And she knits, too

I know, I know. You don't believe I knit. But I dropped my first stitches in Jeanie last week, and I am moving along on Hanami.

Here's a quick peek, post-basketweave section but before beginning the petals:



I am pleased to announce I'm a lot farther than that now. More to come once it's finally time for the letter C!

And she can sew!

I have been exceedingly inspired by Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts. The birds were adorable. I also thought that the patchwork tablecloth project was nifty, and would make a great housewarming gift. I'm a bit belated on the housewarming, but I did decide to finish it up as a birthday gift for my dearest vegan friend, Sharyn.

The results are not bad in the slightest! I got a bit photo-happy, since this was very large and a bit difficult to photograph. If I had a rectangular table, all would be different!

The set:


The napkins:


The tablecloth:


Pretty fabrics:


Lucky for me, Sharyn and her wonderful husband have already been converting to using fabric napkins and such. Hopefully these colorful additions to her home will provide many years of use... at least until she can't stand the prints anymore and I make her a new set!

My TV boyfriend, and a Monday Me

Who is Your Ideal TV Boyfriend?

Created by BuddyTV

Not so sure about that. But it is Monday Me time, after all. In today's edition, we explore my geeky side. It's still a day early for an official ABC-Along (so no photos until tomorrow!) but my ultimate not-so-secret?

I'm a comics girl.

I read a few comics when I was a kid- I vaguely remember having a few issues of Betty and Veronica, and Casper the Ghost. But I was never a big fan, and I never would have wasted my allowance on comics when I could buy BOOKS. Luscious, lengthy, gorgeous books. I read on average a book a day well into middle school. This does explain a great deal of why I have no idea how to get anywhere in New Hampshire or New England despite living there for nearly sixteen years. I spent my childhood with my nose inserted firmly between pages of a novel, looking up only long enough to get out of the car. And oftentimes tripping then, since I wouldn't put the book down. My poor parents!

Something changed once I got to grad school. I was still reading novels voraciously, of course, even ones that had nothing to do with Victorian literature or whatever course in esoteric lit I happened to be enrolled in that semester. I started reading a lot more Young Adult fiction- most of which I skipped when I was in the target audience. I got into fantasy in fifth grade, after all, which sounded a death knell on most non-fantasy fiction (Victorian novels as always excluded... my first true love). Not only was I reading YA books to break the pace between scholarly essays and literary theory, I encountered the Sandman books- my first real comics destined for adults.

Gaiman and the Sandman series was my entryway. I moved on quickly from there. While at IU Bloomington, I stuck to comics I could get at the library- both the small collection at the university and the surprisingly fantastic selection at the public library in the middle of town. I also downed every manga I could find. Entering the world of Japanese comics was an obvious extension of my already full-fledged love for anime and Japanese animation. But I didn't branch out completely. I wasn't going to spend money on comics- I didn't have the money to spend, anyways. Money in grad school went to food and wine and essentially nothing else. Well, I suppose there was yarn. I did invest in a copy of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but rationalized it as practically Victorian and therefore relevant to my studies. I guess that was my first real exposure to Neo-Victorian and steampunk themes.

At my second job out of grad school, about six months after my Master's degree in fact, a coworker exposed me to two new series. He let me borrow the first volume of Global Frequency, and the first volume of Ex Machina. I missed my metro stop on the way home, I was so engrossed. I can read a trade volume in just about two metro trips, so one workday. And then I read them again. His two borrowed books set me on my current path- I am genuinely obsessed with comics. I still read them from the library when possible (the fact that Transmetropolitan is available at the public library frankly freaks me out- I certainly wouldn't have wanted my 15 year old self reading it). I buy only a few things, and only trade paperbacks- I will not allow myself to get into the weekly comic obsession.

It's a logical thing, to move from Victorian novels to the combined art and writing of the comic form. The literature of the people is shifting to a medium that is more immediate, more vibrant, and no less eloquent when done well. Gaiman may have replaced the French theorists in my reading habits, but he is no less philosophical. I may no longer read the quantity of "classic" novels that I used to, but I don't miss the time spent very much. Who would have imagined that the kid reading Shakespeare in fifth grade would end up preferring social indictments in comic book form and business manuals? The medium has changed, but the message has not.

