FO: Entrelac Scarf

I'm ready for another cold front.


So is Poncho Pig.


I finally finished my Entrelac Scarf. It's a thick scarf, and a little on the short side. I think it lends itself well to the "I have a zit on my chin" look.

It's been pinned to the floor in my bedroom for about a week now. I finally unpinned it and wove in the ends tonight. It's done.

Mastering entrelac wasn't very hard. A lot of people recommended learning to knit backwards before embarking on it, but I didn't. I didn't mind going back and forth for the really short rows. (I think I tried knitting backwards, but decided not to do the whole scarf that way.)


Once again, this is the Entrelac Scarf, a good beginner entrelac pattern. (And it's free.) I used about 2 skeins of Noro Taiyo in colorway 5. I was wondering how the gauge would translate, since Taiyo is considered bulky. However, I didn't have any problems, although that's probably why the scarf is so thick.

I also used US size 5 aluminum straight knitting needles.

This project fulfills one of my 101 goals:

20. Knit an entrelac project.

Awesome!

Random Act of Kindness

It's been a while since I talked about 101 Goals. Today I worked on 91 - Random Acts of Kindness.

I couldn't bear to eat the last serving of the lasagna I didn't like. So I heated up the last serving and drove around until I found a homeless person to give it to. It took me longer than I expected, but not too long. (Do homeless people take Saturday off?)

Anyway, I hoped he enjoyed more than I did.

Not-So-Reluctantly Helping My Friend Move

Yesterday I spent all day helping my friends move. I kept thinking of this song, although the experience wasn't such an awful death march. But this commercial makes me think about how much we complain about moving the big things, but it's the little things that make moving hard. It seems like getting every bit of stuff out of your apartment is really hard. My friends still had some packing left to do, so a large part of our day was spent packing. I understand the panic of last minute packing completely. I've moved at least every 1-2 years since I graduated from high school.

The main reason I'm mentioning this is because I haven't worked on my 101 Goals in a while. I think I can safely count this as a Random Act of Kindness for number 91 on the list. Yay!

FO: Center Square

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and Year Long Gift-A-Long.


This hat defies math. Or something.


I'm proud of my first stranded colorwork project. It really evened out after I blocked it. The problem is that it's waaaaayyy too small.


What really confuses me is that the gauge measures at 4 stitches per inch, what the pattern calls for, now that it's been blocked. (Actually, it's a little on the large side. The pattern calls for 16.5 stitches per four inches, or 4.125 stitches per inch.) But it seems to be toddler size, or child size. I thought I might be able to stretch it over my head if I pulled hard enough, but I didn't want to stretch it out of shape.


I just double checked the the pattern and it says the finished circumference is 15.5 inches unstretched. I measured the finished circumference at around 16 inches. (I tried to stretch it a lot when I blocked it.) Is this really an adult hat? The math adds up to a kids' hat. I know my head is a little on the big side, but the Craft Yarn Council considers the average adult woman to have a head that's about 20 inches in circumference. The pattern says snug fit, but four and a half inches of negative ease?


So I'm debating what to do with my tiny hat. Will it fit an adult? I have some kids on my Christmas list, but no toddlers. If all else fails, I'll probably donate it to the Dulaan Project or Afghans for Afghans. It's very warm.


To review, this is the Center Square hat from Knitty. I used Cascade 220 Superwash in 801 Army Green and 819 Chocolate. It took less than one skein of each color. I knit it with 40" Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needles in US Size 4. (I used the Magic Loop Technique.)


The completion of this hat fulfills several goals. It's a Ravelympics entry in the Colorwork Cross Country, Hat Dash and Gift Knits Pentathlon events. It's also part of the Year Long Gift-A-Long Q3 Challenge as my "something new." Finally, it fulfills number 21 on 101 goals in 1,001 days list - knit a colorwork project.


I'm such a knitting geek.

Can you teach an old bunny new tricks?

After talking about Bunny Foo-Foo's "affliction" yesterday, I thought it was ironic when I came across this video tonight.



I was amazed by the video, mainly because if I put Bunny Foo-Foo on a course like that, she'd be more likely to chew on the hurdles rather than jump them. She has a mind of her own.

