So after knitting myself into a peaceful stupor on (by? with?) the Italian baby blanket and a very nice nap, I'm ready to face the disaster.
A giant ripping will ensue. Soon. I was actually thinking that it would have been very fun to have a Halloween post involving me filming the ripping of the AfkaS to scary music. Unfortunately, I would have needed Charming to film it and since he won't even stay in the room while I'm ripping, getting him to film it for me seems... a little optimistic.
I do have a knitting reference book, Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Knitting. I quite like it, however, it does assume you know the basics. Somethings are easy to find (like different ways to cast on) and some things are difficult to find, like how exactly is a yarnover is supposed to be done (Thanks Knitty!) . However, this book looks really good. The knitter's handy book of sweater patterns sounds good and useful. I think I might want to make myself a sweater because a) it's cold. b) I'm cold. and c) I'm always wearing a sweater or a cardigan. Why not make one for my own self? Then it would be long enough in the waist and arms, skinny enough in the arms and deep enough in the bust.
Anyway, back to the fixing. I know my proportions (picked up stitches/row) was way too high. The heady feeling of almost being done was my downfall.
In other news, only 2.5 more balls of green left on the babyblanket, and then the border, and then I'm done. I've also noticed that I've gotten faster knitting so progress is going so well on something!
ps. Did Stephanie really post in all of her Yarn Harlotty goodness on my Blog? While that would be indescribably cool, but rather unknowable due to my statcounter not even registering any of the commentators so I can't even tell where they were from, grr. Although if that hit was from anywhere in Ontario at all, I would definitely be deciding that it was in fact, a hit from her own self. (On another note, is that as cool as meeting Nathan Fillion? And getting a picture? And seeing him do very good improv?)
pps. Ohh! There's a handy book of patterns too. Fun! And Baby Alpaca for sale!!!!!!
ppps. For those who might be interested, I got the job. Now I get to work my buns off getting everything ready for when the maternity leave actually starts. I'm looking forward to it. Also looking forward to less depressing paycheques. Yay!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A Knitting Disaster Has Struck
My very first knitting disaster has struck.
It is my Afghan formerly known as Scarf.
I decided to adapt it into a lapblanket for my Grannie, after seeing one in a store. The perfect part of that plan meant that I didn't have to do anymore of the pretty wide rows of garterstitch because it was definitely long enough for Grannie to use when sitting in her wheelchair (she recently hurt herself and is now in the wheelchair for a while).
However, this meant that the AfkaS was not quite wide enough to go across the lap, so I decided to pick up stitches along the side and put on about 5 more rows of stockinette to match the bit of pattern I put on it (three rows of stockinette, which made a nice contrast to the garterstitch). So I picked up stitches along the side and painfully knit the border on. After row 4, I discovered that the border was on backwards, so that the purl side was showing on the right side of the piece.
I decided that I didn't care. Knitting those rows actually hurt. Not only were those rows even MORE boring than knitting the length, but knitting them was painful in a way that I've never had to go through before. It was more painful than knitting a whole ball of Shine Worsted (stockinette) in one day and mostly one sitting.
It had to do with the splitty-ness and the tension of the yarn I was using (and USED to love, but now super hate.
Anyway. That is not the disaster.
This is the disaster.
The border is supposed to be flat and even, just an extension on main piece. It is this wide curvy ruffle thing that is erupting from the side of the AfkaS. Its huge. It is not at all what I was hoping for.
I do not know how to fix it, but I do know who to blame.
Who To Blame
It is my Afghan formerly known as Scarf.
I decided to adapt it into a lapblanket for my Grannie, after seeing one in a store. The perfect part of that plan meant that I didn't have to do anymore of the pretty wide rows of garterstitch because it was definitely long enough for Grannie to use when sitting in her wheelchair (she recently hurt herself and is now in the wheelchair for a while).
However, this meant that the AfkaS was not quite wide enough to go across the lap, so I decided to pick up stitches along the side and put on about 5 more rows of stockinette to match the bit of pattern I put on it (three rows of stockinette, which made a nice contrast to the garterstitch). So I picked up stitches along the side and painfully knit the border on. After row 4, I discovered that the border was on backwards, so that the purl side was showing on the right side of the piece.
I decided that I didn't care. Knitting those rows actually hurt. Not only were those rows even MORE boring than knitting the length, but knitting them was painful in a way that I've never had to go through before. It was more painful than knitting a whole ball of Shine Worsted (stockinette) in one day and mostly one sitting.
It had to do with the splitty-ness and the tension of the yarn I was using (and USED to love, but now super hate.
Anyway. That is not the disaster.
This is the disaster.
The border is supposed to be flat and even, just an extension on main piece. It is this wide curvy ruffle thing that is erupting from the side of the AfkaS. Its huge. It is not at all what I was hoping for.
I do not know how to fix it, but I do know who to blame.
