It's a bit dirty, but nothing like I had expected.<br />
<br />
Now I'm left with his stories yesterday of how he and his buddies would clean out mops while underway by tying a rope around them and throwing them overboard to splash through the ship's wake. I'm told it worked great.<br />
<br />
Maybe I should just declare being boggled my natural state.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-54308998240757415372015-02-14T12:38:00.001-05:002015-02-14T12:38:13.377-05:00Damn it, Honu.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyJCzzGheC8/VN-H77bCIUI/AAAAAAAARns/YK7USnybkzU/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyJCzzGheC8/VN-H77bCIUI/AAAAAAAARns/YK7USnybkzU/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-6695938710391528992015-02-12T08:58:00.002-05:002015-02-12T08:58:34.811-05:00Bah."Cast on 300 and join without twisting" can kiss my ass.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-50169124204304188692015-02-11T17:09:00.003-05:002015-02-11T17:09:48.822-05:00So yeah. Spinning. Finally. Spent the last week trying to upload photos and I still don't know WTF. It was supposed to be pictures of spinning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rn_HeBDybq4/VNvNzmcc9HI/AAAAAAAARlk/DZfgGdCO64I/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rn_HeBDybq4/VNvNzmcc9HI/AAAAAAAARlk/DZfgGdCO64I/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
Oh, fine, NOW it works.<br />
<br />
Well, right there above us is a sample I made for my students (!). Chain/navajo ply on the right, true three ply on the left. Everyone always wants to know the difference and it's usually pretty obvious when you put them both together; these were spun from two halves of a single braid, so the colors themselves were exactly the same.<br />
<br />
Yep, that's right, students! The big news (in fiber, at my house, anyway) for the last year is, I'm now a spinning instructor at Natural Stitches in Pittsburgh. It's been fun, and my students are learning, so we're all happy with each other.<br />
<br />
However, being a teacher? I feel like something of a fraud, because for instance, that true three ply up there in that picture? Only one I've ever done. I know how a lot of this stuff works, mechanically, but have never done it. So lately, I've been trying to fix that.<br />
<br />
Here's a cable ply.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T68Mi8UR9d0/VNvQrVvpWrI/AAAAAAAARlw/TDpzRFi0LEA/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T68Mi8UR9d0/VNvQrVvpWrI/AAAAAAAARlw/TDpzRFi0LEA/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
Looks all complicated, but really it's just a four ply that you create by making a two ply, then plying it back on itself.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K-o-674s__M/VNvQ7W8DXcI/AAAAAAAARl8/Nft0G9xtdT8/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K-o-674s__M/VNvQ7W8DXcI/AAAAAAAARl8/Nft0G9xtdT8/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
I finally spun some shorter fibers. This is camel, I think. Maybe yak. With silk, and enough wool to make you not scream when working with it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhDJif48CXQ/VNvREqIn0YI/AAAAAAAARmw/-hfFdM7XjIo/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhDJif48CXQ/VNvREqIn0YI/AAAAAAAARmw/-hfFdM7XjIo/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEqvPBXyhzs/VNvREuIqF6I/AAAAAAAARm0/MlvA30yV2fs/s1600/IMG_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEqvPBXyhzs/VNvREuIqF6I/AAAAAAAARm0/MlvA30yV2fs/s1600/IMG_0043.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
I'm enjoying my new magnifier thingie on my new iThing, I'm getting some great close up pictures of all kinds of stuff, including yarn and fiber.<br />
<br />
This is some swap yarn I need to get off my ass and mail. Not my preferred colors, but it turned out okay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3jsHz4v6QY/VNvQ7q7fyHI/AAAAAAAARmA/wzGK7XL6WXI/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3jsHz4v6QY/VNvQ7q7fyHI/AAAAAAAARmA/wzGK7XL6WXI/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NrYwtMReylg/VNvQ7JnIuzI/AAAAAAAARl4/Ox7KLZD6V90/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NrYwtMReylg/VNvQ7JnIuzI/AAAAAAAARl4/Ox7KLZD6V90/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
This was another sample for my students: It's dual drafting, in this case using regular wool and some glittery angelina what the hell held together and spun at the same time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJDINDhldIU/VNvRFwut8QI/AAAAAAAARnA/Ko-tUlaYc0Q/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJDINDhldIU/VNvRFwut8QI/AAAAAAAARnA/Ko-tUlaYc0Q/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41u6lqO5yMs/VNvRG-ljJaI/AAAAAAAARnI/62HnUi7aoGE/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41u6lqO5yMs/VNvRG-ljJaI/AAAAAAAARnI/62HnUi7aoGE/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I don't know if I blogged last winter's insane-athon. I'd wanted as much yardage as possible, so I'd spun it as fine as possible, which apparently is pretty damn fine. It was half silk, which also makes the frog's hair stuff easier to do. It took three damn months.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCkEofcFXbA/VNvRA_mnlHI/AAAAAAAARmY/OYaVAZsAQcA/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCkEofcFXbA/VNvRA_mnlHI/AAAAAAAARmY/OYaVAZsAQcA/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
I got 750 yards of three ply yarn out of four ounces of fiber. I'm pretty sure that's a new record.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7XrFdEpI9E/VNvRAyBLG1I/AAAAAAAARmc/lyREbF9_L1M/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7XrFdEpI9E/VNvRAyBLG1I/AAAAAAAARmc/lyREbF9_L1M/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
I'm never doing it again, at least not without a tensioned lazy kate. That was ridiculous.<br />
<br />
I even know what I want to do with this yarn. It's just a matter of finishing sixty other things first. As usual.<br />
<br />
Right, finally got the spinning photos to show up. Maybe tomorrow I can mess around with something new.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-25875487489179277122015-02-01T17:25:00.000-05:002015-02-01T17:25:30.964-05:00Secret RecipeThis was supposed to be pictures of my spinning for the last year-ish, but, yeah.That would involve stash-diving in the Fiber Closet (of DOOM), and I'm trying to get more organized, not less. Maybe tomorrow if the kid goes to school. (It's snowing right now, we're due for freezing rain [OF DOOM] later tonight.)<br />
<br />
Instead, one of those family (and by family, I mean just me and the husbeast, the way it started) jokes that get really out of hand and before you know it, you're hearing it from a friend of a friend and going "wait, what?"<br />
<br />
Okay. This is a food joke, and there has to be background on this one. I'm one of the freakazoids the geneticists (or whoever names this stuff) have been calling "super tasters", which I personally think is a shit name that makes an annoying genetic glitch sound like a super power. Long story short, any complex flavor, and my brain goes "Derp, dunno how to sort that out, BITTER!" (More info on this, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertaster">HERE</a>.) As a kid, I had a reputation as a picky eater, for obvious reasons. Of course instead of taking this as a legit issue, or even POSSIBLY a legit issue, the whole extended family thought it was some kind of prima-donna attitude case behavior. (I don't like dark chocolate. CHOCOLATE. What kid turns their nose up at good chocolate? That's not attitude, that's weird.)<br />
<br />
So, me, picky eater and attitude case as thought of by the family.<br />
<br />
I spent summers with my cousins in Indiana until I was about fifteen. And, of course, my mother and my aunt somehow made a huge deal about my diet, as usual. (I was more than happy to not eat, and didn't whine much, if at all, but somehow no one noticed this while having hour-long discussions about what to feed me.) This was the status quo. You know how you get this fixed image of someone in your head, however they were, the last time you saw a lot of them? This is the image that got stuck in everyone's head.<br />
