Diane in Chico, CA

Knitter’s Review

2011-12-21T22:00:00.001-08:00

I’m a fan of Clara Parkes, author and publisher of Knitter’s Review. Each week she discusses something of interest to people in the fiber world. She’s intensely interested in yarn and its sources – her first book was about yarn (with some patterns), her second book was about wool (with some patterns). Her third book is about socks, with patterns. Each book is a scholarly work on its subject. She’s one smart woman!

This week she’s wrapping up 2011, with a 2011 Retrospective. She talks about things I have noticed, but only in the back of my head. Like, there really are a lot of knitting events one can attend, and there are a lot of clubs one can join, etc. It’s all good for the fiber world.

In the beginning of December she talked about notable books published in 2011. I have at least three of these books (Knit One Knit All, Charts Made Simple, and All Wound Up), and may have a fourth (Finishing School), but I can’t find it. When I do the archeological dig of my desk top I may stumble upon it.

And… if you follow her on twitter you are frequently rewarded with a picture of her morning latte. Yum.

So, if you aren’t already a fan, I recommend her Knitter’s Review web site.

Lovely little escape to the coast

2011-07-27T02:10:00.000-07:00

Hello! Once every quarter isn't very much to keep this blog going, but facebook has been keeping me entertained.

We took a nice trip to the coast. Our plans were to escape the blistering Chico heat. Of course, the weather in Chico was relatively mild and only started to warm up when we got home. Sigh.

We went to Fort Bragg and Mendocino, two little towns right on the coast. The weather was beautiful. Our motel room had a view of the ocean, and except for the very loud bathroom fan, it was nice.

Pictuers:

www.flickr.com

So much work for so little reward

2011-05-14T15:19:00.001-07:00

I worked a long time on this Chiton Pullover. After modifying the pattern to make a larger than specified size, it looks the way I expected it to look. What I wasn’t expecting was how the drape of the cotton yarn would accentuate that spare tire around my middle. Damn!

I’ve never been this heavy before, and I haven’t had to deal with the issue of tummy roll. I’ve seen women out shopping with their rolls hanging out, but I can’t bring myself to wear this sweater in public… unless I lose that roll. Maybe if I cut it off below the bust and worked down in a peasant blouse shape. Maybe, but I’m not sure what the cowl neck would look like on a peasant blouse.

PS: The picture shows the shoulder seams before finishing. I use little hair clips to hold it together so I can try it on. This is not the way the seams will look, if they are ever finished.

PPS: I like the yarn. It’s Cascade Ultra Pima 100% cotton. It has a nice shine and drape. Any cotton is hard on my hands to work, and this was no exception.

Posts from twitter and flickr

2011-05-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Not much blog worthy lately, so here are a couple of widgets that show recent twitter updates and flickr uploads:

20110305 Almond Orchard

2011-03-06T01:27:00.001-08:00

20110305 Almond Orchard
Originally uploaded by DFNoJunk

This almond orchard is beginning to lose its petals. It's almost white on the ground.

State of the

2011-01-28T14:07:00.001-08:00

… garden.

This is the time of year when people, me for instance, have the least amount of emotional energy. Therefore, today’s post will have some amount of complaining in it, with pictures.

The new landscape gardener has been mostly a no show this winter, for various reasons some of which were out of her control. So I’m going to cut her some slack. In the meantime I called another company this morning to arrange for a one time pruning job. The rose in the picture really needs pruning. It’s taller than I am. I could do it myself, but I have a convenient excuse – I’ve been having my cataracts fixed and part of the recovery instructions include “don’t bend over.”

One good thing the gardener did was put some chai tea on the vegetable garden as a mulch, so it looks bright and cheery. There is a squirrel, or something, who thinks the onions and shallots look good. I hope [s]he hasn’t killed them by rooting around in there.

One promising thing: There are several buds on the rhododendron. It hasn’t bloomed for a couple of years, but this year there is hope. The camellias are blooming, and there is one azalea in bloom, so it’s not all bad.

Eyes and Library

2011-01-25T15:46:00.001-08:00

I borrowed this image from Super Stock because it is perfect for today.

