Updating

Comma the Cat wanted to help me take some photos of yarn. He thought I should share his loveliness with the world. Unfortunately he doesn't understand how hard it is to photograph black cats. This was right before he knocked the yarn off the table in disgust.

Here's my new grass green yarn from Knit Picks. I'm using it to make a Larch Cardigan.

Here's a photo of it in front of the basil.

Here's my work in progress. It seems to be knitting up really well, although because the pattern calls for sport weight and I'm using fingering weight, I had to go up a couple of needle sizes, and the fabric is more open than I expected. Not that it matters a whole lot. I live in the desert. I struggled at first with the detailing along the ribbing.

Instead of a traditional 1x1 ribbing, this is knit and purled through the back loop, bound off, and then picked up again to create the pretty little ledge before the body of the sweater. I was fussing about this at first, because it's fiddly, but after casting on and tearing out a few times, I decided I really liked it. :)

Also, here's another finished object. This is shawl #7 of 2012.

Last minute yarn, Beef Marinade

Alright. So. I am part of a group on Ravelry (a knitting and crochet community, for those that don't know) that participates in No-Buy months. The premise is that you have support to break your yarn-buying addiction. It's a great group. I'm participating in No-Buy-May. Since yesterday was April 30, I went online to KnitPicks and purchased enough yarn for a sweater I want to make, as well as 2 skeins of laceweight yarn. It was really inexpensive. REALLY. But now I really need to buckle down and not buy any more yarn. I will recommend this site to Christina for the purchase of the yarn for her sweater I'm supposed to knit. I think it'll be less expensive than buying in the shops.

On another note, I made a really good marinade for beef the other night. Here are my notes:

Marinade for Beef Kebabs
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. Garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. Fresh chopped thyme
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
dash of nutmeg
dash of allspice
2 tbsp honey
1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Tenderize meat, and cut into large cubes. Pour marinade over beef and rub in using fingers. Let sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Skewer. Grill. Eat.

And so the yarn stash grows....

I came home from work on Wednesday, and my mom (who lives with me) had gone shopping at Big Lots for wool to knit sweaters with. Her goal is to knit 12 in 2012, but also find a pattern that she likes well enough to knit over and over again for Christmas presents. I *loved* the yarn she got, so we jumped in the car and headed back to Big Lots. I spent about $30, but got enough yarn for 4 sweaters and a pair of socks.

Here they are:

So my stash has increased slightly, and Mom now has a stash too. Luckily I get the first of all the sweaters she makes. :D

Also, a friend at work said something that was really nice. He complimented me on my shawls that have been posted on Facebook, and said I'm very talented. N. wants to go to MayaLuna Yarns so she can buy yarn for me to make her a shawl with. And I'm scheduled to make a cabled Aran sweater for C. She saw one on National Geographic's website that was over $140, so I said I'd knit her one if she bought the yarn. Seems like I have my friends supporting my addiction now. I'm going to need Knitter's Anonymous meeting or something.

2 years later...

Ugh. I'm so horrible at keeping resolutions. I told myself I was going to keep up with this blog. 1 post. Yup. A couple of weeks ago the BF asked, "So, how are things going with that blog?" My heart sunk. It was like all those anxiety dreams I get where I'm back in college and have completely forgotten I was taking Advanced Engineering, and *poof* it's the day of the final exam.

So... I'm back. With a few extra hobbies. I learned to knit a little over a year ago. I went a bit obsessive with it (shocked?) and I'm pretty good at it. I've challenged myself to knit 12 shawls in 2012.

Shawl#1: Color Affection

Shawl #2: Boneyard Shawl

Shawl #3: Poppies Shawl

Shawl#4 Out of Gas

Shawl #5: Amanda's Shawl

Shawl #6: Ashton Shawl

I just finished shawl #6 and told myself, "self, I think it's time for a break. Why not make socks or something?" I had the pattern printed out and everything, and then I looked down and it was like waking up after demonic possession, because those were NOT socks on my needles, but another shawl. Oh well. On to #7.

My mother gave me a brother sewing machine for Christmas. I took a class at the local community college, and made a set of pajamas and a skirt. Sewing clothing still is a lot more work than I'm willing to do regularly. I think I'd like quilting better, because it's mostly straight lines, but I haven't taken a class for that yet. Perhaps this summer.

Name of the Blog

I've been wanting to create a blog for a while, and finally stopped procrastinating. I'm hoping to use it to follow all my crafty adventures in crocheting, scrapbooking, and maybe even quilting when I learn how. I like making gifts for other people. The problem is, once I make something and give it away, it's gone. This will be where I keep the memories of the things I've created and the people that have inspired them.

I chose the name for the blog from a quote I found about Ginger Rogers.

About Fred Astaire] "Sure he was great, but don't forget Ginger Rogers did everything he did backwards . . . and in high heels!"



I love the old movies with Fred and Ginger and Gene Kelly. Men dancing and making no excuses about it. Women dancing, showing their athleticism, and still being feminine and beautiful. People using motion and their bodies to tell a story. It's completely different from the ultra-sexualized gyrating you see on TV today, with stars showing more and more skin to make up for the fact that they don't have finesse or talent. There's so much classiness that's missing today. Through this blog I hope to bring back some of the charm that's been lost through the years, but in ways that are modern and functional.


So... I'm only 26. The crochet patterns I've chosen are not from your granny's closet. I guess my style would be more... Granny chic? I love digging through old linens at the antique store and looking at the retro fabrics. I love things that go with Fiestaware and Jadeite, and old Pyrex mixing bowls, but I also appreciate a touch of the modern wearability that comes from new materials. 


Today I'm going on an excursion to the craft store to pick up some inspiration from new yarns. Maybe I'll even try some of that new bamboo yarn that feels soooooo soft. Then I'll take pictures of what I've created so far.. although the gifts won't be posted until after Christmas.