Please excuse me while my blog becomes all about crocheting now.
Crocheted hats and other cute things like stuffed toys usually begin “in the round,” meaning the creator crochets around and around in circles until whatever they’re making looks enough like a hat (or a bunny’s head) for them to stop. Every pattern I’ve ever done this way has used the same stitch: a single crochet. But the dinosaur hat I started on yesterday used a completely different one.
With my background as a necklace maker, my tendency is to pull the yarn as tight as I possibly can, and as a result it takes me forever to make anything with a single crochet. My mother has observed that the amigurumi teacups I made could probably hold water.
I was expecting to spend several weeks on this project, but since the pattern called for a half double crochet instead of a single crochet, I finished with the top of the hat last night, even with eating dinner, bathing children, brushing tiny teeth, and putting little ones to bed.
A half double crochet is a bit confusing to explain to non-crocheters. It’s sort of a cross between a double crochet and a single crochet. It begins like a double crochet, but ends like a single crochet. Because it’s a taller stitch than the single crochet, the creation becomes a hat much sooner. And its differences to the single crochet mean that the final product will be less... watertight. This way, the hat will feel more like a hat made of yarn and less like one made of cardboard.
This green yarn will be a dinosaur hat before I know it.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Time to Crochet!
Some parents go to toy stores to buy things for their children. Some shop online and get the gifts they’ve purchased delivered directly to their home. Neither of these things will work for my daughter’s birthday gift.
I’m planning a dress-up box, something with lots of interesting things for her to wear or to drape over her sister, just so that she’s got some things to combine with her imagination while she plays. I’ve already got a few things, some hand me downs from my cousins or even things I used to play with as a kid, but most of my excitement about the project comes from my plan to make a bunch of stuff for her myself.
I spent several hours yesterday perusing ravelry.com, a website for crafters of the yarn persuasion, and found tons of awesome things just by searching through the free patterns for hats. Animal hats, fruit and vegetable hats, and hats you’d expect to find in a dress up box: a fireman’s helmet, crowns of all colors, Batman’s cowl, and even a knight’s "armored” visor.
I’ve got a two month deadline, so I only expect to be able to finish making maybe two of the twenty or so great ideas I found, but I’m pretty excited to start. I’m definitely going to do the dinosaur first.
Time to crochet!
I’m planning a dress-up box, something with lots of interesting things for her to wear or to drape over her sister, just so that she’s got some things to combine with her imagination while she plays. I’ve already got a few things, some hand me downs from my cousins or even things I used to play with as a kid, but most of my excitement about the project comes from my plan to make a bunch of stuff for her myself.
I spent several hours yesterday perusing ravelry.com, a website for crafters of the yarn persuasion, and found tons of awesome things just by searching through the free patterns for hats. Animal hats, fruit and vegetable hats, and hats you’d expect to find in a dress up box: a fireman’s helmet, crowns of all colors, Batman’s cowl, and even a knight’s "armored” visor.
I’ve got a two month deadline, so I only expect to be able to finish making maybe two of the twenty or so great ideas I found, but I’m pretty excited to start. I’m definitely going to do the dinosaur first.
Time to crochet!
Friday, October 5, 2012
What Day is it, Again?
Have you ever completely lost track of what day it is? Like, thought it was Tuesday when it was totally Thursday?
It seems to me that I do it all the time. It doesn’t matter if I have a set schedule or none at all.
Earlier this week I asked several different people what day it was, only to have them repeat, “it’s Wednesday. I told you five minutes ago.” I would shake my head and say, “man, it really feels like Tuesday.”
It’s not a MommyBrain thing. In high school, while trying to cheer up a friend, I asked him, “How was your weekend?” It was Thursday. It was, at least, the right thing to say to make him feel better, because he laughed at me.
Last night, while discussing what we hoped to get done over the weekend, I told my husband, “I’ll make what we were going to have for dinner tomorrow for lunch instead,” thinking that it was Friday and that spaghetti would be good to have for a Saturday lunch. He gave me a sideways glance, and I didn’t realize my mistake until this morning at about two when the baby woke me up. One has lots of clarifying thoughts at two o’clock in the morning, but not very many companions to share them with, and a seven month old’s only reaction to revelations such as this is, “who cares about that, I’m hungry.”
