WIP: Strangling Vines Scarf (and some spinning)

Are we there yet?
I think it may be time to bind off Strangling Vines scarf. I don't want to make the classic mistake of binding off too soon because I'm anxious to finish. However, it's about 60 inches as is, and will probably grow when blocked. (Keep in mind, it will also be less puckery after blocking.)

My "method" for measuring scarves is to hold them near the top of my head and see how far they are from the ground. I'm about five feet tall, and 60 inches seems to be a good length most of the time.

Being so close to finishing seems almost too good to be true. And I have a lot of Sea Silk leftover. I'm already scanning patterns on Ravelry, but I'm envisioning something simple, lacy and beaded. I think I can do that without a pattern.

Blocking is always a road block for me (no pun intended. Or maybe I should intend it.) And I've never blocked lace before. I'd really like a Knitter's Block and some lace blocking wires. I want to do this right, but all I have for now are T-Pins and old towels.


Spinning Update

In a recent comment, Titianknitter asked about getting together to working on spinning the merino. Actually, it's going pretty well:

I'm getting the hang of it, and I'm almost done with the periwinkle and ready to move to the indigo. The real test will be seeing how it plies.

The yarn is starting to stack up on my Mom's Niddy Noddy. I need to process some of this yarn soon:


Thoughts on Outsourcing
A little while ago I got a call from the third party company that was recently hired by my job to handle some of my job's benefits stuff. It was survey. They wanted my opinion on the ease of the insurance enrollment process. I found myself struggling to remember what parts actually had to do with this company, and what parts had to do with other companies. Because this is how it works (I think):

1) My company has this third party company handling benefits.
2) That company works with other third party companies to provide benefits.
3) The company that does my 401K has another company that's handling the management-it-for-you option.
4) The company that provides the debit card that I can use for my FSA is different than the main company that handles my FSA.
5) The person who called with the survey was probably with another third party company.
6) Keep in mind, my company is a third party company that does lead generation for other companies.

When we think of outsourcing, we imagine Americans losing their jobs, but outsourcing doesn't always mean jobs going overseas. It's confusing, but in this case, outsourcing is allowing my (relatively small) company to offer FSAs and other benefits we wouldn't normally have. On the other hand, half the time I don't know who I'm supposed to talk to when I need something.

In the interest of full disclosure...

In the past week or so, my Mom said something that made me think. I forgot exactly what she said, but she was baffled that:

1) I have a degree in journalism, which took time, effort and money.
2) I don't want to go back to newspapers, nor do I really want to pursue journalism at all anymore.
3) Despite this, I still put a lot of effort into writing my blog.

I spend time reading blogs like Lifehack that have multiple authors. One of the Lifehack authors recently talked about how they handle their job as a full time freelancer. It occurred to me that the post I was reading was most likely one of the freelance assignments.

Recently I checked out this book from the library. It talked about moonlighting, something that sounded way too tiring to me. But then I started thinking. What if I could freelance as a blog writer for a little extra money?

So I started looking for listings for freelance blogging. There weren't many valuable resources out there. In one of those Internet time warps that sucks you in and makes you lose track of time, I went from opportunities like these from very generic, unappealing blogs, to links like these with all sorts "pay per post", "pay per click", "get you connected with sponsors" and "review our product on your blog" sites. I was very far from my original goal. And I was wondering about the whole "how does advertising affect content" thing again.

Remember my concerns about putting up Google Ad Sense? I've earned a whopping $2.20 since I started this blog last summer. At this rate, it will take me more than 20 years to be eligible for the minimum payout. (I think they get a lot of free advertising that way.) They always recommend putting more ads on the website, but I don't want to clutter the thing up.

Anyway...

The whole point of this is that I was finally inspired to join the Amazon Affiliate Program that so many of my favorite blogs use. I don't know how well it will work, but I don't think it will get in the way of my content. After all, I already link to books on Amazon fairly often anyway. Recently, I've linked to More Big Girl Knits, The New Knitting Stitch Library and Facing 30. I might as well get a few pennies if I'm going to link to them anyway.