It's occurred to me recently that Bunny Foo-Foo is becoming an old woman. She's about seven years old now. I don't know how hard it is to teach a old bunny new tricks, but I think it's time to work on number 72 on my list and clicker train her. I think we need some bonding time anyway.

I know she's smart enough to learn. I think she's too smart, if anything. She knows how to get her way. She recognizes her name, but she's more likely to come running at the sound of a bag of chips.



First I need to find that clicker I bought a couple of years ago when I first got the idea. Then...I need to figure out what to do next. (I wonder if this book is any good.)

I have a vet appointment for her in a couple of weeks. After we fix her butt, I'll get started. I doubt she'll be jumping hurdles, but I'm sure I can teach her some good stuff.


more cat pictures

Actually, I didn't have to ask my doctor about EC

When I was in college, I was a little more politically involved. I did some work with my school's FMLA chapter, and we worked to raise awareness of Emergency Contraception (EC), among other things. We talked about the importance of getting a prescription from your doctor ahead of time, as well as the push to get it available over the counter.

I guess I was a hypocrite, because I didn't get a prescription. I wasn't involved at a relationship at the time, so it wasn't a priority. But at least I was aware of it.

So when I was making my list of 101 goals in 1,001 days, it seemed liked a good thing to add. Number 40 on the list is to ask my doctor about getting an EC prescription.

Today I saw my family doctor and asked for a prescription. Imagine how embarrassed I was when my doctor told me that EC has become available over the counter. I don't need a prescription anymore, and somehow I missed the news.

To be fair, from what I have looked up, the switch happened in 2006. In 2006, I had my own problems. Politics and reproductive rights were the furthest things from my mind.

So my doctor said there is no medical reason for me to avoid taking EC if the need ever arises. I found several pharmacies in my area that carry EC, including the CVS where I currently fill all my prescriptions.

The good news is that I can cross number 40 off my list.

Number 41 on the list was to ask my doctor about the HPV Vaccine. At 28, I may have passed the cut off age. Also, my insurance probably doesn't cover it. He said that the vaccine is really aimed at the next generation of adolescent girls, around age 12-15, who are not sexually active yet. Still, I'm going to do a little more research before crossing number 41 off my list.

While I was in South Austin, I stopped by my parents house for a free meal to visit. While I was there, I talked about spinning and spinning wheels with my Mom, and she lent me some of her books. She actually pulled Color in Spinning off her shelf thinking it was something else, but I wanted to borrow it anyway. I'm always interested in color theory. The Ashford Book of Spinning has some good diagrams and explanations of the parts of a spinning wheel, and Spinning Designer Yarns has some interesting spinning techniques.

These books made me realize my bias towards color pictures. I'm less likely to notice a book if it doesn't have pretty pictures.

Now that I've had a taste of the wheel, I'm itching for my own. I'm not real sure where to start shopping. If you know any good resources for learning about the different wheels out there, drop me a line. There are so many brands, I'm not sure where to begin.

In the meantime, I've also been reading Getting Things Done, in hopes of organizing my brain and my life. The book is aimed at corporate executives, although supposedly anyone can use these principles. Ironically, my job is probably the most organized, least cluttered part of my life. It's everything else that needs to get under control.

Tonight, while in the bathtub, I read the part where David Allen recommends file folders for individual lists. He's aiming this at corporate professionals with laptops, PDAs, etc, and he isn't suggesting that they put this lists in folders on a computer? It seems like making more paper files is not a good way to start organizing your life.

Still, there is some good advice. I just don't think I need a label maker to implement his ideas.

Today was officially a day of rest for the Tour de Fleece. This is a shot of what I spun last night. It looks like I'll finish my tour goal with time to spare.

WIP: Broken Scarf (I need a new name)

I realized today that it'd been a while since I posted an update on my Broken Scarf. As you can see, I'm still working on it. I'd say I'm past the halfway point.

I'm still looking suggestions for a better name. I think it needs to be broken...something. I plan to publish the pattern as a freebie on Ravelry when I'm done.

Tomorrow I have a check up with my family doctor. Among other things, I plan to work on 40 and 41 on my list.

