DPN Danger

This is a knitter with attitude!

Courtesy of Vertigo comics Y:The last Man.

Blind Optimism

Definition of blind optimism - taking 3 knitting projects to Work on the weekend.

Here I am about to start the 2007 Sydney Chinese New Year Gala Performance Evening - we are already 45 minutes over the advertised start time - the rehearsals were stopped with at least six more items to see (and light) because we were way over time.
I'm looking a bit pale because the five photographers lined up behind my lighting desk are all madly snapping away (and the show hadn't even started). 4 hours later at the end of the performance I was feeling totally washed out. We then had to take all the lights and hardware and hanging doodas down in readiness for the next morning's Brahms rehearsal. 8am start to a 1am finish. Am I mad about my job? I must because no one sane would be doing it. The knitting sat in my bag totally ignored but often thought of. The show itself was an absolute extravaganza. Much colour and movement and lots of flashing, in-your-face lights.
Subtlety? don't know the meaning of the word in events like this. These amazing acrobatics were one of the few dark scenes in the show and even then I had the Audio Visual guys nagging me for 'more light on the audience' because they wanted to film their reaction to the bone wrenching, tendon-snapping poses these two were doing.

There were some very pretty moments among all the excess - this star of the Beijing Opera was noteworthy for the style, grace and amazing voice he had, and for the fact that he was a bloke.

All in all I felt pretty good about the lighting - there were many cringing moments for me such as lights moving that shouldn't have moved - or when I was madly plotting the next item 'blind' and instead of pressing the Save button I went 'next cue go' - stage plunged into dark blue scene change state - AV guys really screaming. By this time I was totally drained and very, very over the whole creative experience so it wasn't as traumatic as it could have been.

I didn't go near a computer (other than my lighting desk) for a whole weekend so all my planned posts about finished knitting and circular needles comparison lie neglected. I returned the Bamboo Interchangeable Circular Kit to Kris today (very sorry to part with them). She had lent them to me for a practice and I am very taken with them. So more later (I hope).

Just a simple twist of Fate

Jussi recently posted a wonderful description of her time in Christchurch and her solo travels through the back roads of Banks Peninsula. For me her description of the area and the places she went was so evocative it bought tears to my eyes.

The last time I was in Christchurch was to visit my Mum - she had just been placed into a home and this photo is the last time she recognised me. It was June 2001 and even though it was only six o'clock in the evening it was dark and foggy outside. I was only there for a few days so when I wasn't visiting Mum and making sure she was comfortable I drove around Christchurch and the Peninsula.


I visited Ferrymead - a Railway Museum full of old Steam Engines and other sorts of paraphernalia that keeps Train Enthusiasts like me happy (it runs in the family). The place was pretty deserted because it was in the middle of winter and it was foggy and cold but this suited my mood.

Even the prospect of fresh Bluff Oysters from the Lyttleton Fish and Chip shop didn't really raise my spirits much. I felt a bit guilty eating them knowing how much Mum loved them.

Mum died on Armistice Day that year and once again I travelled over to Christchurch with the family. We stayed at Diamond Harbour - a tiny little village on the Peninsula and it was again a cold and foggy day. Akaroa, the town that Jussi went to, is 'over the hill' from Diamond Harbour but the 'windy roads up and down steep hillsides' she describes are true of the entire area. It is an extinct volcano after all.

I suppose I was a little surprised at how intense my reaction was to her post - it is probably a credit to her writing skills - but I'm glad it created a chance to remember and reflect.

Welcome Visitors

Green Gables in process. I had to frog the latticework of the yoke at least three times for this piece. One slight distraction puts the entire pattern out of sync and this happened often during the three shows a day that comprised the Playschool season. I don't know how Justine did it but she was a real trouper. A room full of kids has to one of the hardest audiences out there, They expect 100% and can tell if they're not getting it.

Speaking of hard audiences we had another big turn up today to the monthly Guild meeting - despite the warm weather. (It would be so good for the meeting rooms to have air conditioning)
Lara, Sally, Meg, Mandy and Candi journeyed up the M4 (with a slight deviation to a certain Penrith Yarn shop) to visit us. (Meg has just been featured on the Lime & Violet podcast site for her Boobie stitch markers. They were made to help raise funds and Breast Cancer awareness and are practical way to support a very worthy cause. Drop over to her Etsy shop and check them out.)

