March 12, 2010
Don't fight it, it'll only take longer
Today I am blogging from the airport, and I'm happily admitting that I'm not even trying not to be random. I'm just going to let it roll.
1. I am going to try and remember to stop and get American money before the Library tomorrow because it's starting to look like the wee marketplace that they're having before the talk is going to be cool. Knitterella says so, and I believe her.
2. Someone emailed me and asked me what Sock Camp was. Sock Camp is a brainchild of Tina over at Blue Moon, and I help her fulfill that vision. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) Other than that, it sort of defies description. Tina? Can you blog an answer? How about a photographic answer? Anybody who's been there wanna try and describe it? It's camp for grown-ups, with all sorts of fun and and great food- coupled together with serious learning opportunities for knitters who are really excited to learn more about socks in specific, and knitting/dyeing in general. This year I'm teaching all about the elements of socks, swapping and choosing among them, I think Tina's going to help knitters learn about dyeing and show them how to overdye skeins of yarn (great way to fix yarn that needs a little love) Ann Hanson is teaching sock design, Janel Laidman's teaching stranded knitting, Sivia Harding is doing beads, and Cat Bordhi is doing how to invent stitch patterns.
Janel, Cat, Tina and I are teaching at the first session, and Anne, Sivia, Tina and are are teaching at the second one. (That second one is full, but there are still spots in the first one. You should come. You would love it.)
I look forward to camp all year. There's camaraderie, it's in a cool place (Port Ludlow) we do really fun things (scavenger hunt, knitters Jeopardy) we learn more than you can imagine, and we dream and learn big. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't love it, but I may be projecting on account of I look forward to it all year. Other than at Sock Summit, it's when I feel most cherished as a knitter.
3. I am making really good time on my March socks. The random sock generating system this month picked me Numma Numma's Toasty Yarn in Nutella, and the pattern is Anne Hanson's Roger. 
I feel fantastic about my odds of finishing before the month is over and I don't even mind saying that out loud.
4. I am drinking the worst cup of coffee ever. 
It is fantastically horrific. As a matter of fact, I have been trying to figure out three things. How it is possible for it to look like coffee when it clearly isn't, how bad does coffee need to be before it's a human rights violation, and why I am actually drinking it instead of trying to figure out how to fix whatever is wrong with the system that's making it so that nobody else needs to suffer like this. The pain should stop with me.
March 10, 2010
Rail Against Random
I typed here for a good long time trying not to get random with it, and failed rather miserably. I'm busting a move to get ready to go to Detroit this weekend, and I've just realized that my expectation that I'm going to manage everything on my to-do list is about as crazy as that impulse I get every now and then to start a sweater because I'm cold. Ever get that one? I get cold and then instead of going up to the sweater box and pulling a finished one out, I go stand in the stash like I'm going to be able to knit a sweater fast enough to solve the problem of being chilly right that minute. Magical thinking. In the end, I decided that I am going to be a little random, and there's nothing I can do to prevent it. I have too many things to tell you that have nothing to do with each other.
1. After perusing around for appropriate prizes, I used a random number generator to choose three names from among all those who emailed me, the first takes Gold: 
A beautiful skein of handpainted cashmere from Handmaiden, here in Canada, which I'll bundle together with a signed copy of Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again
Silver:
A signed copy of the book along with this skein of yarn, which is the new STR colourway for the Knitting Olympics called "going for gold", goes out to Lynn W. (Chalicewitch).
Bronze:
No picture, but Karen M will be telling me her favourite colour and getting a surprise along with the book, I hope she likes it.
A thousand thanks to the almost 2000 knitters who sent an email. You guys are what makes it fun.
2. The sweater I started may be terminally ill. I'm considering taking it in to knit night tonight and seeing if anyone else feels the love. Could be they'll get a boatload of yarn to go home with. I must have been drunk when I bought this. It's beautiful yarn, but it's not me, and this is my second attempt to love it without any success at all. Sometimes it's a good idea to let it go before the resentment builds and you end up in a dishonest relationship with yarn.
3. Sadly, due to an absolutely unavoidable crappy thing, Anna Zilboorg 
4. I totally did finish my February self-imposed-sock-club kit, and even managed to do so before it was too far out of February. (March 3rd.) This month a drew a baggie containing STR lightweight in Jubilation, and a pattern that I've loved for a long time, the Feather and Fan socks from Socks Socks Socks
Over the years I've knit this pattern at least five times, and it never disappoints. (Except that I change the heel a bit. I've got a thing. I like 'em a certain way.)