<br />
Oh, and also? I couldn't cook.<br />
<br />
Right. Well, as we all (hopefully) do, I grew up, moved away, got a life, and decided to learn too cook so I didn't starve or go broke on takeout. Cooking for myself made it possible to tailor the food to my tastes, so, shocker, I started eating more diverse things. And if I couldn't eat EXACTLY what I made everyone else, I could do a mini version for myself. (I still do this. Big pot of spaghetti sauce, then I pull out some for me before I throw herbs in the rest that make it taste funky to me. I can be as picky as I want, when I'm the cook.)<br />
<br />
My aunt and uncle, of the Early Years, visited Hawaii on vacation while I was living out there. So I invited them over for dinner. AS ONE DOES WHEN ONE IS AN ADULT. I was about thirty at the time. Late twenties, for sure. You know, just possibly changed from the skinny thirteen year old they remembered. Just a tiny bit.<br />
<br />
I made, oh, I don't remember, but a decent meal. Chicken, veggies, rolls, the usual. From scratch, though I bought the bread. My aunt and uncle, who apparently were expecting me to call out for (plain) pizza or something, were flabbergasted. They went on and on and on about how good it all was. My aunt had wanted to know what I did to the corn to make it so good. Was it a secret recipe?<br />
<br />
Heh.<br />
<br />
General rule? The fewer ingredients you have in a dish, the better the quality needs to be, of all the ingredients because you'll notice them more. I'd gotten the best quality corn I could find, warmed it up, and put butter, salt, and pepper on it.<br />
<br />
Obviously, "Secret Recipe" in this house means "Warm it up and put butter on it." We have secret recipe bread, and secret recipe veggies of all kinds, and occasionally secret recipe steak without the butter. Long, long LONG running joke. "How'd you cook this?" "Secret recipe." "Oh, cool."<br />
<br />
Fast-forward ANOTHER fifteen-odd years, to Thanksgiving at my in-laws' this year. Some friends of the family had gotten stuck in town due to weather, and so my MIL had invited them over. Her friend had brought asparagus, and we're chatting in the kitchen, and the friend says "Oh, I thought I'd just use the secret recipe." I stared, and she immediately added "You know, warm it up and put butter on it."<br />
<br />
Right. Secret Recipe. Sounds good. Pass it over.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-35882052509653506232015-01-26T02:00:00.001-05:002015-01-26T02:00:57.767-05:00And so, the Goober. I'll eventually get around to where I've been for the last year (if for no other reason than to document it and hopefully get a few laughs). But it veered mostly between lots of pain and lots of annoyance. I'm trying to decide if I should name names, with the doctors. At the least, I'll get into where you can find the one who called me "sweetie".<br />
<br />
But first, some year in review stuff, and of course, the best thing of the year was the kiddo. Because she's awesome.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t1KsSqfUbdI/VMXh6hbJW5I/AAAAAAAARfM/r1StZUVVMh4/s1600/IMG_20140712_205537_075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t1KsSqfUbdI/VMXh6hbJW5I/AAAAAAAARfM/r1StZUVVMh4/s1600/IMG_20140712_205537_075.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
This is the best thing, I think. That's her, face down and asleep with a book. She's started reading voraciously, mostly YA novels. I started the European tradition of letting her open a book gift on Christmas Eve, and allowing her to stay up as late as she liked, reading. Most weekends she'll fall asleep reading in the evenings. It's awesome.<br />
<br />
There was a thing I'm having trouble adjusting to, though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmxSLeNarSs/VMXihhqQMMI/AAAAAAAARfU/r5r_UvVzADs/s1600/IMG_20140517_190314_470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmxSLeNarSs/VMXihhqQMMI/AAAAAAAARfU/r5r_UvVzADs/s1600/IMG_20140517_190314_470.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
She's got all these OPINIONS all of a sudden. (No, really, it's a hoot.)<br />
<br />
She turned nine. After a week of not being able to make up her mind, at the last minute, she asked for the same cake I always make. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNcWM4jEE34/VMXjLb8c7sI/AAAAAAAARfs/5rNC835x8RM/s1600/IMG_20140906_192055_836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNcWM4jEE34/VMXjLb8c7sI/AAAAAAAARfs/5rNC835x8RM/s1600/IMG_20140906_192055_836.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And, big one, SHE IS WEARING MY CLOTHES. </div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MRoPDh89uL0/VMXjIGZZQHI/AAAAAAAARfk/813gZEkox64/s1600/IMG_20141222_161638_068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MRoPDh89uL0/VMXjIGZZQHI/AAAAAAAARfk/813gZEkox64/s1600/IMG_20141222_161638_068.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pabAOQYBrWk/VMXjFqh-PUI/AAAAAAAARfc/1CihlbiIJ_w/s1600/IMG_20150106_101328_392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pabAOQYBrWk/VMXjFqh-PUI/AAAAAAAARfc/1CihlbiIJ_w/s1600/IMG_20150106_101328_392.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Granted, the shirt is from the Skinny Years, and the boots were tight, but. THOSE ARE MY CLOTHES. How did this happen? (I totally earned Mom Points though, she told me half an hour before the bus that she needed a "Hawaiian shirt" to wear. OH LOOK WHO HAS A COLLECTION.)<br />
<br />
She finally learned to swim, thank the gods. And she started piano lessons a couple weeks ago. (Husbeast and I have been debating... is it wrong to push your kid - into band, in our case - when we're pushing them toward something FUN?)<br />
<br />
Lately, she's been yelling "MOM, I'M HOME." every afternoon on the front walk before coming inside. I guess so the neighbors know too? Whatever, it's adorable.<br />
<br />
Another landmark this year, though not a positive one like the others.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPGZjFSrO-E/VMXkd61319I/AAAAAAAARf4/1XF4ahKPOog/s1600/IMG_20141208_200346_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPGZjFSrO-E/VMXkd61319I/AAAAAAAARf4/1XF4ahKPOog/s1600/IMG_20141208_200346_576.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Emergency room trip. That there's an infected salivary gland. (Honestly. When does anyone do anything normal in this house? Forget strep throat or tonsillitis, no, let's puff up like a lopsided hamster instead.) Usually that doesn't warrant an ER trip, but that puff up there appeared in a single hour. That thing where you're freaked out, but you can't freak out or your kid will freak out? Definitely a suckier side of parenting. We went to the children's hospital. They prescribed antibiotics and Sour Patch Kids candy. I wish I were kidding. The sour makes the salivary glands work over time, which is good. But. How many kids in the world go to the ER and come home with a prescription for candy? SERIOUSLY?<br />
<br />
But yeah, the year in Goobie. She's chugging along, nothing gets her down for long. Of course, when you lead a charmed life with prescriptions for candy, life is pretty good.<br />
<br />
Oh, and she went as Bubbles at Halloween<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NK97C4sYLU/VMXlX8nlJlI/AAAAAAAARgA/UYtGjcsIcrY/s1600/IMG_20141031_175047_143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NK97C4sYLU/VMXlX8nlJlI/AAAAAAAARgA/UYtGjcsIcrY/s1600/IMG_20141031_175047_143.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
