Thursday, September 30, 2010

What's Wrong Baby? Don't They Eat You Like They Should?

Tis the season for fiber festivals and my #1 goal is to attend as many as humanly possible.  Because of this, Mr. Cutthroat is trying to convince me to take him along.  He knows that left alone to roam through tents of yarn and wool, it is only going to be bad for our budget.  Mr. Cutthroat is feigning interest in the sheep dog trials and he knows this will pay off in the long run when I don't bring home an alpaca to live in my yarn loft.  And, believe me, I am not above having an alpaca in my yarn loft.
Lately, I have been keeping a journal of ideas, and as a result, I have a huge list of things to buy at the fiber festival.  I'd like to find a drum carder so I can start with a fleece to take it from the sheep all the way through to the finished product.  If I can keep my husband away from my purchases, I should be able to acquire enough to keep me in fiber all the way through to next year.  Maybe, just maybe, my husband will enjoy himself in the gyro and kabob section of the festival.  By the way, I was woefully unprepared for the gyro and kabob section of my first sheep and wool festival.  There is something totally morbid about a festival dedicated to every part of an animal, from raising it to wearing it to eating it.  Don't get me wrong, I am a gyro fan.  It's just that it is hard to eat a gyro while staring a sheep and carrying around bags of its fleece.  They look at you and you know they know.  I will power through the 'baa' sounds and eat that gyro with the best of them, and I will go home and enjoy my fleece.  

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Uno, Dos, Tres, It's On

My favorite night to knit is always Tuesdays.  The key to being a productive knitter, at least for me, is to have something interesting going on in the background.  And, Tuesdays mean Teen Moms.  I sit down on the couch with my Crystal Light Fruit Punch, a knitting project, and a healthy dose of Gary taking naps and driving around in his van.  Teen Moms is not something you have to actively watch.  It can be on in the background while you are counting rows and still get the basic gist that Farrah is a total idiot.  (Geese not ducks!)  For the project I am making now, I am cabling.  Those who have done a cable project know that keeping track of your rows requires a certain amount of concentration.  Teen Moms is the absolute limit to what I can watch while cabling.  I have learned the hard way that I cannot cable at Ktog.  There is too much wine and conversation that requires my full attention.  I have definitely had to rip out a project or two during Ktog.  Never again.  I don't know what I am going to be able to jump into once this season is over.  I am open to suggestions that don't involve Cougar Town. 

Monday, September 27, 2010

Forty Two Stairs From the Street

With the move complete, I am sitting in my new space, surrounded by boxes.  This weekend, in a word:  overwhelming.  I am going to have to die in this new place before I move ever again.  To paint a picture of complete and total absurdity, we moved 36 wine glasses of varying sizes, types, and composition.  That doesn't even include high ball and margarita glasses.  Mr. Cutthroat and I hardly drink.  It seems as though these things accumulate.  Perhaps our animals are throwing wicked ragers when we are at work.  Or, at least I hope someone is getting use out of them.  It was a hard sell to Mr. Cutthroat as to why I required a patio set in a new patioless place.  It was even harder to convince him that we needed three gravy boats.  The move was not pretty.  But, I now have a fantastic place and a yarn room to take Cutthroat Yarn up a notch.  And, here I am blogging and knitting instead of unpacking.  A very wise FB friend once told me that I should knit until I hear my husband coming home, then I should race and pretend to unpack a box.  Very, very wise advice. 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

I Don't Want to Wait for My Project to Be Over

I could never make it on the Jersey Shore.  My body isn't capable of staying out past 11:30 anymore, and I can't even imagine dancing until 6 AM.  If I am discovered in a bar at closing time, it is because I have died on the stool.  Other than that, I cannot compile a reasonable explanation as to why I am not at home in bed.  It is embarrassing to admit, but I am only barely past the quarter life crisis stage.  What the Jersey Shore needs is a wise middle aged knitter with wisdom who gives great life advice.  I could be the modern day "Grams" from the 'Creek.  I don't even need to make what the Situation makes per episode.  I would be content making half that.  Everyone could be "smooshing" and doing the "GTL" thing and I could be spinning yarn in a corner making witty observations.  I will say that being cast for the Jersey Shore is like winning the lottery for those people.  It requires no outright skill or aptitude, yet it yields big bucks.  I don't think I would be suitable for any show on television right now.  But, if anyone hears of a casting agent looking to cast any of the following, please let me know:  Who Wants to Be Taylor Swift's Best Friend?; Commuting Nightmares; Practical Jokes Gone Awry; Watching Someone Knitting For Hours; and Why John Adams Was A Terrible President.  I would be a natural, especially if a few of those were combined to where I would be knitting while knocking John Adams while Taylor Swift plays in the background.  Another million dollar idea!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

