You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'blah blah blah' category.
Work has been slow so I’ve been able to work on the Revontuli (Northern Lights) Shawl. I’ve basically got 5 hours a day to knit so I’ve been plowing through this thing and it’s been very exciting. The pattern is very simple but the yarn is fantastic. I love watching the colors change. I’m on the last handful of rows so I was looking forward to finishing the shawl today at work and getting home to block it. BUT (there’s always a but) the yarn has let me down (or maybe, I let myself down). Just as the blue was fading into violet, out comes BRIGHT orange:
The worst part is I KNEW this would happen. I had read many comments on this yarn and almost all of them had mentioned an awful color splice. I had actually been carrying around a second ball of Kauni for the past two weeks but decided yesterday it was taking up too much space in my bag. Now, I have to sit here, staring at my almost finished shawl.
A couple of months ago I signed up for the Ravelry Scarf Exchange. I decided to knit Parallelograms from Knitting New Scarves.
I used Cascade 220 and Tahki Torino. I chose the yarn based on color. I liked the idea of using two different reds. The Cascade 220 is a actually a heather red color but it looks orange next to the Torino.
I also included some soaps I made a couple of months ago (unemployment breeds new hobbies) and a knit dishcloth made from Tahki Cotton Classic.
I put the package in the mail yesterday. I hope she likes it!
In other news: Conor and I found an apartment in New Haven! I am so pumped. It’s so perfect how Sami was looking to get rid of her apartment which, ended up being the perfect place for us. It was just meant to be. It’s got tons of space which means I’m getting my craft room! It’s also really close to Yale so no more driving to work everyday. I think I’m going to save up the money I would have spent on gas (about $50 a week) and buy a bike in the fall.
Well, I’m off to go camping in Maine!
One thing that never gets old is the first day of the year that you can walk around outside without wearing a winter coat. It happens every year but it’s always such a nice surprise.
Life is busy again. I left the retail world and joined the IT world at Yale. The job is only temporary, about 3-4 months, but there is hope! I could either a) get hired for a full-time position at Yale or b) save up enough to get out of here! I’m always thinking of San Francisco but sometimes reality enters my irrational mind (this is rare but it happens) and I think about the cost of living out there and it scares me half to death. Maybe I’ll return to Boston or try out New York. As long as it’s a city with public transport, I think I’ll be okay with it. This spending $40/week on gas thing is getting really old. It’s tough on the wallet and the conscience.
While I’m sharing, I should mention that I’m finally moving out of Mom and Dad’s house. It’s been great, and not so great, these past 3 months but I’m happy to be moving on. Conor and I found a little place in Wallingford that should suit our needs while we’re deciding what to do next. As happy as I am to be moving out, I have to admit I’m going to be a little sad to leave behind the little sewing room my dad has made for me. I’ve been able to sew without any distractions and without getting in the way of everyone else in the house. I could even have my sewing machine and serger set up all at once without having to unplug anything. It looks like I’m going back to pinking shears and zig-zag stitches.
In additon to being busy with work, I’ve been busy with the normal knitting and sewing which, also means I’ve been too busy to take photos during the daylight hours. Hopefully, I can get outside before 6:30 tomorrow. Thanks for all the suggestions on what to put on my cards! I’ve narrowed it down to Fiber Artist and Textile Artist. When it’s time to print them, I figure I can just flip a coin and ta-da!
I know that “sewer” is an incorrect way of describing someone who sews but my other option is what? Seamstress? This is proving to be quite the dilemma for me. Here is why: My aunt rents a space in a flea market somewhere near Orlando, Florida. She is going to start selling some of my knits, aprons I’ve sewn (don’t worry, I’m using my own designs. No copyright infringement over here!) and other tchotchkes. I doubt this will go very far for me but I decided that I need some sort of business card. I ordered some samples from MOO but I’m realizing that I can’t put that I’m a sewer on my card. So what do I do? Seamstress or is there another simple way to state that “I am one who sews”? I need your help.
I’m starting to think I have a thing for vests. Not all vests, just knit vests. The new issue of Knitty came out and immediately I was drawn to the two vest patterns:
and
The first, Talia, is going to require some modifications. It’s a little too long and I’m not crazy about some of the design details but I am drawn to the shape of it. The second, Honeycomb, is perfect. The stitch detail plus the tweedy yarn makes this an excellent vest for fall. Of course, I can’t start either of these because I’m currently working on three things: Wicked, Rusted Root and Mystic Waters Lace Shawl. I also need to hit up the sewing machine soon. My mind has been drifting towards summer dresses.
It looks like I’ll be visiting California sometime in the coming months. I’m hoping to set up some job interviews in and around San Francisco. I haven’t had much luck here so I’m hoping there might be something for me on the opposite side of the country. Even if I don’t get a fabulous job there, I’d rather work a crappy job there than here.
Pattern: Just a basic hat pattern with an argyle chart I made in Excel.
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of Andes
Needles: Susan Bates US 8 circular
Notes: Conor has been asking me for this hat for I don’t even know how long. I saw that Knit Picks was having a sale, so I bought Wool of Andes in the colors Conor requested and FINALLY began the hat. I messed around in Excel and decided on a basic argyle pattern:
I duplicate stitched the orange line in and I think it came out okay. It looks lumpy but I haven’t blocked it yet. I’m waiting to make sure it fits Conor’s big head. If I were to knit it again, I’d start the argyle a little sooner but hopefully he likes it and it fits and I won’t have to knit it again.
Wool of Andes….Not sure how I feel about this yarn. I hear people compare it to Cascade 220 a lot but I have to say, I think Cascade is of better quality than Wool of Andes. The chestnut was thin and had a ton of knots in it while the blue was plump with no knots. I think next time, I’ll spend the extra 3 bucks and get Cascade 220.
So, I guess living at home isn’t THAT bad. I really think I was cranky because of this diet my mother wanted to try. I decided to do it with her as moral support and because I wouldn’t mind losing 4 or 5 pounds myself. It’s called the Cardio-Free Diet and it’s AWFUL. Really, just awful. The whole idea behind it is that you’ll burn more fat by being on a 1200 calorie diet while working just your muscles three times a week and of course, no cardio. We basically followed the book to a T. The recipes were really the worst part. My breakfast usually consisted of a 4-egg white omelette with up to 4 cups of veggies. FOUR CUPS! They ended up looking like a plate of veggies with some white stuff mixed it. All of the food was tasteless and I was always hungry. Hungry = cranky. After three days of being a bitch, I quit. My mom has also quit (thank God!). Instead, my entire family has joined a gym. Really, my entire family. The first time I went, I was with five other people. We looked like an episode of the Brady Bunch. At least now I’m less cranky and back on ice cream.
Tonight, I’m sewing. Hopefully, I’ll something to show tomorrow.
On January 23rd I wrote, “If I don’t have a substantial amount of posts by February 22nd, then I quit!” I also said I’d write one post a day but I didn’t do that. However, I feel like I’ve been posting on a somewhat regular basis so I’ll stick with it. Blogging also gives me some motivation to sew, knit and cook more so I can have actual things to display on this blog. Am I blogging because I craft or am I crafting because I blog?
Before I met Conor, Valentine’s Day actually had significance in my life. I’d pretend to not care about the commercial holiday but really deep down, I was wishing I had a valentine. I would secretly hope some secret admirer would reveal themselves by buying me chocolates or sending me flowers. The truth is, I don’t even like flowers that much and if I really wanted chocolate, I’d buy some myself.After I met Conor, I didn’t feel the need to put so much energy into one day. Now, it’s just an excuse to hang out and be us. I dread the thought of dressing up and eating in some expensive restaurant that is totally not us. We could be uncomfortable any day of the year. On a day like today, “the day of romance”, I’d rather get some take-out and snuggle up and watch Lost. Romantic, right? I’ve been trying to find a photo that captures our relationship. It took awhile but this one has to be in the top ten:
We’re two goofy people who happen to be in love.
AND on a crafty related note:
I keep having dreams of returning to my old job. It’s creepy and I don’t want to look into it. Also, never heard back from the boutique. All is well though, I’ve been applying to at least 3 jobs a day. Something’s got to stick. I may start looking in New York. I could always commute until I’ve saved enough to move there.Onto knitting!
Pattern: Little Arrowhead Shawl
Source: www.interweave.com
Yarn: Brunswick Promfret
Needles: Inox US 7 Circular
Notes: All done! I have no complaints about the pattern. It was super simple and easy enough to modify. I ended up doing one less repeat than the pattern called for. When I started this shawl, I envisioned wearing it tied around my neck. Think knitted bandanna. My one concern is that it will be too long after I block it. I’ll have to be careful not to stretch it too much. I decided to follow Yarn Harlot’s guide to blocking lace. This is my first time blocking lace like this. My blocking skills need a little work:
It’s a tad crooked. If I were a perfectionist, I might try to fix it for the millionth time. Luckily, I’m not. Side note: The smell of wet wool reminds me of the house I stayed at in Jordan. It’s not wet wool in general just this specific wool. Strange.
I really love the way it drapes. In fact, I really just love the whole thing. I find that my feeling towards my FOs usually range from meh to IN LOVE. This is one of those FO’s that I want to constantly wear and look at. The wrong side is also nice which, doesn’t make it wrong at all: (I think I took one too many photos)
This project has definitely inspired me to look into more intricate lace projects. I want to knit a lace shawl for everyone I love. The funny thing is, I started knitting this as a “looking for something else to knit” project. Does anyone else do that? Have a project you work on until your next big inspiration comes along? Who knew that this would actually become my new inspiration?
I have a hard time saying Stitch n’ Bitch. I can type it all I want and say it in my head but to say it aloud?? Can’t do it. I feel that way about most knitting terminology. I can type out FO, WIP, LYS but I would never say “eff oh” or “finished object”. Maybe because I’ve never really hung out exclusively with knitters. I prefer to refer to the SnB as a knitting group. Of course then, it sounds like I’m going to a Knitters Anonymous group. “Hello, my name is Brenda and I’m a knitter”. I’m over thinking this. Anyway, as you can imagine, I went to my first knitting group in New Haven. It was super awkward at first and the only thought running through my head was “Get my out of here! I could be home watching some lame re-runs and knitting all by my lonesome!”. It’s awkward being the new girl as it is but of course there wasn’t any room for me at the table so I was stuck off to the side on these cushions. I felt so small, like I was sitting in the children’s corner staring at the adults, confused by the big words coming out of their mouths. About a half hour passed and a few people left. I got a seat at the adult table and all of a sudden things started to make sense again. I talked, I knitted, I laughed! It was kinda great. I’ll definitely be going back next week. This time, I’ll show up a little early to guarantee a seat with the big kids.
of an unemployed fresh-out-of-the-university gal. The first week of being unemployed and living with mom and dad entailed getting up at 11am and making Belgian waffles. This sort of thing catches up with you though. After eating Belgian waffles for breakfast 7 days straight, you start to look and feel like a belgian waffle. So now I present to you the yogurt parfait: So simple, yet so delicious and fun to make. Not as fun as eating it because let’s be honest, yogurt and Belgian waffles really are clearly two different animals. It’ll do.
So, moving on. After I’ve woken up and have carefully prepared a parfait, I usually read or watch a bit of TV (the parents have Tivo!). Currently, I’m reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Even though, it’s about a woman undergoing some sort of mid-life (1/3 life?) crisis, I find that I’m really identifying with it. I’m really drawn to books about people going through their (insert time period here) crisis. They always seem to discover some new fantastic thing or skill about themselves. I’m looking forward to my crisis.
Anyway, after my daily dose of reading or television, I start to get some energy and I craft! Unemployment allows plenty of time to knit and sew. I have knit 2 pairs of socks and I have sewn 4 garments. I just started sewing so there are plenty of mistakes. Hopefully, my photography will hide them. Below is my 4th and favorite garment. The pattern is from Simplicity 3835 Built By Wendy. I love Built By Wendy patterns. They’re pretty simple and easy to follow. Plus, most of her designs are classic so I know I can wear this stuff for a couple of years to come.
I’m really fascinated by sewing. Following patterns has really helped me to understand the construction of clothing. I really want to branch out and start designing my own patterns. First, I need a dressform. (Mom? Birthday present?) I’m trying not to let sewing get in the way of my knitting. Knitting is still my number one but sewing has provided me instant gratification. Did I mention this already? It takes me weeks to complete a sweater and only a day or two to make a dress. The processes are completely different though. I find that knitting is a lot more relaxing than sewing. Also, sewing in general seems more about the finished product than the actual process. But what do I know? I’m new to this sewing thing.
So back to a day in the life. This is actually pretty much it. We’ve reached the end of the line. My average day consists of eating, reading, tv-ing, knitting and sewing. What else do unemployed people do with their time? It’s been a nice 2 1/2 weeks but I’m feeling antsy. I’m missing the human interaction. I’m not looking forward to the draining 9 -5 days but I am looking forward to seeing the word “deposit” in my bank statements again.
The reason you had to endure this long post is because my blissful and not so blissful days of unemployment may be coming to an end. I have a job interview tomorrow morning at 9:45 am at Glee. Glee is a little boutique in Guilford. It will probably just be a part-time gig but it’ll buy me some time to continue to search for a more career oriented position. I hate retail but I like clothes. It might work. Now all I have to do is turn on the charm for the interview.
Here’s the thing. I knit and I sew and sometimes I do other things like eat, sleep, and think. I really like the idea of having a place to share these things but the truth is, I’m lazy. I also hate writing but I always come back to this blogging thing. If this doesn’t work, I’m done. So, to get started I’m going to write one post each day and share my various projects. If I don’t have a substantial amount of posts by February 22nd, then I quit!
So this is my Little Arrowhead Shawl which, will not end up being a shawl at all. I’m going to do less repeats and just make it into a triangle scarf. I’ve never done lace like this before so it’s been an interesting process. I’m using Promfret 4-ply Sport yarn in Royal Blue. I got this yarn from my boyfriend’s aunt a few years ago and I’m just now getting around to using it. I have about 6 skeins of this stuff. I’ll probably end up donating the rest.
