Finally!

Finished socks!

I have to go now.

Bye!

'Round Cape Horn, and Headed for Valparaiso

The title probably makes no sense, and until I did what I was refering to in the title, I was going to title this post after a line in Jabberwocky, but I impulsively wanted to to title the post this.

Although I don't feel like going to the trouble of creating a progress photo at this moment, I worked madly on the Snowdrop shawl, minus the headache that had bothered me before, and reached the repeat after the point! So I am "'Round Cape Horn and Headed for Valparaiso," Valparaiso being the *halfway* marker on the second edge of the shawl. It is a weird looking thing, with the one side all scrunched up on the needle and the other hanging loosely.

I have gotten back to a more familiar computer, so if, if (!) I had my camera with me and the batteries had been charged earlier and I had remembered the USB cable, I would have given you some pictures, but all that did not occur. On that topic, this computer recently went through some problems, so I have lost all my bookmarks and am using IE rather than my beloved Foxfire right now. Also, I have been having line break/paragraph tag problems, er, difficulties, all day in Blogger, don't know why, but this post may look strange.

Last time you heard that I was waiting for a shipment from KnitPicks; well, the package arrived last Friday, along with the July KnitPicks catalog.

What did this package contain? Here, have a looksie at the list:

• 2 50g balls Risata in Dusk



• 2 50g balls Felici in Hummingbird



• 4 50g balls Essential; 2 in each of 2 colorways, Meteor Twist and Peacock Print



• 2 50g balls Palette in Rainforest Heather



• 4 50g balls Dancing; 2 in each of 2 colorways, Hula and Rumba



• and finally! Favorite Socks: 25 timeless designs from Interweave

I had some plans for the Dancing and for Felici, involving the Four Stitch Ribbing patterns and the Chevron Patterns for Self Striping yarns in Sensational Knitted Socks, but I didn't know what I was going to make with the other yarns until I got Favorite Socks. Plans:

• Risata: Meida's socks by Nancy Bush (Hooray Nancy Bush!), go over and visit Grumperina to see some pictures and her thoughts.



• Essential Meteor Twist: Mock Wave Cable socks by Ann Budd. I don't feel like finding pictures, but they're the ones with the rickrack/zigzag pattern made in a blue tweed yarn in the book



• Essential Peacock Multi: Possibly the Cable Rib Socks; I don't remember the designer. However, there may or may not be a problem with pooling. We'll just have to see.



• Palette: Candace Eisner Strick's Austrian Socks. I loves twisted stitch goodness; find more with Eunny's Bayerische Socks and the Chalet (?) Socks in Nancy Bush's Folk Socks

Several other patterns are lovely, but they didn't fit my yarn or needles, or just didn't stand out to me immediately. One thing I noticed is that the Felici Hummingbird colorway (view here) is strangely reminiscent of the yarn of my first socks, 100% acrylic-only, what, started back at the end of 2004?-in the Jazz Hot colorway of this yarn.

Okay, I neglected to mention this in the last post, but as of that so-called unlucky day, July 13, 2007 (a Friday, see), this blog turned a year old. So happy blogiversery!

New at the library:
First, a quick look at my new book:

Favorite Socks: 25 timeless designs from Interweave

Rating: 9/10
Why?
I didn't find many spectacular projects that stood out to me, but I love 'um all anyway, with few possible exceptions.

Do not deal misses (got Weldon's Vol. 5 out from the library and between that and some translation key between UK/US terms in crochet, I couldn't resist saying miss!):

Take a good look at any and all of the patterns I mentioned above, also the Hidden Passion Socks, Eastern European Footlets, Padded Footlets, and Resoleable socks. Look at all of them in fact.



I haven't gotten a look at this one yet, other than Cat Bordhi's preview page, but I am oh so eager to get my hands on this book! Which one...



