Another Hateful Prick

See the kind of values that strict Catholicism will bring you? Now Mel Gibson shows his true colors.


Knew It All Along
Years ago, there were comments about what a hateful, homophobic prick he was. He made insulting comments about the gay community and then denied them. He made movies that clearly showed disdain for effeminate men.

Thaddeus and I haven't seen a Mel Gibson movie in decades, specifically because of all the rumored hatred. And when he came out with that horrible anti-Semitic, Jesus movie, dubbed by a critic as "The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre" because of all the blood and gore, I knew the guy was a zealot and a nutjob.

Despite his hungover apology, his alcohol-induced tirade shows without a question that he hates Jews. I'm only surprised he didn't accuse the office of being a fag.

I'll be interested to see how "his camp" tries to spin this one, especially with his next movie due out at the end of the year.

Time With Blog Friends
Nothing better for a queerboy than Sunday brunch with friends.



I had the chance to spend some time with Kathy and Selma (pictured), and also Claudia and Liza (quilt gurus) and Liza's husband, Drew. The food was perfect, and the company was better. If you look very closely at the picture, Liza is circled in red in the background.

Current Knitting
I did some additional work on the pink baby blanket, and it's coming along nicely.



I also sewed up one shoulder seam on the Faux Rib pullover and started knitting the collar. Finally, I did some minor crochet work on the diagonal lap blanket.

I didn't feel like sticking with any one project, so I just flitted back and forth between all of my current projects.

Readers' Comments/Questions
k notes, "I have been assuming for a while that your blog is mainly written for a particular group, and the rest of us are just eavesdropping."

In part, this is true. I write specifically looking for a readership that is smart, creative and opinionated. It turns out that you have to be somewhat thick-skinned to participate as well, which wasn't intentional. I think the Newcomer Rules state pretty clearly how I expect visitors/readers to participate.

Regarding the baby blanket, kathy (with a small "k") asks, "I like this pattern for baby blankets very much but I don't see a reference to that pattern."

It's an old Lacey's pattern that I got from one of my vintage, flea market pattern purchases. It's quite a simple pattern stitch...very similar to basketweave with a yarnover in the middle of one of the squares.

Vacation Time

Next week, Thaddeus and I will be vacationing with his family in Martha's Vineyard.



Blogging and Knitting
Typically, I do no blogging while away, and just about as much knitting.

I will usually bring along some knitting project with me, and my camera, and I sometimes post pictures of vacation when I get back...but don't expect much, if anything to be posted next week.

I will be publishing for the remainder of this week.

Current Knitting
I've done a bit more on the front of the Aran pullover.



One of the smartest things I did on this design, was completely unintentional. All of the pattern stitches are worked in multiple of 8 row stitch patterns. As a result, it's very easy to keep track of where I am on any one row.

I would highly recommend this if you decide to design an Aran from scratch.

I also got somewhat distracted from Aran knitting with an hour's worth of novelty scarf knitting.



I'm getting to the bottom of my novelty yarns, so I probably only have about 12 more scarves worth of yarn to work with...currently.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Alice writes, "Wow, if you call Arlen Spector a lapdog, I really want to hear your
name for our ex-senator, Rick Santorum. (and I am proud to say I did my part to boot his ass out of office!!)

Actually, I don't consider him a lap-dog at all, especially compared to Santorum. I was just completely annoyed to hear him say he supported the president's right to executive privelege in not letting his folks testify before congress.

Meribeth asks, "I do have a question about your sweater. What method are you going to use to seam it? I ask, because I did something similar but the underarm was too bulky."

I'm not sure yet, I was planning on using my standard method for attaching the sleeve. I liked what a prior reader wrote about using a simple stitch for the side panels, to make the underarm less bulky. I will probably take both your comments as a warning to make the arm-hole a little bigger than I might for a plain stockinette stitch sweater as well.

Support Newspapers

With the internet and various other forms of other instant news obtaining services, I am truly afraid that folks will forget what an important role newspapers play in our liberty and democracy.

Worth The Effort
I love reading a newspaper. Whenever I travel, I always try and read local news.

But I know that not everyone enjoys it, and in fact some folks find reading newspapers a challenge.

It's not easy reading...it's not like watching television news...but you learn things from newspapers that can only be found there. Things that you need to understand about politics, ethical and civil rights issues and various other local goings-on that you will never hear about, even on local television stations.

If newspapers die out, the investigative journalism that they currently perform goes away too. This is the only kind of journalism that gets to the heart of important issues.

Start buying newspapers. Subscribe to local news journals. Read them every day.

Newspaper folks are always a lot more informed and active in local issues than non-newspaper folks.

Current Knitting
I got a bit more done on my current MiniMochi scarf...I'll have a picture of it next blog entry.

