Subway Hooker

Where has the time gone?

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:52:00 +0000

It's a bit embarrassing, this. Disappear for months on end, all the while working fastidiously on projects in the background.

But there ya go.

Some things of import: cats are still adorable, but no longer kittens, of course. Still producing stellar breadstuffs on a weekly basis. Latest is whole wheat sourdough, which is not only fab when uber-fresh, but enjoys a second life when the stale bits are made into savory bread puddings or added to soups.

But what you really care about, if you care at all, is the yarnstuffs. And I have been making stuff, cranking it out, some dismal failures, like the Anthro Inspired Capelet and Rosa's Sleeveless Cardi Jumper:

some lovely as all get out. See? Just to be clear - the above failures are my fault, not the patterns or the designers. The capelet was way too small and the cardi, way too big. I plan to revisit both. Stuff that went well include the Tea Shawl from Lion Brand, Tosca by Dora Ohrenstein, and a couple of Animekko cats, made as gifts...

But for some reason, I've lately glommed onto a desperate need to complete the UFOs what have been cluttering my new and fabulous workroom. They are piled in the corner like turds. And really, they deserve much better.

So here is one of the first, rescued from the turd pile and quickly completed:

That's the Scalloped Cowl from Lion Brand.

Below is the hibernating Shipwreck Shawl. Distressing side note: My Knitpick's circular cable snapped right below the connector on the damn R train, freeing a bunch of stitches in its wake! Sorry Knitpicks, but I'm pissed off about that!!! I mean, what the hell?

And here's the kicker: This isn't all! I've also been trying my hand at needlefelting, urged on by the gift of a gorgeous Japanese book on the same. Started by making some beads, then graduated to what was supposed to look like a clog, but ended up looking like Grandpa Simpson's lost slipper. Ah, well.

And there are more projects, too! Here's hoping I get and keep my ass in gear and get back to posting weekly...

Rhinebeck 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:15:00 +0000

Has it Been That Long?

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:16:00 +0000

Hmmm... I suppose I owe you a bit of an explanation, some reason why I'd abandon this little blog, if even just for a few months.

The short form is that we have crossed the threshold into new territory and are 3/4 of the way through renovating my dad's apartment, and turning our 2 family into a one family house. What does this mean besides eliminating extra income from collecting rent, higher utility bills, a larger financial burden overall, and increased pressure to continue churning out at my stressball of a job?

Well, it means a real workroom -- exposed brick walls, room for sewing machine, serger, and dressmaker dummies; room for yarn to be organized; for books and magazines to be accessible and vintage stash to be safe and viewable.

It means a spa bathroom designed by a real designer that will look as nice or nicer than magazine shots.

It means a library for our many, many books - a place to chill and relax and read in quiet.

It means a killer sun-room with seven windows and an adjoining bedroom with pocket doors.

It means more open space with light pouring in from two skylights.

It means a friggin' walk-in closet!

In other words, a better respite from the cold cruel world (nah, I don't actually view the world that way, just when the trains get really screwed up...).

So yeah, this project is sucking the energy out of us, but light is at the end of the tunnel. I'll be posting a couple of pics when it makes sense.

In the meanwhile, what of yarnly pursuits? Well, I've been working on Andrea's Shawl, which has not been terribly difficult, but I am making a meal of it, as hubsy would say. It's taking way too long just to get past the lace bit. But I am using Lion Brand Superwash Merino and I gotta say, it's a lovely bit of yarn. Particularly for the price.

I'm hoping it'll be done by autumn.

And breadmaking continues apace, though I have moved onto making a whole wheat sourdough, and am loving it! Sourdough is a bit miraculous to me. I find feeding it (them?) every week is very amusing.

The kittens are adults now, and as such, better start pulling their weight around here.

What else?

I picked up the most wonderful cookbook recently called Vegan Yum Yum, which I absolutely love. I'm not vegan (not even a strict vegetarian), but I am finding the recipes to be fantastic and creative and delicious, so I'll keep making them. Hey, whatever I can do to keep more animals alive... Oh, and her blog of the same name is awesome, too. Do yourself a favor and try the Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup. i added mushrooms to the mix with yummy results.

I've got other news for you, but it's going to have to keep for the mo'. I do promise it won't be so long between postings!

Ta for now!

Amazing?

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:26:00 +0000

Dunno about amazing, but I do like the way this shawl came out. The yarn, for those keeping score, is kinda sticky and harder than most to frog, but for five dollah, who's whining? And the colors are pretty (though in the subway lights, they seem a bit harsh). The whole shebang is from Lion - yarn and pattern. And true to my name, mostly hooked on the R, N, or D lines of our New York City subway system.

