Some say the world will end in fire

I say it really starts the year off right.

Today, today, today is the first day of Project Spectrum, and this year Lolly and the rest of the intarweb gang are focusing on the elements. Our first element is FIRE!

I love flames. My most brilliant memories have to do with fires and flames- summer camp and the brilliant success of building a one-match fire, or my failure to keep the fire alive with my high school boyfriend when we went back to New Hampshire to camp and it was 30 degrees at night and of course we ended up not being able to keep the flames of romance alive either. Those sorts of memories. I love sitting in front of a fire, even the fake sort of fire in my parents gas fireplace. I adore the bright reds and oranges and pinks in the flames, and am mesmerized by the hazy world immediately above them. I watch the Chanuka candles burn down to their last sigh of a smoke tendril, and am thankful for the celebration and the family around me.

I have some big goals for Project Spectrum, and specifically for this Fire beginning. I want to use it as an opportunity to burn down the past, figuratively, and reevaluate old projects that have been stagnant. Should they be frogged? Do they need revitalizing new life? Can I build something from the embers of their failures and incompleteness?

I also have a few new projects to add to the needles. I will finally swatch Autumn Rose- knowing full well that once I swatch it, I will no longer be afraid and can finally knit and wear the darn thing. I will cast on and hopefully complete the rust sweater I have been contemplating for ages, the yarn sitting hopefully by in my stash since Interweave Winter 2006. And I made this for my father ages ago, but bought the yarn to make one for myself. What could be better than to knit a holiday gift for myself, 11 months early, so when the holiday comes around I will be prepared and ready to display the flames of knitterly self-love?


I think that is all a good start.

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!

A rationale for not posting, and the year-end summary

I was very good about posting regularly, and then I fell off the wagon. To my credit, it wasn't by choice. I caught the flu. Not a stomach bug, but the full-on flu- the aches, the pains, the fever, the inability to get out of bed for days on end, never leaving the two rooms at the back of the house (bedroom and bathroom) for nie on a week. It was horrid, and yes, I will get the flu shot next year and never tempt fate again.

The flu was actually worse than just the sickness itself, however, because I was unable to drink coffee so I went into caffeine withdrawal concurrent with feeling terrible already... and I actually was so sick that I couldn't knit, which meant I was subject to almost a full week without knitting. That may be the longest I have gone without knitting since I picked up the needles senior year of college. Any virus that can force me to forego caffeine and knitting is truly evil.

On the plus side, I'm quite recovered now. The only lingering effect is that I slept for so many days, I now have pretty remarkable insomnia. I was up until 5am on a work night last week, and look to be that bad tonight as well. I suppose it's an opportunity to post something, being completely unable to sleep and still a bit too tired to knit.

I created another little collage of my work from the second half of 2007. I am not as pleased with this one- lately, I haven't been taking as many photographs as normal, and I don't always have pictures of the finished objects with ends woven in. Either way, it appears I completed 9 projects (and was so very, very close on a bunch more... but they didn't make the cut):


Top row:
Manly Socks (a gift for my dad, for Chanuka)
Snowflake Socks (a gift for my roommate, for Christmas)... technically 3 ends have still not been woven in, and I have to do that before we exchange New Year's gifts. The flu definitely got in the way of completing these!
Endpaper Mitts (knit for me! I haven't worn them, however, as I tend to wear long-sleeved shirts. I think they will be perfect in the spring.)
Fetching Mitts (by request for Sharyn, my favorite vegan to knit for and of course my best friend)
Bottom row:
Snowflake washcloth (part of Sharyn's Christmas gift)
Seraphim shawl (for me!)
Brian's Cheesy Puff sweater (knit by request for a coworker... the sleeves are a bit long for him, but he says it is definitely warm for his house in Pennsylvania)
Victory V Baby Blanket (for a coworker's beautiful new son)

Not pictured: my nifty green socks, that somehow have been worn a multitude of times and yet never photographed. So that's 9 projects total!

I'll take it. So close I could taste it?
- A chullo hat, knitted, that just needs to have braid ties added to the top and to the earflaps
- Hanami stole, fairly far from completion, but I would have finished the Basketweave section if I hadn't had the flu!
- Wisp, lacking only 3 lace repeats of 16 total. I very well may finish this before the end of the year, since I have a lot of airport and plane time coming up and it's fun and mindless knitting. This one also would have been finished over Christmas, had I not caught the flu of doom.
- Men's fingerless mitts, one mitt was knit in an evening but no ends woven in, and the second mitt hasn't been made yet
- Sand baby jacket, only needs to be sewn together (still)
- Mystery Stole 3, still stuck on the very last chart before I graft the two sides together... this may be on the needles forever


17 finished objects in a year isn't shabby, though it's nothing compared to some of my favorite knit bloggers! In February 2007 I wrote: I have a few knitting goals for 2007. They're pretty simple, actually. I want to knit myself two sweaters, and at least one pair of socks. Actually, I'd love to knit myself three sweaters and enough socks that I don't need to wear store-bought ones, but I'm sticking to realistic here. In this aim, I have the yarn and patterns for THREE sweaters already... and have cast on for one. Ooh la la. I also have a nearly finished pair of socks which has been languishing for a year or so.

