Wednesday, February 16, 2005

 

Oops, Tagged Again!


Well, I was all prepared to post a picture of the wonderful giftage I got from the funky folks over at Lion Brand for joining The Yarn Harlot's quest to save the world, and then toss in a muttered reference to a dishcloth or two and maybe a UFO sighting and a mention of a new boy in town, and then the eminently nasty La decided to whap me with one of those freakin' questionnaires. One in which I'm going to look even more assish than usual, which is why I refer to someone of whom I am exceptionally fond as "eminently nasty".

OK, I'm a good sport, if a foul-mouthed one. Here we go:

Do you knit using the English or Continental Method?

Fucked if I know. What's the difference? I really have never ever looked it up. I just do this thingie and the yarn goes together and then I stop, cry a little, rip it out, have another beer and start again.

I think that may be the Scottish method (I was born there).

How long ago did you learn to knit?

Well, according to many, there's a good chance that I haven't done so yet, but I actually started finishing things three or so years ago.

Who taught you how?

The whole story? (And no, I can't just answer the freakin' question so shut up.)

My grandmother and her sisters used to own a wool shop in Sutton-In-Ashfield and my grandmother was a fantastic knitter. She's been gone um, 25 or something years and I still have some of the clothes she knit for my dolls. She tried, patiently and endlessly to teach me. I couldn't learn. I almost managed to make a scarf for Teddy. I think I made a coaster for my other grandmother once, but I had to have help casting on and off.

My mother is a knitter, she makes great sweaters. She tried to teach me. I couldn't learn.

Then one day I decided to do it. So I learned. Maybe three or a bit more years ago. I've never made anything difficult, though. I've always been too scared to try because secretly I'm a Great Big Wienerdog.

My biggest help and inspiration has been my friend Ann, even though we've never met in person. She's good at explaining in words what I'm supposed to be doing with these bits of string. Thanks, Ann!

What was your first FO?

Oh god. I dunno. Prolly a dishcloth *g*.

Actually no, it was either the green kid's sweater from about.com that I posted before or possibly a blue toque with a seed-stitch brim. It lives in California with my friend mica now

Favourite yarn?

I've done most of my knitting in ACKrylic. The majority of my knitting goes to people who vomit on themselves (winos, crackhos and babies ... and one of my co-workers) and I strongly believe in suiting the yarn to the project. For instance you really don't want to use cashmere for a newborn. They leak at both ends.

That being said, I've recently started getting into "better" fibers, for want of a better word (although I'd be the first to push a yarn snob under a train for dissing my dishcloths). I'm making a Sophie bag in some gorgeous hand-spun Lopi that I got at the Puyallup Fair and I'm pretty much in love with it. I'd do me that again.



Favourite pattern you've knit so far?

There's a difference between favourite pattern and favourite item. I don't know if I have a favourite pattern yet, I've done so little fancystuff. Maybe the baby hat I converted into an adult hat. I've made quite a few of those and they're very warm and fast to make.

The favourite item is the evil pig slippers I made for my brother.




Favourite Pattern Source?

Free stuff on the internet, vintage patterns, and stuff I get from Ann.

Favourite Needles?

Addi Turbos. Circs and straights. I love 'em.

Nicest thing you've ever knit?

Nicest? I don't know. The most meaningful item is the blanket I made as a memorial when I lost my second child the month I turned 40 (miscarriage, 11 weeks, it was bad but I'm ok now). This blanket was given to a daycare on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, where there are a lot of disadvantaged kids.




Most hated project?

Oh man, there are a lot of things that have hopped back to the frog pond. Likely the "cuddly blanket" from HGTV. A lot of work, I got about 1/4 of the way through and it's languishing in a bag somewhere, never to be completed. I don't even have a photo of it, thank dog.

Who are you going to pass this on to?

Oh, I think Ann and then Juno 'cause they're both good sports and I think they'll play along and then Rebecca because she made a snarky comment about my dishcloths, and I like her a lot.

Comments:
Hmmm, so how does this work?

I'll play, but I need to know.

A
 
You take the questions (sans answers) and post 'em on your blog and answer them. YAY!
 
pictured pig slippers are still used...mostly to scare unwanted houseguests.

the brother.
 
I was trying to think of a diplomatic way to say it, seeing it IS a free service, but yes, Blogger sucks ass. I don't think there's any other way to describe it.

Alas, "free" is the only price I can afford at the moment, so we shall all have to struggle along as best we can.
 
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