I have started a new blog:
myeasternblock.wordpress.com
I've been planning on starting this up for a while now; I wanted a place for one of my other loves/obsessions, namely travel (and living in DC). I'm hoping this will be a way for me both to practice travel writing and to document my time here on the East Coast, and maybe, just maybe, improve my photography skills in the process.
I hope you like it!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Details
I'm realizing that my previously-shot pictures don't really do justice to the lovely texture of the Snow Angel design (and the yarn used for it) so I took advantage of the lovely winter scenery around here and got some better photos.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Snow Angel
In honor of the glorious, picture-perfect snowy day we are having here in DC, I decided it was time to finally publish my first pattern!
A big thanks yet again to my tester Celeste for her help editing this pattern. I'm hoping to have this available as a Ravelry download in the next couple of days.
Please enjoy!
Materials: I Love This Yarn! (distributed by Hobby Lobby) 100% acrylic, 355 yds/198 grams:
1 skein, White. (or 350 yds other soft, bulkier-weight worsted; see yarn notes below)
L hook
M hook
yarn needle
Gauge: not really important for this pattern
Finished size: about 6” x 74”
Special stitch: Seed stitch (sc, ch1, sk next st, sc in following, repeat)
With L hook, chain 206 LOOSELY.* Switch to M hook.
Row 1: Sc into second ch from hook, sc in next 2 sts, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sc into each of last sts (100 ch-1 spaces). Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first two sts, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, ch 1, sk next st, sc into each of last 2 sts (101 ch-1 spaces). Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sc into each of last sts. Turn.
Rows 4-18: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Switch to L hook.
Edging: Top and bottom edges (long sides): Sc in each st. (205 sc) Ch 1 at corner, turn piece. Side edges: Sc again into corner st. (Sc, ch 1, sc) in each st along side edge (18 ch-1 sp). Ch 1 at corner, turn piece. At fourth corner, fasten off.
*Note: This pattern can be made longer or shorter, depending on your preference; ch any multiple of 2 and follow pattern as directed.
**Yarn note: The I Love This Yarn is actually quite a nice acrylic; very soft and definitely on the bulkier side of worsted, although it doesn't feel "heavy." Feel free to substitute your own favorite yarn that is lofty and squishy without being weighty; the texture of the pattern definitely benefits from the wider gauge of the yarn.
A big thanks yet again to my tester Celeste for her help editing this pattern. I'm hoping to have this available as a Ravelry download in the next couple of days.
Please enjoy!
“Snow Angel” Scarf
With a fresh blanket of snow, the world looks clean and soft, and we get to indulge in our warmest, snuggliest clothes. I wanted to capture all of these elements of winter into one simple but luxurious scarf. The stitch pattern is warm without being dense, and the light frilling on the edges remind me of a dusting of snowflakes. Materials: I Love This Yarn! (distributed by Hobby Lobby) 100% acrylic, 355 yds/198 grams:
1 skein, White. (or 350 yds other soft, bulkier-weight worsted; see yarn notes below)
L hook
M hook
yarn needle
Gauge: not really important for this pattern
Finished size: about 6” x 74”
Special stitch: Seed stitch (sc, ch1, sk next st, sc in following, repeat)
With L hook, chain 206 LOOSELY.* Switch to M hook.
Row 1: Sc into second ch from hook, sc in next 2 sts, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sc into each of last sts (100 ch-1 spaces). Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first two sts, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, ch 1, sk next st, sc into each of last 2 sts (101 ch-1 spaces). Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, sc into each of last sts. Turn.
Rows 4-18: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Switch to L hook.
Edging: Top and bottom edges (long sides): Sc in each st. (205 sc) Ch 1 at corner, turn piece. Side edges: Sc again into corner st. (Sc, ch 1, sc) in each st along side edge (18 ch-1 sp). Ch 1 at corner, turn piece. At fourth corner, fasten off.
*Note: This pattern can be made longer or shorter, depending on your preference; ch any multiple of 2 and follow pattern as directed.
**Yarn note: The I Love This Yarn is actually quite a nice acrylic; very soft and definitely on the bulkier side of worsted, although it doesn't feel "heavy." Feel free to substitute your own favorite yarn that is lofty and squishy without being weighty; the texture of the pattern definitely benefits from the wider gauge of the yarn.
Femme
Today I am wearing my brand-new Doris Chan jacket/cardi (of which I have yet to take pictures). I love, love, love this sweater. So much so that I was sitting at breakfast with some faculty members, and I got really tired of waiting for them to ask me about the sweater, so I just flat out said HEY I MADE THIS.
This started a whole discussion about whether or not it was "feminist" of me to spend my time sitting at home crocheting. The old (male) farts seemed to think that it is a bit old-fashioned, which might be true, but my argument to them was that I find it very empowering, not to mention the fact that I feel so privileged to get to take part in a tradition that women throughout time have carefully cultivated. I realized that the bra-burning feminists would have eschewed any kind of handicraft or domesticity, but I think that this generation's feminism (are we third- or fourth-wave??) has come around to a more thoughtful and appreciative mode. Then again, I don't know that much about feminism I guess. I just like what I like.
This started a whole discussion about whether or not it was "feminist" of me to spend my time sitting at home crocheting. The old (male) farts seemed to think that it is a bit old-fashioned, which might be true, but my argument to them was that I find it very empowering, not to mention the fact that I feel so privileged to get to take part in a tradition that women throughout time have carefully cultivated. I realized that the bra-burning feminists would have eschewed any kind of handicraft or domesticity, but I think that this generation's feminism (are we third- or fourth-wave??) has come around to a more thoughtful and appreciative mode. Then again, I don't know that much about feminism I guess. I just like what I like.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Where I was
On Tuesday the boy and I found a spot on the hill of the Washington Monument. Close enough to (sorta) see a couple of Jumbotrons; if we had been willing to get to the mall at 5am we might have gotten closer. As it was, standing in the 10 degree windchill for several hours was enough to make me terribly, knock-out sick yesterday. I'm better now. And of course it was worth it.
The family standing in front of us was amazing; four sweet red-headed kids, ages maybe 7 through 12, freezing their poor little ears off but so excited to be there, asking questions about the role of the vice president and term limits for senators and if reelected presidents get sworn in all over again and similar questions that would make any junior high Civics teacher well up with tears of joy and pride.
The crowd became disproportionately elated when Biden was sworn in; I think it was that moment when everyone realized a) those guys are really leaving and b) these new guys are really staying.
There was absolutely nothing mundane about that day.
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