The Dragon

I’m at a level in my amigurumi now where I feel comfortable making big changes. Adding parts, subtracting, switching things around. And while I thought the Baby Snow Dragon pattern was cute in it’s own right (it’s ears and expression make me think of Dobby from Harry Potter), it wasn’t my idea of a dragon. I wanted more on the head, different ears, wings, etc. Here’s what I came up with:

I used blue/white beads for the eyes that change with the light. The yarn is acrylic that came from a yarn bag at Value Village (thrift shop):

Recommended Reading

The essay “Gin, Television and Social Surplus” can either be read here, or listened to here. I recommend the second link, to Quirky Nomads, to hear Sage Tyrtle reading it aloud on her podcast.

After hearing the essay, I immediately went to the source website and printed it, thinking that I would show it to my parents. They do have basic internet skills and could probably read it online, but 4 pages of text is a lot when you’re not used to it. Having now printed it, I’ve decided to instead pin it to the bulletin board at the public library, where I was recently stranded for an hour waiting for a ride, so someone else who needs to be near the door looking for a car can have something interesting to read in the meantime.

I don’t watch much television myself. By that, I mean that I don’t sit in front of an actual television while watching; I download episodes of shows I want to see and watch them from my laptop, usually while knitting or crocheting. I pause them a lot to look at the pattern I’m working on (which is usually on the computer), or to check a website, then go back. I don’t like just sitting there, and only do that when watching Lost weekly, mostly because that’s the one show I go to the tv to watch. This requires popcorn, so no yarn.

When people wonder aloud where other people, like me, find time to, say, knit, crochet, have a blog, go to exercise classes and read novels, I don’t understand what they mean. Even when I had a full-time job, I still had time for these things. I don’t sit in front of the television, mesmerized and passive, for hours on end. (I also don’t have or want kids, so that probably gives me a few more hours a day). Most of the people my age that I know are invested in projects online, even if it’s something as small as reading certain blogs or newspapers every day, or being active on a forum, or using Facebook and Ravelry to network.

The part at the end where Shirky talks about the 4-year-old who suddenly dashes behind the tv to look for the computer mouse really hit it home for me. When I was a kid, television programs were just on the big box in the family room. There were occasionally shows on VCRs that could be paused, rewound, or fast-forwarded, but we didn’t have a remote for this, let alone a mouse. We had to get up, walk to the tv, and push buttons. Media wasn’t under our control for the most part, we sat back, passive, and watched. We didn’t do anything while watching either, except maybe snack. My inner 4-year-old does not have the same sense of media that the 4-year-old in the essay does.

People tend to go on about how Generation Y, my generation, expect too much from life, are spoiled, unmotivated and unwilling to compromise at work. In magazines, I’ve read about how we’re depressed, feel we shouldn’t have to work, and are floundering about between alcohol, drugs and bad relationships, trying to find the next step. It’s discussed like it’s our fault, or the parents’ fault, or the teachers’.

Isn’t it just society changing? We’ve made huge steps since 1977, the typical start-date for Gen Y, leaps, even. Some of us have managed well, others not so well, and a lot are just not understood by previous generations, even more-so than previously. Previous generations are like the producer who doesn’t understand where our mindset is, who doesn’t get where we find the time or why we behave the way we do. We have a different view of the world.

Maybe this is just a passing thought, but I wanted to write it down and share it. And seriously, be sure to check out that essay.

Edit: I did edit this a few times after publishing, sorry.

I Was Wrong

This is the view that suddenly appeared yesterday, after the rain switched to snow. The snow fell like it was January for hours, continuing overnight.

This morning, it was a blanket of snow. It was like looking at a postcard of a beautiful Christmas scene, set in a quiet, rural neighbourhood with the pine trees frosted just so in snow icing.

Sigh.

Anyway, I have a a few projects to show. First, my biggest, made on a whim after frogging the Boogie Vest that I made for my mother a while ago. Yes, it was a nice vest, but in the end it was just too bulky. So, I remembered a capelet in the book Hip Graphic Knits that had an aztec pattern, and decided to rewrite it for bulky yarn. I used Bernat Softee Chunky, and the darker colour is Bernat Solo in Rustic:

I adjusted how many stitches cast on, but I didn’t change anything about the length, except that the ribbing at the bottom is a little more than an inch, and the top isn’t the full however-many-inches. I think it’d be too short if done with the called-for worsted weight yarn, but maybe not. I used size 10US needles for the whole thing.

My hair’s doing that thing where it decides to flip out halfway down on one side, but not on the other. It resists all attempts to be corrected. If I part my hair on the other side, then I get the flip there. Parting in the middle doesn’t help. I think I’ll stay away from the layers next time I get my hair cut.

I also did two amis in the meantime:

This one is the Crochet Amigurumi Owl, which is a cute and quick pattern.

Next is the Knitted Bunny, but when I had it almost finished, I didn’t like the look of the knit fabric. It might be the yarn I used (same taupe as for the capelet, and thus, a bulky) so I redid it in crochet. This was not a hard mod, as all you do is make a 6″ by 6″ square, and the rest is done with clever sewing and stuffing.

