Nov 30 2009

Bazillion is a Real Word

Category: Knitting,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 5:04 pm

Or, at least my spell check thinks so. Sorry for the radio silence, three Thanksgivings in a row, and losing Internet access for two days will do that to you. That was rough, let me tell you, I was this close to the DTs.

Bazillion refers to the amount of ends I had to weave in as I finished the Panda Fan Shawl this Sunday. Seriously. I spent two hours over the course of the day, in between packing, weaving and snipping, weaving and snipping. That’s the one downside to modular knitting, if you don’t knitter-up and weave in the ends as you go, you’re left with a real chore at the end of it all. In all honesty, there were “only” 96 ends, but it felt like a nation of strands, all taunting me.

Me and needle, fighting the legion horde.

Me and needle, fighting the legion horde.

This is what a bazillion looks like. May you never have to weave in this many ends, ever.

96 ends, thwarted.

96 ends, thwarted.

The Panda Fan Shawl will have to wait until after we move to be blocked, there’s just too much going on now to even consider it. And speaking of moving… we have a tentative closing date of Thursday afternoon! I can’t believe it, and frankly won’t believe it til I’m at the table, but we’re this close to done with the whole hellish mess! I’ve kept a lot of the awfulness off the blog, but those who have friended me on Facebook have gotten the whole gory mess, week by week, as we struggled with indifference, deceit, ineptitude, and all manner of rage inducing tomf*ckery. My soul needs a spa weekend, I’ve been enraged for two months straight, and that’s just not healthy.

Let's focus on something positive. Rhinebeck yarn will do.

Let's focus on something positive. Rhinebeck yarn will do.

On the one hand, we’re terrified. We don’t make much money compared to other people in our circles, but as far as we can tell, we should be able to afford this. We’ve certainly bought a house that’s as cheaply priced as humanly possible and not qualify as a dump, and trust me, we skated that line to the razors edge. But, you never know, and it’s the unknown (and my parents trying to instill the fear of god and homeownership in us) that has us anxious. On the other hand, I’m finally, FINALLY, excited. Finally, I can be excited about making this house our home, planting, fixing, painting, the works. Assuming nothing else blows up in our faces, we’ll be moving in this weekend.

You can be assured, pictures will follow.

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Nov 23 2009

Control

Category: Knitting,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 12:45 pm

Alas, I am behind on email again. For those merry few who leave comments, know that you are appreciated, and that I’ll do a massive reply binge soon. I would write this blog even if I had not a single reader or commenter, but as we all know, the interaction makes it all so much more fun. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you when soon will be as we’re packing our house size apartment so that it will fit into our apartment size house-to-be. There has been much culling over the last few weeks, with more to come. It’s been a good thing, this thinning of the stuff, and it has really gotten me thinking about the things we own.

For some of it, the decision to toss is a no-brainer. If the items are broken, missing pieces, or otherwise unusable, it goes. If it hasn’t been repaired yet, it won’t be, and it’s only taking up valuable space. For other items, the question of whether to toss/recycle/donate is more difficult. Will we use these things some day? Do we even like these things anymore? No? Then it’s time to go to a new home, goodbye.

A lot of gifts from holidays and birthdays past are falling prey to this one. I know people mean well, but please… I’d rather you buy me a single $8 paperback novel from my Amazon wish list, or bake me a batch of decadent brownies, than feel the need to give me a mandatory holiday gift. And, seriously? Some of it really is just junk, obviously thoughtless gifts of meaningless “$10 or less” seasonal products or dollar store detritus. That’s not what the holidays are about… it’s about giving from the heart (if you can and want) to those you care about. If the feeling isn’t there, trust me, I really would prefer the $2 box mix pan of brownies, they’re delicious and great as a base for an ice-cream sundae!

We're holding on to hope. Taken quickly while measuring rooms... the owner was home, obviously.

We're holding on to hope. Taken quickly while measuring rooms... the owner was home, obviously.

