SP12 Question 12

I’m sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you’ve tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

These two questions have provided me with much food for thought. I don't have two distinct answers, but here is what I realize about my knitting from contemplating them: When I select something to knit, I almost always make my choice based on the knitting experience I want to have. So I guess that makes me what is called a process knitter. A long time ago, I knit an Aran sweater out of hideous, cheap navy blue acrylic yarn for a (long ago) boyfriend. I obviously had no idea how to select quality yarn (I was VERY young), and I had no understanding that navy blue would not show up my patterns very well. But I wanted to knit Aran, and knit Aran I did. I enjoyed following the various patterns and completing each piece of the sweater. I think the guy did wear it, but it was a pretty sorry, saggy mess. Still, in some ways, I am STILL proud of my effort, and yet embarrassed at the result. See? It fits both questions.

Another time I decided I wanted to to knit some argyle socks. I had never knit ANY sock before, and again, I enjoyed the challenge. This time, because the materials were high quality and the color choices sound, the finished product was quite wonderful. I was very proud! The only embarassing aspect to this project is that I knitted them for a very undeserving (yup) boyfriend. He had no idea what kind of work went into the socks, and I don't know if they were ever worn. Still, I do think back on them with pride, because I learned how to make socks!

Another long-ago project was an intricate Patricia Roberts design. I think this was about 20 years ago (I've been knitting since I was seven). The sweater was knit entirely of a mohair/silk blend. It had a "background" design of repeating, large bobbles, and the front AND BACK were an elaborate intarsia scene featuring dogs, curtains with 3 dimensional ribbon ties, a clock, and a pot of (also 3 dimensional) flowers. I think that is a correct description. The main color was a beautiful cranberry. The bobbles were pink, and I can't remember what the dogs were. I worked like crazy on that sweater, and it was a true work of art. Only problem: I do not have the kind of body that looks good in a large, patterned, fuzzy mohair sweater. (Does anyone other than a model?) I also tend to be warm, and therefore I almost never wear sweaters unless they are cardigans. So I wore this fuzzy thing maybe once or twice. Believe it or not, I ended up selling it on ebay, probably for far less than the cost of the yarn. So here again, I was proud; I had created what I still consider a minor masterpiece, but the choice of sweater, for me, was quite embarrassing, and just plain wrong!

I have certainly made knitted items that I or the recipient both love and wear, but I have yet to make a sweater that I have ever worn more than once. If you check my ravelry queue, you will see that I do plan to make some sweaters. I hope I wear them!

Sorry for the lack of photos, but these relics from my past were never documented. Well, the fuzzy mohair was when I sold it on ebay, but I think that photo is long gone....

I have some yarn waiting for me when I get home from California for two sweaters. Stay tuned to see their fate!

On being a Vagina-American

This is too funny: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=183521&title=john-mccain-chooses-a-running

SP Question and My New Do

This week's question is "What is the best thing you ever got in the mail?" I've had several answers come to mind,but the one that sticks out most was my college acceptance letter. That was a pretty big deal, and going to Bennington College certainly had a huge influence on my life. So yeah, that's my answer.

My big news this week is that I am DONE with blonde! Wasn't born to it, sort of liked it, but it didn't express me. So, without further "ado", here's my new "do"! This wondrous, permanent color is courtesy of the brilliant Aura Mae, of Azarra Salon. You can read Aura's blog here, and find out about Azarra here.










What else is new? I'm still spinning! I am trying to learn what to do with this cute little Ladybug. Here are my second and third yarns. The second is the same Corriedale mix as the first yarn, posted earlier, I just dyed the yarn. The third yarn is from a dyed roving that I got at Reflection Farm in Eatonville . I have some more yarn, but I will post it another time. The interface with blogger is really frustrating me right now, so I am going to go learn some things about it and be back to post later.

SP Question: Olympic Style?

This week's question is: Which Olympic event best describes my knitting/knitting style? First, I have to admit that, although I love the Olympics, I haven't watched them much this time around. I HATE the way the American network presents the games, and luckily, we get Canadian TV here as well, but I simply haven't had the time to watch. That said, I will share one of my favorite, yet little-known events: Track bike racing! This is an amazing mind game. You have two strong, fast cyclists on a very banked track. They are in a race, but each one is trying to be LAST for as long as possible. Why? Because this is a race of strategy as much as a race of speed, maybe more so. The cyclist behind is in control in that at any moment he/she can swoop up the bank and down in front of the other cyclist to win the race. The cyclist in front has to constantly worry about what is going on behind him/her, and has to decide when to "jump" or speed up as much as possible to (hopefully) avoid getting caught/passed. If the second cyclist moves too soon, then the advantage of surprise is switched to the NEW second. If the second cyclist waits too long, the chance to grab the victory is lost. It's amazing. They go around the track so SLOWLY, just waiting for that moment. I hope someone has seen this event and enjoyed it. OK, so what does all this have to do with my knitting style? I don't know, I just think it's cool!

But now that I think about it, I sometimes do start a knitting project slowly and then race to the finish line. I think about it, plan it, purchase my supplies, copy the pattern and get everything all together, so I'm not hunting around for, say, a cable needle. Then I go nuts knitting. So I hope you buy that analogy. I really just wanted to write about track bike racing.

Now, long ago, in the 80's, I lived in New York City, and I used to ride my bike around Central Park every day. Once, while I was tooling along (not fast) a handsome young man rode up beside me and struck up a conversation. He, too, rode in the park every day. I'm not sure why I didn't see him before, but it was probably because he was riding so FAST. That young man was none other than Nelson Vails, who was the world champion bike racer in the 1984 Olympics. Here he is now:
Nelson got his start as a bike messenger in New York City and now lives in Colorado, where he's still riding!

Come to think of it, so am I, except I cycle mostly in spinning class at the gym. Have a great weekend! Spinning post(s) coming soon...

No Fair!

I have been to the Puyallup Fair a number of times and frequently thought I should enter something, but I never have. I think the entries need to be in around now for the fall and I just never have my head wrapped around the fair at this time of the year. So, no. Nope. Won't do it anytime soon.