So you know, the pattern is the South Bay Shawlette and the yarn is Amazing in Ruby.

Flickr-Dipping

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:51:00 +0000

Happy New Year, y'all!

I was all set to post my latest bits and bobs, largely created in a rush as gifties for my near and dear, when I decided a bit of Flickr-dipping was in order. You know, checking out the odd stuff getting posted here and there.

Mid-dip, I chanced upon some of Cheenara's latest work. I've blogged about this extremely talented woman in the past, and I stand by my assessment of her work. Friggin' brilliant! See that piece above? And those that follow? I am humbled by this kind of talent. Seriously.

And then there's Jessica Danby, another incredibly talented woman creating fine art using humble sticks... But I cannot upload her photos, so here is a link to her work on Flickr.

And finally for this post is the extraordinary Max Alexander, whose work stretches from jewelry to animation to fabulous knitting graffiti:
This is the kind of thing that makes me want to yarnbomb my own front garden. And I might well.....

And Boy, are my Arms Tired!

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:22:00 +0000

St. Basil's

Skyline

Pushkin and his lovely wife, Natalya, frozen on the Arbat

St. Basil's at night from Red Square

GUM on Red Square, lit up for Christmas

Graffiti on the Arbat

St. Basil's domes, close up

Sweet mother of Crap! Have I really not posted since SEPTEMBER?

Oh dear. Well, I can account for the last few weeks, anyway.

Just got back from Moscow on Friday from a business trip, and the run-up to that trip kept me pretty damn busy and mentally unavailable. In fact, here are a couple of shockers for you:

I did virtually no needlework on either the 9 1/2 hour flight there or the 11 hour flight back! True story.
During my seven days in Moscow, I did not have any time to go to a Russian yarn/craft shop or pick up any crochet/knit magazines. Sick, right?
I put on, like, five pounds as I ate my way through Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian cuisine
Last week was one of the warmest ever in Moscow - no snow, in fact, went without a coat most of the time!

So now I'm back and gearing up for a quickie trip to Texas. Next year's travel schedule looks like Dubai, Amsterdam, and Sao Paulo, and a ghost of a chance of Barcelona. Funny how impressive it looks on (virtual) paper. And truth be told, I did spend a few hours tooling around the sites of Moscow before I had to start work for the week, and that was amazing. It is quite the city, and it strikes me as one that is a bit hard to get to know. But now I'm desperate to go back and absorb more of its charms. We'll see... So I really have nothing prepared, yarn-wise. Got a few ideas in me head, but they have some distance to travel before they creep from my fingertips and into the keyboard. So I must sign off for now, but enjoy the Moscow pics!

Art THIS!

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:04:00 +0000

So I have been on a bit of a craft/art binge as of late, cooking up some interesting ideas in my mini moleskine (will they get executed? Smart money is on no), and looking at stuff online that I find inspirational and exciting. First up is the most recent edition of Surface Design magazine, which is dedicated to knit and crochet and contains some amazing work by some wonderful artists. In fact, the curious stitcher could lose a few hours scoping out their website looking at the work featured there. Par example:

Call To Love by Catherine Armbrust

Blood Veil by Pip Brant

Palm Trees Marionette by Pip Brant

These were just snatched from dipping in a few pages into the gallery. Check out more yourself here.

Another artist using crochet as her medium, at least for some of her work, is Mary Carlson. Check out a few pieces she's done in crochet, starting with the crocheted octopus, to a couple of squid, to blood splatters that use beads, to a willow (which is not crocheted, but stunningly beautiful):

Across the pond, in Brighton, is a charming exhibit of fishy goodness by Kate Jenkin, all knitted and lovely:
Here is a link to more of her food-inspired work.

While not needlework per se, I was also quite taken with this exhibit of work by Edwina Bridgeman, also in England, that is a contemplation of the disappearance of so many orchards in that country:

Don't know how many of you get a chance to see or buy Inside Crochet, but they have been featuring the work of my lovely and gorgeous friend, rockpoolcandy, most recently her Pebble Rug. For me, this piece is a work of art, subtle and beautiful.

And on ravelry, there is always a ton of cool stuff being churned out. Just today a new pattern was posted for this antique phone by Sally Byrne:
Is it art? I wouldn't call it so, I guess, but I think it's an interesting interpretation and a great use of crochet's sculptural qualities.

There is so much more to discuss about all this. While I am fascinated with the past history of the needle arts and feel this extraordinary connection to the (mostly) women who have toiled over their work in joy or necessity or both, I am equally interested in what the future holds for these crafts (and sorry, but I hope washcloths don't figure too highly there). At some point, doilies were cutting-edge needlework, too. With such rich histories, the work of our hands bring depth to the arts in which they are included. While men have had a hand in this too, it is mostly a woman's art and as such, alludes to our history, our triumphs, and our joys.

