Kaiso
02 Jul 2010 3 Comments
in Material, Photos Tags: Flickr, Japanese, Judy Sumner, kaiso, Knitted Socks East and West, knitting, socks, yarn
Hi, my name is Megan, and I’m addicted to knitting socks.
Once I completed my first sock (a simple, solitary little thing fit for a Cabbage Patch doll, but complete with a solid gusset and properly turned heel), I was hooked. Sock knitting fever has gripped me with a fervor I could not have anticipated in my wildest dreams. I seek out sock yarn, own every size of small double-pointed needles, and can’t pull myself away from the abundance of pattern books in Barnes and Noble. I think I have a problem.
I completed my first actual complete pair of socks sometime in the beginning of February, after about two months of concentrated knitting that wasn’t nearly as tedious as I expected.
The pattern for these socks comes from a fabulous book that appealed to me on so many levels - Knitted Socks East and West: 30 Designs Inspired by Japanese Stitch Patterns, by Judy Sumner. How do I love this book? Let me count the ways:
- The title grabbed me. I love all things Japanese, and the combination of Japanese patterns with something I knew how to make was impossible to pass up.
- The photos within are gorgeous! Light and clean, they would appeal to knitters and non-knitters alike.
- The patterns are elegantly simple, different and intricate without complication.
- The patterns use more than just knits and purls, incorporating stitches such as cables, the wrap, the twist/slip stitch, the three-stitch lift, and the pkok. For someone like me, who was getting bored with knits and purls, but not ready to take on multi-colored or larger projects, these new stitches offered a welcome challenge.
- That said, while the patterns require a little more brain power to work than just mindlessly knitting in the round, they are short patterns with plenty of repetition, so they are easy to memorize.
- Most importantly of all, the directions are incredibly clear. Had I never attempted a sock before, I probably could have used this book to get me started. The illustrations are simple, and nothing about even the most intricate of patterns is confusing.
I feel that Ms. Sumner does a much better job summing up the design of this sock, Kaiso, than I ever could, so I will use her words to describe the sock:
The lace design and fluid bands of this lace pattern look to me as if they could be moving under water, like seaweed. The Japanese word for seaweed is kaiso, and varieties of it have been used for centuries in Japanese cooking.
This sock design is a very simple one, using only knits, purls, yarnovers, and decreases to create a lace pattern that is reminiscent of the feather and fan design familiar to many Western knitters. Here, it has been simplified and modified with garter bands that add a rhythmic feel as they flow up and down.
The most difficult thing for me when knitting socks is getting over the adrenaline of finishing the toe and completing the first in the pair and moving on to the second. Just when you think you’re finished, the realization that you’re only halfway done sets in, and honestly, it gets kind of depressing. It’s the same feeling I get when I shave my legs. If the end result wasn’t something I could actually wear and show off, I probably wouldn’t be as excited about it. With the success of this sock, I think I may have to work my way through each and every pattern in this book. Perhaps I’ll make it a goal to knit them all by the end of next summer, a la Julie and Julia. I could actually do it, if I really try. Here’s to following through.
New toy #1: birthday present
01 Jul 2010 2 Comments
in Material, Photos, Technology Tags: camera, Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, DSLR-A230, Flickr, Olympus Camedia D-425, Sony
I’ve had a great point-and-shoot, pocket-sized camera for a little over a year now: a burgundy Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS. It was a tremendous upgrade from my previous Olympus Camedia D-425: easier to use, bigger screen, clearer photos. It fits snugly in my purse so I can be ready to take a shot whenever the mood strikes me. That said, while I love that little camera, I’ve always felt like there was something lacking.
So, imagine my delight when my birthday rolled around this year and Hubby presented me with a truly awesome gift: a Sony DSLR-A230. This bad boy is big, hefty, and the closest thing to my dad’s old manual camera without using actual film.
One of the things that bothered me about the PowerShot was the inability to focus on the precise object I wanted. Don’t get me wrong – the autofocus is quick and accurate. But oftentimes the camera and I disagreed about the subject of the photo and thus on what to focus. It made for some frustrating photo-taking.
The Sony, on the other hand, while it can easily be set to automatic, encourages everything manual, from focus to aperture to shutter speed to probably a lot of other stuff since I know squat about the workings of manual cameras. But that is the great thing about it being digital: I can learn all about all those intricate functions of light and science by experimenting, and I can do it all without wasting precious film.
