Knit-Nerd-Rant

[ via ] First, I've been so overwhelmed by the positive response on Ravelry and the sudden, dramatic uptick in hits that Blogger told me about after I posted my recent knitting patterns! I'm so excited that people actually bothered to look at my silly little posts! So here I present you with one of my favorite new creatures in the world, Grumpy Cat . Grumpy Cat makes me giggle like I've lost my marbles (high likelihood that it's true). And one quick update, I'll be out on a boat with the boyfriend's family for an extended holiday vacation. Should there be some sort of cosmic catastrophe on the 21st, should be interesting. Massive tidal wave/tsunami, I might be more safe than most or get totally destroyed. Zombie apocalypse on land, I'm gonna be just find. Enormous asteroid impact, we're likely all screwed. One way or another, I may be back. Until then, gaze into the infinte grump of Grumpy Cat surrounded by a Christmas wreath.

This is a very simple blanket, and pretty mindless to do.  I had a bunch of donated yarn from a friend - a collection of inexpensive craft store yarn - some boucle and some fleece.  I wanted to get rid of it, and thought this would be a great gift for someone who needed something warm and fuzzy. Supplies: I used a size 8 long circular (and also a size 6 circular, details below) I used up 2 very large skeins of the purple boucle, 2 skeins of pink fleece yarn, and 1.5 skeins of the acid green 4 stitch markers to mark the corners Cast on 80 stitches on a size 8 circular (or straight, depending on preference). I used long-tail/slingshot cast-on. Work 6 rows in stockinette Row A: Knit 5, [yo, k2tog], repeat [] until 5 stitches remaining, knit 5 Row B: Purl 6, [turn stitch around and purl, purl], repeat [] until 5 stitches remaining, purl 5 Repeat Rows A and B until the piece is nearly square Work 6 rows in stockinette Keep 80 stitches on needle - don't bind off! Pi

So this funky little thing is a Moebius plush that I decided to make for my father, a geometer. I had some difficulty wrapping my brain around it, and reached out for help to Ravelry when my brain felt overwhelmed.  Got some great tips that went straight into the pattern for this little guy. Materials: I used size 6 double-pointed needles (4) Ancient, mind-bending green worsted-weight acrylic yarn (less than 1 skein) and about 3-4 feet of a contrasting darker green for stitching. Using a very thick yarn for this size needles meant that the piece is fairly stiff and sturdy.  If you're a looser knitter, try a smaller needle or thicker yarn to get this combo for yourself! Cast on 33 stitches on dpns (I used slingshot/long tail cast-on). Transfer 11 stitches to each of 3 needles for knitting. Row 1: knit, join into round Row 2: [knit 1, slip 1 stitch purlwise at end of dpn], repeat [] 3 times Continue rows 1 & 2 until piece is about 30 inches long and loo

[ via ] Ok, this one has been brewing for a while (there are more long-standing grievances to file, but this is sufficient for now).  I have a deep and abiding hatred for Pinterest.  It's unabashedly gender-role enforcing.  It's basically a place where straight, white women go to collect pictures of aspirational interior design, fashion, recipes, saccharin inspirational quotes, and they accumulate. More accumulation - as if that's what we need to cure the ails of society.  They tack up meaningless quotes that they think are insiprational that are usually historic/literary quotes taken out of context or meaningless drivel. They decorate homes they can't afford, select outfits they will never be able to buy, find makeup tips they will never use, and pin recipes they will never bother with.  It's the ultimate way to feel like a domestic goddess without ever actually trying anything. There are some snarky pins that I run across, including some I don't underst

So, the great thing about living in DC is that we have such a strong relationship with politics. Particularly the (mostly white) professional population that comes from all far-flung parts of the US to work in federal government, non-profits, think-tanks, and the like tend to be very highly geeky and obsessed with politics.  The rest of the city natives (mostly black) have shown wholehearted support for Obama, in keeping with the traditional support for the Democratic party in DC for ages, and have been energetically vocal.  DC went for Obama with 91.7%.  I'm surprised it was that low. Conversations in coffee shops, on the Metro, in bars, and on... blogs... have obsessively followed every detail of the campaigns.  Some of it is definitely connected to individuals hoping that their jobs will be secure - from political positions to non-political civil servants afraid of politicians pushing federal spending cuts that would jeopardize their positions and career trajectories.  Brin

