Knit and Plenty

Votes and Comments All Departed

It was quite a night of upsets at this year's Oscars. While Little Knit Sunshine took the prize among the few who voted here (hooray for voters!!!) - in Hollywood, it was The Departed that returned victorious. And what a great moment it was when Marty finally got the nod as Best Director.

So, I guess that means he can finally relax and unknit his brow - which I believe was originally a K2 P2 Y0 Pattern . 

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P.S. Ok - now I know it's totally unblognice to say this, and I'll probably lose the nice readers I have, but I have to ask... is it me or does anybody else wonder why some other blogs can get 742 commenters to say "Oooo, nice sock!!"  ??   

OK, there - I feel better now. Thanks.

Downward Facing Knitter

Have you heard? KNITTING IS THE NEW YOGA. I read it in the newspaper.

What a laugh.

Now, I can certainly see how knitting can be a spiritual practice, and I am inclined to even try to take 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, maybe light a candle and knit. I'll call it meditation, even though its just another excuse for picking up my sticks in the middle of the day.

But comparing it to yoga? Now that's pushing it. Yoga actually takes physical effort, flexibility and stamina. It can help get you in shape, elongate muscle and contribute to the total health of your body. It is exercise, folks.

Let's face it - knitting is not exercise. You might work up a little sweat on your lip when you drop a stitch or have to rip out a row of yarn overs. You might drop a ball of yarn and have to reach down to pick it up. But knitting hasn't, and isn't, gonna do anything to help me lose the 20 pounds I've been talking about losing for the last 2 years. In fact (and I hate to tell you this) but knitting is a rather sedentary practice. Which is, of course, why I like it.  I'd even go further to say that we might end up with a new ailment, like tennis elbow or skier's knee:  KNITTER'S ASS. I can say this because I have one!

So, let's not forget to put down the sticks and take a walk now and again. Even if its just to the knitting store.

This Product Lost its Luster

I love a new idea. And I was a big cheerleader when the folks out at La Knitterie Parisienne in LA came out with the Knit Lites. I thought it was incredible that the NY Times wrote about them. I was thrilled for them that they successfully sold the product to Clover. And I went out and bought two pairs.

Well, now that I own them I am wondering whether these were really that bright an idea. Here's my question: If I have just purchased beautiful yarn to make a beautiful project, am I really going to chose Knit Lites over Lantern Moons or Addis or even a nice bamboo just because there is a chance that I may end up knitting in a dark spot?  I don't think so. A plastic needle is a plastic needle is a plastic needle.

Maybe the "point" is to have an auxillary project cast on to these in case of a black-out or if you happen to be working on a late night stake out.  Perhaps the best use for these might be when you need to knit a complicated stitch in black yarn.

I don't mean to "lash out" against innovation, but these novelty sticks just might end up in the bin with the novelty yarn.

Ready to hit the bitches - I mean beaches

Did anyone tune in to the Miss Universe pageant last night? Have these women gotten thinner and taller or am I just getting shorter and fatter? I have to admit, it was a tad depressing. But there was a bright spot. Did anyone else notice the parade of knit and crochet items that adorned the contestants during the swim suit competition? OK - probably only us chunky knitters noticed. But there were tons of scarves that were almost as skinny as the women wearing them. And there were lots of lacy shawls. Gee, and I was wondering where I was going to wear all the shawls I am making. Plus they'll go perfect with my 6 inch stilettos beach sandals. 

M1 - No way!

You know how I love medical news, right? Well, the medical breakthrough of the day is that scientists in England have come up with a way for women to produce sperm. Are you kidding me? Women are now going to make the sperm???

Ok - that's it. I draw the line here. Since the beginning of time, we've made the babies. And for the most part, we make the dinners. We make all the appointments. We make the beds. We make all the social plans. Most of us are expected to not only make a nice home but also make a nice living. There's absolutely no way that I'm taking on sperm production. After all, after taking out the garbage and hauling the Christmas tree, this is close to the top of the list of reasons why we like guys so much in the first place. So, sorry docs, we're going to have to take a pass on this one.

Besides, as we've learned from a recent informal survey, all we really WANT to make is sweaters.

Knit the Habit.

I think it would be an interesting study to determine if there is a real connection between people with other addictive behaviors and people who knit. I mean, I am definitely the poster child for both cohorts. In the course of my life, I've probably been hooked, at one point or another, on everything; not the least of which was a 25 year nicotine habit that I broke about 7 years ago. But there have also been jags with food, shopping. men, Jeopardy, Stoly, handbags, exercise, chocolate - and a few others that will go unmentioned. Have you had a few in your past before knitting kicked in? Certainly there are days when I think I should check myself in for 28 days of yarn detox.

Now here's some good news. Yesterday, a new drug called Chantix was approved by the FDA to help cigarette smokers kick the habit.  I think anyone who still smokes (M.A.!!) should give it a try. But I also think that knitting has got to be a pretty good cure as well. Why waste time smoking when it's time that could be spent knitting?? You could always knit a cigarette like in the picture. Its KNIT UP, not LIT UP. Can you just see groups of knitters standing huddled together in the rain outside the front door of the office - just trying to get in a few quick rows?!
This would also be the perfect weekend to quit. (Smoking, not knitting)  Do it for your mom.
Happy Mothers Day.
Have a great weekend.

Katzenbloggers

Here's a question:
What is it about cats and knitting blogs? Seems like there must be some strange connection between the two. I mean, I love my three guys (Jed, Dexter and Dewey) and I did introduce you to them back in March, but I'm not crazy about the whole "look at my cat with my half-knit socks" sort of thing. Am I missing a whole blog audience by not going in this direction? Am I just a sour puss because I've never knit a sock? Did I just lose half of the few reader I have?

But while I'm on this cat-o-tonic subject, I thought I'd share my "tuxedo cat kitsch" collection. Now, I am pretty good at finding stuff on the web, but try as I might, I could not find a picture or a pattern to knit up a tuxedo cat. I'm sure I'll think of something.

And if you should come upon any black and white cat stuff out there, give me a shout. Like skeins of Noro, I can never have enough.

Complex patterns & intelligent design.

I started the week by relating knitting and Grey's Anatomy to my believe that we are capable of tapping into the spiritual realm to be co-creators with the divine.

So, to give equal time to the brilliance of science, I'm sharing yesterday's news that paleontologists have discovered fossils of a 375 million-year-old fish that they say is the "missing link" that provides proof that we evolved from the sea. Within the fins of this creature are the beginnings of fingers, wrists, arms and shoulder bones.

Now, not to stir up the whole primordial soup, but I just don't think this whole creation vs. evolution thing has to be so either/or. Why can't it be a bit of both?  Perhaps some divine force created an incredibly complex pattern and cast on a universe and we've been knitting it every since. (I think the pattern was once in Vogue.)

Perhaps the first humans inhabited a "garden of Eden." And most assuredly, there were sheep in the garden  - which definitely could have resulted in some nice knitted or felted fig leafs. (Sorry, could not find a pattern.)

I did find this adorable pattern from Australia of these knitted dinosaurs . The pattern may not be the most intelligent design but it should only take about six days to create. On the seventh, you can rest!