Knitting: The Thresh-hold Drug

Following on the fiberous addiction thread...must learn to crochet. Yes, it turns out that knitting is the thresh hold drug. Soon, I will be embarking on the dubious world of *gasp* crochet!
Why? You ask. Because my wonderful aunt just sent me 4 books. An afghan book, a knitted/crocheted(is that the right word? Eh, it is now) slipper book (could this be a hint that the family is tierd of everyone getting the same slippers for gifts? No, I didn't think so either), a book of crocheted animal slippers, and a book of crocheted sweaters and other cool stuff. So, I must learn now. I'm not sure if the family will thank her for this or not.
On other news, I took Casper, my oldest nephew, out school shopping yesterday. He just HAD to have a Fantastic Four backpack, and since he is starting 1st grade, we went to several differnet places until we found it. I was knitting the baby hat, and he was so impressed. I really have to get him lessons. Unfortunetly, my plan was to go to Kiwi tomorrow and maybe Pearls and see about lessons for him (I can't teach worth anything), but my car is in the shop. It broke down last nite at 1030 across town. Luckily we were near a Barne's & Noble, and Sarah was with me, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. When I went back today with my dad, we noticed that it was leaking green fluid. I decided that it is either coolent, or my car was taken over by aliens and they got hurt. Gabby will probobly agree with the alien idea. Oh well. Tuesday I will convince someone to teach me to crochet, and it will take my mind off my poor sick Bubby. Hopefully it will be all better by then though.

What a Day

Ugg. What a day. I was trying to make some booties for Idiot Boy's son who is due any day now. I think today there were going to the hospital to see if they were going to induce (Idiot Boy being Matthew, my older brother. Dumbass is Jon, my oldest brother. Just incase anyone was confused). And you know what? I couldn't figure out how to do the increase I needed!!! WTF!!! Then I realised what it was. Latin. It is rotting my brain. Stupid summer class. As if that wasn't bad enough, I went in to take my test, and my favorite pen wasn't in my bag!!! It must have fallen out last nite in my room. I hope so. I really like that pen. OK, granted it cost me something like $2, but they don't carry them anymore anywhere. So I sit down for the test, and I totaly space the first 7 lines of the Aeneid. WTF!! I know this!!!
Arma virumque cano, Trojae qui primus ab oris
Italiam fato profugus Lavinaque venit
litora - multum ille et terris jactatus et alto
vi superum, saevae memorem Junonis ob iram
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem
inferretque deos Latio - genus unde Latinum
Albanique patres atque monia Romae

See!! Latin sucks. If I failed that test, which I probobly did, then I most likely won't pass the class. If I do that, then I have to take 202, which isn't offered until Spring, which means I don't graduate until May, which means even less time to knit!!! Uggg..

So I totaly gave up on the booties. The poor kid is being born in Tucson in July. He doesn't need socks or anything like that. I am now making a hat out of the left over yarn from his blanket. A simple hat knitted in the round. All I have to do is knit. I am sitting here at my coputer, with my cat in my lap (though that could be because of teh storm rolling in and not any attempt to make me feel better about STUPID LATIN ROTTING MY BRAIN AND MAKING ME FORGET HOW TO DO A SIMPLE INCREASE), and knitting in my hand. Simple knitting. Well, in about 4 inches I will have to start doing decreases, but that isn't for 4 inches.

I really hope these kids understand how much effort I put into stuff for them. I mean, when they grow up, they should return the favor. I show my love in wool, they should do the same, though when they return the favor, I think unknitted wool would be best.

Yarn Addicts

Yay! Thank you Kimberly for telling me about the Yarn Addicts Webring. I just joined!! Hooray!! And to commemmerate (is that spelled right? To many "m's"? Ya, that's is why I am a psych major and not an English...) I will tell you the story of my Pretty Red Egg. Like all cool knitters, I regularly attend my local Stitch 'N Bitch. It's at one of the best dessert shops in Tucson, which can get dangerous. But we are well know there, the owner is a friend, our waiter, Tristian the Waiter Extrordinare, even learned to knit to please us. We have a great group of people. If you are in Tucosn, you should really come. Anyway, one day, we come in for our regular Tuesday nite SnB and lo and behold what do we have? But someone left boxes and boxes of yarn for us!!! Let's all pause and give a moment of silence in thankfullness for Yarn Fairies everywhere............OK, well, in these boxes, there was a lot of really good stuff. Some cashmire, some wool, lots of total drool worthy stuff. We were all excited, like kids who just found out the candy store owner is going bankrupt and giving away all his inventory to keep it away from the creditors (I'm not the only kid who ever had this fantasy, am I?). I got this Pretty Red Egg. It was wound to look like a giant egg. It was so soft. So pretty. So red. Hense the name. We aren't sure what it is, and I have yet to test it to make sure. An opinion that seemed to make everyone happy was a wool/mohair blend. It is soft. I just sat there all nite petting it. Then I started to carry it around the house, petting it. I would hold it in the crook of my arm, randomply rubbing it against my cheek. It was so soft. Then my dad said that I could no longer go outside with my Egg. It was scaring the neighbors. Bah, the neighbors don't even know me. If they did, then they would really be scared. Hehe. Just my luck that the one time I was sitting in my porch hammock, petting my Egg and I might have mummbled to it a little, I'm not admiting anything, someone had to see. I mean, I live next to an honset to god cat lady. I think her current number is 24. And they are worried about a little talking to my yarn? Which there is no evidence that I actualy did.
So now, my Pretty Red Egg is being turend into a Pretty Red Shawl. I still pet it. I still randomly rub it against my face. And I can still carry it around oustide, since I am knitting it! And I might still talk to it...But without photographic evidence, noone can prove anything!

