Hating On The Media Again

Okay...is Jihad Jane really a terrorist threat who has been hiding in our very neighborhoods, warning us that terrorism can be found around every corner?

Sounds A Bit Paranoid To Me
Colleen LaRose, aka Jihad Jane is a crazy person, who happened to think it was a good idea to convert to Islam, and then support the "long-suffering Muslim people" by going on a European drive-by to kill the cartoonist who drew a picture of Muhammad with the body of a dog.

I think the long-suffering Muslims would have done a lot better if the media had decided to focus on the millions of sane followers of Islam, who follow the words of the Prophet Muhammad with respect and reverence, rather than trying to incite fear and paranoia by giving credence to a nut case.

Just saying.

Current Knitting
I had little time to start a new project, so when I left for the week, I jammed the Kid Alpaca blanket into my knitting project bag and decided I would bang away at that during the week.

This is the blanket on a king-size bed, so that you can get a little perspective on the size of it at this point.

Still have quite a bit of work on it.

Current Spinning
I was able to both ply up some of the singles I've been spindling on one of Ed Lingenfelter's drop spindles, and also spindle up some more singles.

Eventually, I may have enough lace weight yarn to make a small handkerchief.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Concerning the Noro Himaraya scarf, Joey Johnson writes, "Gorgeous scarf....... how mcuh yarn did it take?"

It took a little over 2 balls of Himaraya yarn, or about 250 yards of worsted weight yarn.

Resentment

Someone once said, "Resentments are like drinking poison and hoping someone else dies."

Nonetheless...
...I still have a long-held resentment against the Red Cross, and the FDA for disallowing gay men to donate blood (for all practical purposes anyway).

Did you know that any man who has had sex with another man since 1977 is not allowed to donate blood? Yeah, it amazes me that most folks don't realize this.

So, as a 50 year old gay man, if I have had sex with a man in the last 32 years (since I was 18!) I'm excluded from donating blood.

The FDA is only now looking at eliminating this ignorant practice...and ONLY because there's a shortage in the blood supply that will only increase as we near the Summer.

Sheesh!...don't they screen all blood for HIV anyway?

Yes, I have resentments.

Current Knitting
I've finished the Woven Cable Scarf by Kelly Haines.

I ended up added a row of double-crochet down both sides of the scarf. In addition to giving it a much cleaner edge, it also added some much-needed width to this scarf.

The yarn is Noro Himaraya, I knit it using US13 needles and it ended up being about five feet long and about eight inches wide.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding the Shetland Gossamer lace wrap, Eileen comments, "So it was interesting that you said that dampening the shawl weakened the wool."

Actually, I found when I tried to do a spit-join, the single-ply yarn came untwisted and pulled apart quite easily, but the break that occurred during blocking seemed to be caused by brittleness...hmmm.

"Those Cool Knitting Sticks"

A middle school art teacher asked how she could get her male students interested in knitting.

Peer Pressure, Competition, Make it Cool!
A while ago when I was working part-time at a knitting store, a couple of teenage guys (skateboarder types) came into to the store asking where they could buy those "cool knitting sticks" so they could make a cool hat like their friend's.

As it turns out, a young lady had knitted her boyfriend a cool hat, and when the other guys asked her to make them one, she told them to make it themselves. So a couple of them decided to do just that.

It soon became incredibly cool to knit your own hat. It got very competitive, with guys vying to make the "sickest" hat, guys getting their hat finished first, etc.

It was a short-lived fad, but for a while, there were dozens of teenage boys in a blue-collar town taking great pride in their knitting prowess.

One of the first times I could really relate.

Current Knitting
Now working on something mindless, simple and easily ripped out if I decide I don't like it.

 

 

It's a simple woven cable stitch scarf, and I'm using some Noro yarn that I've never been able to make look good in anything else so far.

I'm thinking that I will probably do some simple knit or crochet edge on this scarf after I get it to a decent length.

Current Spinning
Although the picture might appear otherwise, I have to admit, my spindling hasn't been overly easy lately.

Actually, spinning the singles has been relatively easy...I just keep messing up on the plying of this fine lace yarn. And what's worse is that it's not for lack of skill or knowledge...I just keep losing patience when things get a little tangled or the singles start plying onto themselves.

I will eventually fix up all the messes I've made with this yarn.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Thank you all for you commiserating comments on my ripped lace knitting.

Ivar (Asplund) asks, "Do you think you could make some kind of fastening arrangement there, hiding the hole by turning the stole into a kind of wrap? It would still look lovely!"

I don't think so...I really think I'll try to darn the hole in a way that will fix it, even if it doesn't look perfect after all is said and done.

Barbara asked, "Did the yarn break as you were blocking it or is that a dropped stitch(s) that ran?...and then RaenCT asks, "What was it that made it pop? How can we learn from your "disaster"?"

Well...I decided to block this project dry, since the single-ply Shetland seemed to be less strong when wet. Once it had been blocked out to the size and shape I wanted, i was going to spritz it with water, so that the blocking would hold after it dried.

I ended up never getting it fully stretched out, and as simple as it sounds, I think I should have just blocked it an inch smaller. The tensile strength of the yarn just couldn't handle the amount of stretching.

Oh well, live and learn!

Lace Knitting Kicked My Ass

I am beyond disheartened by my latest project...I've decided I am only allowed to knit scarves and washcloths the rest of my life.

Blocking Gone Wrong
I went to block out the center section of the Shetland Gossamer stole I had been working on and it was looking great.

It was almost completely blocked out when tragedy struck.

Okay, okay, it's not 700 Chilean's dying in an earthquake, so I guess it really doesn't count as a tragedy.

Regardless...the crumpled remains of this pseudo-tragedy is sitting in a corner waiting to see if I ever forgive it.

Current Knitting
I really was so disgusted, I started a simple scarf using some old Noro I had hanging around. It's the Woven Cable Scarf by Kelly Haines.

I don't have any pictures yet, but hopefully I won't wreck this project before it's finished!