Fiber Babble: A Pythonesque Moment

A Pythonesque Moment

July 05, 2010

I will find a way. "Undone" by Rachel Caine ♦♦♦♦◊

For those who aren't as ridiculously familiar as I am with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the line being delivered by the guy being carried (John Young) is "I'm not dead yet."

Holy smokes, it's been a long time since I posted!

Normally someone (frequently with the initials GC) will smack me upside the head and tell me it's been too long since I've written anything. Recently one of my online friends commented that they'd sure appreciate it if bloggers would post some sort of notice when they've moved away from blogging so that she doesn't keep checking those abandoned blogs. (I'm pretty sure she wasn't talking about me specifically, but I got the point.)

I actually have been doing stuff, though not much of it comes with photographic evidence.

So let's play ketchup, shall we?

I've been working on my "Royal Arches" socks occasionally. These are the same socks that I started sometime prior to May 6 - 2009. (This is a really old picture) I've frogged and tinked and re-designed them so many times, I've made enough stitches to knit 6 pair, I'm sure. Pattern is Arch Shaped Socks (pdf link) by Jen Showalter.

Currently I'm working both socks at once (on 2 circular needles) and I've added a stitch pattern to the front of the socks (Wyvern from Marnie MacLean), rather than just stockinette.

I only do three or four rows at a time usually, so no worry about wanting to wear my new finished creations during the heat of the summer. I'm sure that when it's sock-wearing weather again they should be ready. Some year.

But just think of this: I'm using 2 skeins of an acrylic blend yarn (Bernat Sox) that I probably got on sale. The cost per hour of entertainment is almost in the negative numbers! Beats the soup outta $40 for less than 2 hours at the movie (with popcorn)!

I modified and made one of my patterns for a Father's Day project at the shop. Re-sized to a generous lap quilt, Treasure Boxes/Primavera was temporarily re-dubbed "This Spud's For You". Yes, that's fabric with potatoes on it.

I actually took a Saturday off in June to go play with my old Woodland quilting group. I knew it had been a long time since I'd chatted with J (the one listed in my profile as being my best friend, yanno??), but when I actually did pick up the phone and call - instead of just meaning to - we realized it had been six months since we'd talked. Holy smokes.

So anyway I took a day off and joined the quilting group that I helped create. As always, the food was good, the company was grand, and I didn't get as much done as I would have hoped.

I took a new project: I'm trying to play along with the {Make} A Bag Sew Along over at em ay kay ee {make}. Kelly's put together some coordinating projects that make use of a charm pack and some coordinating fabrics. So far she's posted instructions for a tote bag, a toiletries pouch and a mini cosmetics roll.

I'm part way through the tote bag.

Now we all know that I know how to make tote bags. I decided that I was going to try to play nice like the other kids in the park and actually follow someone else's instructions. Oh! Should I have made sure you were sitting down before dropping that bomb on you? (You didn't spew your drink onto the monitor when you read that, did you?) I printed out the instructions. I gathered the supplies I thought I needed (I probably don't need to elaborate on that statement, do I?). I sat down and followed Step 1. And the Step 2. And I was feeling really righteous because I wasn't going off and doing my own thang.

Until Step 7. Now, there is absolutely not ONE THING wrong with Kelly's design or instructions. BUT. The pattern calls for the use of a stiff-ish interfacing in the bag (the sample stands up so pretty and proud!) but I know Me. I don't do stiff-ish bags. My bags get wadded up and shoved in the bottom of other bags. They get folded & jammed into corners in the pickup. They get tossed into the pile with their bag siblings. Anything that is meant to hold its shape will end up looking ratty and wrinkled and as beat up as it really is.

So, yay for me (she says dryly). I followed instructions until Step 7. Then I put the stuff away - because I hadn't read ahead and prepared by bringing batting instead of interfacing - and pulled out those socks to knit on while I chatted with my old friends.

Good, good, good - Good intentionsssssss.....

Labels: blogging, knitting, quilting

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6 Comments:

At 7/05/2010 9:07 PM,

Linda Babbled Back:

Well, who are you? I'm glad you blogged, I've been missing you. Keep on blogging and knit a little faster. I want to see those sox and I especially want to see the tops...Glad to hear from you again. Don't let it be so long next time. I'm going to be doing the bag from MAKE too. I need a quick bag this week so I'll be starting it tomorrow...hugs, Linda

At 7/06/2010 3:54 AM,

Crispy Babbled Back:

Gosh it's good to read you again and to hear that you are being so productive (the equivalent of 6 pairs of socks is phenominal!!) Who would have thunk to actually make a great guy's quilt from potato fabric...which is very cool btw. Thank you for the caution about using stiff interfacing for a tote, I've never made one and would have been sad if I had used the wrong stuff....I'll have to try making a tote one of these days :0)

We have missed you Tracy!!

Crispy - PS Monty Python ROCKS!!

At 7/06/2010 8:49 PM,

golo8 Babbled Back:

Whew! you are one busy gal.. love your blog and link to the bags... uuummm! Nice to be able to knit and chat at once... I'ed be dropping stitches all over the place...

At 7/08/2010 3:24 PM,

Carrie P. Babbled Back:

Been missing you and am glad you are back. I have checked every once in a while to see if you were and here I have missed several posts. Hope you feet are back to normal. Looks like you are having a busy summer.

At 7/17/2010 9:21 AM,

Quilter Kathy Babbled Back:

That Monty Python line is a classic at our house! Frequently used, and sure to get eye-rolling started from the teenagers :)
Glad you're "back"!

At 7/21/2010 10:37 PM,

Gimpy Cat Babbled Back:

Well...............I did write a smack up the side of the head message and the blogger thingy ate it, that was some time back but all is forgiven because you quote both rachael cain and monty python in one post - that earns big credit in my world, anyone who can quote monty python just has to be a winner! Glad to see you posting again and you sure have been busy, love reading waht you are up to which unlike me, is lots!

Ok I have to tell you this, the word verification Im seeing is 'jingle' on a bell ringers blog, hahahahahah thats too funny!