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June 19, 2006
Knitting: It's the new puppy.
I finished my squares, but first, a story.
So I've been knitting these squares, right, and one of the nice things about them is that they are super duper portable. More portable than socks and the best part: I can knit them without paying any attention. I know there are people out there can knit while juggling three eggs, and while I'm fast - I usually need to have my eyes watching what my hands are doing. Not so with the squares. It's the combination of the yarn (no splitting), the needle size (Addi #5s fit perfectly in my hands) and garter stitch. I can walk, chew gum AND knit all at the same time. AMAZING! Anyway, because of this new found skill and my total obsession with squares I've been knitting EVERYWHERE. ALL THE TIME.
G asked me to meet him in the city Friday night and I took the train into New York. I was in the elevator going up to the station with another person. A guy - kind of cute. Baseball cap. I was knitting away.
"Isn't that dangerous? Like running with scissors?" he said.
"Not when you know what you're doing." I said.
He then proceeded to tell me that his grandmother taught him to knit. Or maybe crochet. I asked him if it was two sticks or one. Turns out his grandma was a hooker. Fun times. Was he trying to pick me up? I don't know but I thought it was a good line if he was.
I knit all through a graduation party Saturday night but no one commented on my knitting at all.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon at the mall. My sister escaped from the black tops of Do The Right Thing Crooklyn to the glory that is the air-conditioned New Jersey mall. Remember how I felt the last time I went shopping with my sister? Yeah. Not the best self-confidence builder. Well, this time I remembered my knitting and I didn't stop the ENTIRE time we were out. (Except, of course, when I was driving my hot new car.) I knit through an hour of trying on clothes at Bloomingdale's and not buying anything. I knit through a half hour of trying on clothes at French Connection and (thank GOD!) the exchange on one pair of pants for two new pairs. While we were in French Connection one of the sales guys asked me what I was doing. I told him I was knitting and he seemed amazed that I could knit and watch my sister shop at the same time. When I was sitting in one of the open dressing rooms across from my sister's dressing room he totally laughed everytime he walked by and gave a hand wave as if to say I was completely ridiculous but fabulous for knitting without end. I know he wasn't flirting with me because I wasn't his type at all, if you know what I mean.
Then we went to Nordstrom's. Shoe department. (Do they actually sell anything else at Nordstrom's?) I was walking around display shopping and knitting. A cute sales guy asks me what I'm knitting. I tell him. He tells me he would love to learn to knit - if it was socially acceptable and all. I said IT TOTALLY IS! And then he told me that maybe he'd get a book out of the library. Then we go back to looking around and when he comes by us again he tells me I should knit him a hat. I laugh and say - how big's your head? (See - this is why I don't think he was flirting with me even though my sister thinks he was because if that's not an opening I don't know what is!) This seemed to confuse him a bit but then he disappeared into the back to get my sister's shoes. At this point my sister was completely flabergasted that my knitting was getting all the attention here. (HAHAHAHA!) When he came back he dropped the shoes off by my sister and totally came over to talk to me. He started telling me his life story. How he gave up his engineering career and how he just got a house and this is his second job. His real job is in finance. He was very sweet and I have no idea what he wanted from me - maybe just to know about knitting? Maybe I reminded him of his dear sweet grandmother that used to knit and he's lonely and the knitting made me seem kind and open? I thought it was interesting that not one woman said anything to me about my knitting. Only men - and young men at that. I don't know what this all means but single girls out there - know this: Knitting. It's the new puppy. Use it wisely.
Without further ado, my green squares. All finished but for the sewing.
Remember how you all thought I went a little overboard with the sock thing? That I might not ever knit anything again? You ain't seen nothing. The socks? Kid's play. This log cabin thing may ruin me forever. There are other things I want to knit - remember that whole Japanese sweater? Yeah. I'd still love to knit that. But these log cabins have taken over my brain like some kind of mad knit disease and I can't stop thinking about them.
Now that I've finished the green squares (Kay? Whenever you're ready I'm ready babe!) I'm already planning my next blanket. I'm seeing them more like canvases rather than functional pieces. Have you ever had this feeling - it's like your brain is so full of the idea that it feels like it might burst if you don't get it out? That's how I've been feeling all weekend. I've been doodling, playing with Photoshop - dreaming about the damn squares. It's a sickness. But if loving squares is wrong - I don't ever want to be right again. Stay tuned.