Then there are the things that you don’t use often, but are useful to have. I have quite a bit of cake decorating and candy making supplies that fall into this category. By quite a bit, I mean a medium sized box full, including all but the largest cake pan. My sewing supplies are also culprits, mainly in the form of fabric. I used to sew fairly often, before I took up fiber as a lifestyle. The big reason I stopped was a mixture of an ornery new “better” sewing machine and I got tired of pinning Ren Faire gowns on the floor. Unlike the cake supplies, this stash takes far more room than it needs to, and shall be ruthlessly cut. Sacrifices must be made, and some lucky Freecycle member shall be the better for it.

Saturday I knocked out three of these wash cloths in Peaches & Creme for a swap gift. Yellow is her favorite color. FO post later.

Saturday I knocked out three of these wash cloths in Peaches & Creme for a swap gift. Yellow is her favorite color. FO post later.

I’ve noticed that as the house is cleaned and put to order, my works in progress queue is also shrinking. While I have less time for fiber, it is my refuge when we’re not packing, tossing, or cleaning. I’m also being much more monogamous to the projects I have on the needles, especially the “oldies but goodies”, as is evidenced from the misshapen socks so recently finished. I’ve gone from 6 UFOs a month ago, down to three at the moment. And one of those three only needs finishing! It boggles the mind. I feel bad for Circe, the only time I’ve made to spin on her is when I’m at knit night. This drive to finish my knitting projects has left me no other room to sit and leisurely spin. I’m still working on the same bobbin I was two months ago!

I'm ready to be done with this now, please and thank you.

I'm ready to be done with this now, please and thank you.

 

I really am intensely satisfied with how much I’m knocking out of the queue. I think it’s a wresting control out of anxiety and frustration thing. As mortgage deadlines and emails from an angry seller whiz by, what else can I do but focus on that which I can control? It’s either that or cry, and I have a thing about weakness.

Nov 19 2009

Hiding the Bodies

Category: Friends & Fun,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 11:28 am

House stuff isn’t going well, not well at all. I am filled with a deep well of impotent rage and at the same time overcome with a sense of stillness and resignation. So, instead, I’d like to focus on something positive. Let’s talk about friendship. The “real friends don’t just help you hide the bodies, they bring quick lime and a wheelbarrow too” kind of friends.

Amy is effortless for me. She and I share several core personality traits, and that probably has a lot to do with it. We’re not fans of liquidity in the emotional sense, preferring things understood, and with clearly defined boundaries. She’s not afraid to “lay down the law”, and in fact we both use exactly those words to describe the same thing. She’s a take no prisoners kind of gal, and we can tear it up as a team, let me tell you. On top of all that, Amy is incredibly compassionate, far more so than I am. She’s creative, smart, funny, talented… all things I’ve said here before. She’s a rip roaring Bitch Goddess, and proud of it. She knows that life is messy, and awful, and heartbreakingly beautiful… and she’s not afraid of that.

Amy in the sun, at WOOL '09.

Amy in the sun, at WOOL '09.

When I fell into the abyss of depression in a hardcore way, in my late teens, I stopped being a “phone person”. I didn’t have any girl friends, so aside from my parents or whomever I was dating, I fell out of the habit of the phone. Later, through the coupling of depression and isolation, the phone began to have all sorts of stigma attached. I began to feel like calling my friends was “bothering them”, or I just didn’t think of calling at all. The fact that few people called me seemed significant, more so than it was. It took years to make some kind of headway against that, but I still don’t know how to call my friends just to say hello and chat. I know how to arrange visits, but not how to pick up the phone. How strange to be this way, when in person I’m so over the top outgoing! Thank the gods for social networking, it helps people like me more than words can say… no pun intended.

Amy understands. She knows I think of her all the time, and miss her like crazy. She understands that I’m tough as nails and easily wounded. She knows that I would donate a kidney to her if she needed it. Amy understands that I need my space, but would reach out often if she still lived here in town. Amy knows I don’t need perfect, but I need an equal. Amy knows that I’m flawed, and I know she’s flawed, and we love each other anyway. She’s sure enough of herself that I can relax, and just sit back in comfort.

I know this because she calls me, like she did last night. She needed a laugh and someone to lean on, and funny enough, I did too.

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Nov 18 2009

FO: Stitch in Thyme Socks

Category: Designing,FO,Knitting — Mistress Rows @ 11:05 am

Pattern: Stitch in Thyme, my own pattern.
Yarn: Plymouth Rockin’ Sox
Needles: US Size 0, 32″ Knit Picks circular
Started: When dinosaurs roamed the earth. (July 1st, 2008)
Finished: About damned time. (November 15th, 2009)
Recipient: Me
Techniques: Magic Loop, vigorous pulling of bootstraps.