A while ago, a woman from my church community gave me a large bag full of knitting odds and ends, since she was no longer able to do it herself.  I had recently started a monthly "Fibre Party", basically a nicer name for a Stitch-n-Bitch group, at the church and this woman decided that I would be able to give these odds ands a happy home. When I opened it up, there were some amazingly kitschy acrylic yarns, a couple random darning needles, a set of very long, straight size 8 needles, and a whole bunch of old patterns.  The patterns are AMAZING. Between the fantastically cheesy (see the photo above) to the fantastically hideous Christmas stockings, it was a real treasure trove.  There were 2 thick books of sweater patterns for men and family full of Scandinavian fair-isle patterns from the mid-1940s, some children's sweater patterns from the 1970s, 1970s christmas patterns and random mimeographed versions, and a couple more odds and ends. Particularly the forced poses

This is by far the most distinguished, elegant, and heartwarming response to senseless bigotry and bile from someone who, IMHO, doesn't deserve the popular fame that she has. When Ann Coulter visited the college where I was studying years back, some fellow peaceniks and I went to see what she would spew about (and it was free, so it's not like she made any additional money because we were there). The vitriol, ignorant hate speech, and "shock" fodder simply made me angry. Friends who had known me for years said they had never seen me so angry - literally shaking to contain my disgust and anger.  When I simply couldn't take it any more - after just one more intolerant and racist remark - I shouted "RACIST" at her before marching out of the auditorium.  I still feel a little more patient than those who had been heckling her with phrases like "must be nice to have daddy's money" or "anorexia rots the brain". Clearly, Mr. Stephens

These are my M&Ms as they came out of the bag. I am convinced that they are segregationists. I could not stop myself from sharing.

So, since I finished the socks for the boyfriend, I've been having to figure out what I want to do next. The lambswool in the black bag above was reclaimed from a truly hideous GAP sweater found at a rummage sale and is just begging to be knit into a cozy, lovely sweater. The teal is smooth cotton/silk blent that seems perfect for a shirt, and the red and brown cotton/wool blend are going to be socks for me at some point with cheerful stripes. The next question came up when in my new office, the temperature outside plummeted and offices in DC generally don't just flip from AC to heat right away. Ours designates October 15th as the day to switch on the heat. All day on Monday, my co-workers and I were shivering trying to stay warm, wearing our coats around the office, and salivating over the idea of having some nice, hot tea (another thing we're still figuring out in the new space until we can get microwave/water heating system up...). I realized that one thing I re

So, this year, I turned the age of my birthday! Most people I know it's happened when they were 5, celebrating their birthday on the 5th - what a waster. Now I'm in my late 20s and had been looking forward to the celebrations for years! I remember thinking when I was young that it would be so cool to have my golden birthday, and that anticipation was sitting in the back of my mind for decades. It finally happened at the end of September, and it didn't disappoint! I was able to take the day off of work (through a last minute change of a couple schedules) so I went for a 6.5 mile hike through Glover Park on a gorgeous day. Got home a little muddy and a lot sweaty, washed up, and watched a classic English film with the boyfriend. Then I opened my cards and a present from an old friend to reveal the Dr. Who TARDIS mug that you see above! It's perfect for work, once we get a coffee maker set-up, since the lid will hopefully keep it warm until I get a chance to actua

[Image Source: 1 , 2 ] **Seeking to avoid all spoilers for folks who have not read even the first one** So I have finally finished the full series, and I've made plenty of jokes about how this series is like crack. I got the first one free, but once I started, I couldn't stop. The stories are written with lots of action constantly, so that as a reader, there's always an anxiety building about what happens next. While it's not a challenging read, given that it's intended for the "young adult" crowd, it's definitely well-paced.  New and unanticipated consequences from the ending of the first volume continue to surprise and intrigue, and when one might be lulled into thinking that the danger is about to be over and both protagonist and reader might get to enjoy a rest, *BAM* some new twist totally changes the situation. It's a different way tot look at the typical coming of age story - how does a young woman define herself while ot

So, I go to the library to pick up the final Hunger Games book, and I was in for a surprise. Theory is that crack dealers always give their clients their first hit for free, knowing that they will simply be so addicted and the dealer makes his/her money back many times over. Such is the case with this series. I got the first one free through a Kindle loan and have read that one and the second installment in a week each. This is a normal week, just reading it while commuting or at the gym. Back to the story with the story of the library book, I had two surprises waiting for me on Monday when I stopped at the DC Public Library by my office. When I first walked in, it turned out to be Irish Book Day, and they were handing out free copies of Irish novels, so of course I pick up 2. I can never turn away a free book. The second surprise was waiting for me in my latest hit.  I opened it up and within the first few pages, I noticed something. **Spoiler alert** Then I notic

This is actually the back of my latest skirt, all lovely wool from the bits of thread collection, and it's fully lined. I rarely do true linings, so I'm pretty proud of it. It's the same basic model as the others - tube with darts at top and a slit at the bottom of the hem, but I added an actual waistband this time. That is all.