Thursday I’ll be visiting the local surgery center to have my second cataract removed. I hope I’ll be able to see clearly when it’s done, and that new glasses will make computer usage even easier.

While I’m recuperating, I hope people will go into the Chico branch library to pick up a postcard to send to their state representatives. The proposed state budget has some serious library cuts in it.

Some people think of libraries as a thing of the past. Not true!! Every day over 1,000 people (retired, toddlers, children, young adults, regular adults) walk through the doors at the Chico Library. They check out books, movies, audio books, magazines. They use the computers. The children attend playtime and story time. There is no shushing in the children’s room. In a quieter area, they read today’s issue of the local and national newspapers. Homeless people spend the day in a chair by a sunny window reading and napping. Our library is truly a place for everybody.

Support your local library.

Going up the road

2011-01-23T22:56:00.001-08:00

Today was a big football playoff day. I don’t care about football, so we took a drive in the mountains. It was lovely.

We saw the Feather River! We saw snow!

We had lunch in Graeagle at the Graeagle Mill Works. We’ve been going to Graeagle for 10 years and haven’t tried a different restaurant. No need to.

For dessert I had the cherry pie, so I could compare it to the one I made at home last week. I liked the restaurant filling better, but the crust was a tie. Yay, my crusts are improving!

Chico Lib Quilt Show

2011-01-19T21:42:00.001-08:00

Annie's Star Quilt Guild, here in Chico, is a talented group of ladies (and men??) who turn out hundreds of quilts each year. They give many of them to charity, and for the last two years we have raffled one of their quilts as a fund raiser for the childrens' room at the Chico branch library.

This week they loaned some quilts to the library for display. These quilts will be on display through the end of March and they are all beautiful.

I am especially taken with this quilt showing three draft horses harnessed and working.

Sunday, not in the park

2011-01-16T11:39:00.001-08:00

We did go for a walk in the park this morning. A 10 minute walk. My walking buddy just wasn’t into it today. The fog is a downer for her. I like it. It’s mystical – you can imagine all sorts of things going on out there where you can’t see. The birds like it and their song comes out of nowhere.

The picture on the left is a sycamore leaf in the styrax tree. The styrax has thorns, all the better to hold the neighbors’ sycamore refuse.

The picture on the right is how far we are in the sock class. The classes are two hours long and it takes more than two hours to work a sock heel, if you are new to it. I hope I gave my student enough hints to get her through the heel on her own. I was able to teach her Ted Myatt’s wrap and turn trick to avoid holes at the gussett. Basically, at the end of the first knit (RS) row of a heel flap, you wrap the adjacent instep stitch and turn to purl back on the heel flap. At the end of the first purl (WS) row of the heel flap you wrap the adjacent instep stitch and then turn to knit back. That’s all it takes. Yay, Ted! As you work the gusset, you can either hide the instep wraps when you get to them, or not. Knitter’s choice.

Morning Coffee

2011-01-13T08:11:00.001-08:00

My new favorite coffee has some spice in it. People who prefer fresh ground, bold coffee can look away now.

16 oz. coffee cup
Scant tsp. cinnamon
Tsp. Swiss Miss, sugar free chocolate
Scant tsp. sweetener of choice
Spoon full of instant coffee (I use Folgers)

Boiling water
Milk

Mix dry ingredients in dry coffee cup. Add some boiling water and whisk. Finish adding boiling water, leaving room for milk, and stir. Top off with milk if desired.

Fruity

2011-01-12T21:32:00.001-08:00

Isn’t it wonderful that California grows citrus? These came from the neighbors’ bushes and were a hostess gift last night. The neighbors claimed they aren’t sweet, but I had one for breakfast and it was perfect.

I, unlike my neighbors, have not had good luck with my citrus. My lemon bush is under wraps to protect it from the frost. Actually, it’s J’s lemon bush. I really, really want some lemons this year. A fresh lemon chiffon pie is very, very good.

