Archive for July, 2008

What have I done?!

July 29, 2008 at 9:14 am · Filed under Knitting ·Tagged , , , , , ,

But I don’t mean that in a bad way.  I mean it in a good way.  In a this kind of way:

What kind of way?

Oh yeah.  This kind of way:

Oh, fine.  I’ll just tell you.  It was this kind of way:

Remember a couple weeks ago when I blogged about my fantastic early birthday gifts from my mom? The yarn?  The one that reminded me of Una’s dress in Stardust?  And remember how I said (here is where I quote myself), “And also, I’m pretty sure I need to start knitting this immediately, or else I never will.  It’s one of those things, y’know?  I can’t just keep this yarn as my pet.  I won’t let myself.  I won’t!“

Well, I didn’t let myself down.  And if I had a time machine, I’d go tell 2-weeks-ago-self that it’s OK, I did what I said I would.  Then 2-weeks-ago-self would comment on my roots showing, and I’d tell 2-weeks-ago-self that that’s also OK, that my mom would come into town and take care of it in just a couple of days.  I think 2-weeks-ago-self and I would be good friends.

But I digress (tends to happen a bit ’round here)…

So here’s what happened:  I woke up early on Saturday morning and CO for Evelyn A. Clark’s famous Shetland Triangle (Rav link).  I knit my little fingers off, knitting my way through Stardust (an obvious starting point), The Princess Bride, Spaceballs (a bit of a departure, but the connection is that they both have funny priests/officiants.  See how my mind works?), and 3 or 4 episodes of The Sopranos (tail end of season 4 and the first couple of season 5).

By that point it was late (actually, I think we were into “very very early on Sunday” territory), but I’d completed all 8 reps of the pattern–and since I still had a ton of the yarn left, I did one more rep (that’s 9 so far, for those of you who are quick with the maths) and called it a night.

At one point in my progress, I enlisted a model–the only one who’s willing to work for the wages I offer (wages:  ear scritches, tummy kisses, and Feline Greenies):

(You like his interpretation of “Magnum”?  Or is it “Blue Steel”?)

But he soon became haughty–creative differences, I suppose:

And eventually stopped cooperating altogether:

Stupid jerk.  See if I ever hire him again (I probably will).

So anyway…Sunday morning I was up bright and early again, and right back to work.  I knew I’d get at least 2 more repeats out of the yarn, maybe 3.  That’s the tricky thing with this triangular shawl–each RS row is 4 stitches longer than the RS row before it.  Meaning, each RS row takes just a smidge more yarn than the last.  Only thing is, over 120 rows, that’s a pretty damned big smidge.  But I did my best guesstimating, and by Sunday evening (I’d watched the first LOTR movie, btw, as well as the first half of the second, and some more Sopranos) I’d done 12 repeats.

That’s only 3 repeats for the day, but they were pretty fucking huge by this point.  Not that I’m trying to defend myself, see, just explain it to y’all.

So anyway.  I did the final chart–edging, logically enough–and bound off the +/-300 stitches I was working with at that point.

It was 11:30pm, and I decided to press on and block it, just ‘cuz I could.

Here it is unblocked, on the guest room floor, in the middle of the night:

I didn’t soak it, because I was tired and lazy, but I did run it thoroughly under the tap, then press out the excess water (yarn didn’t bleed at all, btw!).

Final (blocked) dimensions:  64″ across the neck, 30″ from center neck to the butt point, and 45″ from each arm to the butt point:

(surely I’m not the first person to call it a butt point?)

With that done, I took some Ibuprofen for my sore wrists and went to bed.  I’d made a shawl in 2 days.  Yowza.

Yesterday morning, when it was fresh off the blocking pins, Jeff indulged me in a brief shoot (I fancy myself more cooperative than Macbeth).

The obligatory “Batgirl” shot:

The “casually-draped-over-the-shoulder-and-’oh-this?-I-rock-it,-bitches’” shot:

The pussy shot:

(what, you were expecting something different?  Just playin’ with the search engines)

(and besides, you can’t even really see the pussy)

The “don’t look at me! I’m hideous!” shot:

The exasperated husband/”If you’re just gonna horse around then I’m done taking pictures of you” shot:

Yes, I <3 my new shawl.  My Stardust shawl

PS>Want to see how much yarn I had left?

I rock, dudes.  ROCK.

