Today I went through my Google reader feeds and removed all the knitting blogs that were at inactive domains or hadn't posted in over 2 years. I removed 28 blogs! It was quite sad, actually. So many of these people are lost to me now as the only way I "knew" them was through their blogs. To be fair, mine would have fallen to the wayside with those others. I used to blog all the time; that's how knitters communicated project details! But with the unveiling of Ravelry knitters have a much more streamlined way to share information. All of this has been said before. In short, Ravelry replaced my blog.
But I find that I don't share the setbacks or the "OMG, I am so excited about this project because _____" on Ravelry. Not that I think the world particularly cares what yarn I choose for a given mystery shawl, but I enjoy going back through my archives.
This blog won't be strictly a "knitting blog" anymore. And I'm sure I won't update regularly, but I have this resource available to me and I intend to use it again.
Life Updates:
My last update was shortly after I defended my doctoral thesis. Now, I am in post-doctoral fellowship #2.
My pets grew up! Had I even posted about my dog? She's 3 now!
I've moved to the state capital & while I miss my old hometown this one has its perks (like varied ethnic restaurants, a lake practically in my back yard, and my boyfriend). Though, almost every friend I've made here has moved away.
I still knit, but it tends to be in phases. I am currently in one of those phases right now, and probably will be through the end of November (SAFF is in late October, so I always get excited about it in summer and ride the high until I get bogged down by the holidays).
I almost always knit from my stash. In fact, pretty much the only time I buy yarn is at SAFF.
I turned 30. No, I'm not sad about it.
Only 1 of my 3 best friends lives in the same state as me. Yes, I am sad about it. But, I get to see the others at least twice a year, so we make do!
I still love alpaca - which means that when it comes down to it I haven't changed a bit!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Monday, April 12, 2010
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Why I've been missing
REAL TITLE WITHHELD BECAUSE I AM A PANSY
SUPPLEMENTAL FIGURES
Supplemental Figure 1: The thesis work area circa 10:00 am. OK, I admit I did straighten my papers a bit before taking this picture. Fortunately, those empty soda cans are actually from the night before. But as you will see, I did start drinking pretty early today.
Supplemental Figure 2: Characterization of thesis requirements. (A) Caffeine. Lots of it. (B) Fire. Very therapeutic. (C) Dear Mom, I'm sorry I jumped on your laptop's keyboard and screwed up your formatting and made you cry. Have this fluffy ball. Love, Penny.
SUPPLEMENTAL FIGURES
Supplemental Figure 1: The thesis work area circa 10:00 am. OK, I admit I did straighten my papers a bit before taking this picture. Fortunately, those empty soda cans are actually from the night before. But as you will see, I did start drinking pretty early today.
Supplemental Figure 2: Characterization of thesis requirements. (A) Caffeine. Lots of it. (B) Fire. Very therapeutic. (C) Dear Mom, I'm sorry I jumped on your laptop's keyboard and screwed up your formatting and made you cry. Have this fluffy ball. Love, Penny.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
One is the Grumpiest Number
If you'll recall from my SAFF post, I acquired some fabulous cashmere from the Sanguine Gryphon, Taiping DK in teal. I was drawn to the yarn because I handled one of her knitted samples of Global Wrist Warmers. It really does feel wonderful!
I finished the first wrist-warmer around Thanksgiving. I love working with the yarn. I was worried that it would be pilly or have a really bad halo after being knit because the yarn feels really delicate. But, it's held up like a champ. It's instantly warm when you put it on, so I'm really excited about finishing the pair.
My gauge is a smidge too big despite going down a needle size - I just don't know how to knit tighter. I really tried to knit tightly with this project. I guess if I haven't figured it out in 4+ years I should just resign myself to being a loose knitter!
Unfortunately, I have yet to cast on for its mate. How does my lonely wristwarmer feel about that? Actually it's been quite clear about its feelings.
Somehow, it reminds me of Oscar the Grouch . . . I think it's the disapproving eyebrows.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Happy Christmas To Me!
My mum is a professional shopper. Well, she doesn't get paid for it, so I guess I can't really use the term "professional." But she practices bargain finding with a finesse which is rarely seen. Her latest find was this beauty which I found waiting under the Christmas tree.
It's a Nelco SZ-217. It did not come with a manual. And, according to the internet, the manual is no longer in existence. At this point I should admit that I am a complete sewing newbie. I can measure, cut, pin, and iron with the best of them. But I've only sat at a machine twice in my life. I've only threaded one machine needle. I've never changed a bobbin - all I know is you put your GIANT HAND into the wee tiny opening of mystery. Then some magic happens and you have a little bobbin holder in your grasp.