Current Spinning
I finished up one of the bonus balls of Mindy's Mohair/Shetland roving from Puff The Magic Rabbit, and couldn't wait to ply it with the Black Bunny Fiber Corriedale/Cormo blend singles.










The first hank I plied was about 275 yards, and I have about two more of these hanks to make (but I first have to spin the mohair/Shetland singles).

I love the resulting yarn...the colors actually got deeper and smokier because of the color I plied with it, but I'm not sure what I'll be able to make from 800 yards or so of yarn.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Angie asks two questions, "What IS on your recommended reading? I just stumbled across your blog and check it almost daily...any news on the orphan project?"

I love John Irving and I also enjoy reading a lot of classics that I should have read in high school, but didn't. And, no news on the orphan project.

Sean asks, "Can you recommend a simple pattern for someone like me that has some basics but can't handle the intricate stuff?"

Feather and Fan is always a good, easy starter option, but honestly, most stitch patters are pretty easy...it's mostly just knits, purls and yarnovers. Keeping track of where I am can sometimes be challenging.

Maureen writes, "And I really like the scarf pattern so far. You're just making it up from stitch dictionaries?"

Yes...I just took two Walker Treasury stitch patterns and kind of combined them (the eyelet ribbing is the first few inches and continues up on each side of some pattern I think is called Dayflower...but I could be wrong).

Color Naming

The new color of merino that I'm spinning, I've decided to call "Nose Crust".


Blog Braintrust
I was glad to read the derivation of "drab" from suddenlysteven, and it is clearly accurate. I just think the name wouldn't inspire many folks to buy it, like "Meadow Sage" might (thanks AmyS).

I do have to say that I've been nothing but pleased with all of my orders from Paradise Fiber. The products are excellent, their web site is easy and their service has been ideal. Now, if they could only afford a color-naming consultant.

Current Knitting
I've made some additional progress, albeit just a little, on the current design.

Unfortunately, I'm without camera, so even if I decided to make it non-secret, I couldn't post a picture.

The garment is being made in pieces, and I've completed about 2/3rds of one side of the front. Suffice it to say, the design is moving along slowly.

Radio Show
A few folks wrote and mentioned that they heard the radio show last night.

The show turned out to be quite excellent, and represented knitting in a very positive and interesting light. The guests on the show were excellent, and even if I hadn't been one of the guests, I would have enjoyed listening.

A couple of the callers and guests started discussing their beliefs that you can imbue your knitting with emotions and thoughts, which I disagree with completely. Unfortunately, the host, Christopher Liden (sp?) asked me what I thought about it. I told him, in essence, that I thought it was a lovely whimsical idea, but not likely in my mind.

There was also a very interesting caller, Frances, who berated the knitting publishers for their "dumbing down" of knitting to accommodate the trendy knitters. I enjoyed hearing others dispute this.

All in all, I was quite pleased with the show and how I represented the knit blogging world.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Annie D. asks, "Some time ago you linked us to a site for patterns where you had a scarfpattern for sale. Of course, I lost the link. Can you help me?"

Yes, the scarf is the Koigu Cross Stitch scarf, and it's available on the Knitting Vault. It has been by far my biggest selling design.

Alex P. sent in a strongly worded e-mail telling me why she didn't like my blog. I sent her the following response, and thought my comments to her might be useful to others:

Hi Alex,

In all honesty, I wanted to thank you for your e-mail. It provided me with a
lot of feedback.

I'm aware that the Newcomer Rules often anger folks (as they seem to have
angered you), but that is part of their purpose. I also know that there are
some vital, creative knitters that won't come to my site because I'm not very
nice. But, overall, I'm very satisfied with the forum that reads my blog, and
I'm willing to miss out on the participation of those that can't abide my
arrogant blog. The readers that do come back regularly, are amazingly creative,
intelligent and funny people (for the most part).

If you could find one on-line community that is interesting and creative and
expressive and enjoyable, I'd be more than happy to consider modeling my blog
after them.

One last thing, and I hope you'll take this as useful feedback. If you re-read
your e-mail again, you'll note that is has a lot of errors (grammatical,
typographical and syntax). It makes it a lot more difficult to take your
comments seriously when you have difficulty writing a coherent e-mail. Based on
your comments, I think you've made a good decision in not participating on my
web blog.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.

Joe

Knit Radio

Radio Open Source in Massachusetts will be exploring knitting on the airwaves this Thursday as this week's toping on a show called Passion Thursday.

Hear QueerJoe
...maybe...I've been asked to participate as a minor guest on this one hour show. The majority of the time will be spent talking with the owners of "Flying Fingers" yarn store and the famous Yarn Bus. The host of the show has asked me to be available to comment on the knitting blog world, so I'm excited at even the possibility of being on the air.

