Textual Tension

Favourite Literary Quote of the Day: Life of Pi

2013-01-03T05:41:00.001-08:00

'There is Brahman, the world soul, the sustaining frame upon which is woven, warp and weft, the cloth of being, with all its decorative elements of space and time. There is Brahman nirguna, without qualities which lies beyond understanding, beyond descriptions, beyond approach; with our poor words we sew a suit for it - One, Truth, Unity, Absolute, Ultimate Reality, Ground of Being - and try to make it fit, but Brahman nirguna always bursts the seams. We are left speechless. But there is also Brahman saguna, with qualities, where the suit fits. Now we call it Shiva, Krishna, Shakti, Ganesha; we can approach it with some understanding; we can discern certain attributes - loving, merciful, frightening - and we feel the gentle pull of relationship. Brahman saguna is Brahman made manifest to our limited sense...'

Yann Martel 2001, Life of Pi.

Free Infinity Scarf Knitting Pattern | Working on Something Special continued...

2013-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I had an absolute mare with that last infinity scarf pattern I posted: it started off really well, but then I kept making mistakes, and in the end it just started to look like a fishing net - so I gave up. I'm sure Nancy Wyatt's original pattern, unadulterated and done using circular knitting needles would look just like the picture - and for that matter I'm sure the pattern I put up would have looked good if I hadn't been so ambitious to run before I could walk.

I didn't learn my lesson though. I found another, similar lace scarf pattern that could be done on straight knitting needles. I can't remember where I found this pattern, but it's really easy.

Lace Infinity Scarf Knitting Pattern

Start by casting on 58 stitches.

Row 1: Purl
Row 2: K3, *YO, K2, Slip1, K1, PSSO (pass slip stitch over), K2tog, K2, YO, K1* repeat from * until there's one stitch remaining for K1.
Row 3: Purl
Row 4: K2, *YO, K2, Slip1, K1, PSSO, K2tog, K2, YO, K1*, repeat from * until two stitches remain for K2.

Repeat this pattern until the scarf is the desired length and attach the two ends together, or keep it separate if you want a regular scarf. Pretty simple really. Row 2 and 4 are practically the same except for the start and finish.

As this is only my second attempt at knitting, full stop. I have to confess that there are one or two holes that I need to weave in and disguise. We can't all be perfect.

Sorry Em, if you ever see this! It adds character.

I've actually completely run out of wool to finish this one, so I'm waiting on an order which, fingers crossed, will be the same midnight blue. But while I wait I've started on another project, for myself this time. Pictures and pattern will follow soon.

Working on something special | Infinity scarf

2012-11-24T06:33:00.002-08:00

I'm throwing myself in at the deep end here a bit. I'm currently working on something special for a Christmas present for a certain someone, but it's taking a bit longer than I'd hoped.

I may be being slightly ambitious with this pattern as it's a pretty complex, lace knit design - definitely a giant leap from my Knitted Shreddy first attempt at knitting.

I've made things even more complicated for myself because the pattern I'm using, which I found on Nancy Wyatt's blog K2Tog, calls for UK size 9 circular needles. I spent hours trying to follow the pattern using normal, straight knitting needles and getting in a complete mess until I realised that circular needles doesn't mean that the needles themselves are cylindrical... oops. Clearly I am still extremely amateur. I don't have circular needles, so I'm using normal knitting needles, which means I've had to adjust the pattern slightly with the help of my expert-knitter mum.

This is what it should look like when it's done (if it gets done), except in a deep, midnight blue.

I got my wool from a sweet little shop called Wool Palette on the Broadway in Plymstock. They have a modest range of wools, but the quality is gorgeous and I'm pretty sure they hold regular knitting workshop.

Infinity Scarf Knitting Pattern

This is the pattern that I'm doing, slightly different to Nancy's, but this is for straight knitting needles whereas Nancy's is for circular knitting needles.

Firstly I started by casting on 39 stitches, which will hopefully give me a decent width for the scarf.

Row 1

After casting on, the first row will just be plain knit stitch all the way along. Make sure you still have 39 stitches when you get to the end ... which I never do because I'm pretty awful at this still.

Row 2

Knit 3, Yarn over, Slip 1, Knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over, yarn over and repeat until you only have three remaining stitches to Knit 3 at the end.

Row 3

This is another plain knit row, so basically every other row is going to be plain knit.

Row 4

This time, to try and emphasise the small holes - miniature leaf pattern - this row will begin with Knit 6, Yarn over, Slip 1, Knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over, Yarn over, Knit 3 and repeat the Knit 3 pattern from Row 2 until you have only 6 stitches remaining to Knit 6 to the end of the row.

To make it easier, this is the pattern written out in a code of sorts:

Row 1: K

Row 2: K3, YO, Slip 1, K2 together, PS, YO and repeat to K3

Row 3: K

Row 4: K6, YO, Slip 1, K2 together, PS, YO and repeat Row 2 until K6

Repeat these four rows until the scarf is the desired length and then attach the two ends to one another by sewing or knitting ( I haven't got to that bit yet so I'm not sure how's best to do).