How did I do? Well, I made myself one sweater (and one for a coworker), and finished socks for my mom, sister, father, and roommate... as well as one pair for me. Those were the nearly finished ones, though- I still have another pair of socks on the needles that have been languishing for months.

For next year, I would like my goals to be a bit more aggressive. I want to complete 3 sweaters in 2008 (I have enough started that it shouldn't be that difficult to complete the goal). I want to knit myself another two pairs of socks. And I want the holiday season of 2008 to be a completely handmade holiday... though by no means does everything have to be knitted. In fact, I fully intend to do some more sewing as well. My sewing goals are more specific: I want to sew a vest for Jamie for his steampunk suit (hopefully both the prototype and a final version). I want to sew myself a skirt. And I want to sew myself at least one bag.

Happy New Year to all!

A little Meme

Knitting blog, shmitting blog. Time for a cruise through the iPod- after all, it's on a lot of the time I'm knitting!
If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here’s how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every section, type the song that’s playing
5. next section — press the next button
6. don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool

I'm not very cool, but let's see what pops up.

Opening Credits: Cake, "Frank Sinatra" (good opening riffs, so that's cool)

Waking Up: Final Fantasy soundtrack, "Flight to the Wasteland" (hmm... not bad)

First Day at School: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, "Summertime" (somehow seems not as a propos)

Falling in Love: Escaflowne Movie soundtrack, "Sora" (I'll take it- I really like that song and it's very passionate)

Breaking Up: Slayers Try, "Slayers Try Theme" (apparently my iPod is on an anime kick?)

Prom: Pale Saints, "A Thousand Stars Burst Open" (not very dance-able- but I suppose it could be a slow-dance?)

Life's Okay: Tori Amos, "Happy Phantom" (And if you died today, I'd be a happy phantom... and run naked through the street... I would wake up in strawberry fields every day... interesting.)

Mental Breakdown: Raymond Wong, Shaolin Soccer soundtrack, "Opening Theme" (a pretty appropriate choice, techno makes mental breakdowns)

Driving: Regina Spektor, "Somedays" (lyrical singable- perfect for my driving moods)

Flashback: Peter Frampton, "Lines on my Face"

Getting Back Together: Steel Pier soundtrack, "The Shag" (too funny- though the song isn't quite as "get it on" as it sounds)

Wedding: Everclear, "Normal Like You" (definitely not a fit!)

Birth of Child: Tori Amos, "Spring Haze" (don't know on this one- seems a bit quiet for the birth, but maybe for the aftermath?)

Final Battle: Little Shop of Horrors soundtrack, "They Say the Meek Shall Inherit" (great!)

Death Scene: Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within soundtrack, "The Eighth Spirit" (ethereal instrumental with nice booming moments and a bit eerie-sounding- pretty good fit)

End Credits: Placido Domingo, "Aquellos ojos verdes" (suitable I suppose, I'm surprised there wasn't more operatic music earlier in the set)

No super surprises here, though it's mostly movie and musical soundtracks- whereas here is my "25 most played list" for perspective!
The Apples in Stereo, Energy
Jonathan Coulton, Ikea
Amy Winehouse, Rehab
These United States, The Business
The Hussy's, Napoleon Dynamite
The Pipettes, Your Kisses are Wasted on Me
Beirut, Postcards from Italy
Chloe Day, Man in my Bedroom Corner
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Thou Shalt Always Kill
David & the Citizens, Graycoated Morning
Barenaked Ladies, Lovers in a Dangerous Time
The Dandy Warhols, Bohemian Like You
Fools & Horses, Frera
Fools & Horses, The Reprise
Tegan & Sara, Where Does the Good Go
The Cure, Love Song
Fools & Horses, Spinning Me Around
Guster, Jesus on the Radio
Inara George, Fools in Love
Rilo Kiley, Portions for Foxes
The Beatles, Getting Better
Dave Matthews, Say Goodbye (actually, it's an a capella group version, but it's been mislabeled)
Rilo Kiley, I Never
Rilo Kiley, Accidntel Death
Rilo Kiley, A Man/ Me/Then Jim

When faced with two options, take both?

