Not So Fancy Nancy

The Race is ON!

Judging by your comments on commenting I'd say many of us are trying to find the ultimate balance of connectivity and sanity. With that in mind, I'm declaring the next 38 days my personal Race to Sanity.

Sanity:  A legal term denoting that an individual is of sound mind and therefore can bear legal responsibility for his or her actions. It is generally defined in terms of the absence of insanity. It is not a medical term ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanity

And just how am I going to achieve sanity in just 38 days? (Yes, the implication here is that I am not of sound mind now.) Well, let us consider situations that may foster sanity:

(1) Experiencing the absence of small children within a 50' radius of ones body.

(2) Going on vacation.

(3) Spending three days alone with ones spouse on said vacation without small children (see #1).

(4) Listening to Stephanie, aka Yarn Harlot, read from her book, then buying another copy and actually reading it, as one was a benevolent daughter and gave ones copy to ones mother before finishing even half of it. Again, without small children (see #1). 

(5) Looking a the sun (or candlelight) shining through a glass of red wine, then looking down to admire ones completed knitting project being worn on ones body. Obviously #1 in play.

Now, in 38 days I've got numbers 1-4 lined up. We're all heading up to Portland Oregon. We'll spend the first day exploring Portland with the kids, then drive to my in-laws' home in the Redmond/Bend/Sisters triangle. Then, for four days and three nights in the middle of that visit we will drive away ... alone! Back to Portland and the Willamette Valley wine country. On the very day I turn 40 I will visit a winery or two, a yarn store or three, art galleries, restaurants and Powells where Harlot is scheduled to read. This may take some of the sting out of the day.

So that just leaves #5. Which requires at least one COMPLETED knitting project. Because I'm currently insane, I'm going for three, maybe four ... or seven. What drove me to this craziness? Yesterday I knitted three different swatches and looked through countless books and magazines. I bounced around and felt so frustrated I couldn't settle on anything or even knit on open projects. The gnawing anxiety that this trip would arrive and I'd have 10 unfinished projects sitting home - half of them off-season - while I wore my new clothes sans knitting actually kept me up last night. Let's not discuss this - I know it's pathetic; you know it's pathetic; it's pathetic. Yes, I know there are much more important things in the world that should keep me up every night that don't. What can I say, this happens to fit my personal profile for anxiety-producing situations. I even dreamed I'd missed a plane flight - you know, running lost through the strange airport, etc etc. The classic Freudian metaphor for anxiety about unfinished knitting.

To resolve #5 I'm throwing down my (yet to be knitted) gauntlet - this is war. Such violent terms for such a gentle (and gentile) sport, but I'm trying to get the needles fired up around here. Here are the seven projects with their corresponding new skirts. I haven't bought summer clothes in several years so my wardrobe was truly frayed around the edges. A little spree was required.

High priority

- Rowan Deli
- Koigu Shawl (pattern to be determined)
- Colinette Wrap

 

Medium priority

- Shapely Tee w/Sleeves by White Lies Designs in Rowan Handknit DK. (Thanks for the pattern idea Sydney!)
- Rowan Birch in Kidsilk Haze

Low priority

- Maggi Knits Linen something ???
- Cobweb in Rowan Kidsilk Haze
- Pi Shawl

For the next 38 days I will knit (along with my other duties - you know - wife, mother, etc). I will update this blog with progress photos, but little else. For the new projects listed above details will be forthcoming at CO. General comments of support will be read and thoroughly enjoyed, but only questions answered. I'll be reading blogs, but not commenting much. Saving my wrists and arms for battle.

Let the race begin!

Slow but sure

June gloom has finally lifted today and the weather is perfect:  70 degrees, breezy & blue skies. These are the days that make all the hassles of living on the So Cal coast seem (almost) worth it.

I've been gardening and hanging out with the family, but in between I've managed a few of the seemingly endless rows of Pi. Two rounds further along now than when this photo was taken earlier. Who knows, maybe I'll finish ... someday.

Here's a close up of my substituted outer pattern. Just reached the halfway point of the openwork diamond.

Deli continues. The waist shaping is done. A bit of straight knitting and it's time for the neckline shaping and armholes.

