somehow i walked right by these very big crocus buds the other day, which then proceeded to open in the afternoon; when anne c. arrived for class, she let me know they were there. today it’s a little too chilly for them, i think, but hopefully things will brighten up tomorrow.
lord knows i could use it—it’s been dreary again for the last couple of days and i’ve got a pile of unfinished work and projects with issues. not everything is in the toilet, but there is a respectable list of to-do items hanging over my head this week.
maybe it’s the disaster in japan (we watched the horrifying live feeds in the middle of the night on the day it happened; they are burned into my brain tissue), but i am inordinately and unreasonable bummed about the pie that didn’t set. obviously, i’m the only one that doesn’t love it—everyone in class enjoyed it and david has since been scooping out dishfuls of leftovers.
it’s NOT about the pie itself of course—i can make another this weekend. it’s about how helpless we are to contain the effects of disasters, which seem to get more catastrophic all the time. we aren’t preventing them—all we can really do is clean up afterward as best we can and then rebuild. and the cost to all of us is enormous . . .
at least there are ways to help in the cleanup effort; like many people, david and i contribute on a regular basis to doctors without borders so they can carry on consistent work that enables them to provide first-response help. in times of particular stress, we give additional funds for emergency work. other organizations include the red cross, unicef, and save the children. it’s easy to give online; be assured that every single donation counts.
or perhaps you’d like to join in a knitter-specific effort—groups are forming on ravelry to organize communication, food, clothing, comfort, and monetary aid.
my friend janel just released a pretty shawl pattern named eiko this week from which she is forwarding all proceeds through April 30, 2011 to disaster relief. you can purchase it at her site or on ravelry and she will make sure that the money goes to a great cause.
i’ve got several pattern projects in various stages of completion. that part is ok, though i wish the time to focus on them didn’t slip out of my hands so quickly. there is one secret project that is vexing me, almost beyond my patience level. the situation involves gauge issues, which i don’t usually struggle with. i did lots of BIG swatches (both flat and circular) on various needles as usual and thought i had all the fabric information i could possibly use to design from. i got my first pattern draft together, started knitting the piece, and wow—the fabric was not anywhere close to being the right gauge. i mean not even in the same crime family, y’know?? like four sts off for every four inches. so i ripped back and started again on a smaller needle and i’m still getting the same thing—WTF???
i know it’s going to be really pretty once i get some control over it, but today i’m stymied. should i change my idea, my stitch patterns, or just go with the gauge i’m getting and change all my pattern numbers. or maybe stick with it as is and hope it tightens up? for now, i’m going to mull while i work on something else . . .
oh, that reminds me; i need to finalize my project and handouts for sock camp class; i’m behind on that too. nothing major, but i got a little more elaborate than i initially planned. i have to stop doing that—there almost always isn’t enough time for extras anyway.
i do have at least two projects that are going very well, which i look forward to working on whenever i can—the gray scarf and the maroon shawlette. one even has a finished pattern and the other pattern is progressing nicely.
the shawlette itself is nearing completion, i think . . .
the fabric is SO beautiful—i just love its cozy nature in great northern yarns mink/milk/merino blend. it’s also still thin and sheer enough to provide a lovely light effect; it’s the best of all things, really . . . and this pattern will be equally suitable for the yak/mink/merino/soy blend as well, if you find one of those colors more appealing.
right now it’s about right for the petite size; i almost stopped last night because i think it’s so darn cute at this length. but i’m dying to see how far two skeins of yarn will go, so i’m continuing on, hoping for a medium size with what i have here (with this shawl, you can easily lengthen the hem to suit your taste or yarn supply).
this shawlette takes a little more yarn than the usual because it’s shaped to completely circle the shoulders. the upper portion uses up quite a lot more yarn than a simple triangle. and the hem is much wider in proportion to the length as well. so, even the smallest size requires about 500 yards. the yarn is very reasonably priced though, for such luxurious fiber content and high-quality spinning.
the scarf is moving along too; it’s larger than i usually make so it’s taking a bit more time, but i’m ok with that, since it’s been a real friend. again, i’m going to use most of two skeins for mine, but i’m including a smaller sized-scarf in the pattern for those that prefer a one-skein project.
i’m really looking forward to having this scarf to wear on my spring trips; it’s large enough to provide a nice extra layer in the evenings, but light enough to pack easily or wear as a scarf, too. yay.
ok, you know what? i’m feeling better after all that writing, so i’m going to move on to getting some other work done this afternoon until it’s time for spinning class (oh yeah, spinning class is tonight—yay).
i want to leave you with one last thing to improve your own afternoon—the chance to look in on a project my very talented friend luci has undertaken since moving back to berlin, that is wonderfully fresh and lively—her in a berlin minute series of one-minute films. here’s week #45—prepare to be cheerfully earwormed by the “rain hogs” music, too:
(don’t miss the bonus clip!) or view all 50 of luci’s youTube films. you won’t be disappointed—it’s better than crack, i swear.
see, there’s always something to brighten one’s outlook . . .
24 thoughts on “vexed”
The way the shawlette is draped over your dress form, suggests a beautiful spring cardigan meant to be worn open with short sleeves. Wow, that would be lovely!
Thanks so much for the link to Janel’s shawlette, which I just went and purchased – a lovely shawl and a wonderful cause. (Looking forward to your new patterns, too, of course!)
Some days are all about frustration, lack of momentum, and a wee bit of helplessness thrown in for good measure. The good thing is that those days end just like all the others, and the next ones are usually full of promise.
I know what you mean. Gray days, gray news, and this time change isn’t helping anything either. I know there are brighter days ahead, but for now none of my metaphorical pies are setting up right either!