Here's an interesting one. I purchased Elann's Silken Kydd a few days ago, for my holiday party stole. And then I couldn't bear to wait for it to arrive, so I bought the Kidsilk Haze as well. I'm a good ways into the Kidsilk stole... and then I read this interesting blog post from Sable Stasher. It really does sound like both yarns are identical. Hmmm. Two balls of Kidsilk Haze, care of my LYS, cost 30 bucks. Two balls of Silken Kydd cost me 13 dollars, including shipping.

I do love supporting my local yarn shops, and I'm supposed to be destashing anyways- but I have to say it's getting harder for me to justify paying more than twice the price simply to buy local. Maybe once I'm out of credit card debt, I'll be more willing? In the meantime I'm a failed budgeter, having bought essentially the same thing twice. BUT! This means I can make *two* stoles- and the next one will be of a completely different pattern. I wear black shawl things or sweaters just about all the time, so it will hardly go to waste.

I have a great deal of ambivalence about this pricing thing. I will spend a significant amount of money on certain things, due to their quality and workmanship, or because they fit perfectly (always a challenge on my frame), or because it's unique and I know I'll never have the opportunity again. I also will spend extra on things that really do seem to be better off for me and the world at large- I aim to buy local, I try to support independent artisans and especially local ones (or ones from New England, for sentimental reasons). But when faced with identical alternatives, how do you scoff at the option that saves money? Rowan hardly needs my help- and both yarns are imported from Italy. Supporting a LYS is wonderful, but so is supporting one's pocketbook.

What a quandary. I really want to knit with both, to determine how "essentially similar" they are to the hand as well as to the mind. After all, the Kidsilk Haze is a dream to work with- I hope the Silken Kydd is just as soft and delicious.

A day of knitting adventures, and a bit more family fun

Today was an overall great knitting sort of day. I didn't knit on the metro, since it was standing room only, but I did get to read more Anne of Windy Poplars for the Anne-a-long. I emailed the local lunch knitters at l'Enfant Plaza, only to hear they were going on a field trip to a local yarn shop and a craft store by Eastern Market instead of knitting in their office. I can make up an hour of time at work, I thought to myself, and I joined them! We checked out Ipso Crafto first, which has the makings of a really cute craft shop. I loved their little fabric selection (at prices half of what I'm used to seeing at G Street... and tons of PINKS). I also checked out a cross stitch book which may get me back into that craft, and may have to go back for it, since I can't locate it online. We then went to Stitch DC- a location I haven't been to, yet. And I've been having this hankering for black kidsilk haze, to knit a shawl for my holiday party. As surely I've said before. Let's ignore the fact that I just bought something for this purpose yesterday- it might not be as nice as the Rowan! And anyways, 4 balls of black laceyweight mohair is surely better than two. I can make two of them! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

This evening I went to SSK after work, which is a pleasant metro ride up to Silver Spring. After my usual cabernet burger (delish) but no wine, which is less usual, I hunkered down for some serious chatting and knitting. I worked on Hanami and definitely got caught up on local knitting gossip. I also met a girl who I had already corresponded with on Ravelry, so that was overall delightful.

I got home after eleven, which is a bit absurd, and decided to finally just choose a shawl to wear to this party. I selected Wisp, in the end. It just looked so simple, so fast- and I really want to knit River, as well, but maybe I'll make that with the other two skeins of black mohair... AFTER the holiday party. This is one beautiful version of River, for reference.

Having finally selected a pattern, days after starting to think about it, I figured I'd cast on. And then I thought it would be silly to stop without knitting the garter ridges. And then the first lace row. And then the first five rows of the pattern, just to get to the eyelet row. And boy oh boy am I hooked. 40 minutes of knitting or so, and I have over two solid inches of knitting. This is what I'm talking about! I should have this finished in no time, and be able to get right back to Hanami and all my other pretties.

I think this has definitely been my year of lace. Although there were bobbles and cables, too, they have been supplanted in the apple of my eye by yarn overs. What can I say, I like a bit of variety in my obsessive knitting.

I do more than just knit. Want to see one of my biiiiirdies?


This was not a simple project. I do not think I'd recommend it for a beginning sewer, due to the relative difficulty of the curved seams and getting the bits to fit well. Mom's experience making bears, and her bear stuffing tools, cannot be underestimated! Mom and I sewed quite a bit while I was in Raleigh, though I freely admit I spent a good bit of time hunkered over Hanami. Especially after midnight, with the gentle accompaniment of a podcast and the otherwise still and quiet house. I love visiting my parents, in large part because my mom is a night owl most of the time, but I can usually sneak a few hours of solitude into every day. And that's the best kind of vacation- the kind that allows lots of fun and family and a bit of reflection.