Along that vein, I can recommend a few gateway comics for anyone interested in checking them out:
1- Ex Machina tracks the rise to power of a politician who is, essentially, a super hero. Sort of. Certainly political in nature- the first few issues are stunning.

2- Fables is brilliantly written, brilliantly drawn, and does an amazing job of taking fairy tales into reality. A comic very well fitted for literature fans, since many of the lesser-known fables are esoteric enough to make you feel smart when you recognize them.

3- The Sandman is possibly the most eye-opening piece of work I have ever encountered. If you aren't ready for comics, you can still get a taste of one of the best contemporary writers around by reading Gaiman's American Gods. Fans of myth and literature should consider it a true must-read.

There are so many other excellent series, and I have read only a fraction of what is out there. Check a few things out, and see what interests you. I still can't bear to read the real superhero stuff, but then a lot of superhero fans would gag at Ex Machina. There are comics for every taste!

Knit knit knit!

I may not have had visible signs of my knitting to post lately, but I have by no means been ignoring it. I knit like a madwoman over the weekend, in fact. In between naps and long long sleeps at night- it's been a stressful week and I spent most of the weekend attempting to recover. My back has hunched up in pain again, but with the help of my back exercises and yoga, I think that the pain is manageable. Hurray, this winter will not repeat last winter's physical therapy regimen!

As to what I have been knitting so industriously... I am back on Hanami full-time to finish her before the cherry blossom festival. How could I live in DC and not model my shawl in front of the cherry blossoms which she depicts?

She is very much a she. And I have completed the basketweave section, and am moving into the blossom part. This is fantastic! It is flowing through my fingers so fast I really need to wind up my next ball of yarn.

I have a photo or two as proof, but I think I need to save them for a few days. Letting that expectation build. It's all about delayed gratification around here!

Wonder if I'll ever swatch for Autumn Rose this month... or finish a certain special project that's due next week from my sewing queue... Goals are made to be ignored.

Monday Me and a B to boot!

My Monday Me (still coming at you Monday night, ie on time) is about cooking. This post is ALSO an alphabetical post!

Because B is for Brussel sprouts. And boy, do I love them. Here's my favorite way to prepare them:


I make them with Heidi's fantastic recipe from her site, 100 cookbooks, for Golden-Crusted Brussels Sprouts and every single time they're delicious (if not always the same). They're the best of all when I remember to add cheese on top, but they're pretty darn fantastic no matter what. The trick is to get them nice and caramel-y but not too burnt, and to let them cook long enough with the lid on so they're nice and crisp but not too crunchy throughout.

I've also been very enamored with making my own little pasta sauce lately. The recipe is different every time, but it's something like this:

20 Minute Pasta Sauce
can of tomato sauce (the plain little can, with NO added salt)
can of diced tomatoes (ditto about the no added salt)
sprinkle of salt (aren't I a hypocrite!)
dash of fresh-ground pepper
big flop of Italian seasoning (I like Mrs. Dash, no added salt and no MSG, but I've also just thrown in a ton of basil and oregano and whatever else I have on hand that sounds pasta-like) (I should note that I hate the Safeway brand Italian seasoning, since it isn't chopped fine enough and tastes bad. You've been warned)
dash of garlic powder (if I were less lazy, I'd finely mince some garlic and fry it up in the pan first, but let's be real here).
Extra virgin olive oil (some? Maybe a few tablespoons?)
balsamic vinegar (if I have it, about half a tablespoon)

- throw everything in a pan and mix up. Heat on medium until it starts to boil, then turn the heat down to low and simmer, covered, while you heat up water for pasta and cook the pasta. Makes enough for 2 servings for me, or 3-4 for normal people who are not obsessed with pasta sauce.

I like using fresh tomatoes, too, but those don't last long around here.


MMM. B is definitely for brussels sprouts and bowtie pasta. B is obviously for food!

Who needs knitting

I have now cast on for Jeanie three times. Three bloody times. But that's fine, because the third time was apparently the charm, and now it's going like a dream. I'm on the first cable row! Nevermind that means I'm on row 7 of a gazillion! I'll get there.

