Chez Aristote

I have honorable trade in mind.

The yarn: Fleece Artist Basic Merino Sock in color ‘Hercules’.

The Pattern: Child’s First Sock in Shell Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks, by Nancy Bush. Woman’s size 6.5/7.5, although it does go around my size 9. It’s actually a very similar lace pattern to Pomatomus, only smaller shell bits.

Trouble is, I currently own this multicolored ankle sock, and what I want are nearly-solid colored knee socks. Now, knee socks I don’t look for, but what if I sent you the sock, the rest of the ball–74 grams, to be precise–and the pattern, and you sent me nearly-to-semi-solid sock yarn? (Probably no one has enough solid lying around  for knee socks, and anyway, the made sock probably doesn’t equal another skein of yarn. Unless this sock enraptures you.)

So how about it?

ETA: 6:11pm  Ok, Deb is letting me cash in my yarn karma from before, but I still need to give this sock away! Don’t let me carry the guilt of .5 pairs of socks–

ETA2: 11:16pm  Yay! Laura is taking .5 pairs off my hands! Thank you internets!

Tags: Uncategorized // 1 Comment »

The shawl–vexed from the beginning? Someone was just wearing one in my George Eliot book, on their way to an unlucky assignation. Also a red one got left symbolically in the mud in Frances H. Burnett the other day. The ‘village lass’ look decidedly needs work. Village chicks are easily fooled, and are often no better than they should be. Likewise the shawl?

Hmm.

I made this shawl, caught up in something like Thomas-Hardy-style inexorable dark destiny. I had this beautiful seacell merino from Neighborhood Fibers, one of the prettiest greens I’ve ever seen (you can see the color a little better here), and an Interweave magazine with the Swallowtail shawl in it, and the shawl grew extremely quickly. So quickly, I had to rely on the kindness of strangers, piratical ones at that–thank you for ever, dreadpiratekel!–to obtain another 2 oz. to finish.

So it was rather without considering the consequences of my actions that this was made. But as Meghan recently pointed out, styling makes a difference; perhaps between shawls that symbolize feminine weakness and shawls that kick–well, that show up the power of the negative side of the Pythagorean Table of Opposites.

By the time HB and I got outside, the shawl had slipped a little from the perfection of the folds I had achieved in front of the mirror, so I don’t think that this is quite as sharp a look as I was going for, but hopefully, you get the idea. (Does this mean I need a shawl pin? ) (Also, check out this chick’s rather more frothy green shawl, the pictures of which inspired the way we were hoping to take photos.)

Let us all hope the thing won’t lead to any harsh village tragedies involving water, whether ponds (The Return of the Native) or streams (Mill on the Floss) or thunderstorms in which the barn catches on fire, or all the wheat is ruined, and so forth. Perhaps sunglasses will help.

Tags: Knitting // 8 Comments »

It is uncomfortable to wear sweaters in August, but one’s work must be properly documented.

Yes, done! New buttons, blocked button bands–snaky bits mostly gone–and HB graciously taking time out from Post Captain to take pictures just outside our new place. [S. Japel’s iconic pattern; ravelry details.]

I started this last year because I thought I didn’t have enough impressive whole sweaters to my name, and I believe this satisfies those conditions. Now it does, anyway. I remember that, at the time, the first 10 inches impressed my Early Greek Philosophy classmates. I don’t think they had seen a bobble before.

Which reminds me: mine is the full version, five stitch bobbles, bobble pattern all the way to the wrist–there’s a very popular modification, that raises the ribbing on the sleeves and makes three stitch bobbles, or leaves them out, or uses different cables. It tends to look more sporty that way, which is cool; but mine is the glorious whole. The only thing I did do is make the garter ribs two bumps instead of three, which I think follows the picture instead of the pattern. I probably could have given myself a half inch more in the raglan increase before the sleeves, but knowing how my sweaters, hand made or not, stretch, I think I’ll be all right. I also think that there ought to be more sweaters with mandarin collars. A lot more.

So, I was talking before about how I wanted to start a sweater? Well, I did not in fact begin a sweater. The maroon cone yarn from New Zealand (bought long ago, nameless, from ebay) that I neglected to note on Ravelry yet couldn’t bear to give away got put on top of our bookshelves, so temptingly, and while searching for a lace shawl pattern, and beginning a lace shawl, I decided that the lace shawl would be far better in dk anonymous maroon than in lace weight, however nice. We’ll see. I still can’t get over how the triangle gets bigger each time, triangularly. But I want to make a sweater. We’ll see.

Tags: Uncategorized // 5 Comments »

We’re moved!

And much of my moving task was and is to make curtains. A great many in fact, not yet all done. But the bedroom ones are, which you see above. I prolonged my task by putting blind hems on this first set, which I may abandon in favor of more time for projects that are not simply rectangle after rectangle.

