Rainbow Chills

Testing...Is this thing on?

Is it me, or has it been quiet in knit-blog land over the past few days?

People are still posting, and still knitting. But the pace seems slower to me. Comments have been light. Responses have been few. It has not bothered me. I have been busy. And it makes me think I won't be missing much while I am away from internet access for the next four days. But it just seems odd. Am I the only one who noticed?

Look what I finished last night:

I used the stretchy bind-off that Jenna describes with the summer funnel-neck pattern. It fits Michelle really well.

I also have been busy working on this:

Daisy is moving along. My gauge must be a smidge off- it's the row gauge mostly. But the good thing about knitting for babies is that they grow really fast. This is my first pattern with raglan shaping. Easy-peasy. I cast on for sleeve #1 at lunch today.

Travel knitting:
My role on the trip to Milwaukee is as the advisor to a student organization. Most of the sessions will be geared toward the students. I am taking tons of knitting. I have most of the day free on Thursday, no sessions on Sunday before we depart, and evenings free. I will be taking koigu to make Michelle's other sock, cotton to complete Daisy, and the stuff for Santos.

I'd like Santos to be my plane knitting but that means swatching tonight and I don't know if I am up to it. I have tried swatching for this sweater on three separate occasions. I can't focus and always seem to end up with an extra stitch not indicated in the pattern. I may give it a go tonight though and take it on the plane tomorrow. I need knitting that does not require scissors (Daisy's out since the sleeves are going to be super quick). I also only want to carry-on circular needles. I am not tempting fate by trying to get dpns through security. Lord knows what they'll tell me.

Oh, and I am also considering taking some left-over yarn to work on Mason-Dixon squares. I am aiming for one per week and have not made one this week. Kay posted mine in the Found objects a few days ago. Just scroll down until you see mine- there are four of them- one in two shades of green, one purple, one multi, and one blue and white. I included a note just for Kay's amusement and she posted all the details. So funny!

Too many choices for a four day, three night trip? I wouldn't want to find myself in Milwaukee with no yarn. That would mean shopping for more! And I am on a no-yarn budget right now.

Have a great weekend and I'll be back to blogging on Monday. I have the day off to recoup from the travel (always necessary because of the anxiety) so I'll give you a full knitting report. Oh, yeah, and the weekly review of The L Word. It's the second to the last episode of the season. And Showtime says the finale is going to be shocking! So this week has to be the set up. I just know it's gonna be juicy!

Be good and happy knitting!

Oh, and stop by Michelle's blog and cheer her up a bit if you have a chance. She'll be lonely!

Hay fever

Guess what?

I am allergic to Rogue! Can you believe it? I have a terrible hay allergy that developed when I was about 12. I get asthma-like symptoms from hay. The hay-remnants in the yarn seem to be affecting me in the same way a hay ride does. I woke up in the middle of the night after wearing my sweater on Sunday. I was coughing and having trouble breathing. I took a Benadryl. And then thought nothing of wearing the sweater to work on Monday. Silly girl! I did not realize that my symptoms were relating to the sweater until I was walking home from work last night and felt AWFUL!

So, no more wearing Rogue until it takes a nice swim. Surprisingly the yarn did not bother me while I was knitting with it. But wearing it- yikes. Breathing is good and I'd like to continue doing it. So I'll be washing Rogue before wearing it again!

Socks:
I finished Michelle's sock last night...sort of. The bind off is way too tight. Michelle has been having some trouble with swelling recently (did you see her post yesterday? Signs and doctors are pointing towards Rheumatoid arthritis.) Even without the swelling though, this edge would be way too tight.

So I'll be ripping the edge out tonight and re-working the bind off using one of the techniques found here.

I really enjoy knitting socks from the toe-up. Two reasons:
* No worrying about decreases at the instep or toe. When I do top-down, I use Therese Inverso's generic pattern which I like a great deal. But the decreases require more attention than I like to devote to sock knitting. I don't know why I don't have to increase on the way up but Wendy doesn't tell me to, so I don't!
* No left-over yarn. I just knit until it looks like I have enough left to bind off. The cuffs are nice and long and I have no tiny bits of sock yarn left over.

Traveling!
I am getting ready for my trip to Milwaukee this weekend. I have no real interest in visiting Milwaukee- no sight seeing planned. No restaurants I absolutely have to try. There is a yarn store that seems really great but it's quite a distance from where I am staying and I don't have cash to spend on yarn anyway.

I am looking forward to my Boston trip in a few weeks though. I liked Boston when I visited a few years ago. I didn't love it, but it was pleasant enough. A little white for my liking (says a white girl). But I am more looking forward to that than I am to Milwaukee.

