After a few false starts, I've finished my second knitting project.
Say hello to Polly.
She's a shrug (aka pair of sleeves), knit in Patons Symphony Cranberry (varigated super chunky yarn in reds and purples) from the Popcorn pattern (well, ish - I made the main bit stockingette stick instead of garter stitch) I found in the Interweave Knits magazine staff projects shrugs PDF (or view as html, courtesy of Google).
Next up, I'm throwing myself in at the deep end, head first, and I'm going to knit a Clapotis in Debbie Bliss Cathay shade 12, which is a lovely purple.
Walking through Kings Cross, the sound of someone else's footsteps entirely matching mine.
Twice in the last two weeks, my journey being affected by the aftermath of someone jumping in front of a train.
The overpowering smell of vomit in the air this morning, obviously re-hydrated after last night's rain.
That although the sky is grey and my brain says it should be cold, atually oppressively warm and muggy.
That when a colleague asked "what does it mean if the printer says it's offline?" another colleague tried to explain what it meant, and I instead told her how to fix it.
The process of trying to find a dress for a friend's wedding (in a castle!) that is not black but still feels and looks ok. This is more difficult than it might seem.
How freaked out I get when other people take photos of me.
So...
Insomnia.
Sucks.
Anyone got a spare cure hanging around?
So, I spent part of yesterday exploring a wonderous tunnel of love, before ascending and descending a prominent Frenchman's Wapping (and slightly tapered) shaft.
What did you do with your weekend?
A view from Glastonbury. Eva's wellies aren't so pretty any more...
This is what I'm used to:
This is what I'm not:
So if you'll excuse me, I'm off for a kip in the fridge.
In the last week or so I've learned:
- that climbing into a Formula 1 car cockpit in a skirt isn't as difficult as it looks, but that climbing back out is almost impossible.
- that being a woman and "driving" a Formula 1 car (even one that's been turned into a simulator) will attract a fairly sizeable audience and block the passageway surrounding the exhibition stand where you're currently attempting to win tickets for the British Grand Prix.
- that despite a complete lack of driving license and it being over ten years since I've been behind the wheel of a car, I wasn't actually that bad (until I noticed the crowd of blokes watching me and went on a little safari, to my complete embarrassment).
- that my blagging skills are more developed than I realised, as evidenced by the growling stuffed lion and various other bits of trade show crap now littering my desk.
- that introducing myself to complete strangers is something that I find quite nervewracking, but introducing myself to people I've had contact with via email or online is even worse.
- that I really hate wearing exhibition badges - there's just something very wrong about wearing something that invites people to stare at your chest.
- that this job comes with an emotional rollercoaster that can go from indignant outrage when someone has the brass neck to do a presentation that's partially ripped off from our work but so badly done that they've got it totally wrong or implies that they're credible because they're working with us when they're not to an immense feeling of satisfaction when you can actually see that you've made a difference.
- that I'm probably never going to be able to see the words "Father's Day" without, at the very least, a lump forming in my throat and a hollow feeling inside.
- that I really can't handle hot weather. It makes me crazy. Crazy enough to do this:
to go here:
with her:
- that it's time to do the annual flip-flop breaking in, because it's too hot to wear shoes and bleeding feet is definitely not a good look.
- that I need to buy new sunscreen because I've lost the stuff from last year.
- that growling stuffed lions make dogs freak out.
- that I'll never get anywhere knitting anything if I rip the whole bloody lot out any time I make even a small mistake.
So, there's this Secret Pal thing that goes on occasionally, where folk get matched up and secretly send presents to someone for three months, before revealing their identity.
... and who doesn't like getting presents?
So I'm participating, and part of that participation means answering a questionnaire, so this is it.
I'm putting it in the extended entry to spare the sensibilities of those who are very freaked out by my newly minted knitting obsession.