Stitch in Thyme Socks

Stitch in Thyme Socks

They can’t all be winners, but they can certainly be opportunities for learning. Case in point? These socks have taught me a lot. Things like:

  • I didn’t think the yarn and pattern combo through. I really wanted to use this yarn and design a simple sock pattern to go with it. I should have focused on a texture stitch instead of a lace and stockinette combo if I was going to knit with this style yarn. Better yet, I should have chosen a different yarn.
  • It doesn’t matter that I lost interest in the project, I should have buckled down and finished it regardless. The reason why I didn’t finish it until now? I hate SSK. How stupid is that?
  • It’s a good thing my left foot is wider than my right, somewhat making up for the fact that the foot of the second sock bears witness to how much my gauge changed between then and now.
The foot forward is the larger new sock, the receding foot is the denser first sock.

The foot forward is the larger new sock, the receding foot is the denser first sock.

And sweet jeezus, what a difference! My first sock has something like 11 stitches to the inch on size 0’s, a nice firm fabric that isn’t rock hard. (Seriously!) I wish I had the socks right in front of me to measure, but believe me, I’m probably not far off. The cuff of the second sock was knit consecutively, so it matches. However, last year I put the project aside and haven’t knit on it until now. Therefore, the heel and entire foot of the sock are at a much looser gauge. And I do mean much looser, visibly noticeable, probably 8 stitches per inch. No matter how tightly I tried to ratchet my stitches, I just couldn’t get those stitches to match up. Was I knitting the first sock on speed? WTF! I don’t even OWN sock needles smaller than 0’s.

I really like the tiny leaf pattern, just not with this yarn.

I really like the tiny leaf pattern, just not with this yarn.

I finished these up just to be done with them. It was either that or rip them out, and then the yarn would probably get tossed in a bag and forgotten for years. No way was I going to reknit them in this yarn, which while lovely to work with, I find just flat out ugly knit up. I can deal with the difference for so long as the socks last, which is better than lighting the whole thing on fire.

Consider the FO post my perp walk of shame. I have no one to blame but myself that they came out this wonky, so there you go. Posting the “bad” along with the good is only fair!

 

Leg back detail. Definitely should have made them taller!

Leg back detail. Definitely should have made them taller!

On a positive note, I really like how the pattern worked out. I wanted to design something easily resized, simple to work, but still offering the opportunity to have a bit of fun. If a knitter hasn’t tried lace yet, this would be a nice way to give it a go as the pattern is only three rows, and easily memorized. My favorite part is how it looks down the back of your foot. I’ll reknit the pattern in some of my Bittersweet sock yarn and then release it with the updated photos. I expect the visual appeal to go up tenfold.

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Nov 16 2009

Manic Monday #189

Category: Internettage — Mistress Rows @ 2:53 pm

You have a brain tumor. Though there is no discomfort at the moment, this tumor would unquestionably kill you in six months. However, your life can (and will) be saved by an operation; the only downside is that there will be a brutal incision to your frontal lobe. After the surgery, you will be significantly less intelligent. You will still be a fully functioning adult, but you will be less logical, you will have a terrible memory, and you will have little ability to understand complex concepts or difficult ideas. The surgery is in two weeks. How do you spend the next fourteen days?

Trying to decide whether or not to have the surgery in the first place. Losing much of what makes me who I am is not something I take lightly. My gut response is that I’d rather live six months as best as I can rather than lose my ability to argue complex ideas, appreciate cleverness, write, follow and memorize patterns, design things in my head and create them, and puzzle the nature of life, spirituality, and the universe. While a “full” life might be possible, knowing I was previously capable of so much more would be devastatingly sad to me. In essence Steve would also lose so much of what he loves about me, namely my passion for creation, my (relatively) quick mind, and my joy in discovery. I do not put value in life at any cost. Steve knows, if I’m in a car accident and I’m permanently brain dead, don’t keep me alive on machines… just let me go.