Back to the green squares - I anticipated the photo shoot of all 12 squares the whole weekend and I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I wanted something different. I finished the 12th square this morning and then I went out for a run. I'm so fat but at least I'm trying. Anyway - I kept running past all these nice lush patches of lawn and I thought that's perfect! So you have the pictures above. And then, when I was heading home to my nice air-conditioned apartment, I saw this patch of greens.
It's my log cabin in nature. Cool huh?
I never talked about my day with those goofy pug lovers. It was more fun that I thought I should share. I didn't want to incite any ugly envy or anything. I will say this: when Jen, Xavi and I were on the train home we saw this amazing rainbow. And as Ann suggested, cherry pies started falling from the sky. It was that good. And thanks for all the kind words you left for me! It's nice to know you think such nice things about me. I thought for sure I'd get a least one bitch. Or maybe even a mothafucka. Nothing. I really am losing my touch.
Spin Out UPDATE!
Get your prizes here! Right here! I've got quite a few prizes to announce: Emily of Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn has graciously donated two skeins of her hand-dyed sock yarn in the colors "Handsome Park Ranger" and "Summer in the City" - you know - in honor of our little event! (And be sure to check out her quilts. They are breathtaking!) Stacey at Made By Ewe offered up one of her hand painted spindles and some of her yarn. Beautiful stuff! Potter Craft, publishers of the ever famous Mason Dixon Knitting and Big Girl Knits, is sending over a collection of goodies. Kelly at The Gabby Knitter is donating some of her fabulous hand dyed sock yarn. Jennifer over at Spirit Trail Fiberworks is sending us some of her hand-dyed gorgeousness! Sivia Harding has donated two BRAND NEW beaded sock patterns. You know how I feel about my Sivia (of the Diamond Fantasy Shawl fame!) And last but not least, Kathy Elkins of WEBS has generously donated a fantastic knitty prize! More details to come! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL! I'm overwhelmed by all of your generosity!We're T Minus 5 Days until the big event, but the Registry will be open until June 30th. So there's plenty of time to give. Now who's going to push me over the edge? So far today we've got a total of $9996! THANK YOU!
Posted by Cara at June 19, 2006 03:59 PM
Topics: Log Cabin
Comments
Dropped off Carole and Birdsong at the airport. I'm home going through pictures and doing laundry. Tired doesn't say how I feel and I'm lonely because I miss everyone. It was a blast!
The green squares are beautiful and you photograph them so expertly. Missed you big time, grrlfriend.
Posted by: margene at June 19, 2006 04:12 PM
Those squares are gorgeous...I love the use of all the wonderful greens.
Posted by: Leslie at June 19, 2006 04:27 PM
Your squares are absolute art. Beautiful! And the thought of you potentially "knitting with" a Nordstrom shoe guy has left me practically drooling. Think of the discount!
Posted by: Sonya at June 19, 2006 04:31 PM
I'm pretty sure Nordstrom only sells shoes. I've never seen anything else there ;-) The squares are fabulous and I really want just a tenth of your photography talent (or skill or whatever).
Posted by: Stephanie at June 19, 2006 04:34 PM
You should've seen the single men at the bars in Indy during TNNA. Ever heard the pick up line, "Do you tat?"
Posted by: Lauren at June 19, 2006 04:34 PM
Your squares are beautimous. BEAUTIMOUS!
Posted by: Norma at June 19, 2006 04:35 PM
I love the blanket! How large are your squares again? I love how the colors worked out. Yum!
Now I have to WORK this Saturday, so I can't freakin' make it up to NYC. Waa! :(
Posted by: jess at June 19, 2006 04:40 PM
oooh breathtakingly beautiful squares. i just got a skein of the beryl in a swap. pretty pretty pretty!
Posted by: kris at June 19, 2006 04:44 PM
I don't know what kind of magic you used, but those squares look positively iridescent! I love, love, LOVE that blanket!
Posted by: Kristina at June 19, 2006 04:51 PM
Your squares are gorgeous and the afghan has been planned with just the right degree of anality. Placement of squares is key - you want the afghan to look random which requires a remarkable amount of organization.
Awesome Cara!!!
Posted by: Wannietta at June 19, 2006 04:54 PM
The green squares are lovely. I can't wait to see the next blanket.
Posted by: Shannon at June 19, 2006 04:59 PM
That's one of the reasons that your squares - like socks and washcloths are so cool - amazing portability!
Looking good there.
Posted by: trek at June 19, 2006 05:00 PM
Good looking squares. Can't wait to see them seamed.
Posted by: Kathleen at June 19, 2006 05:03 PM
mothafucka - that's poison ivy. stupid bitch.
