So I decided to change my blog name and move. An explanation follows at:
daylightrising.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The best card site
The other night we stopped by our dear friend's house, Jeremy and Talia.
As we were gathering by the door to leave I started staring at her lovely pin board collection of Christmas cards (I still have mine up too, I don't want to take them down yet).
One in particular stuck out to me. It was from the Campbell's and just the most lovely card I had ever seen. It looked similar to this (except with their family):
As we were gathering by the door to leave I started staring at her lovely pin board collection of Christmas cards (I still have mine up too, I don't want to take them down yet).
One in particular stuck out to me. It was from the Campbell's and just the most lovely card I had ever seen. It looked similar to this (except with their family):
Talia pulled it down, we checked out the back and found the company that makes them: tinyprints.com
This is a definite must for next year!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Cover your ears and eyes yarn snobs...
So a few posts ago, the Yarn Harlot wrote "in praise of cheap wool." I thought this was hilarious because I had recently started my Military Jacket (Ravelry link) with acrylic and was planning on writing a post that day "in praise of cheap acrylic" if you will.
Well I got busy. And I haven't had time to take photographs until this morning.
The Harlot makes some very sound arguments for the use of wool, targeted at those who complain that the stuff is too expensive and too hard to care for. She really doesn't leave anything open. Which is good. People shouldn't use poor excuses to not use wool.
I do not have a poor excuse, something which she points out prior to all of this argumentation. I am very sensitive to fibers including mohair, alpaca, angora and yes, wool.
I do own a few really lovely and soft wool sweaters. As soon as I get them on though, if I'm not wearing something under them I feel like my skin is being pricked all over. It takes everything within me not to rip the thing off. Such was the case on Monday when I decided to wear what I thought was a great new red sweater to work. As soon as I got home that day the thing just had to come off. I couldn't take it anymore.
I seem to do OK with bamboo, silk and cotton. Also the Karabella Aurora wool doesn't bother me as much as some other kinds of wool. Not sure why that is.
Most of these fibers also do not bother my hands too much when I am knitting with them, with the exception of angora. So I do try to choose them when I can. They are nice to knit with.
However, it just doesn't seem to make much sense to me to put a ton of work into a project for myself, a labor of love and all, knowing that I will hate wearing it because it just isn't comfortable.
Furthermore, I live in California. Now today is a "cold" day in Bakersfield. It is foggy, wet and gloomy outside. But at 37-39° F (depending on which weather news agency you turn to) I know that a lot of other people around this country and the world would be laughing at my assessment that it is "cold". I laugh at myself too because I lived in Utah (for a few weeks) and Idaho growing up where there would be weeks that we didn't break above 10° F.
Wool just isn't necessary in this climate.
So when I decided to do this project I knew I was going to use either a cotton or acrylic to do it in the most economical way possible (bamboo and silk are nice, but a little out of my price range). Cotton to me is a nice fiber to work with, but it can be hard on your wrists and hands.
I've seen this Caron Simply Soft on more than one occasion. I have picked up this yarn and felt its softness. This isn't Red Heart Supersaver people. It's just $2 for a skein with something like 400 yards on it and I've been wanting to make something with it for awhile now.
I am not disappointed with the results and the fact that I will be able to wear it and not itch is very appealing to me.
So that's it. That's my ode to acrylic from a girl with allergies.
I know some of you are cringing. I know some of you are saying that I am waisting my time and energy by using acrylic on this project. I know. I hear you loud and clear, but I don't care. I think this stuff is soft, I like the results and I don't think I'm waisting my time. I'm the knitter. I get to pick.
Well I got busy. And I haven't had time to take photographs until this morning.
The Harlot makes some very sound arguments for the use of wool, targeted at those who complain that the stuff is too expensive and too hard to care for. She really doesn't leave anything open. Which is good. People shouldn't use poor excuses to not use wool.
I do not have a poor excuse, something which she points out prior to all of this argumentation. I am very sensitive to fibers including mohair, alpaca, angora and yes, wool.
I do own a few really lovely and soft wool sweaters. As soon as I get them on though, if I'm not wearing something under them I feel like my skin is being pricked all over. It takes everything within me not to rip the thing off. Such was the case on Monday when I decided to wear what I thought was a great new red sweater to work. As soon as I got home that day the thing just had to come off. I couldn't take it anymore.
I seem to do OK with bamboo, silk and cotton. Also the Karabella Aurora wool doesn't bother me as much as some other kinds of wool. Not sure why that is.
Most of these fibers also do not bother my hands too much when I am knitting with them, with the exception of angora. So I do try to choose them when I can. They are nice to knit with.
However, it just doesn't seem to make much sense to me to put a ton of work into a project for myself, a labor of love and all, knowing that I will hate wearing it because it just isn't comfortable.