I also really want to take photos of the tablecloth and napkins I made, but they are not yet trimmed and edged and therefore are far from done. I also need to get cracking on a waistcoat for the boy. And yet, somehow, all I see in my immediate future is Kidsilk Haze, in the Wicked colorway, which just makes it all the more delicious. Switching from metal needles to my Denise needles made all the difference, by the way- it's so easy to see the black fuzzy yarn on gray needles!

One other vacation photo for the road. This shows certain things, such as my Air Force nurse sister looks nothing like me (we are opposites in every way). Also that I may need to invest in larger sweater sizes if I don't get down to business with some exercise soon. Thank goodness I don't knit sweaters quite this unflattering- and now I know not to wear it for family photos again!


I look more like my grandmother every day- though I hope I'm not yet desirous of a girdle. She lived a long and happy life, and was a force to be reckoned with. She also was a completely obsessed knitter, who could polish off a baby sweater between naps on the couch and Hershey Kisses in a day or two. I will always regret not taking up my needles before her death- but I hope she somehow knows that I finally shaped up and took up a useful craft. I came to it a bit late- but I'm making up for lost time!

Vaca

Does not mean cow in my household. It means "vacation" and "joy" and "not work"- all wonderful things, of course.

On this vaca I have been pretty productive. Mom and I made little bird ornaments from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts- and they are fiddly but adorable. It took us 3 or 4 hours to make three birds, but it was definitely entertaining.

I also finished two more repeats of the basketweave section of Hanami- only four more to go!

I gave my father the Manly socks, which he appreciated, and hopefully he'll find a use for them in his new home here in Raleigh. It's a bit toasty here compared to DC, but everyone can use a pair of wool socks sometime. I hope.

I still have a bit of work to do for our corporate office- hopefully only an hour or two, while my mother and sister are off seeing a movie, and then I can get back to Hanami.

In the meantime, have you seen the new Knitty? It's lovely! And most lovely of all is Jeanie. It's like Clapotis, all growed up. I do not mean that it is derivative- in fact, it's wholly unique. But I loved Clapotis. I still wear my hot pink Clapotis just about every day, from September to April. But I've been thinking it is time for a change- a new look. And possibly something a bit warmer than my cotton and silk blend. And here comes Jeanie- pretty and lovely and drop stitch-y and perfect for wearing with my new much more mature black wool coat. So of course I chose bright red- it's a step away from pink at least- and the yarn is already ordered.

I also need to work up a quick something to go with an outfit for my work holiday party. The outfit is slightly more casual than my usual choice for a fancy-shmancy holiday party. The top is a strapless raspberry silk, over pants that look vaguely tuxedo-like. They're shiny enough to be formal, but admittedly... pants. They are perfect for me and my recent foot problems, though, since I can wear flats I already own and be just fine. In order to pull the outfit together, however, I really need something over the top.

It could be Wisp, a little lacy buttoned capelet.
Or maybe Shimmer, a lace-backed shrug,
Or Jellyfish, another shrug in Kidsilk Haze perhaps.
Oooor... I could just get some fuzzy black yarn and knit a very open shawl with huge needles. What do you think?

And two manly socks

Sometimes my FOs really just nag at me. They drive me crazy. They haunt me. The manly socks certainly fit this description. I started them in May, hoping to finish them quickly since they are mainly plain old stockinette. And now it's December, but they are complete! Right in time, since they are part of a holiday-time gift. Want to see?



And just to reiterate, because the stripes match EXACTLY on both socks:


Fantastic. I love them. This makes an awful lot of Finished Objects lately- which is good. I was hoping to complete six items in the last six months of the year, and this brings me close to the mark.

I will be finishing up the Super Secret Holiday gift on vacation, and realized that I have another project that has been languishing. Instead of casting on for a new shawl, I found Hanami and decided to work on her again. I made it 25 rows into the first chart before giving it up, I think in part because the lace pattern wasn't obvious to me. Now that I have significantly more experience with lace, I'm finding the chart to be exceedingly simple! It should be a quick and fun knit- this is convenient, because nothing could give me greater pleasure than wearing it to my work holiday party at the beginning of January. It's a perfect excuse to buy a new little black dress- I have one from when I was 14 (it still fits, though I have no idea how or why), and one from college. It is definitely time to find a new one. I guess that's a good idea for shopping in Raleigh?