So many people were waiting on that magical date

JULY 21,2007 for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. Yes, and if you somehow read the same newspaper article as I did, you might have heard about somebody growing their hair out and bleaching to look like Lucius Malfoy (! *Here Arachnera raised eyebrows, may have formed o with mouth and had a bit of a laugh over the matter because beyond unruly bangs and green eyes, neither of which she wants to change, she doesn't look like any character.) And yes, I have read the first six books, although only recently (How I do like the Half Blood Prince-to clarify, the person is probably my favorite character-don't know why.), but I was personally much more excited about....

July 28, 2007

because Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters came out! I want to get my hands on this book, but I'm going to wait for the library, if the PLoC&HC can possibly get the book. I would also like to have a look at Victorian Lace Today, but PLoC&HC doesn't have that, or subscribe regularly to any of the Interweave Press magazines (except possibly Beadwork, which isn't exactly my area of expertise though I generally look over it.)



Now for the magazines I got out from the library on Monday:



Threads, August/September 2007

Ah, hmm... Threads is evidently on a big vintage clothing/vintage pattern kick this issue (Witness this list of articles, which I didn't mind but didn't love either due to aninterest (Inspired by The Outcasts of 19 Schyller Place, I invented a word) in vintage stuff), but what I wanted to see was the make it quick article on aprons. Thinking perhaps if I can get my Janome out and sew up some of the fabric stash that I may try to find a suitable fabric for an apron.



Another sewing project I wanted to make...

Well, I am officially out of time, and I believe this is already a long post. Hopefully I can tell you my opinions on Vogue Knitting Fall '07 next time.

Knit on for now!

Poor Neglected Blog

I have been neglecting both my blog and my knitting/other crafting (and my email-800+ unread messages is plain crazy!) recently. Plus, due to the fact that I am using an unfamiliar computer, I don't know where the USB port is to give you any pictures. But here is what I've been doing:

Knitting:
I am waiting on an order from KnitPicks, which contains Favorite Socks. I am now a subscriber to Interweave Knits magazine, too, so I have the spring and summer issues of that to look through. The orange socks you saw a few posts ago-well, actually, it was just a single sock, then, have progressed; they're toe-up projects and one is complete (other than those yet to be woven in tails) and the other is a little ways up the foot. Other projects include the Harebell lace socks, which are somewhat of a UFO due to the error in the pattern (By the way, I found another, though minor, error in Sensational Knitted Socks, pertaining to the Spearhead mosaic pattern), the Snowdrop Shawl that seems to be in the doldrums because the lace edging chart was giving me a headache, and the spiral ribbed socks an indeterminately discontinued due to the loss of all the needles (Cautionary tale: do NOT leave your sock projects in a purse unprotected)... There are also the basketweave ribbing socks in KnitPicks Parade yarn. I haven't cast on for the second one yet; suppose I've got a mild case of SSS.

Crocheting:
Neglected Irene from Doilies With a Twist was finally finished, and Tala started in maize crochet cotton. I still have not finished the button-top socks I was making.

Miscellaneous:
I have made ventures into minature punch needle and a locker hooked rug in the past few months. Pictures may come once I find the USB port.

Have you been over to Knitty and seen their everlasting bagstopper? I think it (and a crochet counterpart over at Crochet Me-the Reduction tote) have started me on a mesh bag craze, though I haven't had a whole lot of sucess with them in the past. There's those two, then if you're part of Interweave Knits' Knitting Daily community, there's a couple free patterns in their library as "Market Bag" and "Hemp Market Bag" and Classic Elite Yarns had a mesh bag in their most recent newsletter.

Other than that, I haven't much to say, so I'll stop for the moment.

Goal: Run 100 miles before July 4

I've joined Runagogo. (look at my little button on the side bar) Sure, I'm a late comer, but I will think myself quite accomplished even if I only move 66 miles. So far, I've done a little over two. You can read about it over at Runagogo. I haven't done a whole lot of knitting. Today was Mexican Day at school (In honor of Cinco De Mayo) and I was busy making guacamole (which I happen to like) and putting together our school newspaper. I am ready to start the short-row heel on my orange socks. I think I am going to try to get lots accomplished before my birthday, which will occur in 1 week, 1 day. In addition to walking/running and crafting, I also need to catch up on some stuff, so I'm preparing for a busy weekend.