Got confirmation that I'll be traveling to Chicago in July. Now this, I am EXCITED about. Michelle and I went to Chicago in summer 2002 and loved it! Great architecture. Good food. Fun zoo. Great summer festivals. I am hoping we can swing it to have Michelle fly to Chicago with me and make a little vaca out of this work trip. We'll see.

One more piece of news:
The Indigo Girls are coming to Philly! Just found out today. Tickets are not on sale yet but the Girls will be at the Mann which is a great concert place. I have seen the Girls there twice before. The crowd is always excited. The place is packed. Tons of singing along. I can't wait to see this new music live!

Purple wristbands and other stuff

Charity knit-alongs are a staple for knitters. Children In Common, Afghans for Afghans, Critter Knitters, Wendy's Mouse-A-Long, Project Linus, etc.

QueerJoe has been blogging about how much he'd like to combine his love of knitting with his conviction to LGBT causes. I'd be interested in doing the same. Knitting for kids and animals is a no-brainer. But what about other populations? Well...

Here's a chance to knit for WOMEN!

Sam, a Phillyknitter, is working as a volunteer for the Philly contingent traveling to DC in April for the March for Women's Lives. Sam had this idea and shared it with PhillyKnitters. Since she does not have a blog, I'll share the idea with you:

purple and gold wristbands for marchers

Fun, easy, quick, and cheap. Even the newest knitter can do this. And you can do it in your community. A million women are anticipated to attend the March. How cool would it be for you to outfit a few folks from your community with purple and gold wristbands!

There are 60 buses leaving from Philly- not counting the privately rented buses from the colleges and universities as well as people going on their own. Sam's idea is to make enough wristbands for her bus- probably about 50. A few other PhillyKnitters are helping out and will be outfitting their buses.

I encourage you to find out if there is a group organizing attendees from your community- tell them about this effort- to show unity by wearing purple and gold wristbands! Get your local yarn store interested. Share this idea with your knitting buddies. Talk it up on your blog. Leave me a comment and let me know if you are making wristbands for women from your community so I can let Sam know how her effort is growing. If you want to contribute your bands to the Philly gals, send me an email (link in the sidebar), I'll send you my address, and I'll do a handoff to Sam. All wristbands must be received by Saturday, April 17th. I'll be out of town the following weekend- thus not able to MARCH myself- but I want to make sure I have plenty of time to hand off to Sam.

Be creative with your wristbands- stripes, stars, or solid purple. There's a wristband pattern in Debbie Stoller's SnB book if you feel like you need one or want some help with the star (should you chose to add one).

For each wristband sent, you'll be entered in a drawing for this:

A copy of Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch book. See, just because I said she didn't own the term does not mean I don't think it's a fun book!

So go on, start knitting!

Stitch 'n Bitch:
I had a blast hanging out with the PhillyKnitters yesterday. Where else is it funny when someone yells, "I need a crochet hook, STAT!"

This is what I did:

Last night, while watching The L Word, I did this:

It's the beginnings of Daisy! The picture does not do the color justice. Michelle has named it "salt water taffy" and she is totally right!

The L Word Weekly Review:

Lowlights:
* Candace. Yuck.
* Tonya. Quadruple yuck. I mean seriously. And I've read the spoilers so let me tell you, it only gets worse with this bitch! The spoilers at The Planet calls her a starf*cker and there is no better word for her.
* Too many Bette/ Candace scenes. It took so much away from the fun stuff.

Neutral but made me laugh:
* Shane asking if "Jenny's was a regular latte?" Well, it had better be, because that girl can't get any more non-fat than she already is!

Highlights (where do I even begin!):
* Closer to Fine. And the whistling. And the idea that they were singing it the whole blessed trip. Priceless!!!!
* Coming out stories
* Alice's mention of Tallulah Bankhead in reference to her mom's "coming out" story- our kitty Lulu was named for a book character who was named after Tallulah. Convoluted, eh?
* Dana calling the tennis player first-love "Ralph"
* "Does that thing come with batteries, Dana?"
* Tina's coming out story- adorable
* The moment when Jenny realizes she is telling her coming out story
* Jenny's attempt at drunk-dialing Marina
* Alice shoving Jenny and then vaulting herself back into bed. This may have been the funniest moment of the season. Possibly more funny than the Jenny/ Dana making out scene.
* Dana's love of Mr. Piddles
* Shane being so gooey about Cherie Jaffe. Poor little Shane. I'm afraid our favorite coke-snorting stylist is going to get hurt!
* 100 footer- you can tell she's a lesbian from 100 feet. (I sometimes lament not being more publicly recognizable- but I don't wish to be a 100 footer!)
* Bette's from North Philly before it was a war zone. And as a Philly gal, I'll tell ya, it is a war zone. My mom teaches pre-k there and my grandmom lives there- she insists her neighborhood is safe when she closes her door. Her door, by the way, is not bullet-proof so she is not safe.
* the use of "The Weakness in Me" by Joan Armatrading. Brilliant song. Listen to Melissa Etheridge's cover for free on her website. It's awesome and was even better live. This song is perfect for this bad situation Bette has gotten herself into.