Furthermore, I live in California. Now today is a "cold" day in Bakersfield. It is foggy, wet and gloomy outside. But at 37-39° F (depending on which weather news agency you turn to) I know that a lot of other people around this country and the world would be laughing at my assessment that it is "cold". I laugh at myself too because I lived in Utah (for a few weeks) and Idaho growing up where there would be weeks that we didn't break above 10° F.
Wool just isn't necessary in this climate.
So when I decided to do this project I knew I was going to use either a cotton or acrylic to do it in the most economical way possible (bamboo and silk are nice, but a little out of my price range). Cotton to me is a nice fiber to work with, but it can be hard on your wrists and hands.
I've seen this Caron Simply Soft on more than one occasion. I have picked up this yarn and felt its softness. This isn't Red Heart Supersaver people. It's just $2 for a skein with something like 400 yards on it and I've been wanting to make something with it for awhile now.
I am not disappointed with the results and the fact that I will be able to wear it and not itch is very appealing to me.
So that's it. That's my ode to acrylic from a girl with allergies.
I know some of you are cringing. I know some of you are saying that I am waisting my time and energy by using acrylic on this project. I know. I hear you loud and clear, but I don't care. I think this stuff is soft, I like the results and I don't think I'm waisting my time. I'm the knitter. I get to pick.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Media critique
I want to write a blog right now criticizing the way the media handles important events that help inform readers to be better citizens.
I want to write a blog about the history of journalism and why newspapers have first amendment protection complete with Federalist Papers citations.
But I won't do that because my last day of Feb. 1 really isn't that far away and I can endure these annoyances until then.
Here's to 16 more days as an official journalist! I wonder if I'll have to change my blog name then?
I want to write a blog about the history of journalism and why newspapers have first amendment protection complete with Federalist Papers citations.
But I won't do that because my last day of Feb. 1 really isn't that far away and I can endure these annoyances until then.
Here's to 16 more days as an official journalist! I wonder if I'll have to change my blog name then?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Finding the time to be a normal human being
School isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The reading is intense and my final paper will be too. I did manage to get almost everything done before a trip to my sister's graduation in Redding this weekend though. I only had to spend 35 minutes in a quiet hotel room to take an end-of-the-week quiz. Other than that, I was able to completely enjoy myself like a normal, non-student person.
I have also started a new knitting project (Ravelry link), altered two pairs of pants that I bought, gone shopping twice, I'm going home at lunch to start a crock-pot meal (thanks for the inspiration Laurie!) and I'm writing this blog right now.
Speaking of shopping... I got some good deals (like 76% off a pair of boots I've been wanting since the beginning of the season at Banana Republic), but in the pants department I was quite disappointed. I have a few points of contention to be made.
First, women's pants ought to be sold just like men's. Our pants sizes should come in various lengths and widths. I know some women would rather not know how many inches around they are, but to me it really isn't much different than these arbitrary numbers like 10 or 12. I'd rather be able to buy pants that are 32 x 28 and not have to alter them. It also seems like there is a common assumption among women's pants designers that if you are a certain width you are automatically going to be a certain height. This height increases with the width. So pants that are a size 2 or 4 are usually the ideal length for me, but there is no way I could even hope to get them on my body. So I always wonder what someone like my sister-in-law does who happens to be tall and small. I think we should start a petition or something to get the designers to change pants sizing.
Second, it seems like everywhere I looked there were wide leg or flared pants. Who is even making these pants anymore? From what I understand these are not even cool. So what the heck? Why can't I find "skinny" or even straight leg pants? Also, non-flared pants are just more practical, particularly when it comes to wool pants. Wool pants tend to shrink a bit and if they are flared they just look ridiculous and "high-water". However, when you have straight leg or skinny and they are a little short it still looks pretty OK with a pair of flats. As such it makes your pants last a little longer. And furthermore, another reason for the pants in various lengths is that short people just don't look good in flared pants. It makes them look even shorter. Straight or skinny pants make their legs look longer and leaner.
So this is why I have altered two pairs of pants so far, and I am planing to alter some more. I have decided that the tapered or "skinny" look doesn't really look good on me and makes my hips look wide. So I can get a compromise for this look by tapering just slightly, but creating an overall look that is more like a "straight" leg.
They don't exactly look like I went to a professional tailor, but it works and I don't have to spend an additional $15-$20 per pair of pants for alterations. What is the point in getting a good deal on pants if you just wind up spending the full price in the end to make them look and fit you the way you want? My former co-worker Leslie used to say to me, "You're crafty. Why don't you just alter your own pants? If I owned a sewing machine and knew how to use it, I would." So about a year ago I finally took her advice and stopped going to the tailor.
