Knowing is half the battle
Filed Under Knitting
I’ve put aside my Nautilus hat for the moment. I suspect I will finish it, and may end up sending it to Afghanistan. But I’m not entirely pleased with the results, and I’m not sure how warm it will be.
It turns out the “dk” in the name of the alpaca/silk yarn means double knit, which makes it a light worsted weight, as opposed to worsted. So not only have I been using a lighter weight material than the pattern calls for, I’ve been using needles a size larger than the recommended range for light worsted.
Now, this is pretty basic knitting information, discernible with TSOR. Had I invested those thirty seconds before starting the hat, I might’ve picked a more suitable pattern for my soft, pretty yarn. But it’s okay. I’ve been enjoying myself with that hat, and it’s the first time I’ve (intentionally) done yarn overs for a lacy effect (even if it is just a series of eyelets). So far I’m pretty much on pattern. With a more appropriate yarn choice it might look more like it’s supposed to, but as it is it still looks on purpose. Plus, it’s spurred me to actually obtain some information by a method other than nudging Larry and asking him what I should do. (I still think that’s a perfectly fine tactic, but I need to expand my repertoire.)
In the meantime, I have started (and finished about three-quarters of) this hat. One Size Fits Most? Perhaps. It’ll be large on me, but my head is on the small-to-medium end. One Hour? Not so much.
We went yarn shopping on Saturday, in an actual yarn shop as opposed to A.C. Moore. In addition to some pretty Peruvians, I got a couple balls of the Eclipse yarn called out in the pattern. Berry (purplish pink) instead of red; apparently it’s been discontinued, so I did not have a wide range of colors to choose from. Thick/thin yarn looks rather ridiculous. I thought I’d hate working with it, but on large needles it’s actually been okay. Especially after Larry pointed out how I was twisting my stitches; once I stopped doing that, things became much easier. I’ll complete this hat well before the deadline.
Also, today I got my Ravelry invite. Huzzah! I was afraid my heightened interest in knitting might subside before that happened. (Said worry being more reflective of my mercurial moods than the speed of Ravelry’s invites.) So now I shall have another place to blather on about knitting. Or so I assume. I haven’t actually gotten around to creating an account yet, and I’m not entirely sure how I’ll end up using the site.
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Public works
Filed Under Story picks
“Into Stone” by Keith Snyder
Origami space flight
Filed Under Mad Science
A successful flight from space by an origami plane could have far-reaching implications for the design of re-entry vehicles or space probes for upper atmospheric exploration, said project leader Shinji Suzuki, a professor at Tokyo University’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
In a test outside Tokyo in early February, a prototype about 2.8 inches long and 2 inches wide survived Mach 7 speeds and broiling temperatures up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit in a hypersonic wind tunnel—conditions meant to approximate what the plane would face entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Having survived the 12-second test with no major damage or burns, the tiny plane theoretically could get back to Earth because re-entry from outer space involves passing through several layers that last only a few seconds each, said Osamu Imamura, a scientist who works with Suzuki.
Alpaca love
Filed Under Knitting
After essentially finishing my Dalek (the seam at the bottom is all that remains; it will take thirty seconds so I’ve counted the project as complete for some time) I couldn’t get excited about other knitting projects. I toyed with the possibility of Christmas Daleks in red and green—but I’d just done a Dalek, and I’d really have to do two more. I also toyed with the idea of making an afghan. But I needed to have something in the works for the meet up at the Flyers game at the beginning of the month—thus the inspiration for a sports-themed afghan, with the two of us knitting different squares. Larry made a Flyers pattern, and I made an Eagles pattern. I’ve never developed a pattern before (and this one barely counts; it’s just color work) and at maybe 1/3 completion I think it’s working all right.
The Philly ‘Burbs Stitch ‘n Bitch has a charity project going to knit warm things for a women’s shelter in Afghanistan. Projects are due in April, so I decided to temporarily shelve the Eagles afghan square and work on a hat (I’m following the “Her Hat” Nautilus pattern). At the meet up after the Flyers game, bags of freebies were distributed to everyone who came, and one of the items included was a skein of yarn. I didn’t know what I was going to do with mine (thusfar I have chosen a project first, then the yarn) and this seemed like a good use for it.
My bag had a lime green 80/20 alpaca/silk blend. It’s so soft and, well, silky. I’m only a few rows in so I can’t really tell how well the hat will turn out, but the yarn’s a real pleasure to work with. I find myself fondling it sometimes. I’m not sure I like the idea of going back to acrylic.
