kudos

2010/01/29

Yessirree!

I'm not frustrated anymore, nosirree!

My computer came back to me sooner than I thought it would, and now we are together again - both agreeing that we should be working together without harsh words or sulking faces, in perfect harmony that is the root of the co-existence between woman and her machine. (and I promised to be more pedantic with taking back-up copies of my files...)

And, and! I've also finished the First Knit of 2010 - here's "Sabbatical", by Connie Chang Chinchio / Twist Collective, Winter '09, in a modest photoshoot sans human mannequin.

I like this garment a lot; the color, the softness of the yarn (primavera/teetee, 75% merino+25% silk), the wearability and the versatile functioning with different accessories.

The lace pattern was easy enough to work on, although not maybe your basic TV-knitting if the plot on the screen requires much attention. The cast-on with tubular method certainly was worth the effort to make a nice, finished look.

I did not make any permanent fastening solutions, i.e. button or hook, but chose to go with whatever feels right - so it can be worn open, fastened with a piece of ribbon, with a brooch etc..

2010/01/27

On frustration

Last Friday I found myself, once again, face to face with the impossible unreliability of modern high-tech. My laptop, aged 6.2 months (!), went berserk and refused to co-operate.
It's now in some (hopefully skilled) repair-person's hands somewhere, and will be back who knows when.
Although this is now actually allowing me more time to read, knit and excercise, for example, I still feel strangely cut-out and lost. Peering at mails and websites from this mobile phone display somehow just isn't the same.

As you can see, I'm torn between my frustration about the poor quality of such products, and the fact that I'm more or less dependent on them. Hmph.

2010/01/11

A Winter's Tale

Sorry for the long radio silence, folks - first things first: happy new year 2010!

I have not been a non-knitter, despite no updates to the blog recently - 'Sabbatical' is coming along nicely, just need to get more yarn to finish it. Also something new on the way soon, one made-to-order tunic from the latest VK..

I also got very excited about the small news in the VK magazine about this bag kit from KnitPicks. As it happens, the kit is on it's way now to yours truly - unfortunately they don't deliver outside US, but if one has friends living e.g. in Texas, the package can be delivered there, and then another friend who happens to be travelling to that named Texas place in early February will bring it in her luggage back to Finland, then it's possible to order.... a bit complicated, but what wouldn't one do for this genious, glorious design?

Yesterday I visited here for the first time - although it was also very pretty outside with the winter at it's best, coming inside into the old hothouse of cacti, orchids and other exotic plants was an unforgettable experience.

2009/12/19

Coccyxal thoughts

Went to the north, the idea was to ski a lot. Noticed that skiing is not my sport - fell down on my rump on the first day, naturally, (hey, I hadn't been skiing for over 20 years, so cut me some slack...), and managed to land directly on my other ski. Hard landing spot, soft rump = huge coccyxal pain, i.e. pain in the butt.
Skied also the next day, but it didn't feel good. Now, after a few days, still cannot sit properly, and bending over is virtually impossible. Am really happy about this.

But hey, this too shall pass - and, despite of all these troubles, I have started on my cardi.... :) What we knitters wouldn't do for our passion!

(no pictures this time, but I think it's best that way, eh....)

2009/12/10

Dear diary!

I have been a bit worried lately. Knitting hasn't been the source of inspiration for me for a long long time, and that's odd. Yes, I know that every knitter goes through such periods when not even the thought of purchasing new yarn does the trick.
And yes I know, I myself have gone through such periods before. Maybe it's the approaching Christmas with all it's "necessary" knitting, maybe it's the low caused by this dark season, maybe it's the 7-year change of body's cells..... go figure.

And I've tried! As you remember, I bought new yarn recently and it's still lovely to touch, but it just doesn't call out to me, in that irresistible little voice that is the voice of new yarn: "knit me into XXX pattern, or YYY pattern, phleeeease!". I have leafed through the winter issues of The Mags (and all the old issues, as well), borrowed some pattern books from the library, hung around in Raverly, walked over to the book shop to look at pattern books, opened my stash boxes to look at yarn, tried to think of knitting before falling asleep, been counting sheep..... The excitement just wasn't there.

And then.... and then! Yesterday I got mail. From Twist Collective. An extra number added for their Winter '09 collection. This one. Be still my beating heart! It's a cardigan (check!), it's long (check!), it's feminine (check!), it's beautiful (check!), it's versatile (check!), it's challenging (check!), and I've got just the yarn for it in my stash (check!).

Once again I have managed to cross the void, swim to the other side, return from the black hole, and stop the clocks. Swatch, here I come!