Category: Knitting

Knitting as Blood Sport.

And now the post I was planning for thursday night

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Kurt Vonnegut, dead at 84.  And despite being a smoker for most of those 84 years, it was a brain injury from a fall that finally did him in.

Another reason why the King Of Thailand is a top bloke and beloved by his people. 

I finally heard from my KTA pal today, which was a relief – I tried an alternate contact method, which seemed to do the trick.

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Yesterday brought exciting mail – some 15cm knitpicks DPN’s from Donyale, and the new Bendigo shade card.  No exciting new colours with appalling names, and nothing new and noteworthy at all, but just more of the same, good old, reliable Bendy.  Except that they seem to have dropped the black Harmony, which is a bummer – I was all inspired by Bex to make a cardi out of this stuff.  If you haven’t tried it, give it a go – 200 grams for $11, and if you can handle the poxy colours limited colour range, it is lovely to knit with.  A blend of cotton, wool ad lycra, it’s cool and lofty, sproingy and stretchy, and wonderful for kids clothes.  I’ve done a few EZ BSJ’s out of it and a couple of stroller blankies too.

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The picture at the top shows some progress on the melon lace knitted on border – I am getting the hang of the pattern, and speeding towards my first turn.  I’ve joined on the border incorrectly, but I like the look of it, so I’m not going back.

Rainbow socks

Laura has a pair of socks made with the Lornas Laces Rainbow colourway that I have been swatching to find the perfect pattern for. I don’t think this is it, but they are gorgeous.

And this link is for Emma. Scout Badges for Science. I want the MacGyver badge.

I’m still feeling vile and snotty, so I am going to spend most of today in bed with my knitting. And Oprah. I have to do a product demonstration at 10am (anyone wanna buy an ECG machine?), but then it’s back to bed.

What an asshole

You know how you’re supposed to deal with an awkward social situation? You know, keep calm, state your case rationally and clearly, and then politely request a change of subject?

Well, apparently, tonight I was incapable, and made a complete tit of myself in front of about 15 Sydney knitters – a lot of whom I have never met before. Unfortunately though, some of them know where I live.

So, if you were there, and you were wondering why I was such an arse, I can only apologise and explain that I’ve still got this damn headcold, and that I don’t handle death very well. Apparently I’m overly emotional and fragile right now, and I should have explained that instead of growling at people.

I know that my moral compass is wired differently to other peoples, and that makes it my responsibility to navigate my way around dangerous waters, not start lobbing dynamite when things get interesting.

Most people don’t realise that I’m really socially awkward. That I never had a real friend until I was almost in high school (thanks Andrew), and that I still feel like people are only nice to me out of pity. I know that I have some good points, but when I’m sick, and life gets tricky, and somebody pokes at a sore spot, I regress to that little kid that nobody wanted to sit next to at playlunch.

Crazy Aunt Purl wrote a great post today. About how she used to react to triggers, and how she is living without her old crutches, and how she misses them, and knows they may not be gone for good, but that she knows she can live without them.

Maybe I can learn something.

Tuesday, humpday

Ordinarily, Wednesday is hump day. The day that sits squarely in the middle of the week, dragging, and sitting obstinately between you and the weekend. Typically, the longest day of the week. After Monday of course.

This being a short week, Tuesday is now humpday. And I feel a cold coming on. I’ve been sniffling all day, and my brain is about two steps behind.

Today was my first appointment with the osteopath recommended by Mary-Helen, and she was great. I recounted my litany of complaints, and she confidently told me that she had seen worse train wrecks, and that she would be able to help.

Apparently, most people who feel pain get something done about it within 2 years. The fact that I have been suffering with pain for such a long time has done some damage, and it will take some doing to fix things, but I can be fixed, and I should be able to live without pain eventually. It was pretty emotional for me, and I felt that a good dinner was in order. I wandered up to Wagamama (in some pain, but that is to be expected), and had a lovely meal. Vegan too – unless you count the wine.

Catching the train there and back gave me some long missed knitting time, and I am within 10 repeats of finishing the main body of the Melon Shawl. Hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some more yarn on sat at R+L (any idea how much yarn I’ll need for the border compared to the body?), and the right needles for the border. With even more luck, I’ll be ready to start the border on sat, while there are plenty of gurus there to help out if I get stuck.

Speaking of gurus, Sally has just started a blog, Pom Poms. Do pop over and welcome her to the wild world of blogging.

And lastly, many of us find therapy in our knitting (even those of us that are in pain if we knit too much), so it’s wonderful to see someone take the therapeutic aspect of knitting seriously. Check out Stitch Links for more information.

Have a great (short) week, I may miss a day due to tomorrow being my third wedding anniversary. Plans are afoot!