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Schoppink

July 28, 2008 at 5:56 pm · Filed under Finds (all things consumeristic) ·Tagged , , , , ,

It was with great trepidation that I entered my local Goodwill this afternoon.  I’ve not yet been to a thrift store in St Louis (my trip to the antique store doesn’t count), and I didn’t know how it would be–dingy and smelly and depressing?  Too expensive?  Too picked over?

I had absolutely nothing to worry about.

Turns out, the Goodwill that’s 2 minutes from my house is perhaps the best thrift store on the face of the earth.  Check it, yo.

For $10, the file cabinet we’ve so desperately needed (our birth certificates, health records, and phone bills are all nicely intermingled in a paper grocery bag, currently):

(whoo!  A photo of a filing cabinet!  How exciting!)

But I really was proud of this find, and all the organizational opportunities it will afford.

So proud, in fact, that I used it as a pedestal to display my other goodies.

Like this shirt for Jeff:

$2.50, and nothing fancy, but it’s a nice casual button down, and a solid department store brand:


And it’s kind of cool–the stripes are embroidered on.  Neat-o texture.

For Y.T., this was only $2.75:

And if that doesn’t say “dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant then go to Starbucks and people-watch”, then I don’t know what does.  Who’s up for it?  If you ask nicely, I’ll even wear a shirt.

The skirt’s got this little bit of glam detail, which I’m not at all sure about:

They’re just stitched on, and they may become snipped off.  I’m not really a “glam detail” kinda girl, y’know?

The Goodwill had a lot of old Target clearance stuff for sale–lots of it with the Target tags still on–and the lady working there said Target donates its clearance to them.  Which is awesome, in my book.  Cause I got this:

The yellow polo is Express, gently worn, but the tees are all brand spanking new, still with tags and inspection stickers.  They were between $1.50 and $2.50 each.  Perfect for wearing under sweaters this fall

(Hint:  when buying new clothes at a thrift store, make sure they’re not “irregular”–mismatched sleeves, hemmed on the wrong side, stained, etc.  Some new clothes go to the thrift store because they’re last season’s clearance, some are irregular, and some have been shoplifted.  Obviously, avoid the latter two All of my shirts above had clearance tags on them, and I learned why they were in the thrift store.)

Finally, a cute little dinky candle holder for $2:

(it’ll hold a 3″ pillar)

And a couple books for $0.75 each:

(Hmm…just noticed they both have “diary” in the title.  Interesting).

All told, I spent about $30.  And yes, I’m rather proud of myself

So I went to Target and bought myself these cute little earrings for $6, to celebrate:

I do love a good bargain!

PS>  Tomorrow: how I spent my weekend (or: why my hands may fall off).

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Sob.

July 25, 2008 at 8:22 am · Filed under Cats ·Tagged , , , ,

We returned home from our Big Weekend-y Type Thing At The Lake to find that, tragically, Othello’s back legs have fallen off.

Aside from that minor inconvenience, all is well.  I’m off to carry him to the food dish, as has been his lifelong dream.  Then I’ll squeeze him over the litterbox.  Wish me luck.

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Now there’s just no excuse

July 21, 2008 at 9:11 am · Filed under Knitting ·Tagged , , , ,

Last week my mom asked me if I could knit her a couple of dishcloths.  I said, “sure, why not?” then proceeded to spend the WHOLE REST OF THE WEEK doing exactly that (and nothing else).


(Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth)

As always, more details are available on the Rav.

Bad news is, Mom liked these so much that she wants me to make 20 more, for her to use as gifts.  But first, I might make a few for myself…I don’t have any, you know!

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Like Christmas in July, only better

July 18, 2008 at 1:22 pm · Filed under Knitting, internet ·Tagged , , , ,

My mom is currently on summer break from her job at a KC-area elementary school.  This means that she spends her days emailing me pictures of lolcats, walking the dogs, and browsing Etsy.

This is dangerous.  Though, not so much for me.  Mainly for her.  Because, though my birthday isn’t for another 2 months, I’ve already chosen and received my gifts from dear ol’ mumsie and dudsie (Mom and Dad?  Can I start calling you mumsie and dudsie?).

We spent nearly two hours the other night browsing Etsy ‘together’ (read: via rapid-fire emails).  This is what happened:

From Chestnut Bay Fibers, some absolutely dee-licious sock yarn in the “Starry Night” colorway:

And after having the wedding I did, how could I *not* NEED this yarn?

C’mon, you know I would’ve been stupid not to  buy plead for it!

Plus, when there are approximately 43 gazillion shades of blue involved, how can you go wrong?

Then, Mom discovered this darling little skein of 100% silk:

And it somehow jumped into her cart, too.

