So yesterday morning I woke up uber-early, made a pot of Starbucks' finest, and picked up the deep blue Blue Heron cotton and the Kiri pattern. And I tried it. And about 15 rows into it I asked myself, "Am I having fun?" And I answered myself: "No, actually this sucks and it's making me tired." That Deep Water is deep dark, and even with the Ott light carefully positioned over my shoulder shining right on it, it was awful. And I don't like Kiri. I did not bond with her. I am not one to seek "challenges" in my knitting. Quite the opposite in fact, I like patterns I can do while watching TV, or talking on the phone, or just letting my mind wander. Lace and a wandering mind do not mix. I can see that Kiri is not difficult, but it needs more thinking than I really want to apply to my knitting. I have enough brain-tiring activity between 8 and 5. Love the yarn, love the color, but I know my knitting preferences and I honestly feel no need to "stretch" or "challenge" myself in my knitting at this time in my life. I'm so stretched and challenged already I can hardly stand it.
I may never learn to love lace, but I did learn that if I'm going to attempt it at all it needs to be in a lighter color yarn that I can friggin' SEE. So the Deep Water will have to settle for life as some variation of feather and fan, or some other easy pattern with a lot of repeats that I can do without having to squint at the yarn, squint at the pattern, and study the chart to see if I'm following the written instructions correctly (I am not good with charts, but I can use them if I force myself). I'm holding off on starting another Clapotis right on the heels of the first, because it's in the 80s here and we are probably 8 or 9 months away from scarf weather. I'll make another, but not right now. So I'm in search of a project, and in the meantime I'm working on Dulaan stuff, and fighting the urge to buy more yarn and trying to think of a useful project I can make from the stash even though I really want more handpainted crack.
I haven't been writing much about politics lately. It's not indifference by any means, it's just burnout.
I'm among the people who missed this awesome speech on Boston Legal the other day. My cousin is a huge BL fan and she emailed everybody about it the next morning.
Bush's approval rating is at 33% overall, but still something like 74% among Republicans. How? I mean, HOW??? What kind of willful ingorance and blind obedience does one have to muster to still believe in these clowns? So many things are so very very wrong in this country right now, it's almost overwhelming to try to think about it.
That should be required in school civics classes. I am not a BL fan, but that was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about that last night--I hate the fact that my tax money is being spent on this. I'd rather send it off to build the famed bridge-to-nowhere. Think I can hold my taxes in escrow?
ReplyDeleteNo one can do much of anything anymore about withholding taxes, considering how much the government now knows about every single individual they want to run a plumber's snake through. ewww
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the approval rating amongst Republicans? They can't stand to lose. Also, they are responsible for the big bad wolf, Nixon. What can I say?
Lella
Sorry that Kiri didn't work out for you--I really thought you'd like it. The Blue Heron is cotton, right? All things considered, I'd suggest working something up in "Razor Shell" or some variation of "Arrow Lace"; use Seed or Moss stitch as a simple border. You know how to create a shape with increases/decreases. The advantage of "Razor Shell" is that it automatically creates a wavy edge.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I don't understand Bush's approval within his own party either. I'm not sure if it's stupidity, wilful ignorance, or just sheer bloody-mindedness. Where they feel that they've supported the moron this far and anything less would make the party look divisive--you know, give people something to pounce on.
ReplyDeleteEvery time one of them opens their yap, I keep thinking of my stepfather's old joke: "My mind's made up; don't confuse me with facts."
Oh, and if it is cotton, make sure you use a somewhat larger needle size, as cotton doesn't "block out".
ReplyDeleteBut I'm sure you knew that.
The problem with witholding our taxes in protest is that these bastards would quit paying the soldiers so they could meet their obligations to Halliburton.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm actually aware of the properties of cotton, and of lace, and of blocking, and of all of that stuff. I just don't have the patience or attention span to do it.
ReplyDeleteActually once you get into Kiri it is a no brainer cause the leaves line up and you barely even have to glance at the chart. 15 rows isn't "really into" the pattern. Give it another chance? :)
ReplyDeleteI'll give Kiri another chance someday, with a lighter colored yarn! I couldn't make it "really into" the pattern while going blind with that dark Deep Water.
ReplyDelete