Enjoy.

Where, Oh Where, Has the Summer Gone?

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:38:00 +0000

Is it possible that I've let the whole summer slip by with nary a vacation or finished object to show for it?

That the bulk of our days was cool or rainy?

That I let work duties with late nights and weekend projects overrule seeing friends?

That my neighbors and I did not have that block party we talked about?

Fraid so.

So what do I have to show for these last 60 days?

A near-completed Shipwreck Shawl, whose finish was waylaid by this Radiating Star Blanket for my brother (still unfinished, but lookin sweet), Photos from forays to the local cemetery: A couple of kittens, still being raised. And chow-fests at the Ball Fields:
Doesn't suck, all in all.

Shipwrecked Kittens take a Blanket to the Highline to Refashion a Man's Shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:26:00 +0000

So, week before last, the Brit and I took ourselves a few days staycation and played touristas in our small town of New York City. The highlight for moi was our visit to the new Highline. For those of you that may not have heard of this new wonder, it is essentially this: a railroad built in the 1930's that elevated dangerous rail traffic 30 feet above pedestrians. It goes from about Gansevoort St. to about 34th St. It's been out of use since 1980, and has since overgrown with plants and weeds.

Some very ingenious folks in town thought it would make an awesome elevated park, and in 2002, my fair city agreed. Here are the results thus far:

I cannot explain to you how lovely this park is. But I will try.

I guess I can start with the breathtaking concept of keeping the park in touch with its historical roots. Railroad imagery abounds in the design. If you have ever walked along railroad tracks with the weeds growing through the rails, you'll recognize this immediately. There are all sorts of little hideaways in the park, too. Despite the railroad feel, it is anything but a straight line. There are little turnoffs that lead to spectacular vistas of the Manhattan skyline, framed by the gorgeous native plants along the way. So much was in bloom when we were there (a spectacularly hot day, I might add), the vibrant blossoms framed the rest of the world.

But the Highline has little secrets, too, where it passes through buildings, offering shady respite to park-goers. If you're lucky, you'll be licking a passionfruit sorbet by the other end of the tunnel.

If you find yourself in Manhattan, please do yourself a favor and seek out this new treasure. It is not yet complete, but what's there now is totally worth your time.

And what about Shipwreck? Well, I'm in section 7 where you slap on the millions of beads, and kept on getting myself tied in knots. So the shawl is temporarily in drydock while I work on my recently-married brothers wedding blankie. Which, despite the relative ease of the pattern, I've screwed it up and have had to unknit it twice now.

I'm sorry, did you say Ice Cream? Funny you say that, because I just today made a batch of buttermilk-lemon sorbet. Oh, sweet mother of crap, it's good!

In Kitten news, the poor bastards got snipped this week. Sputnick came out of his singing and dancing, but little Lola had a tough time with the anesthesia, and will be a friggin' conehead for a couple of weeks.

Now I've been telling the Brit that Lola is the smart one, and here's a great example. She's got this bloody cone on her head and can't wash herself, which is driving her mad. So she used my hand as her de facto paw. She licks my hand, then rubs her face on it, just like when washing her face with her paw. Genius!

Finally, another refashion project is on the dressform. The Brit is getting rid of a few shirts who's fabrics I quite like. As in this one:

Here is my proposed refashion. I have pintucks running over the shoulders to take in the width there, down to the boob. Then I pick it up again under said boob. The same tucks are taken on the back, down to the waist. It's just pinned thus far.

Thoughts?

Flour + Egg = Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:50:00 +0000

Would you believe me if I told you that I made pasta? No? Wow, I'm not sure what to think now...but it's true, babies! I swear, it's some kind of alchemy, it is! Here's some pics, though I don't think they technically constitute proof: In other news:

Yes, my brother got married.
Yes, I am still working on the Shipwreck Shawl. I am working on Section 7, where you add the beads. See proof here:
Yes, this is also proof that I have screwed this pattern up in more ways that would be considered possible by most humans.
Yes, my BFF and I got sick on something from AQ Kafe (I would not normally mention this sort of thing, but the last time I went, my colleague got sick. 2 outta 2 is two times too many. Oh, and the service sucks, too.).
Yes, the kittens are getting bigger and are suffering from excessive cuteness. See proof:
Yes, I have fallen off the weightwatcher wagon and am miserable over the added lard. No proof needed.
Yes, I have been spending time at Brooklyn's amazing Green-Wood Cemetary. See proof:
Yes, my ravelry queue is now longer than I could complete in a lifetime.
Yes, my favorite hair guy was fired from the salon and now I am up a tree trying to figure out who will cut my hair. Basically every stylist I've been to in the past 5 years sucks. Or maybe it's my face. Yeah, probably my face.
Yes, I've been spending time shopping my closet. I still have a job, but one never knows.
Back to the wedded bro: I'm going to make them this outta this in Tidepool Heather for a wedding gift. Nice, right?
And in breaking news, the kittens are still cute!