If anyone would like to listen, the show will be on Thursday, 28-July, 2005 from 7:00 p.m. EST till 8:00 p.m. EST.

Streaming on the internet can be found here.

Current Knitting
First of all, this is actually a combined crochet and knitting project, and I haven't even begun the knitting portion. It's been all crochet so far, and progress has been somewhat slow. Usually designing and shaping using crochet is easier than knitting, but not for this project. Where's Kathy, the crochet Goddess when you need her?

I'll keep you updated on this project until I pick another non-secret design to begin.

Weekend Fiber Activity
I did get some spinning done this past weekend. In addition to finishing up the blue merino, I also began the second-to-last color in my merino spinning.




The folks at Paradise Fiber call this color "Khaki Drab". I shit you not. Clearly the person that comes up with these color names is not a gay man.

I'd be interested to hear suggestions from readers on what this color should be called

Creepy Bug

I was about to brush a dead leaf off my screen yesterday, and realized it wasn't a leaf at all.



Amazing Moths
My investigation into what this creature was allowed me to look at an incredible variety of moths. Here's another picture showing the scale of this moth to be about 1 inch long.



I'm pretty sure this is a male blind sphinx moth, although there are enough moths close looking to my example that it's hard to know for sure (at least for me).

Current Knitting
I cruised along on the latest Ichida lace project, and now I've gotten up to the point where I can't stretch out the entire item again until it's off the needles (I HATE moving 500 or more stitches to a thread and then back to my needles just so I can take a picture of it).



I'm already up to round 80 of 142 rounds.

I'm also going to be flying this coming week, so I'll have to try and rig up some safety line that attaches my project to my belt or something so that I can't possibly forget it on the airplane.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding my comment about PuffTheMagicRabbit's drum carder, she writes, "The drumcarder is still in it's box- I'm thinking I may not get to play until school starts- but there is some baby mohair and bunny just waiting for it. Sounds like we need to get you some more fleece..."

Next time I head out to a fiber festival, I will definitely be picking up more fleece to process. I just won't make the mistake of buying a huge garbage bag full of Cormo fleece which doesn't work well with a drum card (or hand cards either for that matter). But knowing that Puff has such a lovely piece of fiber equipment still in the box makes me feel much less guilty.

Runnin' on Caffeine

With a lot of work to get done and way fewer hours of sleep than I really need, I'm relying on a couple of cups of coffee to keep me going today.

Not Sustainable
I know this kind of schedule isn't sustainable and that caffeine will soon lose its ability to keep me running, but I figure it's a good short term solution.

Plus, my schedule will be lightening up a little after today.

I do fly again this week and for the next four additional weeks, but not quite as hecticly (I know it's not a real word) as I did this past week.

Plus, I plan on being in bed by 8:00 tonight...I am getting WAY too old to be going at this pace.

Current Knitting
With no word from NorthWest/Delta on my orphaned knitting, I decided to start two new knitting projects this past weekend.

I have been dying to try the MiniMochi I got a while ago, so I figured the brown/olive/green colorway would make a great guy's scarf.





I basically started with a very nice eyelet rib pattern stitch and then transitioned to a wandering floral design (which doesn't show up so well in the pictures yet). I'm going to knit through one ball of MiniMochi and see if four balls will give me enough scarf length. If it doesn't, I plan on ripping it out and either making it more narrow, or changing yarn colorways every fourth row and adding a couple of other balls of MiniMochi into the mix.

For my first use of this yarn, I have to say I quite love it.

Current Reading
I just finished one of the more stupid-premised books I've ever read, but I still felt compelled to finish the book to find confirm that it was a predictable ending (it was).



A Certain Justice by John Lescroart
starts off with a ridiculous premise (the lynching of a black man in modern-day San Francisco) which I never got past. His protagonists are very appealing, which helped some, but his plot was very obvious and predictable.

Suffice it to say, I do not recommend this book.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Maureen writes, "Here's hoping your sock comes back to you! Was it the first or 2nd?"

It was actually the first of the pair, but the fifth sock in the Woolcott & Co series. But like I kind of wrote, it's not the effort that's gone into them, it's more the loss of the yarn and the needles.

Pundit or Whore?

Bill Clinton Is A Latent Homosexual
When everyone was saying how awful it was that President Clinton got a knob washing in the Oval Office, my thought was always, "Shit!, he's the President of the United States, I'd blow him if he was into it!"

But now it seems that the media whore, plagiarist has made another audacious claim to sell her piece-of-shit book. Yes, that he's gay.

Makes me only want to re-elect him more.

Check out this site for a funny "audacious" commentary about the bony skin-bag (but it's not appropriate for children or at work).

Altough my favorite commentary about her, is that she was invited to a "news" show to provide punditry on the Israeli/Lebanon war, and it was clear she was only there to sell books. The commentator asked the first question, and the oh-so-bright Coulter responded with, "I haven't been reading the news for the last week."