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I haven't really been knitting for long enough to know for sure, but I think I kinda might be. For me it's all about the texture - I like it to feel good. I don't like scratchy stuff, and I don't like the really cheap stuff that looks cheap.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Nope, haven't reached that level of insanity yet.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Yes, several, but so long as you don't send me latex yarn I think we'll be fine (and don't ask me how I found out I was allergic to latex either...)
4. How long have you been knitting?
6 weeks and counting. (was taught as a kid but then stopped for 20 years)
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I prefer clean citusy, herby and spicy smells, so anything orange, lemon, lime, ginger, cinnamon, mint, rosemary that kind of thing.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Unfortunately, yes.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Photography, although I don't know that that counts as a craft.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Pretty much everything except Rap and heavy techno, but I'm always prepared to give stuff a try.
Yes, my computer can play mp3s.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Wear black constantly - probably too much. In terms of colours - rich intense jewel toned colours - reds, burgundys, purples, blues. Not so much of the greens.
Not a fan of pastels or whites - I'm not a very girly girl, and also, I'm extremely pale (milk bottle white) and have dyed red hair, so pale colours just don't work.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Family is a bit spread out - I'm in London, sister is elsewhere in England, mother is in Scotland. Live with a lovely flatmate and unfortunately don't have any pets.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To do good stuff that makes a difference, and I'm incredibly lucky that my job (web accessibility consultant) lets me do that.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I haven't really knitting much yet, but I absolutely love the Patons Whisper that I made my first scarf out of.
I also really love the Patons Symphony in Cranberry that I'm currently knitting up into Paris Loop - both the texture and the colour are fabulous.
I'm trying to figure out if I can afford enough Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran to make Tempting from Knitty.
I love the feel of the Wendy Velvet Touch I recently got too, but haven't knitted with it yet.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Stuff that feels cheap or scratchy.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I don't know that I have anything specific yet - just knitting, period!
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Don't know yet, having only completed one thing.
17. What are you knitting right now?
Paris Loop, as mentioned above.
18. What do you think about ponchos?
I like the idea, but they're not particularly flattering for those of us to whom mother nature was overly generous in the chest department.
Seem to be leaning more towards the wrap/shrug end of things.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Have only just started to use circular needles, so not sure yet.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Haven't tried bamboo yet, but have tended to prefer my new plastic needles to the old metal ones I inherited from my mum and granny.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
Not yet. That's way too scary to think about right now.
22. How did you learn to knit?
My mum and granny taught me when I was a little girl.
Retaught myself via the web 6 weeks ago.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Two weeks.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hrm. Don't konw I have a favourite animated character, but I'm totally the crazy cat lady (other people's cats will shout at me as I pass and/or follow me down the street), with a smidgen of crazy squirrel lady, and an inexplicable fondness for puffins.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
I haven't had a proper holiday in quite a while, but top of my wish list for the moment are Barcelona, Prague, New York, San Francisco and Mull.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Empty wine bottles?
Kidding, my flatmate just took our six month collection to the recycling.
I think the only thing that can legitimately be called a collection is the collection of plectrums (plectra?) and setlists caught/blagged from various loud rock concerts.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Just subscribed to Simply Knitting.
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Lots. Can't think of anything particularly specific at the moment though.
... any date.
So long as it's between 7 March 2001 and today.
Leave it in the comments. You can explain why you've chosen it if you like, but you don't have to.
Basically, I've taken several thousand photos over the last few years, and I haven't made nearly enough of them public, and when it comes time to choose which one to post next, I get all bogged down in choosing.
So pick a date, I'll look in my archives and post the best (in my opinion) photo I have that was taken on or around that date.
Simple.
If you want, I'll even do a print of it and send it to you (if you a) like it, and b) email me your address, obviously).
Good:
Having "sexy lady" yelled at you repeatedly from the balcony of a block of flats which overlooks the park where you've chosen to sit and knit...
Bad:
... by a 4 year old boy...