An Older Story that Bears Attention

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:38:00 +0000

I came across this one by accident. It's by no means a new story, but I'm sure most of you will understand why it bears repeating. I hadn't heard it before...

Apparently, after the last horrible earthquake that hit the Abruzzo region of central Italy in April, one of the very last people pulled out alive was a 98 year-old granny, Maria D'Antuono, who kept occupied during her captivity under the rubble by crocheting. I think most of you will understand how this simple act would keep one sane under such horrible circumstances.

This will bring you to the video of Maria D'Antuono's rescue.

Spotted on Flickr...

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:58:00 +0000

Knitted capelet / cape / poncho in a shade of light linen, originally uploaded by Cheenara.

Spotted this on Flickr today. It's a knitted capelet by Cheenara and it is quite lovely with a beautiful vintage vibe. Here is her Etsy shop. Her work is amazing!

Fashionable, Unfashionable, Neither, Both?

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:14:00 +0000

There were a couple of odd craft-related posts in the news this week.

There's a lot of hoo-ha about the new Sacha Baron Cohen film Brüno and the amazing costumes within. And yes, I am SO going! As a (former) costume designer, I find a lot of what I've seen in the news to be pretty much inspired, and I'd be surprised if Jason Alper was not nominated for an Oscar. All that said, my inner yarnbitch was pissed at this comment which accompanied the photo above of knitted lederhosen:

"When the Brüno movie came around I thought, 'What's going to be the new green thong?' Coming from Austria, lederhosen are very iconic. And then I thought, 'What's unfashionable, and what aren't people doing? Knitting! So maybe we should knit him some lederhosen.'"

WHAT?? Is this guy completely out of touch? Seriously!

And then this morning, I'm perusing The Guardian and find this article.

This week, the thinktank Demos published a collection of essays exploring the idea of "expressive life". In the volume, US arts writer Bill Ivey – who coined the phrase – and Sandy Nairne, director of the National Portrait Gallery, tease out the prospect of a rebirth of the arts and crafts movement as part of the search for quality of life in a post-consumerist, recession-hit society.

At a moment when laid-off bankers are testifying to the benefits of basket-weaving, a reversion to the reformist aesthetic of John Ruskin and William Morris can feel suitably corrective. The old manifesto has serious contemporary traction: respect for nature, dignity of labour, importance of long-garnered skills, access to beauty for all.

Now, that's way more like it.

I guess when you are part of the army of crafters, you find yourself surrounded by like-minded people and figure even those outside the revolution can recognize the power of yarn. But apparently, that's not quite the case.

Thoughts?

It's Macrame, But Worth a Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Some More Vintage Whimsy

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:41:00 +0000

Thought I'd post a few more of these lovely chapeaus....

I particularly love the clever use of the stitch patterns in the top one.

Enjoy!

Hallo from Hilversum!

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:09:00 +0000

I'm writing from my hotel room in Hilversum, Netherlands. I'm here on business, but there is always time for yarn in my book, so I'm taking advantage of my considerable jet lag to post and say hi, as it's some ungodly time in the morning...

Although my copy of Interweave Crochet arrived a few days ago, I've only just starting looking at it closely and I am very impressed. There's a few beauts in this issue design-wise, and some great articles. Overall, I have to say that Interweave does the best job in presenting relevent, interesting articles and great designs. Don't worry, I'm not going soft - trust me, there have been some klunkers -- but I'm happy to give credit when and where due.

First, kudos to my friend Dora Ohrenstein, who, aside from her considerable design prowess, is also showing herself to be quite the crochet historian. I really enjoyed her piece, "The Victorian Crochet Revolution". I confess the topic is a weakness of mine, being a history dork and all, but Dora has a gift for pulling the facts together and making the story flow. And not for nothing, her new design for Crochet Insider is GORGEOUS! Well done, Dora!

But I even liked the articles by people I don't know! The laceweight piece and the Lisa Naskrent articles were both interesting and well-composed. Who knew?

But let's get to the patterns, shall we?