   

I've been working the mystery shawl too:

I think I will unveil it though since I can't imagine Stephanie is reading. I know she's popped by in the past, but with all her travels and book writing & editing I don't think she's reading me now. I'm impressed she's keeping her own blog up to date. I had thoughts of wearing it to see her in Portland and surprising her, but doesn't seem likely now.

This is her Snowdrop Shawl. The pattern is posted as a PDF link on her sidebar. There will be a border knitted on after the center triangle is completed.

She posted a link a while back to someone whom had finished it and I thought it was so pretty that I wanted one too (the story of my knitting life!). The repeats are very easy to learn and it grows quickly whenever I manage to work on it. I was going to try and finish it this summer, but there are so many summery knits I want and the colors of this Handpainted lace wool are so autumnal that it's been pushed to the back burner.

Finally, some thoughts on blogging. First, I really enjoy all of this:  taking the photos, organizing the text, keeping my albums up to date (you orchid lovers can check out my new photo album). I love the connections I've made with so many knitters. I really look forward to clicking on Bloglines and seeing what knitters are up to and I always get inspired (sometimes dangerously so). But, since there are so many interesting knit blogs, not to mention blogs on quilting and other subjects, I'm working on finding ways to keep up. I consider blogging fun and relaxing, so some days I'm just not not in the mood to read at all, then I'll pig out and read for a few hours the next time I get the chance.

I've noticed (this is a casual observation, not a stat) that on the whole there are fewer comments on most blogs lately. I'm guessing that others, like me, find that reading so many blogs and keeping up their own means comments get rationed. I just can't read as many blogs if I feel I have to comment every time - something had to give a little. We all have our personal circles where we comment regularly, but otherwise I comment as the spirit moves me. Also, since I often read multiple entries on a blog at once, I'll do one comment for all. Other times I really enjoy an entry, but time just doesn't allow a comment. Doesn't mean I didn't like the post. I hope this doesn't offend anyone.

I do try to answer all comments left on my posts, but I know I've missed a few occasionally (sorry if it was you). When I leave comments I don't expect an answer to the "hey, that's great" variety, but I take notice when someone doesn't answer my longer, more thoughtful comments. I've got agreements with a couple of people to generally not answer comments, and I give Harlot and Wendy a get-out-of-comments-free tickets because of sheer volume, but otherwise I've stopped commenting to people who never answer mine. I may still read if I find their blog useful, but that's it. Personal opinion, but to me someone taking time to share their thoughts deserves a response. If someone never answers my comments I figure it means something different to them, so I save my time too and stop commenting - no hard feelings.

Now, if you're reading this all and you never comment on my blog (this means most of you) or only comment occasionally - that's just fine by me - really truly. Regardless of comments (and some entries just don't warrant them do they?), I honestly appreciate you taking any small bit of precious personal time to see what I'm knitting (or stashing - I know I have an embarrassingly large stash) - read and enjoy! You have to trust me on this ... my mom never comments and I love her anyway.

Finally, I've taken my bloglines list off my blog so I can make it more fluid. I want to add blogs to my list willy nilly and take some off just as quickly. One thing I've had to come to terms with (and I can't imagine I'm alone here) is that since I find most knit bloggers to be very nice people, I've had to develop other criteria for reading. If I find a new blog and I'm intrigued, I blogline it. And much like dating, if after a few entries I find I'm "just not that into" the content, I delete it no matter how nice that person seems. So if I stop reading, it's not the knitter, it's the blog.

It's June WHAT?

Sign of the 21st century:

phone rings

WENCH:  Hello

WENCH'S MOM:  Hi. (pause, then with a note of concern in voice) How's everything going? I was just wondering...

WENCH:  Because it's been so long since I blogged?

WENCH'S MOM:  (chagrined laugh) Yeah, well, it seemed odd ...

So this is what we've come to! Mothers keeping up with their children through blogs.

So yes Mom and friends, I'm doing fine. Well, almost. Lots of family activities, a weekend of gardening and then two days of laundry have whacked my back and I'm taking pain meds again, but other than that I'm fine. Here's a taste of the gardening:

I know you can buy pre-done hanging baskets and succulent pots, but I like to watch them grow. Isn't that curvy pot cool? We had many of those plants in a succulent garden out back, but it was constantly being stepped on by little feet. Safer here, and it spiffs up the front porch nicely.