It's A Difficulty and I'm Biting On My Tounge

Tonight I posted a skein I finished over the weekend as seen here:  Cutthroat Yarn on Etsy.  It was beautiful to spin because it was part silk.  It was my first time with a silk blend and it was so smooth and really made a gorgeous skein.  The best part of spinning and dyeing skeins is coming up with cutesy names for each.  It does require some major self-editing on my behalf, however.  Sometimes I would like to display the sarcastic nature of my personality, but I have to realize that not everyone would get the humor of a skein entitled "Rainbow Sherbet on Meth."  Is this what it is like when it comes time to name your children?  I have taken some creative liberties with naming the furrier members of the Cutthroat family.  But, the only embarrassing part is when you take them to the veterinarian.  I have to face facts that when the time comes and if we are blessed with having our very own baby models for bonnets and booties, I will have to rein it in much like on Etsy.  Farewell to our well thought out children's names Tecumseh Lincoln Springsteen III and Lady Debbie Gibson Snugglepants. 

Monday, September 20, 2010

Change Clothes and Go

It feels like it is still summer.  Yet, when I was out and about this weekend, I saw temporary Halloween stores popping up.  Halloween always seems like something that happens when it is brisk outside, and here it is supposed to be 89 degrees this week.  I am starting to see what kind of Halloween patterns are out there for the making.  I haven't been too impressed with what I've seen lately.  Then again, I am not sure what I am really expecting.  There are a lot of themed tea cozy patterns.  I know I definitely don't want those.  (On a side note, how many tea cozies does one person need?  If I just went by the old school patterns available out there, I would comfortably say that every knitter has 200.  What is a tea cozy really used for anyway?  Isn't it just a doily?)  Halloween always brings out a very indecisive person that I usually grow annoyed with in others.  I always have these grand ideas of elaborate, themed costumes and by the 11th hour when we are on the way to some party, I give up, change clothes and go as a risque ________.  The blank changes from year to year to whatever is easily accessible and clean.  Maybe I should over task myself and knit an entire costume in a month...  Then, if I get it halfway done, I could make it a "risque" theme! 

Saturday, September 18, 2010

How'd I Turn My Meat Shirt Inside Out?

I have been interested in knitting with unconventional objects as of late, not anything too out of the box though.  I have seen yarn made out of t-shirts, jeans and those sort of things.  I need to do some research to see what the finish products look like before I go through the process of making t-shirt yarn.  It has got to be pretty durable for project, I would think.  And, I finally will have good reason to de-tshirt my dresser.  Maybe if this Lady Gaga meat dress takes off, I could always make a meat scarf.  I am not sure I could provide the refrigerator space to keep meat clothing past one wear.  I'm also unsure if I could sell a meat scarf to anyone other than the most die hard Lady Gaga fan. 

Friday, September 17, 2010

I Will Buy You A New Fleece, Perfect Shiny and New

This week I sent my saffron skein to be judged by the latest sheep and wool festival in my area.  I'm hoping for a good showing.  Maybe everyone who is competing, except for me, has had a really off year.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am intensely competitive.  I would love to win against a bunch of tough entries but, I hope everyone sucks a little bit.  If I lose, Mr. Cutthroat is going to have a lot of comforting to do.  I am still going to the sheep and wool festival, though.  I am planning on purchasing my first fleece and going from start to finish in the process.  If I could shear the sheep myself, I would.  I will also spend a lot of time at the sheep and wool festival resisting buying a sheep.  There are no guarantees since I will be husbandless and extra susceptible to the cuteness of livestock.  Wish me luck on my yarn entry!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Sheep Go to Heaven, Goats Go to Hell