12 Step Program

OK, so someone commented yesterday about "do I need a 12 step program". And I decided, yes, we all need one. Yarn addiction is a serious thing, and we all need the support of others out there. But, it seems that noone has developed a 12 step for us. There's one for everything else. Heck, I'm sure there is a 12 step for Beeny Babbies *shudder*, so why not us? Well, I guess I will have to develope one..
Step 1: Buy more yarn
Step 2: Find unique places to keep yarn
Step 3: Buy even more yarn
Step 4: hang out with people who also have this addiction (after all, if they buy more than you, then obviously you aren't the one with the problom :) Ohh, or if they have so much, they won't n otice when random skeins go missing. "Have you seen my my wool/mohair blend lately? I seem to have misplaced it." "What? No, no I haven't. Why would you think I have seen it? I have to go...")
Step 5: Buy Yarn (are you seeing a pattern here yet?)
Step 6: When you buy yarn, go with a friend. They can help carry your yarn.
Step 7: Repeat steps 1, 3, and 5
Step 8: Get a bigger house to keep your yarn
Step 9: Look into working at home, or some other job where you can knit, thus using your yarn and freeing up space to buy more
Step 10: Learn to spin your own yarn.
Step 11: Move out to the country and be "that crazy lady with wierd animals" ie-sheep, alpalcas, rabbits, etc.
Step 12: Buy Yarn. Heck, buy a yarn store!

Are You Addicted to Yarn?

According to the DSM-IV the definition of addiction is a maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
(1) Tolerance, as defined by either of the following: a. A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect. The increasing need for more and more yarn. In more and more fiberous content. Just one skein of mohair just isn't enough anymore b. Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance. There was a time when a 2 skein scarf would do it for you. You'd finish and be so proud of yourself. Now you need CABLES.
(2) Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following: a. The
characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance your hands start twitching while standing in line somewhere because you don't have any needles in them b. The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Refusing to sharpen your pensils because your teacher won't alow your knitting in class, and you can almost pretend that they are wooden neeldes. (3) The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended (loss of control). "Just one more row" becomes your new greeting. (4) There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use (loss of control). What? Cut down? Hah! That's a funny one... (5) A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects (preoccupation). Hmm. a LYS is looking for part time help... (6) Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use (continuation despite adverse consequences). Ya, school and work are totaly cutting into my knitting time. Luckily, I have begun converting my friends into the knitting cult. (7) The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (adverse consequences). I am firmly convinced that my knitting is the only thing standing between me, a chainsaw and the Admin building...

They also list some signs that you might have an addiction:
Abrupt changes in work or school attendance, quality of work, work output, grades, discipline. Ya, like I said, school and work are totaly cutting into my knitting time...
Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper. Hey, that was a totaly understandable flare up!! My cat ATE my yarn!! Just because all the neighbors came rushing over, doesn't matter.
Withdrawal from responsibility. Eh, I've never been that responcible to begin with.
Continual wearing of long-sleeved garments particularly in hot weather or reluctance to wear short sleeved attire when appropriate. Dammit, I spent 6 months knitting that sweater, I'm gonna wear it, even if it is 106 out!
Association with known substance abusers. Stitch 'N Bitch, need I say more?
Secretive behavior regarding actions and possessions; poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion. What? That huge rubbermaid container? No, no, it doesn't contain yarn. Really, I don't have that much yarn, so going out and getting more is really a necessity. In my bag? Um...books. Ya, books. No, really, I've been at the library, not the yarn store.

SHould this worry me? Nah, it just means that I don't have enough yarn or knitting time...Ya, the only problom I have is not enough yarn or time to knit. Besides, until the Surgeon General puts warning lables on my yarn, and I see them...hehe. Ignorance is bliss, right? So, how many of you are addicted?

I want my wool!!!