Now, you might not guess it, but hb has opinions about how curtains should look, and he despises my fabric choice. I however have an unshaken belief that they are the coolest curtains ever, and are perfect for our quilt. Like Calder and punk rock, the pattern lifts my heart a little every time I see it. I think the other curtains are going to be beige. (Although another trip to Ikea this Thursday for bar stools may produce some other cheerful pattern for the study curtains.)

I failed to get a decent picture of them in their full effect: the fact that they were backlit escaped me at the time. But I hope I have at least provided some evidence of their being reasonably good-looking. We’re internet-free still at the new place, so I retreated to Eastern Market in order to play with the photos and so forth.

What time I can spare from curtains and Hegel are devoted to these. When I finish, I think I will start some sweater or other from my carefully culled stash. Thanks to all the lovely knitters who came and got my yarn! You made my move easier, and I’m so pleased that you all managed to find things you wanted. Thank you thank you!

Tags: Uncategorized // 7 Comments »

How to say this? We’re moving, and there will be no basement kitchen to store yarn in. Alas. Alas.

(And this is hardly all.) (There’s even unreported yarn, as in, not listed on Ravelry, from shame.)

So, come by the corner of 10th and D NE, in the District of Columbia–gray house with porch–this Thursday from 5-9pm, and get some free yarn. It’s all free. I just have to get rid of it before Saturday morning. There’s a lot of sweaters in this pile, even some socks. Heck, you could make a blanket or two if you wanted. Did I mention the lambswool or llama rovings? I just want it to go to a good home, instead of the impious trashcan.

(At the very least, Hb is very, very pleased.)

Tags: Uncategorized // 9 Comments »

I have in fact finished the knitting of my Forecast sweater, of which I am very proud. But the charming buttons I had planned to use for so long were far too small to stay in their buttonholes, even though I made them 1-stitch-large, instead of two. While I love how they are little small clear-blue imitations of the bobbles, they simply pop out of their holes at three eighths of an inch. (The original pattern called for .75 inch buttons to fit two-stitch holes.)

(I should also block the button band so it lies flat and is not snaky.) So I again went downtown to the old fabric store–they have hired a third employee, 30-odd, so the atmosphere the Frenchman creates is a little lessened–and looked around for blue-glass buttons of any kind. They had many clear buttons in nearly every other color except blue, so in the end I went with these 5/8’s:

I will miss the blueness, but at least these will stay put.

(Hurrah, I finished a sweater!)

Tags: Uncategorized // 2 Comments »

But first, what I made for myself, because it’s the nicest to look at:

A sort of cowl, knit from Goddess Yarn’s ‘Hayden’ yarn, a present from my cousin due to eponymous husband. It turns out that music teachers have far more sympathy for knitting in class than philosophy professors. Perhaps this is ultimately unsurprising. The former are generally women with no care for much except visceral experience, and what has been done before, and the latter are men who can hardly believe in the possibility of an anecdote telling something real.

Well, I’ve been and come back from far-off Louisiana. This means I have in fact gotten that Level II certificate from Kodaly, been to Fishville, seen J & T in New Orleans, and played a great deal of pool in that city’s many bars. Heck, we even did our laundry at a bar while playing pool.

While in Lake Charles, I made that cowl, and got around to taking some pictures of things I’m made my sister and my mother. Most of them have been hidden in closets as they are never worn or even in the running for being worn, so it was an accomplishment to hunt them down and pose them. First, my second pair of socks ever:

Occasionally worn. Not as popular as popery is in that house. But as they are made from Lamb’s Pride worsted, one can hardly expect more. A nice yarn, but hardly the best for socks.

These may have been worn more than time they were hastily tried on Christmas morning, but I doubt it. They also are the reason my sister never wants me to make her a pair of socks ever again. I guess we can consider these a practice pair, as I had never made socks before. They’re also worsted weight, of some Lion Brand yarn that isn’t even on Ravelry, it was manufactured for so short a time. They are huge, and do look pretty ugly on the foot.

Speaking of ugly,

Yes, that’s fun fur embellishment you see. My mother made me do it. She wanted me to make her something to match a particular dress, and couldn’t be talked out of these colors and the fur. The other yarn is pretty nice, a German yarn that is scented with lavender; but that hardly made up for it.

Early in my crocheting days, I made this hat up for Mum, along with a matching 1×1 ribbed scarf. I know I’ve seen her with the scarf, but I’m pretty sure she’s too embarrassed to wear the hat. Despite her being ok with fun fur.

In any case, now that I have these various things documented, my conscience is clearer, and my Ravelry project page is larger.

Tags: Knitting // 1 Comment »

Or so it will soon be.

I’m nearly about to leave for Union Station, to make use of it in the way it was originally intended: by catching a train. I’m taking the Crescent to New Orleans, and will eventually arrive in Lake Charles, Louisiana (which happens to be the place where I was born and so forth), to partake of three weeks of being told precisely how I am not a good musician. Should be fun. (I notice I still have a strong sensation of hating-not-being-the-best at work here.) This here raven is all I’m taking to work on–should gain a lot more foliage in the next few weeks.

