Likely Story

Birthday Thank You's

Yesterday was my birthday (32) and I just wanted to thank everyone for the awesome gifts!
Always on the quilting front, Bea came through with some excellent supplies and a cute, simple Amy Butler kit.

My friend Rachael also went the awesome craft route with two books I desperately wanted (thanks again!)

Josh, of course, got me exactly what I wanted - an Orla Kiely bag and flowers!!

My mom got me a couple of cool books, a top and a ton fo gift certificates to my favorite lunch places!

And, last but certainly not least, my Dad got me this truly awesome and amazing antique sewing box that even has tiny hidden drawers (I'll never tell where)!!  This thing is sooooo cooooool!  I love it!!!

Thanks again everyone!!! 

Wowie, Zowie!

This book makes me very happy....

So, here's the deal.  We all know that I am a knitter.  Yeah, yeah, I knit and make stuff.  Sure, who doesn't these days?  But my dirty little secret is that I am a LAZY KNITTER.  Oh Boy!  Am I a lazy knitter.  Sure I love the craft, and the process and the pretty colors but, as I learned at my first fiber fair this year, I have A LOT to learn. 

For example, I will make this admission.  I didn't know what WPI stood for, nor how many of them meant anything.  It's true.  I knew that Alpacas were expensive and that I like petting bunny rabbits, but I didn't really understand anything about the fiber itself.  I've heard patterns call for a "drapey" yarn, but to me that meant lighter weight (not necessarily true).  Clara Parkes wrote a book for me (and possibly you). 

In The Knitter's Book Of Yarn, Ms. Parkes explains all of the different weights and fibers while even providing sample patterns best suited to a specific yarn's weight/fiber content.  Parkes is so smart in her easy, straight forward yet entertaining narrative about fiber content; as she pairs fiber to patterns, she explains why.  It seems like a simple enough idea - give some background on yarn, offer a pattern in said yarn and then explain why that yarn is best suited to the pattern.  But no one ever does this.   Pattern just say, "use this yarn you can't possibly afford".  Now, thanks to Ms. Parkes, I can look at the patterns in IK and  actually make informed choices about yarn substitutions that fit my budget (I am not luxury knitter, If I am going to spend 150$ on a sweater, I had damn well better not have to knit it myself).  I can examine a yarn and figure out exactly what weight it is, despite what the producer might say (Brooks Farm's Acero, I'm talking to you, you non-fingering weight little bugger).

Ms. Parkes has relieved me of a sizable portion of my LAZY KNITTERS ignorance, and for that I am eternally grateful.

The Yarn Girls Guide To Knits For All Seasons

Have you people seen this book?  I think I'm in love....

Now we all know what happens when we buy a knitting book.  There are one, maybe two patterns in in we love and must have and the rest is filler.
Not so say the Yarn Girls!  They have brought forth a book of 40 patterns,
10 for each season and aside from two skirt patterns (I DON'T knit skirts), one
dress pattern (if I don't knit skirts, there is no way in hell I will knit a dress) and
one frumpy sweater, the rest are all good.  A large chunk of them are even great.
    These are the patterns we search for when we "just want to knit a hoodie" or
"really want a simple but cute summer knit" or "need to knit a cool sweater for
the BF."Ever notice how hard it is to find those simple, but important patterns
when you really want them?
    I, personally,  have spent DAYS looking for the perfect sweater pattern.  I have
spent HOURS looking for a basic, zip up hoodie that wouldn't look like a wooly
trashbag on me when complete (Olivia's Sweatshirt, pg. 86 does the trick). I have
hunted for raglans with cute, diagonal buttons (A Bit Out Of The Box, pg. 82). 
I have searched for Banana Republic style shawl collars (Better Than The Real
Deal, pg. 118).  I am always looking for a lightweight shrug (The Suggestive
Shrug, pg. 61).  I've been debating over summer top patterns forever (Sexy Mama,
pg. 58).  I have never come across a book where I honestly wanted to knit almost
all of the patterns.  It's uncanny.
    There are a few other things I really appreciate about this book.  They give you
the necessary  YARDAGE.  The yardage is key here.  You'd be suprised how
many books don't offer that small little bit of info.  Odds are, I can not afford
100$+ on yarn for a sweater.  I just can't.   It's not going to happen.  Its soooo
much easier for me to make substitutions and order my yarn properly with
appropriate yardage. 
    There is a small but efficient section on finishing in the back of the book.  It's
just five or six pages long, but as most of the patterns are sweaters, it is necessary.
    But my favorite thing about this book, aside from the patterns, is what was left
out.  There is no "how to knit" chapter.  I have always HATED that chapter. 
Don't get me wrong.  I actually learned to knit from a book.  The book was
called "How To Knit."  If I am buying a book on knitting sweaters, etc. I better
darn well know how to knit.  That extra chapter is very often wasted paper that
made me crazy.  I'm sorry.  Its probably just me.  But I was THRILLED to not find
that chapter in this book.  The patterns are all very straight forward.  Not too
difficult, but just interesting enough to keep you from becoming bored. 
    If you are really missing that chapter, go buy How To Knit.  If you want a well
edited book of timeless patterns with modern appeal, go buy The Yarn Girls
Guide To Knits For All Seasons.