Every person you have ever slept with is invited to a banquet where you are the guest of honor. No one will be in attendance except you, the collection of your former lovers, and the catering service. After the meal, you are asked to give a fifteen-minute speech to the assembly. What do you talk about?

I would thank them all for the things they taught me about myself, love, and relationships. For good and for bad, there was something meaningful in all of it.

You have won a prize. The prize has two options, and you can choose either (but not both). The first option is a year in Europe with a monthly stipend of $2,000. The second option is ten minutes on the moon. Which option do you select?

I would much rather live a year in Europe so I could enjoy the sights, tastes, people, and history of as many countries as I could. While spending ten minutes on the moon would be spectacular and amazing, it’s ten minutes on the moon and then it would be over. I’d be return to my life with this one shining moment of glory, and knowing me, I’d feel like it was over too soon, and somehow restless. I’d rather have a prolonged flesh and blood adventure with my fellow man here on earth. I want to get dirty, get lost, eat savory meals prepared by smiling people, dance, sing, and pet sheep all over the world.  And I’d expect that stipend in whatever is the higher going currency at the time, thank you!

Besides, there’s nothing I want that I can’t find right here on earth.

 

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Nov 16 2009

Recession Special Swap: Package #2

Category: Swaps — Mistress Rows @ 10:49 am

I should have posted about this when I got it, a couple of weeks ago I was treated to a fun package from my Recession Special Swap partner. She sent me a package with a theme of “the little things”, and it was also (to me) an Autumn theme as well.

Misti Alpaca Sock

Misti Alpaca Sock

The yarn is something new to me, Misti Alpaca Sock, and it’s luxuriously soft. The colors are like Autumn in glorious full swing. The pin is very cute, and made from a recycled (broken) DPN. I appreciate the ingenuity! I especially love the stitch markers, the copper wire and palest green beads are beautiful. There was chocolate too, but it’s gone now. :)

Tiny knitting pin and stitch markers.

Tiny knitting pin and stitch markers.

Oh, so long over due! Please forgive me, Swap Pal, I did indeed enjoy my package very much. Thank you for your thoughtful gifts.

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Nov 13 2009

Eye Candy Friday: I’ll Miss This Place

Category: Internettage,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 6:43 pm

Sky at work.

Apricot, with hints of dark chocolate.

Sky at home.

Smoked black tea with cherry chili scones.

Sky & Home

Preparing to say goodbye.

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Nov 13 2009

FO: Plain Jane Pond Scum Socks

Category: FO,Knitting — Mistress Rows @ 5:25 pm

Pattern: None, AKA my Plain Jane style sock
Yarn: Patons Stretch Sock, color “Olive”
Needles: US Size 0, 32″ Knit Picks circular
Started: March 21st, 2009
Finished: November 12th, 2009
Recipient: Me
Techniques: Magic Loop

Pretty tall, but not as tall as they look in that photo.

Pretty tall, but not as tall as they look in that photo.

I am tempted to call these my Pond Scum socks, and perhaps I shall from here on out. I liked the colors much more in the ball than I did worked up, but as I have no spring colored socks, they’re a good addition to my sock drawer. When I started knitting the socks, at the New England Comic Artists Convention, I brought along Knitting Socks With Hand Painted Yarn. Would you believe that I couldn’t knit the pattern I chose because the yarn was too busy? Seriously! The white strands in the yarn made for a weird case of optical confusion… I literally had trouble seeing the pattern. What a bummer! Trust me to have found the one of the few yarns that book can’t tame.

Kinda the Ugly Duckling of socks.

Kinda the Ugly Duckling of socks.

This was my first time knitting with this yarn, a stretchy sock yarn with a complicated list of contents. The ball band says that it’s “41% Cotton, 39% Wool, 13% Nylon, 7% Elastic”, and the construction is typical for stretchy sock yarns, namely a four ply yarn wrapped around two loosely spun strands of stretch elastic. I didn’t love working with this yarn, but I didn’t hate it either. One thing I will caution, if you’re going to work with a yarn of this type, you have to very cautious about tension and gauge. Because I knit the first sock in March and didn’t start the second until 10 days ago, my gauge was all over the place trying to match the one I’d knit first. I’d forgotten that, for the first sock, I’d been ratcheting my stitches to make for a more dense fabric in an attempt to counter the stretch in the yarn.

I’ve been wearing them all day and I really like the way they hug my feet. They’re warm, despite the cotton content, and certainly feel durable. By that I mean, they have that solid feel that durable sock yarns have. I have a feeling these will last a good long time.

Tomorrow: A long overdue Secret Pal post!

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Nov 11 2009

We’re Getting There

Category: Bittersweet,Designing,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 2:52 pm

I’ve been a busy bee on every front, which seems to be par for the course. Thankfully, the Fibro has been under control, and I know a large part of that is due to us packing slowly and methodically. We are often guilty of procrastination, but not here. We’ve moved far too many times to leave it to the last minute, and my body thanks me for it. Some of the things I’ve been focusing on:

House

  • Packing, obviously. Our entire life will fit in our spare bedroom, including over 20 boxes of books, not counting Steve’s 10,000 strong comic book collection and my craft magazine collection. The latter should add another four boxes.
  • Attempting to close, we’re almost there. We expect word from the USDA by next week. It can’t come soon enough for us, not to mention the very impatient seller. The broker ‘offered’ to eat the $700+ rate-lock extension fee, since it’s partially his fault we haven’t closed, and our rate was supposed to expire today. He didn’t apologize, actually “I’m not going to apologize”, but made the offer saying “you’re WORTH it”. We could see our lawyer’s eyes roll in her email, and the phrase “gag me with a spoon” comes to mind.
  • I’m finally allowing myself to believe it might actually happen, as evidenced by me taking advantage of a sale and buying something to go on the mantle over our fireplace in the new home. 40% off of $17 and an additional 20% via coupon meant it was a small luxury I didn’t need to feel guilty about.
  • Steve and I are going to look at furniture tonight, mostly just measuring and pricing out our needs. Those include a new love seat, two chairs, a coffee table, and a dining room set. Our old living room furniture is tattered and the seats are sprung, and while we expected to buy dining room chairs (ours are mismatched), our table doesn’t fit in our new house.

Business

  • I’ve contacted an organization for small business people and will be speaking with a consultant in my area after we move. The organization helps small businesses find out what options are open to them, offers consulting advice, and direct them to programs of interest.
  • My goal is to have my new DBA, new packaging, and my studio set up by January 1st. If I can sneak in some dyeing before then for the holiday rush, that would be great.

Designing

  • The Fascine sock pattern is out and getting some attention from a gaggle of test knitters, much to my joy. I know at least two pair are already started, and I look forward to seeing them knit up.
  • I’ve been getting several older patterns I’ve written and templated finished so I can put them up on Ravelry. At least one of them really doesn’t need to be test knit as it’s a simple cowl with crocheted border, so that will most likely go up first. This is the cowl I wear almost every day during the cold months, called Scaollopine. It’s so simple, but has an elegant border. I wish more of my friends were both knitters and crocheters, I love writing patterns that incorporate both!
  • I’ll be reknitting and actually documenting the Estrella Bella scarf pattern that I knit to wear at the 2008 SOAR fashion show in my Kryptonite handspun. It’s undocumented (but really pretty) because I hoped to submit it to Spin Off but never did. I think there’s never been a better time than now to get off my butt and do it.
Kryptonite

Kryptonite

So, that’s what I’ve been up to. I’ll say right now, there will be very few handknit gifts this year, if any. We haven’t even moved yet, but oh boy it’s going to get even busier.

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Nov 09 2009

Manic Monday #188

Category: Internettage — Mistress Rows @ 4:16 pm

What does it mean to you to have courage?
When you do what you have to do, despite being afraid. Courage can be quiet, or it can be dramatic, but the best kind is the kind you didn’t know you had.

Is your favorite time the past, present or the future?
My favorite time is Now. The Future hasn’t happened yet and the Past is already gone. Why dwell on what was (a tough one for me) or what may never be? I’d feel awful stupid dreaming about someday, getting hit by a bus,  and there I went letting today pass me by.

What makes you a good person?
What a weird question! That I don’t kill people or blow up buildings? I’m no better or worse than most people I know… if I had to toot my own horn I’d say I’m a good person because I have the common sense to try, to the best of my ability, and treat others the way I’d like to be treated. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a masochist.

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