The Guild meeting is a bit more structured then the usual relaxed get togethers around the big table at R&L or over a cup of coffee at SSK. Maybe my slightly frazzled and distracted air gave the visitors a clue to where my head space is normally at during these meetings as I try and keep track of time, people and tasks. I must admit I was a bit nervous that it would be too formal and busy to get in some knitchat time - especially as I hadn't seen Lara since she came back from Vietnam and I wanted to hear all about the trip as well as ask her some Apple Questions. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves though and I really appreciate their visit.

The numbers that come along to our Mountain's Guild have increased markedly over the past year or so and we have a diverse range of knitters that attend. Even though I sometimes feel stretched to my mental limits running the meetings I always get something out of the experience. The Show and Tell session is both a challenge (I have to make sure 30 or so people don't wander off track during the telling) and a pleasure as we see and hear about people's projects, their progress, their failures and their successes.

We've also had some great guests to our meetings and I claim no credit for this at all. Today Inga Hunter showed her creative genius with Beadworking and, unless there are 2 artists with the same name that live up here, she is a talented artist as well. I came across this example of her Lino cuttings and I am smitten. Lino prints are one of my favourite mediums and I love the simplicity of these prints as well as the familiarity of the spaces she portrays.

The Good News

On a more positive note we have good news on the Stash reduction front. First off is Krista in Pachuko cotton, showing its wide decolletage and my pale Theatre Tan. I'm constantly being reminded that cotton is a very unforgiving fibre, both in the making and the wearing but I do like this brand. The shade apparently gets deeper the more it is washed.

Next we have a rather wooden modeling of the completed Inknitter cotton top with a few adaptations - the sleeves are longer and the hem is looser, to give more of a drape.


And an update on the fate of the many bags of wool on my Verandah - they've all gone to good homes in the Blue Mountains Spinning community. One of the recipients, Michelle, gave a very thorough analysis of the fleece in her blog. It's good to see that even though it's not pure Merino it is still a useful fibre. I loved its rich buttery colour and full Lanolin scent.

I am Wuss, hear me roar.

I thought I was a "Woman with Attitude" but today I was reminded in no uncertain term what a wuss I am in the face of conflict.
Not all conflict, mind you - there are some situations where I can weather all sorts of negativity and criticisms if I know I am in the right. These are mostly to do with logical sequences and inanimate objects. Personal interaction is where I am most at a loss. I have already posted about my ineptitude at social niceties and etiquette - today that was strongly reinforced.
The weird thing is that there are those in my workplace that would be suprised to see the blithering mess I feel I was reduced to. Sure, in the interaction I was out numbered two, strong, decisive, women to one and I was totally out of my comfort zone but here's the rub. If the people facing me had been of the male gender I am sure I would have held my own and not felt such a wuss. Is it because I have spent all of my working life in a male dominated occupation and have had to stand up for myself to survive? Is it because I felt constrained by social decorum and was unable to express my frustration freely?

Someone at work described me as having a Billy Idol strut on stage - why can't I maintain that attitude in situations such as this? Perhaps it's the black stage clothes that do it - I think I'm going to turn Goth - then I won't be such a wuss.

Bamboo Update

I have been a bit remiss in not showing off my lovely new Stitch markers - bought from the etsy shop of Pierre the Yarn Snob. Here they are at the beginnings of Green Gable, sharing the glory with the new Knitpick interchangeables. The shiny cotton yarn and the pointy, pointy tips of the circulars are giving my fingertips a right good work-out. I'll either have to switch to continental knitting or develop some calluses soon.

Ever the fickle knitting consumer I was quite excited to hear on David's latest podcast about bamboo circular interchangeable needle sets. I am very tempted as they fit into a knit neat little carry case "about the size of a PDA". The Knitpick case I have is a solid item about the size of a small dictionary so I can see the commuter potential of the Bamboo.