Have done a bit of knitting too.

Pi is slogging along. On the night I started the 576 st/rd section I cast aside my pattern finalists and this dark horse took the race. Four criteria developed as I was perusing the pattern books:  (1) must have similar pattern motifs for continuity (diamonds and chevrons - no curves), (2) must be a multiple of 8, 12, 18 or 24 to fit with the 12 points of the middle section's flower/star, (3) must be purl only on the wrong side and (4) must be busier than the pattern thus far (I was getting bored), but not so busy that it would seem disjointed. I think this works, but only blocking will tell.

Will choose the edging when I get there.

Details for you Pi-KALers:  This 24 stitch repeat is lifted from the Faux Russian Stole pattern in A Gathering of Lace.

Took the book to the library to make a copy I could mark up, but didn't manage it (no change, active kids, closing time), so I don't have much to show. I'm just marking the working line with a post-it and making the modifications in my head as I go. Basically, I'm switching all the decrease/YO combos to match the style of Pi (they're reversed on this pattern) and I've added one row to the top and bottom of the pattern band with a yo/k2tog every 12 stitches to blend the band with the section below. Added bonus is that those two extra rows bring the row count to exactly the same as the Pi pattern I'm replacing. This is an easy to follow pattern with just a little more going on to keep it interesting.

Haven't done as much on Deli, but I've made it though another decrease row since I last photographed it. This is my nod to English gardens that I begged my DH to let me to plant in our otherwise xeriscaped garden.

Looking for something easy and portable, I started a sock with this very funky Elann Sock it to Me Esprit, a cotton yarn with a 1.7% elastic core that allows it to stretch from 100 to 186 yards that knits on US #7's (impulse buy). Problem is that I'm not an experienced sock knitter so I don't have that "Oh, I'll use my favorite pattern" thing happening yet. I was in a really lazy mood and looking for easy distraction, not more work - I wanted plug and play. Got frustrated when I found this yarn didn't plug anywhere except for some thigh-high KMD&FM socks on Knitty and this Little Arrowhead Lace Sock pattern by Nancy Bush. I know, this textured yarn is poorly suited to lace, but I've been wanting to try lace socks and with this fat yarn it's flying along. And the colorway -- what was I thinking? Yeah, definitely an impulse buy! I own nothing in these colors. These are not "my colors" - they even wash my feet out! Oh well, they're just for around the house anyway.

Risa mentioned a while back finding a free on-line "What season am I?" site and I found one too after wading through a thousand people who wanted to charge between $19.95 and $395 for the privilege. Sorry, I don't seem to have bookmarked it. Anyway, like Risa, I was surprised to find that all these years I've been told I was a winter, when in fact I may be a "clear spring." When I'm shopping I have faith in my eyes to make good choices, but it's easy to get into safety zones (black and white for me). Also, I'd like to have more confidence with on-line yarn buying. I stick with my tried-and-trues for fear of having a sweater of bad colors instead of just socks, but I'm getting way too narrow, as evidenced by this:

Yes, I'm going to have a lot of deep plum knitwear. Need a little variety don'tcha think?

The really interesting thing about the clear spring color chart is that four of the colors that I'd never name as mine (aqua, yellow/green, evergreen, terra cotta red) are in fact the colors of some of my favorite pieces of clothing. Going to shell out the $12 and buy Color Me Beautiful.

Anyway, how did it get to be June 8th? Wasn't Memorial Day yesterday? Just as time slows down when you're looking forward, it speeds up when you only want it to stop. School's out next Friday and I'm not ready. I wish I could be one of those moms who's excited, looking forward to relaxing days with their darling children doing crafty things and lounging poolside. I adore my girls, but I am not one of those moms. Speaking of my girls, here's my knit photo helper in deep need of a bang cut and suddenly shy after begging to be photo blogged (phlogged?).