As with the millions of other self-indulgent blogs out there, this is simply a means for me to gather some random portions of my life. Topics of interest may include but are not limited to: Knitting, quilting, sewing, reading, pop culture, music, religion, international relations, science, space, feminism, philosophy, consumer finance and credit, disability rights, human rights, gay rights, civil rights, fantasy novels, fantasy novels other than Harry Potter, computers and software, movies, tv, science fiction movies and tv, automotive engines, cooking, fresh produce, psychology, football, the other kind of football, and yet the other kind of football, hiking, kayaking, sunburn, and dealing with family. If your interest continues beyond four hours, you should check with your doctor, because clearly there is something wrong with you. Also, I'll probably want to be your friend. So, a bit more about me so that you have some idea who this particular self-indulgent and at least m

So, my mother has always been able to grow anything that came her way.  If it came to her sickly and limp, she'll have it full, lush, and strong within a month.  Sometimes I wonder if she's part wizard, and maybe I'm just a squib of sorts.  Over the past few years I have been finding my own way to horticulture, and have managed to kill very few plants!  I'll admit I've started small, with hardy plants that can take a bit of abuse. Today, I finally went out to my local small business garden store , and finally got some new, larger pots for some of the newer plant babies, some more potting soil, and some special soil for the new lavender plant, as well as some long over-due fertilizer.  I also picked up some small plants for the new office.  My employer is moving to a new location, and we're all very excited to have windows, and great big windows right near our desks, too! Southern and eastern exposure means we can have some real plants around! I'm startin

[ Image Credit ] Note:  I am making a serious attempt to keep this spoiler-free, so just about everything included here is limited to what is set out early in the book and my general reactions to the book.  It's a fun and interesting read, so I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone! ___________________ So, I finished the Hunger Games  within a week, which is pretty quick for me.  It's usually too hard to find really solid amounts of time at once to sit down and read for hours, as much as I'd like to.  It's a quick read and it's a really gripping read.  It's fun and fast-paced, and I found that it created a lot of anxiety for me as I read it. I found the main character, Katniss, very easy to relate to, being a brunette from what is basically the East Coast in the Appalachians, she's tough, she's determined, and she's practical.  She doesn't leave a lot of room for softer side of life because she doesn't see the value

As I was trying to find an intarsia pattern for the back of my planned cardigan, I wanted to find something that would be unexpected - not something sweet and wholesome that someone's grandmother would make.  I combed through the internet looking for something, then I realized I could create my own pattern! So I found an image that was from a color-in page for a kid's pirate-themed party of a skull and crossbones.  I increased the size of the image and set it as the background on an Excel spreadsheet.  I then re-sized the cells so that they would resemble that of knit stitches (while now I realize my error, I should have aimed to make them square, but mine were a bit more narrow than that).  Then I carefully formatted all the cells that would be the contrast color for the pattern by selecting them and using the "Check Cell" pre-fab formatting.  This meant that the contrast cells were all dark grey and had an extra border.  Then I took the full field (enough to e

  [Image credit: totally stolen from an ebay listing for Zippy Pins ] Normally, I bring knitting with me on the bus as I commute to and from work, but the past few days, I've been just reading on my Kindle app, since I got a loaned copy of the Hunger Games .  This means I've been knitting a lot less (I have made some progress on the socks for the boyfriend, but not as much as I'd like) and my hands are mostly still during my commute.  I realized today that my hands are totally antsy and just want to knit up a storm again.  Must knit... must knit! Knit and purl!  Ahem... Worst of all, I just learned about a yard sale at an apartment building about a mile from mine... and both fabric and yarn were specifically mentioned in the advertizement.  This could be a very bad... I have to admit, however, that reading the Hunger Games is getting to be a bit of a stressful experience.  I find it a pretty disturbing reading on a lot of levels.  First, how does a society get