A very useful post

For anyone familiar with “The Elizabeth Percentage System“, you may be interested in this post over at Zimmermania.


Also, over on the Sydney Morning Herald, I came across an old article about possums becoming endangered due to large numbers getting killed by cars. I hate seeing wildlife pizza of any description, but particularly possums, and particularly ringtail possums. The ringtails just look like the cutest creatures possible, and it breaks my heart to see them squished on city roads.

I’m In!

In the Knitters Treat Exchange of course!

I couldn’t commit to the whole Secret Pal thing, but I found this thanks to Kate, a kind of SP lite…

Questionnaire Answers

1. What’s your favourite type of yarn?

A Soyslik/Cotton/Microfibre/Lycra blend. No, it doesn’t exist, but I can dream.

2. What’s your least favourite type of yarn?

Silk, Possum, and anything else that requires the death of the creature that produced the fibre. I’m not keen on angora bunny because of the conditions the poor wee bunnies have to live in, and I care very much about the quality of life of the creature that provides the yarn. Let’s talk about mulesing 😉

3. What’s the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?

I find the brightest yarn and start fondling it, of course!

4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?

I have my grandmothers spinning wheel, but am not an accomplished spinner. I have a few crochet hooks, but can’t follow a crochet pattern. I have a sewing machine, but I have no patience for process. I cook, when there is time, and I love my poor neglected garden.

5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?

Interweave Knits, Yarn, and Yarn Forward.

6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:
Knitting / Food / Garden / Crochet / Home / Other Craft / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip

7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?

I’m on a bit of a lace kick at the moment, but I want to do more garment knitting. I want to learn all I can about garment construction and design, because I have some things in my head that need to get out! I also have a growing collection of sock yarn that needs to become socks….

8. Are you allergic to anything?

I have pretty bad asthma, which is set off by strong chemical smells, dust, hard work ;), and many preservatives. Though I love perfume and scented candles etc, I have to be very careful.

9. What do you like to smell of?

I love citrus and vanilla – citrus for energy, and vanilla for comfort.

10. What’s your favourite way to relax?

Hanging in my home with the bunnies and my knitting, a sci fi series on DVD, and my hubby by my side. Knitting of course!

11. You’re stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?

Italian cafe. No contest. I love savoury treats (I deeply regret having to give up anchovies when I gave up meat), and would much rather have bruschetta and a glass of red wine than ice cream and biscuits any day.

12. What do you come out with?

Um. Bruschetta and red wine? Arancini, salad with balsamic dressing, and maybe an espresso coffee with soy ice cream if I really need something sweet.

13. Where do you go next?

I’ll stay in the cafe.

14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?

I like to think of myself as an ethical person, with limitations. I sometimes feel that people think I am a bully and impose my views on others, but that really isn’t the case (I hope!). I do like people to be educated about the choices that they make, but I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with me! Difference is what makes the world an interesting place 🙂

NZ day 2

THe first day of the convention proper, not very many people today. I answered some questions about our products, and am starting to become a bit more confident. Someone had vandalised Neville – we found him this morning with his pants around his ankles, and a crack in his foot than runs right up the calf. Poor Neville. He never hurt anyone.

Did a single row on the Melon Shawl this afternoon while waiting for the guys to go out for dinner. That has to be at least 3 minutes of leisure time today !

We went to the Harbour for drinks and dinner, I had a very ordinary risotto (tasted like plastic) at a seafood restaurant. There wasn’t a single vegetarian main or entree on the menu – let alone vegan. I asked the waitress for a “special” meal, and I appreciated the effort they went to, but hell, how about some bloody flavour????

Came back to the hotel to find that the wireless network I was using yesterday has been secured, so I can’t check the election results. Mum and Mark have been great about keeping me up to date with text messages, but I feel a long way away. I haven’t seen a live animal in two days now. It’s freaky.

I can’t explain how desperate I am to see Jussi, and possibly even meet her new feline companions. Maybe tomorrow….

Wiiiii!

Off early this morning to pick up Mark’s birthday present, and swap my GPS. Except it seems to be working well, so I’ve decided to keep it rather than risk going through the teething problems with a new unit.

Late for Rubi+Lana’s, and we left early to go to Mah-Jong Playlunch with Celia and a lovely friend of hers. We had a very tasty vegetarian chinese lunch, and excellent instruction to improve our game.

Then it was back to Mark’s parents place for dinner. After dinner he set up the Wiiii, and the Nettles played virtual sport while I knitted. Shoulder still giving me grief, I didn’t play, but Mark seemed to have fun.

Home for more play.

Found a bunny picture that made me smile today.