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.
A comment on your comment comments! I try to respond to my own comments, too, unless....somebody hasn't given me their e-mail address. I don't think I'm obligated to hunt down who they are in order to respond back. Maybe I'm just being selfish. But that's how I feel. And I must admit, sometimes I don't respond because their comment is self-contained and I don't have anything to say back. (By the way, I found your blog through the Clapotis knit-along Yahoo group. I enjoyed seeing your pictures of the process and the finished product.)
Posted by: Beth | June 18, 2005 at 08:03 PM
I love your blog and always check for updates. I don't always comment, but when I do I don't expect a reply. It's always a treat when you do though. When people leave comments on my blog, I always try to reply if it's something to reply to, although I don't get very many to begin with!
By the way, your shawls look great, and I love the color of Deli.
Posted by: heather | June 18, 2005 at 08:06 PM
What lovely shawls!
Posted by: Alexa | June 18, 2005 at 09:07 PM
I have troubles keeping up, and a lot of the time I end up just skimming many of the blogs. If I notice myself skimming someone more than reading them, I delete them. I'm not sure that I'm a 'big enough' blogger for anyone to notice if they are on my bloglines or not anyway. :)
Posted by: Abigail | June 18, 2005 at 10:26 PM
Something I do when adding a new knitting blog to bloglines is mark it private until I have decided whether to keep reading it, that way no-one gets hurt by appearing and disappearing from my bloglines list. Reading your post made me realise that I have been a bit vague about marking the stayers public though. So I just reorganised my bloglines folders so that I can add new blogs to a seperate folder and then unsubscribe or move them to my blogroll folder once I know if I really like the blog a lot. As you say, all the knit bloggers seem to be such nice people but some blogs just gel more with where I am at with knitting than others and I am struggling to keep up with my daily reading as it is.
Posted by: Jo | June 18, 2005 at 10:54 PM
I liked and agreed with much what you said about blog comments. I rarely leave comments on the blogs I read but it's because I don't think I usually have anything productive to add. Knowing that I enjoy comments, I should probably not talk myself out of leaving them for others.
I always enjoy your entries - and your honest thoughts about comments and bloglines listing today was refreshing.
Posted by: Jaime | June 19, 2005 at 12:37 AM
I really enjoy your blog, no need to reply to my comments. I'm a very new (in the last 3 months) blogger and my blog is relatively simple. I like that is forces me to keep a record of somesort of my knitting and the icing on the cake is that I've met some really neat knitters. You're right, there are amazing blogs out there, but I'm afraid mine may never be one of them. Oh well...such is life. Take care.
Posted by: michele | June 19, 2005 at 04:34 AM
I recently pared down my bloglines list because, like you, I was reading blogs because of the knitter--not the blog.
Anywho--I loved that "mystery shawl" shot.
Posted by: Colleen | June 19, 2005 at 04:57 AM
I envy your Pi shawl. Must start one soon. Yeah, add it to the list.
There is so much work to keeping a blog, and keeping up blog relationships. As if life wasn't busy enough, we add this, which for me has been so enriching. To be out here knitting in a vacuum, no one in "real" life understanding why I knit socks or hoard wool or pick up size 0 needles for anything was okay, but having an online community that gets it has really added to my knitting life (and stash and project list.....). I try to comment when I can, but sometimes I am catching up in a hurry and just don't have the time. I have really appreciated the comments you have left on my blog, and have added you to my *must read* file on my bloglines. I have set up folders. One is a must read folder of people that I am friends with or really enjoy the blog. I have a *checking it out* folder where I add new blogs to remember to go back and see if I like them. Then I have a file for blogs that I will try to catch up on when I have more time. As you can imagine, I usually have 1000+ new feeds, I think it might be time to cut some of these out. I have kept my list private and taken links off of my blog because the time needed to keep them up is overwhelming. I am into this it enhance my knitting life, not become a computer nerd. (Though I really wish I knew more about setting up pages and using html etc.)
The main thing is-I have given alot of thought to why I blog. I won't lie and say I do it *just for me* and that I don't care if anyone reads, because I love that people read and follow what I am doing, but to get people to your site you need to put the time in, going around and commenting, hosting knit alongs, responding to comments...... Then I wonder how much more knitting I could be getting done. I have made some great connections in the cyber world and am happy that there are knitters that get something from my blog or my knitting or expertise. (I have to say, I have always considered myself an expert knitter, but always thought I was sort of a rarity, I didn't know many that knit as much or as difficultly as I do-but the blogging world has brought me together with so many equally talented and wonderful knitters. It is humbling and enlightening all at the same time.) The whole social etiquette behind blogging and commenting, ugh! I am not great with the social graces in *real* life. Add this and I am sure to lose friends. Anyway, my two cents (which isn't even worth that much), and don't feel like you have to respond. Go knit.:)
Posted by: Teresa C | June 19, 2005 at 09:05 AM
Love your Shawls and Deli. And I'm a regular reader of your blog. I leave a comment here and there and when they are responded too, well, that's just fun, but if not, I don't take it personally. Usually if I don't have time to respond to all who leave a nice remark, I mention a thank you in my next post. I think it should be a casual, relaxed thing and I agree with all that you said.
Posted by: chris | June 19, 2005 at 03:00 PM
I have a rather lengthy list of blogs that I enjoy with my morning coffee, yours included. Seeing what other knitters are doing is inspirational and the heads-up to mistakes in patterns,or a new, must-try yarn can be very helpful. I rarely comment and don't expect a reply and I suspect that there are many readers like myself.
Posted by: Pam | June 20, 2005 at 04:44 AM
oh, oh! i read your blog, i'm still here! pretty snowdrop shawl...adore the autumnal colours.
melanie
Posted by: melanie | June 20, 2005 at 11:01 AM
Firstly, the shawls are beautiful. I know how long those rows in the outer band of Pi seem to take absolutely forever to complete. Keep at it. Your alternate lace is downright beautiful.
I couldn't agree more with what you wrote about comments. I try to respond to all comments that I've received. I too regularly leave comments in a few places, not unlike a dog out for the standard walk around the block, but then as the mood/post strikes me. I've never really expected replies to my commments but do enjoy getting that feedback as well.
Posted by: Risa | June 20, 2005 at 11:35 AM
The whole interactiveness of blogging opens up a can of worms, doesn't it? I do most of my blog-type activities on Livejournal, where people are very easily offended if they're removed from one's friends list, and also offended if they don't get comments. One thing that's a major turn-off for me is hearing people whining about how they don't get comments. Comments are not validation, people! Comments do not mean you're a worthy person!
Of course, I love getting comments in my blog, but I'm awful about responding to them. If they're questions, I try. The Haloscan thing I use is a little unwieldy, comments-wise. I don't get email notifications and the Outlook Express email I use isn't the one I check regularly so I have to copy and paste into my gmail and it's just a lot of work to say "Hey, got your comment."
But, y'know, I totally agree with all you said above (the spirit of it, at least). I just wish it wasn't necessary to pacify people in regards to such things.
Posted by: Tipper | June 20, 2005 at 03:15 PM