So That Happened

The Tudors

Seriously, guys, THE TUDORS.  I Can. Not. Wait. for this.

Also, in my parallel universe, Mario Batali would play the older King Henry VIII.

Come Swiftly To Me

Previously on Winding Hanks of Yarn Into Center-Pull Balls By Hand Is Getting Old, Plus Using My Steering Wheel and Gear Shift as a Yarn Holder Looks Funny (But I'm Not Winding While Driving, I Swear), I was on the hunt for a yarn swift.  I received several comments on this matter, and I have now reached a conclusion.

I bought this swift!  Isn't it pretty?  Handmade oak and everything, and the price can't be beat.  The seller has also received hundreds of positive feedback comments, which gives me great confidence in this purchase.  I should be getting it by early next week - I'll definitely bring it to SnB so everyone can check it out!

In other news, check out this tutorial I came across while swift-shopping: a woman is using her electric mixer as a yarn winder!  Egads!  That sounds like 100 kinds of bad, doesn't it?  What if your yarn gets tangled up in the mechanics of the mixer?  What if your yarn breaks into a million pieces? 

Don't Speak

Dear Gwen,

Hi.  How are things?  I watched last night's Idol and saw that you still have the Harajuku Girls on retainer.  Are they allowed to talk now, or are they still an "art project" for you?  Ahem.  And, hmph.

I have one question for you - okay, maybe two, starting with, were you wearing the YSL Tribute stiletto heels last night but in white?  I'm just curious.  I love the black ones you and others have been seen in.  So tall!  So platform-y!  But I digress.

My real question for you is if you have any idea how uneducated you sound whenever you refer to you and someone else as "me and <insert name here>."  You did it last night when you said "me and Kingston" will be on tour, and you have done so in several print interviews, most recently in Elle.  Sweet Jesus, Gwen, you're not an idiot, or at least I hope you are not.  Say "Kingston and I" or "Gavin and I" or simply "We," for pete's sake.  It's not that hard.  You do realize that every time you say that, an English teacher weeps, right? 

Grammar.  It's your friend. 

Sincerely,

Catherine

Busy Busy

Please excuse my lapse in posting - I have been swamped lately, not to mention sick, which is why I've been out of commission.  I will get back on the horse once things settle down, but I had to write at least one thing today:

Oh my GOD, SANJAYA.  What was that?  I'm not kidding.

Easter Knitting: A Preview

Here's a taste of what I've been working on .  Photos of finished projects to follow shortly.

Sports Haiku Saturday

Fine.  FINE.  Be that way.

Sixteen-point lead, all for naught.

That said, go Kansas!

Mark Your Scheduling Grids!

Provisional Cast-On, Schmrovisional Cast-On

Non-knitting friends, pardon me while I vent for a moment about the Provisional Cast-On.  You may want to go get a coffee or something right now.

I attempted the Provisional Cast-On for the first time last night and MAN did I have a hard time with it!  I tried the Knitting Help method first with waste yarn and felt like an idiot (exactly which stitches do I need to knit or purl into the back of when I start working off of the cast-on stitches?  The very nice Knitting Help lady doesn't explain that part with enough detail for my taste), and then I tried it using a circular needle in place of waste yarn and felt like I needed to have someone standing over my shoulder walking me through it.  Grr.

But then, what's that?  A light in the darkness, you say?  Why, yes!  Yes, it is, in the form of the Stitch Diva method, which uses a crochet hook with the knitting needle!  And she even explains how to remove the waste yarn and pick up the stitches on hold!  I am no longer feeling like Clumsy McFumbles!

What I'm trying to say is, thank you, Stitch Diva, for making my life a whole lot easier! 

Another Knitting Post Without Pictures. Sorry.

There is much knitting going on here.  Last night I had to do math (argh) to resize some patterns, only to learn that I do not have to make any actual adjustments at all.  My row ratio is so miniscule that I can knit the patterns as per the instructions.  Hooray!  Now all I have to do is wind the heaps of yarn for the items, take pictures of the yarn cake goodness, and then I can finally get started on my four new projects.  Have I mentioned that I have some gift items in the works, too?  Naturally, this means I cannot post any photos until the gifts have been given.  You know the drill.

In other news, Melinda Doolittle continues to rock my world.  Everyone else on American Idol is just filler.  Go Melinda!

I'll Even Call It Jonathan

Knitters?  I need your advice. 

I am in desperate need of an umbrella swift and want to purchase one.  Making balls of yarn by hand is just not getting the job done fast enough, plus I have an inordinate number of hanks to whip into shape.  Does anyone recommend a particular brand, or all yarn swifts the same?  Is there a yarn swift I should run screaming from?  Inquiring minds want to know.  (FYI: I already have a yarn winder, and having that is half the battle.)

Thank you!