Since there's not much to photograph with only 7 rows, and I'm very angry with my half-finished sock, I'm going to continue this trend of non-knitting content until I either break down and finish the sock or photograph it in its naked undressed state.

This is Restaurant Week here in DC- my favorite time of year. No slouch on the reservations, I booked myself for FOUR meals this year. I try to get out and experience new places, but I admit that this winter I wanted some comforting and I am visiting two new and two familiar places. So far, I've been to one of each category!

Ceiba was a great pick for the start of the week. I went for drinks on Tuesday with my friend Dan and my lawyer-knitter-friend Stephanie and experienced the potency of caipirinhas. After cocktails, Stephanie headed off for the evening and Dan and I enjoyed a truly delectable meal. Every dish was en pointe, and they did have some options for a sorta-kosher girl... though not many. Lucky for me and my girlish figure, the options I was left with were not only tasty but healthy to boot! I had a green salad and salmon over mashed potatoes with broccolini. I skipped the sauce, since it had ham in it, but the salmon was still flaky and moist. We had a South American rosé with dinner, which was a good pair to the fish. To round off my otherwise healthy meal, I had a delectable flan for dessert. Dan seemed taken with his braised pork shank (it looked good, for treif), and I definitely will add Ceiba to my restaurant rotation list. I might go for a slightly less intoxicating drink next time, though.

Tonight, a coworker and I went to TenPenh near Metro Center. I have been there before during Restaurant Week (a year ago, in fact), and I loved it. The menu is extensive, the cocktails tasty, and they always bring little amuses-bouches before and after the meal. I find it unsurprising that TenPenh and Ceiba are actually part of the same restaurant group, along with Acadiana and DC Coast. I want to try those two soon! At any rate, TenPenh did not disappoint. My "girly cocktail" was pink and delicious, and my TenPenhpolitan was a perhaps unnecessary but endlessly delicious second drink. I chose to eat the vegetarian spring rolls and they were enormous. They are served with three dipping sauces, and I loved them all. My coworker went with the chicken roti, which was just as tasty and with a very kicky dipping sauce. He selected the beef tenderloin for dinner, and I was pleased to see a few different kosher options- mostly fish. I had halibut with a pineapple-hot pepper sauce and mashed sweet potatoes which was immensely flavorful if a bit spicier than I expected. The halibut was really superb, so I have added another fish to my relatively small rotation of fish I can order safely. I never really ate fish as a kid, but I'd eat it 1-2 times a week now, if I could. Laziness is about all that gets in the way, since I won't eat fish that isn't fresh and it's somewhat rare that I get to the grocery store. Did I mention dessert at TenPenh was a milk chocolate brownie with kona ice cream? Mmm.

So far, we're two for two this Restaurant Week. And here's a quick iPhone view of our place settings this evening, care of my coworker's new toy!

A is for Abode

A big part of what makes my abode special and unique to me is the massive amounts of yarn storage. Instead of a picture of my apartment, which I am not taking because I still have not completed the great clean-a-thon of January 2008, I'll share a fairly recent photo of my coffee table - the one thing that's been constant in my own home since I moved out. I wanted this one Ikea table desperately when I moved to Bloomington, but wasn't sure I could afford it. One visit back home with my car, I did purchase it. My best gal Sharyn and I put it together the day I drove back (in hindsight, a terrible idea... but we did a great job!). It's been with me in every house of my own since- first there in Bloomington, then in Rockville, and now Bethesda. If/when I move again, it will be there, too. It's not gorgeous wood or anything, but it is so homey to me. And you can't argue with that many shelves of yarn storage! My parents offered me their 3 piece Ethan Allen living room table set, and I had to turn them down. Their tables don't even have drawers!

There's yarn hiding in all those baskets, and my swift and ballwinder are on the middle shelf. There's also sheet music in the binder, nail polish for my girliness, a coaster because I care about things like that, and the toe of Jamie's boot. Because as strange as it seems, he's already home to me.


A quick peek at my last few abodes:

Rockville, circa late 2005/early 2006


Bloomington, circa November 2004


Mom & Dad's in Ellicott City, November 2003

And the 2008 -alongs begin

Have you noticed, dear reader, that my right hand navigation has been updated? Probably not, since you surely subscribe to my RSS. No matter, here's the scoop!

