and knitting

The heavens are right! Project #42: Diamond Scarf is finished

Look away, knitting purists, if you don't want to despoil your eyes with super bulky knitting...

It's been way too long, but thanks to some Ravelry-induced productivity, I finally have a finished knitting project. It feels a bit like you're knitting with broom handles, but size 35US needles and dangerously chunky yarn do make for a fast knit. You could finish this scarf in a sitting or two if you really wanted to. Me, I didn't enjoy the big ass needles that much, so it took me a couple of weeks.

This is the first, and perhaps only, project I'll knit from twinkle's big city knits. I really like the look of many of the patterns, but I know the super chunky look just isn't very wearable for me. The scarf will be a cozy addition to my winter wardrobe, once I give it a little steam blocking.

The Project: diamond scarf from twinkle's big city knits - also posted *free* on LA Times
The Yarn: twinkle handknits soft chunky in pink - purchased from Needlework Unlimited - two skeins
The Needles: 35US - 19mm
Started: July 2007
Finished: August 2007

Various and Sundry Links - August 25 2007

- It's Minnesota State Fair time again. This Great Minnesota Get Together has long been a favorite of mine, but it's been losing some of the interesting things that made it especially fun for me. Last year marked the closing of the Penny Arcade, and this year's crop art exhibition just won't be the same now that Lillian Colton has passed away. At least Ye Old Mill is still there, providing a dark haven for giggling kids and smooching lovers, as it has for almost 100 years.

- You likely remember the fake Disneyland in China (which happens to be the location where they shot one of my favorite youtube clips). However, did you know that Nara, Japan is also the home of a knock off of the Happiest Place on Earth? [via neatorama]

- Future Newspapers Written by Advertisers (1912) - "It will be written by advertisers, and it will contain nothing calculated to bring a blush to the cheek of the young person except cosmetics."

- I'm not a douche bag.

- Beer in space? - "One of the chief obstacles to consuming carbonated beverages in space, however, is the wet burp"

- The horror of blimps [via weapons of mass distraction]

- the butt biting bug song

My Autumn's Done Come - New Project #42: diamond scarf

At the start of the year I had the best of intentions. This summer was going to be productive. I was finally going to dig into that bamboo and cotton stash and do some warm weather knitting. I'm sad to say that it just didn't happen. Instead, here I am, many weeks in between blog posts, knitting a giant squishy scarf on big ass plastic needles. The yarn lured me in and it seemed like the right sort of project to work on when cozying up to my netflix queue. However, I'll admit that those gigantic needles take a bit more effort to manipulate than I'd expect. At least it's so chunky that it goes by quickly!

The Project: diamond scarf from twinkle's big city knits
The Yarn: twinkle handknits soft chunky in pink - purchased from Needlework Unlimited
The Needles: 35US - 19mm
Started: July 2007

Various and Sundry Links - August 6 2007

- Recent tragic events put it into perspective, but at first, KG's trade to Boston nearly broke my heart. However, one thing I've learned from the Wolves debacle is to never ever trust a man with awful taste in knitwear.

- More sad news -- Lee Hazelwood passed away this week.

- I guarantee this video will haunt your dreams.

- It seems the geniuses at the MPAA are taking some lessons from the RIAA [via Musematic]. Maybe your movie money would be better spent sponsoring the costs of digitizing an interesting old film [via boing boing].

- Enterprise 5 Year Mission Goals
* Explore strange new worlds
* See out new life & civilizations
* Go where no man has gone before (boldly)
An analysis of the Red-Shirt Phenomenon [via mental floss]

- This reminds me of Microserfs.

- Skirts and bows turn your little girl into a beautiful lady.