My Day Off

Because I work in a progressive nonprofit world, we get holidays like Columbus Day (really, I don't want to celebrate a guy who didn't really discover America and subsequently caused the mass extinction of many American Indigenous Peoples) replaced with holidays like Cesar Chavez Day!

I don't know how people spend their day off, but I've spent it napping and thinking about how I should update Crafty Diversions. I can't really do any major projects because I actually have to work later and meet a client. Plus, m' achin' back is totally bothering me. Hey, that means, I can KNIT some more!

These are 2 of my current knitting projects. The top is my Clapotis project I'm making with my own hand-dyed yarn at the Wine, Dye 'n Knit party (See "Backtrack..." posted 3/11/06). The bottom one is the project commissioned by my friend Kim, who originally wanted fingerless gloves so that she could wear it in her freezing cold office. After seeing how beautiful her dyed yarn is, we decided a scarf would be best to show off! I'm doing this in the seafoam stitch.

Stinky Silk Woes (pic)

Argh, here's a picture of that Stinky Silk Snafoo. I mean, it doesn't look horrible, but nevertheless, it's NOT the color I was looking for, nor is it a color that I like. I have to muster enough energy to try and redo this. However, I first have to get over the disappointment and stinky smell which is now etched in my smell-cells' memory.

ai-yo-wei-ah!

Backtrack...

A few things I meant to post, but never got around to:

Stitch n Bitch Night at the Orange County Museum of Art, 2.24.2006
This was organized by the moderator of the Long Beach Stitch n Bitch group, who apparently also works at the museum. Members from various SoCal knitting/crochet groups also attended -- it was a nice turnout. We all knitting for a while, got to walk around and examine the installations and exhibits and watched a fiber artist knit with giant needles and thick wrapping ribbon. I didn't take any pictures, but a woman from Squeeze OC took a bunch of pictures and posted them on their site.

Wine, Dye 'n Knit party, 3.11.06
Since some of my knitting friends and I got into dyeing our own yarns, I decided to host this little shindig. A handful of girls came over -- ust the right number of people. We are all able to dye at the same time in the kitchen. Wine+Dye+Wool+Good company+food=sublime. I didn't take any photos unfortunately (couldn't find the camera), but Zona did. I'm waiting for her to post or send. I dyed the fabulously priced 60% cashmere/ 40% wool yarn I purchased at Newton's to for my Clapotis project. I'll have to post my dyed cash-merino later...haven't taken pix yet.

Stinky Silk Woes 3.19.06
I attempted to dye a 50/50 silk/wool blend yarn. Damn, wet silk stinks! Smells kind of like the Fishmarket in Seattle. Well, I stood in the kitchen for 1 hour wondering why my yarn would not take the dye. Hmm, proabaly just needs more citric acid than wool. So, I added more citric acid. And then waited. Added more. Waited. After I ended up adding like 1 cup of citric acid, I finally got out my dye book (which of course, I didn't read through), turned to one of the pages on silk: "...dye with acid dyes...takes up dye beautifully and faster than wool..." LIAR! This author sucks! Then I waited a little longer and hoped that maybe by some weird osmosis, the yarn will suck up the dye simply because I read that bit. More time passed. Then I scratched my discombobulated head...hmm, the index did list other pages on silk. So, I consulted my book again "...silk must be wetted well...at least 4 hours or overnight..." What!? "...or fibers will not take dye..." Why didn't it mention that earlier?!? Well, since it was already past midnight, and I had to get up at 5:45 am, I had to abandon my silk-dyeing attempt. So instead of shiny skein of silk/wool with shades of blue, cyan, teal, and turquoise highlighted by small traces of lavender, I got weird milky baby blue with spots of pink-lavender. :( The smell lingered the next morning. Stay tuned for part 2 in Adventures in Stinky Silkland.
EDIT: See picture of Stinky Snafoo.

Got Filmed for Knitting Documentary/Video!!

Woooo Hoooo!
Last night some people working on a Knitting and Crochet Documentary from TriCoast Studios (who produced The Art of Knitting) came filmed the knitting group to which I belong at our weekly meeting!