Like I said, there are a few gorgeous ones in this issue. Of particular note are the two shawls, Raindrops Broomstick Lace and the Shape-Shifting Shawls are really nice. Raindrops uses a very appealing stitch pattern and Shape-Shifting has amazing drape.
And while technically not a shawl, the Yoga Beach Sarong has a very cool stitch as well, with strong vertical lines that should be quite flattering. Can we call it an ass shawl?

Lisa Naskrent's Bustier Top is another interesting piece. I particularly like the back view on it with its historical reference. I wonder how it would look on someone with curves?

I gotta say that my absolute favorite in this issue is Annie Modesitt's Pretty Pleats Skirt. Holy crap! I love love love the colors, fit, and overall design on this. And ohmigod, it has a waist! It's funky, cute and actually well-styled by the magazine (not one of Interweave's strengths in the past).

There are a couple of dress patterns in this issue too, but I always have doubts about this kind of project. First, these mothers take a looong time to do and then grow to astonishing lengths once you wear them. Personally, I won't invest the time.

Crocheted skirts I've made before (longer ones) have always stretched like crazy, which really pisses me off. I'm hoping Annie's skirt doesn't fall prey to that, but I think the shorter length and A-line shape will keep it from growing as much as the others have.

And finally, I gotta mention Doris Chan's Curtain pattern. I really like its wonky, rustic look.

Anyway, time for a shower and then off to work.

Ta for now!

Whimsy

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:47:00 +0000

I have this awful tendency to keep piles everywhere. Drives the Brit nuts when they get too high. So as I was working from home yesterday, I took a break to reduce the height of my nearest pile consisting largely of vintage pattern books.

Now, quite of few of them deal with making accessories of one stripe or other. As crochet lends itself to structure more readily than knitting, there is a preponderance of vintage crochet hat patterns to be pored over. And it doesn't take long to see that hats (and bags too, I guess), lend themselves to more whimsical designs than, say, sweaters. Or put it this way, they are more successfully whimsical than sweaters (my proof point being those godawful christmas sweaters that get dragged out every year all mothball-scented and embarrassing).

Seeing some of these makes me wish that we still could entertain these little flights of fancy in our lives. I think the single hardest thing to wear is a hat and I always admire the brave souls that do and carry it off. But how fun would it be to raise the bar even on that and wear some of these treasures?

The New Additions (A Yarnless Discussion)

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:48:00 +0000

So yesterday the Brit and I went to an adoption event in the nabe which included animals from both North Shore Animal League (a no-kill facility) and Animal Control (a kill 'em quick facility). I've been without pussies for a while, ever since the death of my beloved Spunky about 4 years ago, and have been pestering the Brit for some fresh kitties for the house.

Now all playing aside, I am a very firm believer in getting shelter animals ONLY. In fact, I am incredibly judgmental about those who purchase animals from a pet shop and even more so from a breeder. I believe breeders should be put out of business, full stop. Seriously. I know there are ethical ones out there, I guess, but the whole concept of breeding leaves me very cold, indeed. That breeds can be virtually obliterated by breeders catering to an audience favoring "fad" animals is apalling to me. It's happened before and will happen again.

But I digress.

So we are at this adoption event and one of the workers tells the crowd, "The animals in the bus will be killed tonight. Please adopt them first. The animals in the church basement will be fine." So we look at the animals on the bus, of course.

And we see the two little guys above, as yet unnamed. The tortie is the girl, the marmalade is the boy. They are two months old and were found on Tuesday on 38th St. in Sunset Park by Animal Control. They were snoozing and wrapped around each other like stuffed toys with velcro on their paws and I kind fell for them immediately. I'm sure this was aided by the notion that they'd be landfill by morning if we didn't take them, but there ya go.

Anyway, these little guys are so beautiful, so small. I am thrilled that our small action prevented the destruction of their lives and will give them the chance to grow and thrive over the next, what, 15 years.

So I'm ending this with a plea to all of you - please get your pets from shelters, not from breeders. So many animal lives are needlessly put down. Please think twice before you buy a pet. And please, spay or neuter the pets you have to prevent the crazy number of unwanted dogs and cats in this country.

Boy and Girl will have long and happy lives with us. They will be well-fed and very loved. They will not have to face a harsh winter or suffer the abuses of the heartless. But in all honesty, I feel like we are the lucky ones to have found these wonderful little critters with whom we will share our lives.

Catch Up

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:50:00 +0000

Hola, y'all!

Whirlwinds here at el Rancho Hooker. When last we spoke, we had just returned from the deliriously lovely Napa. The very next day, we were visited upon by my stepdaughter and her mom (yes, you read that right) for six days. Not for nothing, but if that doesn't smack of either some scary reality show or a sitcom, nothing does.