Little does it know, it’s about to jump onto my needles and become a lacy little neck something-or-other (cowl, if I’ve got enough).

The colorway is “Chocolate Vanilla Swirl”, which I think is a brilliant suggestion.  I might just eat this.

Wait!  That gives me an idea!  Hold on…

There we go, much better

After we did the damage at Chestnut Bay Fibers, Mom and I moved on to Fearless Fibers, where the real trouble started…

Superwash sock yarn in “Lust”, which is an all-too-appropriate name, as I am about to go hump this yarn.  ‘Scuse me.

This is a titch brighter than the yarn’s actual shades, but it still gets me.  It makes me wish I were like 2cm tall, and I could go climb up the side of this yarn and settle down into the twists and wriggle back and forth and make it my little home there and drink tea from thimbles.

See?  Doesn’t it have that effect on you too?

Selfless person that I am, I didn’t request that all these birthday gifts be for me.  No, I so graciously and generously allowed my mom to pick out a skein for herself, and this is what she chose:

610 yards of laceweight alpaca in a color called “reverie”, but what it really reminds me of are uncut amethysts, the kind that are veined and cloudy and gorgeous.

I think it will ultimately become a long, skinny, wisp of a scarf for Mom.

Aren’t I a wonderful daughter for allowing my mom to buy herself something?  Really, my compassion knows no bounds.

Finally, the piece de resistance of this yarny adventure.  More sock yarn, called “Spellbound”:

And here’s what I think happened.  I think Deb of Fearless Fibers saw Stardust and fell in love with Una’s dress, just like I did.  Then I think she dyed some yarn to match.  Then she listed it.  Then I bought it, and then I died of happiness.


Because let me tell you, this is an exact match.  Not a “whoa that’s uncanny” exact match, but a crazy nutso hardcore make Kate go nuts with the sheer *perfection* of it all exact match.

Now I just don’t know what to do with it!  It’s a 113 gram skein, 550 yards.  Easily enough for 2 pairs of socks (1 regular, one low-cut).  But I think that this yarn might be too special for socks.  I think it needs to be SEEN.  I think it needs to be a shawl.

I shall now dive into Ravelry and I won’t come back until I have the perfect solution!

And also, I’m pretty sure I need to start knitting this immediately, or else I never will.  It’s one of those things, y’know?  I can’t just keep this yarn as my pet.  I won’t let myself.  I won’t!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…

PS>Now what will I have to look forward to on September 14th?

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So this is humour, eh?

July 18, 2008 at 7:38 am · Filed under internet ·Tagged , , , ,

I have a new favorite xkcd:

It helps to laugh at oneself.

Post of more substance later?  Perhaps.  Perhaps not.

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All the necessary components

July 9, 2008 at 11:32 am · Filed under Wordless Wednesday ·Tagged , , , ,


(Dierberg’s salad bar, Fitz’s diet cream soda, and Sense and Sensibility.)

/(almost)WW.  <3.

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Give it a go

July 8, 2008 at 11:25 am · Filed under Crafting, Home ·Tagged , , ,

For our wedding, one of the items we registered for was a plain white sheet set, but with no pillowcases.  I had the grand idea that I would embroider some pillow cases, and it would be a sweet little touch.  So, now, a year later, I bought these:

Two 2-pillowcase sets, with requisite floss.

Only thing is, I don’t know how to do embroidery.  But you know me–minor detail.  I figure it can’t be all *that* different from either sewing or counted cross-stitch–both of which I do well.  So I’ll give it a go!

Here’s one set:

and here’s the other:

Those two are pretty much the only designs that Hobby Lobby had in stock (has anyone else noticed that their stock tends to be rather…abysmal…at times?) that didn’t scream “country kitsch” or “90 year old lady.”  Well, the second one (with the blue vines) might scream that a bit, but definitely not as much as the others!

I’m off to get started!  Wish me luck!

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Since when?

July 5, 2008 at 12:15 pm · Filed under Rants and Musings ·Tagged , , , , , ,

I know everybody gets off on bitching about how early the stores start putting out next season’s stuff.  In fact, I’m usually more irritated by the bitching than by the store displays.

So I wasn’t all that surprised when I made a quick stop in Hobby Lobby the other day and saw this:

(Hey, what else am I supposed to do when I’m waiting in a 25-minute line?).

Fall stuff.  In July.  Sorta ridiculous, but not ridiculous enough to blog about.