Happy Friday, everyone. (It’s Friday. It’s definitely Friday.)
It seems to me that I do it all the time. It doesn’t matter if I have a set schedule or none at all.
Earlier this week I asked several different people what day it was, only to have them repeat, “it’s Wednesday. I told you five minutes ago.” I would shake my head and say, “man, it really feels like Tuesday.”
It’s not a MommyBrain thing. In high school, while trying to cheer up a friend, I asked him, “How was your weekend?” It was Thursday. It was, at least, the right thing to say to make him feel better, because he laughed at me.
Last night, while discussing what we hoped to get done over the weekend, I told my husband, “I’ll make what we were going to have for dinner tomorrow for lunch instead,” thinking that it was Friday and that spaghetti would be good to have for a Saturday lunch. He gave me a sideways glance, and I didn’t realize my mistake until this morning at about two when the baby woke me up. One has lots of clarifying thoughts at two o’clock in the morning, but not very many companions to share them with, and a seven month old’s only reaction to revelations such as this is, “who cares about that, I’m hungry.”
Happy Friday, everyone. (It’s Friday. It’s definitely Friday.)
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Silly Holiday: "National" Boyfriend Day
This morning I woke up to the internet telling me that it was National Boyfriend Day. I scoffed at the idea, then set about doing a little research, to do a piece about such a silly holiday. Or so I hoped. It turns out that there is no reputable evidence anywhere for the existence of this holiday: no news articles, nothing on wikipedia (and if it’s not even on wikipedia you know something’s up), no nothing. Which nation is it that declared this holiday? How do you celebrate it? Is it for one’s own boyfriends, or everyone’s boyfriends? Current or previous?
The only thing I can find out about it is that someone on twitter started talking about it, and then everyone on twitter started talking about it. The fire caught on Google+, but hasn’t (that I’ve seen) made it to facebook yet. Most of the talk is along the lines of “‘National Boyfriend Day’?! Really?” But people are talking about it.
Is this what it’s come down to, internet? Inventing stupid stuff because you can’t think of anything better to do? (Answer: “Yes, of course, that’s what the internet is for. That, and a zillion pictures of cats.”)
If you want to celebrate something today, there is not a deficiency. Every day, people are born and people die, and occasionally some of those people are interesting or important in some way. Every day, scientific discoveries are made, investigations are launched, and something new is studied.
In 1582, the Gregorian Calendar was implemented. In 1927, the sculpting of Mount Rushmore began. In 1957, the space race began with the launching of Sputnik 1.
It’s Cinnamon Roll Day in Sweden. A Day of Peace and Reconciliation is celebrated in Mozambique to commemorate the end of a sixteen year civil war. And it’s World Animal Day, internet.
There’s much more to celebrate today than you think. Just look up the day on wikipedia. You don’t need to make something random up. Instead, have a cinnamon roll. Think about world peace. And make with the cat pictures. This is the internet, after all.
The only thing I can find out about it is that someone on twitter started talking about it, and then everyone on twitter started talking about it. The fire caught on Google+, but hasn’t (that I’ve seen) made it to facebook yet. Most of the talk is along the lines of “‘National Boyfriend Day’?! Really?” But people are talking about it.
Is this what it’s come down to, internet? Inventing stupid stuff because you can’t think of anything better to do? (Answer: “Yes, of course, that’s what the internet is for. That, and a zillion pictures of cats.”)
If you want to celebrate something today, there is not a deficiency. Every day, people are born and people die, and occasionally some of those people are interesting or important in some way. Every day, scientific discoveries are made, investigations are launched, and something new is studied.
In 1582, the Gregorian Calendar was implemented. In 1927, the sculpting of Mount Rushmore began. In 1957, the space race began with the launching of Sputnik 1.
