and knitting

project #36: Give Him The Ooh-La-La, Scarf

This is a bit of an experiment, but I'm hoping it turns out to be the flouncy scarf I've pictured in my mind since seeing the Fall 2006 runway collections from Marc Jacobs and Twinkle.

As you've likely guessed, the project using the gorgeous blue yarn is meant to be my Project Spectrum project for the month of June. You would think a yarn with a halo this lovely would be unpleasant to knit in the heat and humidity of summer. Happily, it's not. Alpaca must have magical properties that keep it feeling soft and fluffy even when you're knitting in a ridiculously humid environment. The inelasticity of the fiber sometimes frustrates me, but the texture more than makes up for it.

So far I've cast on about 300 gazillion stitches and knitted quite a few rows in garter stitch. A bit of this happened while I was lounging in the park on one of my beloved Mondays away from the office. The schedule is probably the best thing about my new job.

The Project: Give Him The Ooh-La-La, Scarf
The Yarn: Fable Handknit Pure Baby Alpaca in ethereal blue purchased from pureknits
The Needles: Crystal Palace US6 Circular with as long a cord as I could find
Started: June 25 2006

Various and Sundry Links - June 30 2006

- Remember those night terror-inducing clown ski masks? A craftsterer actually made one (NSFTWHAFOC*)! [via]
*not safe for those who have a fear of clowns

- Billionaires For A Two-Tiered Internet say "Protect our Telecoms- Neutralize Net Neutrality"!

- Purchase your own concrete island getaway

- konbini life [via]

- Everything is more fun when you are wearing a robot costume. [via]

- schmeebot got a lovely new toy. I hope this leads to more modernism in the design of knitting and spinning tools.

- Minneapolis is having a bit of an architecture boom -- with new buildings by Jean Nouvel, Cesar Pelli, and Target designer Michael Graves (Do spend some time at this last link. The MIA's site is exceptional, and I'm not saying that becaue I'm biased), all opening in June. Of course, these projects haven't always been a cake walk.

- Lord Whimsy gives Lucy an internal exam.

- From Runway to Editorial (and possibly your knitting basket)

I'm Having Fun

One of the unfortunate side effects of using this public space as a knitting journal is that I sometimes feel guilty about not posting that many finished projects. I need to remind myself that it isn't a contest (or at least not one that I choose to participate in) and that I'm supposed to be doing this for fun.

Even though I don't generally post that much about it, I do knit. There is a new project I'm working on using some of the lurvely Fable yarn I picked up from Yahaira's shop. It's just a basic scarf, that's still in the swatching stage, but I think I'm going to be quite pleased with it. I'll post a photo once I've cast on for the real thing.

Various and Sundry Links - June 19 2006

- Do you think it would be frowned upon if I started doing this at work whenever anyone did anything stupid [via]?

- The best FO photo series evah!

- How to rip safely. Filing this one away for (hopefully) infrequent use.

- Is crafting so uncool that it needs a new term to describe it?

- Jackson Pollock [via]

- That the estate tax is even being debated calls out the fantastic narrative abilities of the right and the widespread naivety of the American public.

- The Tomy Voice-Corder has now joined the PXL-2000 as one of those wished for toys that I'm never going to be able to get my hands on.

- Now Norma explains how a Stenograph keyboard works

- There used to be graffiti around town that read Freemasons Are Evil. The graffiti was right [via].

- "Our Wedding" [via]

- kitschy couture [via]

Music to Knit By

None of my knitting projects are at a point where they are at all interesting to blog about, so I'm instead going to post a fun little meme I found over at neoknits.

I always enjoy these music-related memes because people's music libraries give you a bit of insight into their personalities. That said, I'm not so sure what my results say about me other than that I have a rather bizarre collection of songs on my computer and a penchant for soundtracks.

shuffle mode meme
[put your music player on random and record your answers to the questions as they play]

How am I feeling today?
Song For World Peace – American Journey - John Williams
How very Miss America of me.

Will I get far in life?
Who Can I Turn To? (When Nobody Needs Me) - The Shadow Of Your Smile - Astrud Gilberto
Uh oh. This doesn't sound very promising.

How do my friends see me?
Love Theme – Elizabeth - David Hirschfelder

When will I get Married?
Cripple Creek Ferry - After The Goldrush – Neil Young
Great. It can't be a good thing to have the word "Cripple" in the result for this one.

What is my best friend's theme song?
Showdown - The Sugar Hill Records Story - The Furious 5 Meets The Sugarhill Gang

What is the story of my life?
Send A Little Love My Way - The Days Of Wine And Roses - Henry Mancini
Everybody needs to be loved and I'm no exception.

