February 09, 2005
Cooking for Dummies
Why I don’t cook much:
Last night I hoisted up my ooey, gooey, buttery, crispy, hot grilled ham and cheese sandwich on a spatula to make sure the bottom was done—and immediately dropped the entire thing between my stove and my portable dishwasher, a dark and terrifying place where, trust me, the 1-, 3-, or 5-second rule could never, ever possibly apply. Think Mordor.
I braved the hellish place between the appliances, sure my hand would come out with some fingers missing or dripping with whatever causes bubonic plague, but I successfully retrieved the sandwich, my hand surprisingly intact and clean, and threw it in the garbage can, perhaps a mite violently. Got out the bread. Again. Got out the ham. Again. Got out the cheese. Again. Got out the butter. Again. Swore that that was the last time I would cook. Ever.
Today I had an e-mail from the Executive Director (Directress?) of F.I.R.E. telling me how excited they are by the knitting community’s response. She also said the interview with NPR went well. I look forward to hearing more about it! And, yes, that would be your cue, Cuzzin Tom.
To recover emotionally and mentally from the horror of the Psychedelic Pscarf, I have now moved on to a very sedate version of one of my favorite free online patterns, the Irish Hiking Scarf. This project is a genyoowine stash-buster since I knit with some wonderful forest green Red Heart until I ran out—which is a wonderfully freeing away to approach a project—and then switched to some navy blue of the same ilk for the second half. My fourth stash-busting project in a row! I am on a roll, dude! (And if anybody is uncouth enough to mention the birthday additions to the stash, I’ll just put my hands over my ears and sing, “La, la, la, la, la.” And then there’s the surprise Elann gift certificate I received on Monday but, again, and a little more loudly, “La, la, la, la, la!”)
Knitting Knews Other Than Dulaan
I am proud to present a slightly belated picture of the finished Faina! It blocked beautifully, and was worth every surprise repeat I had to add.
That is very beautiful. I've knit it myself and it is an amazing pattern.
Posted by: jo in ottawa on February 9, 2005 10:56 AMIt is a great pattern, isn't it, Jo? Worth every penny!
Posted by: Ryan on February 9, 2005 11:03 AMUm...NPR interview went well!
Oh, OK. It was faboo. We recorded for about 45 minutes for a feature that should run this Friday. Meredith was really articulate about F.I.R.E.'s work (much more than clothing--check the site), but the most alarming tidbit was that not only is it -17 in the winter, but because of its latitude, only light 7-8 hours a day!
Now, here's a challenge. Meredith told me she made a bet with F.I.R.E.'s founder, Dave. She predicts the Dulaan knitters will produce more than 500 pieces before July 1. Dave says no way. If you and your buds and their buds and their buds can send more than 500 pieces, Meredith gets a nice bottle of wine and Dave gets to shamefacedly admit he underestimated the power of the roused knitting community! Needless to say, she's rooting for you.
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on February 9, 2005 11:07 AMOkay, knitters, we have been challenged!!! Let's do the math: 500 knitters, 1 item apiece. Or 250 knitters, 2 items apiece. Or 166 knitters, 3 items apiece. Or 125 knitters, 4 items apiece. Heck, yeah--we can do this!
And don't forget about the fleece blankets!
Posted by: Ryan on February 9, 2005 11:13 AMThat's all the knitters need - a challenge. (So, does a pair of mittens count as 1 or 2 pieces?)
That scarf is wonderful!
Posted by: melissa on February 9, 2005 11:20 AMRe: the grilled cheese fiasco, three words: George Foreman Grill. Never again will you lose a grilled sandwichy morsel to the bowels of Mordor.
Faina is lovely. Looks like a heirloom piece, actually. Very nice. Lace looks so lovely, but I don't have the patience for it, so I'm always awed by an intricate looking piece of lacework.
Posted by: Samina on February 9, 2005 11:38 AMOoooh, a challenge! My little basket o goodies holds 4 finished items to date, two more on the needles... I filled a tote with stash yarn and I am getting a MAJOR kick out of using it up!
Love the Faina!
I suddenly realized that I really really want a grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich....
Ryan, We are SO going to make that challange, i am sure, with the response of everyone in the comments, and the prolific nature of knitters, i am sure we will greatly surpass 500.
Did another pair of mittens and am almost done with a sweater.
Congratulations on whittling down the stash.
An ps. I really liked the very bright scarf, especially the fringe, in fact i am on the prowl for similair colors to make one for myself, but then again maybe i just have bad taste:)
Uh...nearly a week without internet because of phone cables being replaced! I sooo wanted to tell you that I finished my first hat on Sunday and will try mittens next. I shall post the first item to test the water as to cost of postage then will put the poster up in a lys with a photo copied stash of send to address which can be torn off by anyone able to knit for your cause.You know that expression 'away with the fairies' - well those little people visit you when you reach a certain age - you know they're there when you go to use someone's name, who you have known all your life, and they blank your mind. Well they made me read the wrong line in my pattern book so my lovely heart motif on my heart is not central - doh! see, now if I hadn't mentioned that.... Good Luck to everyone knitting on this project xx
Posted by: Teresa (from the uk) on February 9, 2005 12:07 PMOh, honey, honey, honey--500 items? Mere child's play to THESE knitters, I'm sure. We can certainly meet that challenge and more. I've got a sweater and a hat done so far, and I'm just getting warmed up (pardon the pun!).
Ryan, can we bring our items to Guild for a mass-Seattle collection? I'm happy to chip in for postage or shipping to Arizona--or would you rather we mailed our items ourselves?