Tomorrow is also an official "rest" day on the Tour de Fleece. I'm making good progress. I expect to be plying by next weekend. Mom is clearing out a bobbin for me on her other wheel. She also bought a replacement part for the other wheel I broke.

Also coming tomorrow - pictures of my Strangling Vine scarf.

Day One

Today was officially day one of my list for the 101 goals in 1,001 days project, and I think I'm off to a good start. (You can see my full list here.

I sketched out some ideas for number 1 and number 39, I read a book I checked out from the library about eBay for number 10 and for number 62, I asked about tough yarns on Ravelry to get an ideas for yarns for the Susie Hoodie in More Big Girl Knits. (Although I may still decide to pick something more luxurious and be more gentle with it.) I realized number 62, knit the Susie Hoodie, will work nicely with number 60, sew a zipper into a sweater. I don't think the original hoodie has a zipper, but I want one on mine.

The big one was working on number 7, organizing and decluttering my apartment. I rearranged the closet so I could fit some more stuff in it. I put my board games on my shelves and put my Christmas decorations in the closet. I even broke out the vacuum cleaner I got for Christmas. It works great. Too bad I didn't have it when I had more carpeting.

I also finished my Clapotis this evening. Pictures to come tomorrow.

101 Goals in 1,001 Days

I've always had a thing for self help books, challenges, systems, goal-setting and self improvement in general.

I think I've learned to take it all with a grain of salt, and use what I want and ignore the rest. For example, I do Flylady, but I don't shine my sink daily and I never wear my shoes indoors.

So now I'm on board for the 101 goals in 1,001 days project. I have all sorts of goals floating around my head anyway, and this seemed like a good way to do it. The way to achieve many of my dreams of self-employment and making a living at my craft are not well defined, so I have to define things for myself.

Here is a complete list of rules, and there are some other tips here. I will start a week from today so I'll have some time to plan, which means I'll have until February 21, 2011. I was a little overwhelmed writing the list. Now that I see the end date, not so much.

You'll notice my goals are somewhat lopsided, but maybe so am I. Measurable goals are important, so I threw out some of the more vague things. (Some of these will be better defined later.)

I will refer back to this entry regularly and make changes to it as I accomplish things. I'll link to it somewhere on the blog. In the meantime, I hope you'll consider joining me.