That's two months, two pairs of socks, and the goal to have an even dozen at the end of the year doesn't seem all that crazypants. 
5. I bet you thought I didn't do the February socks because of the Olympics.
6. Ha.
7. That would have had more emphasis if I had finished them in February, I know.
March 9, 2010
Random Tuesday
1. I infuriated my cat with a trip to the vet. She's fine. I have 3rd degree scratches
and the vague feeling I should watch my back. That's cat rage.
2. David created a podium page here. Once you submit your email address, Franklin's gold medal icon will show up by your name on the Athletes page. I did me. It was very satisfying.
3. I have started and rejected a sweater. I'm not ready to talk about it. It sucks.
4. I am making my sister legwarmers. She said she wanted them, but she didn't say she wanted these. 
Sydney. by Stacyjoy Elkin. I like them. I hope Erin does. Speak now or forever wear legwarmers you hate, because I will expect you to wear them.
5. Prizes for Knitting Olympics tomorrow. Promise.
March 4, 2010
A Question and a Sweater
In the comments yesterday, Dawn asked this question:
You've made several sweaters in the last couple of years, which ones do you find yourself reaching for the most? Which are your favorites?
In the last few years I've knit a several sweaters, maybe 7 or 8, but only a handful of them have stayed with me. A few were gifts, a few went off to be worn by others when they suited them better (coughRachelHcough) and a few have become good friends that I've worn to death. I love the Must Have Cardi and it's turned out to be one that I wear not quite everyday, but a few times a week. (I've learned that if I love them when I finish, that the glow usually lingers for a while.) I wear my Guld Bohus, I wear a bunch of them, but absolutely unequivocally, my all time ultimate favorite sweater is my Top Down Wrap Cardi from Knitting Pure and Simple. I went looking through the blog to try and find it, and it turns out that for reasons that I can't explain, I only ever took one picture of it, and it was this one: 
I took it in the Seattle airport in June of 2007, which is pretty craptastic for a sweater that I love as much as it turns out that I do. This sweater has been my best buddy for two and a half years. I knit it out of Dream in Color Classy in Strange Harvest, and in the intervening time, not only have I jammed it in suitcases, sat on it in on planes, used it as a pillow on trains, wrapped a cold baby in it (twice, and two different babies) I've also washed it by hand at least 20 times, and in the washing machine at least 10 times (gently) on purpose and had it land in the dryer 3 times (not at all on purpose) courtesy of my husband who generally displays good sense and intelligence, but seems to have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to laundry. 
I've spilled coffee on it. I've slept in it. I've yanked it around myself against a chill and worn it for days on end with the sleeves rolled up so that I can wash dishes or type. I hang it over the back of chairs, I leave it in a crumpled heap.
In short, I love it, and it has served me well. This is my go-to, grab and run sweater. If I'm leaving the house and need another layer, I put it on when I get up in the morning when the house is still cold. 
It was the sweater that was handy when I went out the door to the hospital in an emergency, I've dried innumerable tears on the sleeve, and it is the sweater that I put over a tee shirt and jeans if I want to "dress up an outfit". (I know. My sense of fashion is devastating.. isn't it?) 
I believe this sweater fits me fantastically (not that it really has a fit, but you know what I mean) and it's all the best things about a sweater. It's cozy, it's pretty, it's durable, it matches everything in my wardrobe (though maybe not yours, I do specialize in wearing clothing all the colours of 70's appliances.) and when I wear it, no matter where or when I wear it, I feel taller and rather thin. 
I think that probably hundreds of you have seen me wear it in person. I wear it that much. 
I've used it as an emergency rag when a cup of spilled juice was headed for my laptop, I've waved it for emphasis during some rant or other directed at a teenager. I've even used it as a potholder once, carrying a hot casserole to the table. (That was a snap decision, and probably disrespectful to the sweater.) As a matter of fact, the only thing I've never done with this sweater is tie it shut (not even once) and it still looks... for a sweater that's been well used and loved for two and a half years.. like a million bucks, I think.
There you have it. The sweater that is my favourite. The sweater I'm wearing now. The sweater that all of a sudden, I'm thinking about knitting again, maybe tomorrow. (Maybe in another colour.)
Thanks for asking Dawn.
