I said it. I do it on purpose. I hate fishing around on the starter chain forever, so I go through the easy loops to go faster. So sue me.
For any knitter/crocheter, the Christmas season is now at hand. It's only October, but you know that making scarves, hats and mittens for everyone you know is a daunting task that takes several months to complete. I now have three different Christmas projects in the making and two started that have nothing at all to do with Christmas. I just really liked that yarn that was on sale and I couldn't sit and stare at my stash without feeling guilty.
Every year I deal with the same issue of what to make everyone. Am I one among a million knitters who hates searching for patterns? I like to make them up as I go. And I've fallen in love with the concept of rag knitting. I believe there will be multiple gifts this year made out of fabric cut into strips.
Damn yarn stores for their sales. And damn craft stores with classes offering ugly projects for beginning knitters. The only solution to this problem is to open my own knitting store where no one will ever walk out with yarn they hate simply because it's fifty percent off. Wait a second. Who the hell do I think I'm kidding? We are knitters. That day when we can resist an impulse sale purchase is far off.
I really should be working on this scarf. I believe it has great potential. I haven't done a zig zag pattern in ages, so the end result is sure to be something for further observation. I never said it will be pretty, but it will be interesting.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Because I'm 19 With Life to Go
Happy birthday to me. Yesterday, that is.
I've made the jump into "official college student" status. Eighteen is such a high school year, with senior prom and graduation. Nineteen makes one officially in college. But trust me, it's not nearly as exciting as it seems. Although, I believe I made out like a bandit in the gift area. I got a few new sweaters (from Goodwill's half-price day sale), a new pair of jeans (50% off at J.C. Penny's), and a secondhand violin. I really am happy about the violin. Secondhand string instruments have life and soul, something a non-musician will ever understand. It is in need of new strings and a new bridge and a new bow, but hey, it's mine, and I will love it forever...Or until I have a musically inclined grandchild of my own. Then they can love it the way I will love my grandfather's.
Other than some super on-sale clothes and a beautiful new part of my soul, I recieved every college student's dream. Money. What did I spend that money on? My car. My car needed a new power steering fluid cap and oil, so that's what it got. What my car really needs is to be not the same car anymore. That would help much more.
In knitting world, I haven't been working on anything except a book. Stephanie Pearl-McFee Casts Off. It's not a knitting pattern book at all, but rather a guide through the world of knitting. And it's hilarious. I would like to start making a sweater for the one year old I babysit for. I think it would be a good Christmas present. I also need to start my scarves I make for presents. Although this year I'm considering making hats or mittens rather than scarves. But scarves are generally fairly cheap, quick and easy. Then again, so are hats. I don't know yet. Maybe that's what I'll do with my free time tonight.
Why, yes I will. I feel inspired already.
I've made the jump into "official college student" status. Eighteen is such a high school year, with senior prom and graduation. Nineteen makes one officially in college. But trust me, it's not nearly as exciting as it seems. Although, I believe I made out like a bandit in the gift area. I got a few new sweaters (from Goodwill's half-price day sale), a new pair of jeans (50% off at J.C. Penny's), and a secondhand violin. I really am happy about the violin. Secondhand string instruments have life and soul, something a non-musician will ever understand. It is in need of new strings and a new bridge and a new bow, but hey, it's mine, and I will love it forever...Or until I have a musically inclined grandchild of my own. Then they can love it the way I will love my grandfather's.
Other than some super on-sale clothes and a beautiful new part of my soul, I recieved every college student's dream. Money. What did I spend that money on? My car. My car needed a new power steering fluid cap and oil, so that's what it got. What my car really needs is to be not the same car anymore. That would help much more.
In knitting world, I haven't been working on anything except a book. Stephanie Pearl-McFee Casts Off. It's not a knitting pattern book at all, but rather a guide through the world of knitting. And it's hilarious. I would like to start making a sweater for the one year old I babysit for. I think it would be a good Christmas present. I also need to start my scarves I make for presents. Although this year I'm considering making hats or mittens rather than scarves. But scarves are generally fairly cheap, quick and easy. Then again, so are hats. I don't know yet. Maybe that's what I'll do with my free time tonight.