I just wish the news shows would stop putting her on as a political expert. She's a media whore, who is willing to say anything to sell her crap.

Current Knitting
I've continued work on the pink baby blanket, and that's pretty much all I've worked on when I've had the chance to knit.



I've finished five pattern repeats, which is about 7 inches of blanket. Still about 28 more inches to go.

This Year's Bug
Remember last year around this time last year, I saw some heinous bug on my front screen?



That was a male Dobson fly. This year's specialty bug is the Imperial Moth.



Readers' Comments/Questions
Donna asks, "I know you've probably mentioned it before, but I'm wondering what you're planning on doing with the seemingly never ending Romney? Are you doing a big project? Trying your hand at dyeing?"

I'm not sure yet. I'm definitely not going to dye this myself. Way too messy and involved. I've got some ideas running around in my head, but nothing definite yet.

Regarding my example of how not to correspond with a blogger, Janet offers, "In other words Joe (especially but not exclusively) why is it appropriate to respond to someone with such venom? I suggest you consider taking a (figurative) step back; refrain from 'bitchiness' (either overt or covert) in your response and put this rather harmless request into a mental bin marked "not worth becoming nasty about?"

One other thing I find offensive, is folks that try to tell me how to write my blog (or even worse, how to feel or think). If you want to read less bitchy knitting blogs, there are plenty of them out there and many of them are way better than mine. Perhaps I should have put your comment in the same "mental bin" as I should have put Sharon's, but that's not how I react.

WAY Too Excited

Has some fiber-related article made you giddy with excitement?

Fiber Geek
I know this is no surprise to readers here, but I am such a fiber geek.

Last night I bought a rotary cutter as part of the equipment I'm gathering to make my quilt. I can't tell you how excited and obsessed with this object I have been for the last 14 hours.



It just reminded me that I'm not like most Earthlings, because not only could I get manic about a cutting tool, but I don't even have a problem with that.

Knitting Project
Now that the Wool/Hemp Pullover is all but done, I had a lot of difficulty deciding on what I should bring to work this week.

I settled on the "secret project", but I also realized I get very little knitting done during the week, so it's kind of irrelevant anyway.

More so, I'm starting to question whether I could actually write up the pattern for this current sweater, and whether I really care to keep this one a secret.

I'll think about it a little more before deciding.

Other Fiber Excitement
This past weekend, I found the following at the local flea market.



The Vogue Knitting from 1951 is quite cool. It's got a lot of very fifties garments, includinig a number of dresses. Many of the garments are fitted way too small for modern tastes, but it's a treasure trove of ideas. The Jack Frost crochet purse booklet has some amazing designs in it. I may even try my hand at some as gifts for friends. The "Furida Angora" booklet isn't great, but I figured $6 for all three was worth it.

It's Time For Conservatives To Step Up

With a president in the White House who is continuously thumbing his nose at the constitution, where is the conservative voice calling for impeachment? Where are the Kenneth Starr's?

You Know Damn Well...
...that if Bill Clinton disallowed his staff from testifying before congress, the torches and pitchforks would be waving. And yet, our very basis for being a democracy in this country is being trampled on, and I hear a few mumblings, but no action from the conservative side of the aisle. The president's lapdog from my great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter is even defending the president's rights in this!?!?

The current Attorney General has clearly lied to Congress, and the President still fully supports him. If it wasn't obvious that Gonzalez was lying after his latest testimony before congress, they now have a memo (de-classified by the White House a while back) that shows our top attorney in a bold-faced lie.

Bush won't allow Karl Rove, Harriet Miers or Josh Bolten to testify, claiming executive privelege? What kind of bullshit is that?

You folks from conservative states...you may hear your congress-folk blustering on about the bad president and the bad war, but when it comes time to put their words into action?...nothing!

How can you stand by watching your ever-loving democracy be shit on like this? I mean really, WWJD?

Current Knitting
I was able to finish the back of the Aran pullover, and start on the front.



I think this will turn out to be quite a nice sweater, and I will look forward to wearing it on cold Winter days this coming cold season (assuming we actually have one).

Current Reading
An infrequent reader sent me a link to her iPod/MP3 book that she has narrated herself. I warn you before you go there, that you shouldn't listen to the first chapter unless you want to listen to all nine. The narrative is incredibly compelling.

I would be very interested to hear what others think of this style of "writing." I absolutely adored it, and I can't say I've ever read anything like it before.

And if by chance, you listen and don't like it, you should absolutely NEVER take one of my recommendations for what to read. I found this audio book completely sublime in every possible way.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Anonymous writes, "Let us know if your hits go up over the use of the word clitoris in this post."