Mystery Stole 3: the button is gone. Yes, I never finished it. I'm something of a failure that way. Although I prefer to think of it less as a failure, and more a solid grounding in lace theory. I might finish it... someday. Knowing that I'm only a week's worth of knitting away doesn't help, somehow.

ABC-Along: A challenge to post photos for each letter of the alphabet, every two weeks. I'd love to think a bit more creatively with photography (being not much of a photographer at all... I use it for documentation of family and knitting, hardly for art). This should be a good challenge for me, and if I work in knitting that's fine, too! I have a few days to post my "A" entry, and I have a few ideas.

Project spectrum: Lolly most likely doesn't remember me from college, but I do remember her. More to the point, I love her knitting and her use of color. I've held back from participating in the past, but I think this year (the year of knitting for me?) I am more prepared to think critically about color and tone and looking at the world through more varied colored glasses. After all, most of my recent projects were shades of green or blue- isn't it time to mix it up? Fire is the first element we are exploring this year, and I have some beautiful burgundies and rust colored yarns to use. I'd hazard the guess that I'm most closely aligned with the Fire colors- my blog is all over red and pink. I'm still doubtful about orange, but my Jayne Hat will fit the bill. I'm hoping that I will also use Project Spectrum as another excuse to amp up my photography skills. Surely I can get some ABC-along shots, too! It all comes together.

In Love with Autumn Rose knitalong: Still going on this. Rather, I have never begun. My kit arrived, and I have been just plain scared of it. My goal for the month is to swatch the darn thing- let's keep our expectations low! Casting on would be a great step for February.

Anne of Green Gables knit-and-read-along: This knitalong is going much better than the others. It is nearly over, and I am on track- with half of January left, I have only Rilla of Ingleside left to read. I completed the Endpaper and Fetching mitts (very almost-Victorian!), and I can imagine Anne knitting snowflake socks for Gilbert in their later years. Why not? Everyone needs fun socks. I didn't finish my Philosopher's Wool sweater, but I did start it. That's a good first step.

Coming up: A is not for apple.

Just another "doh" moment

Here's my Monday Me.

I'm a pretty hardcore knitter. I tend to think of myself as fairly accomplished, and no technique or style of knitting is out of bounds. I wanted to be able to fair isle two handed, so I learned continental. I can even knit back and forth that way, without much of a noticeable gauge difference. I don't actually knit Continental much (English is way faster for me, sorry!), but I can. Fair isle isn't that difficult, it just requires concentration. I usually knit faster when doing colorwork, because it's interesting. I haven't done a lot of intarsia, but that's fine, too- I might try some argyles, but I'm just not a huge fan of most intarsia. Cables are fun, lace can be challenging but is mostly intriguing... my skills have grown greatly over the last year and patterns I looked at perplexedly even a year or two ago are second nature to me now.

And then, here's the Me part of it, I do something inane. I crochet a blanket and get 50 rows in before I realize I somehow messed up my number of stitches per row back near the beginning. I cast on for Jeanie right after I got the yarn... only a few days after the pattern came out... and screwed up the first row. Today I finally went back to it, and realized that I'd been doing make 1 stitches everytime I was supposed to just knit in between two twisted stitches. Seriously silly mistake, and I'm now 3 rows in after hardly any time knitting at all. Oy. I can get these complicated concepts... but forget what needle size I used for the back of a sweater, so I can't knit the fronts and sleeves. (I'm looking at you, baby owl sweater)

Unfortunately, my size 3s, 4s, and 5s are all the same color metal, so I can't just use this photo as evidence. Gnashing of teeth!

Other than paying attention to my work, reading the pattern correctly, and writing down my alterations to the pattern... what could possibly go wrong?

There's always this.


For the record? It was Crazy Hat day.

Comic relief

From xkcd, a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

I have also been reading Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Knitting Rules, which I am finding hilarious. The Yarn Harlot really is a fantastically funny woman. I am especially loving the lists. Lists of why to knit socks.. and why not to. It also has some really nifty tips, which I am already incorporating into my knitting. Figuring out head size and other sizing based on other body parts... useful. While reading bits of it to my boyfriend in the car (he is in fact a saint who lets me read aloud from my knitting books!), we got into a discussion of how I cannot knit him a sweater. I've already fallen prey to the curse before. I noted that it didn't matter, since he doesn't wear ANYTHING handknit anyways.

