Filibuster Vigilantly
June 26th, 2007 by Wen
I’m leaving out the whistles and bells
After all the agonizing and whining I got out of my own way and started knitting Elfine’s for my sockpal. And I’ve never been more relieved. Thanks for all the comments and support.
For the record I think my sockpal is a nice person. The quote in her preferences was “would like a pair of knee socks, but will be happy with anything.” As somebody pointed out to me (name yourself please, I forget) Alison asked for and got knee socks last year so it was perhaps perceived as being okay to ask others for them.
My first problem was that I was shocked at first and then tried to get over my indignation shock by asking her to fill out her measurements for kneesocks. Thereby setting her up for disappointment when she doesn’t get them. Life’s full of disappointment, but that was my own damn fault. I should have merrily ignored the knee sock request from the beginning. The need for 776 yards of sock yarn should have been my first clue, but it wasn’t.
The Elfine’s are knitting up nicely. I did that foot on the set of this show over two days. I’ll be fine with the deadline. And yes, I am using the new lace addi’s. I likey.
Countless screaming argonauts
Because I don’t have enough to do, I signed up for some competitive knitting:
Signups are closed now, but this seems like it will be fun. It’s a speed competition to see which team can knit dishrags and mail them off as fast as possible. Emily over at Yarn Miracle is hosting it.
I bought some Sugar and Cream cotton at Jo-ann’s on Sunday and looked for a pattern to practice on. Most of you know how much I detest knitting with cotton, but frankly this wasn’t too bad. For one thing it knits up very fast on size 7 Susan Bates’ needles. It’s also only a 9″ square.
I put an i-cord loop on it just to amuse myself.
I like the stitch definition.
I would also like to set the record straight on a few things:
1. I am not cheating. When the BF saw this he got a little verklempt and claimed it as his own. The BF loves him some handknits and also washcloths (who knew?). Since he is leaving for North Carolina in a few days it’s one way I can send him off with something handknitted. Because North Carolina in the summer is no place for a cashmere scarf or million dollar gloves and a matching hat.
2. This particular wash cloth might have been some grudge knitting. On Friday, after a 14 hour day on set in 103 degree weather (remember when I told you my job can be incredibly UN-glamorous? This is what I am talking about) I came home to find a comment in my email from one of my teammates expressing some concern about my “deadline-aversion”.
Given my particular state of mind at the moment I read the comment (hot, tired, dehydrated, cranky) Well… let’s just say that I didn’t take it very well. Then because I was hot, tired, dehydrated, and cranky I collapsed in bed and fell asleep. I didn’t think much about it on Saturday either because it was more of the same as Friday.
Sunday. Well. Sunday I decided to do a little experiment just to prove make sure that I really hadn’t gotten myself into something I couldn’t complete.
The knitting of the wash cloth took 2.5 hours. I figure with my super secret ninja priority mail skills I’ve got this thing covered.
Not to worry dish rag tag teammates. The representative from California is good to go.
By the way? Dish Rag knitting? It’s like crack. I went to Jo-ann’s again yesterday and fell down in the Sugar and Cream aisle.
People, it’s on sale. $1.79 for 4oz of solid cotton or 3oz of variegated.
I’m a little glowing friend
The June July ASKnitter’s meetup is at my place THIS SUNDAY. 1pm. POTLUCK! YARN SWAP! SANGRIA!
Anyway, I sent out a revised evite or seven. I think because I sent so many people developed a blind spot to them. Please check your inboxes and respond yay or nay. It’ll be fun. We’d love to have you.
I’d be fired if that were my job
The BF and I had a housewarming party a few weeks ago. After 5 years of living in Hollywood with no parking I forgot that I actually like entertaining. It was really good to see people I hadn’t seen in way too long. Everyone loved the new house and we got so many comments on the flowers around here.
With the exception of the Mexican Sage (at least that’s what I think it’s called) I don’t know any of these flowers. I think the really tall ones are irises. I like that they are taller than people.
Who watches over you
People brought lovely things to the BF and I as housewarming gifts. Plants that I’m trying not to kill and delicious wine and whatnot. There were two gifts though that made me love my friends because they know me so well:
Hope to see you all on Sunday.
Yeah, dishrag cotton is funny that way. Addicting, I mean. No matter how much I have, when Hobby Lobby puts it on sale for 99 cents, I have to buy more. The flowers are beautiful, but I’m a little concerned about Hello Manson Kitty.
The tall ones are Canna lilies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_(plant)
The shorter ones are daylilies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylily
(I used to have a garden LOL)
Love the colours in the Elfines!
The socks are beautiful… and I’m off to dig out a TMBG album (I had the one with the lyrics above… on cassette… until repeated heat/cold cycles made the tape brittle).
I have such a hard time pulling myself away from Sugar ‘n’ Cream, and I don’t even knit many dishcloths. I think I’ve knit three in like five years. Maybe only two. But the colors of that yarn are so awesome, and it’s so cheap!
bluebird of friendliness… you got yourself a big mess of lilies there at your new place. happy housewarming!
I’m going to have BIYS stuck in my head for the rest of the day! The flowers are lovely, as is the dishcloth. So far, I’m resisting the lure…
The elfines look great. I’m sure she’ll be pleased.
Your flowers are purty. Those first two are daylilies, like Dave said. They’re edible, too - taste a little bit like cucumber.
Happy housewarming! Wish I could come to the ASK party. Have a great time everyone!
What nobody liked the salvia? Yes, it’s mexican sage. It’s so L.A. If you ever want more canas, let me know. I’ve been trying to kill mine off for almost two years and they won’t die. I dig them up and throw them away and more grow in their place. I mow over them when I’m cutting grass and they come back. I figure if I send some to someone and tell them it’s a sure thing, the only way for them to thwart me is to croak.
I love knitted cotton washcloths with a passion normally reserved for beer, cheetos and baby lambs. However, I hate *knitting* cotton washcloths. However, such is the pull of the damned yarn that I tried to sign up for that swap a few weeks ago. Both fortunately and unfortunately, I was too late.
Did I start this dishcloth revolution, or did I unknowingly jump on an existing bandwagon? I’m excited about your Elfine socks! They look great.
And check you out with the living flora, there! I could not do that. In fact, you should go talk to them right now because sometimes flowers die when I just look at their pictures. Sorry.
Also:
GIANTS!!!
Surely your sock pal will love her Elfines. They’re loverly.
Go, go, go, Dishrag Mama!
OMG, Manson HK. *swoon*
I’d say I’m sorry for my “deadline aversion” comment, but look to what effort it spurred you! Please make a similar comment about my dishrag virginity, and it will surely shame me into a practice rag or two before the race starts. I need help.
I can’t resist the dishrag lure - it’s the perfect thing to knit when you don’t feel like starting a big complicated project. And I saw TMBG live - great concert!
Who wouldn’t love Elphines (especially in those colors)? She’ll be delighted! I heart Hello Psycho Kitty.
My local Michaels had a Peaches and Creme sale - 12 oz balls for $5.99. That equalled out to paying $0.75c for the same amount in one of the wee balls. Did I take home $80 worth of cotton that day? Did I ever!
The speed of knitting a dishcloth is what I like about them. Deadlines slide for me when the project is a never ending blanket or jumper. Dishcloths - knitting for the attention disordered!