It’s Cinnamon Roll Day in Sweden. A Day of Peace and Reconciliation is celebrated in Mozambique to commemorate the end of a sixteen year civil war. And it’s World Animal Day, internet.
There’s much more to celebrate today than you think. Just look up the day on wikipedia. You don’t need to make something random up. Instead, have a cinnamon roll. Think about world peace. And make with the cat pictures. This is the internet, after all.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Spice Rack, Schmice Rack
If I were asked to give advice to newlyweds, one of the first kitchen-related experiences I would share are the problems with a spice rack.
First of all, people buy their spices at a grocery store, and the best and most convenient way for stores to sell them is in a nice little container that doesn’t fit in or match your spice rack. I suppose you could find a place that will sell you spices in bulk, but you probably won’t find paprika that way at your local store.
After you get the spice home, you have to figure out how to get it in the little container that fits in your spice rack. I recommend making use of a funnel. If you try to simply shake your spice out of the little jar or bag into its container, you’ll end up with half of it on the counter, and another fourth of it on the floor.
Chances are you won’t even need half the ready-labelled spices on the rack. What is tumeric, anyway? I’ve never had to use it.
Then there’s the problem of there being enough containers for the spices you actually use on a regular basis, and the fact that the labels on the containers don’t correspond with your spices. Your celery salt container is sitting in the spice rack, empty, while a jar of dried cilantro sits next to it on the shelf, taking up space. Of course you could just put your cilantro in an empty container and change the label, but what’s the point of that? The jar the cilantro came in already has a label, and leaving it where it is means that you won’t have to toss half of it on the floor trying to get it in a jar that wasn’t meant for it in the first place.
Another annoyance may come in the form of the containers themselves. Are they big or little? Do you have to dump spices out of them in order to get at them, or can you fit a teaspoon inside of them? I’ve seen some spice racks with containers the size of tiny test tubes. What’s the point of that? You can’t get a measuring spoon inside, and there’s hardly any room in them for the spice they’re supposed to hold. You can’t keep a bay leaf in a container like that.
The final (and perhaps most obvious) problem is that once they are all in a row in their little containers, the spices look exactly like one another unless you’re looking directly at the label. It would be hard for anyone to tell whether they were holding the crushed oregano or the crushed basil without having to turn the container around until they found the label. “Well, duh,” you’re thinking, “the label is there so you won’t get them confused. What’s the problem with taking a little time to look at what you’ve got before you dump it on your food? If you absolutely have no time to glance at the label, keep them on opposite sides of the rack.” Thanks for the advice. I already do. It hasn’t kept me and my husband from confusing them anyway. Though it has helped us to discover how delicious cinnamon tacos are (that was totally him), and that cumin spiced apples are pretty good (all right, that was me, but it was early and I was still half asleep).
In conclusion, my advice to a newlywed who asks me what spice rack they should register for is to tell them to buy a lazy susan instead. Less mess, less confusion, less unnecessary spices in your kitchen.
Feh. Spice rack, schmice rack.
First of all, people buy their spices at a grocery store, and the best and most convenient way for stores to sell them is in a nice little container that doesn’t fit in or match your spice rack. I suppose you could find a place that will sell you spices in bulk, but you probably won’t find paprika that way at your local store.
After you get the spice home, you have to figure out how to get it in the little container that fits in your spice rack. I recommend making use of a funnel. If you try to simply shake your spice out of the little jar or bag into its container, you’ll end up with half of it on the counter, and another fourth of it on the floor.
Chances are you won’t even need half the ready-labelled spices on the rack. What is tumeric, anyway? I’ve never had to use it.
Then there’s the problem of there being enough containers for the spices you actually use on a regular basis, and the fact that the labels on the containers don’t correspond with your spices. Your celery salt container is sitting in the spice rack, empty, while a jar of dried cilantro sits next to it on the shelf, taking up space. Of course you could just put your cilantro in an empty container and change the label, but what’s the point of that? The jar the cilantro came in already has a label, and leaving it where it is means that you won’t have to toss half of it on the floor trying to get it in a jar that wasn’t meant for it in the first place.