I treasure the three days a week that both girls are in school at the same time. I love the time I don't have to talk (incessantly with the 7-yr-old) or wonder what's happening up there (always with the 3-yr-old). Time to think, run errands, knit, read, blog ... time alone. This may sound self-centered, but my husband works until 6:45 or 7 and several days a week he's not home until after they're in bed. I have a long day. Twelve hours of MOOOOMMM! She's _________! everyday until mid August might just put me over the edge. Thank goodness for summer camps at the Y! One nice thing is that I won't be a room mom at the YMCA - I've been in the classroom three times since the holiday weekend and am on a field trip tomorrow. Wonderful in so many ways, but less knitting time. Gotta watch those priorities.

A tinking we will go

Got a little crazy with Pi yesterday and plowed through eight repeats in the 288 section. Needed to pee (sorry to be so intimate, but jeez Louise, I'm as bad as my daughter sometimes!), needed to take a shower, needed to eat lunch, needed to go to school - there were needs to be met! But did I stop? Hell no! I know I'm not alone with this. I've seen it on enough blogs. Just a tad obsessive aren't we?

And what happens when I rush? When I'm physically in need? Yes indeedy, I screw up. And what's worse, I ignore all evidence of the screw up. When am I going to learn that when the "Hey, that's not right" button lights up in my little pea brain, I should stop? Not think, "Oh, it'll work out, that's just the way it looks now, but it'll look right on the next round". I should say I'm getting better at this, but hunger, stress and the need to pee can override good judgment.

So, I did this TWELVE freaking times:

Yes, 12! And I knitted (the "wrong side" resting round) over this mess 8 times before I finally stopped. Notice just how strong the visual clues were! This is not some sort of hard-to-see pattern. I was working the point of a diamond!

And no comments about markers cause it was the marker that allowed me to override my visual judgment in the first place. I must not have shifted it correctly. When I thought the stitches looked off at the very first intersection, I stopped to count back to the marker and gosh darn-it, the count was spot on so I plowed forward. Never did trust math (don't get all worked up, I'm joking).

A tinking we will go, a tinking we will go ...

Now, I'm perverse. I decided that rather than just tink back the two rounds and start again, I would tink back to the start of the knit only round and then dip down to fix each of the twelve messes as I got to them. One motivation was my own little version of penance, the other was that this is an excellent way to learn ones knitting. Like a teen who takes the engine apart and rebuilds it just to see how it works from both directions. Or like a bomb diffuser who knows one wrong move will result in disaster, but that the job must be done.

Step 1:  Tink back, then knit up to the bad stitches.

Step 2 (not pictured - this is the bomb diffusing part):  Get centered (pee first), take a breath, pinch or lift the yarn below the stitches (to relieve pressure), then tink the bad stitches down one row, allowing the previous row's working yarn to fall behind. You'll be lifting the live stitches the wrong direction (to the right needle), but don't worry about that. Don't worry about a twist in the stitch either. Worry about dropping a stitch and then having to kill yourself. No blood on the yarn please. Of course I had to make this fun by screwing up Sl1-Ktog-PSSO stitches - no fun to tink those puppies in laceweight. And don't mention lifelines - I don't do no stinkin' lifelines. That would be incredibly sensible and I'm not. I like to live on the edge of disaster - it makes the successes so sweet.

Step 3:  Transfer the stitches back to the left needle, fixing any twisted stitches as you go.

Step 4 (not pictured):  Work these stitches with that loop of yarn you dropped behind. Don't forget to make YOs.  Again, transfer the stitches back to the left needle, fixing any twists.

Step 6:  You're home free - knit as usual.

Once you've worked one or two it gets pretty fast - really. I for one feel incredibly successful and redeemed after something like this. But I'm weird.

The Photo Meme

Kay from Mason Dixon picked up this meme. If you're amused, be sure to check hers out (if you've not seen it already), and check her comments for more players.

Visit: images.google.com

Search: where you grew up, where you live now, your name, Grandmothers' names, favorite food, favorite drink, favorite song, favorite smell and favorite shoes.

Then: 

  Winter walk to U of Louisville campus. Btw, I do miss seasons and I love snow as it's falling. Just don't love wet, cold feet.

Now: 

Winter in Encinitas (Moonlight Beach).

