Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Spending a year dead for school reasons
I haven't even had time for updates.
So, in any case, I know I don't have any 'readers' and I know I suck, but I'm just saying now that I probably won't get another chance to update again till next year, probably.
I did buy the big book of lace. Knit-gasm like whoa.
that is all.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
A is for Archeology
The photo is either squished or I got damn skinny. Both are probably true. In anycase, this is a picture of me "doing archeology" in the middle of a feild. The exact details of where I am cannot be reviled until M. Because I'm evil.
However, some details about me + archeology:
I spell it the 'american' way, because I learned in Texas, and thats how they spell it there. It's different for each state, but the SAA (Society for American Archaeology) has decided to spell the European way. I can't really really remember where the A goes, though. In any case, I am a Junior anthropology student, and plan on going on to great things in archeology.
school=the suck
I took pictures to update with. I made more pretty knitting. I have plans!
Riight.
So anyway, towards the end of updating like I plan to, I am joining the ABC-along (I know I'm late!)
I'm putting those as separate entries so they I can save them seperately unadultered by other mindless banter.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
In which laura attempts to insert pictures
This is the afore mentioned sweater for my sweetie. I'm not sure how well it can be seen, but I think it's half way decent. The varigation has an... interesting effect.
However, it has huuuuuge arm holes.
She, on the other hand, is very very tiny.

I am archeologist. I think this proves it. This is excellent archeologist photo lighting. You can see all the details of the texture, features are highlighted by the low light angle. However, because knitting is all texture, this apparently makes it very difficult to see any detail.
Theoretically this is showing the lace leaf detail. You can kind of see it.

This is the arm. You can see the details. Thats why I included this picture. I think it looks halfway decent. Stretched out, the holes seem pretty even... loose the left holes are larger than the right by about half. I think it has to do with left versus right decreases.
In any case, it's not as pretty as other people's sweaters. First off, the yarn is slightly too small for the gauge, but it works, because my sweetie is tiny, like I said. This, I think, throws the lace off. But also, she is slightly allergic to wool so it's a acrylic wool blend. I know you can't block acrylic, so I don't know if blocking this will do me any good. Does anyone know?
...thats assuming other people read this.
Nonetheless, its turning out well.
fin.
Monday, January 09, 2006
I have a secret
More specifically, I haven't done that much knitting! The main problem (as a result of this)? The really really, I-am-a-not-very-good-person one?
I haven't finished A*****'s sweater (hereafter refered to as my sweetie). There's not much left. a third of a sleeve and the middle section (I'm doing the leaf-lace-pattern one from loop-d-loop, which is knit from the top and bottom in). And, you know, sewing it together.
I have about a week till school starts, which is when it's "due." I can do it, I'm just lazy.
shhhh! don't tell.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
I did have something to say.
As a result, I have forgotton what else I was going to say.
So, this is where I be narcissistic, and tell you what I can and cannot do, and why I'm really a needle crafter, and not a purebred knitter.
My first and true love: Tatting. I'm not very good, but it's tiny and easy to take about with you, and looks very very complicated, even though theres only two stitches. (Question: Does anyone know if it was the needle or shuttle that came first? I've heard both, and both make sense.) I use the needle, incidentally. What can I say--I like long pointed objects.
Secondly: Knitting. This does what tatting cannot--make garments. Which are useful. I can only make so many doilies before I question my utilitarian prinicples. I'm decent at this. I like to make lace (I mean, tatting, come on!), and though colourways intrigue me, I just can't get excited about them like I do with lace.
Finally, tied for last place: Crocheting and needlepoint/embroidery.
Crocheting...is useful, but I don't like the fabric it makes. I think it's good to know, makes a much more effective potholder, and makes pretty lace. But... its not soft.
needlepoint: Okay, I like this. It was really what i did first, in that elementry giant needle kind of way. I pick it up every now and then, but I think it's kind of like colourways. And you can't make garments. I don't know why this is important to me, but it seems to be the key. In any case, this includes crossstich and embroidery. I'm sure there's other kinds of needlepoint I'm not aware of.
What I would like to be able to do:
1- Sew. This is kind of in between, because technically I know how, I just am really horrible and have no practice. Currently I am working on a quilt, but thats easy. And I want to know how to recreate period costume. The ultimate in garmeting, though, right? Kind of think I need to take a class for.
2- Spin. Okay, this is actually more inbetween but I thought of it second. I do know how to use a drop spindle. I like spining. I want a spining wheel. And I want to be good. This is another thing I ought to take a class in.
3- other lace techniques. These always make me drool. But I really really ought to make my tatting better before make forey's (the apostrophe is there because I recognize I cannot spell. it seeme appropriate) into other techniques. I like fine lacework. Currently includes: bobbin and hairpin lacing. I think netting is ugly--the bit with the squares. There's others, I just can't think of them right now.
4- felting. I understand the priciples of felting. I could felt if I needed to. The idea of knitting a giant version of a garment and then shrinking it does not appeal to me (even though those shrink -things from my childhood always did). However, I feel I ought to be able to do that. What I want to know is things like needle felting, and how to felt fleeces. And I want to know how to fleece! I consider that a subset of felting.
that is all, I think
Still to come:
What is currently on the needles.
What will be on the needles.
What I wish was on the needles.
fin!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
A cool kid
So, Varnia hearts yarn harlot and I in all my glory have convinced her to make her own cool knitting blog. However, in order to comment in it, I have to have my own blog, thus I too have a knitting, more like needle-craft, blog. It seems that "blogs" are cool things that people put online to post their brilliance/ineptatude. I apparently have several. There is the known livejournal account that all should fear, and then this unknown account via google, that I want to utilize, though I am unshure how.
Anyway, I, being highly intelligent, instantaniously forgot what I decided my highly cool name was (because I am that cool) and in order to complete my commentary for variana, I needed to tell them who I was. so I made a short and random post. Thus proving my aptitude for blogging on the spot.
I can and I cannot spell. Assume all mistakes are purposeful for my artful creations.
We will get to actually knitterly stuff later.
fin, for now.
I forgot my name
Actually, this is all Varina's fault.
A story, after I figure out my name.