Sorry about your sandwich--although you've proven once again that even the most mundane topics make for good reading on your blog due to your great writing style. Loved the scarf too--please bring it to Guild to show off--I'd love to see it in person!
Mary B
'lovely motif on my HAT is not central' - people over 40 shouldn't have a glass of wine with their suppers either!!!
Posted by: Teresa (from the uk) on February 9, 2005 12:18 PMI just wanted to let you know that my two daughters, ages 5 and 10 are each making a blanket and I'm working on my first pair of mittens to send. I plan on knitting more mittens, a neck gaiter, hat and whatever I can finish in time.
Posted by: Nancy on February 9, 2005 12:19 PMGiggling about the sandwich incident while craving grilled cheese. Mmmmm... I second Samina's suggestion of the George Foreman grill. As cheesy a product as I always thought it was, I have to say that we use it an awful lot.
And 500 items, piece of cake. Oh, wait.... now I'm craving cake.
Posted by: Nathania on February 9, 2005 12:21 PMDo fleece hats count as knitted items?
Ok, off to the store now for bread, ham, and cheese.
Posted by: Patti on February 9, 2005 12:58 PMSorry, Melissa, I'm thinkin' a PAIR of mittens counts as one piece. Which reminds me: Some folks at Ferals pointed out to me that it's a good idea to join the mittens together somehow so they stay together during the shipping and distribution process. I know one Brigade member is going to join her mittens together with a permanent cord that is long enough to run from one jacket sleeve cuff to the other. Other people have just joined them with a short, temporary piece of yarn or string.
And, Patti, I'm going to make an executive decision and say, yes, your handmade, home-made, lovingly made fleece hats definitely count towards the goal of 500.
As I told Cuzzin Tom, Dave of F.I.R.E. is goin' doooooown!
(MaryB, while I'm not adverse to doing a mass mailing of some kind, the question is whether individual folks want to get a tax receipt from F.I.R.E. for their personal contributions.)
Posted by: Ryan on February 9, 2005 01:14 PMBeautifully done Faina - that pattern is on my knit-it stack because of the picture-in-progress I saw on your blog, and I have the yarn already picked out - and after seeing your "finished" picture, that project may have to jump to the top of the knit-it stack. I agree with Samina's comment, it looks like an heirloom piece.
Posted by: KarenK on February 9, 2005 01:55 PMKarenK, I totally encourage you to knit Faina. The pattern looks intimidating but it's really not, especially if you've done any lace knitting before. And the final results are so worth it! I've knit myself quite a few scarves over the years but this is the only one I really wear. And the only one that really gets noticed.
As I've mentioned in some of my earlier postings, the original pattern makes a wider, airier, drapier scarf than mine, so you can really go either way, depending on what yarn and needles you choose.
Posted by: Ryan on February 9, 2005 02:08 PMThe more I think about that 500 pieces, the more I want to obliterate it and make it more like 1000. I have at least 6 hats already ready to go.
Posted by: Nathania on February 9, 2005 02:24 PMNathania, you're a woman after my own heart. You go, girl!
Posted by: Ryan on February 9, 2005 02:27 PMSorry. Can't stay long. Crocheting another hat, you know. Lovely scarf, Blog Mistress. 500? Feh. I'm all for that 1000 of Nathania's.
Hope everyone has a great day!!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on February 9, 2005 02:51 PMWow--listen to all the estrogen talking. We're whipping ourselves into a frenzy--1000! No, wait, that's nothing--5000!!! When's it gonna stop?
Posted by: Janine on February 9, 2005 04:05 PMDon't worry, Janine. I doubt that this will get out of hand. After all, we do have a ceiling: Six tons.
Posted by: Ryan on February 9, 2005 04:10 PMIt's futile to have developed some sort of strange crush on Cuzzin Tom through this, isn't it?
Posted by: Patti on February 9, 2005 04:46 PMI wanna join the knitting brigade! Can you sign me up? :) This sounds like a wonderful project, and I am gonna start knitting my heart out right NOW!
Posted by: Lolly Lauren on February 10, 2005 06:08 AMPatti, Patti, Patti, I say, looking at you sorrowfully. Yes, it is completely futile. And from what I can tell from other comments, you are not alone.
Lolly, will add you to the list!
Knit, everyone, knit as if your lives depended on it!
Posted by: Ryan on February 10, 2005 08:29 AMAh, Patti, get in line -- it's called the "forbidden fruit syndrome". I'm actually more worried that this will become a headache in Mongolia, where the monastic boundary lines are apparently far more blurry. Anyway, to cure yourself, go through Ryan's archives to where she posted my picture.
Two people have told me that they heard the NPR piece this morning and that it came off well! I'll try to get a clip -- I know the news director.
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on February 10, 2005 09:06 AMFaina is absolutley lovely - what a beautiful pattern - and what beautiful work :)
Two hats and a hood done so far :)
Posted by: Robbyn on February 10, 2005 09:52 AMI JUST SNORTED COFFEE OUT MY NOSE! You crack me up! I've been meaning to email you, can you add me to the Dulaan Project...maybe we can discuss at Guild next week?
Posted by: Rebecca on February 10, 2005 10:29 AMI'm in! I have cast on for a hat in a candy apple red that just might match the red in your scarf. Cooking hint: try making your grilled sandwich with dark rye bread. (If you like dark rye bread.) The grilling does something magical and, well, yumm!
Posted by: Annie on February 10, 2005 12:01 PMYou silly, that cured nothing. I will comfort myself with the fact that birds give me asthma, and Mongolia is a really really really long way away. *sniffle*
Posted by: Patti on February 10, 2005 06:07 PMI'll sniffle with you patti
Maybe we could start the Cuzzin Tom groupie club:)