So far, I have only found one problem with the camera, and it has nothing to do with the actual photography. The aforementioned manual camera that once belonged to my father had been sitting in a cabinet for about ten years. Upon realizing that he had completely forgotten about it, and asking my mother for permission, that piece of nostalgia is now sitting on my desk, waiting for a new battery and ready to go again. Along with the camera came a great soft case, some extra lenses (super zoom!) and – the best part of all – the shoulder strap that kept that camera and my father inseparable during my youth. And herein lies the problem: the metal clasps that attach that strap to a camera are far too big and bulky for the likes of my new toy.
My hope is to get a new lens (macro zoom, fisheye, wide angle, etc.) every year. (Those things are expensive, you know, and I’m not made of money.) I also hope to eventually know enough about the particulars of fine photography that I won’t have to spend two whole minutes setting up a shot to get it just right.
In the meanwhile, check out some of the shots I’ve taken so far:
Sonic toothbrush
12 Jan 2010 2 Comments
in Material Tags: Arm & Hammer, Christmas, Crest, dental hygiene, Dr. Who, sonic, Spinbrush, toothbrush
I’m a big fan of the battery-operated toothbrush. I think that it does a much better job of cleaning my teeth than a manual, non-battery-operated toothbrush.
Every year for Christmas Santa leaves in my stocking a new toothbrush, toothpaste and (usually) some Crest White Strips. Santa is big on dental hygiene in my house. For the past few years he has left a Crest Spinbrush, a nifty little item that, at around $7, is right in my price range for above average tooth care.
As you may know, the Crest Spinbrush is no more. As of sometime last year it was purchased by Arm & Hammer. So, now it is the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush. As an informed consumer I can say with some certainty that besides the logo atop the packaging, I notice very little difference between the old and the new. Kudos to Arm & Hammer.
For whatever reason, I didn’t open my new toothbrush until today, almost a full month after Christmas. After ripping open the ultra-thick, somewhat dangerous plastic packaging I noticed that my new toothbrush looked a little different. Why? Because, gentle readers, my new toothbrush isn’t just any ordinary battery-operated toothbrush. It is a sonic toothbrush.
I had to laugh. The first thing I thought of was Dr. Who’s sonic screwdriver, and the argument that the Doctor got into with a guy about it: “Of all the things that you can make sonic, why a screwdriver?” Hilarious. But you probably had to be there.
What makes a toothbrush sonic? I’m honestly not sure. But I can tell you one thing: this new toothbrush buzzed so hard in my mouth that I’m still seeing double. It vibrated at a speed unattained by my previous toothbrushes. I have no idea if it’s because of the recent Arm & Hammer acquisition or because of the sonic qualities of this apparently super toothbrush. All I know is that my teeth feel dentist clean.
So, gentle readers, spill: what kind of toothbrush do you use, and does it live up to your standards of proper dental hygiene?
Windowpane Scarf
07 Jan 2010 7 Comments
in Material, Photos Tags: knitting, scarf
I have a really bad habit of starting a knitting project and leaving it half finished. Scarves usually feel the brunt of my lack of follow-through. At least with a hat or a sock I know I can finish quickly, so I am more motivated to complete it. But scarves go on forever, especially if the pattern is small and intricate. However, I do actually manage to finish something on the rare occasion. This time around, after months of alternate excitement and near-death boredom, I finished the Windowpane Scarf.
This monolith of a scarf (as modeled by yours truly to the right) is about 12 inches wide and 80 inches long, including the fringe. I used about a skein and a half of Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight yarn (7 oz./198 g.) in Carrot, and a set of size 8 knitting needles.
The pattern, with a couple small tweaks (because I messed up early on and decided I liked it), is easily memorized, so it was the perfect project to work on while vegging in front of the television.
Of course, credit should be given where credit is due. This pattern was not my own. Heavens, no. It came from here.
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD
02 Dec 2009 3 Comments
in Cinema, Material, Technology Tags: camcorder, DVD, home movies, iMovie, Roxio Easy VHS to DVD, VCR, VHS
I don’t remember having a lot of home movies made when I was a kid. Some parents toted the video camera everywhere with them, recording each inconsequential moment of their precious little snowflakes’ lives. The result was usually stacks of VHS tapes in a box or a closet, gathering dust for years because everyone was too embarrassed to watch them.