Speaking of Bamboo I was impressed by the number of patterns in the new IK Spring collection that used Bamboo yarn. The issue features yarns like Classic Elite Bam Boo, Berroco Bonsai, Austermann Bambou Soft, Tahki Bali, and Alchemy Yarns Bamboo as well as some lovely patterns from designers like Eunny Jang, Norah Gaughan, Joan Mcgowan-Michael and Stefanie Japel. (Don't know about the thong though) I just hope my subscription copy arrives here before next Spring.

I like to sing, I like to knit

This is Miss Fee (newly blogged) and me admiring the lovely rainbow effects of "I Like to Sing", starring the lovely Justine Clark of Playschool fame. Fiona took a break from her current Gold Coast project to design this little gem of toddler entertainment. Her Rainy Day Umbrella is a wonderful creation.


We are each holding our current knitting projects - Fiona has a Jo Sharp striped top and I am swatching Green Gables. I think I will have ample opportunity to work on all my knitting because I have three shows a day to operate. The good news is that they're only on the weekend, the bad news is they coincide with all the local knitting groups.


My Stash-Along is going well - I have finished the Inknitter top and only have to block and sew up the side seams to complete. In the process I was reminded why I should use a loose cast-off for the neckline. Thank goodness for Montse Stanley.


Because this project is nearly finished the topic of Blocking is uppermost in my mind. Grumperina has an interesting post about "at which point does one block a handknit sweater project?" while Julie has shown the wonders that can be achieved with a judicious stretch. I will take them both into consideration when I find the time and space to block both Krista and this top.


Janette says the new Rowan Book is out and even though I am on a yarn diet it doesn't mean I can't look and drool. I especially like the Bamboo Tape Collection - the asymetrical designs are quite appealing.

2007 ufo's

The next stage. To get a realistic picture of my Stash and projects I have done an audit of my UFO's - some which date back several years.
It is interesting to see how my pattern preferences have developed, even in the short time since 2003 when I had my 'renaissance' back into knitting.

Paton's Zhivago - a large wrap in basketweave stitch that is so, so close to finishing. Reason for stopping? It's Boring!! Endless rows of K3P3 with a little diversion of garter stitch for the collar. If I had a long plane journey or the complete Season 3 of Deadwood to watch at one sitting maybe I could complete it.

Rowan Linen Drape cardigan - I love the weight and fall of this brand, I don't like the harsh feel of the yarn as it knits. I have an entire back completed with darts. It would be easy to reproduce this for the front and make a simple shell. Again, it's mindless knitting and I obviously have a short knitting attention span.

The Eki Riva alpaca/silk blend cardigan. I love the yarn and ventured forth on a composite pattern to combine it with a little Mollydale mohair trim. But I didn't do my prepwork. The measurements were wrong, the pattern was wrong and precious hours of knitting time disappeared into the frog pond. I could have been knitting the Zhivago!

Studio Mohair cardigan - I started this April last year in one my favourite yarns from a pattern book I hope to do a lot more from. Only a sleeve to go so the reason for delay? The weather - hot and sticky. Honourable mention goes to the Guild "No Pattern" Cardigan in Shepherd Aran 12ply. This is an on going experimentation in technique and requires a bit more thought and preparation. Maybe the skills I learn from it will prevent any more Eki Riva cardigan disasters.

Last but not least is the pile of variegated Totem 8ply that is destined to become a little woven stitch vest. It's holding my rosewood circulars hostage as a guarantee that it will be finished.

There are other projects that exist in a limbo of potential. The Green Acrylic mix Man's vest that needs a neck adjustment; the lace weight Magenta yarn from Rubi & Lana's; the rainbow mohair yarn that made it all the way to a completed garment only to be summarily frogged soon after. Bring on the cooler weather and oh, what progress will be made (hopefully).

2007 projects

In a vain attempt to be organised I've gathered together all the front pages of my 2007 projects and put them in a ring-binder. I have the yarn and the patterns standing by and all I need is the time and opportunity.
Here is a gallery of bashful models to show off these potentials. (look at the camera dear! - Look at moy, look at moy)

If this hot, sticky weather continues the next on the needles is Green Gables in Classic Elite Provence. A top-down creation from Zephyr Style a la Picovoli.

Next we have Pullover Flair by Ann Budd from the Spring 2006 Interweave Knits. I hope to use Cleckheaton Country Silk for this once I sort out the transition from the specified viscose/cotton. This has been in my want-to-do list for some time.