I embarked upon this adventure with my typical disregard of logic and just jumped in. If you don't let things intimidate you, you'll accomplish things you never thought possible. Allow me to give an example:
1. I threaded the needle. Hooray!
2. Apparently I buggered it up because it keeps coming unthreaded.
3. Oh, I missed one of those little curvy thread path thingies - problem solved.
4. About 5 stitches into my test project the needle fell out (in my defense, I didn't put this needle in)
5. Ok, needle back in. Note to self - machines with side-mounted bobbins have the flat side of the needle facing right instead of to the back!
6. Made some practice stitches. Feeling like an engineering superhero!
OK, now for the hard stuff. The pre-loaded bobbin is white, but I want to use black thread.
7. I used the machine to wind a bobbin (admittedly it took me a couple of tries to find which random knob was the bobbin tensioner). Hooray for not having to wind thread by hand! I knew my swift and ballwinder weren't going to help me with this project!
8. I open the little door and stick my hand in the hole of mystery. When my hand emerges it does not just contain the little bobbin holder but the Entire Race Assembly! OK, now I panic. I've got 1 bobbin and 3 pieces of metal in my hand and I have NO IDEA what they're supposed to look like when assembled!
9. Get tired of scraping knuckles on edges of tiny trapdoor only to have everything fall out as soon as I put it in (remember - it's a side-mounted assembly). There must be a better way.
10. My sewing machine has a trap door that leads to a secret compartment! Urr, basically I can unhinge one side of the machine and expose the underbelly. This is probably a standard feature, but I was absolutely overjoyed to discover this. Hooray for having 2 hands and a clear line of vision to work on bobbin assemblies!
11. Cleaned out the underbelly - found lots of safety pins! Buried treasure FTW! Note to self - buy more compressed air and a dust mask (cough).
12. . . . .6+ possible assembly combinations later - I have a working conformation!!! Decide I am definitely an engineering superhero. This is reinforced by the fact that my hands are covered in oil and smell of old pennies.
13. Sit down and sew my first ever independent sewing project in about 30 minutes. After 4+ years of knitting my first thought was "That was so fast - it must be cheating!"
Decide I am definitely not a take-your-own-photo superhero. Hooray for mirrors and cropping tools!
*Unfortunately, the pattern I used is no longer online.
Hi, I weigh 30 lbs. (Yes, I weighted it. I'm a scientist; it's what I do.)
It's a Nelco SZ-217. It did not come with a manual. And, according to the internet, the manual is no longer in existence. At this point I should admit that I am a complete sewing newbie. I can measure, cut, pin, and iron with the best of them. But I've only sat at a machine twice in my life. I've only threaded one machine needle. I've never changed a bobbin - all I know is you put your GIANT HAND into the wee tiny opening of mystery. Then some magic happens and you have a little bobbin holder in your grasp.
I embarked upon this adventure with my typical disregard of logic and just jumped in. If you don't let things intimidate you, you'll accomplish things you never thought possible. Allow me to give an example:
1. I threaded the needle. Hooray!
2. Apparently I buggered it up because it keeps coming unthreaded.
3. Oh, I missed one of those little curvy thread path thingies - problem solved.
4. About 5 stitches into my test project the needle fell out (in my defense, I didn't put this needle in)
5. Ok, needle back in. Note to self - machines with side-mounted bobbins have the flat side of the needle facing right instead of to the back!
6. Made some practice stitches. Feeling like an engineering superhero!
OK, now for the hard stuff. The pre-loaded bobbin is white, but I want to use black thread.
7. I used the machine to wind a bobbin (admittedly it took me a couple of tries to find which random knob was the bobbin tensioner). Hooray for not having to wind thread by hand! I knew my swift and ballwinder weren't going to help me with this project!
8. I open the little door and stick my hand in the hole of mystery. When my hand emerges it does not just contain the little bobbin holder but the Entire Race Assembly! OK, now I panic. I've got 1 bobbin and 3 pieces of metal in my hand and I have NO IDEA what they're supposed to look like when assembled!
9. Get tired of scraping knuckles on edges of tiny trapdoor only to have everything fall out as soon as I put it in (remember - it's a side-mounted assembly). There must be a better way.
10. My sewing machine has a trap door that leads to a secret compartment! Urr, basically I can unhinge one side of the machine and expose the underbelly. This is probably a standard feature, but I was absolutely overjoyed to discover this. Hooray for having 2 hands and a clear line of vision to work on bobbin assemblies!
11. Cleaned out the underbelly - found lots of safety pins! Buried treasure FTW! Note to self - buy more compressed air and a dust mask (cough).