I'm not kidding.

seriously, go here.

Disclaimer:  I just go the book and have yet to knit anything from it.  In my
defense, I did read through several patterns and take notes, I just haven't
knit anything yet.  Sorry guys, I have been slammed at work so I haven't
been able to test anything out.  I'll let you know when I do!

Birthday Wrap-Up

Well, as my close friends know, I turned 31 on Sunday!  Here's a bit of a recap of some of my loot:

I got a Kaffe Fassett book from J, my Mom and Rachael and the strip quilting books from J's mom, B.  Thank you guys so much!  I love them all!  The next picture is what I bought with some of my birthday money from Aunt J.  I got The Essential Ellison, In Stitches by Amy Butler, a newer Umberto Eco book and the dvd of Hot Fuzz.  I also got this:

A new pair of shoes, some creamsicle perfume by Demeter and a ton of fancy, girly make-up (and yes, all of the Vincent Longo was 1/2 price, I'm not crazy!)  The fabric is a fun jelly roll called Holly Jolly from B.  The big finale was from my parents who got me this:

There was more, but you get the general idea.  Thank you so much everyone.  It is all perfect!

Not Again!

Aw Jesus!  Now I've got to get this!  Just when I thought I had FINALLY read them all.  Damn you Christopher and Adam Tolkein.

Thanks, Rachael for the heads up!

And yes, i did just pre-order the super deluxe geektastic version, thank you very much.

sigh.

The Only Proof He Needed For The Existence Of God Was Music

Kurt Vonnegut, Writer of Classics of the American Counterculture, Dies at 84

Kurt Vonnegut whose dark comic talent and urgent moral vision in novels like “Slaughterhouse-Five,” “Cat’s Cradle” and “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” caught the temper of his times and the imagination of a generation, died Wednesday night in Manhattan. He was 84 and had homes in Manhattan and in Sagaponack on Long Island.

There was a time in high school when Vonnegut was all I read.  I was even Mr. Vonnegut for the ubiquitous "be a historic literary figure" day in 10th grade.  It was great.  I wore an old wrinkled suit, threatened to smoke in class, was grouchy, got to loudly express my liberal political views and cursed all day long (and this was catholic school so it was twice as sweet).  Cats Cradle, Slaughter House Five, Player Piano, Sirens of Titan, Galapagos, Breakfast of Champions and all of his short stories - these were my armor, they carried me through what was probably the most formitive and horrendous years of my life. 

Thanks, Mr. Vonnegut.

Half-Blood Prince, Holy Jesus!

I just finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  Holy Jesus!  I won't give anything away but I spent last night finishing the book and sobbing out loud.  J.K. Rowling, you madam, have moxy.  I can't believe you did what you did.  Now, I believe the rumors about the next Harry Potter.  I believe you could do it.
I am still in mourning.  I'd wear a black arm band if  I had one, and if Josh didn't constantly remind me it's only a book.  There's nothing more to say until book 7.