Actually, I haven't had one hit on the word, as far as I can tell from my stats counter. I don't think most porn-hungry men would type in that word. Most would type in pussy or if they wanted to get technical, might go so far as to type in vagina...but clitoris...not so much.

Sandy asks, "Which photo is the closest to the color of the Aran?"

The only picture so far that actually shows the color of the yarn at all accurately is the post of July 13th.

Inconsiderate Web Searchers

I know a lot of other bloggers get this kind of thing, but I thought I should be clear on exactly how NOT to communicate with someone who writes a blog.

Blog Requests
I get a lot of requests for patterns from random e-mailers, thinking that since I knit a lot, I might know where to point them. Even if I don't know, I will often do a brief search to see if I can help. Sometimes I can and sometimes I can't.

I had this volley of e-mails in the last few days:

From Sharon (who I don't even know if she reads my blog)

Hi, I have been looking for a pattern to knit the fuzzy dice for my brother. He restored his truck and wants the dice. Do you know where I can get the pattern. I also want the pattern where you knit the numbers right in the dice. I don't want to pit pom pom's on them. Can you help me. I have looked all over the internet and everwhere else. Thank you, Sharon

Not such a bad request, although dice don't have numbers, they have "pips" or dots. Kim Salazar mentioned a free pattern for these dice by Berocco a while ago, so I tried to find it, but it's no longer available.

I reply

The only free pattern I knew about is gone now. Good luck in your search. Joe

Sharon persists

Hi Joe, I would pay for the pattern. I just need to find one. Sharon

In my first search, I briefly remembered seeing a book with a pattern for these in it, so I do another search and find Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch Nation seems to have a pattern.

I reply

"Stitch 'n Bitch Nation" by Debbie Stoller has a pattern (from what I understand). I'm not sure if it's knit or crochet or what you're looking for, and I've never knit fuzzy dice myself, so I don't have any patterns myself. QJ

All-in-all, it's not so annoying. I figured she could have just as easily found this resource, but maybe not, and I'm glad to help....

...until...

From Sharon again

Thank you Joe. Where can I get the book?

I'll let readers suggest possible responses. I'm not planning on responding, as she's now either just being lazy, or purposefully being an asshole. But I've thought of a few choice fantasy responses. I thought you all might enjoy the same opportunity.

Current Knitting
I've done a little more work on the new baby blanket, and I keep looking at the Faux Rib pullover to see if I'm inspired to start sewing it up.

I'm not.

Current Spinning
I plied up the two bobbins full of singles on the white Romney-like yarn, and now I have a total of eight big hanks of thick, lofty yarn.



I actually thought I was making a dent in the big bag 'o yarn, so I spun up another bobbin-full of singles.



I've also been making MUCH slower progress on the Chasing Rainbows Tussah/Cashmere spinning. It takes me a lot longer to work on a drop-spindle and to spin much more finely than the Romney.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding my characterization of someone with a harelip, Lesley asks, "Perhaps I have miscontrued your comments - did you intend them to be tongue-in-cheek?"

Kind of. I actually knew a student who was both mentally slow and had a harelip in the third grade. I'm aware that not all folks with harelips are "morons" like our president. You forgot to mention one of my favorite actors with a harelip, Joaquin Phoenix (although he says it's not a harelip, but a birthmark).

Susan asks, "I'd be interested in knowing specifically why you think his open mic comments were 'ridiculous' and 'completely inappropriate.'"

He spoke with world leaders as if they were fraternity members. I think he shows pathetically little respect and garners the same for his too-informal speaking.

Friday Unread Updates

It seems that the entire blog-reading world goes away on Fridays, and doesn't return until Monday to catch up on missed blog entries.

Despite It All
Yes, brave heart that I am, I will still provide an update today.

Besides which, I couldn't justify having left you with that awful picture of the Promenade dans le Fôret lace that I posted earlier this week.

Current Knitting
And yet, I find this color of yarn to be particularly difficult to photograph so that I can give the yarn a bit more contrast from its background. I'm blaming the camera and I won't listen to anyone who blames the photographer.



I've only added 9 more rounds since the last posting, but it seemed like more than that while I was doing it.

The nice part about knitting this design for the second time is that I haven't made any errors yet, which I definitely couldn't have said about my first attempt at this project.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding my whining about laceweight yarns in manly colors, I was glad to get all your comments and suggestions. I love that Carol wrote, "Hey -- BBF laceweight comes in any color YOU want."

All I can say is that it's good to have friends in the knitting world!

PuffTheMagicRabbit wrote, "Love your roving color. Mine was named Good n Plenty- though I think she meant Good n Fruity"

You're probably right, but I would imagine Carol would have saved the name Good 'n Fruity for me, dontcha think? BTW, how do you like your Strauch drum carder? I love having mine, but I feel like it's somewhat wasted based on the amount of fleece I actually get to card.