What was high school like?
You're Gonna Get Yours (Reanimated TX Getaway Version) - Greatest Misses - Public Enemy
I really hated high school, so this warmed the cockles of my embittered little heart.

How am I going to get ahead in life?
Little Jazz Bird - Verve Jazz Masters 51 - Blossom Dearie
Trust me, no one wants to hear my vocal interpretations of jazz standards.

What is the best thing about me?
I Saw The Light - Hank Williams Gold (Disc 1) - Hank Williams

How is today going to be?
Pyar Mein Dil To (From Chhupa Rustam) - I Love Bollywood - Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu & Chorus
I have no idea what the lyrics actually mean, but there is a part of this song that, when misinterpreted in English, makes my sister and I giggle like 12-year-old boys. I'm not going to transcribe it here because it will lead to all sorts of unfortunate google searches.

What is in store for this weekend?
Main Title - Ed Wood - Howard Shore
Hmm, creepy theremin music cannot mean anything good.

What song describes my parents?
8 Miles and Runnin' - 8 Mile - Freeway & Jay-Z
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

What song describes your grandparents?
She's Lost Control (Live on Something Else 9/1/79) - The Complete BBC Recordings - Joy Division
That's not a very nice thing to say. My grandmother is getting up there in years, but she's still quite in control of her faculties.

How is my life going?
Whatchamacallit - Space Age Bachelor Pad Music - Esquivel
That's a nice way to put it.

What song will they play at my funeral?
'Til I Can Make It on My Own - The Essential Collection - Tammy Wynette

How does the world see me?
Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer) (instrumental, 1963) - The Man From Ipanema (Disc 3) - Antônio Carlos Jobim

Will I have a happy life?
Chimes Of Freedom - Another Side Of Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan

What do my friends really think of me?
On Se Plait - 36 Grandes Succes (Disc 1) - Françoise Hardy
Ha. My French isn't so good, but yes, one does like oneself.

Do people secretly lust after me?
Galvanize - Galvanize – EP - The Chemical Brothers
Don't hold back, I know the answer is, only after they drink Budweiser.

How can I make myself happy?
Step On (Stuff It In Mix) - Step On (Remix '91) - Happy Mondays
You're twisting my melon man.

What should I do with my life?
A View To A Kill – Decade – Duran Duran
Just call me Ms. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Will I ever have children?
T-Rex Rescue & Finale - Jurassic Park - John Williams
I know I'm getting on in years, but it's still a bit early to start thinking about genetic engineering.

What is some good advice for me?
It Could Happen To You - It Could Happen To You - Chet Baker
It has.

What is my signature dancing song?
Turn It Up - The Sugar Hill Records Story (Disc 5) - The Treacherous Three
See, I was really hoping for Baby Got Back, but then I remembered I only have it on vinyl.

What do I think my current theme song is?
Arigato We Love You - Happy End of the World - Pizzicato Five

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
People Will Say We're In Love - Oklahoma! - Gordon MacRae & Shirley Jones

What type of men/women do you like?
Just Like Honey - Lost In Translation - The Jesus & Mary Chain
Umm no, I don't want anyone to be my plastic toy.

What kind of kisser are you?
I Do (Raw Sound Mix) - J17 Girls' Night In - Jamelia
This was the only one I was tempted to cheat on. How embarassing that I even have this on my computer.

What's your style?
I Am The Resurrection - The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

What kind of lover are you?
MaGic in youR Eyes - Tommy airline - Tommy february6

What would be playing on a first date?
Minimoni. Bus Guide - Minimoni Telephone Ring Ring Ring - Minimoni

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Girls Guide For the Modern Diva - Passionoia - Black Box Recorder
So fasten your seat belts. Enjoy the ride.

WARNING

It just wouldn't be a typical knitting project here at andknitting.com, unless it included some dorky mishap. Things were just peachy with my luftig and leicht cardie until I counted my stitches to make sure things were on track after some decreasing. I counted once, counted again, and then a third time, because it didn't seem to make any sense that after all the decreasing, there would be nearly as many stitches still on the needle as should have been there when I cast on.

Argh!

Yes, I cast on for the wrong size. I must be smoking the wrong brand of crack. I now have the proper number of stitches on my needles and am nearly where I was when I discovered the fatal error. No photo, because, well, a grey rectangular piece of stockinette isn't that exciting.

Various and Sundry Links - June 7 2006

- Warning Label Generator

- The Fizzmaker [via]

- ReadyMade fold your own photo frame

- I can't wait until September to buy these shoes.

- An interesting stroll through an alley could soon be verboten in Minneapolis

- Who doesn't love cheap wine?

- Karissa Cove's (of foxy and crafty fame) adorable I (heart) to Knit tote