I have been working to formulate a solid argument for why it is financially sound for me to purchase a sheep.  There is so much technical information for clueless, would-be sheep herders like myself who think they can never have too much wool. But, a serious lack of dollars and cents.  This article is kind of my favorite:  Get Started in Raising Sheep.  The best part of the article is where it says you must be strong to own a sheep in order to "flip a sheep over for various activities."  Whoa.  This just got real.  Furthermore, I think I just want a sterile sheep.  I accidentally saw picture of a ewe getting ready to give birth and I'm not prepared for those bells and whistles.  An old lady sheep that isn't into doin' it would be perfect.  And, even if it is a lady sheep, I will name it Mr. Fidgets.  There's no way anyone can find a better name for a sheep.  But, I digress.  I'm starting to get a good background for what it takes to be a sheep owner, but no financial information.  Is this going to be as expensive as boarding a horse?  More research to be done, less graphic pictures viewed. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Move Along, Move Along

My house is in utter chaos!  The Cutthroat family has started packing and it isn't pretty.  On a whim, we packed most of our kitchen utensils and spices.  We've also stopped buying groceries because it is less to move.  Our grand plan seemed like it was making sense.  That is, until today.  I cannot, cannot, cannot eat Hamburger Helper for two weeks.  This plan will need to be amended, stat!  I have prioritized my life and food is clearly at the bottom and my wheel will be the last to get packed.  I hate moving.  If I could die in the house I am currently in, I would, and not because I like it.  I wonder how heavy 10,000 yards of yarn is going to be when carrying it up an elevatorless building?  I wonder if I can train my cats to act as pack mules.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

And, It Was All Yellow

Saffron, fiber, & water simmering 

 This weekend has been consumed with dyeing in the fiber.  I took some tips from Skeevy, a fellow Ktogger (see previous post), in dyeing with saffron.  What have I learned from this jaunt into hand dyeing  fiber?  Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world to harvest, a handcarder is a must, and my husband is employee of the month.  This picture doesn't really do justice to the beautiful yellow that the saffron produced.  I would recommend saffron for a natural dye in the future, although it isn't entirely economical to large amounts of fiber.  I ended up with a beautiful bright color that I spun and eventually plied with a natural dark shetland fiber.  It took about a day and a half before the skein was dyed, spun, plied, and washed before I finally finished.  I have decided to enter this skein in a sheep and wool competition.  I think this has opened up a whole new world for me with regards to dyeing fiber.  I like the way that it has depth and dimension in color when it is spun before the dyeing.  This fiber, on the other hand,
Finished skein drying
was actually pretty even in color.  Skeevy, the aforementioned Ktogger, has good recommendations for dying in Kool-Aid.  That is my very next project.  I feel like using natural dyes is so low maintenance that it is a no brainer.  I think Mr. Cutthroat is very happy to have this project wrapped up.  He was stressed on trying to help me wind my yarn and keep the yellow dye from penetrating everything in our kitchen.  He thinks the dyeing is done.  And, it is-until next weekend!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Girl Talk About the Knitting Too

I learned to knit a very short time ago by a small group of yarn savvy ladies at the end of 2008.  Before they took me under their wing at their Ktog meetings, I was totally clueless.  Although I am grateful they have passed on their knowledge, I feel like I should be upset that they have turned me on to a hobby that has taken over my life.  Now that I have moved, I have taken the Ktog spirit with me to my new home.  Every week, we get together to drink some wine, talk about relationships, then eventually knit.  East Coast Ktog has seen a number of breakups.  No relationship is safe under our mighty microscope.  Because of this, the men-folk are all up in arms about a ladies only group where they are often the topic of conversation.  They attempt to limit conversation with arbitrary restrictions on what we can discuss.  Mr. Cutthroat is seemingly immune to the topics of conversation because he figures everyone already knows everything anyway.  But, I always get the "What do you guys talk about?" and  "Did anyone mention me?"  from other significant others and crushes.  My lips are sealed.  Maybe fears would be quelled with a men's only party to discuss our relationships?  Actually, scratch that.  That makes me worry.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

I'll Keep Yarn My Dirty Little Secret. Who Has to Know?

