All a' youze in the other 49 states—I highly recommend staying away from Washington for now since every one of its fine upstanding citizens is caught in the clutches of a weird state-wide manic depression. Manic because the Storm won the NBA last night; depressed because Mount St. Helens went “ffffffffft,” after weeks of having the media scream at us, “She’s gonna blow! She’s gonna blow!. She’s gonna blow! SHE'S GONNA BLOW!!!" Yesterday, rather than flinging rocks, ash, ice and steam miles in the air with a thunderous and dramatic roar, she just oozed some really unlovely magma onto the surface, the equivalent of lava diarrhea. (For my part, I must confess I find slowly oozing lava immeasurably more interesting than any form of basketball.)
Knitting Knews
I finished the first sleeve of the Crapyarn Sweater, and am part of the way through the right front. No, it’s not your imagination. To make sure I stay interested, I’m doing the sweater in the most fragmented and disorganized way possible: First one sleeve, then the right front, maaaaaaaaybe then the back, maaaaaaaaybe then the other sleeve, maaaaaaaaybe then the left front—or maybe I’ll do it in some other order completely. Oh, what a wild and daring woman I am!

I found it very interesting that, at Ferals on Monday, everyone wanted to see and touch the Crapyarn Sweater. I think, for knitters, it’s the equivalent of reading someone else’s National Inquirer; it really can’t be held against you and you’re really not reading it if you didn’t buy it.
In today’s blog entry, Dear Reader Robbyn wrote “The problem with sticking to a few projects is that I worry that the blog gets boring. On the other hand, it means I actually finish things, so I hope you can deal with a little tedium.” I must confess I share some of the same fears but, unlike Robbyn, I have completely sold out. I am currently knitting what can only be called the Smokescreen Scarf because it’s only reason for existence is to give me something to photograph and talk about to distract you while I’m working on all the long-term stuff like Faina, the Crapyarn Sweater and the back of the Janine Pillow. Somehow this vaguely reminds me of families who have a child only so they can harvest marrow for their other child, who is sick. I don’t have any idea how my mind made that leap, but there you are.
For the scarf, I’m using the terra cotta coreopsis-dyed alpaca (the one on the right in the picture) and a variation of this pattern. I added a top, bottom and side seed-stitch border and am using size 10.5 needles instead of the recommended size 8. I am liking the results, except for the existence of an oversized yarnover about 1/4 of the way into the existing 8” of the scarf that I am forcing myself to ignore—but it’s screaming very loudly at me. (TMK, I beg you! Stop me from frogging the scarf!!)
Picture Friday or Monday.
No frogging! (It drives me crazy when you frog!)
And...thank you for the gratuitous mention of the Storm win. Even though I'm not a big basketball fan, it's still cool that it's girls playing pro basketball! (I was one of those girls who wasn't "allowed" to play real baseball for the simple reason that I was a girl. Oh, those early 70s!).
TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on October 13, 2004 09:42 AMConsider reading Ian Caldwell's Rule of Four after you finish Da Vinci Code. Much more gripping & perhaps more credible than the Brown book is.
Posted by: Samina on October 13, 2004 10:57 AMmt. st. helens did its own version of the princeton hug- or the ryan tantrum-
if my monitor colors are true, that's going to be a gorgeous scarf- and it's always good to see there are others who cannot concentrate on one project at a time- i'm sure that sticking with one thing and actually finishing it is probably the sane way to go, but i have butterfly tendencies and flit from project to project-
stay happy-
Posted by: barb in texas on October 13, 2004 11:21 AMRyan,
What pattern are you using for Nonce sweater? See, I changed the name because you have already hurt it's feeling and I don't want the sweater to get back at you.
Do you have "The Knitter's Handy book of Patterns" by Ann Budd?
Barb, at my local Joanne's the other day, I found a booklet called "Fashion-Plus Knits" published by Lion Brand which contains larger-size patterns. Most of the patterns are incredibly lame but I thought the cardigan on the cover was okay so I'm knitting it. In fact, here's a link to a site that shows the cover of the book: http://www.hancockfabrics.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=11893
Barb, the colors in the photo are pretty true, although I dunno what your monitor is showing. The yarn is a slightly variegated, medium terra cotta color and it is really coming into its own as it becomes this scarf. It's like watching a lumpy, dumpy baby grow into a healthy teenage athlete.
Posted by: Ryan on October 13, 2004 11:32 AMI've made a promise to Kevin that I won't start anything else for myself until I finish at least 3 of the other projects I have going right now. Ack! My version of denial is casting on another project. So now I'm diligently plugging away on two Dale sweaters that I started months ago and haven't touched since. As soon as I find the book with the Dale baby sweater pattern in it I'll finish that too.