12. . . . .6+ possible assembly combinations later - I have a working conformation!!! Decide I am definitely an engineering superhero. This is reinforced by the fact that my hands are covered in oil and smell of old pennies.
13. Sit down and sew my first ever independent sewing project in about 30 minutes. After 4+ years of knitting my first thought was "That was so fast - it must be cheating!"
Decide I am definitely not a take-your-own-photo superhero. Hooray for mirrors and cropping tools!
*Unfortunately, the pattern I used is no longer online.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
SAFF 2008
I left for SAFF bright and early this morning with Karen and Gena. OK, it wasn't bright, but it was early. Actually it was rainy and cold and dark. And, in our sleepy haze we actually started off going east instead of west (seriously, we'd gone almost 15 miles before we realized it). Fortunately, (once we turned around) the weather got better and better as we headed west. By the time we arrived in Asheville it was a lovely day!
We had attended the fiber festival last year and all of us were completely overwhelmed. This year we knew what to expect and I can honestly say I enjoyed the experience more knowing what I was getting into. My biggest regret from last year was that I was so afraid of spending too much money that I only bought 1 skein of yarn. There was another skein which I had coveted, but I resisted. For this last year it has been "the one that got away." So, first thing on my agenda was to return to Miss Babs' booth and get a skein of sock yarn in the Saturn colorway! Isn't it gorgeous? I think it looks particularly exciting against my gym towel!
My other goal for the day was to get some fiber. I didn't get any last year because I really didn't know enough to shop smart for fibers. But, I also hesitated to order anything online because I really need to handle a fiber before I can guess whether I'll be able to spin it. I was able to find 2 nice fibers to work with. The first is a solid Bluefaced Leicester Top. Everyone says BFL is a perfect fiber for beginners and it is deliciously soft. Throughout the day I kept reaching into my tote to give it a little squeeze. I was surrounded by petable yarn, but I really wanted to sink my fingers into that BFL.
100% Bluefaced Leicester (3 oz) from River's Edge Weaving Studio
Colorway: Moss (I think)
We had attended the fiber festival last year and all of us were completely overwhelmed. This year we knew what to expect and I can honestly say I enjoyed the experience more knowing what I was getting into. My biggest regret from last year was that I was so afraid of spending too much money that I only bought 1 skein of yarn. There was another skein which I had coveted, but I resisted. For this last year it has been "the one that got away." So, first thing on my agenda was to return to Miss Babs' booth and get a skein of sock yarn in the Saturn colorway! Isn't it gorgeous? I think it looks particularly exciting against my gym towel!
My other goal for the day was to get some fiber. I didn't get any last year because I really didn't know enough to shop smart for fibers. But, I also hesitated to order anything online because I really need to handle a fiber before I can guess whether I'll be able to spin it. I was able to find 2 nice fibers to work with. The first is a solid Bluefaced Leicester Top. Everyone says BFL is a perfect fiber for beginners and it is deliciously soft. Throughout the day I kept reaching into my tote to give it a little squeeze. I was surrounded by petable yarn, but I really wanted to sink my fingers into that BFL.
100% Bluefaced Leicester (3 oz) from River's Edge Weaving Studio
Colorway: Moss (I think)
While green is lovely, I think it'll be nice to spin up some nice variegated yarn, too. So I finally chose one of the many available multi-colored braids.
Colorway: Cassis
My final purchase of the day was inspired by a shop sample. These mitts were laying out and looking all cozy, so I slipped one on. They were so soft, and instantly warm. It's no wonder - they were made from 100% cashmere. BUT, it's the most affordable cashmere yarn I've come across. I will definitely be making a pair similar to the shop sample I saw.
Taiping DK (100% Cashmere - 220 yds)
by The Sanguine Gryphon
Colorway: Teal
It was really wonderful to spend a whole day with friends basking in tactile delights. I certainly hope I'll be able to return to SAFF after graduation. Finally, I'll leave you with the real star of the fiber festival:
by The Sanguine Gryphon
Colorway: Teal
It was really wonderful to spend a whole day with friends basking in tactile delights. I certainly hope I'll be able to return to SAFF after graduation. Finally, I'll leave you with the real star of the fiber festival:
A bebeh goat!
He drew a bigger crowd than even the most crowded vendor stall. It just goes to show that the only thing more loved than fiber is the animal it came from. Thanks for all your extra fluff, guys!
He drew a bigger crowd than even the most crowded vendor stall. It just goes to show that the only thing more loved than fiber is the animal it came from. Thanks for all your extra fluff, guys!
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