Knot on Your Life

Sweatin' it Out

I have a feeling that this photo that I'm posting says more about my photography skills (room for improvement) than it does about my finished object, but hey, at least I have the finished object off my list. I've been working on this gansey tee since February. It's the second garment I have made for myself. It fits (yay) and I plan on wearing it in public and everything!

An alpaca yarn and cotton yarn were used in this pattern. The alpaca is a little scratchy. I'm hoping it will get softer with a wash. Here's a few detail shots of the sleeves and bottom edge.


That strange looking background... Something possessed me to take these photographs in my pool. It's in the middle of a remodel and I was taking some progress pictures at the same time as I took these shots. Are you as fascinated with the jackhammered concrete as I am? My dog is in the background, supervising. He won't even get in the pool with me when it's empty.

I have a few ideas for next projects, but I am trying to only use my stash right now and I'm fighting with myself to make do with what's in there. It doesn't help that the Fiber Factory is having a good sale next week either...

Posted by Mel at 1:17 PM

Part 3 - People on a Plane

It's taken a week to get there, but here we are at the end of my 'vacation' trilogy. In my adult years I have flown a decent amount. Not travelling salesman kind of miles, but enough so that I don't get that crazy 'how do I get around this airport' feeling anymore. I finally know how to weave in and out of people to get where I'm going without running anyone over or dumping the contents of my bag all over the place (I'm a klutz, it could happen). Also, I know how to avoid getting run over by other travellers who are trying to get to their connection with the greatest of speed.

On this flight home, I encountered several new types of travellers that were unknown to me. It was strange to have so many new encounters on one trip, so I thought I'd share.

Man standing in 'Flight Attendant Kitchen' who is not wearing an Airline uniform. Since when do guys in plaid shirts get to hang out in the kitchen while everyone boards the plane? I felt like I was in a Twilight Zone episode, I swear he was hiding behind a cabinet door when I walked past. You know, to obscure his identity. And I swear he was hanging out in the 'Kitchen' at the back of the plane when I was using the restroom mid-flight.

Foreign Religious Missionary Tour Group
I know what your thinking... So what? A tour group. People travel in groups all the time. Yes, but do they all have a designated member handing out strangely wrapped food mid-flight? This man kept going into the overhead compartment during flight and switching the bag in the overhead for the one under his seat. At least 3 times. He was handing out stuff shaped like a corn-dog or a cucumber wrapped in Aluminum foil. One of the group was sitting next to me. I was dying to know what was in that wrapper. All I could tell was that it was able to be pulled out of the foil in small pieces. My seat-mate also prayed in his primary language for a long time. I had my headphones on, but I could hear that he was speaking. For all I know he could have been praying that I would remove my arm from the armrest we had to share. For a small man, he took a surprising amount of space.

Young Man in Desperately Seeking Something From his Backpack
As soon at we reached the magic altitude, this kid who was probably 9 or 10, dumped the contents of his backpack on the floor of plane. I don't know what he was looking for, but he wanted-it-real-bad. He dumped his bag in the aisle and was probably there for a good 10 minutes. I figured a flight attendant would tell him that wasn't allowed, but they never did. I wonder why he didn't dump the contents onto his seat, instead of on the floor?

Mom of Young Man, completely ignoring the fact that her son is blocking the only path on the plane
Why didn't she tell him to use his seat as a dumping ground? Huh?

These guys made the flight pretty interesting I must say. I did a little knitting on the plane, as well as reading for the book club. I will actually finish this months selection and I'm so glad. This will only be about the 4th time since I joined the club that I actually finished the book. It's kind of become a joke in the group to guess whether I will make it.

Ahhhh. It's good to be home. I am so close to finishing my sweater and I think it's going to fit me. Pictures coming soon.

Posted by Mel at 9:01 PM

Part 2 - Hanging with the Gals

During my visit to Detroit, my sisters and I got to take our Mom out for a special birthday dinner. My sisters put a scrapbook together with pictures of us and the grandkids (and the grandpups and grandkitties, in my case). And I made this.


It's the 'Retro Tote', found on the Joann website. I hadn't used my sewing machine since who knows how long ago. A year maybe? There was no problem with the machine, but I made a few mistakes cutting the fabric and interfacing. I had to sew a few extra seams, if you know what I mean. But all in all, I would make this bag again. It would be a great beach tote, if you made it from a vinyl. Just a thought.

I think my mom was happy with her gifts and the scrapbook made her tear-up a little bit. It was fun for us all to look at it because there were pictures that I had not seen before. I'm a little sentimental and love to take that hike down memory lane.

Next time - the people you meet on a plane.

Posted by Mel at 11:54 PM

A Weekend in 3 Parts

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to Detroit to see this fine young man (my nephew) complete his High School education. That was the main focus, although there is so much to tell, that I will do it over 3 posts. Here I am with the proud graduate. It still freaks me out that he's all grown up. I guess when you see someone only once a year, you forget what they really look like. Well at least this time I have photographs so I can remember. I guess you can tell that I'm proud of all he has accomplished so far, and wish him success in whatever he decides to do next. (He's still working those details out).

The ceremony was very moving. One of R's classmates died in a car accident while on Spring Break in Florida. You can imagine that emotions were running high when the boy's parents walked across the stage to accept the diploma in his honor. Everyone was standing and clapping for this young man who was so loved by all his classmates. I know I was wishing I had brought some Kleenex. There was another guy who was not allowed to walk at the ceremony because he spiked a slurpee machine with Ex-Lax. He was outside the ceremony, standing on his car, wearing his cap & gown, open without shirt, blaring his stereo. I didn't get a good look at him, but I envision Kid Rock for some reason.

Other interesting ceremony happenings - The whole thing took place on the football field. It was windy. It seemed like every time the choir would sing, the wind would pick up and torque the sound. Lots of clinkety wind noise.

There were a wide variety of personal dress codes in place, including the man who decided that out of all the clothes he owns, the most appropriate thing to wear to witness this event was his t-shirt advertising what I can only imagine was his favorite strip club. Niiiiiiice.

Stay tuned for FO talk in next post.

Posted by Mel at 11:19 PM

Hello? Is This Thing On?

Frank is trying out the new microphone that I just finished knitting up. The quality is a little 'Fuzzy' if you know what I mean.

Here's a close up of the project.



This was a commissioned work for my cousin and her husband who have a weekly podcast. They are planning on giving this as a contest prize. A Major Award!!!! Fragile-ay! I was more than happy to whip something up for them. I made the pattern up as I went along. Something I seem to be doing quite regularly these days. If someone expresses interest, I can retrace my steps and come up with the pattern for you.
Project contents: Wool base, acrylic & metallic stand, Cascade fixation and metallic yarn used for microphone. It is stuffed with poly-fiber. Base reinforced with plastic cross-stitch canvas and heavy gauge floral wire. Bottom of base covered with felt (to hide the canvas and give it that 'bowling trophy' look). Stand finished with jewelry crimps.

Posted by Mel at 10:56 PM