I have to admit that the challenge and attention-grabbing of the one week Klaralund was exciting and very gratifying. But I can't hold myself to that pace. I'm tired now just thinking about it.
Don't worry about us readers, we are here more for your wit and the love of you than for updates on your knitting progress. That's how the best blogs are. I come here cuz it feels kind of like hanging out with you and TMK.
Posted by: Nathania on October 13, 2004 12:26 PMNathania, what an incredibly sweet thing to say. You made my afternoon and, most likely, the rest of my week.
Posted by: Ryan on October 13, 2004 01:19 PMI agree with Nathania....I appreciate the laughs inspired by yer entries as much(or more) than the acutal technical knitting writing, though i love that as well
Posted by: Devin on October 13, 2004 01:48 PMAnd a thank you and a big cheek pinch to you, Devin. And you'll just have to stand and take it because, if my calculations are correct, I am old enough to be your mother. :-)
Posted by: Ryan on October 13, 2004 02:40 PMI just come here for the food :)
Ryan, that terra cotta is just GORGEOUS and I'm not generally a fan of rusts. That looks like it has the sun in it!
Posted by: Robbyn on October 13, 2004 05:03 PMTo respond to TMK's comment on frogging: Seems to me that if one knits, one frogs. Unlike carpentry when one can "measure twice, cut once"--knitting is a different medium entirely. Knitting flows, I guess you'd say, and I think this is why mistakes seem to creep into one's work, often going unnoticed at first. Besides, one does other things while knitting which also contributes to the errors--talking, watching movies, daydreaming. One doesn't usually do these other pursuits when one is working a band saw.
So, frogging is just as much a part of knitting as knitting itself. IMHO.
I agree with Nathania: we like the knitting content, sure, that's what got us here, but we just like to hang out with you, Ryan, and TMK too!
Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on October 13, 2004 05:57 PMNathania is SO right. We come just to hang out with you. I don't care if you write about the same inch, frogged over and over, for the next year (but I have a strong feeling TMK would REALLY care about that, so I'm not recommending it). You're the best, that's all. :)
Posted by: Rachael on October 14, 2004 01:40 AMNot to sound like a broken record, but I second the notion that I come here to hang out with you and TMK. Sue does too and she doesn't even knit! I love your knitting and dying, and that is why I originally came here. But truthfully, you tell a good yarn m'lady. And you make me giggle. Then there is the adorable Frankie. Geez, I could go on.. but we loves ya lady.. so write whatever you like.. and CT can keep up the comments and add to the mix.
Posted by: anj on October 14, 2004 08:09 AMIt's not your knitting content that sticks with me--every time I draw up to a red-green light at a freeway on ramp or set my groceries on the moving whatchamacallit at the check-out stand I think of your stories. Not to mention tuteurs and chocolate cabbages....
Although I have loved watching your skill and confidence grow in the knitting arena!!!
Posted by: Janine on October 14, 2004 08:57 AMI can take it Ryan:)
Remeber, i grew up with Two Moms...and their friends, the Aunties....I am used to Cheek pinching by Queer Women:)
(Not meant to be offensive...I use Queer instead of LGBT, but folks are mixed on how they take the word)
Me too - I wanna hang out with Ryan and TMK too - lemme hang out too, OK?
Are we a gang? What would we be called? What would our colors be? Do we have a secret clubhouse?
Damn, I hate being a grown-up.
Posted by: Childe on October 14, 2004 11:30 AMYes, indeed, I read not for the knitting, although sometimes the knitting update pics are cool... I come for the entertainment and wit that my brain desperately needs after dealing with 10 year olds all day.
It also gives Anj and me another realm of discussion topics at home. I fear she sometimes tires of my venting about the ungodly calamities of children who forget the difference between the simple subject and simple predicate. (who wouldn't, really...) So - you take the great writing, the occasional guest comments of TMK (love the TMK T-shirt - way cool), the opportunity for grown-up discussion, PLUS the bonus of Frankie... how could anyone, even non-knitters like myself, _not_ read?
Posted by: sue on October 14, 2004 01:32 PMYou know what this means, don't you, all of you? It means I now need to stop wasting my time knitting miscellaneous objects to artificially fluff out my Knitting Knews, and start making up fascinating and exciting stories about things that are going in the rest of my life. Oh, the pressure!
Hugs and thanks to all of you, my e-penpals! :-)
Posted by: Ryan on October 14, 2004 01:39 PM