I did a practice couple of rows on a separate piece of wool and it didn't turn out too well, I found that the Yarn over stitch needs to be left quite loose to allow the holes in the pattern to form. When knitting the plain knit rows of Row 1 and Row 3, make sure that you knit left to right through the back of the Yarn over stitches. This took a bit of getting used to because you normally knit through the front stitch.

I thoroughly recommend a large glass of wine while you get stuck in. Just me?

PS

Update on my clumsiness that I extensively listed in my last post: I started a new job this week, writing for a living :))), and with the horrendous floods that have been going on round the country this week, it took me and hour and a half to get to work on my third day. So, I was half an hour late and then proceeded to smash a colleagues coffee cup when trying to make everyone drinks ... great first week!

A magnet for bad luck | Alain de Botton attempts to console me

2012-11-16T11:32:00.001-08:00

At the minute I'm reading Alain de Botton's The Consolations of Philosophy. Its one of the many books that was on my reading list at Uni that I never got round to reading. It's a pretty interesting book, although it's received a lot of criticism for its simplistic glossing-over of the thoughts and teachings of the 6 major philosophers - Virginia Vitzthum refers to the book as: 'de Botton's boiling down of the impassioned struggles of these six thinkers into "Chicken Soup for the Soul."' While it is rather simple to understand and easy to read, de Botton never was claiming to be writing a profound and in-depth thesis exploring the classic teachings of Socrates and Epicurus - this has already been done. Instead, The Consolations of Philosophy is merely a humorous application of certain philosophies to modern day tribulations and trivialities.

One chapter that caught my attention was 'Consolations for Frustration'. In this chapter, de Botton comically addresses everyday frustrations that we all allow to wind us up. These fall into two categories: inanimate objects and animate objects. Inanimate objects, such as a pencil rolling off a table repeatedly, traffic jams and toe stubbing – the amount of times I've found myself angrily remonstrating a kitchen drawer for trapping my finger. Animate objects meaning the blame that we place on other people without them being aware that they're annoying us; like my neighbour who plays his music really loudly at 8 o'clock on a Saturday morning. Cheers for that.

It is pretty amusing, when you consider it, how much we place blame on inanimate objects in our everyday lives. Is it a refusal to acknowledge responsibility, failure? de Botton raises an interesting theory in response to the question posed: he suggests that without frustration, one would not endeavour to improve upon a fault – be it with oneself or with the inanimate object at hand. If something is bothering us the only way to overcome it is to do something about it I guess, since if we were more tolerable and passive we would lack the drive and ambition to develop ourselves and our surroundings.

This is just a sweeping assumption but maybe the human species would never have evolved so quickly if we hadn't been so frustrated about certain things. We got sick of being cold and eating uncooked food so we made fire, carrying heavy loads, long distances so we made the wheel and the most important frustration that keeps the human race going - jealousy - which leads to the all important process of reproduction. Think about it, if we were ambivalent in terms of reproduction, there would be no ‘survival of the fittest’ and human existence in the 21^st century most definitely would not be in existence – at least not the way we know it.

Reading this chapter made me think about the stupid things I do daily, and there are a lot of them. I am categorically the clumsiest person on this entire planet. I could write a regular post about the dumb shit that I do, the completely ridiculous accidents, breakages and losses that surround my existence.

There was the time I lost my favourite pair of sunglasses, the pair I had managed to take backpacking around the world with me, only to replace them, only to lose them a few weeks later. I replaced these sunglasses again and then within this last week I was walking in Cornwall and realised my handbag was open and, yes, the glasses were gone. Thankfully, after carefully retracing my steps, I miraculously found the beauty's.

Or, the time I passed my driving test and within two weeks my little car got written off by an articulated lorry.

The time my second car got written off, by my mum reversing into it - the evidence is still on her boot.

The time my third car got written off, this time actually by me, because I was looking in a shop window.

The time I reversed into a classic VW Beetle just weeks after starting a new job - great first impressions.

Or how every single time I go out, I'll pour that first drink down my dress because I can't seem to remember not to tip the glass before it's reached my mouth! Honest to God it's a given, like the probability that buttered toast will almost always land butter side down.

The time I sat on my brand new, silver, Yamaha flute and bent it in half!

And then there was the time I broke my foot wearing a pair of brand new heels before a night out, and still proceeded to go out forcing my broken metatarsal into the cursed stilettos - which still sit unworn in my wardrobe to this day. I had to wear a lovely boot for two-and-a-half months.

Oh and I just had a great morning at an interview last week, but Karma can't let me have too much happiness at once and I punctured the car tire whilst parking. Yey!

Don't even get me started on my waitressing days. Many drinks were spilt on small children. I made a lot of tips on sympathy alone - 'that poor girl, must be her first day.' No, I've been here for three years now.

I blame my gracelessness on my feet on the fact that I'm 5ft 10 and have size 5 feet. I'm not really sure how this came about as all of the women in my family are rocking size 8's.

The worst part about being so clumsy is when other people get annoyed at my ineptness. Your disappointment in my inability to walk without tripping over is not as great as mine, I assure you. Although I can forgive a rather irksome parent for their anguish over their coke-sodden daughter on her birthday - true story.