Me:

   (not Sid)

    (I've heard this once or twice)

Grandmothers:

  (not Brad Pitt, though you can't blame me for the gratuitous abs shot)

and

or

Food:

  Wouldn't be a good job for me either.

Drink:

  rarely, but with joy often, with joy

Favorite song:

Can't do it. But here's one that's got some v good associations:

Funeral song (was this Kay's inclusion?):

  Bury Me Deep

Favorite smell:

 

Favorite shoes:

  I like to be comfortable. I switch to clogs and boots in the winter. Think about it - men's shoes are always comfortable.

Update on the family perfectionist

After three hours of moaning she finally got to work and was where she needed to be by bedtime. When I helped in class yesterday I worked with about half the children on their books. All but one copied a famous fairy tale into their own words. Rachel wrote an original story. I was very proud of her.

In Rachel's story aliens came to the skatepark and ruined the ramps and equipment (this section was very descriptive with all the appropriate lingo), human skaters discovered the mess and challenged the aliens to a skate-off (lots more lingo), then finally the aliens were invited to join the humans for a skate session and everyone had a great time. You can imagine why this was difficult for her to illustrate.

Only later did I realize the seeds of her story.

Years ago I made up a bedtime story modeled on Goldilocks that involved a girl coming to Rachel's Montessori pre-school and messing up different children's tables or projects, then falling asleep in the nap corner. Rachel loved this story because she would provide different children and activities each time. The story always ended with the children in tears over their ruined work, the discovery of the sleeping girl, and finally all the children teaching her the classroom rules and inviting her to join their class. Everyone lived happily ever after in their peaceful community.

Sometimes they do listen!

Pi Shawl & Pancake People

Pi is progressing, but since its 40" or so of beauty are squeezed onto 24" of circs photography is challenging.

This was two days ago, but I'm still on the 288 st/rd section, though nearing the final repeats now. I've been overcome with the need to personalize the 576 st/rd section, so I spent a restful (to my hands and arms) evening on Monday browsing pattern books for complementary patterns and edgings. I've got it narrowed, but not absolute. Will share soon.

Finished the felted bag handles and have been using it every day. I know I should have done I-cord handles, but I was just too lazy. Instead I cut long lengths of both yarns twisted them together, twisted again, then felted. This yarn didn't hold the twisting well at all, so it's pretty lumpy, but the thickness is right, the colors are well mixed and, most importantly, it's done! This bag has turned out to be a great size because it holds two smallish projects side-by-side so I can pick up either as desired. Without a clasp it probably wouldn't travel well, but I don't use it that way. Can always sew one on later.

That's Deli peaking out. Some rows added, but not a particularly exciting visual difference at this point.

Don't know how this happened, but more laceweight found its way into my stash!

Lorna's 50% silk 50% wool Helen's Lace. Sorry the label is so over-exposed, but otherwise the yarn was too dark to see the colors, which are pretty accurate in this photo. Still choosing the pattern.

End of knitting content

As you can tell from these photos, May Malaise (to be followed by June Gloom) has arrived and it's overcast most mornings now. FYI to anyone every planning a vacation to the San Diego Co coastline:  avoid late May and June. There's a very predictable weather pattern where the marine layer is thick over the coastline every morning, usually burns off for midday, then returns like clockwork every afternoon. Personally I love it, but it might bum you out if you were planning a vacation of frolicking in the waves and enjoying drinks with umbrellas while watching the sunset.

I'm feeling like a Pancake Person

I've been thinking a lot lately about ethics, religion, ego and other constructs of human consciousness. Far, far beyond where I want this blog to go, but I'm going to throw some links below and you can follow - or not - as your interests dictate. No particular order or even connection beyond that they're interesting to me.

First, from a discussion on Edge.org:

But today, I see within us all (myself included) the replacement of complex inner density with a new kind of self evolving under the pressure of information overload and the technology of the "instantly available". A new self that needs to contain less and less of an inner repertory of dense cultural inheritance—as we all become "pancake people"—spread wide and thin as we connect with that vast network of information accessed by the mere touch of a button.