“People will pay you to be inhumane”
Filed Under Life
Yesterday I had two wisdom teeth yanked out of my head.
They were on the top, one on each side of my mouth. They came in at a really funky angle that was impossible to clean and occasionally uncomfortable. I am happy to be rid of them.
The process was not fun. In fact, I’d say it was the worst procedure I’ve ever experienced while conscious. The dentist pulled the one on the left first—afterward he said he started there because it looked easier—and it took some time. He ended up having to break it into four or five main pieces. I gather the fact that it was rife with cavities made it tougher to get a good grip. A couple times I caught a loose piece and extended my tongue so he could remove it.
He’d warned about the noises, but it was still really disturbing to hear him digging around in there. When he snapped the tooth, it was loud but easy to envision. The worst part was imagining what might happen if he slipped. I imagined serious damage to my other teeth, torn membranes, broken bone, shredded sinuses.
I spent a lot of time clutching the chair, crossing and uncrossing my legs, and a couple times he stopped to see if I was okay. At which point I would explain I was merely freaked out, not in pain (the local anesthetic worked as advertised, and while I could feel the promised pressure I didn’t have any problem dealing with it), and that unless I raised my hand he should ignore any physical expressions of unhappiness.
Eventually he got it out. And the second one took like a minute and a half. It didn’t quite pop out, but it came close (certainly by comparison).
Jokes about sadistic dentists aside, I like my guy. He actually called and left a voicemail last night to follow up and make sure things were okay. (They were: OTC painkillers were sufficient, though my mouth was sore. I used it as an excuse to take it easy and eat ice cream for dinner.)
Of course, I’m also favorably disposed toward him because he’s given me mostly good news, even when I don’t deserve it. I let over ten years elapse before seeing a dentist. (That was just me being irresponsible. I don’t like having somebody stick pointy things in my mouth, but I’ve never been afraid of dentists. And for the bulk of my adult life I’ve had dental insurance. So there was really no excuse.) I needed two fillings, which went in a month or so ago and match my enamel pretty well. And there’s one more wisdom tooth on my lower jaw, which my dentist doesn’t want to touch; I’ve been referred to an oral surgeon, but since it isn’t causing any actual problems right now I’m not too concerned. But apparently my gums are healthy, and that’s his main concern.
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Frisky Dingo
Filed Under TV
Apropos of very little (since we are currently watching The Tudors), I get a kick out of watching Frisky Dingo out of order. (It’s often the way we end up watching it—I think maybe we end up recording different time slots or something—and in fact I made sure to watch some of the first season backwards, just because.) Any given bit is funny. But it’s especially amusing to watch an episode we’ve skipped, and realize “Oh, that thing a couple episodes down the line makes sense.” For the definition of “makes sense” that applies to Adult Swim shows.
Tagged
Filed Under Memes
So, Christa tagged me. Picking entries has underscored some of the subjects I specifically don’t post about in this blog. Also highlighted is my failure to spread my networking tendrils in a squiddy bid for internet domination, and a certain disconnect between the time I became friends with people in real life and the time I started keeping up with them online. But here goes.
The rules:
a) Go back through your archives and post the links to five of your favorite blog posts.
1. Link one must be about family: Blackout
2. Link two must be about friends: At least I went to someone’s reunion
3. Link three must be about yourself: Culture shock
4. Link four must be about something you love: My poor, ridiculous dog
5. Link five can be about anything you choose: Sex kills
b) Then tag five other bloggers. At least two of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances in the blogosphere, so that you get to know each other better. Tag, you’re it:
Color theory
Filed Under Story picks
“The Sky that Wraps the World Round, Past the Blue and Into the Black” by Jay Lake
Arthur C. Clarke
Filed Under Uncategorized, Story picks
Last night I caught the tail end of an NPR bit, referring to Clarke in the past tense. Not surprising, given his advanced age, but sad nonetheless.
I read “The Star” when I was a kid; it was included in one of the anthologies my mom owned. It’s not Clarke’s best known work, but it’s the one I always think of first when I think of him—or, for that matter, the science fiction field.
I’d like to read The Fiery Crow someday
Filed Under PSA
Match It For Pratchett is collecting donations for Alzheimer’s research. Which is a really good cause even if you have lousy taste in literature.