America seems to be totally into hoarders these days.  Every other channel has some kind of hoarding program or special.  And, I, like the rest of America, am oddly fascinated.  The best one, by far, is the Animal Planet's take on the hoarding situation with Confessions in Animal Hoarding.  I pull up my wheel to the couch and tune in.  Every other minute, I'm rewinding to do a double take.  How do you not notice the situation going on in your house when every thing you own is covered in cat urine?  I have a hard enough time trying to keep my cats out of my yarn.  If they peed on it, oh hell no.  These shows have put out the call for hoarding freaks and it has been answered 10 fold.  It's almost like a competition to see which hoarder can have the most desperate situation.  Mr. Cutthroat has accused me on an occasion or two of being a yarn hoarder.  And, that is the main reason I record them and force the recordings on him.  I want him to have a healthy sense that it could always be worse.  Watching that has made me anxious- I need to go declutter.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Don't Stop Til You Knit Enough

I am considering buying a rabbit.  Getting an angora rabbit will take this yarn business to the next level.  And, I am kind of using that as an excuse because angora rabbits are ridiculously adorable.  If I was in the country, I'd quit my job and buy a sheep.  But, being practical in the big city, I have to stick to a rabbit.  Everything I own could be made of angora.  Oh, the possibilities!  If I go this route, the animals will outnumber the humans in my household.  This is a scary prospect considering one of my cats would jump at the chance to eat my face if I took a long nap.  Rabbits seem less vicious, all except for Bunnicula. 

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

I've Got My Toes in the Water, Knitting in the Sand

This weekend, I took a break from Cutthroat and the world.  With family in town, we celebrated Labor Day like everyone else within driving distance to water--at the beach.  I brought knitting along, but I am always worried the sand will permanently invade my project, in this case socks, and I will forever be finding sand in my toes.  I didn't pull it out once I was parked under my umbrella.  I did get a great idea for a pattern though, sort of like a swim suit cover up, and I will be taking some time to write the pattern this week. Maybe a knitted bikini would be hot-literally and figuratively.  It would likely be see-through and it would most certainly need to be as light weight as possible.  A knitted bikini could serve a niche in the polar bear plunge community where you would need a warm suit.  And really, what's warmer than wool?  What an itchy concept for an article of clothing!  That does not sound lady part friendly.  I'll knit up one and have Mr. Cutthroat model it.  Yikes!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Let's Have Some Fun, My Husband's Sick, I'd Like A Pattern For Disco Knits

The plague!  The Cutthroat household has been having some health issues as of late.  I was deathly ill earlier this week and now Mr. Cutthroat is catching the same illness that is recycling through our central air ducts.  When I was laying on what I was convinced was my death bed, I didn't even have it in me to spin or knit.  That's the true sign of a sick knitter.  I had two days free of work that I could have easily spent making yarn, and it just went to waste.  I hope that this weekend makes a strong recovery so that the Mr. and I can have a solid Labor Day Weekend.  Ideally, I'd like to take my knitting beach-side while enjoying several cat naps and playing "who's probably peeing in the ocean" with members of my group.  If Pukey Mcsleepsitoff doesn't quickly get better, this is going to be a downer of a weekend.  Although, this may be an incident that I can extort in the future for cash and prizes. I will have to keep that in mind.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

It's Like The More Roving We Come Across, The More Problems We See

Sometimes I have these projects that just wear on for what seems like decades.  Right now, I am (and have been) spinning 2 pounds of merino wool that seem to be reproducing at a rate that I cannot spin fast enough to stave off.  I can feel the downward slide coming as we start to approach the holidays as the other non-yarn aspects of my life start hitting me.  Like a shark, I need to keep moving, stay productive.  In a couple weeks, we'll be moving ourselves and the furrier members of our family into a new place.  The thought of all the tasks that come with moving is overwhelming.  But, on the upside, I have convinced Mr. Cutthroat to make the new loft space into my spinning, knitting emporium.  And, when I say convinced, I mean left my yarn all over the house until it became such an annoyance that he was forced into making the loft space all mine, kitty free.  Hopefully, this new loft will give me just the solitude I need to finish off the merino roving.  Or, maybe this venture will end up like when I played guitar in middle/high school.  I would sit in my room thinking about boys and then when I heard any authority figures headed up the stairs, I quickly strummed a note to make it sound like I was practicing.  60% of the time, it worked every time.