Then we both came to a beautiful realization. I can knit him a Jayne Hat. We are both Browncoats, after all. Guess what I'll be starting, as soon as I manage to find goldenrod, orange, and burnt umber colored yarn...

Belated Monday Me

Well, I got all excited and then forgot to post my real Monday Me... mostly because the pictures hadn't been uploaded yet.

I wanted to talk about parties. I have this very odd relationship to formal events. I really love them- heck, I even love doing the electric slide at bar mitzvahs. I love cocktail hour, and being around people all dressed up, and hearing good bands. I adore the pomp and circumstance and a company head telling us how successful our year has been. I loved semiformal dances in school, and in college, and I even got this wonderful band I know from high school to play at our Honor's Ball one year (who apparently just re-did their website).

This year, my work holiday party was held on Saturday- a bit belated for the holidays, but by doing it in January they ensure that most everybody can make it. I do love all the fun of the party, and the jazz band and the cocktails and the ice sculpture of the company logo that serves to ice our martinis... but it's a big party.

I get really nervous before parties. I don't know what to do with my hair, I am slow with makeup (I even wear makeup... that's really a rarity). I never know how much time it will take to get ready, and I'm afraid to start too early because I'm completely fidgety until the moment I leave.

This party was no exception- the party was wonderful, but I was all nerves beforetimes! After all, my coworkers had mostly not met Jamie, and I was nervous he wouldn't enjoy himself, or the food wouldn't be good, just anything really. My concerns were unfounded, however. The cocktail hour was lovely, we circulated the room like old pros, Jamie was a beacon of entertainment and light the whole night, and we danced up a storm once the evening got late. It was lovely.

Here's some photo evidence.




And one sappy photo, for the road.

Monday Me

One of my good friends from grad school, Dallas, had an idea to start doing "Monday Me"- one day a week to blog interesting facts about herself, or do a meme. I keep this knitting blog fairly free of my day-to-day life and focused on the knitting (and crafts), but I thought maybe posting slightly more personal things wouldn't be such a terrible idea. If you've managed to find this blog, you either know me anyways, or you're already willing to subject yourself to a little bit of crazy Mikaiya talk. I'll post my Monday Me for today a bit later, I think.

I have very little knitting content for today, since I haven't taken photos of my most recent completed project (the Wisp stole), nor my two current works-in-progress. I'm still working away at Hanami- I'm pretty far into the basketweave section. I also started a new project with yarn I purchased at Knitch with Jamie's mother. It's Mountain Colors Bearfoot. I cast on during my flight back from New Year's at my sister's, and have been working on them as my main project since:

The color is so amazingly me- it's mostly a deep purple-ish magenta, but it has little hints of hot pink. I adore it! In the photo it looks significantly more subdued than the true colors in person, but I think it will photograph better in sock form. The pattern is a lot of fun, too. I chose to knit Friday Harbor from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road, and it's adorable. The cuff is reminiscent of the Broadripple sock, but with a twist, and I love the fact that the front of the sock is lacy and the back is ribbed to keep it nice and snug. I think the lace pattern isn't perhaps my favorite, but I can easily see myself knitting another pair much like these, with a more traditional arrow lace pattern. I'm halfway through the second repeat of the lace, which puts me a good bunch of inches into the first sock. I aim to finish them ASAP, because my feet have been very cold and I want more wool socks!

They're not so cold today, at least. We're supposed to hit a high around 65 this afternoon- what wacky weather for January. I'm not complaining! In my wool suit, I didn't even need a coat, and I somehow managed to lose my hosiery between home and work. I should probably stop into CVS and pick up some new hose, but maybe I'll just choose to be a 20something rebel for today, and stay bare-legged. I have almost three more years to use that excuse... when I hit 30, I'll have to come up with a new one.

Maybe I'm just a rebel in general. A mostly well-behaved, knows what cutlery to use when, sort of rebel. Maybe my Monday Me should be about that!