THE PANCAKE PEOPLE, OR, "THE GODS ARE POUNDING MY HEAD"
Richard Foreman

This really jumped out at me. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things vying for my attention, other times I'm thrilled with the availability of so much information. I'm trying to take in so much, yet build "inner density." The Edge site is full of interesting reading that I'm just beginning to wade through.

Errol Morris' web site. I saw The Thin Blue Line in 1988 at an art house theater in Louisville and I've been excited by this man's unique art ever since. Very interesting site including his ad work.

WikiQuote can be a thought-provoking time-suck.

On the bedside table:  Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton. Just started this, but it fits so well with what's floating around in my head right now.

There's more, but I need to help a whining, crying, teeth gnashing seven year old who can't for the life of her figure out how to just DO IT! She wants every drawing, every piece of writing, every creative endeavor to match the perfect image in her mind. She's the classic perfectionist frozen by her inability to meet her self-defined standards. We've always seen this in her and have worked over the years to give her tools to deal, but she is still sometimes incapacitated by it.

I taught art in her class today and the teacher pulled me aside to send this project home since everyone else is done and it's part of a parent's night display tomorrow. He told me he's held her back from recess and other activities, but still she just sits there. This is from the kid who's generally a good student and is great at math and science. It's the creative stuff that puts her over the edge.

At this moment, right next to me, she's yet again fallen into dramatic tears wailing "I can't do it!" over and over. I'm on the edge myself. So you don't think me too cold - I spent an hour with her this afternoon having her tell me her "vision" and then working through logical steps of project execution, all of which she's now ignoring. We're on hour three of this play now. Decided to remove myself from the drama for a while by writing this.

Not asking for solutions here, but rather explaining why I'm drifting. Just re-read this post and it's so vague and poorly realized. It's no wonder the great thinkers and writers were always men - kids and complex thoughts are incompatible.

Must go knit. A lot.

Rowan Cashcotton, Pi Shawl CO & random thoughts

I'm in passionate love with Rowan's Cashcotton. It's the softest, easiest to knit cotton that's ever slid across my needles. No problems with splitting either. There's a fluffy, hazy finish from the cashmere, but that's a huge part of the charm. This certainly won't wear like mercerized cotton, but it's got the luxury feel Rowan claims. Here in coastal So Cal it's a perfect weight for cool evenings.

I've heard this yarn doesn't like to be frogged, but I did rip back five rows of both front panels without issue. Had a forehead slapping moment after realizing I'd missed the bottom shaping. I'd noted that shaping before cast on - really - but then promptly forgotten when I picked it up two days later for some mindless knitting. A little too mindless obviously. Anyway, it re-knitted just fine, but those rows were only about 30 minutes old before the mistake was corrected, so the stitches hadn't set. With the fuzziness, I can imagine a big jump in the frog pond might affect the yarn's finish.

I'm using INOX 40" circs. I often prefer bamboo needles, but with this yarn they will probably slow you down a lot. Here's the progress so far:

Takes a little yarn management to do all sides at once, but it will be sweet when I do those shoulder joins! If you don't have little girls this may not be part of your world, but plastic hair bands are perfect for containing the CO tail for later seaming. I've also used them for making temporary ends on DP's to create a short pair of needles for knitting an edging, etc. They make good stitch markers and can be cut out easily if they need to be knitted into the fabric. One more:  they wrap around the tips of DP's with socks in progress for safe transport. Only a penny or two each, so you can abuse them and lose them without tears.

Emily finally got to wear the sweater I finished two years ago, months before we even met her. Can you tell I've been waiting waiting waiting to claim "It fits! Time to wear it!"? OK, I'm pushing that window, but hey, it's got grow room.

Can't see it in these photos, but the color matches her beautiful eyes exactly. She's at the age of CHEESE! Didn't have time before pre-school to let her calm down and get some natural shots, but I wanted to capture it before she gives it a day of her special treatment. It's a Debbie Bliss pattern using Classic Elite Provence (the blue #2607) and Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (the cream).

Non, ceci n'est pas un chapeau.

Finally got my first Pi Shawl on the needles! I say first because I've heard they're addictive. The EZasPi KAL had another CO Day, so I decided it was time. Especially since I'd just received my hank of Shine from Joslyn's Fiber Farm. This is the Treebark colorway. I love the shine of silk/wool laceweight and I thought this pattern knitted in the round would play up the variegation well with minimum pooling. Seems to be working so far...