Amazing episode!

Finished Rogue

Pictures of finished Rogue:

And here's a side view of me acting silly!

I am thrilled with the way it fits. I just love it. I wore it today to the SnB and it was a hit.

Specs:
Pattern source Girl from Auntie
Yarn: Custom Woolen Mills 2-ply in Moss Green
Needles: body: Clover bamboo circulars, size 10, 24 inch
body hem: Plymouth bamboo circulars, size 9, 24 inch
sleeves: Plymouth bamboo circulars, size 9, 24 inch
sleeve hem: Clover bamboo circulars, size 8, 24 inch
Start date: February 20
Completed: March 27

Stitch 'n Bitch:
Phillyknitters ROCK! Thanks to Stella/ Laura who hosted a great event- the biggest Phillyknitters SnB to date!

Had a great time chatting with knitters and most of all, laughing at Heather who is just hysterical and she knows it!

Off to hang out, relax, and recover from the snarky mood induced by reading my sister Angie's blog posts from today. Ang, expect an email tomorrow from your oh-so-wise eldest sister. Be ready.

Take Back the Stitch 'n Bitch

I was so sad to stop by the PhillyKnitters livejournal site and see that there is drama going on. This group has existed for a year. Up until a few months ago 6-8 people attending one of the monthly gatherings meant the event was a great success. For the past 2 months, about a dozen people came. This month, the host had to cut off the rsvps at 24 (!) because that was already an overwhelming amount of people in her house (each month, one person offers to host). What a success---until someone got snooty because she wanted to come after the attendance had been cut off.

From the complainer's post:

this stitch 'n bitch nonsense is really bothering me.

STUFF I CUT OUT

doesn't debbie issue a caution about holding these in a member's home?
doesn't she intend these things to feel inclusive?

BUNCH OF STUFF I CUT OUT

it just seems- to me- that you should call this knitting circle because it's not open, as debbie intended stitch 'n' bitch groups to be. and/or be more pro-active in seeking a solution to overcrowding...because it's a big city. there are lots of options.

Okay, well, let me say this: it's time to take back the Stitch 'n Bitch. Debbie Stoller did not coin the term. This group was set up before the book came out. Stoller's suggestions for planning your own SnB do not govern all SnBs everywhere from here to eternity.

I have other thoughts about this issue but I am not going to personally attack the poster. All I can say is this: take back the SnB. Use this term for your group or for you and your mom hanging out in your living room with your knitting. Make up your own rules. Whatever.

Hooray to Stoller for writing a book that sells. But she doesn't own the term. She's not responsible for all knitting everywhere.

Pictures:
This is what I did last night:

I wanted to block Rogue but Michelle and I watched Tipping the Velvet on dvd and I was engrossed for three hours. No time for thinking about blocking. No time to swatch for Santos. Sock knitting all the way. I love koigu. Thanks Annie!

And I got 40 of these as a gift from Michelle:

The picture is a bit fuzzy but let me tell you, these are cute! They say, "From the Knitting Needles of (name removed)." Love them! Thanks sweetie!

Here are the Rogue pictures I planned on posting yesterday:

Close-up of the kitchener. Some folks were creative about their grafting and switched their grafting to the knit-appearing side of the stitch. I just kitchenered straight across. The seam is slightly visible but I am happy with it.

Folks on the Rogue list seemed a bit unhappy about the double decreases in the final rows of the hood. I just did them as written. They give the hood a bit of structure. It lays really nicely on my shoulders and back.

I plan on steam blocking the sleeve caps and arm holes tonight and sewing the sleeves in. Pictures of the finished Rogue tomorrow or Monday.

Hope your weekend is going well. I am looking forward to PhillyKnitters SnB tomorrow, hanging out with Joshua for a few hours, and relaxing tonight.

Hope you are doing something fun!

Poor Ninang

My sister Cathy said this in a comment on Michelle's blog yesterday:

Joshua is looking forward to hanging out with you this weekend. By the way, he noticed your picture the other day and proudly announced "Ninang!" Poor Christy!