But this now William Morris raven is all packed up in a clever tube for transport:

I really like this tube, very roomy, sturdy, and so forth, and the two long poles from my frame fit inside as well. I even remembered to call a needlepoint store in New Orleans, and they have the two colors I need–some serious planning on my part. I’ll probably pick them up Friday morning. But to the train.

Tags: Uncategorized // Add Comment »

I went to West Virginia a few weeks ago, to visit my aunt, and since Interstate 66 does not yet cut through from Front Royal to Charleston, making a six hour trip out of 2.5 hour one, I managed to produce a birthday present for Rebekah, ahead of schedule. Hurrah!

The Modelo Especial you see is the pale counterpoint to Modelo Negro; the dog you see is the hapless Lexi. The yarn is BMFA STR in colorway Philosopher’s Stone; the sock pattern is the Madder Ribbed Sock from the Nancy Bush book, also pictured. Rebekah herself, not pictured, is one of my most dedicated readers, and also the most appreciative recipient of handmade things I know. Thus she deserves socks doubly.

Dutch heel, Pointed toe. (I think I may like the German heel the best.) I guess it goes to show that if you make simple socks, instead of crazy fancy ones, they take less time and the giftee at least receives them on time. (I still wish for cabled knee socks, however.)

I also have a trip to the yarn store to report; I finally took care of that gift certificate that’s been hanging around.

Two huge skeins of undyed Karabella something-or-other, that had been lying around for a long time; there was much debate over what exactly the skeins’ species was, but we all agreed that each had to contain more than than 400 yards. When I got it home, I used Hiram’s German brewing scale to see just how heavy they were; each, it turns out, weighs 17 oz.; which is quite a lot. I’m not very good or accurate at doing wraps per inch, but my guess is 13 wpi, which makes it probably nigh on 2000 yards total. In any case, it’s going to be one hell of a baseball sweater for Anderson. I’ll be making up the pattern from old photographs he’s sending me; I think most of the elements I basically know how to construct.

I shan’t get to it, however, until after I get back from Kodaly workshop; my mind during this seems to favor the more analytical work of needlepoint, rather than the more restful repetition of knitting. Not sure why. I think I’m either going to start The Hunt in the Forest or do more on my William Morris raven, who has been patient, waiting for his foliage.

Either that or start Rebekah’s Christmas present.

Tags: Uncategorized // 2 Comments »

I did promise more. And more there certainly is to tell.

This was a particularly large, friendly sheep. One lamb even jumped into his food bucket to say hi to me: the sheep definitely gave me some love this weekend. You know, sheep get a bad rap, sheepish as they are, but seeing them in person, you see why they felt like throwing in their lot with us anthropoi, and why we’re lucky to have them along. James Herriot says, of all the young creatures on this earth, the gods gave the most grace to the lamb, and I think he is quite right: I saw one gambol, actually, even, just for fun; instantly lovable.

(Whenever I see I a lamb, (eta–or a young angora goat, which this is) I always think about Bert’s song about the lambies, here. I won’t bother you with its dialectic, today.)

Of course, I did also eat some lamb this weekend, which I feel was also appropriate. One of the things I like most about the MD S&W is that it forces you to understand and appreciate the whole animal; the fact that we use and know nearly every part, every age of it. Way to love an animal, all the way down. (Hiram has made me mutton before: stew with old sheep.) Far, far better than a thousand crazy chickens in a commercial barn somewhere swarming, freaking out, committing chicken suicide, and then one day, you accidentally eat one, which has to suck.

I also bought the perfect yellow yarn, which I had looked for Saturday to no avail. Sunday also provided certainty as to the make and model of the next spinning wheel I desire: I tried out the Majacraft (New Z) Rose, liked it fine, but then sat down at the Lendrum folding again, and Knew. Hard to believe that that can happen; but such was the account of the Yarn Barn’s man of practical wisdom. I guess it does make sense, in that, you sit in front of a thing that depends on its ratio, and you yourself are a ratio, and they need to be proportional. He was right–I’m a double treadle single drive kind of girl, and I need a tall, slightly awkward but taut wheel that goes fast to match myself.

So now I just have to sell the things I’ve made I’m not using, and soon, soon, I’ll have the appropriate wheel. Then my lace-spinning will have no bounds. (And the double treadle will keep my feet from becoming mismatched, like in the Grimm’s fairy tale.)

But have I mentioned the women part? I got to meet a lot of them: thank goodness. Pittsburgh knitters, Virginia knitters, lazy/godless knitters, even local knitters–it was a good weekend. I was brave; it was fun, and It made me notice: I haven’t hung around with a bunch of women for a while. Women are all right; I miss them. Ever since KJ moved to Nola and AT to Pb, it’s been kind of manly around here. (R. and I can’t do it all.) Which is fine; but I like my sexes to be moderated by each other. And women who know that making things is important: best w. of all.

Tags: Uncategorized // 2 Comments »