So how did I go about changing these pants dramatically? Well, I happen to have a couple pairs of pants that were already made this way that I just needed shortening. So to save me some time and take a little shortcut I just laid one of these "perfect" pants on top of the pants that were ugly and flared. I used sewing pins (I didn't have one of those fancy chalk pencils on hand so I had to use what I could) to mark where I wanted my new seams and then zipped out a straight line. Then I redid the hem to be a length that suited me.
Each pair has taken me about 30-40 minutes and I've done them both right before work.
One thing I do like about sewing versus knitting is that I can really take out my frustrations with the machine. I know I should be a good former 4-Her and go slowly, but sometimes it's so good to "put the pedal to the metal" so to speak (my pedal is actually plastic).
Your dog has been whining and jumping on the back glass door for 30 minutes? Zoom through a seam with your mean machine!
Running late for work doing this project when you really should have taken care of altering your pants the night before? Zoom through a seam!
Upset that the house is a mess and you think you are going to have to eat fast food for dinner again? Zoom through a seam!
For me, there is nothing like the angry hum and repetition of my sewing machine on high to take out my frustrations.
So anyway, just wanted to check in and let you all know that I'm still over here alive and treading water.
I have also started a new knitting project (Ravelry link), altered two pairs of pants that I bought, gone shopping twice, I'm going home at lunch to start a crock-pot meal (thanks for the inspiration Laurie!) and I'm writing this blog right now.
Speaking of shopping... I got some good deals (like 76% off a pair of boots I've been wanting since the beginning of the season at Banana Republic), but in the pants department I was quite disappointed. I have a few points of contention to be made.
First, women's pants ought to be sold just like men's. Our pants sizes should come in various lengths and widths. I know some women would rather not know how many inches around they are, but to me it really isn't much different than these arbitrary numbers like 10 or 12. I'd rather be able to buy pants that are 32 x 28 and not have to alter them. It also seems like there is a common assumption among women's pants designers that if you are a certain width you are automatically going to be a certain height. This height increases with the width. So pants that are a size 2 or 4 are usually the ideal length for me, but there is no way I could even hope to get them on my body. So I always wonder what someone like my sister-in-law does who happens to be tall and small. I think we should start a petition or something to get the designers to change pants sizing.
Second, it seems like everywhere I looked there were wide leg or flared pants. Who is even making these pants anymore? From what I understand these are not even cool. So what the heck? Why can't I find "skinny" or even straight leg pants? Also, non-flared pants are just more practical, particularly when it comes to wool pants. Wool pants tend to shrink a bit and if they are flared they just look ridiculous and "high-water". However, when you have straight leg or skinny and they are a little short it still looks pretty OK with a pair of flats. As such it makes your pants last a little longer. And furthermore, another reason for the pants in various lengths is that short people just don't look good in flared pants. It makes them look even shorter. Straight or skinny pants make their legs look longer and leaner.
So this is why I have altered two pairs of pants so far, and I am planing to alter some more. I have decided that the tapered or "skinny" look doesn't really look good on me and makes my hips look wide. So I can get a compromise for this look by tapering just slightly, but creating an overall look that is more like a "straight" leg.
They don't exactly look like I went to a professional tailor, but it works and I don't have to spend an additional $15-$20 per pair of pants for alterations. What is the point in getting a good deal on pants if you just wind up spending the full price in the end to make them look and fit you the way you want? My former co-worker Leslie used to say to me, "You're crafty. Why don't you just alter your own pants? If I owned a sewing machine and knew how to use it, I would." So about a year ago I finally took her advice and stopped going to the tailor.
So how did I go about changing these pants dramatically? Well, I happen to have a couple pairs of pants that were already made this way that I just needed shortening. So to save me some time and take a little shortcut I just laid one of these "perfect" pants on top of the pants that were ugly and flared. I used sewing pins (I didn't have one of those fancy chalk pencils on hand so I had to use what I could) to mark where I wanted my new seams and then zipped out a straight line. Then I redid the hem to be a length that suited me.
Each pair has taken me about 30-40 minutes and I've done them both right before work.
One thing I do like about sewing versus knitting is that I can really take out my frustrations with the machine. I know I should be a good former 4-Her and go slowly, but sometimes it's so good to "put the pedal to the metal" so to speak (my pedal is actually plastic).
Your dog has been whining and jumping on the back glass door for 30 minutes? Zoom through a seam with your mean machine!
Running late for work doing this project when you really should have taken care of altering your pants the night before? Zoom through a seam!
Upset that the house is a mess and you think you are going to have to eat fast food for dinner again? Zoom through a seam!
For me, there is nothing like the angry hum and repetition of my sewing machine on high to take out my frustrations.