Ninang is the traditional Filipino term for godmother- ME! I'd like to think that Joshua associates everything with my life- me, my apartment, my partner- as Ninang. But no, I think he thinks Ninang means Aunt Michelle because that's what he calls her. So funny. Josh is coming over for a bit on Sunday. I'll be going to the SnB a little late so I can play a bit but Aunt Michelle (also known as Ninang) will be the primary gal on this one.

TGIF:
I can't wait until it is officially the weekend. I have been feeling stressed out all day due to a moderately sized issue in work that I am especially sensitive about. No one else in the office is feeling this strain since it's a me-issue only but boy, will I be glad when I don't have to think about this for a few days. By Monday, everything should be done and this should be off of my desk and my chest but right now, I feel really tense and just want to go home.

Knitting:
I finished the knitting on Rogue last night. I did take pics but don't have them on this computer so you'll have to wait in anticipation until tomorrow. I'll be doing some blocking tonight and stitching it together tomorrow- hoping to take (if not wear) Rogue to the SnB on Sunday.

I made a few inches progress on Michelle's koigu sock. This stuff is nice! I now know why you all love it!

I'll be spending some time tomorrow (or tonight!) swatching for Santos so I can get started this weekend!

Hooray!

Socks and hoods

I finally finished the toe of the sock I started two days. The reason this is ridiculous is this: all I had left to do was take out the provisional cast on for the last 16 stitches and put those stitches on a fourth dpn. The sock has been sitting on the coffee table since lunchtime on Tuesday waiting for me to pick it up and unzip that little crochet chain. Okay, honestly, I knitted into the wrong side of the crochet chain so the reason it was sitting there is that the chain didn't just unzip. I had to take it out one stitch at a time. It still should not have taken two days!

Anyway, the toe is now done and ready for me to charge forward on the foot of the sock. Michelle was convinced that someone would comment on my statement yesterday that I cast on for the sock because I needed mindless knitting. That did not happen- I think because most people realize that sock knitting can be mindless once you have the hang of it. I really love sock knitting because the foot and cuff can be very simple. And...call me crazy, but I really love dpns. And I love tiny needles.

I mailed off four squares to Mason-Dixon. I forgot to take pictures but Kay has been posting them along the left-sidebar so look for them in a few days.

Rogue progress- 66 rows of the hood are complete. 16 more rows until finishing. I can't wait. I am hoping to have this completed to take with me to the Phillyknitters SnB on Sunday, if not to wear it, at least to show it off!

TV:
American Idol-
What happened to Kimberly Locke? The song sounded bad!
I have no strong feelings about Matt going home. Diana DiGarmo should not have been in the bottom three though. I know she's bubble gum but the girl can sing.

West Wing-
Best episode all season. It was wonderful!

No picture Wednesday

No pics today, kids. Sorry!

I worked a smidge on the toe of a sock from the Annie yarn (official name- Koigu). I am using Wendy's toe-up pattern. I considered using a fancier pattern but in the end, I decided that some mindless knitting would be a good complement to finishing Rogue and starting Santos.

I am up to row 56 of 82 on the Rogue hood. Nearly no progress on Rogue last night. Michelle and I both got home late last night, went to More Than Just Ice Cream for dinner, and came home to rest. I watched American Idol (more on that below), and Queer Eye which was an absolute scream! So funny! I loved the dog (who names his dog Rocco?)

American Idol
I turned it on at about #7. Some of these kids were awful! And I mean it. I like country music, quite a bit in fact. But these kids butchered it. There are so many country songs. Must you select "Amazed" and "Breathe?" Really? And I love "Desperado" as much as the next gal, but choosing it as your country selection is reaching.

Way to go, Jon Peter, for reaching back to 1971 and picking some Kenny Rogers. Oh, wait, you were awful. Well, at least you were creative in your selection.

While I did not see the performance, Jennifer Hudson's version of "No One Else on Earth" seems like it went well based on the end of show clips.

Amy Adams' rendition of "Sin Wagon" was the best of the night. It was the perfect song for her! Damn, now I wish I had that Dixie Chicks cd with me. I'll settle for Home, the most recent cd instead.

Just general stuff:
I had planned on working until 6:30 tonight, staying for a workshop for students but today has felt so long to me that I really just want to go home and knit. I am designated procrastination girl in my office. People who don't want to do work stop by and hang out in my doorway to tell me how slow the day is going or that they just need to stretch.

When I first came to this office in May, I was shocked at how business-focused the workday is. In my previous office, we spent an incredible amount of time on non-work related stuff- March Madness pools, making lists of celebs we'd include if we were designing a calendar, rehashing last night's tv, etc. That almost never happens in my office- except for in my doorway. Yes, I am serious about doing work. I also think, though, that when you are expected to work as a team, you ought to have some sense of who you are working with- and I mean more than just who is best as prioritizing and who is best at power point.