Who To Blame
- Knitter. She is the one who taught me how to knit, and lives two time zones away. She lives in a place where I can't just run upstairs and bang on the door and get her to show me how to do something. Therefore, some of the blame belongs to her.
- Yarn Harlot. Somewhere in her blog she mentioned picking up stitches and knitting off the edge. Sounds easy. But its not. Not at all. Her stuff comes out looking like pretty lace. Mine comes out looking like.... I have no idea. Crappy ruffles. They aren't even cute ruffles. Just lame crappy ruffles.
- The person on our floor who keeps stealing our paper. You big jerk. Not being able to read my paper on the days when you steal it obviously made me get the whole picking up stitches thing wrong. Do you feel any guilt at all?
Friday, October 27, 2006
Hey.
So.
At this exact minute, I feel like I've just sidled up to a group of people that I kind of know and am faced with the mind-numbing task of breaking into conversation.
Except I have no idea what the other part of the conversation is about, or what pace it's at or anything. Apparently I'm speaking into a void right now which would make sense, since I'm actually posting on my blog.
I'll start with knitting, because I have knitting news.
Knitting (and Crocheting... This section should actually be called Yarn.)
I bought birch double pointed knitting needles. I am in love. I love the wood in my hands, I love the smooth warmth of the needles. I love the simplicity of them. Unfortuntately there is no picture, but they are dpns. Dpns all look the same.
Love. Love. Love.
I crocheted my first flower (that I really like). I've been playing with making flowers (both knitting and crocheted, but crocheting is faster and quite a bit easier for me. My flower is a faux poppy; as today, when I was gadding about, I saw that people had started to wear their poppies. I do wear my poppy all month, but I'm forever losing mine and then end up wearing a poppy i found on the floor. So this year, I'm making my own. If I see a stand selling them, I'll still try to drop some change, but I'm not going to bother attempting to wear them. I'll try to take a picture of the poppy and post it later, but I'll have to do it when Charming is a bit less busy with schoolwork. I've never downloaded pictures before.
On the Job Front.
Nothing new to report. I do have a meeting on Tuesday, and hopefully it will be good news. However, as long as it is definite, I'll be happy. I hate limbo.
Hate. Hate. Hate.
My worst test anxiety in school tended to be after I'd written the test, and before marks got back.
Married Life
I like married. I like it alot.
It feels really good. I love having Charming around, and just that we're able to spend time and be together. I love that I come home to someone who loves me. I love that there is someone at home to take care of, and who also takes care of me.
I also really love that wedding planning is over and done with and I never ever have to see another bridal anything store ever. EVER.
Living in the Really Big City
I've gotten used to living in the RBC, and finally feel like Alice in Wonderland after she figured out which bit of mushroom to eat to get large, and which bottle to drink from to get small again. The world did finally stop spinning. Which is always nice, because I do get motionsick from that sort of thing.
I can leave the apartment building (usually) without my map, and can find my way around certain areas all on my own quite well. I'm pretty proud of myself. It took time and work to get this way.
I'm at the point where I don't mind it here, and do like some things about the city.
I'm still ok with moving home when the time comes though. That will be nice.
Conclusion (or I'm off, just going to say bye for now)
I'm done for now. That's my news. I"m going to go watch Babylon 5 with Charming.
Oh, and I'm getting a hair cut. The person who is doing it said something about 3 from Battlestar Galactica. I'm intruiged and ready for a change.
At this exact minute, I feel like I've just sidled up to a group of people that I kind of know and am faced with the mind-numbing task of breaking into conversation.
Except I have no idea what the other part of the conversation is about, or what pace it's at or anything. Apparently I'm speaking into a void right now which would make sense, since I'm actually posting on my blog.
I'll start with knitting, because I have knitting news.
Knitting (and Crocheting... This section should actually be called Yarn.)
I bought birch double pointed knitting needles. I am in love. I love the wood in my hands, I love the smooth warmth of the needles. I love the simplicity of them. Unfortuntately there is no picture, but they are dpns. Dpns all look the same.
Love. Love. Love.
I crocheted my first flower (that I really like). I've been playing with making flowers (both knitting and crocheted, but crocheting is faster and quite a bit easier for me. My flower is a faux poppy; as today, when I was gadding about, I saw that people had started to wear their poppies. I do wear my poppy all month, but I'm forever losing mine and then end up wearing a poppy i found on the floor. So this year, I'm making my own. If I see a stand selling them, I'll still try to drop some change, but I'm not going to bother attempting to wear them. I'll try to take a picture of the poppy and post it later, but I'll have to do it when Charming is a bit less busy with schoolwork. I've never downloaded pictures before.
On the Job Front.
Nothing new to report. I do have a meeting on Tuesday, and hopefully it will be good news. However, as long as it is definite, I'll be happy. I hate limbo.
Hate. Hate. Hate.
My worst test anxiety in school tended to be after I'd written the test, and before marks got back.