Self Googling

Every once in a while, I'll Google my name or my web site, just to see what comes up.

More and More Common
It appears that many folks are doing that lately, and most specifically some of the designers whose patterns I've critiqued.

Lately, I've received a number of e-mails from designers who are interested to know more specifics about why or how I critiqued their designs in the magazines (no, Mari Lynn is NOT one of them).

I'm glad when they do. For the brief blurb I include for each design, it takes quite a bit of time to write those reviews, but it still isn't very useful feedback for the designer. When they write to ask more about what I liked or didn't like, it gives me the opportunity to provide somewhat more detailed feedback.

The nicest part is how open to feedback the designers have been.

Current Knitting
The knitting of the Wool/Hemp Pullover is complete. YAY!!!



I still have to weave in some yarn ends and sew up the collar (and re-do it if I still don't like it). Overall, I'm very happy with how this turned out.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Kerri asks (concerning the Wool/Hemp yarn), "Is it the worsted or sport weight, and what shade number?"

The Wool/Hemp yarn from Dzined is the Sport Weight in shade number WH1292. I don't see this shade number

Cheryl asks, "Is the wool/hemp pullover for you? Does the wool/hemp yarn hurt your hands when you knit?"

Most of my sweaters fit both Thaddeus and me, so this is another of "our" sweaters. The wool/hemp doesn't hurt to knit with, it's a little more stretchy than cotton/hemp.

I-cord with added curl (and maybe beads, also)

Gardening  (as it does every summer) has taken the front seat here at chezTECH.  As a consequence, knitting has no power over me just now, and the blog is on vacation.

However...someone asked a question on Ravelry recently which caught my eye--a question about making curly I-cord.  As it happens, one method for making this recently revealed itself to me.  So, taking time from the garden here's a little mid-summer post on one way of making I-cord curly (for glasses-cords, necklaces, edging and the like).

Curly I-cord "in the wool"
(lace weight mohair, cord made on an 
embellish knit mill, size 6 beads)

Step 1: Make a length of LOOSELY knit I-cord. If you are knitting the cord by hand, use needles larger than normal for that weight yarn.  If making the cord on a mill, where the needle size cannot be changed, use thinner yarn than normal to get the loose cord required for this trick. Also, The I-cord must be at least 4 stitches, a three stitch one won't work very well.

Step 2: To make the cord curly, the basic trick is very similar to the crochet hook method for tightening a ladder in of loose stitches in decreases or a column of loose stitches knit stitches in ribbing.  Specifically: pick a "ladder" between two columns of stitches as the one to operate on.  If you should happen to have a ladder caused by the "gap around the back"" (such as sometimes happens when making I-cord by hand) choose that ladder.  In the below illustration, a four-stitch I-cord is being curled up, the ladder being operated upon is shown in pink.

Step 3: Inserting a crochet hook into the pink ladder between two stitches, draw the next rung of the ladder through the first.  Continue in this manner until you reach the top. In the below illustration, the original four-stitch I-cord is in the process of getting a fifth column added: its two pink stitches have already latched up out of the pink ladder. 

Ladder (pink) being latched up

As you latch up the ladder, the I-cord will curl up because the new pink column you're hooked up is MUCH MUCH tighter and therefore MUCH MUCH shorter than the other four columns. Being shortest, it forces the other, longer columns to spiral around it, and voila: curly I-cord.  Of course, the entire cord gets shorter, so make the original (uncurled) cord longer than you need, to account for this.

A tip for curlier cords:  Just as curly hair will be curlier when twirled around a finger so a curly I-cord will be curlier when twirled up, too.  If you are making a closed shape (necklace) twirl up the cord over your finger before joining the two ends to permanently set the curl. If you are making an open shape, such as a tiny scarf, then twirl up the cord every now and then as you wear it, to remind it of its duty.  If you wish to use this for an edging, twirl up the cord, as tight as you like, then tack down the cord to the edge, touching down at least once in every curl. (If you leave the cord un-twirled, it can be more wavy than curly--which is also a nice look for an edging.)

Another tip:  If you like, you can bead the cord by using a very small crochet hook, small enough to fit a bead upon.  As illustrated below, insert the bead over the hook, then draw up the next stitch in the ladder.  Once that stitch is drawn up as shown, you can slide the bead off the crochet hook onto the stitch.  The following stitch would be drawn up the usual way.  The below illustration shows one bead slipped onto every third stitch (ie: every third row).

Beads being added every third row

Good knitting!

--TK
You have been reading "I cord with a curl" on TECHknitting blog.

Lego knitting machine

My Mother Was Right...Again

She always told me that anyone could be president, even me.

Any Moron
Yes, if the current moron can be elected as president, I'm convinced that even that guy I knew in third grade with the hairlip, who took a little longer to form his words than most kids, could even become president of the United States.