We spent the two weeks ahead of the holiday, while I was making the costume, singing the theme song. Doot doot do do dee doo do!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-64865924469069314572015-01-22T17:35:00.001-05:002015-01-22T19:40:43.570-05:00Guys. GUYS. Fiberheads who take pictures!During the Yule madnesss this year, I had seen a little clip-on lens thingie at Amazon for $10. I try to do close-up photography of yarn (usually), and it often looks like crap. It was only $10. For that, I could give it a try. I put it on my Christmas list, and the husbeast and his dad both tried to buy it for me, but by then they were out of stock. I had a sad. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMJ5EQS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">LINKIE HERE!</a> I remembered to add it.)<br />
<br />
After the holidays, I wondered if they had more, and they were on sale! So I got a set.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiUaPWfdehA/VMF2tTzvM7I/AAAAAAAARds/Uz-aZt2EJro/s1600/IMG_20150122_151518_622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiUaPWfdehA/VMF2tTzvM7I/AAAAAAAARds/Uz-aZt2EJro/s1600/IMG_20150122_151518_622.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tm9AehcgWsY/VMF2tZTj9SI/AAAAAAAARds/Hk4de_LJqA0/s1600/IMG_20150122_151308_140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tm9AehcgWsY/VMF2tZTj9SI/AAAAAAAARds/Hk4de_LJqA0/s1600/IMG_20150122_151308_140.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You get a little clippy dohicky and three lenses that you can put together different ways. Basically, a fish-eye, and two variations of close up macros. You clip 'em over the camera hole on your whatever. I'm showing it here on my iThing mini, so I can take a picture of it, but I'm using it clipped to my phone for the example pictures. It's meant for iThings and Samsung Galaxies, but the issue is about fit, not whether the camera can 'use' the lens. My phone's a Motorola Photon and its just fine. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See? Clippy bit: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0Av0AE9QCs/VMF30ZPG7qI/AAAAAAAARd0/StT7uq95_iU/s1600/IMG_20150122_151449_350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0Av0AE9QCs/VMF30ZPG7qI/AAAAAAAARd0/StT7uq95_iU/s1600/IMG_20150122_151449_350.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
The fish-eye lens has some potential, though it's not remotely what I need and wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't part of the whole set. (It even came with lens caps and a little bag to put them in.) But, hey, new lens, let's play. Below, the back yard, with and without the fisheye lens.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_takjbcTZFs/VMF5FeZRU1I/AAAAAAAARd8/orDxYqNHAbY/s1600/IMG_20150122_151718_058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_takjbcTZFs/VMF5FeZRU1I/AAAAAAAARd8/orDxYqNHAbY/s1600/IMG_20150122_151718_058.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EePlCBcsCk0/VMF5FdVLDYI/AAAAAAAARd8/1XzbBBJ2aKs/s1600/IMG_20150122_151707_641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EePlCBcsCk0/VMF5FdVLDYI/AAAAAAAARd8/1XzbBBJ2aKs/s1600/IMG_20150122_151707_641.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It seems obvious, but the top is without the lens, bottom is with. Fireworks shows may become fun. And I wanna try this on the Wall o' Cascade at the yarn shop.<br />
<br />
<br />
But! The fun comes when I use the super-close up lens, to take pictures of yarn, which was the whole plan.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeSbmFLWnw4/VMF5z79kqDI/AAAAAAAAReE/cpWZVLEpl_c/s1600/IMG_20150122_152643_624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeSbmFLWnw4/VMF5z79kqDI/AAAAAAAAReE/cpWZVLEpl_c/s1600/IMG_20150122_152643_624.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQskZCEJj20/VMF5zwhczdI/AAAAAAAAReE/4Nk0U80oaMo/s1600/IMG_20150122_152620_734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQskZCEJj20/VMF5zwhczdI/AAAAAAAAReE/4Nk0U80oaMo/s1600/IMG_20150122_152620_734.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
BWAHAHAHA. The top photo is without the lens, the bottom is with. Isn't that fantastic? It makes me look like I know what I'm doing. (Yes, that is hand spun yarn. Yes, I did it. I got 750 yards of three ply out of 4 ounces of 50/50 silk/merino blend. Yes, it took forever. No, I don't know why we're still discussing my sanity as if there's a question about it.)<br />
<br />
So there you are, a super fun thing for low cost. Woohoo.<br />
<br />
This is my first try, blogging from my iThing with the bluetooth keyboard (whee fun technology) I'll be back later too add a direct link to the lenses, but they're on Amazon.<br />
<br />
Happy picture taking!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-17183526667265256322015-01-21T16:17:00.000-05:002015-01-21T16:17:09.612-05:00Damn it, Honu.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzxUrsdRkxU/VMAXRrmSl6I/AAAAAAAARa8/7ITDvPxFlCA/s1600/IMG_20150121_160930_362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzxUrsdRkxU/VMAXRrmSl6I/AAAAAAAARa8/7ITDvPxFlCA/s1600/IMG_20150121_160930_362.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-90817948860826022702014-09-13T12:13:00.000-05:002014-09-13T12:13:34.573-05:00Twist Collective, fall 2014Y'know, I had mostly quit blogging and reviews, because I was so damn tired of all the OMG DRAMA that seemed to come with it. But if I'm getting dragged into six year old drama anyway, fuck it, I'll do what I want.<br />
<br />
For years now, a friend of mine (hi, T!) has been telling me to do more reviews besides VK. People find them helpful, and it wouldn't look as much like I was picking on anyone that way. Since Twist is the polar opposite of VK in just about every way possible, I decided to start with it.<br />
<br />
A WORD ON BUSINESS MODELS: Traditional, on-paper, pay-for-it magazines make money by selling magazines, and advertising. They can charge more for advertising, the more magazines they sell. (Seriously. advertising rates are based on subscriptions. There are auditing places set up to verify and everything.) Bottom line, if they want to make money, they gotta sell magazines. That is the only real priority. They don't need good knitting patterns, they don't need good tech editing, they don't need Big Name Designers, they can use cachet or reputation or anything they like, so long as the magazines sell. This, in my opinion, does not motivate them a damn to publish good patterns, or even interesting patterns. Just sell magazines.<br />
<br />
Twist Collective takes advantage of this crazy new thing we call the internet. The 'magazine' is on their web site for free. If you want a pattern, you pay for it, like you would over on Rav. Rates are reasonable, about the same as everywhere else I've seen. Twist gets a percentage, and the designer gets the majority of the fee. (They do make some money on advertising, I'm sure, and rates would be based on page loads, but I'll bet you the bulk of the revenue is from pattern sales.) Pattern sales, to happen, need good patterns. A dud means no money for anyone. A success can be really, surprisingly profitable. For instance <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sylvi">Sylvi</a> has over 1700 projects on Rav at the moment. Even if only 2/3 of those people paid for the pattern, that's a good chunk of change. More than any print magazine could hope to pay a designer. This business model DEPENDS on the magazine producing popular, well-edited, solid designs in as many sizes as possible. (More sizes equal more potential customers.) Essentially, it has to produce stuff we want to knit, to survive.<br />
<br />
This business model is why you'll find some of the best designers working for Twist these days, and why every single issue will have at least one (and usually many) things that you'd really like to knit and wear.<br />
<br />
I'll be going over the patterns only (I do not want to be here all day, I promised my kid and hub a trip to the book store). But there ARE articles, and they are good. There won't be much commentary on "why this sucks" for the reasons stated above - none of it sucks. It can't, if they want to stay in business. Some things look better on some body types than others, as with all clothes, I'll talk about that since y'all seem to find it helpful. And possibly about color, as needed. I'm leaving out all the tech info I usually include, instead just putting a link to the tech page for each pattern instead. Y'all can look for yourselves if you want to. Pictures and stuff in quotes is from the web site, every thing else is by little old me.<br />
