librarygrrrl.net

Last night, in a fit of cleaning-out-the-closets, I looked quite critically at my Va-Va-Voom vest, and sat down and ripped it out.

Poor Va-Va-Voom vest. You were my first knnitted non-scarf/hat/mitten item. You were created with love and care, but not much forethought. For example, why did I not think, “Super-bulky 100% wool for a fitted sleeveless vest? Bad idea!” No, no, instead I charged right ahead and knit you up, in a frenzy of activity. Why also did I not realize that knitted gauge changes on circs vs. straights? It turns out that I knit much tighter in the round than I do flat, and you can see it here.

That being said, I now have seven or eight balls of a lovely Gedifra wool yarn, just right for a hat and mittens or a scarf. Trust me, I understand the irony here.

Head on over to Unshelved, the library comic strip, for a very cute Sunday strip on GTD.

I love that Dewey - he’s the guy my inner control freak won’t let me become.

Just a random thought here. It’s probably an illogical fallacy, or some sort of improper reasoning, but here goes:

If the Church will no longer admit homosexual men into seminary, does that mean that the Church believes that homosexuality is something that cannot be changed in a person? Because if the Church thinks homosexuality can be changed (or at least, not acted upon) then they should continue admitting gay men into the priesthood. I mean, isn’t it all about, “Hate the sin, not the sinner”? (Thanks to one of my more dogmatic/histrionic high school religion teachers for drilling THAT phrase into my head over and over and over.)

But since the Church now won’t admit gay men into seminary, then I can only conclude that Ratzi and Co. believe that homosexuality is genetically based, and incapable of being changed (or at least controlled by a vow of chastity and/or actions of celibacy.)

What do you think? Am I reading too deeply into this? I know my logic isn’t spot-on, so help me out.

Thanks to Bookdrunk’s comment over at feministing.com, which got me thinking about this.

Finished Object time!

After fretting for (literally) months about having to learn how to crochet so I could finish the edging of Amy’s birthday present (in May, folks, it was in May), I bit the bullet last week and found an online video that gave me the basics.

I seamed, I crocheted an edge, I wove in ends, I blocked. Amy still hasn’t tried it on, but I’m sure it’ll fit fine (especially since she’s a bit more modestly sized).

The dogs seemed to like it just fine, too.

Specs:

Pattern: Boogie Vest
Pattern Source: Knitty, Spring 2004.
Yarn: Triple G Farm wool, color Teal, dye lot Summer 2004. Used about 1.5 skeins.
Needles: Clover Bamboo, size 10, circs
Recipient: Amy

Things I learned how to do while making this vest: cables and single crochet edging.

Things I would do differently if I made this again: Rather than having a slit opening, I would include a set of decreases so that it had a V-neck opening. I’d also make the sleeve openings a little larger, and would make the entire thing about one cable repeat longer. (In other words, knit the front first and make the back to match, rather than the other way around.)

It turns out that I hate to knit when it is humid out. There is something about the combination of yarn, needles, and sticky weather that makes me cranky. So I really look forward to September in Philadelphia, when the humidity finally begins to drop and yarn looks tempting again.

That said, I’ve been in a knitting slump. I have so much beautiful yarn, a couple of projects on the needles, and no desire to do anything with what I’ve got. But there is also my practical side, the side that says “NO” to impulse purchases of yarn, the side that keeps me looking at free knitting patterns on the internet. That side has been prevailing lately.

Thus, last night, I picked up a lovely ball of recycled silk sari yarn given to me by my Phillyknitters Secret Pal about a year ago, and found a skein-and-a-half of leftover Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a lovely blush color, and decided that come hell or high water, I was going to make something with them.

I poked in my pattern stash, I surfed the net, and finally I turned to my books. And then I found a cute little bag pattern that I like - just a knit a long rectangle, add a triangular flap to the end, make some i-cord, and voila! Bag! Since I wanted to see how the yarns looked knitted together, I decided to both swatch and start at the same time (hey, it’s a BAG - it’s not like it needs to fit over my head or anything!)

And I like it. I really do. There should be just enough of the Cashmerino to finish this, although if there isn’t, I’ll make the flap with two strands of the sari yarn held together - the contrast will be nice. Actually, yes, that’s it! I *will* make the flap with two strands of the sari yarn held together. That way, the bag will be that much larger.

The colors are mostly true to life in the photo, at least on my monitor.