I love creative knitting blogs. (wait, this will all make sense in a minute) I mostly dream of it, and don't do much actual knitting, mostly because it requires an ability to sit still, which I currently don't possess... But that's a story for another day. I had to share one of the most creative things I've seen in a while, at the Dark Knit blog. Check it out.
Knitting and embellishing an animal print? Okay, that's creativity. And... it gave me SUCH an idea for needle felting! Can you see it in your own head? I MUST do it!
In the years since my dad's death, I have carried his business card around in my wallet. Don't know why, really... Just something I haven't parted with... makes me feel that he's with me. Recently, I cleaned our my wallet, and decided to put the card away in my business card file, when I noticed some writing on the back...
This must have been the reason I started carrying the card, or maybe it was to remember his work telephone number... but in the years since then, I just thought of it as my Dad's card. I know I put it every wallet since high school, and probably before... so at least a good 20-30 years now...
Well, apparently, the reason I started carrying it in the first place, was a short note written to me on the back. It read "Aim High!"
Did my Dad write me this note?
Nope.
It was from Shirley Chisolm... the details of that encounter are fuzzy now, and I only vaguely remember it.
“I had something important to explain,” recalls Chisholm in the documentary. “I ran because somebody had to do it first. I ran because most people thought the country was not ready for a black candidate, not ready for a woman candidate. Someday – it was time in 1972 to make that someday come.”
Considering our current democratic candidates for the US presidency, isn't it funny that I would find this RIGHT NOW?
Okay, strangely enough, while looking for relevant links to flesh out this post, I came across a reference to a documentary film that I remember knowing existed, but possibly forgot about? Anyway, I clicked on the About the film-maker link. Uh... you're not going to believe me... we went to high school together.
Progress on the DNA scarf.
As an inexperienced knitter, I think I'm aiming pretty high with this DNA scarf pattern. Having completed my sample, and practiced the cable sequence, I bought the yarn for the scarf I actually intend to complete. I feel the width of the scarf is narrow for my taste, so instead of the 1:2:1 ration of border to cabled area, I am knitting mine in a 1:1:1 ratio, if that makes sense. Right now, I am 4 rows into my seed stitch, forcing myself to relax and knit slowly, only at night, to peacefully wind down before bed.
On Cheesecake
I don't like having tools that serve only one purpose, taking up precious space in our kitchen. So, I don't own a springform pan. I thought that meant I couldn't make cheesecake, which I love, and have been craving.
But... guess what? Disposable foli baking cups allow you to make cheescake cupcakes! Man, I have eaten more of these than I care to admit today!
Setting: Paris, 6th arrondissement (Rue des Rennes), McDonald's Restaurant, circa 1990
After a hard day of lecture classes in Paris, my American schoolmate (from Kansas) and I ducked into "MacDo" for a taste of the familiar.
Me: How do you say "Big Mac" again?
My friend: I can't rememb... (sneezes)
Stranger behind us: Gesundheit.
My friend: (To the stranger) Oh, finally, someone who speaks English!
I wanted to crawl under a table...
It has simply become a habit that you say "God Bless You", when someone sneezes. Gesundheit had just become such a knee-jerk reaction, that she didn't even notice that it was of foreign origin.
Now, looking back on it, I realize her point was "A familiar word! I am so happy to hear something I recognize!" If that were to happen today, I would just laugh, knowing what she meant vs. what she said...
Don't we all seek the familiar?
I had a deep pressure massage today. I was wearing a hand-knit sweater when I entered the massage room, which opened up a whole conversation with the masseuse about knitting, sewing, art and life. Talking to her was fascinating, and relaxing. During our hour-long conversation, I found that we do indeed "speak the same language"! (although I was still too chicken to try acupuncture)
My masseuse, a Chinese woman who has been in this country for 9 years, was telling me how difficult it was for her to learn to speak English when she first came to New York. A well-educated woman, she had learned English in China, but found herself completely unable to get the words out when she needed to say something. She took classes here, and couldn't bring herself to participate. She was computer-phobic, because she found the keyboard daunting. She, like many Chinese immigrants, was more comfortable getting her news and information from Chinese sources, in her native language. Much of that has changed for her in recent years, and the internet has opened her mind to many other interests and pursuits. Now, she uses the computer to learn about things, make friends, and chat in online communities.
Our son Aaron (2 1/2, Autistic, if you are new to the blog) is trying to speak. More words come every day. Putting those words into sentences still hasn't come together yet, so what we hear now, is a cross between the Governator
and "Pootie Tang".
I can tell that his frustration over not being able to make his words understood is really causing him great distress. We have hesitated about teaching him too much sign language before now, but I am changing my mind. The desire to communicate, and to be understood is fundamental.
Be what you is... not what you ain't... Cos if you ain't what you is, You is what you ain't.
-Luther D. Price
I chose these words because sometimes something so true is best expressed simply, plainly, even if grammatically incorrect.
I recently had a conversation with a really talented dressmaker who started honing her sewing skills during a long childhood illness. There was a time (Great Depression-era) when it was not uncommon for family doctors to "prescribe" knitting, sewing and embroidery-type activities for anxiety and depression in their patients. Gratitude journals and other new-age pursuits get a lot of press, but nowadays, the medical landscape is so much more dangerous.
What is a dimming pop star? I am just so sad for Britney. I hope she can find who she is, and not dwell on who she isn't. My heart aches for her. Doesn't this facial expression say it all?
We really have to stop beating people up in the media. It is clear that she has problems that need to be handled away from the glare of the spotlight. There outta be a law preventing this kind of voyeuristic, predatory pursuit of people on the brink of disaster.
Why do people cut corners, when the corner being cut is such a tiny inconvenience?
I spent this morning with my father-in-law, learning to make codfish cakes, because I love them so... He is an excellent cook, and prepares wonderful food from his home (Bermuda), and seems to know everything there is to know about preparing fish, which is not my strong suit. So we had planned our "date" for this morning, during his visit at our place, to teach me how to make the cakes. I call them "cakes", because "codfish balls" doesn't sound very good, does it?
I hesitated to try making them for so long, because I didn't understand the procedure for soaking the dried salted cod. Turns out, it is very easy, and completely worth the time you need to dedicate to it. I just needed a walk-through. They were delicious, and now I know how to make them.
Can you believe... yes, this is another post about the scarf. Bear with me -- I'm obsessing.
I found a million ideas on knitting shortcuts on the web. Ways to avoid using a cable needle (a $1.75 item, by the way)... ways to make things go faster, contraptions...whatever. Why? Knitting, like sewing, is about the PROCESS and the resulting specificity of the product. If you want something fast, just go to the store and buy it, right?
I had to create this post because I had such a hard time finding a clear explanation of how to use a cable needle myself... and the search terms a novice knitter would use weren't taking me there. Besides, I don't know anyone within a reasonable proximity who knits.
See the video below...
Okay, if you can get past the fact that one of these women clearly doesn't have enough clothing on (...?), although she sports a scarf... and they are so giddy that I wonder if a little pharmaceutical help wasn't aministered... this is a clear enough explanation for me.
If you are out there in the blogosphere, Ladies featured in this video, and happen to see this post, just know that you achieved your goal -- your video was both entertaining and informative... but I do wonder what is up with the wardrobe, woman on the left...
It did give me a giggle, though.
Now, on row 14 of my test run, I can see that this pattern will work for me, and it is making sense. This is my test yarn (part of my 6-year-old daughter's supply), so I would have to make an appropriate choice, so the coils will "read" well.
I can see it setting up like a raised ridge that sits on top of the knitted background, and my strands are just at the first intersection, so I can tell that I am reading the instructions correctly. hard to photograph, becuase I can't catch it at the right angle, but it feels good so far...