Firefly Bainbridge

I made a Foliage hat back in November, using a James C. Brett yarn called Marble that I loved, but for the longest time couldn’t figure out what to do with. Then Foliage came along and I made that on/during my latest trip to the US.

There was still about half a ball left, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. With such a small amount, there’s very few choices. I didn’t want to make an amigurumi with it, didn’t think there was enough for mitts/fingerless gloves, didn’t want to make another hat. Then I saw a version of the Bainbridge Scarf (link opens a pdf file) that was green, cabled, and had green leaves on the tie. The only picture I can find is on Ravelry, which is still in Beta, sorry if you can’t get in yet to see it.

I looked through my Vogue Knitting Stitchionaries and decided to use the Firefly pattern, from Volume two. I ran out of yarn for the leaves and used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Taupe.

The pattern is meant for thicker yarn, so I added more stitches, around 30 more. Here it is with the hat:

It’s Warming Up

Mostly because I just finished a sweater. It’s part El Sol Pullover (scroll down) from Interweave Knits, and part Cobblestone from Interweave knits (I can’t find this magazine in their archive, they’re missing some of the Fall ones. It’s Fall 2007), mostly following the El Sol Pullover. I used Patons Canadiana (I keep hearing people calling it Pay-tons on podcasts, maybe I’m wrong in saying Patons with the a as in mat), and started the bottom part as a 42″. I then worked down to 34″, and kept that the whole way. The yarn is a little stretchy, so when I got to the bust, it just stretches a little. I’m also at garter stitch by then.

I only did the seed stitch at the hem and sleeve edges, and didn’t do anymore at all. I also didn’t do the ties on the sleeves, not because I didn’t like them, but because I knew they would catch on everything. I also of course shortened the body and the sleeves. The top part, like Cobblestone, is all in garter stitch, and I did 16 rounds instead of 24 at one part. You could even go less than that, as it is the armpits are an inch below the actual armpits. Other people on Ravelry have had this problem too, which is why I planned to subtract.

I used a plain beige on the edges, including the top part. That was part accident, since I had used up all of the variegated yarn and only had the plain beige left. It’s a good thing I ran out, I think it looks better like that.

Next, I finally finished the Brea Bag. I bought some great material, a strap, and rings for the sides, then let them all sit on top of my bookshelf for a few weeks to marinate. Then, one day, I brought the material upstairs, measured it, measured it again, cut, and sewed it up. The inside lining is probably supposed to be desert cliffs and sky, but it looks like cliffs at the beach, which is partially why I picked it.

Spring is Near

I put aside the sweater I’ve been working on, and the Brea Bag that I’m almost finished of, for a while. I don’t think I’ve posted a picture of that yet, actually. Here’s one of the panels:

The front and back are identical, I’ve sewed them together (it was too big with the divider part), I’ve bought a lining and strap and just need to assemble it. It’s Paton’s Canadian yarn in Wedgewood blue.

What I have been working on is eggs, and chicks. I think the chicks turned out better than the eggs, so I’ll post them first:

The pattern is Birds of a Feather by BitterSweet. I did one per evening, maybe two, and embroidered the beak and eyes.

The same designer also made the One Bag Egg pattern. For some reason I could not get my eggs like hers. They’re pointier, and of course I still don’t have safety eyes (I’m going to have to order them). But they’re kind of cute:

I made them with dishcloth cotton, the birds are acrylic.

Tubey and Karaoke

Do you remember the yarn that was going to be Under the Hoodie from SnB? Then it was going to be Kyoto, then a Raglan, then FrouFrou (crochet) from SnB THH? Well, now it’s Tubey, and it’s staying that way.

I did the medium size, but I probably could have gone down to the small. The yarn is Bernat Super Value Ombres in Mountain Lake, size 8US/5mm needles. I shortened the sleeves and did 8 rows of moss stitch at the end, and shortened the body. I did a little decreasing and increasing, and probably could have done more, but it’s alright. I love sleeves like this, this is how the kyoto sleeves were before I frogged that, and I was sad to see them go. To prevent pooling, I switched skeins every other row while knitting. Considering how many little balls I have of this yarn at this point, it wasn’t hard.

I also made a scarf for my younger sister, who is turning 25 on the 28th:

This is the Karaoke Cable scarf, done in Red Heart Soft Touch in red on 6US/4mm needles. It’s 5.5 feet long without the fringe and a little over 6 feet including the fringe. It’s also soft and snuggly, just the right width.

It was a last-minute project. Our older sister is going to visit the birthday girl, leaving tomorrow actually, and on either this past Thursday or Friday my mother started with “are you making anything for Julia? You should make something for her, is there anything little you could add to the presents I’m sending? Maybe you can make her a black shrug!” (She just finished crocheting one herself, and has a lot of black left). I didn’t think Julia would want that, so she called her, and then told me that Julia wanted a long, skinny red scarf. So, voila. I was a one-woman sweatshop for the weekend, but it’s done. It was done late Sunday, and it’s all packaged up and ready to make the trip to Mississauga. (On a side-note, I don’t know why I didn’t try to go, too. There was a sale on tickets, and Mississauga is right outside of Toronto. I could have gone to Lettuce Knit. I don’t have any money to spend there, but I could have gone. I didn’t just didn’t think of that in time.)