But, over the years, no matter how much I try to take care when I'm walking in 6 inch stilettos, or pay more attention when driving through traffic, or try to take better care of my belongings, frustration has not been a tool that has proven to aid in my succession of myself and the inanimate objects that seemingly plague me. I am the frustrating animate object! If I was to continue to get frustrated every time I stubbed my toe (which I'm pretty sure has been broken several times now) I would have had a nervous breakdown by now. I've come close; I have freaked out big time over certain things just because of the sheer ridiculousness of my luck, but it doesn't seem to get me anywhere - I'll do it again next week no doubt.

Maybe, like the Romans invented roads, I'll invent a scratch resistant paint for cars, a pair of ladder resistant tights or a pair of sunglasses with a tracking device. Or maybe I won't. Sorry Alain.

It's an amusing book to read, with general reassurances concerning a number of everyday annoyances and general anxieties and paranoia. But, it does not console my frustrations.

Stitched Up

2012-10-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

Stitched Up

Esty Seller Katie Tyson: Lamby the hand knitted sheep

It wasn't until I started a recent placement that I realised quite how popular and extensive the craft industry is, or has become in recent years; like a warm cosy underground movement full of tea and happiness. Gone are the days when knitting needles and sewing machines were associated with little old ladies. The re-emergence of the crafting aesthetic that has been slowly but surely sweeping the nation, and the world for that matter, is a refreshing one to say the least. Don't get me wrong, I for one am a devoted worshipper of high-street fashion, but in these days of mass-production, extortionate prices and poor quality manufacturing, it is exciting to see people getting back in to making things by hand. It's become fashionable and eclectic to make, purchase or - at the very least - appreciate bespoke, hand-crafted, second-hand or vintage items.

Nothing says 'I really put a lot of thought into this gift' than presenting someone with something that you have laboured over for longer than a trip into town - even if the stitches are loose, even if you're not quite sure what it's supposed to be, even if the paint is patchy - it's special.

Mass market fashion will always prevail, however it is nice to occasionally have a bespoke item that is entirely unique and all yours. And gifting something handmade doesn't mean making it yourself - if the thought fills you with dread - there are so many sweet little shops, cute fairs and specialised online market places that I could waste my days browsing through. Sites like Etsy, Not Mass Produced and Folksy captivate my attention, seriously, I just sit there gazing longingly at all the pretty pictures, not really looking for anything to buy if I'm honest, its just so calming to sigh and coo over floral patchwork quilts and hand-carved wooden animals.

The past-time of crafting has completely exchanged its social status as a working class necessity for the older generations before ours, to one of luxury, prestige and thoughtfulness on the part of the bestow-er. High-street, department store garments and accessories, things that would have been considered opulent and reserved for the affluent, are now all-too-accessible and erring on cheap (in quality, definitely not in price).

My mum obviously had some sort of foresight, as she took it upon herself to teach my sister and me how to cross-stitch, embroider and sew when we were very young - many a frustrating hour that was I'm sure. And, recently she finally managed to pin me down and teach me how to knit. Nothing fancy, just basic plain knit and purl, but it was strangely entrancing and soothing - we spent a good few hours on a Saturday night knitting away...clearly I'm living the dream. Here's a piccie of my first creation. It's just a square of plain garter stitch, but it does bare a startling resemblance to a knitted Shreddy.

I thought it was pretty good for my first attempt.

I've been pretty lucky recently to have the opportunity to work for a prestigious publishing company within their Craft team, so when I was asked to write a blog for their Stitch Craft Create business website I was pretty bloody excited. The post went live today so go check it out, and if you're craftily inclined have a look at the Stitch Craft Create website - another site that has the magical ability send time rushing by - with so many adorable things to make, bake or buy.

Here Goes

2012-10-13T06:36:00.002-07:00

Here Goes

I've been putting off writing a blog for a while now for fear of sounding, or heaven forbid actually being, pretentious. Might as well jump on the bandwagon. I've always thought of myself as fairly modest, although openly applying such a positive attribute as modesty to oneself is, of course, a contradiction in itself. So, the thought of writing about a subject/subjects that interest me has been somewhat a daunting prospect. I guess the advantage of having a one-sided conversation with the screen of my laptop is that nobody actually has to read this if they don't find what I have to say remotely engaging.

It seems everyone is bloody blogging these days about anything and everything; from cooking and fashion to music and badgers - yes, badgers. It's clearly a great way to hone your writing skills and self-publish your witty or informative sermons on the abyss that is the World Wide Web, as well as looking great on the CV - especially if your career aspirations involve working in academia or, lets say, publishing....*cough* (subtlety never has been my strong point).

My next task was to decide what the subject of my ramblings would be: music, literature, film, fashion, astronomy? I didn't really want to pigeon-hole myself into one genre; for a start I wouldn't claim to be an expert on any of the above, merely an amateur dabbler. So, I decided to be greedy - or lazy, however you want to look at it - and choose all of the above genres and more. Future blogs will be about anything that takes my fancy that day or week, and I will regurgitate profound, self-absorbed blathering until my little heart's content.

So, here goes...