Speaking of pie, I have had a book checked out from the library for a long time, probably abusing my status as a volunteer to repeatedly renew it. It is Pie: 300 Tried-and-True Recipes for Delicious Homemade Pie. Eventually I’ll have to return it. Maybe somebody will give it to me for my birthday

Almost Sunny

2011-01-09T11:24:00.001-08:00

Sunday is my day to walk in the park. It’s been foggy and cold, but today the fog is beginning to break up in Chico. These white barked Western Sycamores are my favorite winter tree. Their whiteness makes the dark winter seem just a little brighter.

The orchid is almost done making blooms. There’s just one more bud at the tip. It’s a lovely bit of color on the kitchen window sill.

(Click on photos to see larger images on flickr.)

Random Friday

2011-01-07T21:26:00.001-08:00

I took a few pictures in the back yard and mashed them into one image, so here’s my picture for the day…
Today was just not a good housecleaning day, so I did a very quick job, skipped a few steps. I don’t think the cats will mind.
Took a walk with an audio book. Right now the book is The Other, by David Guterson. The reader tends to drone on instead of read with feeling. I don’t know whether the tone of the book is supposed to be flat, or the reader has interpreted it so. This might be one that is better read than listened to. Other than the flat tone, I’m liking it. The setting is Northwest Washington and Seattle. It’s nice to hear Forks, WA, spoken of without also talking about werewolves, vampires, and Twilight. I have been in this part of Washington and it’s beautiful.
Finally took down the outside Christmas lights and put them away, and put away that one last thing that had been overlooked when de-Christmasing the house (yard ornament).

One more Christmas thing

2011-01-05T09:29:00.001-08:00

This year the house looked properly Christmassy. The wreath and blanket of lights on the bush are new, and I think they will do.

I’m not a fan of lawns covered in decorations purchased at nearby big box stores, with so many lights the wise men couldn’t see the night stars. I must confess that I purchased the wreath and blanket of lights at a nearby big box store. If you are reading this, and you like an abundance of decorations and lights on lawns and houses, I’m sure you enjoyed this year’s decorations.

So, it’s January. The last Christmas chore I have to do is climb a ladder and take down the wreath and put it away. I’m not procrastinating. I’m waiting for a warm, dry day.

Yellow Lovey

2011-01-05T08:27:00.001-08:00

This is a Lion Brand pattern “Bunny Blanket Buddy”. The pattern specifies Lion Brand Velvetspun yarn, which is bulky. I substituted a bulky Araucania Nature Cotton, soft and organic.

It’s a cute little thing meant to be a baby’s lovey, or security blanket. The head filling is poly fiber fill, so it should be washable. I’m not an ace embroiderer, so I hope the face stays on!

This is for Will. Hope he likes it.

Happy Monday

2011-01-04T00:35:00.001-08:00

Today was a mixed bag. First there was grocery shopping. This person parked a mini-van in a compact parking spot, and then did it badly by parking crookedly. This doesn’t bug me so much – after all this is Chico and we are all a little driving impaired here. The good news about the parking lot is that we didn’t have to move a bloody shopping cart out of a space in order to park. I consider that a good parking day.

The Fighter was good (A). We went to a matinée. So that’s two movies in two days. Yesterday was Social Network, also good (A). I love this time of year when the good films are out. Christian Bale was fantastic in The Fighter. Mark Wahlberg is really easy to watch. He has a kind of sweetness about him that is appealing.

Not Much Going On

2011-01-02T09:44:00.001-08:00

Weather. That’s all I’ve got. It’s cold. It’s wet. The birds love it. I don’t.

Signing out,

Ms. Grumpypants

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T09:02:00.001-08:00

The Christmas tree is gone, waiting for the rain to stop so we can chop it up and put it in the garden recycle bin. The living room has returned to normal, but it has lost some of its cheer. Maybe we need some kind of inside plant or branch-type decoration with led lights during the winter. I’ll have to think about it….

New Years resolutions = zero. There is always the desire to live a better life, whatever that means (health, happiness, etc.), but I don’t think that happens because of a list made on January 1st. It’s more of a lifetime commitment, broken down into daily lists.