<br />
First section, "Joyride". FYI, Twist is based in Paris, of all places (I know, RIGHT?) so the photo shoots are always amazing. Unfortunately, just like any other magazine, pretty pictures do not equal being able to see WTF, but their tech pages have close ups of interesting design, which is very nice and not usual.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1849-weft-by-holli-yeoh">Weft, by Holli Yeoh</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RcKVbaUlvT4/VBRab5dUEdI/AAAAAAAAQdg/aLI4mDWCvmk/s1600/weft01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RcKVbaUlvT4/VBRab5dUEdI/AAAAAAAAQdg/aLI4mDWCvmk/s1600/weft01.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
As we know, I am not a fan of the horizontal look-how-wide-I-am stripe. BUT. This one also has a nice vertical line with the outlined button band down the front, and you could do a solid color instead of the stripes, still get the herringbone effect with the darker color, and have a really nice sweater. And just to support what I was saying about business models, this thing comes in nine sizes. NINE!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1830-hullabaloo-by-sandi-rosner">Hullabaloo by Sandi Rosner </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yAU1vPgLmcQ/VBRbbFNs0FI/AAAAAAAAQdo/d0mdjNNAGak/s1600/hullabaloo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yAU1vPgLmcQ/VBRbbFNs0FI/AAAAAAAAQdo/d0mdjNNAGak/s1600/hullabaloo.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Socks. About which I have not much to say. They are nice socks, probably very well tech-edited, and come in three sizes. I can't imagine riding a bike in those shoes, but I use toe clips. It's refreshing to see "look, nice socks" copy writing instead of "look at our never-before-seen amazingly HIGH FASHION SOCKS".<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1844-kokliko-by-barbara-gregory">Kokliko by Barbara Gregory </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4ONb_7emdk/VBRcSk91RCI/AAAAAAAAQdw/Xe3fKV-W3r8/s1600/kokliko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4ONb_7emdk/VBRcSk91RCI/AAAAAAAAQdw/Xe3fKV-W3r8/s1600/kokliko.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Much the same thoughts on these as the socks. $6 for a hat, mitten, and cowl set seems like a bargain. And multiple sizes in mittens is pretty awesome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1851-smarty-by-alison-green">Smarty by Alison Green</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9f3C9lmydoU/VBRc4Qiox3I/AAAAAAAAQd8/RnVzjkkQ7jI/s1600/smarty01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9f3C9lmydoU/VBRc4Qiox3I/AAAAAAAAQd8/RnVzjkkQ7jI/s1600/smarty01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
This is styled as a very fitted sweater, and it's very nice that way. As you see, pair it with a skirt and you can make it pretty dressy. I bet it's just as nice with a looser fit, worn as a jacket. I appreciate they've got a model with actual boobs in this thing so we can see how it works on real figures. Detailing on this is pretty cool:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LuOF91WErpg/VBRc8CaugKI/AAAAAAAAQeE/cTEj_aUiSyo/s1600/smarty02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LuOF91WErpg/VBRc8CaugKI/AAAAAAAAQeE/cTEj_aUiSyo/s1600/smarty02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpS_9prvNmI/VBRdALoMu6I/AAAAAAAAQeM/ikYlVZSfPZg/s1600/smarty03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpS_9prvNmI/VBRdALoMu6I/AAAAAAAAQeM/ikYlVZSfPZg/s1600/smarty03.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
You can't see it well here, I don't think, but the cables are in two different colors. You could have some real fun with that, and make it match most of your wardrobe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1828-safra-by-susanna-ic">Safra by Susanna IC</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWEeUTW9n4Q/VBReAQCrcWI/AAAAAAAAQeU/cBpvkmPod54/s1600/safra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWEeUTW9n4Q/VBReAQCrcWI/AAAAAAAAQeU/cBpvkmPod54/s1600/safra.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Two-in-one, you can knit it as a scarf (left) or a crescent (right). Done in worsted weight, so it's gonna be thick and heavy. Which is both a good and bad thing, depending on what you want it for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1827-calais-by-ashwini-jambhekar">Calais by Ashwini Jambhekar </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1r4mZcAg5s0/VBReyh9NPpI/AAAAAAAAQec/_WuM_JTIPOw/s1600/calais01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1r4mZcAg5s0/VBReyh9NPpI/AAAAAAAAQec/_WuM_JTIPOw/s1600/calais01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
The tee-shirt shape is flattering to nearly everyone, and the detailing at the waist sucks in the fabric and gives you an actual waist. Woohoo. Only drawback is, you have got to get that shaping to hit you EXACTLY at your waist, or it's gonna look funky-weird, at best.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usJCT5LCDXk/VBRfH7YsmvI/AAAAAAAAQek/OciIFMhltXE/s1600/calais02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usJCT5LCDXk/VBRfH7YsmvI/AAAAAAAAQek/OciIFMhltXE/s1600/calais02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KY5UUF2O8N0/VBRfJ-b4D_I/AAAAAAAAQes/THQMVx-7qGc/s1600/calais03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KY5UUF2O8N0/VBRfJ-b4D_I/AAAAAAAAQes/THQMVx-7qGc/s1600/calais03.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
You can see on this last photo, how it's riding a little oddly and puckering, on this model. Some of this can be avoided by knitting it in a size that fits more loosely. But mostly? You HAVE to get the waist right on this one. Unfortunately it's knit bottom up (top down would allow you to try it on, in progress), which adds to the technical details. Not saying it's a bad pattern, just saying it'll take a good bit of effort to get to fit right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1831-mittens-by-annie-watts">Petersham by Annie Watts</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8RHEY-PgLkU/VBRgHG1b2WI/AAAAAAAAQe0/UzftdccTdoc/s1600/petersham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8RHEY-PgLkU/VBRgHG1b2WI/AAAAAAAAQe0/UzftdccTdoc/s1600/petersham.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Yep, those are mittens, all right. Kinda neat looking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1826-oleander-by-mara-marzocchi">Oleada by Mara Marzocchi </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUW-b3dn2v8/VBRgtjqTrEI/AAAAAAAAQe8/k2BaDIQ8FQE/s1600/oleada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUW-b3dn2v8/VBRgtjqTrEI/AAAAAAAAQe8/k2BaDIQ8FQE/s1600/oleada.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Hat and mittens set. I'd add some extra length to that hat so it didn't pop off my head. But it's your head and your hat. Up to you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1838-roxton-by-laura-chau">Roxton by Laura Chau </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-CRBLSaXq0/VBRhP_m4d7I/AAAAAAAAQfE/XVhQwqjOTVc/s1600/roxton01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-CRBLSaXq0/VBRhP_m4d7I/AAAAAAAAQfE/XVhQwqjOTVc/s1600/roxton01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Looks like a standard textured pullover, right? Alas, no. There are lace panels/strips in between the twisted stitch bits, making it a lot more openwork than it seems.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pA2_XgdGeyM/VBRh1mMD6hI/AAAAAAAAQfM/1inPgPHpDn0/s1600/roxton02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pA2_XgdGeyM/VBRh1mMD6hI/AAAAAAAAQfM/1inPgPHpDn0/s1600/roxton02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tai7N7KuQUc/VBRh62YwsdI/AAAAAAAAQfU/jpI0NMoyDf8/s1600/roxton03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tai7N7KuQUc/VBRh62YwsdI/AAAAAAAAQfU/jpI0NMoyDf8/s1600/roxton03.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
If it's cold enough for long sleeves, why have a sweater with holes in it? I don't understaaaaaaand. But, hey, you like it and wanna wear a tee shirt under it whenever you put it on, it's a perfectly nice sweater.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1821-latifolia-by-tori-seierstad">Latifolia by Tori Seierstad</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyrRDgjMN0I/VBRighI6RAI/AAAAAAAAQfg/9xyeD-MQWT4/s1600/latifolia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyrRDgjMN0I/VBRighI6RAI/AAAAAAAAQfg/9xyeD-MQWT4/s1600/latifolia.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
I'd have knit something called Latifolia with two shades of green (a yellow-green and a blue-green for the two types of chlorophyll), but I'm a literal-minded plant freak and may need to get a grip.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1852-akebia-by-kate-gilbert">Akebia by Kate Gilbert </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh4xdLI_R8Y/VBRjMHW_XQI/AAAAAAAAQfo/80Bzgr1229s/s1600/akebia01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh4xdLI_R8Y/VBRjMHW_XQI/AAAAAAAAQfo/80Bzgr1229s/s1600/akebia01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the best of the issue. Though this picture's crap. Hang on...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhLuCokhrFs/VBRjiu3WfiI/AAAAAAAAQfw/3IaFi4M2ILs/s1600/akebia02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhLuCokhrFs/VBRjiu3WfiI/AAAAAAAAQfw/3IaFi4M2ILs/s1600/akebia02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
There ya go. Pattern and color edge at wrists, neck, and waist. Personally, I'd leave the pattern and color off the bottom edge. Hips, what hips? Nothing to see here. But if you like your hips, good for you, and draw attention to those babies every chance you get. Anyway. For color substitution, try to stick with the dark body, light pattern combo here. The lighter colored pattern draws the eye to your face, shoulders, and hands (and hips, if you're into that). If I wasn't already fighting my way through a stranded color pullover, I'd knit this myself.<br />
<br />
<br />
Next section, "Artful". I don't know why knitting mags have sections like this, unless it's just to keep the reader's brains from melting. Which is helpful, now that I think of it that way. Also helpful to give reviewers a good place to stop for another cup of tea and to pet the cat.<br />
<br />
ANYWAY! More sweaters, and shawls, and stuff!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1823-caledonia-by-quenna-lee">Caledonia by Quenna Lee </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8By2tf6YFA/VBRnonkDZwI/AAAAAAAAQf8/02A3TFDNMX0/s1600/caledonia01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8By2tf6YFA/VBRnonkDZwI/AAAAAAAAQf8/02A3TFDNMX0/s1600/caledonia01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Awesome photo, not so good on details...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7b75f5AjVX8/VBRnyKQs0qI/AAAAAAAAQgE/tsXWSYfE-r4/s1600/caledonia02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7b75f5AjVX8/VBRnyKQs0qI/AAAAAAAAQgE/tsXWSYfE-r4/s1600/caledonia02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I have concerns about the shoulders. That neck is quite wide, and the shoulder straps quite narrow. If you've got broad shoulders anyway, you're good. But if you don't, consider adding some stitches on each side, make the neck narrower. Otherwise, damn fine sweater, I really like it, it'd be flattering on just about everyone.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1824-grania-by-rachel-coopey">Grania by Rachel Coopey</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC0XVXH_3T0/VBRoewLspuI/AAAAAAAAQgM/6BCvdizlvU0/s1600/grania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC0XVXH_3T0/VBRoewLspuI/AAAAAAAAQgM/6BCvdizlvU0/s1600/grania.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Nice. That pompom is gonna add weight to the top/end of the hat and make it flop around weirdly. But I am known for my anti-pompom views, so it's possible I'm biased on the whole thing. You could leave it off easily enough.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1842-corvina-by-angela-hahn">Corvina by Angela Hahn</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b03uRWvLBvQ/VBRpBEs8DnI/AAAAAAAAQgY/2qTM35CPt-0/s1600/corvina01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b03uRWvLBvQ/VBRpBEs8DnI/AAAAAAAAQgY/2qTM35CPt-0/s1600/corvina01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2TSCReYtzS4/VBRpEH588LI/AAAAAAAAQgg/ieStB3xn8FQ/s1600/corvina02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2TSCReYtzS4/VBRpEH588LI/AAAAAAAAQgg/ieStB3xn8FQ/s1600/corvina02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Raglan pullover with cable and lace detailing at shoulders and wrists. I wonder how that neck line isn't curling more. Either there's a hem there, or it's been starched, or something. I'd use a pure, solid color for this, because you can see, even with the slight color shifting in this yarn, the cables are getting kind of lost. Lighter colors are better at showing cables, too. Cables cast shadows that get lost in darker yarn and hey, is that a cable?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1837-fluence-by-lana-jois">Fluence by Lana Jois</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1_UGNtrzJM/VBRqH61vhiI/AAAAAAAAQgo/1y7eFXw8o7c/s1600/fluence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1_UGNtrzJM/VBRqH61vhiI/AAAAAAAAQgo/1y7eFXw8o7c/s1600/fluence.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Shawl-wrap thingie with neat edge treatment. I strongly suggest doing that edge in garter stitch, because this version, in stockinette?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CawkyxWBIr0/VBRqXcgaGUI/AAAAAAAAQgw/IAfPzt18xf0/s1600/fluence01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CawkyxWBIr0/VBRqXcgaGUI/AAAAAAAAQgw/IAfPzt18xf0/s1600/fluence01.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Probably freshly blocked, there, and already starting to curl. If you HAAAAVE to knit those chevrons in stockinette, do it as loosely as you possibly can - it'll curl less than tight stitches would.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1832-vest-by-rusty-baker">Ashling by Rusty Baker</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Dz-wNwFiZE/VBRq69aNnzI/AAAAAAAAQg4/_AVMj0JSvc0/s1600/ashling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Dz-wNwFiZE/VBRq69aNnzI/AAAAAAAAQg4/_AVMj0JSvc0/s1600/ashling.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Again, I don't understand. If it's cool enough for two layers, why have big holes in one? If you need a heavy cowl neck, why doesn't it have sleeves? SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO MEEEEE. (I know, I know. It's fashion/style vs. practicality/use. This is the story of my entire life.) In practical, non-whining information, watch the length on this. Unless you're one of the two people reading this who like your hips, a shorter length would result in less bulk around them. With two shirts and a pair of pants on, like the model, that's three layers of clothes around the part of your body most women are unhappy about to begin with. I'm just sayin'.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1825-fynele-by-rachel-coopey">Fynele by Rachel Coopey</a> (who names these things?)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfBMLYh47GA/VBRr4J1LLtI/AAAAAAAAQhE/rU4tb0ADWBY/s1600/fynele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfBMLYh47GA/VBRr4J1LLtI/AAAAAAAAQhE/rU4tb0ADWBY/s1600/fynele.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Hat and mitten combo. I do like that Twist's business model means that they need to produce season-appropriate patterns. No super-bulky mini skirts in the dead of winter. And mittens and hats in fall, when people who think ahead would be knitting them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1834-shawl-by-kristen-rengren">Sixpence by Kristen Rengren</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_UP_-z3LP8/VBRskodadPI/AAAAAAAAQhM/mTsRKMUa-K8/s1600/sixpence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_UP_-z3LP8/VBRskodadPI/AAAAAAAAQhM/mTsRKMUa-K8/s1600/sixpence.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Half-round shawl with interesting circular detailing. Nice. It's knit on size eight needles with heavy yarn, though, so take that into account when you're considering it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1841-heyday-by-marnie-maclean">Heyday by Marnie MacLean</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9-DZBVWY7Q/VBRtFApEMOI/AAAAAAAAQhU/l1oNarrEEbU/s1600/heyday01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9-DZBVWY7Q/VBRtFApEMOI/AAAAAAAAQhU/l1oNarrEEbU/s1600/heyday01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mc9VTzrdDBk/VBRtJdN913I/AAAAAAAAQhc/KZRdycUcnPg/s1600/heyday02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mc9VTzrdDBk/VBRtJdN913I/AAAAAAAAQhc/KZRdycUcnPg/s1600/heyday02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
We're back to patterns at your hips and do-you-really-wanna-do-that, but it's easy enough to leave off and the henley pattern/cut/style is really flattering for everyone. It's knit in reverse stockinette, some flat, but some in the round. Something to keep in mind if you hate purling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1845-candlesmoke-by-barbara-gregory">Candlesmoke by Barbara Gregory</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xcRJWn1r3S8/VBRuOY_OKmI/AAAAAAAAQhk/TTLBBeIXq4Q/s1600/candlesmoke01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xcRJWn1r3S8/VBRuOY_OKmI/AAAAAAAAQhk/TTLBBeIXq4Q/s1600/candlesmoke01.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I love swirl patterns, so these really made me go OOOO!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1820-hausti-by-susanna-ic">Hausti by Susanna IC </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OiHQAP8K9c0/VBRukuIyPdI/AAAAAAAAQhs/i2kDRXDtov8/s1600/hausti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OiHQAP8K9c0/VBRukuIyPdI/AAAAAAAAQhs/i2kDRXDtov8/s1600/hausti.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Another awesome but not terribly helpful picture. Seriously, the green against the purple, with the graffiti (street art? I'm saying street art) as a contrast to the softness of the yarn. BUT WAIT.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-noy0ow1jXkI/VBRvGbPYOBI/AAAAAAAAQh0/dbpsWNOrTv0/s1600/hausti02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-noy0ow1jXkI/VBRvGbPYOBI/AAAAAAAAQh0/dbpsWNOrTv0/s1600/hausti02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Aha. Better. Take a look, there is nothing on either of those edges to keep them from curling. (Though I like the beads. Nice detail.) If you're gonna knit as is, make sure the edges are knit as loosely as possible and plan on blocking it a lot.<br />
<br />
<br />
New section! Take a break and pet your nearest furry friend.<br />
<br />
<br />
Next (last?) section, Wavelengths. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1822-cardigan-by-theresa-schabes">Falkirk by Theresa Schabes</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iE83_4cjGNw/VBRwHDWn5tI/AAAAAAAAQh8/6_ET1mnGMDM/s1600/falkirk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iE83_4cjGNw/VBRwHDWn5tI/AAAAAAAAQh8/6_ET1mnGMDM/s1600/falkirk.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
I am decidedly 'eh' on this style of sweater. They remind me of bath robes. But they are comfortable and warm. Good news is, with the loose, drapey cut, fit isn't a real problem. It'd make a good first-fitted-sweater type project.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1836-wheat-fields-by-nancy-marchant">Wheat Fields by Nancy Marchant </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3AiMhzFp2E/VBRxC6plKKI/AAAAAAAAQiE/yvElTs_ZY3M/s1600/wheat%2Bfields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3AiMhzFp2E/VBRxC6plKKI/AAAAAAAAQiE/yvElTs_ZY3M/s1600/wheat%2Bfields.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Reversible scarf in brioche stitch. (Insert rant here, about scarves that look like ass on one side.) If you've wanted to try learning brioche stitch, which makes an amazingly awesome soft, fluffy, warm fabric, this would be a great first project.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1836-wheat-fields-by-nancy-marchant">Cliona by Caroline Levander</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tn7onvaU0EQ/VBRx7MINduI/AAAAAAAAQiQ/gEMejA8TO3I/s1600/cliona01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tn7onvaU0EQ/VBRx7MINduI/AAAAAAAAQiQ/gEMejA8TO3I/s1600/cliona01.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fqrv--qXKGc/VBRx6ws9r7I/AAAAAAAAQiM/QpTrLGwc8wg/s1600/cliona02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fqrv--qXKGc/VBRx6ws9r7I/AAAAAAAAQiM/QpTrLGwc8wg/s1600/cliona02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
This got another big OOOO! out of me. (Swirls and knotwork. What can I say? Celtic heritage. Does it show?) Really, REALLY nice. Comes in a bunch of sizes, and the cables are repetitive enough you won't lose your mind trying to work them. Drawback for some, the body is done in seed stitch. HOWEVER, the seed stitch means that the fabric doesn't need any other edging. I am probably going to knit this for myself. For whatever that's worth.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1843-greenery-by-helene-rush">Greenery by Helene Rush </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atWnfLT-pGQ/VBR0Rgw9crI/AAAAAAAAQig/kvG22YjvRjM/s1600/greenery01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atWnfLT-pGQ/VBR0Rgw9crI/AAAAAAAAQig/kvG22YjvRjM/s1600/greenery01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Mosaic yoke, regular stockinette body, mosaic detailing at waist. Cool idea.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTTy4N7Zlkg/VBR0fSUf0GI/AAAAAAAAQio/cmDISaiRWb0/s1600/greenery03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTTy4N7Zlkg/VBR0fSUf0GI/AAAAAAAAQio/cmDISaiRWb0/s1600/greenery03.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
There is a hey-look-hips aspect to this, but with the darker body and the way the colors work, it could actually be slimming. No, really. One thing I noticed, that I'm not sure of, is the little lace detail at the points of the yoke.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQKKxZd_eCg/VBR0zeuamAI/AAAAAAAAQiw/BomisRXq50E/s1600/greenery04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQKKxZd_eCg/VBR0zeuamAI/AAAAAAAAQiw/BomisRXq50E/s1600/greenery04.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Structurally, that's going to put stress on the single strand of yarn going through that point stitch. Doesn't REALLY matter, but if you knit for the ages (I do), that's likely where the sweater would fail first. I'd do it in regular stockinette. But, hey, your sweater.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1833-cardigan-by-ysolda-teague">Cahoots by Ysolda Teague </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj2RY5JrWps/VBR1cXvA8HI/AAAAAAAAQi4/Cc_B6FjBh5U/s1600/cahoots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj2RY5JrWps/VBR1cXvA8HI/AAAAAAAAQi4/Cc_B6FjBh5U/s1600/cahoots.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Dare I call this run of the mill? It kind of is. But. Ysolda's patterns are known for fit. So if you want a cardigan that fits Just. Damn. Right. this is probably the pattern for you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1840-vasalisa-by-jennette-cross">Vasalisa by Jennette Cross</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho4iGOSx2eY/VBR2DXWXyHI/AAAAAAAAQjA/OD4JG6XHuMs/s1600/vasalisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho4iGOSx2eY/VBR2DXWXyHI/AAAAAAAAQjA/OD4JG6XHuMs/s1600/vasalisa.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Hooray! A pattern with the plant motifs done in green! (I really need a grip.) Being a plant freak, mittens covered in little trees is adorkable to me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1848-ravenscrag-by-robin-melanson">Ravenscrag by Robin Melanson </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeTT3VToWbA/VBR2iCj8VXI/AAAAAAAAQjI/D5UBh7H3m2E/s1600/ravenscrag01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeTT3VToWbA/VBR2iCj8VXI/AAAAAAAAQjI/D5UBh7H3m2E/s1600/ravenscrag01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Cable-knit with an allover pattern. Nice. Unfortunately, if you knit it to fit this closely, there's a 'hey I circled my boobs so you can find them' sort of thing going on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzzZXbHUrB8/VBR2y3_lUQI/AAAAAAAAQjQ/42W3DEvhBrw/s1600/ravenscrag02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzzZXbHUrB8/VBR2y3_lUQI/AAAAAAAAQjQ/42W3DEvhBrw/s1600/ravenscrag02.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