Why, yes I will. I feel inspired already.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Un-Itchable Scratch
I'm pulling my hair out again.
I have plaque psoriasis on my scalp, and for some unknown reason, it has decided to act up again. So, I continue to pull my hair out to stop the itch. It doesn't help at all, but I feel better anyways.
I have also become addicted to memoirs. I just finished reading Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It was amazing. I wish my life could have something interesting enough to write a memoirs about. I think they are fascinating.
Unfortunately, all I have to write about is the fact that I knit. I knit all the time. And I enjoy it. It keeps me occupied. In a way, I guess it helps my psoriasis because while both my hands are busy with needles and yarn, I have no means to pull my hair out. Also while I knit, I don't really have time to think. All I usually do while knitting is count or repeat knit, purl, knit, purl. It's kind of nice to be blank for a little bit.
I finished the blue hat. Sort of. I'm supposed to put plastic canvas in the brim to make it stiffer, but I don't feel like driving all the way out to Hobby Lobby. He wants to be washable, but I don't make washable garments. Why? Because I hate doing laundry, so I make things that don't get dirty, so they don't get washed. And also because I heart wool. The blue hat it made of mohair and wool, so if it gets washed, he can cut holes in it for his dog to wear. That's not my problem. He pays, I make, he ruins, I don't care.
I need to use all the yarn I already have before I go out and buy new. But that's the true fun of knitting/crocheting. Blowing $50 at Hobby Lobby by picking up sale yarn, saying, "I can use this!" and then throwing it in your stash and never looking at it again. I need to finish everything up. I am making an airy scarf out of the gray mohair left over from the hat. It reminds me of bread dough. More on that later though (closer to the scarf's completion...Which may never come, knowing me).
To sum up Saturday; memoirs, blue hats, party remnants, Dante's Inferno. Not too bad, if I do say so myself.
I have plaque psoriasis on my scalp, and for some unknown reason, it has decided to act up again. So, I continue to pull my hair out to stop the itch. It doesn't help at all, but I feel better anyways.
I have also become addicted to memoirs. I just finished reading Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It was amazing. I wish my life could have something interesting enough to write a memoirs about. I think they are fascinating.
Unfortunately, all I have to write about is the fact that I knit. I knit all the time. And I enjoy it. It keeps me occupied. In a way, I guess it helps my psoriasis because while both my hands are busy with needles and yarn, I have no means to pull my hair out. Also while I knit, I don't really have time to think. All I usually do while knitting is count or repeat knit, purl, knit, purl. It's kind of nice to be blank for a little bit.
I finished the blue hat. Sort of. I'm supposed to put plastic canvas in the brim to make it stiffer, but I don't feel like driving all the way out to Hobby Lobby. He wants to be washable, but I don't make washable garments. Why? Because I hate doing laundry, so I make things that don't get dirty, so they don't get washed. And also because I heart wool. The blue hat it made of mohair and wool, so if it gets washed, he can cut holes in it for his dog to wear. That's not my problem. He pays, I make, he ruins, I don't care.
I need to use all the yarn I already have before I go out and buy new. But that's the true fun of knitting/crocheting. Blowing $50 at Hobby Lobby by picking up sale yarn, saying, "I can use this!" and then throwing it in your stash and never looking at it again. I need to finish everything up. I am making an airy scarf out of the gray mohair left over from the hat. It reminds me of bread dough. More on that later though (closer to the scarf's completion...Which may never come, knowing me).
To sum up Saturday; memoirs, blue hats, party remnants, Dante's Inferno. Not too bad, if I do say so myself.
Party With the Hardcore Knitter
Yes, I describe myself as a hardcore knitter. I don't knit doillies, I don't shop at Wal-mart for yarn, and my projects are designed for college students, so they have to be trendy. Last night, I went to a party.
And I became the "cool girl who knits".
I take this as a compliment. I had never met most of the people at the party, so I feel honored that they dub me "cool" because I knit. Showing them pictures on my phone of recent projects I had completed (aka, my awesome hat), they became even more interested in the college girl who knits. I'm flattered.