Another annoyance may come in the form of the containers themselves. Are they big or little? Do you have to dump spices out of them in order to get at them, or can you fit a teaspoon inside of them? I’ve seen some spice racks with containers the size of tiny test tubes. What’s the point of that? You can’t get a measuring spoon inside, and there’s hardly any room in them for the spice they’re supposed to hold. You can’t keep a bay leaf in a container like that.
The final (and perhaps most obvious) problem is that once they are all in a row in their little containers, the spices look exactly like one another unless you’re looking directly at the label. It would be hard for anyone to tell whether they were holding the crushed oregano or the crushed basil without having to turn the container around until they found the label. “Well, duh,” you’re thinking, “the label is there so you won’t get them confused. What’s the problem with taking a little time to look at what you’ve got before you dump it on your food? If you absolutely have no time to glance at the label, keep them on opposite sides of the rack.” Thanks for the advice. I already do. It hasn’t kept me and my husband from confusing them anyway. Though it has helped us to discover how delicious cinnamon tacos are (that was totally him), and that cumin spiced apples are pretty good (all right, that was me, but it was early and I was still half asleep).
In conclusion, my advice to a newlywed who asks me what spice rack they should register for is to tell them to buy a lazy susan instead. Less mess, less confusion, less unnecessary spices in your kitchen.
Feh. Spice rack, schmice rack.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A Weekend Without
I didn’t just write a social media suicide note last week and then go about my business as usual. I stayed away from the internet. I used the computer, but it was mostly to play Sid Meier’s Civ V and some Portal. It also helped that I have a brand new nephew to go visit and adore.
I hopped on facebook yesterday morning when I finished writing. I chuckled when I saw I had 5 notifications, and remembered a picture I’d seen on my friend’s wall a while ago:
As I perused the weekend happenings of my friends, I was not surprised to find that though I’d missed a few things, none of them were things I absolutely needed to experience at the time that they were posted.
I knew I was missing out on Josh’s running facebook status commentary on the Husker game, and sure enough, there were six or seven annoyed comments just from him, and many more from the rest of my Husker fan friends.
I did not miss the political sass (from either end of the spectrum), and inevitably, since I wasn’t there to see it, my politically outgoing friends hardly posted anything this weekend.
For some reason, this was the weekend to post pictures of your kid’s new haircut. I only wish I could have posted a picture of my husband’s new haircut, but of course I can’t do that until he gets one.
And I missed all of Wil Wheaton’s vacation wrap-up tweets. The most amusing thing I discovered by paying attention to him was that he was gaming on the plane on his way home, and that he and I were probably both playing Civ at the same time.
So, all in all, nothing I really needed to know. I did grab an idea for something to write about along the way, but it was the same amount of ideas that I got over the weekend by not sitting on facebook 24/7.
The only thing I was really sad not to be a part of was my sister-in-law’s baby shower, but I was going to have to look at pictures of that after the fact anyway, since we don’t live in Colorado anymore.
Instead, I was able to spend time with my family. I played outside with my daughter, and we went on several walks around the neighborhood. I did laundry, and my kitchen is clean. I got to relax and play games. I got to watch football (but not the Broncos game, since apparently Nebraska is too far away from Colorado to allow the game to be played on television for anyone who hasn’t taken out a mortgage on their home to be able to afford NFL Sunday Ticket or the NFL channel).
My new resolution is: no social media on the weekends. One thing this weekend proved without a doubt is that I don’t need the internet.
Because the internet certainly doesn’t need me.
I hopped on facebook yesterday morning when I finished writing. I chuckled when I saw I had 5 notifications, and remembered a picture I’d seen on my friend’s wall a while ago:
As I perused the weekend happenings of my friends, I was not surprised to find that though I’d missed a few things, none of them were things I absolutely needed to experience at the time that they were posted.
I knew I was missing out on Josh’s running facebook status commentary on the Husker game, and sure enough, there were six or seven annoyed comments just from him, and many more from the rest of my Husker fan friends.