So the Brit and I have been laying low this long weekend, keeping peaceful in our finally reclaimed household, catching a breath and bracing now for the week ahead at work. But it is still a day off, and we are making the most of it.

On our touristing about the isle of Manhattan last weekend, I took the photo above of a stall in the Union Square Market that sells gorgeous yarns, so soft and luscious you want to wrap your damn nekkid body in them. Oh yeah! I just feel bad because in that selfsame stall they sell the slaughtered lambies, too. Yuck. And no, I did not buy any wool or meat.

I'd mentioned once upon a time ago that I'd finished the felicity hat from ravelry, and I'm sure that none of you believed me, but here it is in all its ribbed glory:

Now, the pattern doesn't call for the ribbing, but I truly look like ass with a flat thing on my big head, so the garter ribbing makes this a tad more flattering. Not that I'd post a photo of me in the hat, of course, except maybe from the rear.

And there is progress on the Shipwreck Shawl, in all its beautiful frustration. And it truly isn't the pattern's fault. I have this horrible tendency to end the day sticking or hooking while literally nodding off on the couch. Funny how that's not considered a best practice for successful needlework.

I won't go into detail on the numbers of times I've screwed this up. But I will tell you that keeping markers on the needles delineating the pattern repeats has saved me from having to do much in the way of serious frogging. Seriously.

On to food.

As usual, I'm cooking up a storm. This weekend, despite the steamy weather, I made a huge pot of this chili from one of my favorite blogs, 101 Cookbooks. It is the very best chili in the world. Trust me. From one of the very best food blogs in the world. Again, trust me. Even you carnivores will get seduced by Heidi's recipes. They are amazing.

And since we had the little pomme frite here last weekend, we overloaded on bananas. So I had to make a couple of loaves of banana bread this weekend. I used this Weightwatcher recipe as a base, but pimped it with dried cranberries, cardamom, and walnuts. Holy crap, it's good.

And because the frigging vat of chili, 2 banana breads, and a loaf of rye bread wasn't enough, I made some granola yesterday. I used a Martha Stewart recipe as a base for proportions, but again pimped it with the addition of pepitas, sesame seeds, crushed almonds, dried mango, and dried cranberries.

Can I get an AMEN!But the photo I took of the finished concoction looked like vomit, so I'm just posting this arty shot of the ingredients.

Okay, c'est tout for now!

Back from Dreamworld

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:05:00 +0000

Hello Loves! Just flew in from Napa, and boy, are my arms tired!

Thanks, I'm here all week!

Ah, Napa. Sweet, sweet land of wine and olive oil. Palm trees and pine trees. Heat and chill. Food and fun. How we love you... So, yes, yet another trip to Napa. It was hubsy's birthday weekend, and every restaurant seemed to have a candle for him. We stayed again at the Napa River Inn, that lovely haunted place. They kindly greeted us with a bottle of wine for our return visit. We went to Taylor's Automatic Refresher for lunch and Angele's for dinner. Apres Angele's, we went to Silo's for some amazing old dixieland jazz, played by guys (and a girl), who were just fantastic! We visited Far Niente on Saturday for a fabulous tour and tasting with Walt. Breathing the gorgeous air in the barrel fermentation room - heady aromas that I wish I could re-experience at will. Their grounds are spectacular, by the way, and the staff could not be nicer. And Dolce! OHMIGOD, the Dolce! We tasted a '99 vintage that was gold and honey and flowers and everything nice. Sweet, yes, but cloying? Never! That afternoon we went to Frog's Leap. While I really like their wines, I have to say the tour disappointed a bit. Kinda snarky mixed with Valley Girl. Maybe you have to be in the mood.

And if you are in Napa, please go to Ubuntu for their intensely creative vegetarian fare. Vegetarian, yes, and oh so indulgent.

Sunday brought us back to Duckhorn. Tom gave us a VIP tour and tasting that was an absolute joy. Doesn't hurt that their wines are fantastic, that the property is gorgeous, that the people are really nice and knowledgeable. I love this place! Sunday night's dinner was at Celadon, which, like Angele's, is on the Napa River Inn property. And again, the food was awesome.

Crap, I'm fawning now. How embarassing.

Did I hook? Did I stick?

I sticked, mostly. Hooks were in the bag, but I pretty much sticked on the plane. We were on the go quite a bit, with less time in the room than normal, so the trip was about enjoying what we could about Napa. All that said, I made a bit of progress on the Shipwreck Shawl, undoing the massive screw ups of yore and slowly moving forward. We'll see how it all looks, won't we, when a few more rows have been created...

Till later!

xoxoxoxoxo

Post 100

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:50:00 +0000

So, it's been a while.