Married Life
I like married. I like it alot.
It feels really good. I love having Charming around, and just that we're able to spend time and be together. I love that I come home to someone who loves me. I love that there is someone at home to take care of, and who also takes care of me.
I also really love that wedding planning is over and done with and I never ever have to see another bridal anything store ever. EVER.
Living in the Really Big City
I've gotten used to living in the RBC, and finally feel like Alice in Wonderland after she figured out which bit of mushroom to eat to get large, and which bottle to drink from to get small again. The world did finally stop spinning. Which is always nice, because I do get motionsick from that sort of thing.
I can leave the apartment building (usually) without my map, and can find my way around certain areas all on my own quite well. I'm pretty proud of myself. It took time and work to get this way.
I'm at the point where I don't mind it here, and do like some things about the city.
I'm still ok with moving home when the time comes though. That will be nice.
Conclusion (or I'm off, just going to say bye for now)
I'm done for now. That's my news. I"m going to go watch Babylon 5 with Charming.
Oh, and I'm getting a hair cut. The person who is doing it said something about 3 from Battlestar Galactica. I'm intruiged and ready for a change.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Blogger Ate My Post
ARRRGGGGGHH
I was in the middle of writing this big long post saying how sorry I was about my long neglect.
However.
Blogger ate my post. And I think that it might be my *&(*(%^$%##%*&^ computer's fault. It does this thing, where the internet will forget that it is connected, and perfectly functional, and then I have to go and re-click or re-enter the website address and oddly enough, it will work. It started when Charming made it so that we could have our own profiles (running windows xtra poo) and now the internet doesnt always work.
%$#@@!#$&*^%$#@@$%^&*%^$()*&^(&%^%$%#&*&^^^&* *(*%$%$$&
I only sort of feel better. I'm going to go knit now. And go to bed. I have to work tomorrow.
I was in the middle of writing this big long post saying how sorry I was about my long neglect.
However.
Blogger ate my post. And I think that it might be my *&(*(%^$%##%*&^ computer's fault. It does this thing, where the internet will forget that it is connected, and perfectly functional, and then I have to go and re-click or re-enter the website address and oddly enough, it will work. It started when Charming made it so that we could have our own profiles (running windows xtra poo) and now the internet doesnt always work.
%$#@@!#$&*^%$#@@$%^&*%^$()*&^(&%^%$%#&*&^^^&* *(*%$%$$&
I only sort of feel better. I'm going to go knit now. And go to bed. I have to work tomorrow.
Monday, October 02, 2006
a street in a strange world...
The dvd is just at the part where they are discussing the video for You can call me Al. It is definitely one of the best videos ever. It is comic genius. Chevy Chase sings in a bare pink room while Paul Simon plays the instrumental parts. Especially compared to the original video, which is a great example of why we don't need to go back to the eighties.
Note.....
http://www.greenstar.org/butterflies/Hole-in-the-Wall.htm
this is crazy. absolutely crazy, and completely fascinating. everyone should read this. this is so cool.
Note.....
http://www.greenstar.org/butterflies/Hole-in-the-Wall.htm
this is crazy. absolutely crazy, and completely fascinating. everyone should read this. this is so cool.
New Template
I've changed my template again, becasue of two things.
1) I hate not having comments.
2) I really hate that no one can see the titles of my posts. A title is important. It tells you what is going on. I put them in for a reason.
1) I hate not having comments.
2) I really hate that no one can see the titles of my posts. A title is important. It tells you what is going on. I put them in for a reason.
who am i to blow against the wind?
i'm listening to a dvd that my dad gave me. it's doing a good job of cheering me up.
i'm in the middle of doing laundry, cleaning, putting more stuff away and then doing dishes, maybe laundry, possibly some baking for our thanksgiving roadtrip.
the dvd is the one about Paul Simon's Graceland.
I used to have that recording on tape when i was little, and i warped it because i played it so often. I've had several copies of the cd, because i'm also brutal on cds. I scratch them like crazy.
I used to play it so quietly as i was falling asleep. On a good night, I would listen to one side of the tape, when I couldn't sleep, I would hear both sides.
It is quite possible my favourite cd. I haven't listened to it for a long time, because all my cd's are mostly put away, and I'd forgotten how much i love that cd.
i'm in the middle of doing laundry, cleaning, putting more stuff away and then doing dishes, maybe laundry, possibly some baking for our thanksgiving roadtrip.
the dvd is the one about Paul Simon's Graceland.
I used to have that recording on tape when i was little, and i warped it because i played it so often. I've had several copies of the cd, because i'm also brutal on cds. I scratch them like crazy.
I used to play it so quietly as i was falling asleep. On a good night, I would listen to one side of the tape, when I couldn't sleep, I would hear both sides.
It is quite possible my favourite cd. I haven't listened to it for a long time, because all my cd's are mostly put away, and I'd forgotten how much i love that cd.
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