Another long term contender on the wait list is Knitting Pure & Simple's Top Down Cardigan. Some Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool is standing by for this.

Naturally's Merino et Soie yarn for Leo from Knitty.com for my man. I ordered 20 balls of the lovely dark blue shade from the Wool Inn before Christmas and they have it in my "off-site stash".

The Sirdar Cotton top has only the sleeves to go before completion. The Inknitters directions leave a little to be desired. They have a unique terminology that requires several readings before it all makes sense. I've muddled through so far but I'm glad it wasn't a complex pattern.

As well as the aforementioned jumpers I also hope to tackle a pair of socks for the first time - maybe Wendy's toe-up pattern. I have been reading her book and enjoying it. I like the mix of chatter, patterns and techniques. There is also no Knitting 101 - how to knit' section in her book - she takes it for granted that most of her audience can knit garter stitch.

So, there is my 2007 list - all the yarn is in the stash already - in their own little project bags with a working copy of the pattern. I hope this time, next year, I can look back at this post with satisfaction.

Dinosaur Stomp

A Torosaurus and baby T-Rex

Last Wednesday, matinee day for most theatres, we became a paper audience. Just by being in the right place at the right time we saw two spectacular shows that needed "bums on seats".

In the morning we saw Walking with Dinosaurs. Based on the original BBC television series it features teams of puppeteers and drivers operating life-size dinosaurs prowling around the arena in a hazy atmosphere created with a minimalist set, inflatable plants and palm trees and very effective lighting.

Brachiosaurus was the tallest, Ankylosaurus the most armoured and the T-rex the most 'maternal' for a roaring, 14 metres tall, 5 tonne monster.

These beasties were Life size and Loud, the detail of the skin and facial features was precise and their movements were fluid and lifelike. A few children were frightened - more by the sound effects and atmospherics, but most of the audience was enthralled.

It is an impressive Australian production with all 15 mechanically-driven dinosaurs being built locally and it is set to tour worldwide at the end of the Australian season. I hope it does very, very, well. It was a professional, well produced show that wasn't subject to the usual excesses of many arena events.

The Lost and Found Orchestra, on the other hand, was an entertaining show burdened by an oversize rig and a complicated set. I may be a little biased because I spent several days working on the show and was probably too familiar with it, but it seemed to lack the energy of the first Stomp production I worked on.

The end result of all the hardware and scaffolding in the air was fairly pedestrian. The word was that they were trialling it for an American tour - how off-Broadway can you get? For a supposedly touring rig it took a long time bumping in, it was fiddly to rehearse and it's going to take a lot to get out.

That's the trouble with giving tickets to people like me - we spend more time staring at the rig and the set than we do enjoying the performance! Oh well, Busman's Holiday ....

Have you any wool?

Yes Sir! 15 bags full, in fact!

These are all piled high on my front verandah at the moment, courtesy of a school that has a flock of sheep. I was contacted by a local resident whose husband does maintenance at the school and he came by in his ute and dropped them off.

Hopefully I can find a good home for them all as I am not a spinner. David has one bag and a few of the Spinning crowd at the Guild have offered to take a few more. If you live in the Sydney area and would like a bag of mixed-breed fleece, fresh off the sheep's back, drop me a line.
Baa Baa......

(3 gone, 12 to go!)

Rubi & Lana's

Left to Right: Meg, David, Paula, Sally, Jenny, Mandy.

Despite cancelled trains and wayward buses I managed to work my way to Rubi and Lana's in Gordon to find a goodly lot of knitters enjoying Paula's hospitality.
Sally was there with her stylish new knitting bag full of pockets, compartments and trays. We came to the conclusion that it may have started its life as a professional makeup bag but it has a much more useful purpose now. Sally was also wearing a lovely ruffle edged shrug she designed in Rowan Tapestry Patons SWS. The yarn has a delicate colorway reminiscent of Noro but with a much softer feel to it. I am going to put it on my potentials list. Mandy came to the group for the first time, showing off a lovely mohair jumper that was an explosion of colour and texture.

Podcaster David was swatching some soft Alpaca yarn for a vest and bought along his beautiful Fairisle Torino sweater. He also has Sapporo in the pipeline apparently.