Oh, not much, how 'bout you? Yeah? Same rash as before? Wow.

Maybe you should see someone about that.

Oh, hi! Sorry. Wrong conversation.

So you may have noticed that I haven't been around much. About that....

Each week in absentia had an excuse. One year since my dad died. That was a big one. Visited his grave. Or should I say, "their" grave, as he shares it with mom, who passed in '85. Weird. Orphan is weird.

Then, work intervened. Shareholder meeting. Earnings release, blah, blah, blah. For that matter, we're in Napa next weekend for hubsy's birthday. Yes we are! This even is quickly followed by a visite by my stepdaughter (known by us as the little pomme frite) and her mom all the way from France. Yeah, the day after we get back from Napa. So today was cleaning day.

So all this babble might cause you to think that I haven't been hooking or knitting or cooking, right? It's okay, you can admit it. But you'd be so wrong, it hurts.

Exhibit A:
So, remember my yakking about "forest & frill?" Well, it's done and already worn to a swanky event. Here's the rub: I followed the pattern and used a double strand of whatever this yarn is, and I just think it's too damn heavy and thick. But I did get some complements on this puppy, so I can't bitch too much, right? Right?

Exhibit B:
This silver tube is the beginning of the Felicity Hat, featured on ravelry. It's done now, but I've not taken any shots yet. Soon, I promise!

Exhibit C:
Now, I'm sure each and every one of you has been keeping track of my forays into domestic bliss, so I'm equally sure that you'll enjoy my attempt at making yogurt! For the technicians and bookies among you, I used a plain Dannon as the starter with an organic whole milk. And I gotta say, I was less than thralled with the results. It tasted great, don't get me wrong, sort of light and fresh and creamy, but the texture was uneven (my fault, for sure). I'll have to give this another go.

Exhibit D:

Now this little baby is the Shipwreck Shawl from the recent edition of Knitty. And yes, that's right, I've screwed it up beyond all recognition. Sometimes I make myself so damned proud. But I'm taking this mother with me on the plane to Napa, six hours of uninterrupted frustration. Sounds like fun in a baggie, kids!

Anyway, it's late and I'm losing steam, so I'll leave you now to ponder my productivity. Not sure if I'll post this weekend (swimming as I'll be in the Vintner's Gift), but stranger things have happened....

Yarn Shrink: Overcoming the Crap

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:29:00 +0000

Do you have a million UFOs in your abode? Well, do you? I do. Okay, maybe more than a million.

Why does a UFO become one? Is it boredom of the same stitch over and over? Is is the thrill and excitement of the new and sexy project glittering in the distance? Is it the smell of new yarn and its seductive powers holding sway over your widening wallet? Yeah, I'm there.

It's also the project somehow not quite holding up to its promise, isn't it? You're following the directions, whether they are in your head, on the screen, in a book, or a crumpley piece of paper. The beautiful lines are not quite what you'd hoped. The color is boring. Too many mistakes too far back to fix.

I usually fall somewhere at either end - falling for the come-hither project in the periphery or seeing the project falling short of its promise. In either case, I'm screwed.

So given that we are trying not to squander our dough on every yarny-come-lately, I've taken a mini-oath to revisit my dormant dears and see what I can do to fix them, or revive my interest in them.

Case in point: Forest & Frills. I love this adorable little shrug. I love the colorway of the yarn I"m using. But it didn't seem to look like what I thought it would. Somehow, it looked heavy, like a blanket, though I carefully followed the directions and the gauge seems to be fine. So I dropped it in favor of something else - I don't even know what.

So today I'm pissing away time that I should have been spending putting summer bulbs in the window boxes on a perfectly spectacular Spring day (I did plant a bunch in the garden proper, but the window boxes need love, too) poking around ravelry, and I came across a bunch of people's versions of F&F and lo! they looked just like mine! I mean halle-freakin-lujah! So I wasn't off the mark, after all!

So I am winding down my work on this gorgeous shawl (again, another UFO, but it looks like I might be short on yarn, dammit), and will commence on forest & frills right away.

So for all of you who, like me, act like magpies with the lure and promise of shiny new projects, take a look at what others are doing. If you are dropping them because of frustration or boredom, taking a closer look at the finished project in the various forms created by your fellow hookers/knitters might give you the kick in the panties you were looking for to pick it up again.

Hey, it's worth a shot, right?

Sunday, Foggy Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:58:00 +0000

So right this very moment, Brooklyn is shrouded in a delicious fog. Potatoes are baking in the oven and some soy/lime/sesame marinated tofu will soon follow suit. A freshly-baked loaf of hubby's whole wheat is sitting on the kitchen counter as the weekend draws to its inevitable close.