Survived learning the crocheted loop cast on and the first few rounds on DP's, but the crease between my brows may be a bit deeper. Can you work up a sweat only moving your fingers? Still need to even out my first increase round - YO's are a bit fussy to make on DP's - but I'm pretty happy with it. Only other knitters can understand the glory of those first few rounds, no bigger than a baby mouse in your palm, held up with ecstasy like you've conquered the world.

After that it's been smooth sailing. Decided to stay with the basic EZ pattern from Knitter's Almanac, which again, I think works well with the variegated yarn. I'm saving my mushroom colored Zephyr laceweight for a more intricate pattern. Harlot ignited a debate last fall about the merits (or demerits) of variegated yarn and lace. Personally, I like it if the yarn and the overall design and the stitch patterns complement each other.

Non-knitting content:

Sometimes I read through all of Harlot's comments because it's practically a forum in itself (like the variegated debate). A few days ago she was commenting humorously on the real vs. emotional geography of the US. I love the variations in culture across this nation - keeps in intersesting. My born and bred CA neighbor just came back from a trip to New Orleans over the weekend and her first words were "The people were so nice and friendly!". Some stereotypes have merit.

Someone gave the link below where you can produce your version of this map. I didn't do the world map because it was such a depressing reminder of how few of the places on my wish list I've seen. Only plus was that Russia is a huge land mass. For the US, my rule was that I must have set foot on the soil and seen the place at least in passing, so I didn't include a state if I'd only changed planes there - otherwise I'd also have MI, MN and MO. Been in spitting distance (not that I spit mind you) of WY, WI and VT, but didn't pass the border signs so no points for those. Guess I need to do an Upper Mid-West trip huh?

create your own personalized map of the USA.

Another reader suggested Garreau's book Nine Nations of North America, which I've just now put on hold for pick up at my local library (don'tcha love on-line catalogs!). I've read another of his books, Edge City, so I'm looking forward to seeing this although it's out of date (1980). Love David Brooks' books too: On Paradise Drive and Bobos in Paradise. I'm putting in the Amazon links so you can read reviews, but these should all be at your local library as well. If you're into this kind of thing (which sounds slightly risque), feel free to comment with further reading suggestions.

Panel 1 of Klaralund done & Pi yarn.

Klaralund is definitely a quick knit. This is a f/b panel, which took two skeins plus just a couple of yards of a third. It's not a flat layout because this was the best light, but it's a basic rectangle with a little shaping I added to the pattern to pull in at the waist. I wanted to get a good close up to show this:

Those are the white bits I mentioned in my last post. This is what I think the spinners among us call over-spun. The twist is so tight that the yarn snakes and curls between my hand and the ball. But... I'm still loving the colors. And it's fast.

That EZ as Pi Along button hasn't been sitting there for nothing. See that giant shawl on the cover of the book? That's Elizabeth Z's famous Pi Shawl. This project won't be so fast, but I know I will love it. Mind you, saying that doesn't mean I don't get to curse it in process. Risa's making one of these and I thought I'd tap into her lace experience (i.e. ride her coat tails). The yarn is Zephyr in Mushroom from FurrYarns, a lace weight of 50% Tussah Silk, 50% Merino Wool. I've got the Knitters lace book which has a version on order, but this is the Zimmerman original. Trying to decide how brave I'll be in the "free" areas between increases.

Need to get the kids to bed, so I'll close with an early Valentine.

Here are some photos from my front yard this afternoon to cheer those of you deep in winter. If they may make you a little green, I'll say it goes both ways - your lovely snow photos do the same to me. Click to enlarge if you'd like.

If you don't swoon at flowers ... how about this:

I usually make muffins or quick bread with the brown bananas, but I've been wanting to learn to frost a cake after my last disaster. We called that one Hagrid's cake, and if you've seen the first Harry Potter film you have an idea just how bad it was. Finally got a proper spatula for the job. Yes, the frosting is homemade buttercream and it's as good as it looks. The spatula helped a lot, but the kids think I need more practice! Say ... every week.