So anyway, just wanted to check in and let you all know that I'm still over here alive and treading water.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Say goodbye to my life for the next six weeks...
So today "class" officially started with American Jurisprudence.
I got through the syllabus and opening remarks (everything is super cool with flash based videos and lots of interaction) and the syllabus.
I also watched the first week 1 video which sort of gives you a primer on the reading.
Dang! For a class that is supposed to let you get through it at your own pace, the schedule is pretty rigorous. I basically have something "due" every single day, including the weekends.
I'm already supposed to read two chapters out of our book tonight which is something like 100 pages.
What did I get myself into?
I think to make this work, pretty much every other activity in my life is going to have to go by the wayside, including knitting, this blog and probably book club too. It's sad. So don't kill me when in 6 weeks the page header still says "Winter 2007".
Must. Finish. American. Jurisprudence.
AND my degree will say GW on it AND by the end of this course we are supposed to already know how to assist a lawyer on a case.
Here goes nothing...
I got through the syllabus and opening remarks (everything is super cool with flash based videos and lots of interaction) and the syllabus.
I also watched the first week 1 video which sort of gives you a primer on the reading.
Dang! For a class that is supposed to let you get through it at your own pace, the schedule is pretty rigorous. I basically have something "due" every single day, including the weekends.
I'm already supposed to read two chapters out of our book tonight which is something like 100 pages.
What did I get myself into?
I think to make this work, pretty much every other activity in my life is going to have to go by the wayside, including knitting, this blog and probably book club too. It's sad. So don't kill me when in 6 weeks the page header still says "Winter 2007".
Must. Finish. American. Jurisprudence.
AND my degree will say GW on it AND by the end of this course we are supposed to already know how to assist a lawyer on a case.
Here goes nothing...
Sunday, January 6, 2008
They really are lovable...
So since Birdie, I've become a little obsessive with the toys.
This is Ella the Elephant:
Pattern: Lovable Toys - Elephant from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Made for: Paula
Needle: 3.75 mm
Yarn: Less than 1 skein Sublime Yarns Extra Fine Merino Wool DK, some pink Cascade Fixation Solid for the trunk and the kerchief, some blue yarn for the eyes not sure what it is.
Started: Jan. 4
Finished: Jan. 5
Pattern: Lovable Toys - Rabbit from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Made for: Jade, a little girl I have not actually met yet, but have heard all about from my friend Megan. She is obsessed with white bunnies. She is having an Alice in Wonderland birthday party, a theme I came up with, and I have been invited. Hope she likes this little one.
Needle: 3.75 mm
Yarn: 1 skein GGH Bel Air in white for the main body and a little bit of GGH Soft Kid in pink for the inside ears.
Started: Jan. 5
Finished: Jan. 6
I also have a couple of other knits that I finally got around to taking pictures of.
First up are the man socks:
Pattern: Widdershins by Brooke Chenoweth Creel
Made for: Stephen
Needle: 2.75 mm
Yarn: 2 skeins Lana Grossa Meilenweit Tweed
And the best for last...
Pattern: An Affair to Remember by Annie Modesitt from Romantic Hand Knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs that Flatter Your Figure
Made for: Me
Needle: 5 mm and 6.5 mm
Yarn: 8 skeins Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran
Started: Dec. 27
Finished: Dec. 30
This is Ella the Elephant:
Pattern: Lovable Toys - Elephant from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Made for: Paula
Needle: 3.75 mm
Yarn: Less than 1 skein Sublime Yarns Extra Fine Merino Wool DK, some pink Cascade Fixation Solid for the trunk and the kerchief, some blue yarn for the eyes not sure what it is.
Started: Jan. 4
Finished: Jan. 5
Pattern: Lovable Toys - Rabbit from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Made for: Jade, a little girl I have not actually met yet, but have heard all about from my friend Megan. She is obsessed with white bunnies. She is having an Alice in Wonderland birthday party, a theme I came up with, and I have been invited. Hope she likes this little one.
Needle: 3.75 mm
Yarn: 1 skein GGH Bel Air in white for the main body and a little bit of GGH Soft Kid in pink for the inside ears.
Started: Jan. 5
Finished: Jan. 6
I also have a couple of other knits that I finally got around to taking pictures of.
First up are the man socks:
Pattern: Widdershins by Brooke Chenoweth Creel
Made for: Stephen
Needle: 2.75 mm
Yarn: 2 skeins Lana Grossa Meilenweit Tweed
And the best for last...
Pattern: An Affair to Remember by Annie Modesitt from Romantic Hand Knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs that Flatter Your Figure
Made for: Me
Needle: 5 mm and 6.5 mm
Yarn: 8 skeins Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran
Started: Dec. 27
Finished: Dec. 30
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