This is about what she looks like, since I'm sure you've forgotten as much as I had:


I'm away on vacation again Tuesday through Saturday, which feels blissful since I just got back from Thanksgiving. I will visit my sister for New Year's, and then I don't get a vacation again until March. I am going to live up this week in anticipation. I'm bringing the Super Secret Holiday Gift, Hanami, a sweater I need to start (blah stockinette), and some little projects. For variety, I am also packing up some very exciting sewing projects. I have the fabric and the trim, so hopefully they'll be a breeze to assemble in my Mom's fantastic sewing lair. I will remember to take pictures this time, I hope. It should be fun!

The thrills of December

For me it is a holiday season- I'm not Christian so this isn't the "Christmas season" and anyways, I think holiday festivities start with Thanksgiving and finish with New Year's Day. Despite the annual debates at work (Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays? Merry Xmas? Happy Chrismahanukwanzaakah?), I feel like my own personal festivities are well on their way. Thanksgiving was obviously wonderful and productive. And Chanuka starts this coming week! What insanity! I finished all my holiday shopping quite some time ago, and of course there were a few homemade gifts. Not nearly as many as last year. I did a lot of shopping with other crafters, however. I'm working on gifts for two friends, that I aim to finish and send out for Christmas. We don't normally exchange gifts, but these items just seemed so quick and perfect for the intended recipients that I thought it might be fun to send them a bit of handmade warmth. Part of the boy's gift came from a crafter on Etsy. I shipped a box off yesterday containing my handmade knitting as well as locally crafted items for my dearest friend from grad school. Mom's getting another local artisan find from the Sugarloaf craft fair- and although it's technically not a holiday gift, my father will be receiving half-handmade and half store-bought for his birthday gift this year (though of course he doesn't know it yet). Assuming I finish the thing- but I'm quite close now, so I'm not too worried. Even if I am driving down to my parents' home on Tuesday morning. And then technically I haven't finished a gift for the roommate, though I have a bit of time before that needs to be wrapped up and under the tree. Maybe I should get back to my knitting, nonetheless?

The purpose of this post was to signal something larger than just my own holiday gifting. I regret that I am not more charity-minded in general. I donate a small amount to my alma mater, since I am forever in debt to UMBC for a solid undergraduate education and being part of a special scholarship group. I join in a few crafting for charity efforts, and hope to do more of that in the coming year. I will also be participating in larger volunteering efforts over the next few months. That all still combines to a pretty pitiable showing, though. One opportunity has presented itself in the form of my Crafts Cluster, through GesherCity. Some members (with or without prodding) have agreed that we should make donating our crafts a priority, and we have already held a few "openly charity-minded" events with more to follow. One is tomorrow, in fact. We hope to make afghan squares and hats, scarves for Food and Friends' scarf drive, and little beaded animals as comfort for kids. The Celtic Knot up in Ellicott City also is instrumental in helping SOS with hand-knitted pink scarves. There are plenty of opportunities; it's just a matter of making them a priority.

I have also volunteered to knit for those in need in a slightly different manner. When I was a kid, I remember very vividly going to the local living history museums- places where the past was vibrantly alive (and reenacted). In Massachusetts I visited Old Sturbridge Village and Plimouth Plantation, and of course Canterbury Shaker Village in my home state of New Hampshire. I loved it- in fact, for years I assumed I would take my love of acting and history and become a reenactor at one of those sites or possibly at Williamsburg. Alas, I moved on to dreaming of becoming an English professor, and then falling into my current world of technical writing and software development business analysis... a bit of a jump from the 1620s environment I'd dreamed of as an ideal workplace. Being deathly allergic to horses probably wouldn't have helped. Frankly, I had rather forgotten my childhood career goal until recently, when I found the historical knitting groups on Ravelry. I already had a significant interest in historical knitting myself. Victorian lace has an obvious appeal for a former Victorianist, and the idea of knitting myself vintage stockings and vintage sweaters from original patterns is very enticing. My very first sweater was from a vintage-inspired pattern. To find a group of similarly history-entranced knittings on Rav was one thing, but then a woman posted about her job at Plimouth Plantation, which included needing to knit period stockings for every single reenactor in the encampment.

Hello, fortuitous aligning of the stars and heavens! I immediately requested a volunteer kit, and will be knitting some plain stockings as soon as I complete my last holiday knitting projects. I chose to do the basic pattern to start with, but they need a great deal of volunteer help, so I'd imagine I'll contribute more than just the one pair. My historic pattern and pretty wool have already arrived!


It may not be charity in the traditional sense, but I am so happy I can help. If you are interested in joining the effort, more information is available on their blog. They need stockings and gloves for lots of arms and legs, so I'm sure any knitter who can help would be welcome!