So, what's new?

Remember that pair of pants I swore I'd refashion? Well, start checking the temperature in hell, cos here it is:

Now, I do not, for the record, consider this finished. Quite the contrary: I kinda feel this is a blank canvas upon which I can vent my artistic spleen. As this skirt is right now, I call is BORING as hell. But I do think with a little effort and imagination, it will be quite tasty, indeed. Maybe a crocheted trim? In red? Maybe it gets embroidered? Painted? Dunno yet, but I hope it will be done in time for the trip to Napa that we have planned for the hubster's birthday!

Oh yes, I said Napa! Hot damn! All those miles I've been racking up are paying off now, big time! The r/t airfare for both of us is............$10! Hoo boy!

In other news, I got a wild hair up my ass and bought me some thrift store sweaters to ravel. One is a golden yellow silk blend thing. T'other is wool and cotton greeny thing. I've started on goldie, but am a bit disappointed in the yarn. It lacks twist and seems to want to come apart pretty easily. Here's the harvest thus far:

But this harvested yarn + boring skirt makes me think about where I will be going for some uber-inspiration: my beloved Scandinavian yarny books. I will start with Second Time Cool
and followed, perhaps, by Knitprovisation
If you don't know these books, I strongly recommend taking a look. They are wonderful and mind-opening, particularly when you are in the repurposing mood.

Some webby randomnity for you now:

First, check out this link:

http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/index.html

There are scads of very cool textilia to peruse on this site, including crochet. Have at it!

And two interesting images:

This was apparently an art project in the high desert from 2007. Wish I'da known...

And finally, this sweet image to feast your peepers on:
Ta for now!

Happy Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:09:00 +0000

It's been a lovely weekend here in Brooklyn with signs of Spring smacking you from every which-way, as it happens. The sun's staying up later, taking its damn time going to bed, but here in our house we are already in our jim-jams and sipping Tuscan wine, hoping to stretch the evening out as long as possible. Think of it as mentally dragging our feet along the sidewalk to slow down the bike's inevitable ride to the end of the street (or Monday, as it is known to the rest of the world).

Sigh.

But I spent yesterday doing Spring-y things, like clearing the dead leaves out of my wee garden, letting the lovely crocuses get the light they seek to survive and cleaning the bathroom from top to bottom, as it were.

Another weekend, another loaf of seedless rye bread. Nah, I won't bore you with photos. Another weekend not finishing the friggin' Pi Shawl, which has thoroughly whipped my ass. But it's given me an excellent excuse to continue on my fancy-ass shawl.

And start on a new knitting project, Wrenna from French Girl Knits, a totally cute short-sleeved sweater.

Which has also given me some problems, truth be told. But beloved ravelry has come to my rescue and helped interpret the directions for this newbie knitter. I'll be honest, at first I was really pissed off when I read post after post calling this the easiest damn thing they'd ever made. I believe my response was "go forth and multiply," but not in those words. But there were a few brave souls who came forth and bitched about the VERY SAME ROWS that were giving me problems, so I felt better about the whole unpleasantness.

Anywho.

So, I was going through some crapola in my workroom (aka woefully disorganized dumping ground) and I came across some stuff I'd made. I thought you'd like to see some of it...

This is a totally weird handpuppet I made a long time ago. I think he's so cute with his vintage button eyes...
This HOIR is a punch-needle embroidery thing I made. HOIR is the acronym for "House of Ill-Repute," my performance art series that I'd hosted first at Theatre Club Funambules on Ludlow Street, then at the original (and ironical) Knitting Factory on Houston Street. Ah, the old days...

And this little guy is based on a Matt Groening character from Life in Hell...
And no trip to the past would be complete without some Irish Crochet...Ah, the past...

Finally, I was poking around on the internet looking for fun or interesting stuff, and I found this - an online book on knitting that promises to be very useful, indeed. I hope you find it useful, too.

That's all for this week. Till next time, friends!

Yarn Plus

noreply@blogger.com (Subway Hooker) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:25:00 +0000

I've long been an admirer of FiberArts Magazine. They are a source of inspiration for the frustrated artist in me and, like a great museum or gallery trip, I close the pages feeling energized and excited to create.

I'd felt like they lost their way editorially for a few years, but the more likely explanation is that I turned my attention elsewhere. But the last few issues that have crossed my path show a sharper artistic eye, something more mature and incisive about the work shown. It's less about technique and how to make a better mitre than how people are expressing themselves more fully through fiber. It's so freakin' cool.

The current issue exemplifies this new maturity. Check out the crochet and dance article. The work is gorgeous. If you are interested in our common medium brought to a different level, I highly recommend giving FiberArts a look.