Dear Darwinists and Atheists:

Note: Non-craft and religion/science oriented content ahead. If you don't want to read it or think you might be offended, please scroll down.

Dear Mr. Stenger,
I randomly encountered your book on Amazon as I was searching for an electronics item. I have rather strong feelings about the subject matter. We all know that your mass can randomly be rapidly and utterly annihilated as you walk or drive around on this earth that is tilted 25° on its axis. We all know that random bursts of energy come out of nothing to produce life on distant planets. Oh, yeah, guess what, the earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees. And those scenarios violate the laws of thermodynamics. I'd like to know how exactly you think the earth came about. And how do you explain the fact that we on earth are tilted at exactly the right angle, placed that the exact right distance from the sun, have eyes that function well, have the mental capacity to invent computers and many other complex items, and are even able to think of such things as these theories? My explanation?

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth...And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1: 1, 27-28, American Standard Version)

Explain how this complex universe came about without a god or an intelligent designer and without violating scientific laws or mathematics (which means the traditional Darwinism and Big Bang are out of the question since they violate such laws, specifically, the second law of thermodynamics and the mathematics of probability), and I might consider your theory.

Until then, please also read my letter to Mr. J.M. Ridlon below and good luck on your theories.

(Mr. Stenger has written a book that claims that science disproves God.)

Mr. Ridlon:
You say "There was never any positive evidence for an 'intelligent designer'" Well, how do you respond to this:

The earth is tilted at precisely the correct angle and placed at precisely the correct distance from the sun to have life. How can chance do that?

One billion monkeys on constantly working typewriters would have to work hundreds or even thousands of years before it is even probable for one to type Genesis 1:1, a simple little verse that goes "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." And even then, they likely wouldn't do it. Darwin was bad at mathematics. That's why he produced a theory that is ridiculous mathematically.

The Bible was written over about 600 years and by several different authors and yet is not contradictory of itself. It also contains valid scientific and historical facts that were discovered by men only many years later. If you insist that the Bible is all myths that were written down after those facts were discovered, well, all I can say is knock yourself out trying to rewrite history, which claims that the Bible has existed for all those years.

Speaking of history and science, neither Darwinism nor creation are provable--if you use the scientific method. In order to be tested by the scientific method, the condition must be repeatable. History has a whole different system for proof. For example, if someone asked you to testify that Jane Doe committed her crime on date, witness is the way you'll go about proving it. Since evolution is not repeatable (as a one way process) it would have to be proved by witness, and it hasn't.

On the subject of one way processes, it's no wonder you're ignoring the fact that the second law of thermodynamics stands as a huge obstacle in Darwinism, since you evidentially are a biologist, rather than a physicist. Oh yes, entropy stands smack dab in your way. Entropy increases and the amount of usable energy declines. The universe is running down rather than getting more orderly as you evolutionists believe.

Good luck on seeing the truth!

PS: References to evolution in this document refer to Darwinism, which is the belief that one species evolved into another.

P.P.S: A little bird told me that Darwin came up with his THEORY after reading a book on Victorian era economics.

(Mr. Ridlon, a biologist, is trying to defend evolution in the discussion of one of the reviews of Darwin's Black Box by Micheal Behe.)

To all who have been defending ID in the aforementioned discussion:
Thank you for doing so and God bless!

*End of non-craft content*

As you might have guessed if you read the above letters, I am an avid ID (intelligent design) supporter and a Christian. I am neither much of a scientist nor a mathematician, but I know enough about both subjects to intelligently pick my view. Of course, those of you who are interested in reading about crafts are probably not interested in my views on the world's origin. And if you are, go ahead and read the letters. I did start my variation on RPM with the Tofutsies over my trip, although I did not watch LOTR. I have gotten past the heel, though not too far. This pattern is similar enough to RPM short row heel variation to give you an idea what my sock looks like from the RPM photo. Actually however, it is more highly based on a sock pattern from Kids Knit or something like that, that I have enlarged for smaller needles and yarn and added a short row heel to.