Posted by: ann at June 19, 2006 05:03 PM
Oh, Cara! Those squares...and before you've even started the KAL, too! Can't wait to see what's next. I'm sorta glad you didn't plop them down on that field o' greens, because there is quite a good chance of some poison ivy lurking there. And THAT, my friend, ain't a pretty sight.
Posted by: JulieFrick at June 19, 2006 05:04 PM
Your squares look so cool! The colors are wonderful and I love your stories about knitting in public. They are hilarious.
Posted by: Jessica at June 19, 2006 05:13 PM
Great squares! I can't wait to see the finished project!
Posted by: Allegra at June 19, 2006 05:26 PM
Whenever I KIP, all these guys are just fascinated. I love it. ;)
Posted by: Kit at June 19, 2006 05:35 PM
OMG, Cara, I love every single one of those pictures -- it's looking just GREAT -- and then, be still my heart, that lovely pile shot (it's a weakness), and THEN, all far away and enticing on that field of grass? Oh, I wanna, I wanna...
So funny, I hadn't really given it much thought and don't have a LOT of personal experience to draw from, but you're totally right -- it's been only young men who've bothered to mention or ask me about the knitting! Has your sister asked you to teach her yet? Does she want to take you shopping???
Posted by: Vicki at June 19, 2006 05:38 PM
I had the same thought, Ann -- nice leaves, wait, isn't that... yep, sure enough. Beautiful squares, though, and not a bit itchy, I bet.
Posted by: Lucia at June 19, 2006 05:39 PM
the green green grass of home - beautiful green squares
Posted by: anna at June 19, 2006 05:55 PM
Best-looking squares afghan I've seen yet. Love the tone-on-tone combination, lovely colors.
Posted by: KarenK at June 19, 2006 06:30 PM
Your squares are flirting with my knitting basket. I keep seeing combinations and variations. But your balance is so beautiful! As are your pictures. I can always look forward to a spot of beautiful from you. Thanks.
Posted by: Angie at June 19, 2006 06:41 PM
Oh, I've said it before (a lot), but I'll say it again. I love your squares. I love the different color stripes from square to square. I love the variations. And I love, love the colors of that yarn! This Summer of Stash yarn diet thing is killing me! (Not that I'd really want to buy an afghan's worth without seeing the yarn in person, and I am one of the only knitters left in North America who hasn't yet tried STR, but, lordy, lordy, it is SO tempting!)
Posted by: --Deb at June 19, 2006 06:43 PM
Gotta....get....started...on the....squares....
Beautifully done and shot too. You take the BEST photos!
Posted by: Carol at June 19, 2006 06:52 PM
WTF. Bloglines keeps saying this is updated. What are you changing? I keep thinking you're going to rename that blanket the Poison Ivy blanket. So because the falsely advertised UPDATES are getting to me, I'm commenting again. again and again and again. Stop updating, BITch!
Posted by: Norma at June 19, 2006 07:26 PM
That's a FUNNY KIPing story. Ha!
Your swath of green is incredible!
Posted by: jillian at June 19, 2006 07:28 PM
I want a puppy! ;)
Sounds like all that running is starting to pay off, missy...
I didn't play the meme game, so I'll give you a word now: svelt.
Posted by: Julia at June 19, 2006 07:34 PM
Your log cabin looks FANTASTIC! I so want to steal the idea and make one myself!
And I definitely think the guy was hitting on you - he wanted you to know he was a good earner with a bright future and not just a shoe salesman. The knitting is very alluring....
Posted by: Renee at June 19, 2006 07:59 PM
I'm so glad I started reading your blog more regularly now :) Your pictures are just gorgeous, and those greens! Amazing. I am going to be jumping in on the log cabin thing once I figure out what I want to do for yarn. I would love to hear what you think about my ideas.. I'll email you in a few :) I can't wait to see this finished!
Posted by: Dani at June 19, 2006 08:02 PM
Mmm, those square look good, and I love how you noticed the same patterns in those leaves.
Posted by: colleen at June 19, 2006 08:57 PM
Girl, only YOU can make poison ivy look so beautiful we can hang it on the wall and KNOW it is art. You ROCK! that is one green, healthy, itchy patch of the 3 leaved wonder. WORK IT!
Your blanket is stunning! No one could do anything but love it....!
Posted by: suzanne at June 19, 2006 09:18 PM
great story! totally the new puppy. and those squares!!! they're just awesome. i love how they turned out. i'm definitely considering a log cabin blanket now!
