Southernism of the Day

RECKON

Function: Verb

Origin: Middle English rekenen, from Old English -recenian (as in gerecenian to narrate, akin to Old English reccanDate: 13th century1 : Count Example: To reckon the days till Christmas 2 : to regard or think of as : Consider 3 : Think, suppose

Example: "I'm starvin! I reckon I'll get me somethin' to eat."

From Amanda Galiano's Southern Slang Dictionary

Gettin' My Knit On

The knitting hobby is totally under way. There are two "efforts" going on simultaneously, but I think it's time to lay the first one to rest. I learned with inkle weaving that I do, in fact, get better each and every time I do it. As I am not OCD, I have taken shots of these less than perfect efforts to show you my progression. Just think how proud we'll be when I actually knit something like a sweater. Then we'll all look back with nostalgia and laugh at these pitiful attempts.

Okay, the photo above bravely documents my first time knitting more than two rows without having to rip it out. Notice the scary holes in it. Notice the even scarier loopy, uneven edges. As you can see, I got the purl stitch down and utilized it here. The problem is, I can't seem to pay attention long enough to remember if I just purled a row or knitted a row. I haven't learned to tell the difference until I'm several rows out. I put the bottom needle into it to stretch it out and show you better.

Now for effort 2:

Progress was made in effort 2. My edges are a little neater thanks to a co-worker who taught me a cool end stitch. There is only one hole that I can see. The worst mistake would have to be that I knitted with my tail strand once or twice. D-oh! You can kinda see it on the left in the second photo. Gotta watch that. Now what is going on with the rounded edges? There may have been some angry knitting goin' on. But that is getting better, too.

May I recommend Debbie Stoller's book Stitch 'N Bitch if you're interested in learning to knit. Now these are instructions I can relate to! Ms. Stoller breaks it all down for you with a sense of humor and in plain English. I find it easier to understand than some other knitting instruction books I've read. She has at least two other books on knitting and one for learning crochet. Buy it, man!

Southernism of the day

TUMP

Function: Verb

Origin: perhaps akin to British dialect tumpoke to fall head over heels

To tip or turn over, especially accidentally.

Example: Don't tump over that glass of tea!

From Amanda Galiano's Southern Slang Dictionary

Stitchin' Status

I spent some time today with yarn, needles and hook. Here is what I've learned.

1. Despite my numerous declarations to the contrary, I CANNOT knit , weave or crochet while watching a movie.
2. Cladee lied when she said crochet was easier than knitting. Guess she just wanted to screw with me.
3. When I get to the end of a row of stitches, whether knitting or crocheting, I spaz out and FROG (unravel it all) like a madwoman.
4. Using variegated yarn is beneficial when learning to knit or crochet.
5. Patience really IS a virtue.
6. I have (just about) mastered the purl stitch.
7. Knitting and crochet is not very easy to learn from a book with two dimensional figures. Maybe they should print these instructions so you can use 3-D glasses to read them. Then the picture of the hook and yarn would ACTUALLY MAKE SOME SENSE.

I did not get around to trying out the sewing patterns, but there's always tomorrow. I got sidetracked when I went out to run errands. And by sidetracked I mean there are sales galore at the mall Mama needs a new bra! Well, not anymore because my friends at JC Penney helped me with that. I really shouldn't get so excited when I purchase a bra and socks. But since we're on the subject, let me just tell you (if there are any men reading this, you may want to bypass this next part) that having - as one catalog so delicately put it - an over ample bust on a small frame is soooooo unfair. Underwire is your enemy and closest ally. I am now to the point that I'm buying bras in boxes. You know the ones that are in the cube o'drawers in the department stores? They don't even put them on racks with the rest of the bras because no one wants to see that. Oh yes, I'm talking about 18-Hour bras. Cotton, wide straps, seamless, no underwire and back straps about half a foot wide with three industrial strength hooks. And, oh! There's a bow in the middle to make it "pretty" and "feminine". How hot is that?! Grrrrr.......

Four down, one to go

Hooray for hobby #4! I'm a crocheter! Is that a word?


Cladee patiently taught me how to tie a slip knot, make cable stitches and double crochet stitches. I screwed it up and had to pull it out about 17 times but eventually I made something that resembled actual crochet. As with my knitting, I was all over it "angry-style" until I realized I couldn't get the hook through the really tight stitches. After relaxing and channeling my inner Brighid I improved somewhat. Thanks, Cladee!



Also, my local yarn shop is going out of business (bad) and is having a 50% off sale (good). I've never seen high dollar yarn before - and so much of it! I think I touched every hank, skein and cone in the store. I found some particularly soft and squishy yarn that I wanted to roll around naked in but I couldn't afford that much good yarn. Instead, I bought three skeins of Plymouth yarn Baby Alpaca Brush in a gorgeous copper/brown color. I have no clue as to what I will make out of it. Sound familiar? Should I knit it or crochet it? Should I weave it? Should i make a hat or a purse or a scarf or a big fat square?

I JUST DON'T KNOW!!

The problem with scarves, mittens and the like is that down here in the Deep South we have little need of such accessories. We knitters must think outside the box with regard to our creative endeavors. Now if I can just get the hang of sewing I will be a bona fide fiberartfreak! Don't hold your breath.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Once upon a time, my husband told me that he would like to see me get a hobby, something to keep me occupied and happy. While I had several interests, there was nothing I could claim as a hobby, per se. But as I told him last week,

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

I now have no less than 3 1/2 hobbies: photography, weaving and knitting. The half is made up of sewing and crocheting. The two combined don't equal a whole (yet!) because I haven't technically attempted them. But I own a new sewing machine (thank you, Sears!) and several crochet hooks (thank you, Cladee!) so that must mean they are also my new hobbies. I have "practiced sewn" a bit with an old cloth napkin. Sewing a straight line is much more difficult than one would assume, by the way. I bought a pattern for a purse and also one for a skirt. This weekend I hope to start on one of them and I assure you, I will photodocument each painful step of the way.

My yummy friend Cladee gave me several crochet hooks and some pretty, variegated yarn today. She left it all on my desk at work with a note that read "Get your crochet on." And I intend to. She is a gifted crocheter who has watched me suffer through trying to knit. I guess she decided that I need to start with something that requires only one implement that is not pointy. She insists that crochet is easier than knitting, so I will believe her and give it a shot. I eagerly await becoming a multi-fiber artist!

I thought knitting would be relaxing, but I only seem to be able to perform the "angry knitting" technique. My stitches are so tight they don't even move up and down the needle. Maybe I'm concentrating too hard. I'm sure that as I get better it will be more relaxing. I confess, I was inspired by Crazy Aunt Purl's blog. Crazy Aunt Purl

I stumbled upon it while browsing fiber arts/knitting blogs and now I'm completely addicted to it. That Crazy Aunt Purl is a hoot!

Hope to have some cool photos to show you after this weekend.

This cool cartoon can be found at Natalie Dee's awesome website.

Nature in the Suburbs

For the past few days it's been like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom in our backyard. A mockingbird made a nest in the tree-like bush outside our back door and now there is a baby bird living in the backyard and Mamabird is feeding it. One of the little guys didn't make it, but looks like his brother did well. So this post is a bit photo-intensive, but this doesn't happen every day in my back yard!

Now we just have to hope that no stray cats or dogs realize what's going on here. By the way, I apologize for the blurry images, but I was a bit excited and it happened really fast!