  So here are my new skirts that took up much of my weekend.  The first one (shiny one to the left) was made from this fabulous vintage fabric found at a rummage sale at the Silver Spring Stage , where is also the same event where I found the couch that the skirt is laying on.  It's hard to capture by photo, it's a gorgeously shiny deep grayish-teal.  The second one I found at the fabric shop of Bits of Thread a few days ago.  it's a buttery smooth wool with royal blue/indigo and black houndstooth that's just fantastic.  It's real houndstooth, not any wimpy print.  (For those in the know, houndstooth is a big deal for Alabama football fans, so this is just a little extra fun.) I've found that with my ... ahem... ample figure (honestly, from the waist down, it's mostly solid muscle from a childhood spent playing sports and dancing), a pencil skirt is generally the way to go.  And luckily, it works out that the way my proportions are, I can simply creat

Alright, so how's the old score card? Sew 3 new skirts that are office-appropriate Fixed one skirt that was too big, and made 2 skirts from scratch (details and pics to come). Given how much work the blue/black houndstooth one was, I'm calling this one achieved. Watch my current Netflix (Melancholia) Nope, still need to do that, since it's one I wanted to watch with the boyfriend. Go hiking! Instead decided to go for a 5k run on Saturday morning, and that's about all the weather wants to permit. Forecast has been showing rain out through Friday. Boo.  Thought about a muddy hike, but just didn't have the energy. Clean the apartment A bit... Do laundry Find the fridge light bulb (Someone accidentally un-plugged the fridge, making me think that the light had burned out, since it was still cool and so I removed the light bulb thinking that I needed to replace it. I put it down somewhere and have completely lost track of it.) In my genius, I tota

So, yesterday after work, I met up with a friend to go to Bits of Thread and boy did we have entirely too much fun!  It's a small sewing studio that does classes and workshops for different levels, and it also has a great stash of reclaimed, vintage, donated, and random fabric. Most of the pieces I found were less than 3 yards, which is perfect for what I need.  There were a few fabrics that came in larger sizes, but not many.  Lots of great scraps, vintage notions, fantastic buttons, it was like going through the attic of the coolest grandma on the planet and finding some of her amazing and soft and hideous old fabrics, pattens, and random bits and things.  It's pretty much available only by appointment, so call ahead to make sure someone will be there.  When we arrived, there was a new instructor leading a class who didn't know how to ring up purchases, so I swung by today after I got out of work early.  Go check it out for yourself if you are in the DC area! My fri

So, with the long weekend stretching out before me still a day away, I'm gathering a list of things that I want to do over the 3 blissful days: Sew 3 new skirts that are office-appropriate Watch my current Netflix (Melancholia) Go hiking! Clean the apartment Do laundry Find the fridge light bulb (Someone accidentally un-plugged the fridge, making me think that the light had burned out, since it was still cool and so I removed the light bulb thinking that I needed to replace it. I put it down somewhere and have completely lost track of it.) Knit (specifically the socks from yesterday's post) Make pancakes with the blackberries that thawed in the night of the wimpy freezer and re-froze into a solid mass of frozen-berry-goodness (see fridge light bulb story above) Limit my poking around online so that I can actually get things done! Find a way to get rid of the collection of old books I need to give away, and find a way to get them to any related location Perhaps some

So, I've been making some socks for my boyfriend, because no one seems to make socks for men with feet longer than an 11.5.  I'm using Purlbee's mens sock pattern that's a pretty simple one, though I'm just doing it in straight navy blue all the way (no contrast color).  Specifically, I'm using Sirdar Snuggly baby bamboo in navy, since someone's always too warm, this feels like it'll be nice and cool.  And quite frankly, it feels so lovely and smooth... ah.... This is the 2nd time around on this one.  I prepared one earlier and it fit him like a Christmas stocking, so frogged the whole thing, and started over again just this past Sunday.  After knitting while gabbing with friends, and some time on the bus, I've gotten back to the point where I get to deal with turning the heel. Pray with me.  Just kidding, given that I've already done it once, I'm a lot less nervous about it.  Still, quite a bit to go. While setting aside the front

So first lesson of Blogger learned - must rotate photos before uploading. Also, scavenging the leftover edible orchids from the leftover fruit plate in the break room can turn your peaches from yummy to yummy and festively depressing.