101 Goals in 1,001 Days

1. Get published in Knitty.
2. Design and swatch 20 sweaters. [0 of 20]
3. Knit 3 of the sweaters above. [0 of 3]
4. Enter Herrschners Grand National.
5. Do an energy audit of my apartment and make changes.
6. Go to Stitches West with a good amount of money to spend.
7. Declutter and organize my apartment. Click this link for pictures.
8. Get all my (crap) things out of storage and put them away in my apartment. After I finished this, I moved in with my parents and put it all back in storage. :(
9. Help Mom clean out the shed and have a garage sale. Completed November 2009
10. Sell some of the stuff in storage on eBay. Completed Summer 2010. I sold stuff like this.
11. Redecorate and rearrange my apartment.
12. Sell some of my My Little Ponies and put the remaining ponies on display.
13. Catalog my yarn on Ravelry. Completed in late 2010
14. "Pimp my blog" and have a fabulous contest to promote it.
15. Join the Knitting Guild of America and the Crochet Guild of America.
16. Become a level one Master Knitter.
17. Becomes a Certified Knitting Instructor.
18. Spin 10 skeins of yarn to sell. [0 of 10]
19. Knit all of Cat Bordhi's Socks
20. Knit an entrelac project. Completed 2/6/09
21. Knit a stranded knitting/fair isle/colorwork project. (What ever you want to call it.) Completed 8/18/08
22. Publish 10 free patterns in PDF form on Ravelry. [1 of 10]
23. Publish 5 paid patterns for download and in hard copies.
24. Pay off my credit cards.
25. Enter at least two pairs of socks in Think Outside the Sox. [0 of 2]
26. Be more productive at work.*
27. Educate myself more for work.*
28. Knit a mosaic knitting project.
29. Knit a modular knitting project.
30. Hold a board game night at my apartment with all my friends. Completed 11/20/10
31. Work on a project(s) to fight for mental health care and/or universal health care.
32. Campaign against Rick Perry in 2010. Completed 11/2/10
33. Try acupuncture.
34. Learn to say my own last name properly.**
35. Buy a halfway decent futon or couch.
36. Dye 50 hanks of yarn to sell. [0 of 50]
37. Do a freeform knit and/or crochet project.
38. Decoupage my bedside table.
39. Come up with 1,001 pattern ideas. [40 of 1,001]***
40. Ask my doctor for an Emergency Contraception prescription. Completed 7/15/08
41. Research and decide if I should get an HPV Vaccine, and get one if I decide I should. Long story short, I'm too old.
42. Teach a child/teenager to knit or crochet.
43. Make a list of 50 small things I've been procrastinating on and do them. (ETA 3/22/09 - The list is here.)
44. Learn to be a better photographer.
45. Save a set amount for an emergency fund.
46. Save a set amount for a new car.****
47. Learn to read crochet charts.
48. Go to the Texas State Fair
49. Make an informed choice at the next city election.
50. Get a proper fitting and bra at Petticoat Fair like everyone keeps saying I should.
51. Brush twice a day, floss daily and use flouride treatment daily for 30 days straight. [0 of 30]
52. Make some candles out of all that candle gel I bought on eBay.*****
53. Make crafts out of all those glass Christmas balls I got on sale.
54. Learn to use that sewing machine I found on Freecycle and make a simple dress.
55. Finally knit Morrigan.
56. Figure out the copyright rules for knitting and crochet well enough to write a decent blog entry on it.
57. Buy and learn to use a spinning wheel. Completed 2008-2009
58. Buy and learn to use a drum carder.
59. Knit something that requires steeking.
60. Sew a zipper in a sweater.
61. Do a project in Tunisian crochet.
62. Knit the Susie Hoodie from More Big Girl Knits.
63. Take a self defense class.
64. Make some crazy out of recycled materials.
65. Make something with "dangerous tools."******
66. Learn basic car maintenance.
67. Learn to do a cartwheel.*******
68. Become a volunteer editor on Ravelry. Completed
69. Crochet a sweater.
70. Make and carry a reusable bag so I can cut down on plastic.
71. Find a creative way to display photos at my desk at work.
72. Clicker train Bunny Foo-Foo to come when she is called.
73. Learn to sketch out my designs so they don't look like a two year-old drew them.
74. Make a curtain out of those used gift cards I've been saving.
75. Make or buy a decent blocking board.
76. Crochet a doily.
77. Swatch 50 different yarns. [0 of 50]
78. Open a shop on Cafe Press.
79. Post 25 items for sale at my Etsy shop. [0 of 25]
80. Find at least one advertiser for my blog.
81. Buy a washer and dryer.
82. Find 5 way to be consistently happier. [0 of 5]
83. Go on a long road trip with Jules.
84. Read and preserve the letters my my grandfather sent to my grandmother during WW II.
85. Pick 5 essential feminist and/or political books and read them. [0 of 5]
86. Knit a Baby Surprise Jacket.
87. Knit with "art yarn."
88. Volunteer at a local reproductive clinic.
89. Donate $50 to a charity.
90. Learn to play chess.
91. Perform 20 random acts of kindness. [6 of 20]
92. Think of of 10 good comebacks to have on hand. [0 of 10]
93. Find a drum circle to join locally.
94. Weave a project.
95. Spin enough yarn for a sweater and knit the sweater.
96. Sew a quilt.********
97. Make my own soap.
98. Take Light Rail five times in place of driving my car. [0 of 5]
99. Create a kit and see if I can sell it.
100. Have a big bash for my 30th birthday.
101. Keep a log of my moods for 90 days.

Let's go!

*I'm being purposely vague about my work related goals because I prefer not to get too specific about my job online.
**I can't roll my r's
***Just ideas. I don't have to swatch. (Read this to see why I want to do this.)
****I'm perfectly happy with the one I have, but it won't last forever.
*****You know that greasy looking box in storage? Candle gel.
******Something involving saws, hammers, power tools, etc.
*******This has been a goal of mine since elementary school.
********A small quilt is ok.