I just got an e-mail from Knitter's Bazaar. See, they post on their site that 90% of orders are sent out within 3 days. They never say how long about it takes to get the stuff to you. Well, a week later, I sent them an e-mail asking where my wool was. They said that it takes 2 weeks (!!!) to get through customs!! TWO WEEKS!!! Why does it take that long to get two measly skeins of wool through customs? And why didn't they tell me this when I ordered it? UGGG!! I WANT MY WOOL!!! I am knitting this shawl, and ran out less than 20 frigging rows from the end. And for some reason, noone of the friggin planet has the color I need! Not even the manufactureres of the wool. Granted, I can't read Norweigin and maybe they only didn't mention in in the English pages, but still!! So I finaly found it at Knitter's Bazaar in Canada. And I am in Tucson (that's Arizona in the United States, assuming anyone not from around here reads this and isn't up on their geography). Hmm...customs did just find a tunnel crossing the border up there. Maybe that is why it is taking so long. Customs officials found the yarn smuggling tunnel. This is why you always have TWO!! Because knitters are impatient folk and go into withdrawl easily. So building a tunnel to smuggle in their yarn would be a good thing. And since it apperently takes TWO FRIGGIN WEEKS for wool (!!) to clear, I can understand the need to smuggle it in illegally. Hmm..maybe that is what I will do when I get out of college to pay off my student loans, a yarn smuggling ring! Hehe, ya, no customs, no questions! Get your yarn quicker. I could have guys on street corners in trench coats, "psst, hey, lady, I got some really great stuff. Cashmire, pure. Great deal." Hehe. Ooh, better not let my dad read that, he already refers to my knitting as my "habbit" and one of the women in my knitting group as my "dealer"...

How much do I love my neices?

I knit Mo a shawl(see previous post) and she loved it. Not just "wow, that's a cool shawl" but "it's a 107 degrees out and I am going to wear it." Literaly. They were visiting and I was bringing her down to Tucson for the weekend so she could see everyone else and we all walk out to the car, and I gave her the shawl. Now, this was in Phoenix, which had been under a heat advisory all day. It was 8 or 9 at nite, and still 100+ out. And she said "wow, a shawl! Thank you, I've always wanted a shawl!!" Then she turned to her mother and asked "what's a shawl?" We told her and she said "Oh, good. Because I'm cold and now I can wear it and not be cold." Then she proceded to put it on and didn't take it off all nite. (You see why I like giving stuff to these girls). Well, I got a call the other day telling me that Bri has taken to stealing Mo's shawl. Now, Mo is a great big sister, and being such, she let's her sister fall asleep with the shawl then sneaks in at nite and takes it back. But the threat of physical violence is imminent, so it was requested that I amke another one for Bri, and maybe she will leave Mo's alone. Of course, she could also be in the phase where everything needs to belong to her anyway. We'll find out. Anyway, I am making Bri a sky blue shawl, a little smaller than her sisters. But, being 2, I am using acrylic, which just feels wierd in my hands. And now, having worked on it between class and on breaks and stuff and have been avoiding all other knitted projects. And now, I am so sick of it. But I love my neices and want to make them happy. But I am so not cut out for fiberous monogomy. But I love my neices. But I am board of this project. But I love my neices...Ya, this could go on for a while...

Verde River Knitting

This is the picture of me knitting down the Verde River at the last year. The Verde River Canoe Challenge is a 1o mile race down the Verde River in Arizona. We have done it the last two years. This last year, I knit down the river, well, when it was only class I or II rapids. I also sent this picture and another to the knitting libran (http://knittinglibran.blogspot.com/).
Verde River Knitting

The Chernobyl Duck

I have two neices (yes, this is important, and also has a lot to do with knitting). One, Brianna, will be 2 this October. Her older sister, Domonique, will be 7 this November. The day before my 23rd birthday to be exact. I knit them a lot of stuff. At first, I would knit Mo stuff becasue she was a baby and couldn't care less how it looked, so there was always someone who would like the worst project, which was a good thing in the beginning of my knitting carreer. Then as she got older, she actually liked the stuff. Probobly becasue it was from me, but she liked it! When Bri was born, she would get stuff too, becasue you can't give something to one sister and ignore the other. Which brings me to the Duck. I got the Knitted Toys book after looking at it at the Stitch 'N Bitch one nite, and I made the duck out of it. The pattern wasn't really written very clear, and I didn't have duckly colors so I used purple and green and seaming isn't my friend. What turned out is something that looks like it was hatched at Chernobyl, or maybe Bakini Atoll, and then hit by a large semi. Poor thing. But Nikkie and the girls were visiting from PA, so I took it anyway. I walked in the door and Bri grabbs it out of my hand. Nikkie turned to me and said, "well, I hope you weren't really attached to that, because I don't think you are getting it back." She carried it around all nite. I have some great pics of her dancing with it. So, that's the Chernobyl Duck. Remember this story, it will come into play later...

Now, if I figure out the picture thingy correctly, you should have one of the CD!

My First Post

Well, I finaly created a blog devoted completly to my knitting! Yay.
Well, first things first, and intro post...
My name is Cerridwen and I am 22 years old and attending the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice Administration. Basicaly it cuts into my knitting time. Priorities, right?
Well, as time progresses, this will get better and better. Or at least not suck as much. But since I am not the greatest when it comes computers, bear with me.

I would also like to thank Chris for my username. And put out a request, if anyone see's something that needs to be fixed, comes up with something that would be cool or they would like to see, or figures out a better thing to put somewhere, let me know! Feedback is good!