A lot of the effect can be avoided by knitting a larger size. But you gotta think of this stuff if you have Boobs of Doom like I do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1854-paria-by-kate-gilbert">Paria by Kate Gilbert</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmActrWRCZg/VBR3Zy8V6nI/AAAAAAAAQjY/QAQhxqffPso/s1600/paria01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmActrWRCZg/VBR3Zy8V6nI/AAAAAAAAQjY/QAQhxqffPso/s1600/paria01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
What looks like a pretty standard pullover, gets kinda interesting when you look at details.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHMzK5tUYes/VBR3t0NHhSI/AAAAAAAAQjg/g1fJTvwMsd0/s1600/paria02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHMzK5tUYes/VBR3t0NHhSI/AAAAAAAAQjg/g1fJTvwMsd0/s1600/paria02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQnw1lwN5oM/VBR3tzsaC4I/AAAAAAAAQjk/J36fLhNVL7g/s1600/paria03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQnw1lwN5oM/VBR3tzsaC4I/AAAAAAAAQjk/J36fLhNVL7g/s1600/paria03.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Texture that helps give an illusion of an hourglass figure. And lots of visual interest. Especially helpful for those of us with boobs of doom that don't wanna circle them. It's done with DK yarn, so it won't take the rest of your life, either.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1835-tignish-by-luise-o-neill">Tignish by Luise O'Neill</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ALg-x9IarA/VBR4UHdzOwI/AAAAAAAAQjw/gVIejDBKN0c/s1600/tignish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ALg-x9IarA/VBR4UHdzOwI/AAAAAAAAQjw/gVIejDBKN0c/s1600/tignish.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
Nice shawl, done in heavier, season-appropriate yarn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1839-portiere-by-fiona-ellis">Portiere by Fiona Ellis</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfMaTGPZ3Yo/VBR4ws9WNQI/AAAAAAAAQj8/6fUUXw77IJo/s1600/portiere01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfMaTGPZ3Yo/VBR4ws9WNQI/AAAAAAAAQj8/6fUUXw77IJo/s1600/portiere01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8My2SbBjD4/VBR4wmNcE-I/AAAAAAAAQj4/qTUy6PWmDpI/s1600/portiere02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8My2SbBjD4/VBR4wmNcE-I/AAAAAAAAQj4/qTUy6PWmDpI/s1600/portiere02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Pullover with cabled detailing on body and wrists. This'd be a good starter project for cable knits.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/component/content/article/142-shop/fall-2014-patterns/1829-courant-by-barbara-benson">Courant by Barbara Benson</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFOsQpK4ID0/VBR5Ra8JPTI/AAAAAAAAQkI/4mHWV2P-WuY/s1600/courant01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFOsQpK4ID0/VBR5Ra8JPTI/AAAAAAAAQkI/4mHWV2P-WuY/s1600/courant01.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
This one gave me a real "whaaaaat?" moment. Yes, that is two color lace.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CggUpLN2EBs/VBR5cCckVTI/AAAAAAAAQkQ/eAeeuWHkzpk/s1600/courant02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CggUpLN2EBs/VBR5cCckVTI/AAAAAAAAQkQ/eAeeuWHkzpk/s1600/courant02.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Double the color, double the fun. Double the warmth. I suggest using two related colors, like you see here. If you go the black and white route, it may really confuse the eye.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And there you go. Why business models matter. And why we need more magazines like Twist Collective and fewer of the old school on-paper stuff. Hope y'all learned something.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
By the way, critics who claim I just sit at a computer and make smart remarks? This took two and a half hours. Bite me.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-28594719326654323872014-09-11T09:23:00.001-05:002014-09-11T09:23:18.332-05:00No words, then. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/alice-starmore">Alice Starmore. </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5GfC_HgFaE/VBGlpxOMYvI/AAAAAAAAQcE/Chi-WHq8cXE/s1600/St%2BBrigid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5GfC_HgFaE/VBGlpxOMYvI/AAAAAAAAQcE/Chi-WHq8cXE/s1600/St%2BBrigid.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/elizabeth-zimmermann">Elizabeth Zimmerman </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCBJlEzs-vs/VBGmhwqKjZI/AAAAAAAAQcM/KpWfT82bUfc/s1600/EZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCBJlEzs-vs/VBGmhwqKjZI/AAAAAAAAQcM/KpWfT82bUfc/s1600/EZ.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/marianne-isager?page=1">Marianne Isager </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6UI1_EwlHE/VBGnq3z-RJI/AAAAAAAAQcU/ZurWBLCMi34/s1600/Isager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6UI1_EwlHE/VBGnq3z-RJI/AAAAAAAAQcU/ZurWBLCMi34/s1600/Isager.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/norah-gaughan">Nora Gaugahn </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnqPphv-DZs/VBGopkw0_GI/AAAAAAAAQcc/DmnJW1cnWLs/s1600/Gaugahn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnqPphv-DZs/VBGopkw0_GI/AAAAAAAAQcc/DmnJW1cnWLs/s1600/Gaugahn.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kate-gilbert">Kate Gilbert </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nF0beqmqiko/VBGpZbNjIJI/AAAAAAAAQck/qjzfX6WwS1A/s1600/Gilbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nF0beqmqiko/VBGpZbNjIJI/AAAAAAAAQck/qjzfX6WwS1A/s1600/Gilbert.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephen-west">Stephen West </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O2weysPSUAE/VBGp-KykNzI/AAAAAAAAQcw/sgQ_ifqsIp0/s1600/West.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O2weysPSUAE/VBGp-KykNzI/AAAAAAAAQcw/sgQ_ifqsIp0/s1600/West.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/jared-flood">Jared Flood</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E0vqkTN5p0I/VBGqnF64mWI/AAAAAAAAQc4/KK1gBBjOyGo/s1600/Flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E0vqkTN5p0I/VBGqnF64mWI/AAAAAAAAQc4/KK1gBBjOyGo/s1600/Flood.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/franklin-habit">Franklin Habit </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNjEvguCZGU/VBGrQdMNiDI/AAAAAAAAQdE/fk4dQDvACoo/s1600/Habit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNjEvguCZGU/VBGrQdMNiDI/AAAAAAAAQdE/fk4dQDvACoo/s1600/Habit.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/josh-bennett">Josh Bennett </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ1zs7BzRsA/VBGwRGGekrI/AAAAAAAAQdQ/qZIdb0WwIf4/s1600/Bennett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ1zs7BzRsA/VBGwRGGekrI/AAAAAAAAQdQ/qZIdb0WwIf4/s1600/Bennett.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
There ya go.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-70387014700639171442014-09-11T07:38:00.001-05:002014-09-11T07:38:31.887-05:00Oh, for crying out loud. If you're here visiting about the NYT story, hi. Feel free to poke around the archives, all the infamous VK reviews are in the side bar.<br />
<br />
If you want to yell at me, you've got better odds of catching me over on twitter, I'm @SamuraiKnitter over there.<br />
<br />