Dreamswatch, Lobster and Boogie

It’s been almost a month since my last post, which is a little unusual for me. There was a power outage during that time, but it was just for 3 days. A lot of storms.

Anyway, first thing. I wanted to mention something about the soy/acrylic yarn dying. It might be something I did, I don’t know, but it can bleed. There might be a better way of doing it where it doesn’t, I’ve read something about steaming. I made a headband with my purple skein, and don’t plan on washing it, so it should be safe:

That’s the Dreamswatch Headwrap from Knit and Tonic.

I made another small project recently, just finished it last night:

It’s a Lobster, and a live one. Well, a representation of a live one, anyway. The person who did the pattern is from Maine and mentions this, but not everyone realizes that lobsters are not red when they’re alive, they’re a dark blueish greenish colour. One of the things that PEI is famous for is lobsters, and my grandfather was a lobster fisherman, so I thought it would be fun to try.

I also made a vest for my mother. She picked out the pattern, yarn and colour (Bernat Softee chunky in Soft Taupe), and the pattern is Boogie from knitty:

That’s before washing, so the edges will probably calm down after that. It fits well and she’s happy with it. I did it in the round instead of flat, and made a v-neck instead of what it called for.

No, I Haven’t Named Him

Or, her. I did make the pattern up, though, as a result of a challenge: “Make a snail that can come out of it’s shell, with a tiny tail sticking out.” This was after seeing the turtle I made, which can come out of it’s shell:

The shell is acrylic, made like nautie, and then I picked up stitches on the side to make the sleeve. The snail itself is dishcloth cotton.

Dying Soy-Acrylic Yarn

Quite a while ago, maybe a year or more, Bernat surprised me by coming out with a line of new acrylic blends. One of them was Soy, which is 50% soy and 50% acrylic. It’s a little thinner than worsted weight and has a nice feel to it, but unfortunately, the colours are blah. Off-white, beige, pale green, pale blue, pale pink. Nice for babies maybe, but not for me. I had bought some of the beige yarn (called Flax), and currently it’s an unfinished scarf that I’ll probably add other colours to. I mostly bought it because I wanted to try it.

Someone online asked about dying it, and no one had a good answer. You can dye soy yarn, but this isn’t a 100% soy. The acrylic hampers it’s ability to take dye from acid-based dyes. But, I did read that if there is a high enough percentage of natural fiber (the soy) it will take some dye.

So, armed with a tutorial from knitty.com, 1 skein (2.5 oz) of Oatmeal (off-white) yarn, 3 packets of kool-aid (Lemon-Lime, then Grape. I’ll put a picture of the Lemon-Lime one last), a microwave and a microwave-safe dish, I began. Here’s what I did:

1 - Unwravel the yarn into a loose skein and tie it off. The first time I did this when using the green, I went for about 1 oz of yarn, but tied a little too tight. It ended up variegated as a result. My second time, I had about 1.5 oz (and used 2 packets of grape). I tried twisting it into a hank instead, but that also resulted in white spots. This is my issue, though, it is possible to dye a solid colour if you have the yarn bundled properly.

2 - Wash the yarn in cool water with mild soap, rinse, and let it sit in cool water while you do step 3.

3 - Using a microwave-safe bowl (I used a glass Pyrex container) pour in the kool aid, then add a cup or two of water. Stir until it dissolves, add the yarn, then enough water so that the yarn is covered. Then put it in the microwave for two minutes. (It can also be done on the stovetop. The important point, from what I understand, is not to let the water come to a boil.)

4 - Remove from microwave, gently flip the yarn over with a utensil, let it sit for 3 minutes. Repeat. You want to be very careful not to overheat. The first time I kept heating it up, having misread the directions. I heard crackling in the microwave, like I had put in rice. The acrylic changed texture. It soaked up all the dye still, but the yarn was no longer the same, it was like thick/thin yarn. So, for the grape, I heated twice, let it sit for 30 minutes, heated it again for 2 minutes, then let it sit for 30 minutes

6 - Rinse the yarn with water close to the temp of the water the yarn was sitting in, rinse, wash with mild soap. Keep rinsing the yarn with cool water until the dye doesn’t come out anymore. You can test this easily by putting water in a dish, placing the yarn in the water and squishing it down. If the water remains clear, you’re done.

7 - Hang the yarn up to dry. I did this with a hanger on a shower rod. If you get impatient, you can blowdry it for a while, too.

Now, because I did the hank too tightly with the purple, this created white spots, and also blueish spots between the white and the purple. I was disappointed at first, but while I didn’t get the solid that I was going for, it’s still pretty:

I don’t know what I’m going to do with the green. Not only did I change the texture, the green ended up too light. Here it is on the hanger: