Yarnmaven

Perseverence Pays Off

Just So You Know...

that I am not doing nothing (and Yes, that does appear to be a double negative), I finished another Clapotis.  Just like the last one only a different colorway.  I love the Clap, but they KILL me to make.  They take forever and well, quite honestly, I get bored.  Abby loves it, but it's not for her.  My mom expressed an interest, we'll see if she was sincere, 'cause, ya know, she loves everything I make - isn't that great?  I have been very busy with some work stuff and some PTA stuff and some graduation stuff and some trip-out-of-town planning stuff and well, I suppose blogging has taken a back seat and it does bother me, just not enough to drop everything and let y'all know (both of you) what boring and geekish thing I am up to now, but I do miss y'all.  I haven't even kept up with my blog reading.  I have discovered Twitter, though and I have to say that if you aren't on Twitter, well, you just aren't geeky enough.  Actually, some people, like my oldest, Kandis, they are actually better at twittering than blogging.  I don't mean to say she isn't a good blogger, but Twitter, with it's 140 character post limitation and the randomness of it in general is really better for some blogger styles.  Kandis is great at Twittering because she has these great moments where she can blurt out her witty, caustic tweets to the Twittersphere and it just seems appropriate - and timely.  And no formatting and the only thing you need to remember is "say it in 140 characters".  Oh, and use tinyurl for links, cuz the url counts for characters.  Me, I end up reading a lot of tweets and responding to some, I don't have that instant genius thing going for me.  But I still read Twitter obsessively. 

Anyway, that's what I've been doing.  How 'bout y'all?

A Dress?

Yes, a dress. Vogue pattern V8383 in a linen/cotton with embroidered polka dots.  Abby calls this my chocolate chip cookie dress because the fabric reminds her, well, of chocloate chip cookies.  I have been collectiong and buying vintage patterns and fabric for a while, but this is a modern pattern.  It's taken me weeks to finish it - mostly because of the limited time I can devote to anything much lately.  I really have been knitting, but they are interminable projects that simply will not end.  If I ever finish them, I'll post photos.  But now that it's spring, I want to sew some of the vintage stuff I've been piling up.  I was very lucky and won some free shoes and a bag from  Zappos.com via Twitter.  The shoes in the photo are the ones I picked - they're Born's, my favorite shoes. 

My grandson had his first birthday and Tom is graduating from Texas State University on May 9th.  It's a busy time of year for us.  The summer fast approaches and I just now got the beans, squash and leek seeds planted today.  Oh, and it's San Jacinto Day, so I had the day off which is how I could get all the gardening and mowing done. Whew!  Is anyone else feeling as distracted as I am?

*note: I appear to be leaning in the photo, the camera was on an unlevel surface, but I was losing light so I took it.  I also managed to miss a button on the bodice, such was my hurry.

All God's Children Need Blankies

I don't even care if you don't believe in God, the fact is; 416 children have had their world turned upside down and who understands the comfort of a blankie better than knitters, crocheters and quilters?  Rete has proposed a plan and will act as a coordinator (she works for the CPS) to provide a hand-made blankie for every kid there.  This is one real way you can help these kids face whatever life and the state of Texas has in store for them.  I would like them to see that the outside world is not out to hurt them.  Warmth for all!

Update: Rete informs me that they may not go just to the FLSD kids, I still think I could crank one or two out pretty quickly.

The problem is…

 If you move to a state (even a big state with a lot of wide open spaces like, say, Texas) and buy a lot of property with the intent to build a large community for the “followers” of your religion (don’t really care which one),  because you had a falling out with the Head Church about certain doctrines (those that tend to be illegal, even in Texas), and you put up a fence and you have armed guards patrol the perimeter to prevent anyone from gaining access (or freedom), you should be aware that people in town, hell, people everywhere are going to regard you and your folks with a certain amount of suspicion.  Not because you make your women wear funny dresses.  Not because you are building a GINORMOUS white temple that sticks out like the Christ of the Ozarks on the flat Texas landscape.  Not because people don’t respect your religious views.  Not because you are exempt from paying any taxes because of your claim to status as a religious order.  Not even because your founder is cooling his heels in an Arizona prison on rape charges.  No, people are going to be suspicious of you because they have no way of verifying that everyone INSIDE your compound really wants to be there.  AND that if you weren’t doing something illegal, you would not need to hide over 500 women and children inside your gates.

 

Yes, I do have a problem with any religion in THIS country that systematically keeps half its population ignorant and subservient and which exists to subvert the laws of the very nation that allowed its emergence, in order to preserve the patriarchal power to control the lives and reproduction of its members.  It is nothing less than a prison, and there is nothing holy about it. 

 

Texas may have its hands full dealing with this many victims, but it had to happen.  Thank goodness that so far, it has been without violence.  May the real world not be too scary for the kids and mothers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040801742.html?hpid=topnews

More on the scary people:
http://www.bankingonheaven.com/

Polygamy Files Blog:
http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/

Yeah, I'm back and I'm pissed.

Resuming Life as We Know It

SXSW is over.  Even the folks that came for the music have left.  They say the airport was busier than at Christmas time with everybody trying to leave at once.  Every year about the end of February I start hating my job and then SXSWi happens and I completely fall in love with my career all over again.  It never fails.   It is such an infusion of energy and expectation coupled with all the buzz of what is hot in technology and all the friendships made, renewed and deepend that I hit an overload point usually sometime before the last day.   I finished a pair of socks while sitting through all the panels.  I finished a sweater in the two days I took off to recover from SXSWi. 

Pattern: Hooded Pullover, Vogue Knitting, Fall 2005
Yarn: Marr Haven Mule Spun Worsted Wool, 6 skeins

  Stephen and I had a great time at the Knitting Nest last Monday night.  It was a small crowd, but it was relaxing.  He signed the Wall of Fame, and posed for some photos.  I'm looking forward to next year and I hope to be able to organize another knitters gathering and/or a craft panel at the conference that will beat the lame one they offered this year.

Abby and Tom have Spring Break this week, so the train wreck getting out of the house in the morning is considerably smaller in scale.  I haven't done a thing about Easter yet.  I have fallen behind badly in reading blogs and need to get caught back up with everybody.  I really wish I was on Spring Break, but not while everyone else is.  I get a lot more done when I'm on my own, if you know what I mean.

Meet Stephen

Monday Night, The Knitting Nest, 6pm-9pm, I'm bringing Stephen (Hizknits.com) to the Knitting Meetup.  Stephen is here for SXSWi where we met last year and he joined us at the Knitbloggers meetup at HCW (where we plan to go tomorrow morning for First Sunday Sit N Knit).  Stephen has a new Knitting Podcast called Y Knit, Genetically Speaking, both hosts just happen to be knitters, and guys.  Stephen wants to knit and see the new shop in town, so, that's what we're doing.  Come join us.

March Forth!

I just love a calendar date that issues a command.  Anyway, if you are planning on attending SXSWi which starts Friday, please feel free to join the wiki for knitters:

And then, look for me.  I'll be the one knitting.

Even more stuff about SXSW.

***Update: apparently I have to send you an invite key if you want to participate - eh, what do you want for free, your money back?  Anyway, please ask and ye shall receive. 

"Will This Thing Ever End?"

I said as I sat watching the Democratic debate last night from Austin, Texas.  Of course, this particular campaign season is unusually long already, but that wasn't what I was complaining about.  At least not at that moment.  I was wondering if I would ever finish the clapotis I was working on.  Honestly, I do not know how S t a c i managed to make, what, ten of them!  The thing puts me to sleep every time I pick it up.  I love the yarn, I loved my former scarf, I want this knit really bad, but the stockinette is killing my productivity.  However, I persevered, since I was on the last ball of yarn I had, I knew the end was near - one way or the other.  As Tom headed to bed after 11pm, I dropped the last stitch and wove the 2 tails (Gawd I love spit-joining) and didn't even bother to block for a FO photo.  I am tired and happy in the photo.  It's over.  I have my Clap and I can now start something else, maybe tonight.  I still have one clap to make, I have the yarn, perhaps I should start it and save it for work meetings - ususally I reserve socks for those since they are unobtrusive, but meetings are perfect for boring knitting.  Oh yeah and I got new glasses.

Last weekend while shopping with a friend at Hobby Lobby, I rounded a corner in the yarn department and ran smack dab into an endcap filled with  Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool sporting not only a new ball band, but a whole new color!  How did I miss this news?  I love this yarn and I also love brown.  Now I have to figure out what to make with it.  They are marketing it as  a felting yarn, but it makes great sweaters and at $8.99 for 465 yards, it makes my tightwad self want to do a happy dance. 

I also did a little sewing last weekend.  I made a purse organizer for Kandis, which I failed to photograph and while Abby slept over at Grandma's house (Tom was too sick for us to go on our planned date), I made a dress for her doll.   Butterick pattern B3329, I got the fabric at Walmart off the $1 a yard table, I think this cost less than $2 to make including the little rosettes.  The skirt is a dusty rose colored faille and the bodice is a chocoalte brown velveteen with piping at the collar and sleeves.  I love the color combination.  My mom said she thinks she had a formal just like it in college.  I am constantly amazed at the odd things you can find on the $1 yard table there and many are perfect for doll clothes. 

My Moo cards arrived in the mail so I am set for SXSWi, just around the corner.  Last year I organized a SXSWi Knitter's Meetup at HCW that was tons of fun, but this year, I have not had time to plan or promote and I don't know if I will, but if one happens sporadically, I'll try to be there.  Otherwise, I'll have knitting with me in all the panels.  If you see me, say hey.

If you are registered to vote in Texas, March 4th is primary day and if you vote Democratic either early or on March 4th, keep your ticket and go to the Caucuses, this is gonna be a lot of fun. 

Love Day

Yeah, whatever.

Big News

I made a hat.  And I'm keeping it. 

Pattern:Mikey Cap from Kris Knits
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Mountain Twilight (gift from Kandis)

It calls for one skein, but I ran out of yarn just at the end, under the brim so I used some leftover from a previous sock project.  You can't really see it.  I wonder if I don't knit looser than I thought?

It was a fairly quick TV knit.   A neutral tweedy yarn would have been nice too.  I think I can wear this hat.  Oh, it's not going to keep me from freezing to death, but it's cute and I like it.  For a change.

I did also pick up some Patons Classic Merino in a nice grey and I'm going to have another stab at Bonne Marie's Bucket hat, with mods.

I got my new IK in the mail the other day.  These issues keep getting better and better.  I think Eunny Jang may be some sort of genius savant.  There are several designs in this isse that I want to make, just like the last issue.  I will definitely have to renew my subscription.