Thank you, Anne, for sharing the links for donations. We are a nation of plenty. I love that we are in a position to help others who so desperately need assistance.
I’m off to purchase Janel’s pattern, too. What a great thing for her to do.
Hope the sunny days are heading your way.
Did you use the same skein of yarn for the swatches and the knitted piece? Remember you ran into an issue with the Henley (if I remember correctly) where the yarn was a different weight and it had nothing to do with your needle size. Just a thought.
I’m going to get some official info for you on the pie situation — somehow I think I might be able to find someone who has some information around here 🙂
Disasters wrench us back to what is most important. A woman hostage in South America said upon release that she would never again pass up the opportunity to have a piece of cake. Simple joys! We ought never let them go by unnoticed. PIE! YUM! HUG! SMILE! KNIT! Thank you for the joy you bring me in words and pics and vids and stitches!
I have to think about the Japanese as well. But like your buds, mine are starting slowly to show and it gives me new hope
What a bummer about the pie. I’d still be diving in there with a spoon, but I know what you mean, it’s frustrating when you know just how you want it to be! We too have been watching with horrow the events unfolding in Japan. How on earth do people start rebuilding their lives? Just the clean-up operation itself is completely incomprehensible to me. We are so lucky with what we have – but how often do we really stop and take stock of all of it? I guess it takes a disaster of this magnitude for you to realise. Thank you for posting all those links. As I sit in the comfort of my home, it’s the least I can do to donate to the disaster fund.
okay..not that this was the most interesting/important thing in your blog today…but i just made a lemon meringue pie that didn’t set!! i was blaming it on old corn starch but i’m not even sure that’s possible =)
Check out The Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum for possible pie remedies. And further temptation. Those things happen to the best of us when we don’t do them regularly.
Now, I’m waiting on that grey scarf. Just so you know.
To tell if the pie filling will set or not: put a small plate in the freezer when you start cooking the filling. When you have cooked the filling as the recipe specifies, drop a dab onto the plate. If it gels then it will set if not, cook it longer and check again.
I took a beating with a Key Lime pie, new recipe, last weekend. We did eat it, but . . . should have used the old, familiar, delicious!
The shawlette is beautiful and I will look forward to the pattern. Thanks for your dedication to this site and to the people that appreciate you and your creativity.
We continue to support the people in Tokyo, both with prayer and with dollars!
Really enjoyed the Berlin videos – daughter lives in Germany!
I’m sorry to hear about your vexing project; I’ve had the paper-writing equivalent of that, and I know how really frustrating it is. Sometimes the only thing that works is to take a long walk on dirt (something about getting out on a dirt trail makes me think differently). I hope your conundrum ceases to conun soon!
I’m sorry – I know I shouldn’t say this – but of course the minute I saw that pie my mouth started salivating, and I thoguht, “I have got to make a lemon pie! Sam! Go get some lemons!!” hahaha
I looked at the recipe again and I think there are not enough egg yolks. Check out Cooks Illustrated –they have a recipe that looks like it has the right balance of sweet and tart. In the meantime, you can always spoon it in your yogurt!
About the lemon meringue pie, did you use some cornstarch? I think this is what my mother used in her pie to help it set.
You have crocuses already? 🙂
I can’t wait for the shawlette! it’s beautiful…
The colors you’re using for the shawlette and the scarf are just lovely. And the stitch pattern is great too – I’m loving garter stitch right now!
Anne, about the pie filling. This works for me… juice & grated rind of 2 large lemons; 275ml water; 3 talbespoons cornflour, 50g superfine sugar; 2 large egg yolks; 40g butter. My mother used it and it also happens to be Delia’s recipe from her Complet Cookery Course (English) basically make a paste with the cornflour, sugar and some of the water. Add the rest of the water to the juice and rind and bring to a boil, pour it onto the cornflour paste and mix it up until its smooth. back in the saucepan, back to a boil, simmer 1 minute (stirring), take off the heat and beat in egg yolks, lemon juice and butter. Pour onto crust.
Hope it helps, I love lemon meringue! It’s such fun practicing until you get it right!
As with every major disaster it is hard to get one’s mind away from it totally…you can’t because you are in sort of shock…could one ever get used to seeing that wall of water without being shocked again and again……and the explosions at the nuculear plant…awful…and those folks coming back to their ‘homes’ – the ‘refugees’ camped out in sports halls…for how long no one knows. No wonder you are not able to work as well as usual.
As for Berlin, wow, that brings back some memories….we went with our trailer the year after the wall went down and I will never forget walking down the Unter den Linden…as for the shops…ah…the Ka de Vei (sp?) – what a store…..a food hall the size of a football pitch…..I stood for a long time watching the gift wrappers decorate their customer’s gifts…fascinating. I’m sure the city has changed so much since then.
Hope you are back to better form soon. Take care.
Dear Anne,
It’s amazing how one “little thing” like the pie can trigger the big emotions. You’re smart to see the emotional connection to the big uncontrollable disaster in Japan where the pie really just becomes a metaphor. Thank you for sharing the links of who you donate to.
I was glad to read that writing it all out on your blog and sharing with your community makes you feel better. These are dreary days – it’s good to not feel alone in that.
You are too kind for sharing the link to my videos. It took me by surprise at the bottom of the post.
Thank you.
Luci
Both the mulberry shawl and the gray scarf are luscious.
I think March and April are the toughest months on my mood. Gray, wet, cold and just too in-between. Hopefully you will be able to sort out your knitting vexations. Knitting’s supposed to make us feel better,, not worse!
Thanks for the heads-up on Janel’s pattern! 🙂
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