Canary Infusion

Just because Butters is cute (indulge me)

Acrylic - the second in an ongoing series

Oh acrylic. Shunned by many, loved by few.

When I was given my electric guitar at fourteen, it was the student-model. Learner guitar. Cheap-o. And this is sound wisdom: why purchase an expensive item when first venturing into a new endeavour?
I still have my good ol' electric guitar (and yes, it has a name. Ares, the god of war. Speaks to my fatuous youth).

And I still have a number of my first knit items. In the learner-yarn. Good ol' acrylic.

Acrylic: it does have pros

Pros:
usually inexpensive
washable
I've never had one where the dyes bleed!

Cons:
unlike natural fibres, this will melt upon exposure to flame (and most probably extreme heat)
unless you're very lucky, most don't feel all-too-great against the skin (also doesn't breath, so causes one to sweat and stink)

In the past I've used 100% acrylic yarn as a "learner yarn" (noted above) as well as a "stand-in" for more expensive yarns (see my Bed Jacket from Romantic Style. I chose this yarn because vast quantities were required, and I wasn't about to put up $100 or more for what is essentially an at-home leisure garment.)

Bernat Satin is a 100% acrylic that I've used several times to good results.

Every yarn has a purpose!

First of '08: The Chocolate Brown Collar

In a fit of knitting fury, I've finished the first project started this year: the Blue Collar from Scarf Style (only of course, blue mine is not).


Pattern: Blue Collar from Scarf Style
Yarn: the 1.5 balls of beauty-ful Grace (wool and silk) from Louisa Harding

I love this yarn - I question the actual wearability and applicability to everyday life of this project, but damn, it's cute. What thinks you?



The interesting and simple construction method made this a quick and addictive knit. I didn't have quite enough yarn to finish it, so I just ended early and threaded some ribbon through the top instead of knitting inches of skinny, skinny garter stitch for the laces.



I have several projects on the go-go. Fingers would prefer needles to keyboards presently.

Drastic Measures - Any Suggestions?

I've cut my sweater in half.


I think that's all I'm prepared to say at this juncture.
Any suggestions as to what I can do with the relinquished yarn in all its fair-isle glory, please let me know.

(the yarn is KnitPicks Merino Style)

Sewing galore:

A rather large pillowcase


and the possibilities of an adorable Bantam Chicken

The Power of Colour

The latest on the needles at the sanctuary.

I've always been fascinated with symbolism and colour.
To me, colour theory is interesting.
Perusing my list of FOs from 2007, it seems my overwhelming favourite is orange. Yellow's a close second. I've a thing for fire, I suspect.

Do you have any colour that you cling to like a particularly stubborn barnacle? Any theories as to why?

I don't do these - yet, apparently now I do

The only meme that's intrigued me in it's arbitrariness, yet applicability and validity to life*
________________

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here’s how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every section, type the song that’s playing
5. next section — press the next button
6. don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool

opening credits:
"All Around the World" - Oasis
at a whopping 9:20 mins, that's quite an opening.

waking up:
"The Beauty Process" - L7
oddly appropriate, no?

first day at school:
"Guyamas Sonora" - Beirut

falling in love:
"Silver Road" - Sarah Harmer

breaking up:
"Like Pebbles on the Beach" - Paul Weller

prom:
"Home for a Rest" - Spirit of the West
as it turns out, I did dance to this at me prom.

life’s okay:
"Fleur de saison" - Emilie Simon

mental breakdown:
"I've got a Feeling" - Beatles
I can see having a mental breakdown to this song.

driving:
"No Backrub" - Bikini Kill

flashback:
"Explode" - Nelly Furtado

getting back together:
"Fidelity" - Regina Spektor

wedding:
"The Closing" - Silverchair
wow, that's awesome.  wedding=closing.  I love a good sense of humour.

birth of child:
"Walls" - Tom Petty

final battle:
"Serve the Servants" - Nirvana
having a battle to that song would be awkward, methinks.

death scene:
"I'm so Tired" - Beatles
Ha!

end credits:
"All of us Kids" - Hawksley Workman

____________________________

*cause, who hasn't given themselves a personal soundtrack while they're boppin' around life? Truly, admit it. You all do.

Gadget par Papa

About a year ago, I gave my dad some "blueprints" for a yarn-holding-gadget. This is what he's made.

It actually works! I defy you, nasty yarn balls, to roll into the dusty nether-realms of the underside of my futon now!