wednesday's poems

words by anne sexton

Be careful of words,
even the miraculous ones.
For the miraculous ones we do our best,
sometimes they swarm like insects
and leave not a sting but a kiss.
They can be good as fingers.
They can be trusty as the rock
you stick your bottom on.
But they can be both daisies and bruises.

Yet I am in love with words.
They are doves falling out of the ceiling.
They are six holy oranges sitting in my lap.
They are the trees, the legs of summer,
and the sun, its passionate face.

Yet often they fail me.
I have so much I want to say,
so many stories, images, proverbs, etc.
But the words aren't good enough,
the wrong ones kiss me.
Sometimes I fly like an eagle
but with the wings of a wren.

But I try to take care
and be gentle to them.
Words and eggs must be handled with care.
Once broken they are impossible
things to repair.

knitting socks east and west - pair # 2

last weekend i finished my second pair of socks from my current favorite knitting book, knitting socks east and west. these are the geisha lounge socks.

i once again have to recommend knitting a pair of socks with heavier yarn and larger needles. not too big - these were knit on addi lace size 2 needles, with debbie bliss baby cashmerino, which is kind of a heavy sport weight / light dk weight. Because the cuff is so short, and the heel turn comes up after only a couple inches, i knit the cuffs and heels 1 at a time on 2 circulars, and then finished off the gussets, feet, and toes 2 at a time on 2 circulars.

the cashmere in this blend is absolutely lovely. i really could put these socks on and not get off the couch all day (okay, so, that's not really a challenge for me on any day, but adding the cashmere socks to the mix makes it really, especially relaxing).

not an expert at all

well, i've been trying to rearrange some things here on the blog, and i am clearly not an expert at all.  actually, way back when, as an inexperienced and idealistic undergrad, i knew how to design a website, i even knew how to code!  well, well, well, not any more.  not even close.  so, hopefully things won't look too crazy as i try to figure this out.

wednesday's poems

here yet be dragons by lucille clifton

so many languages have fallen
off of the edge of the world
into the dragon's mouth.  some

where there be monsters whose teeth
are sharp and sparkle with lost

people.  lost poems.  who
among us can imagine ourselves
unimagined?  who

among us can speak with so fragile
tongue and remain proud?

new project(s): knitting socks east and west

i don't think i've ever met a knitting book i didn't like.  most books contain at least one pattern i'd like to knit.  even without that single purchase-worthy pattern, some books are so inspiring to look at that i can't pass them up, even when it is unlikely that i'll actually ever knit any of the patterns.  and then there is that rare, but joyous occasion when i find a book that is filled to the brim with patterns i want to knit.  

this is one of those books: Knitted Socks East and West: 30 Designs Inspired by Japanese Stitch Patterns

i recently finished knitting my first pair of socks from this book, the pattern is called inro.

the other thing that makes this project a rare knitting phenomenon for me is that i knitted it with precisely the yarn called for by the pattern.  even the same colorway.  

i highly recommend taking a break from knitting socks with fingering or sport weight yarn and giving worsted weight yarn a try.  of course, the practical use for the socks is limited (sitting around in all your free time, in front of a fire in a log-cabin-type scenario?)  BUT BUT but, they go SO FAST!  It is quite amazing and gratifying, and aren't they lovely?

which leads me, at long last, to my point!  i am undertaking the project of knitting all (not really all, the majority) of the socks in this book.  at this point, the ones i know i am excluding are the anti-socks.  ("anti-socks" def. = socks without toes; socks without heels; socks with some weird toe configuration, e.g., a split down the middle to encourage wearing socks with flip flops, which i am, fundamentally and morally against.)

introducing...my designs!

i've been knitting for a long time.  and all this time i have frequently knit things as they came off my needles, with little planning or researching or following of directions.  along the way i've created my own basic patterns, for hats and scarves and basic raglan sweaters.  in some ways, i consider this being lazy: i just knit the same hat over and over again, mixing things up only by adding stripes or changing the ribbing or stitch pattern.

well, after much prodding from my b-f, and an opportunity with twisted (the most amazing lys ever, which i may have mentioned once or twice before), i decided to actually start writing some of my patterns, and, well, ta da!

Old Faithful:

(picture by shannon, modeling by star)

and Hooligan:

(picture by shannon, modeling by star)

My patterns are for sale at twisted, at the store, via their on-line store, or via ravelry. 

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wednesday's poems

birthday by may swenson

What am I dong here?
What are the waves doing running? -
the grass doing growing?
What is the worm doing making its hole? -
the sun glowing? - the stone
sitting unmoving.  Remove
the stone: A shadow is missing.

The moon is making its circle.
A moth is emerging.
A mountain is shifting.  A forest
is burning.  A snake
 is leaving its skin.  A fig tree
is hearing.  What am I doing here -
the waves running and hissing?

Dawn is doing its breaking.
The grass is growing.
A buttercup fills with light.
What am I doing?  What am I making?
What is the stone doing?  Making
its shadow.  The worm is making its hole.

arctic blast

i realize that it is in the middle of the summer.  here in portland, we have just now begun to feel summer.  it was grey and rainy until just after the fourth of july, and since then, it has been hot.  like, this is the fundamental reason i left the mid-west hot.  100 degrees.  no a/c.  not the best knitting weather.

luckily, i managed to finish these lovely mitts while the skies were still grey, but i won't actually get to wear them until next year (don't worry, it'll be cold and rainy before we know it):

these mitts were the very first pattern for the twisted single skein club, designed by the talented star athena.

this patten includes a perfect harmony of a simple, but lovely lace pattern and a simple, but lovely yarn.  the lace is perfect for a beginning lace knitter, or something quick and easy for an experienced lace knitter.  as for the yarn, any guesses?  ...   ...   ...  malabrigo silky merino.  a single skein is all it takes.  i think i might also have to make them in blue.  and purple.

dear yearn, where have you been?

what have i been doing since april, you would like to know?  well, thinking a lot about posting and thinking a lot about knitting, but not doing as much as i'd like of either:

may: 14 court deadlines followed by a week-long conference.

june: trial followed by wedding (my cousin's) followed by deep breath.

july:  visiting with friends in bend

and, oh yes, every possible other free minute has been spent in front of the tv, watching the blessed WORLD CUP.

and so, with that, as the second half of the final game begins, i promise to be back shortly, with much to say.