Because my parents were much more selective about what they captured with the camcorder (that, and the fact that I don’t remember even having a camcorder until I was almost in high school), our selection of home movies is rather limited. Most of them, in fact, are still on the teeny little tapes that came with the new technology of our camcorder – no more lugging around full-sized VHS tapes! – which also means that we probably can’t even watch them anymore, since I don’t think my parents even know where the camcorder is.
Speaking of watching home movies, and other VHS tapes, does anyone even own a VCR anymore? My parents do, but I doubt that it’s hooked up. My grandparents do, but they still don’t really know how to work it. I was talking to a student of mine about VHS tapes and VCRs a while back, and she looked at me like I was making the concept up.
In any case, about the same time that I was rooting through a box of VHS tapes of my own, a friend of mine decided to hook up his VCR. I found a few “home” tapes that had only my name on the label to indicate that something I did had been recorded. We decided to see what was on the tapes.
Lo an behold, two of the tapes held my senior and graduate piano recitals! I would have completely forgotten about them, had it not been for a sudden urge to hook up the VCR. Of course, it’s not like I can show them to anyone, due to the previously stated disappearing VCR phenomenon.
Enter Roxio Easy VHS to DVD. This is the best $80 I have spent all year. The hookup is really quite foolproof: you just connect the video and audio output cords from your VCR into the plugs provided in the box, which connect to a USB plug that hooks into your computer. The image and sound then plays through your computer via the newly installed program, and you can record as much or as little as you like. You can then edit the movie like you would any other in a program like iMovie and either burn the memories to DVD or publish embarrassing childhood moments to YouTube.
This nifty little gadget is available for both PC and Mac, though for some reason, the Mac version costs $20 more.
The only problem I have found is that the new digital files often take up quite a bit of room on one’s computer, especially if they are long clips. However, if you have an external hard drive with an insane amount of space, this really shouldn’t be an issue.
Tune in tomorrow, when I post the real reason why I purchased this product.
What I learned on my summer vacation
02 Sep 2009 3 Comments
in Animals, Cinema, Food, Material, Nomadic Tags: bees, blood, Brad Pitt, Burger King, Bœuf bourguignon, Coca-cola, digital camera, disco, DMV, driving, family, grammar, hash browns, honey, labels, McDonald's, Meryl Streep, panorama, Quentin Tarantino, students, support, sushi, tissues, Whatchamacallit, youtube
The universe works in mysterious ways.
McDonald’s once again serves honey as a dipping sauce for nuggets.
Always, always carry tissues in your purse.
An abundance of Coca-cola and Whatchamacallits make driving for sixteen straight hours a possibility.
“Alright,” much to my chagrin, is actually a grammatically legal alternative to “all right.”
Family and friends are remarkably supportive when you least expect it.
Meryl Streep is one hell of an actress.
Although I can’t stand Brad Pitt as a person, he, too, is one hell of an actor.
Squeamishness comes with age.
Quentin Tarantino gets better with age.
My digital camera apparently has a panorama/photo stitch function.
There is no such thing as too much sushi.
There is such a thing as too much disco.
Spices and herbs in the kitchen should always be marked clearly.
Fifth graders are much less stressful than second graders, but preschoolers are much more fun to play with.
Bœuf bourguignon is not nearly as difficult to make as some people claim.
The department of motor vehicles does not always to remind you that the registration for your automobile is about to expire, so it is prudent to take note of the date by which it must be renewed.
Hash browns from Burger King leave a taste so foul in your mouth that even a piece of gum will only make it taste like minty death.
It’s OK to change your mind.
Bees do not like to be photographed.
This is the best YouTube video, ever:
Daunted
27 Jun 2009 6 Comments
in Material, Nomadic Tags: Books, boxes, DVD, Flying Fish Brewing Co., LPs, moving, packing, sheet music, VHS
In about three weeks or so I will be packing all of my belongings into a truck and drive a few states to the left to set up house in a new town. To that I can only say, “Holy freaking crap, when did three months become three weeks? I have to pack!”
I’ve moved house a few times in my adult life and I would like to offer what I’ve learned in the past as advice for myself and others who will move in the near future:
- Start packing early. It usually takes about five times longer to pack than you expect it will.