After his ridiculous and completely inappropriate "active microphone" comments, and his shoulder massage for the German Chancellor at the G8 Summit, I can't imagine anyone does't realize that this man is a complete incompetent at World leadership. I'd be interested to read conservative blogs that could defend this kind of idiocy as anything other than incompetence.

Current Knitting
I finally finished the second sleeve of the Faux Rib pullover this past weekend.



Now, all I have to do is piece it together and knit a collar that will fill a rather large void and still look good when Thaddeus or I wear the finished garment.

New Project
After looking at the color brown for what seems like EONS, I couldn't even consider finishing the Faux Rib pullover this past weekend. So I started a new project.



This is a good start on the baby blanket for a coworker, who is scheduled to deliver her first child (a girl, presumeably), this September. I love the pattern stitch, and it seems to fly even though it's on US3 needles and each row is 215 stitches.

I like the pattern stitch so much, I don't even mind the color so much.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding the white Romney, I'm spinning, Ted comments, "I'm just blown away by how you get so much spun so quickly."

As Marilyn correctly points out, I'm spinning this fiber much more thickly than Ted's current spinning project, and I'm not at all concerned about the consistency of the grist in this spinning project. It makes it a lot more fun to spin without worrying how the finished product will come out, and I can spin as fast as I can let the fiber fly onto the bobbin.

Concerning my spindling project, John from Portland says, "Joe, that's beautiful Tussah/Cashmere roving! Is it Chasing Rainbows by Nancy Finn? I've been spindling one of her colorways called Grand Canyon on three Bosworth minis, and then plying. I've got half a scarf knit up, and I can't get over how soft and glowy it is. What are you going to make with yours?

Yes, you and I are spinning the same roving...even the same colorway. I am currently planning on using the end product to make a scarf as well, since I don't have enough to make much more than that out of it. I'm glad to know it

A QueerJoe Declaration

By his royal blog decree, the "shrug" will from here on in be known as the "schlub."



Who Has Enough Panache?
When it comes to garments like a schlub, it takes a certain confident and attractive look to be able to carry it off. Natalie Portman could get away with wearing one...perhaps. But short of at least that stature and presence, I don't think anyone should consider making themselves one of these abbreviated garments, thinking that they will be able to get away with a funky, trendy look.

Because often the garment and the person wearing it will end up with the same moniker on this blog.

On a lighter note, Liza sent the video link above to me, and I thought you must just see it. First the primary debates are taken over by YouTube, now knitting is?

Current Knitting
I've gotten about 3 more inches of work done on the Aran pullover.


If Nico hadn't been so needy in the last day, I might have gotten a little more done. But it seemed everytime I'd sit down to work on this garment, Nico wanted to play or get brushed/pet or get fed.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Regarding my mention of the colors of flowers, "friend" Carol writes, "P.S. clearly it is your ignorance of the color wheel and color theory that has you punting on the discussion...;)"

"Friend" Kathy follows up with, "Oh, yeah, what about Carol's inference? I seem to recall your ignorance of color theory is quite remarked-upon.
By "experts", even."

First of all, some parts of the World use the spelling, "colour". I will use the standard American spelling...I just didnt want folks thinking I was as U.S.-centric as my two questionning friends. Second, I'm not sure, but if my understanding is correct...on a standard color wheel:



If two hues are opposite each other on a color chart, they are considered to be complementary colors.



When used together in a design they intensify both colors and make the warmer color(s) brighter. This can be a great way to combine unlikely colors in ways that are palatable from an aesthetic perspective. This method of combining colors can be risky when applied to men’s knitwear design, as it can make for a very loud combination of colors. A couple ways of muting the effects of this high-contrast method of color design is to use more smoky shades of the complementary colors. Deep antique golds with rich, dusty plum colors work much better on an overall garment design than bright yellows and bright purples (unless your goal is to have a loud, bold design. The honeysuckle and the clematis (pronounced with the exact same emphasis as the correct pronunciation of clitoris), on the dark green background, make a perfect set of complementary colors.

Moorecat asks about the Aran side panels I will be knitting, "Will you join the straps as you go, Joe?"

I will knit them separately, and then sew them on. Not because I don't like wool in my lap, but because it will just be easier overall for me that way.

Lots of Travel

Over the next six weeks, it looks like I'll be traveling quite bit. This week, I'll have flown six flight legs in less than 5 days.

Hazards of Flying
When I'm not used to flying, I sometimes do stupid things. Readers may remember that I left one of my almost completed projects on a plane. I did that on a flight that occurred after months of not flying, so I forgot how vigilant I had to be to remember to check for personal items in the seat pocket in front of me.

Well, this past Monday was the first time I've flown in months again, and guess what?...I left my sock project on the plane...ugh!

