Monday, February 27, 2012

strolling while knitting...

strolling while knitting
Noontime walk merged with desire to complete the second sock.  See how long this thing is? Wish I could say it would go over my knee, but it'll be a substantial knee-high.  I'm thinking that eventually I'll have to make really really long socks, but let's face it, by the time I've gone this far, I'm ready for another project. LF, now that I'm taking a moment to reflect on this whole affair, it seems a tad bit odd that I would go walking with the weapon that practically took my cycling leg out for the season just yesterday.  What was I thinking?  Of cource, walking around with knitting needles provides me a hearty weapon if emergency presents itself.  Then again, my beloved needles in the hands of somebody else? Could be dangerous!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Don't try this at home--beware of pointy things

The needlework wars. You know the sort. I'm sitting at a swim meet, with a giant hook in hand and somebody compliments my knitting.  Or, as often, someone compliments my lovely knitted skirt.  Or, a local yarn store is referred to as a "knitting store". I suppose it goes both ways.  The crochet world holds it's own superiority complex as crochet, with a single hook and improvisation galore, layers of kitsch or ancient lacework, well, let's just say that those in the "know" sometimes wonder why bother with something so puritanical as knitting.  I've pretty much revived my needlework career with the crochet hook, but as a lifelong knitter, I adore both crafts and see their pure perfection in many ways.  That said, I'm also not afraid of just about any yarn art: needlepoint, crewel, stitchery, cross-stitch, even rug-hooking in recent years, as my queue of crochet and knit projects ever expands, but every once in a while an awesome '70s style needlework kit catches my eye. What's my point here? I like it all, and whatever yarn art you might decide to pursue, today, tomorrow, or whenever, there's great work to be done and fabulous ideas galore.

Here's another question, however.  Did you ever wonder which craft was more safe, knit or crochet?  I know I've wondered often about eye strain (both crafts) and repetitive use injuries (i've always sort of thought knitting would damage my wrists and arms more readily), sometimes my forefinger hurts as a result of some hearty hooking with tight crochet.

But today, I made an instant discovery, which many of you wise followers probably can imagine. I was sitting on a crowded bleacher at a swim meet. Peter insisted that I was sitting on MC's iPad, and suggested I stand up.
See that spot? Real Blood!
   I quickly grabbed the sock that I was knitting and stood up, driving the size one double tipped knitting needle into the meat of my quadricep. Yes, today I stabbed myself at a swim meet, and didn't even let out a howl.  I pulled the needle out, thinking it probably wasn't in my leg, it had only penetrated my faded jeans, but alas, after I sat back down and reorganized my yarn work, I saw a small circle of blood accumulate on my jeans.  Fact: knitting is more dangerous than crochet, and today's work proved it.  Good thing my tetanus shot is recent. Funny, my doc suggested I get a tetanus because of all the gnarly cycling I do...don't think she anticipated a dirty ol' metal knitting needle driving into my flesh. Go figure!
Sock #1. Almost finished with #2.

Monday, February 20, 2012

deeper and deeper, into the crochet abyss


Finishing touches just in time to celebrate fifteenth wedding anniversary. This is a refashioned denim skirt that I bought at Brown Elephant, and a top that hangs over just one shoulder. I wore it over a snug, light black tank, perfection. The top itself is actually an invented design, mostly refashioned squares from the Chain Reaction Afghan Project, published by Interweave Crochet.  Instead of bothering with a seam, I just chained a giant cord and wove it in and out of the side edges. It's wonderful! Bright, high quality yarn, super wash wool and organic cotton, it's absolutely delicious!!!!


The skirt is as short as I've gone in years, but it's for over leggings.

chartreuese, turquiose, orange, bold pink, brown. 

The flower on the shoulder was a whimsical afterthought that  seals the thing.

 So, LF, you might wonder why no picture of this fabulous dress on myself?  I don't know, I just can't seem to put it on for a photo shoot. I guess I'm sort of sad that I already wore it and now it's waiting for another turn....so....a good reason to check out this blog in future weeks. Hopefully, I'll be feeling festive enough to turn it on & have somebody take a few shots. For now, this is enough!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Retail Therapy

What can I say? The end of week nears, and we're still standing.  Lots of things going on, days-long swim meets, work, violent weather. Time for a trip to North Lincoln Avenue to cash in those Rotofugi gift cards and buy a much needed coffee table for the Steward-Nolans.  Now that it's safe in our living room, I'm content to play a Saturday evening game of Charades with the family. Silence surrounds us, but ever connected, we just leave the electronics alone for a short while.  Bedtime approaches, the kids trundle off, ready for all that Sunday has in hold for us.  I check the computer one more time, long enough to put together my comments, really, strong tea and sleep in the works here.
Rotofugi Gift cards. Addie deserves a day out with Mom. 
Coveting this glass amoeba tabletop for a while, time to bring home the hardware.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

If loving you is wrong...i don't want to be right.

Peter says that I'm not ever going to get more traffic to my blog because, well, because what I write about is too personal.  Too personal? How is that possible? I don't mention the tiny obstacles that I hurdle each and every day, I rarely photograph my kids, I don't really talk about my neighbors or my co-workers or even my family (OK I talk about my family, but only when newsworthy).  If I don't talk about myself, then, what, really, would I talk about?
So, dear follower, let's weigh in on this one....what should the Unenencumbered Woman be Discussing?  Some of the topics that I've touched upon in the past months are: crochet, parenting, snow in suburbia, surly kids, yarn stores in Oak Park, Ironman training, Ironman Wisconsin, my parents, and my new car.  My argument with Peter, of course, devolved quickly.  I insisted that Pioneer Woman: (knives advertised today) talks about herself and her family all the time.  Hey....let's go over to her blog for just a minute...oh wow....her latest blog post just happens...just happens! to be about a hand game that her daughters play called "I went to a Chinese restaurant..."... I'm stunned. If you must, go to the site and you can watch the false bow/prayer move and the weird hand game song, but I'd just as soon skip it, finally PW admits that some of her traditional americana can be politically incorrect (really?).  So here's my reaction to a successful blogger: "If loving you is wrong...I don't want to be right." (Luther Ingram). So what do I care if I am a successful blogger, anyway? Well, truthfully, I'd like as many people as possible to see my message, whatever it is...it's all about getting my perspective out there into the world, I suppose, but perhaps it is simply about me trying to put something out there that stretches my brain and creativity a little bit more than reading the New Yorker for one more day and drinking coffee with Peter and discussing it....maybe it's about putting something out there that someday, will evolve into something else...and maybe it is, as Roz Chast says, one of the three categories of bloggers: 1/3 stories about crap somebody cooked, knitted or sewed, 1/3 conspiracy theories, 1/3 self promotion:

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