Also, I don't think you can accuse me of bias. There is such a wide variety of things to link to, and you don't even have to lie say you like them. I can tell you (truthfully) that after reading and analyzing The Sun Also Rises in college, I thought Ernest Hemingway was a a racist, misogynist, hypocritical jerk. This may reduce my chances of getting "a sale" for that book, but the Amazon police aren't going to come after me.

(BTW - If you have to read "The Sun Also Rises" for school, Amazon has it on tape, as well as the Cliff Notes.)

Have you heard...

Here's some stuff you may want to know. (Or at least stuff I think you should know.)

The Death of Magknits
Magknits is no more. All that's left of the site is a letter of explanation from the editor. Apparently, the merger with Yarn Forward didn't go so well.

The most disappointing thing is that the patterns aren't archived. The designers retain the rights to the patterns, so it's going to be up to them to distribute them. Hopefully Ravelry will help.

The Moving of Zen String
I had fun bragging about Zen String being Austin-based. It was even my "something local" for the Knitters Scavenger Hunt Swap. But Angelina up and went to Oregon. At least she's still selling her stuff.

The Expansion of the Mental Health Parity Bill
I'll probably have more details later, but right now my brain is too tired.

Basically, I know my health insurance limits mental health coverage to 30 doctor visits a year, 30 days in the hospital and 30 doctor visits while in the hospital. Look at your health insurance. I bet it has similar restrictions. I can't find these type of restrictions the treatment of any other type of disease. There is no pre-set limit on hospitalizations for diabetics, or doctor visits for doctor visits for people with arthritis. This bill would make these restrictions illegal.

Here is the news from the New York Times.

Here is information about the original Mental Health Parity Act.

Here is how you can show your support.

Things that cut into my yarn budget: Plane Tickets

I'm going to visit Jules in June. Yay!

Ginormous Knitting

I've been eyeing the ginormous knitting needles at The Knitting Nest since the store opened last fall. Last night, I finally got to knit with them.

I tried sitting down and knitting with them, but it made it harder to move the needles. Standing up made it easier for the ends of the needles to slide on the floor.

This is Stephanie. I met her for the first time last night. She tried out the needles before I did. Apparently, she actually lifted the needles off the ground while she knit with them.

Stephanie said the key is to move the "yarn" more than the needles. (The "yarn" is made out of strips of t-shirts that are tied together.) I think I did something like that. I focused on moving the tips, not the whole needles. The ends basically rested on the ground, moving very little.

(BTW - Ginormous is actually a word.)

They also have some new roving for sale:

I'm kicking myself for not writing down the brand(s). I do know it's merino, and it's thin. Would you call this pencil roving?:

Now that I've tried to spin Merino, I know thin roving is good.

Swatching Sunday: In 3D

This week I'm trying another stitch from The New Knitting Stitch Library.

This is stitch number 50. It may be hard to tell from this picture, but it looks like 3D blocks.

I really like this stitch. It's reversible, and doesn't seem to curl. I think this may the stitch for my precious Silk Cotton. I'll have to see how it looks in a nicer yarn with more drape. I also think I'd slip the first stitch of every row to straighten up the edges.

I used US size 5 aluminum needles from my Boye Needlemaster and cheap acrylic from my stash. This swatch is unwashed and unblocked.

FO: Fun Fur Scarf

I've had a nice relaxing yet productive day. I did laundry, worked on my, and finished two projects, including this Fun Fur scarf that I finished knitting while I was reading a book. Poncho Pig has graciously offered to model the scarf for us.

This scarf was knit using two skeins of Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes in "Mexicana" and US size 9 plastic needles. It's basic garter stitch. I forgot exactly how many stitches I cast on. I think it is a little wider than I normally make these type of scarves, about 17 or 18 inches.

This scarf was a request from a friend at my church. She had bought several skeins of yarn on sale, and asked me to knit scarves out of them. This is the first of those scarves. It's about 45 inches long (I think) which was her request. I think it's a good length. These things tend to "grow," and I've made the mistake of making them way too long in the past.

I've mentioned before than I don't share the hatred for eyelash yarn many others have. I just think it has it's place, and there is nothing wrong with the occasional whimsical scarf. You can read more about my philosophy and theories on novelty yarn here.