Until I saw the display in the next lane over:

A variety of bath products in convenient pre-packaged sets….with gingerbread people and snowmen and santas?!?! Are you FUCKING me?

Now that, my friends, is blog-worthy ridiculous. Here we are, not even two weeks into summer, and at least one store is already parading around the Christmas nonsense.

Maybe I’m not giving Hobby Lobby enough credit, though.  Maybe this display was strategically placed at the back of a massive check-out line to serve as entertainment for the customers waiting in said line…give us something to bitch ‘n’ blog about.

PS>I also saw this display as I was headed back to the needlework section (the whole reason for my trip, of course):

It took me a good 2 or 3 minutes of standing and staring to figure out what’s going on here:  were the tusks strapped onto the elephants’ legs as a commentary on the disposable nature of the animals themselves when compared to the value of ivory?  Perhaps it’s a PETA-esque defiant statement:  “Real elephants can’t survive without their tusks, but these knick-knacks feel no pain.”  Maybe the tusks’ position on the elephants’ feet is to symbolize the burden–metaphorical ball and chain– that these animals carry by their mere existance: a nod to Harrison Bergeron. Or maybe it’s meant to convey the idea that the elephants have strapped their tusks prominently to their forelegs in a resigned act of self-preservation (“take the tusks if you must, but leave me be!”)

Or maybe the Hobby Lobby people were just afraid the tusks would get broken off in shipping.  But still…fucking Christmas in July?!

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A Tale of Kindness

July 4, 2008 at 9:12 am · Filed under Knitting ·Tagged , , , ,

Every once in a while, a  complete stranger casual acquaintance close friend your mom my mom does something for  you me which restores my faith in humanity.  Like,  rescuing a baby bird that’s fallen out of its nest donating a kidney to a stranger buying me yarn.

Several days ago I was browsing Etsy, as I am often wont to do (not gonna lie, it’s one of my homepages), and I found a skein of yarn at thankewe which was irresistible.  And not just run-of-the-mill irresistible like Viggo Mortensen or chocolate or Viggo Mortensen and chocolate together.  Real irresisible.  As in, email your mom a picture of the yarn in question and then call her and whine about how much you love it.  That kind of irressistible.

However, as you all well know from my utter lack of “OMG I found a job y’all!” posts, I haven’t yet found a job.  So that makes buying yarn a bit frivolous, unless I were to eat said yarn (though it would be a good source of fiber…).  Enter my mom.

She said she wouldn’t buy me the yarn.  She said that yes it was very pretty, but no it wasn’t going to happen.  I believe “because I said so, that’s why” might have slipped into the conversation at some point–old habits die hard, y’know.  So I resigned myself to admiring the yarn from afar (Afar, to me, means clicking over to the yarn’s link every 10 minutes or so, sighing, and weeping onto the nearest cat).

Well, I bet you all know where this is headed…

Imagine my surprsie to find a soft and squishy and thick envelope jammed into the mail slot yesterday afternoon!

Oh no she di’in!

Oh yes she di-id!

So then I screamed and passed out and then I woke up and then I opened the package and then I gazed in awe at the yarn and then I smelled it because that’s what yarn whores do and then I carried it around with me like a security blanket for the rest of the evening and then I dreamt of it as I slept and then I woke up and then I blogged about it and then you read it and thought “she’s crazy.”

But by now I bet the anticipation’s killing ya, isn’t it?  (well, all 3 knitters who read my blog and might even have a passing interest in which lovely I’ve obtained, anyway)

The colorway is called ‘oasis’, and you can sure see why!

I’m having trouble capturing the color accurately–the blues are much more vibrant–even the cool ones, somehow–and the greens aren’t so sickly pale.  I counted, and there are like 12 distinct shades of blue in this thing, in 2 families (the aqua and the cornflower).  Really.

Now only one question remains:  what to make?  It’s sock yarn, of course, and the yardage is really generous–430, according to the label.  So socks are always one option (“Really, Kate?  You make socks?  I had no idea!”).  But I wonder if this yarn isn’t itching to be made into something else…  I’m really loving AeRang, though I don’t know if the complicated lace really suits this variegated yarn.  Same goes for the Swallowtail Shawl (pdf link).

Hmm…I think it’ll probably ‘just’ end up being socks Glorious, beautiful, clear Chucks worthy socks.

PS>No, I wouldn’t really wear clear Chucks.  I have Birkenstocks, mary janes, and Keens for showing off my handknits, tyvm.

PPS>And tyvm, Mom, for the yarn!  Can ya tell I <3 it?

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