So, what’s on the list for today? Finish the Noro scarf, tidy up the living quarters, eat lots of vegetables.

Happy New Year to you!

Baby it’s cold outside

2010-12-30T09:11:00.001-08:00

People who live where it snows and freezes all the time will pooh-pooh these complaints. Californians are wimps, I admit. But still! In the twenties is pretty darned cold. When I went outside to take a picture this morning, the only thing that looked like it needed a picture of itself was the temperature gauge. Fortunately, the lemon bush was covered last night, so the 28F won’t kill too many leaves.

Brrr!

Noro Sekku Scarf

2010-12-29T08:37:00.001-08:00

This scarf is light and airy, good for warm climates on cool days. The pattern is a version of the Seaman’s Scarf (Stahman’s Shawls & Scarves), yarn Noro Sekku, needles KnitPicks Options US6.

Now, about this Noro Sekku yarn. It’s 50% cotton, 17% wool, 17% nylon, and 16%silk. It breaks, twists upon itself, and ties itself in knots. I’ve tried pulling the yarn from the outside of the ball and the inside (the inside is better). Every time I knit with a Noro yarn I pledge not to do it again… and then I am seduced by those beautiful Noro colors.

Lowbrow Orchid

2010-12-28T08:59:00.001-08:00

I am a lowbrow (a person who has uncultivated or nonintellectual tastes). Which is why I buy my orchids in a grocery store (Trader Joe’s) and then orphan them to sheltered places in the garden to fend for themselves.

This orchid (Initiated Vuylstekeara Carnivale ‘Okika’) came home yesterday. It’s still in the bloom of youth, and beautiful.

One of these days, one of the orphans in the yard will bloom again and perhaps find a home inside for a while.

Sock Class in January

2010-11-25T23:50:00.001-08:00

This is the description of the class I’ll be teaching in January, Saturday mornings. I hope some people sign up.

Skill Level: Intermediate. You know how to cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, and read a pattern. You know how to check your gauge (at least you know what the word means).

What you will learn. Knit a sock.... Join cast on edge without twisting in order to knit in the round (no seams!). Use heel stitch for sturdy heels. Use short rows to turn the heel on a sock. Make a toe and close with kitchener stitch.

Before you come to class: gather supplies and pattern.

Week 1: Cast on and start knitting the top of the sock. Homework: finish the top of the sock.

Week 2: Make the heel and start the gusset. Homework: finish the gusset and knit down to the toe.

Week 3: Make the toe and use kitchener stitch to finish the sock.

Supplies:

Yarn – choose a yarn that is simple and light or bright, so you can see the stitches (no dark yarn, please).
Suggestions: Cascade 220 washable wool, worsted (medium) weight. Not recommended: soft, 100% acrylic yarn.
Knitting needles – Size 5 or 6 needle(s) for worsted weight yarn. Choose one of the following:

1 Circular needle – approximately 32” or 40” long (for knitting socks using the magic loop method)
2 Circular needles – each needle approximately 24” long (for knitting socks on 2 circular needles)
Double Pointed Needles – a set with 5 needles in it (for traditional sock knitting method)

Etc. - crochet hook (for fixing mistakes); darning needle; scissors, scratch paper and pen/pencil.

Pattern: Choose a simple sock pattern with k1p1 ribbing at the top and a stockinette body. You will be starting at the top of the sock and knitting down to the toe.

What's up - in 140 characters or less

2010-11-18T13:00:00.001-08:00

follow me on Twitter

This is my default post when I really don't have much to say.

Square DPNs

2010-10-07T23:01:00.001-07:00

I tried some new needles today: Kollage Square Double Pointed Knitting Needles

First let me say that I don’t usually knit with DPNs. I prefer circular needles and I knit small cylinders like socks using the magic loop method.

These Kollage DPNs are terrific! My local yarn store, Heartstrings Yarn Studio, carries them, so during Thursday knitting group I took a set of US4 square DPNs for a test knit. They have pointy enough points. They didn’t slip out of my knitting. They felt good in my hands. For anybody who knits with DPNs, I recommend them 100%.