It was so awesome and fun! I am delighted that I saw the post announcing the filming and that their interest in local knitters. Although Marcy the producer said that originally she had not planned on coming so far as OC, I really don't think it took much convincing. Why? Because the members of our knitting group are so cool, diverse and fun, and it is totally apparent just by looking in our group photo on the gorup page.

Everyone who attended was interviewed and asked to show how we hold our yarn. We also got to show off the fruits of our labor and/or share some knit stories. Renata and Melyssa showed the cameras how to spin, and Renata fascinated us all with her nalbinding demo. Someone else showed knitted dog hair (yes!), Aubrey shared her story about knitting a man-thong, Rachel did a Princess Leia with her own hand-painted balls of yarn, Teresa showed off her sari-silk clapotis, the men showed their crafting prowess, and we all laughed and had a hoot. Throughout the evening, we all missed and lamented Zona's absence.

I was told by Marcy that of the people in the group, she thinks I hold my yarn the weirdest. I showed off my Color Wave capelet (left). I made up the pattern with some suggestions from my knit friends and used yarn that I hand-painted/dyed. I also showed off my homemade swift.

I'm delighted that my fiber friends got to show off their wonderful work and personalities. It was a blast, and certainly an experience to remember.

The only regret is that I didn't remember to take pictures until towards the end, after some people had already left. :( boo.


Above: Renata demonstrating Nalbinding.

Left: (L-R) Camera dude, Aubrey, Me, Rachel

New Knitters on the Block

In the past week, I've held knitting classes for 4 of my work friends/colleagues. I'm slowing hatching my plan to convert everyone to take up knitting! wah ha ha! Ohh- gives me an idea for a knitting club at work!

I agreed to make fingerless gloves for my friend/colleague Kim, who does not knit. I wanted her to "own" her gloves, so I taught her how to dye the yarn for her gloves. The yarn is a very luscious 60% Italian Cashmere and 40% Merino Wool blend that I got at Newton's. We were at another friend's house for pozole (yum!) so I just packed up all my dyes that were leftover from my Wine, Dye 'n Knit party (which I will post later) and we invaded her house.

The pictures are various views of Kim's creations. It's amazing how the yarn looks different at every stage.

Technological challenges, Homemade Yarn Swift, Weddings, Etc.

Crafty, handy, creative, smart, but technologically challenged
Ok, I really need to take some sort of web design-type class! I have no idea how to do a photo gallery or create a project directory or folder on this blog, despite extensive reading in the help section. I've had to rely on hubby, who is busy with his own stuff to help me with this one, and with my other website! In due course, I suppose.

Yarn Swift
Anyway, hubby finally converted the instructions for my homemade yarn swift to pdf . I am so proud of it -- came up with my own plans and completed the entire execution. Anyway, for my knitting group and anyone else that wants to make one, here it is! Homemade Yarn Swift Instructions
If you make one, I'd love to see the fruits of your labor!

Linh's Wedding
I'm very very excited that my good friend Linh is getting married this Fall. Furthermore, I am so honored and elated that she asked me to make her wedding veil for her. She gave me "artist freedom" do to what I want for her, and I'm going to make her proud! I'm planning to use organza, not that cheap-o easy to rip tulle crap and embellish it with either rhinestones or Austrian crystals. I haven't decided how I'm going to make the part that attaches to her head.

Etc. Etc. Etc.
I just finished a busy busy month, personal and work. I donated 3 purses that I made for a nonprofit fundraiser, and finished a capelet out of my own hand-dyed yarn. Very proud. The month is not over, and I have more project requests to do for friends, in addition to the ever growing list of home improvement projects. If only I could devote full time to my hobbies...one can dream.

More exciting things on the March agenda: I'm hosting a Dyeing and Knitting party for some of my knitting friends this weekend. Hubby and I are invited to a cool murder mystery dinner party. Some colleagues and I are having a girls' night - this month's cooking theme is Mexican pozole (yum!). I'm looking forward to this work related training I'll be attending.