- Make friends with boys. Big, strong, manly boys. They will often help you move heavy things if you offer them pizza and beer.
- Make friends with your local liquor store. They are the best source of sturdy cardboard boxes, and most of the time they are more than happy to let you have them.
- That said, some liquor stores are stingy about giving away boxes on weekends. Especially when there is a holiday approaching, they are sure that any minute they will have to accommodate massive orders of booze that can only be carried out in large boxes. In that case, look elsewhere.
- Flying Fish Brewing Co. boxes are the best for packing sheet music. They are the perfect size to fit the music snugly, are just large enough to fit in a substantial amount of music, but not so big that you can’t lift them when they are full. I’ll have to try their beer one of these days.
- LPs, when packed in boxes, weigh a ton and a half.
I’ve spent the better part of today squeezing as many empty boxes into my tiny little compact car as physically possible, and after bringing them home, filling them with all my worldly possessions. I am proud to say that I have packed each and every VHS, DVD, LP and CD in this apartment into twenty-one boxes, appropriately labelled and neatly stacked in front of the now empty bookcases. By doing so, I have effectively packed one half of my living room (with the obvious exception of the furniture itself). When I realized this, a feeling of elated accomplishment swept over me.
Then I turned around and faced the rest of the apartment.
Sure, it’s wonderful knowing you have emptied the shelves of three bookcases. But it is really quite crushing to know that in the grand scheme of things, I’ve barely made a dent. Today I only tackled the media section of my little home library. I’ve barely even touched the books or sheet music yet.
I can’t imagine how many more boxes I will need to finish just the books. Sure, when I lived by myself packing my own books was a manageable task. But there’s another monstrosity of a bookcase looming in the den with the remnants of Mike’s doctoral studies. For crying out loud, the man was a literature major! The bookcase spans the entire length of the wall and stretches from floor to ceiling. On its shelves sit hundreds, maybe thousands of books piled several high and two or three deep.
Since I’ve discovered a couple liquor stores in my area that seem to be willing to provide me with supplies for my quest (both liquid and cardboard), I’m not quite as worried as I was a week ago. At least I know that I will have containers in which to place my belongings.
What does worry me is knowing how much space packed boxes take up. The contents of my media collection are now taking up a substantial portion of my living room floor, rather than the six inches of space along the edge of the wall. I have a feeling that I will be living in a fort of boxes of books before the week is over.
On The Road, Day 5: A Postcard for Fred and a Stamp
26 Mar 2009 4 Comments
in Cinema, Material, Nomadic Tags: car, Jazz DV151, postcard, Protozoic, stamp, Vienna WV, Vimeo, Walmart, WV
On Sunday, Mike bought a Jazz DV151 Digital Camcorder from Walmart for a mere $20. It runs on two AA batteries and a 2GB SD card, and is about the size of my own digital camera. The video and sound quality is about what one would expect from such an affordable item, but it’s a neat thing to carry around to have ready whenever something needs to be recorded. Mike has been using it almost nonstop since he bought it. I’m really surprised that the batteries held out until yesterday. I bet it will completely break within the month.
Before I left on this great journey to the strange land of Ohio, I promised my friend Fred that I would send him a postcard. Since I tend to overdo things, though, I decided to send him a postcard from every major place I stopped. That’s why he is getting a piece of mail from Ohio, West Virginia, Atlanta and the Detroit airport.
We trekked to a mall in Vienna, West Virginia yesterday. At almost an hour away, it was the closest mall to our little hideaway in the Ohio hills, but we were getting restless and needed to immerse ourselves in a pool of consumerism for a bit. Once that thirst was quenched, I decided that I should find a West Virginia postcard to send to Fred. I also needed to find a stamp.
I had no idea it would be so difficult to find a simple postcard. Every town I have ever set foot in, no matter how backwater or metropolitan, has at least one establishment that sells postcards. We bounced from store to store looking for a postcard, only to be turned away by the proprietors who halfheartedly directed us somewhere across town.
With the help of his handy new Jazz DV151, Mike recorded the entire harrowing adventure. So behold, gentle readers, my fabulous driving skills, my impromptu singing and my increasingly funky hair, which lost the fabulous luster it held before it started to drizzle.
For those interested, Mike also posted this video on Protozoic.
say what?