I ended up speaking with someone in the lost & found for the airlines and she was extremely helpful. She assured me that nothing gets thrown out and she has notified her counterparts in the three other airports where my knitting might show up to ask them to keep an eye out for it.

We'll see if Delta/NorthWest does a better job than USAirways in recovering my knitting.

Current Spinning
Since I have no knitting with me during my travels this week, I can only show you the progress I've made on my current spinning project.



This is the Mohair/Shetland blend from Mindy at Puff-The-Magic-Rabbit.

I'm spinning it as finely as I can, and I will ply this with the much thicker singles of Corriedale/Cormo from Carol at Black Bunny Fibers.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Fredda writes, "Great socks. Are you ordering more yarn from Sean and will we be seeing more of these beauties?"

I just may have to now, although I may just start playing around with some of the MiniMochi I bought a little while back.

Color Overload

Sometimes I dream of living in a Kaffe-like world, but I don't know if I could handle it.

Fabric Heaven
As Liza teased in comments, she let me come to her house to go fabric shopping yesterday, and it was overwhelming and fun.

A number of months ago, we had a knit-together at her house and saw some amazing quilts, and it got me thinking that I'd like to retry my hand at quilting.

I browsed through Glorious Patchwork (Kaffe and Liza's first quilt book) and decided I'd like to do something like the Zinnia 2X2 quilt, if you have the book.

I went to Liza's web site and did mini-captures of 14 of her fabrics, mostly as a random exercise in joining colors. Here's what I came up with.



While I recognize, there is little concern with composition and overall color design, I really loved how much of the work is done by the fabrics.

Liza recognized immediately that the simple "Snowball" design in quilting would be a perfect way of putting together these wonderful fabrics. Here's an example of a quilt using the Snowball%20design.

Now, if you can picture that design with these colors (the outer solids will make up the diamond shapes in between the "snowballs").



Now I just have to buy a sewing machine and some basic quilting equipment. I can't wait to start.

Kaffe and Liza's New Book
I'll only say one thing until the book is published, but having the good fortune of seeing the preview copy of this book, you should pre-order your copy now. It is truly amazing.

Current Knitting
Continued making some progress on the Wool/Hemp pullover and now there's only a little left on the last sleeve.



With the excitement of the fabric, and the way my new secret design is coming along, I will be thrilled when the Wool/hemp pullover is completed.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Amy P. says, "I'm assuming that you know "Orchid" is ancient Greek for "boy's scrotum". (seriously)"

Actually, I had no idea, but it shows how those Greeks really loved their boys.

Lori asks, "Do you really feel that the public transport in SF is very good?"

I've only been out there visiting and I love the BART system. It seemed to take me to a lot of places I needed to go. It's not like New York or D.C., but I thought it was good, yes.

Thanks Nana Peter for identifying the orchid. Now that I know orchid is ancient Greek for "boy's scrotum" and it's real name is Phalaenopsis, I can feel comfortable continuing to call him Phil.

A Nice Light Topic

Thaddeus suggested that I take pictures of the flowers in the back of our house. He figured I could discuss how they fit in with color wheel theory or something.

I'll Just Show Flowers



We have a bank of some kind of evergreen that "separates" our house from the houses behind it. Twined throughout these evergreens, Thaddeus has three vines growing. The lovely orange honeysuckle, on which we sometimes see hummingbirds feeding. And then two different colors of clematis...the one not shown is a lighter violet which goes well with both the deeper purple and the orange of the honeysuckle.

Current Knitting
I got another chunk of work done on the Aran pullover this past weekend.



This equates to about 20 inches. I'm kind of annoyed with this project. I didn't really want to design a sweater from scratch, so I used the basic proportions and stitch counts from one of the sweaters in the The Harmony Guide to Aran and Fair Isle Knitting as my...well, guide.

I started with the largest man's sweater in the guide, which makes a 25.25 inch width back, and then added another 1.5 inches worth of stitches to give the sweater more ease. Even with the extra stitches, it appears that the back will block out to about 24 inches, which will be about 4 inches less wide around than I had hoped.

I've decided that I am going to add a design element to this sweater. Instead of shaping for the armholes, I'm going to knit the back and front as if I was doing a drop-shoulder...or no shaping. Then, I'm going to knit two additional panels of 2 inches each, that will only be the length of the body up to the armhole opening.

This will both give me some set in sleeve shaping, as well as correct the missing four inches of girth that I had hoped for. Something like this.



Current Reading
As part of my "Summer Off Reading Series," I just finished a most wonderfully written book, called The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers.



This is an older book, originally published in 1940, and then gained renewed acclaim when Oprah put it on her list (which usually isn't a good thing, as far as I'm concerned). In this case, the book is an exquisitely written story, written from multiple characters' perspectives. If you love good character definition, I have read none better.