Jenwren also made her first visit to R&L. She was in town for her niece's birthday and just happened to read on This Very Blog that there was a knitting meet in the morning. Draped over the table is her newly completed Icarus shawl in Mollydale Silk. She and Meg were both working on RPM .the same sock pattern - the name of which escapes me as I am not Sock Literate. There was much talk of toe-up techniques and heel turns but much of it went right over my head. One day I might cross over to the Sock Side as I have seen their power - even against the might of financial institutions.

This is the last meeting at R&L for January but there are other things in the planning stage such as a knitting at Opera in the Domain on Sat 27 January and an excursion to knitsibs in the Mountains in February.

It's too darn hot!

It doesn't seem right that yesterday it was 26C in Sydney city and 33C up here in the mountains! It is supposed to be cooler up here dammit - that's one of the reason we moved.

We're going to pack up for the day and high-tail it down to those cool sea breezes. This means I can also fit in a long overdue visit to the Saturday Rubi & Lana's meet at 10am tomorrow. Win, win.

Look what I got in the mail today - the latest Vogue Knitting! This makes up for the one I didn't get last year. Despite this I'm not going to renew. I'll vet each edition at my local newsagents as they arrive. It should be noted that the amount of knitting related literature at said newsagent has increased tenfold - even when you count the Creative Knitting/Simply Knitting clone.

The knitting in the picture is the progress I have made on the Rainbow cotton top from Inknitters mag. I did have a progress bar in the sidebar but that got eliminated by the Blogger upgrade. More housework.
The Sirdar Luxury Cotton is nice to work with, not as soft as the ecoyarn pakucho but it has a nice firm definition. I'm swatching the Noro Kureyon at the same time and it feels so rough in comparison. I'm wondering if the finished garment is going to be as scritchy as the swatch.

Blogger!

Well, Blogger! - I gave in to the nagging that Blogger was doing and went across to the other side. Now I've lost all my sidebar buttons. I thought I had been careful and saved all the code but they're all over the place. I will have to go searching for them.

I've found the code now I have to get the buttons. And the web album link - what else did I lose?

Here be Dragons

What with work and School Holiday responsibilities I haven't been able to get much knitting in. I've been carrying it around with me in my bag in the vain hope that I might get a row done in the commute down to the city and back but as it's all been car travel not much is happening.
In my capacity as Designated Entertainment Officer on our last city trip we went to the Powerhouse Museum. This is a place with which the family is well acquainted and which had a homely familiarity to it.

I had a very pleasant surprise on this visit to find that someone has given the interesting but slightly tired exhibits a total Son et Lumiere makeover.
The Transport Room, home of the Catalina Flying boat, the Dick Smith Rozier-type balloon and a lovely Steam train, is now transformed into a magical experience. It even has Dragons!

He's just a few months old according to Scott, the cryptozoologist who was guiding the tour, but he's very friendly.
There he is in the top picture hiding behind the 1243 engine. Then he hears the tour calling and comes rushing past the old Central Station Indicator Board to get a snack of Ming Vase scraps.
He's a minevore or mineral eater and as he's only a young Draglet he isn't up to eating large jade sculptures yet. They're taking good care of him at the museum and let him wander around browsing on the odd door handle and escalator. This does lead to a few embarrassing Dragon droppings but nothing that can't be cleaned up. He's very social, very friendly and loves kids.

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top...

Helter Skelter - 3 days of it, but I got through. The White Album was great to listen to though tricky to light at times. What do you do when you have a black stage and the muso's are wearing black clothes? You light the ceiling!

The Concert Hall is an incongruous performance space - big white ceiling and a brown stage, great for orchestral performances but not great for mood lighting. Sound mixing in this big cavernous 'live' room is also a challenge apparently.

Even though I was stressing about the show before Christmas it all came true - as always. The day I get so blase about a show that I don't stress out is the day I stop doing it.

My favourite Aussie actor/singer, John Waters, was the stand out performer in my humble opinion. He gave a very professional show and didn't balk when I asked him for a groupie shot.

The show itself was a bit of a Parson's Breakfast (that's a mixed metaphor BTW) as was the audience. Some people complained it was too loud, others said they couldn't feel the bass. Considering the ages ranged from 8 to 80 I'm not surprised.