So because I am half out of it more than half the time, uh...yeah....I totally forgot to post the first "Topic of the Week" on my blog for the Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Exchange. That said, here is the 2nd Topic of the Week:
TOPIC OF THE WEEK
When you knit or crochet dishcloths, washcloths or facecloths, what do you use? What size needle or hook? What type? Metal? Plastic? Wood? A specific Brand? Why do you love that needle or hook so much? Is there one you are dying to try? Is there a particular yarn you love and use all the time for cloths? What is so special about it?
Lordy. This is like a 478562096-part topic.
Well first of all, I have only knit dishcloths. I can crochet, but I really am totally new to that skill. I have much more comfort and seasoning in knitting, so that 's what I do.
When I make a dish/wash cloth, I use cotton yarn. I have made a couple of bath mitts as well, one of which was a cotton & linen blend. And OH MY DOG, I love knitting up the bath mitts! I am going to make a dishcloth with a 55/45, cotton/acrylic blend, just to see how that turns out. I think it might have more durability and scrubbing prowess than just the plain cotton. We shall see....
I have a few favorite patterns that I use for dishcloths, and I just found 2 more today that I ADORE. Like this one. But, anyway, I always use whatever needle size the pattern calls for. If none is stated therein, I use the yarn's recommended size, and if that's not there, then I will go with a size 7.
Well, if you asked me 2 years ago "which type needle do you prefer," I would have shouted, "STRAIGHT, thank you very much!" But now, I'm not so sure. I think I really like the flexibility of a circular needle in my hands. And it's easier to store a work-in-progress if it's on circulars. And...well...I don't poke my boobs either. (This is why I like circulars for socks, rather than DPNs. TMI, I know.) So I have to say that I like using my Denise needles for dish/wash cloths, in general.
As for "metal, plastic or wood," I'd have to say resin/plastic come in first because of that touch of flexibility, with metal second because of their speed, and wood last. I just really dislike those blunt ends of the wood needles; it splits the yarn, especially cotton! And cotton is pretty unyielding, so it often sticks and catches on the wood as well. I find that wood is a good option when I am knitting something I am not too familiar with. Because it slows me down and forces me to pay attention.
Brand isn't really important to me. I do like the Denise set a lot. And Addi Turbos are all that people say they are and MORE, especially for socks. One of my favorite "brands" of needle is Bryspun. They are resin, I think, or maybe plastic. But they have a certain feel to them that is a lot warmer and smoother than plastic needles. I find knitting with the Bryspun is a visceral experience for me. It's almost like the needles become an extension of me. TMI, again, I know. Even though I am not a huge fan of wood, I am dying to try KnitPicks NEW, COOL-ASS Harmony needles. I mean just LOOK AT THEM.
For $1.35 a ball, Sugar N' Cream and/or Peaches N' Cream knits up a helluva fine dishcloth! So I do use that all the time. I have used Bernat Cottontots, as well. This makes a really soft and uber-absorbent cloth. My only complaint about Cottontots is that it doesn't come in enough colors. All the colors are like kid-oriented. Like would it kill them to make a tan, plum, and sage green colorway instead of purple, lime green, and white? I would really like to try a fancier, softer cotton, I think. I have purchased some Cherry Tree Hill cotton yarn, which sort of has a bouclé texture to it. That seems like it will be fun to use. I also have some pure Louet linen that I got on clearance. I am going to try that soon too.
That's all for now.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Deserted Island
Well, Marsha is running a contest to celebrate her Blog's 2nd birthday!
The rules? Just name three things that you would want with you if stranded on a desert island.
This is really tough. I keep thinking about the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks! He didn't get the opportunity to choose. Being pretty equally left-brained and right-brained, I can really see the necessity for practicality, as well as the value of comfort and pleasure. So choosing three items has proved quite a challenge. Adding to the challenge is not knowing how long this desertion will be. I would probably choose different items if it were 3 years rather than 3 months. Nevertheless, here they are:
1) My green knitting bag, aka "the luggage." There are so many things I can do to occupy my time with what is in this bag. Also, there is the option of re-knittability. I can knit something, keep it for a while, then frog it and knit something else.
2) I'm going to assume that this is an island kind of like what's on Lost, albeit without smoke monsters, the hatch, and Matthew Fox (dammit). So in that case, I would want a book identifying all the edible flora, fauna, and fruits, etc. and which things were poisonous or posed some other health concern.
3) One of my cats, probably Titus. I was going to say Todd, but I don't think it's fair that he would have to be deserted with me, although he'd probably love it. Anyway, I chose one of the cats because I think everyone needs some kind of companionship and needs some living thing to care for. It's what makes us alive, I think. Why Titus? Well, he's the most easy-going of the cats. He pretty much eats whatever you put in front of him and he loves me to death. I'm sure he thinks that I am his mother.
The rules? Just name three things that you would want with you if stranded on a desert island.
This is really tough. I keep thinking about the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks! He didn't get the opportunity to choose. Being pretty equally left-brained and right-brained, I can really see the necessity for practicality, as well as the value of comfort and pleasure. So choosing three items has proved quite a challenge. Adding to the challenge is not knowing how long this desertion will be. I would probably choose different items if it were 3 years rather than 3 months. Nevertheless, here they are:
1) My green knitting bag, aka "the luggage." There are so many things I can do to occupy my time with what is in this bag. Also, there is the option of re-knittability. I can knit something, keep it for a while, then frog it and knit something else.
2) I'm going to assume that this is an island kind of like what's on Lost, albeit without smoke monsters, the hatch, and Matthew Fox (dammit). So in that case, I would want a book identifying all the edible flora, fauna, and fruits, etc. and which things were poisonous or posed some other health concern.
3) One of my cats, probably Titus. I was going to say Todd, but I don't think it's fair that he would have to be deserted with me, although he'd probably love it. Anyway, I chose one of the cats because I think everyone needs some kind of companionship and needs some living thing to care for. It's what makes us alive, I think. Why Titus? Well, he's the most easy-going of the cats. He pretty much eats whatever you put in front of him and he loves me to death. I'm sure he thinks that I am his mother.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Babies, Cats, and Knitting
Hey, everyone. So I just returned from visiting my sister and my new baby niece, Aubrey, in North Carolina. Oh my DOG, she is so cute. I took TONS of pictures. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Here's Aubrey having a "chat" with her mom. She is so alert and really wants to communicate with all of us. She is only 3 weeks old, but she really wants to talk to us!
YAAAAAAAWN...
Awwwww.
Yeah, so, my sister recently got a pure-bred Siamese (the cute, apple-head, non-cross-eyed kind). They named him Neko, which is the Japanese word for cat. I think he's about 5-6 months old now. He is awfully cute, and a very sweet cat too. And he has THE bluest eyes I've ever seen. Just magnificent. He also...well...really loves the baby....
He would periodically sneak in there with her whenever we weren't looking!
Here are my sister's 2 other cats:
Mitzy
Hercules
Titus
Here's Aubrey having a "chat" with her mom. She is so alert and really wants to communicate with all of us. She is only 3 weeks old, but she really wants to talk to us!
YAAAAAAAWN...
Awwwww.
Here she is with the hat I made her as part of that kimono/hat/booties matching ensemble. It fits her perfectly! Now I am going to make her more hats. Because, hey, babies with hats are like over-the-top cute:
Yeah, so, my sister recently got a pure-bred Siamese (the cute, apple-head, non-cross-eyed kind). They named him Neko, which is the Japanese word for cat. I think he's about 5-6 months old now. He is awfully cute, and a very sweet cat too. And he has THE bluest eyes I've ever seen. Just magnificent. He also...well...really loves the baby....
He would periodically sneak in there with her whenever we weren't looking!
Here are my sister's 2 other cats:
Molly
Mitzy
(who is actually a boy, but, well, it's a long story....)
And here is the baby blanket that I had been working on for the last few months. I finished it and did a semi-block on it the day before I left. Overall, I am very pleased with how it turned out. I think my sister really liked it, too.
While I was in North Carolina, I made a dishcloth to match my sister's kitchen. I happened to have with me the cotton yarn that my Dishcloth Swap spoiler from the last round gave me! The dishcloth is actually the same pattern as the blanket above. I absolutely love that pattern. It was a free one from the Dishcloth Boutique website.
I also managed to finish one sock out while there! I switched to Addi Turbo needles (size 2 on 12" cables) and it was infinitely easier. Like, WHOA. Now I am working on the gusset portion of the second sock in this pair. So it looks like I will actually finish my first pair of socks ever! And I DO see more sock knitting in my future. Thank you, Addi Turbos!!! My only beef with the sock is that I made the foot portion too long for me by about 3/4 to 1 inch. But, hey, for the first pair ever? I think that's ok! :-)
And I leave you now with pictures of a couple of my cats being very, very silly:
Sophie
And here is the baby blanket that I had been working on for the last few months. I finished it and did a semi-block on it the day before I left. Overall, I am very pleased with how it turned out. I think my sister really liked it, too.
While I was in North Carolina, I made a dishcloth to match my sister's kitchen. I happened to have with me the cotton yarn that my Dishcloth Swap spoiler from the last round gave me! The dishcloth is actually the same pattern as the blanket above. I absolutely love that pattern. It was a free one from the Dishcloth Boutique website.
I also managed to finish one sock out while there! I switched to Addi Turbo needles (size 2 on 12" cables) and it was infinitely easier. Like, WHOA. Now I am working on the gusset portion of the second sock in this pair. So it looks like I will actually finish my first pair of socks ever! And I DO see more sock knitting in my future. Thank you, Addi Turbos!!! My only beef with the sock is that I made the foot portion too long for me by about 3/4 to 1 inch. But, hey, for the first pair ever? I think that's ok! :-)
And I leave you now with pictures of a couple of my cats being very, very silly:
Sophie
Hercules
Titus
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Wrongfully Accused
Do you remember when this happened?
I do. Very well, thank you.
Recall, if you will, that I automatically assumed that it was Titus. I made this assumption based on his prior atrocities, such as this and this.
In a great, loud disturbance that I had yesterday morning at 5:30 am, it was revealed to me that I had, indeed, wrongfully accused Titus and that it was actually Hercules that managed to knock everything off my dresser and onto the floor. Yes. Hercules. Allow me to divulge the full epiphany on you:
Despite the fact that our house has central air-conditioning, for the last several months, we have had a window-unit air conditioner in our bedroom window. Why? Because the central air just does not make it upstairs. And I can't take heat, especially when I am trying to sleep. So we popped a window-unit in there. It's great. Well, apparently, the neighborhood birds think so too, but probably for a different reason. They love to come tuck themselves under the thing or on the side, or build a little nest in the corner of the window outside, using the air conditioner as a supporting wall. Plus there is a big tree in our front yard, and its branches do touch the master-bedroom window---the very same window with the air conditioner. These birds make quite a ruckus. And the birds, in conjunction with the tree make for some interesting moving shadows all around the bedroom.
What does this have to do with anything at all ever in the history of time? I'm getting there. Bear with me.
Ever since we picked up Hercules off the street (literally) he has been intrigued by sunbeams, and shadows and how they drift and change around the room. Why, I recall many a day when he sat on the steps in the living room (at our old house), absolutely rapt, for hours watching as the sun would move in the sky and change the shadows that it cast on the stairwell wall. And, indeed, nearly every early am since we've had that air conditioner in our bedroom window, there's been Hercules jumping around from dresser, to chest-of-drawers, to lingerie chest, trying to catch the shadows.
Usually we are aware of what he's doing, and manage to hit him with the water in the "NO, NO, BAD CAT" spray bottle that we keep on the nightstand. He'll scurry away, only knocking off one or two things. Well...yesterday at 5:30ish am there was an ear-drum-shattering CRASH across the room, which came from the chest-of-drawers. Hercules had miscalculated his trajectory and managed to drag down the table runner (WHEN WILL I LEARN: 5 CATS = 0 TABLE RUNNERS) and with it every freakin' thing on the chest of drawers. I knew it was Hercules because:
a) only he jumps around in the morning on the bedroom furniture.
b) only he chases shadows and sunbeams and
c) Titus, the usual suspect, was nestled in the elbow pit on my arm, licking away, as is his custom every morning.
Shut up. I know they are spoiled. And Titus seriously thinks I'm his mother. It's...kind of cute.
I did not take pictures because I just did not have the emotional energy to do it. So later that morning (I was off yesterday; I am recovering from tonsillitis), I started picking everything up. And Titus was right there at my elbow, completely intrigued by the mess and how I was cleaning it up.
BAM.
Epiphany.
Hercules jumps around on the tops of my bedroom furniture. Hercules chases shadows and sunbeams and has been doing so for 3 years. So it was Hercules that actually spawned my "I can't have nice things" post, NOT Titus.
So, my dear Squinty Fuzzimous Sean Connery Football Head McGoo, even though you can't read (I assume), this apology goes out to you.
I do. Very well, thank you.
Recall, if you will, that I automatically assumed that it was Titus. I made this assumption based on his prior atrocities, such as this and this.