Although, at the same time, I am terribly disappointed. Being in college means I am broke. I have less than $30 in my checking account. I bought a new crochet book the other day that left me $12 out. I had to fork over $50 for rent I haven't started paying on yet, and this is where poeple should stop reading; I shelled out $41 for two shirts from Hollister so that I would "fit in" at the party last night. (The girl I went with worked at Hollister, and as I later found out, so did quite literally everyone else at the party.)
Shame on me, I am broke and now have no money until Monday, when I get paid. My new ambition is to go into Hollister today and fill out an application for work. Having two jobs is bound to better for my income than one. One to pay rent with, one to pay tuition with.
Yup, tution. That's what it will go towards...
And I became the "cool girl who knits".
I take this as a compliment. I had never met most of the people at the party, so I feel honored that they dub me "cool" because I knit. Showing them pictures on my phone of recent projects I had completed (aka, my awesome hat), they became even more interested in the college girl who knits. I'm flattered.
Although, at the same time, I am terribly disappointed. Being in college means I am broke. I have less than $30 in my checking account. I bought a new crochet book the other day that left me $12 out. I had to fork over $50 for rent I haven't started paying on yet, and this is where poeple should stop reading; I shelled out $41 for two shirts from Hollister so that I would "fit in" at the party last night. (The girl I went with worked at Hollister, and as I later found out, so did quite literally everyone else at the party.)
Shame on me, I am broke and now have no money until Monday, when I get paid. My new ambition is to go into Hollister today and fill out an application for work. Having two jobs is bound to better for my income than one. One to pay rent with, one to pay tuition with.
Yup, tution. That's what it will go towards...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
College Girls Kints the Blues
Ah, college. Who doesn't remember the late schedules, the scraping by with little else or nothing to eat but letfover pizza, and of course, the putting off of homework to work on knitting projects that you will almost assuredly not finish.
Such is my case.
I am the classic college girl knitter. At Freshman Fest (the annual welcome day for new freshman, i.e. me) I jumped at the chance to join "the Stitchery", the campus knitting circle. I called my mom ready to jump out of my skin because the knitting table was next to the marketing major (my major of choice since sophomore year of high school).
I have yet to go to a meeting.
Still, I have found time to knit on my own between staying up texting until 3 a.m., sleeping until noon, going to class and working. I am fairly proud of my recent knitting adventures.
I made a hat.
Not just any hat, but the most amazing hat in the entire world. You know which hat I mean. The hat you knit that you start over six times because you NEED it to be perfect from cast on to bind off. That hat you finally finish after eight straight hours of knitting because godforbid you go to sleep without trying it on first (at 2 in the morning). That perfect hat that turns out exactly how you envisioned it, even if you made the pattern up as you went.
And now all my new college buddies want one. Not just the girls, either. I am currently working on Awesome Hat version 2.0 for my table buddy in political science. I will post pictures when it is finished. First my hat (which no one but me shall ever have a copy of) and then his once I get it done.
Which could possibly be tonight. I am on a roll. Meh, who cares if I have a paper due at noon tomorrow? There will always be time in the morning...
Such is my case.
I am the classic college girl knitter. At Freshman Fest (the annual welcome day for new freshman, i.e. me) I jumped at the chance to join "the Stitchery", the campus knitting circle. I called my mom ready to jump out of my skin because the knitting table was next to the marketing major (my major of choice since sophomore year of high school).
I have yet to go to a meeting.
Still, I have found time to knit on my own between staying up texting until 3 a.m., sleeping until noon, going to class and working. I am fairly proud of my recent knitting adventures.
I made a hat.
Not just any hat, but the most amazing hat in the entire world. You know which hat I mean. The hat you knit that you start over six times because you NEED it to be perfect from cast on to bind off. That hat you finally finish after eight straight hours of knitting because godforbid you go to sleep without trying it on first (at 2 in the morning). That perfect hat that turns out exactly how you envisioned it, even if you made the pattern up as you went.
And now all my new college buddies want one. Not just the girls, either. I am currently working on Awesome Hat version 2.0 for my table buddy in political science. I will post pictures when it is finished. First my hat (which no one but me shall ever have a copy of) and then his once I get it done.
Which could possibly be tonight. I am on a roll. Meh, who cares if I have a paper due at noon tomorrow? There will always be time in the morning...
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