Anyway, from the number and frequency of visitors in my doorway today, it's been a long day for everyone. I think I'll go home and knit.

En francais: (added later)
Froggy left a comment on yesterday's post and from there, I found the new Fluffa hosted bilingual blog for French-affiliated knitters. My last French language experience was fall of freshman year in college- 1996. I'm adding this site to my sidebar though and am planning on reading it. Even if I don't get every word, why not try to refresh my French memory and read about knitting!

Speedy Delivery

Not much blogging time today so here's a quickie with piccies!

I got tons of knitting goodness in the mail yesterday. Big day for the anti-stash girl!

Can't say enough good things about Knit Happens. Friendly service. Quick delivery (I ordered on Thursday at 5:00!). And adorable packaging!

Here's what I got: Dale Sisik in 1031- purple with little yellow and red flecks. It's soft and yummy! Can't wait to start knitting Santos!

The rest of the goodies came from Annie who can't stand that I do not have a stash and felt the urge to unload some of hers onto me.

Here's what she sent:

Lamb's Pride, leftover from her Banff. What a great color!

Enough yarn for three pairs of socks. I have already cast on for one pair. Michelle is thrilled. That girl loves hand knit socks!

And the mother-load! Rowan 4-ply cotton in three shades of blue and green. Spring and summer knitting, here I come!

Rogue update:
I have completed 50 rows out of 82 on the hood. 32 more rows and then blocking. I love the way the cables on the hood look. These cables are the best part of the entire pattern. Jenna knows her stuff. But you all knew that already, didn't you?

Knitting travels:
I'll be in Milwaukee for a few days at the end of next week (Thursday to Sunday). Anybody out there from Milwaukee? And I'll be in Boston at the end of April. I know there are some must-meet Boston knitters out there. Anybody up for a knitting meet-up in either location? My schedule is not clear at this point but I'd love to squeeze in some knitting.

Knitting Monday

Well, the crankiness has made way to terrible cramps. I am at home, knitting. I watched My Fair Lady this morning. I read a bit. I looked through the new Vogue Knitting thoroughly. Congrats to Rachael for her mention in the blurb about knitting related tattoos. Send Rach some well wishes, while you're at it. That gal caught herself some pneumonia!

Worked on a few rows of Rogue this morning. I've completed 36 of 82 hood rows. As soon as I finish typing this, it's back to the couch and Rogue knitting for me. The sweater should be complete, blocked and assembled by the end of the week. It'll be 60 degrees by then according to the 5-day. Today- high of 37. Figures!

I've just about completed a fourth sqaure for Mason-Dixon. I'll be mailing them out tomorrow or Wednesday to be entered in the April 1 prize drawing. Fun!

The L Word Weekly Review:

It was good. Really good. Only three more new episodes this season. That makes me so sad. I will definitely miss my weekly lesbian-fix. On a good note, next week, the girls tell their coming out stories.

Low-lights:
* As always, Jenny nudity. The context, however, was hysterical.
* Kit's singing. I love me some Kit. But the singing was weak. I am sure she can do better.
* Francesca's general being. But it is incredibly well done. So it's not really a low-light.
* The set-up for the affair between Bette and Candace. The AfterEllen recapper mentions it. Michelle mentioned it last night. Too many shots of these two together. Subtlety is not the strong suit on this show. We all know what's coming!

Highlights:
* Shane in glasses. I forgot to mention this last week, but isn't she just adorable in her glasses? She should always wear them.
* Roseanna Arquette's legs (let me get the physical highlights out of the way first, 'k?). The whole thing with Cherie and Shane is forced but that woman has some great legs.
* The suggestion that Alice, if she indeed is pregnant by Lisa, the lesbian man (which I do not think will happen), should give the baby to Bette and Tina to adopt. And the further suggestion by two separate characters that the baby would then be a group baby with 6 mommies. Too much! Funny!
* The attempted sex scene between Dana and Jenny. It's ridiculous and akward and it was so obvious that it was never going to happen and should never have even been attempted. I was laughing, loudly.
* The sincere emotion that Jennifer Beals is able to convey in her role as Bette. The pain in her face when the Bible-thumping, mother of a teenaged porn-star tells her that God took Bette and Tina's baby to save him from the terrible life to which they would have exposed him. The horror. It was awful. And Beals' acting was amazing!
* The use of Rufus Wainwright's version of Hallelujah. And the news that this song will be included on the upcoming soundtrack. This song and Joan Armatrading's The Weakness in Me make this cd a "can't miss!"