In a great, loud disturbance that I had yesterday morning at 5:30 am, it was revealed to me that I had, indeed, wrongfully accused Titus and that it was actually Hercules that managed to knock everything off my dresser and onto the floor. Yes. Hercules. Allow me to divulge the full epiphany on you:
Despite the fact that our house has central air-conditioning, for the last several months, we have had a window-unit air conditioner in our bedroom window. Why? Because the central air just does not make it upstairs. And I can't take heat, especially when I am trying to sleep. So we popped a window-unit in there. It's great. Well, apparently, the neighborhood birds think so too, but probably for a different reason. They love to come tuck themselves under the thing or on the side, or build a little nest in the corner of the window outside, using the air conditioner as a supporting wall. Plus there is a big tree in our front yard, and its branches do touch the master-bedroom window---the very same window with the air conditioner. These birds make quite a ruckus. And the birds, in conjunction with the tree make for some interesting moving shadows all around the bedroom.
What does this have to do with anything at all ever in the history of time? I'm getting there. Bear with me.
Ever since we picked up Hercules off the street (literally) he has been intrigued by sunbeams, and shadows and how they drift and change around the room. Why, I recall many a day when he sat on the steps in the living room (at our old house), absolutely rapt, for hours watching as the sun would move in the sky and change the shadows that it cast on the stairwell wall. And, indeed, nearly every early am since we've had that air conditioner in our bedroom window, there's been Hercules jumping around from dresser, to chest-of-drawers, to lingerie chest, trying to catch the shadows.
Usually we are aware of what he's doing, and manage to hit him with the water in the "NO, NO, BAD CAT" spray bottle that we keep on the nightstand. He'll scurry away, only knocking off one or two things. Well...yesterday at 5:30ish am there was an ear-drum-shattering CRASH across the room, which came from the chest-of-drawers. Hercules had miscalculated his trajectory and managed to drag down the table runner (WHEN WILL I LEARN: 5 CATS = 0 TABLE RUNNERS) and with it every freakin' thing on the chest of drawers. I knew it was Hercules because:
a) only he jumps around in the morning on the bedroom furniture.
b) only he chases shadows and sunbeams and
c) Titus, the usual suspect, was nestled in the elbow pit on my arm, licking away, as is his custom every morning.
Shut up. I know they are spoiled. And Titus seriously thinks I'm his mother. It's...kind of cute.
I did not take pictures because I just did not have the emotional energy to do it. So later that morning (I was off yesterday; I am recovering from tonsillitis), I started picking everything up. And Titus was right there at my elbow, completely intrigued by the mess and how I was cleaning it up.
BAM.
Epiphany.
Hercules jumps around on the tops of my bedroom furniture. Hercules chases shadows and sunbeams and has been doing so for 3 years. So it was Hercules that actually spawned my "I can't have nice things" post, NOT Titus.
So, my dear Squinty Fuzzimous Sean Connery Football Head McGoo, even though you can't read (I assume), this apology goes out to you.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Swap Questionnaire
1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been doing it?
I've been knitting for 3 years. My friend Marsha taught me in the summer of 2004. It was always something that I wanted to do. My grandmother was a great knitter and an expert at crochet. I have a crochet tablecloth that she made. Incredible. Marsha's husband, Jan, taught me how to crochet. I just really like being creative and making usable things. I would consider my skill level in knitting to be almost intermediate. I'm still just a novice at crochet. I very slowly build up my knowledge of stitches and techniques. I'd like to be able to master a particular skill first before piling on something else.
2. Have you made dischloths before? Do you use them yourself, give them as gifts, or both?
Yes! And Yes! I think a dishcloth makes a really nice gift. And I love to make them.
3. What's your favorite cotton to make cloths from? What cotton would you like to try that you haven't before?
Well, I really like the good ol' Sugar & Cream cotton yarn. It's inexpensive and comes in a bajillion colors. I also like Bernat's CottonTots yarn. Its texture really makes a nice, absorbent cloth. I love the feel of mercerized cotton, Plymouth Fantasy Naturale is my favorite. I have yet to try that in a dishcloth because I don't know if the mercerization has any effect on the cotton's absorbency, thus rendering it useless as a dishcloth! I recently purchased some Araucania Pehuen cotton yarn, which has a really neat texture! I can't wait to try it. But I would like to try some Mission Falls Cotton, or Blue Sky Alpacas cotton, or Lion Brand Organic Cotton. And I'd love to try a cotton/bamboo blend.
4. If you knit, do you prefer circular or straight needles? For all, do you prefer wooden, metal, or plastic needles?
Hmmm...well, I have all kinds of needles (wood, plastic, metal, resin, etc.) and I think my favorite needles are made by Bryspun. They are sometimes hard to come by. But use them once, and you'll love them, especially the circulars. No tangling/twisting, which is my biggest complaint about circular needles. I recently purchased some gently-used Denise needles from a friend and they are SUPER! And Addi Turbo circulars ARE all that people rave about them and more. They are 'da bomb!
5. What are your favorite colors? Any colors you don't like much?
Well, I don't think it's really a question of me not liking colors, because I pretty much like ALL of them, except for teal. Teal should be obliterated from all human existence. Really, it's more like what colors don't like me! For instance, I love yellow and orange, but they look hideous on me. However, I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of pastels. I guess I like heathered, natural colors the best. I'm fond of plums, sagey greens, denim blues, gray, terracotta, coral, browns and mocha. I like red, too.
6. What do you like best about Autumn?
I like the crisp, clean air. It's very refreshing. In fact, I find that Autumn is more of a time of renewal for me than Spring. Maybe it's because I work in academia, and the start of the school year is in the fall....
7. Pies: Pumpkin? Apple? Pecan? All of em? or No Thanks!
Oh, hell yes! All of those and more! But honestly, pecan is my favorite.
8. When you were a kid, were you the one who couldn't wait to get started with school , or the one who overslept on the 1st day?
Could. Not. Wait. Like INSANE. Like couldn't sleep for a week before because I was so excited and nervous about it. But after about 3 weeks, my mom needed a bulldozer and the New York Philharmonic to get me out bed.
9. Do you celebrate Halloween? (The real key here guys is especially knowing if you have an aversion to the holiday or little goodies/decorations associated with it, given the timeframe of the swap)
Well, I'll be honest with you. I am not a big Halloween fan, never was. Even as a kid. However, I am not at all insulted by or opposed to Halloween-themed items. I usually do shell out candy to the kiddies, so I guess I actually do "celebrate" it. But I don't send cards or buy gifts for people. I refuse to succumb to Hallmark's diabolical scheme to make every freakin' day of the year a card-giving holiday. Didn't you know? Today is National Show-Your-Buttcrack Day! Spend $4.79 for a card! You know you want to!
10. If you had to choose just 3 edible 'goodies' to eat for a full year, what 3 would you choose?
Tim-Tams.
Fudge.
Icelandic Noi Sirius Konsum dark chocolate bars. Best. Chocolate. Ever. Not kidding.
11. Do you have any pets? Kids? Husbands who seem like kids? ;)
Heh. Very nicely phrased question! I have five furry children, all cats, all mostly evil, except for the oldest, Sophie. You can poke around my blog pretty easily and find pictures of them being bad. They are: Sophie, Hercules, Titus, Ophelia (we call her Fi-Fi for short), and Luna (who has now greatly surpassed Titus as the evilest one, which I did not think was even possible). So, yeah, FIVE cats. Hey, less time in purgatory.... And one big kid: Todd, my husband. :-)
12. If you were to describe a particular yarn that shares traits of your personality, what would it be and why?
Wow, interesting question! Um...let's see. I'd have to go with cotton, actually. Because I am dependable, easy going, and very what you see is what you get. And, to confirm that I really do know myself, I just took this quiz:
What kind of yarn are you?
You are Dishcloth Cotton.You are a very hard worker, most at home when you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
Take this quiz!
So there you have it! I do like to be at home or with people who are very familiar to me. I am hardworking and thrifty, but I do buy a lot of STUFF! As for being born to clean, meh, not so much.You are Dishcloth Cotton.You are a very hard worker, most at home when you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
Take this quiz!
13. Do you use your cloths mostly for dishcloths, or as facecloths?
Well probably half and half!
14. Favorite Fall Holiday: Halloween or Thanksgiving and why? (Feel free to share another fall memory if you do not celebrate either of these holidays)
I gotta go with Thanksgiving. Mostly because of one thing: candied yams. Nuff' said.
15. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should know about?
No allergies that my pal would need to know, unless they planned on sending me some drugs. LOL (I am allergic to Sulfa drugs.) I have a STRONG aversion to Indian food, particularly curry and I hate gummy-type candy, particularly Twizzlers or any of its rubbery, stringy look-alikes. Yuck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)