Ugly:
... when the dog on the balcony above starts barking along.
---
Good:
Wearing summery clothes because it's a beautiful day...
Bad:
... when it stops being a beautiful day about 30 minutes after you get to the office
Ugly:
... when it takes all of your efforts to stop the skirt of your summery outfit from inverting itself and revealing your knickers to all and sundry with every gust of wind.
---
Good:
Having your feet kissed when you get on the train...
Bad:
... by a puppy...
Ugly:
... hurting your back because you wind up standing in a funny position for 15 minutes because said puppy has curled up and gone to sleep wrapped around your ankle.
It's nice enough to exit Kings Cross tube station in the morning. It's nicer because of this.
(ha. bet you thought there was going to be more knitting. didn't you.)
Yes, it's more knitting, this time on grass.
No, you can't escape the yarn. Give it up. Resistance is futile.
Ants are annoying though, aren't they?
I'm not a maternal person.
I don't have a biological clock that's screaming at me to reproduce.
I don't go ga-ga over babies.
I especially don't find over-excited 5 year olds cute or endearing in anyway.
Particularly not when, for the fifth time in the last few weeks, hordes of the little blighters have been on my tube train in the morning.
I think they're like cats and dogs. They can sense when you don't like them and they make a beeline for you and drive you insane with their cacophony of babbling and chattering at decibel levels that surely must be off the health and safety charts.
Aaaaargh!
Everyone, say hello to Fredericka the Fluffy Scarf.
See how fluffy she is?
So, I mentioned a little while ago that I'd taken up knitting... and I know that some of you found it difficult to believe.
So here's the proof.
This is what I started with.
Then I realised it was all wrong and ripped it back to yarn, and started again, and now I have this:
Which is growing, slowly, but is in a groovy fluffy yarn that means that my wonky stitches don't show up, so I can at least wear it at the end without getting fed up because it looks crappy.
Well, that's the plan at least.
Oh and Sevitz - if you're still waiting for socks, it's gonna be a looooooong wait.
Not entirely sure what's going on, but it feels like I've been extra helpful lately. Maybe it's subconscious karma building or something.
Last week I helped a colleague with a problem that's been causing him a lot of hassle for months - he was delighted and it turns out I fixed a problem that external funding had been given for, so I made some money for the team in the process.
Then I spent some time helping Neil move his blog from here to here.
Then I helped Adrian spend lots of money in Ikea yesterday, which was fun, and on the way home, I helped get us on the wrong bit of road. Then when we'd got to heading in the right direction again, I helped us go a long road for a shortcut.
Which makes me think it's probably time to stop being helpful for a bit. Seems like the batteries might need re-charging or something.
... a collection of things that have got stuck in my head while reading blogs recently.
I am haunted by her sad mouth and freckles.
All I can think is, "I can't believe I'm friends with a foot model."
“I am the one and only, Nobody I'd rather be, I am the one and only, You can't take that away from me . . . “
And if you manage not to snatch them baldheaded or smack 'em with a bat flap or shove a Snickers bar up their nether regions, then you are considered A Good Listener.
I glanced at the crib and noticed two plum-sized turds sitting like menacing eight balls in the middle of her blanket.
I am positively beside myself at the prospect of a glimpse of her neatly trimmed bush.
'The Knock Knock Moment' (because just after it happens, you hear The Who's there)
Sometimes your mind fills with strange animals and you have nowhere to cage them. They shit on childhood memories and knock over the vases you keep hope in.
Our input is comparable to those who post pictures of their cats, and a few levels lower in the hierarchy than the angsteous livejournallers.
"I just don't love you anymore. This is as far as we go."
Now that's what I call deep throating.
Lordy.
(via Sore Eyes)
... the online home and (not very) alter(ed)-ego of Ann McMeekin, a recently freelance Web Accessibility Consultant.
... passionate about many things, most of which will turn up on this site at some time or other.
... contactable via email.
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