I did not miss the political sass (from either end of the spectrum), and inevitably, since I wasn’t there to see it, my politically outgoing friends hardly posted anything this weekend.
For some reason, this was the weekend to post pictures of your kid’s new haircut. I only wish I could have posted a picture of my husband’s new haircut, but of course I can’t do that until he gets one.
And I missed all of Wil Wheaton’s vacation wrap-up tweets. The most amusing thing I discovered by paying attention to him was that he was gaming on the plane on his way home, and that he and I were probably both playing Civ at the same time.
So, all in all, nothing I really needed to know. I did grab an idea for something to write about along the way, but it was the same amount of ideas that I got over the weekend by not sitting on facebook 24/7.
The only thing I was really sad not to be a part of was my sister-in-law’s baby shower, but I was going to have to look at pictures of that after the fact anyway, since we don’t live in Colorado anymore.
Instead, I was able to spend time with my family. I played outside with my daughter, and we went on several walks around the neighborhood. I did laundry, and my kitchen is clean. I got to relax and play games. I got to watch football (but not the Broncos game, since apparently Nebraska is too far away from Colorado to allow the game to be played on television for anyone who hasn’t taken out a mortgage on their home to be able to afford NFL Sunday Ticket or the NFL channel).
My new resolution is: no social media on the weekends. One thing this weekend proved without a doubt is that I don’t need the internet.
Because the internet certainly doesn’t need me.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Happy October!
October has always been one of my favorite months for the simple selfish reason that it contains my birthday. Of course, I love autumn, too, but my birthday was always the main draw. In my world, October is a month for birthdays.
In elementary school, I shared October with two of my classmates, whose birthdays were the first and second of the month. Once I asked one of them what his favorite month was, and he responded energetically, “October, of course!” I smiled and asked him why, assuming it was for the same reason I liked it. “Basketball season!” he replied, and jumped around excitedly while I scoffed. Who cares about dumb basketball season when your birthday is coming up?
My grandmother’s birthday is about a week before mine, and as long as I can remember, we’ve had a family birthday party at her house. The first one I can remember well included opening presents out on the deck, and I got a Lite Brite. I didn’t have any cousins on my mother’s side until I was in junior high, and then, two years in a row, there were additions to the October birthday party. When I got married, my husband joined the ranks of those in my family with October birthdays, since his is a week after mine.
Our most recent October birthday party featured my grandmother, insisting that it was just the normal October birthday party and not anything else special for anyone specific, despite the unusually large attendance of those who came to celebrate just for her. We also had a delightful autumn walk: we got wet in the creek, marched through a recently harvested corn field, and picked up sticks to walk with.
I’m sure that October will always be one of my favorite months, even when everyone starts to come to the party to celebrate just for me.
Happy October, everyone. And Happy Birthday, everyone I love.
In elementary school, I shared October with two of my classmates, whose birthdays were the first and second of the month. Once I asked one of them what his favorite month was, and he responded energetically, “October, of course!” I smiled and asked him why, assuming it was for the same reason I liked it. “Basketball season!” he replied, and jumped around excitedly while I scoffed. Who cares about dumb basketball season when your birthday is coming up?
My grandmother’s birthday is about a week before mine, and as long as I can remember, we’ve had a family birthday party at her house. The first one I can remember well included opening presents out on the deck, and I got a Lite Brite. I didn’t have any cousins on my mother’s side until I was in junior high, and then, two years in a row, there were additions to the October birthday party. When I got married, my husband joined the ranks of those in my family with October birthdays, since his is a week after mine.
Our most recent October birthday party featured my grandmother, insisting that it was just the normal October birthday party and not anything else special for anyone specific, despite the unusually large attendance of those who came to celebrate just for her. We also had a delightful autumn walk: we got wet in the creek, marched through a recently harvested corn field, and picked up sticks to walk with.
I’m sure that October will always be one of my favorite months, even when everyone starts to come to the party to celebrate just for me.
Happy October, everyone. And Happy Birthday, everyone I love.
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