So, I was thinking... if I were to come up with my own (sewn) version of this scarf, I think I would make winding trails of passimenterie or cording on a cozy sweater knit or velvet fabric. Maybe I'll add that to my list.
When I was in high school, I crocheted a pink and grey sweater, by making long strips in the afghan stitch, and sewing them together. The sweater had sort of a Japanese, Miyake-esque thing going on, and it took me a full summer to create. By the end, I was so sick of that yarn and the repetitive motion, that I promised myself when I finished, I would never knit or crochet a sweater again.
That is why this project appealed to me. See earlier post for details.
Small enough to complete within a reasonable time frame, cool enough not to get bored, and a pretty complicated stitch pattern (for me, at least).
We have had house guests this week, so my creative time needed to be social. Good opportunity to knit, right?
Well, let's just say it has been a comedy of errors. I'm using practice yarn, though. I really like to take on big challenges... it is fun to decipher a knitting pattern, which might as well be Greek for me, since I am really learning these stitches for the first time.
So far, I have cast on the wrong number of stitches...
Funny, I thought I could count. I must be tired.
Well, anyway -- pulled out two rows when I noticed my mistake.
THEN, noticed that although I was reading the charted pattern from bottom to top... I had been reading LEFT to RIGHT on every row.
This DNA helix scarf caught my eye... I love the idea of using this symbol of our specific and unique genetic fingerprint to adorn an article knitted specifically and only with one wearer in mind. Love it... Click here for a Wikipedia link, if you are feeling "sciencey"...
Note: I did not make the scarf pictured above - this post is about WANTING to make it...
I'm not a knitter, but I do know how to cast on and do very basic things... the straight-forward knit, purl, cast on....
I happened upon that wonderful scarf pattern (example pictured above), and it has inspired me to learn to follow a knitting pattern, and I also want to make use of my beautiful knitting book, that teaches from the ground up... it really should be used, not just read...
Yes, you read it correctly -- 1892! Think this info might be tooo old for present-day patterns? Or have the abbreviations always been the same? If you know, tell me, okay? Great, neat, common-sense illustrations and explanations - very easy to understand.
Once upon a time, I worked for Vogue Patterns, where the Vogue Knitting magazine was also published; I even attended their Wednesday lunchtime knitting lessons they gave for the staff... and never made a thing...
I outta be ashamed.
I did fall in love with a sweater pattern in one of the issues, though, and paid someone in the knitting dept to knit the pieces for for me, and then crocheted them together myself. I still wear it now. It's been about 11 years, I think.
(It is only on a hanger for the photo.)
So... Even my husband thinks that scarf is cool... I think that's a sign... It appeals to the science-lovers in us. Now, it is about #10 on my creative to-do list.
So, I've got a reason to knit now. Well, maybe not RIGHT now. (smile)
"The secret of any undertaking is -- first, complete mastery of details from the very first preliminaries; second, sufficient perseverance to grasp and conquer difficulties through a knowledge of detail, thus bringing harmonious results from puzzling or complicated conditions"
-The Art of Knitting (Butterick Publishing Company, 1892 - companion book to the Art of Crocheting)
This is true for knitting... and baseball... and anything worth pursuing, really. Through perseverance and mastery of fine motor skills, a great knitter develops the beautiful, dancelike rythm of a star pitcher.
I don't know how many people see any connection between needle-arts and baseball, but isn't it just fantastic that some visionary has seen a way to make that family outing at Shea Stadium a happy day for everyone? They are calling it "Cro-Shea"!
Stitch 'n' Pitch, as it is described in the week's New York Magazine, as "an entertaining if odd pairing of interests sponsored by the National Needle Arts Association" This one (coming up -- August 8th) was actually organized to let knitters and crocheters meet up to see the Mets vs. Braves game. So, if your kids and hubby, wife, or other beloved companion(s) love the game, but you'd rather be knitting, now you don't have to choose, and bringing your supplies is actually part of the event. Now, that's marketing genius at work - hooray for whoever thought of that!
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