Posted by: gleek at June 19, 2006 09:45 PM
Gorgeous photo shoot for the blanket-to-be! The yarn is delicious looking.
Posted by: Amy at June 19, 2006 10:27 PM
Beautiful squares!
I love how all the knitting attracted so much male attention!
Posted by: Dorothy B at June 19, 2006 10:27 PM
At least no one told you that "only grannies knit!" ;)
I love love love your green squares! They look so lush for being square. Does that make sense?
Posted by: Jenn at June 19, 2006 10:35 PM
Your squares are amazing... and I love them laying on that carpet of green grass... now, are you sewing them all together? Or somehow join/knitting them all together? And when are you starting the Log Cabin KAL, and I wanna puppy too...
Posted by: Liz at June 19, 2006 10:43 PM
Please tell me you didn't touch that pretty green patch of itch?
Pretty please?
Posted by: Juno at June 19, 2006 11:14 PM
I might have to take my puppy for a walk tomorrow. I think the key is to be a single knitting in public knitter, b/c I knit in public with friends all the time, and barely anyone will talk to us.
Except of course, the guys at the Boulder Knit Out, who asked us if we were knitting, and when we said, yes, he exclaimed "that's hot!" So maybe it IS the new puppy!
Posted by: Cyn at June 19, 2006 11:34 PM
It is amazing and counter-intuitive, but doing something creative within very strict boundaries seems to really make the creative juices spurt. Hence, your obsession with the squares. I've found the same phenomenon knitting Dulaan hats while using up my unwanted stash and the times I've decided I'm not going to buy any groceries except fresh produce until I use up everything in the pantry.
Love the squares on the grass photo!
Posted by: kmkatt at June 20, 2006 12:12 AM
I'm all about the Japanese sweater (obviously) but save it for the winter. Enjoy the fun of a summer fling with squares.
Posted by: Theresa at June 20, 2006 02:17 AM
Glad you got the flirting in fast, because if you put your squares in that poison ivy patch without washing them and yourself off IMMEDIATELY, you are doing to be one very unhappy diva. (Unless, miraculously you've got Virginia Creeper. (but the colors were lovely.) Please let us know that you are blister and rash free.
Posted by: PainterWoman at June 20, 2006 03:46 AM
i like the afghan in the grass and thanks for posting a picture of poison ivy. now i know what it looks like (you can take the girl out of the city ...)
an 10 year old boy started chatting me up once because i was knitting on the T. hmmm a little young i guess.
Posted by: maryse at June 20, 2006 06:47 AM
Gorgeous squares! How large is the finished afghan going to be?
Posted by: Kirsten at June 20, 2006 08:37 AM
love your squares !!
love your photos !!
wish that you were coming out to Black Sheep Gathering, would love to meet YOU.
Posted by: Teyani at June 20, 2006 09:38 AM
Your squares are fabulous, baby! :-) I'm interested to see the sewing up part.
Posted by: Kathy at June 20, 2006 09:52 AM
I love your squares.
You made me buy my first digital camera.
Aara
Posted by: Aara at June 20, 2006 10:21 AM
Squares are oh-so-dangerously addictive.
Great story and gorgeous photos - two reasons why I love your blog. Oh, and the gorgeous squares too. Can't wait to see them all joined.
Posted by: Maritza at June 20, 2006 11:29 AM
HOLY SMOLEY do ya know how much I ADORE yer squares? They are so UP MY ALLEY that I can BARELY TYPE. And your productivity!!!! So much with the knitting! Brafreakinvo!
Posted by: Ann at June 20, 2006 02:43 PM
I have a quote for you and your gorgeous squares:
"Now squares have gripped me, and perhaps they will grip you too." I thought of you immediately when I read this in "Knitter's Almanac" by Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Posted by: kathy in juneau at June 20, 2006 07:53 PM
OK, I am SERIOUSLY in love with your squares. I'm not sure I want you to put them together, I'm in love with them as they are. How can something so simple be so gorgeous???? I will resist making some. I WILL.
No, I WILL.
Posted by: Jenny at June 21, 2006 03:40 AM
You are SO funny, and now I'm wanting to knit squares!
Posted by: Wendi at June 21, 2006 11:30 AM
As one log cabin addict to another... your squares are fabulous!!!! What yarn are you using?
Posted by: Cindra at June 23, 2006 02:26 PM
Those squares are gorgeous. I could eat them they're so gorgeous.
Really.
gorgeous.
Posted by: Heels at June 23, 2006 09:59 PM