Now excuse me, I'm busy being obsessive and lacerating.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-14306051481264548932014-03-29T15:46:00.002-05:002014-03-29T15:46:41.096-05:00Tools. This IS something I thought of myself, but I can't imagine I'm the only one. However, it was met with "OMFG GENIUS!" over on Twitter, so I'll share it with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qnZiEoZsp28/UzcuNqQJJcI/AAAAAAAAOYA/xZcMOQAgByA/s1600/IMG_20140328_210206_331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qnZiEoZsp28/UzcuNqQJJcI/AAAAAAAAOYA/xZcMOQAgByA/s1600/IMG_20140328_210206_331.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
This is the end of a scarf with the end darned in. I've got it on a brush base thingie, and that bit sticking out is a felting needle. (The brush base keeps you from felting your project to something else. I may have accidentally felted something to a cushion, which may be why I have it.) After some stabbing with the felting needle, I could rely on the end staying where I put it, so I cut the end off.<br />
<br />
This solves all the worries about darned in ends pulling loose again. And since it's a felting needle, it MECHANICALLY smashes the fibers together, so it can felt/snarl together ANY fibers, even 30% nylon like above, or even pure silk.<br />
<br />
I got these at my LYS, Natural Stitches, but I've seen them at JoAnn Fabric, and I'm sure someone sells them mail order.<br />
<br />
Enjoy your darned in ends!<br />
<br />
For your amusement, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaDzLP3TT_I">a You Tube video</a> of the manufacture of steel wool. It's needle felted. (The needle felting starts around 4:15.)Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21397483.post-52789887847827555922014-03-26T14:20:00.002-05:002014-03-26T14:20:57.437-05:00The state of the state. Of me. Or something. This is all about what's been going on for the last month in terms of my health. There is NOT a test later, I promise. If it bores you, please do skip it. If you're here for fiber, tune in tomorrow (?) for the gist of the spinning lesson I gave my bud M on Sunday night. (Twist and fluff and friction and balance and like that.)<br />
<br />
I'm only writing this down for my own records, the one or two of you who are interested, and to vent, because boy howdy, the bullshit.<br />
<br />
I guess the whole thing started last autumn. It's a combination of weather and emotional stress (it's like half my family died within a couple months of each other, WTF, you guys?). My GP was concerned because the constant pain was triggering sustained high blood pressure. I saw my pain doc, and she unenthusiastically dicked around with my meds a little bit, and sighed heavily at me. We went back and forth, annoyed each other, got nothing accomplished, and by the time I kicked the flu at the end of January, my blood pressure was back to normal and I was fed up and fuck it, we'd deal with the blood pressure when it came up again next October.<br />
<br />
Stress makes the pain worse, and it really annoys me when the doctors who're supposed to be helping, make things worse. Especially when it's avoidable stress caused just by being an asshole.<br />
<br />
So, end of February, the 21st, I went to see my pain doc again. My GP and I were poking around trying to find a different specialist, and did I mention fed up? I figured I'd try to force the issue. Yes, I was backing her into a corner, or trying to. Not for anything in particular, other than SOMETHING. What we were doing wasn't working. We needed to try something new.<br />
<br />
What I got instead was a flounce that was worthy of the internet, a refusal to ever prescribe narcotics to me again, and a whole lot of attitude. Did I mention flounce? She told me she'd give me a prescription for a different topical cream to try, and I should go to the Interdisciplinary Medicine clinic. And then flounced. In a swirl of lab coat. Like a female blonde Snidely Whiplash without the mustache.<br />
<br />
Yeah, fine, I'm bitter.<br />
<br />
She told me "if one narcotic doesn't work, there's no point trying another". So not only am I an addict, I guess, but I'm a moron, too? I did a paper on opium while I was studying botany. From an organic biochem viewpoint, I may know more about it than she does. Remember<a href="http://samuraiknitter.blogspot.com/2009/07/poppies-opium-and-other.html"> this</a>? Yeah. Not amusing.<br />
<br />
Plus, if I'm an addict, why am I not getting sent to a shrink or detox or something? Not even a drug test? I mean, really. If I'm so fucked up I deserve that flounce, I should really be at a mandatory shrink appointment somewhere.<br />
<br />
Monday (the appointment had been on a Friday), I called the Interdisciplinary clinic. I'd been asking to see someone about acupuncture and massage for four years, and the pain doctor had blown me off; now as a 'punishment', she'd sent me there. Damn right I was following up.<br />
<br />
They'd never heard of me. Pain doc never sent the referral. (Apparently I was supposed to be crying in my beer about no more narcotics and not want anything but drugs.) Right. I talked my way into an appointment anyway. Because finally! It's two days from now, on Friday. I feel like it's a pain control amusement park. I wanna try everything, then go back and redo everything that worked.<br />
<br />
Obviously I'm only in this for narcotics. Yeah, I'm still bitter.<br />
<br />
Oh, and the topical cream? She never sent the prescription for that, either.<br />
<br />
I need to write a hate letter to the HR department. I will just as soon as I can discuss this without swearing.<br />
<br />
ANYWAY.<br />
<br />
Laid the whole thing out for my GP. He's been awesome. He found an actual RSD specialist - the entire University of Pittsburgh Medical Center apparently has two, and the other one was an asshole I'd met before. (He walked into the exam room, first visit, stuck a temp gauge against each of my hands, told me I didn't have RSD, and walked out. There is a distinct relationship between half-assed exams and 'you don't have RSD'. Plus I'd been sitting on my hands to keep them warm, so the data was worthless, into the bargain.)<br />
<br />
Monday I saw the new guy. He and his minion/resident spent forty minutes taking an actual history and doing an actual exam. In news that shocks no one, doc agrees it looks like RSD but wants to do some tests to be absolutely sure before he starts treating me. This is annoying but absolutely the responsible thing to do. Otherwise he listened, didn't treat me like a moron, and y'know, acted like a doctor. So that's good. Also nice, humor does not equal 'oh you must be fine'. Which is good, 'cause the more pain I'm in, the more sarcastic I get. Y'all may have noticed.<br />
<br />
Drawback, I'm going to spend the next month getting needles stuck in me, so I'm gonna be real happy. I'll try and blog some sarcasm for y'all , I know you guys like that.<br />
<br />
My <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromyography">EMG</a> is scheduled for April 8. That means I can go see "The Winter Soldier" in the theater, the night before, to make sure my nervous system is good and fucked up.<br />
<br />
Whee haw. Pass the chocolate.<br />
<br />
Here, have some fiber. It's like Valium, but doesn't pop on drug tests.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZylpQa7xrPE/UzMmV0Nq5UI/AAAAAAAAOVs/qrFBGf1Ni7E/s1600/IMG_20140326_151035_892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZylpQa7xrPE/UzMmV0Nq5UI/AAAAAAAAOVs/qrFBGf1Ni7E/s1600/IMG_20140326_151035_892.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Ohm.<br />
<br />
Oh, and during all this? Kid and her teacher had a meltdown at school and I'm having to do meetings with the principal and other shit. Yeah.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You know, if I could have medical marijuana and unlimited Toradol without getting arrested or having kidney failure, I'd never ask for another narcotic.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11710658334966849773noreply@blogger.com8