weaving stories
October 21, 2024 4:34 PM Subscribe
free thread! Ada Lovelace wrote of early computing “The Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns, just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.” [scienceandindustrymuseum] do you weave, knit (or are you a fan of knitting), fabric, or theory? or, write about whatever you wish, it's your free thread 🧵free thread🧵
I’m reading Blood in the Machine by Brian Merchant and it’s a fascinating history of the Industrial Revolution and the Luddites and how automated textile manufacturing disrupted labour and society at the time similarly to how the internet, AI, etc. are today. It’s a long book, and I’m less than halfway through it, but already I recommend.
posted by eekernohan at 4:59 PM on October 21, 2024 [8 favorites]
posted by eekernohan at 4:59 PM on October 21, 2024 [8 favorites]
I'm a Professional Knitter and Crocheter. My wife and I own and operate a yarn shop in Asheville, NC. This is typically our crazy busy retail season, with a big fiber festival and leaf-season tourists everywhere. I spent the spring illustrating a new Tarot deck based on cryptids doing fibercrafts, and was going to debut it at the fiber show. Of course, Helene happened and all that got cancelled. It was the least of our worries in the early days as we were completely cut off at first, and then got just enough cell service to start texting people and trying to make sure our community members were okay.
Because the retail part is just an excuse to get stitchers together, make friends, do creative stuff and make wonderful things. We salvaged what we could from the fridge and freezer, we used water sparingly from the many pitchers and pots and tub we'd filled (I'd never filled the tub before, and thank goodness I did--several people have said the same). We played board games when it was light and listened to what little information was available on the radio. And we texted people whose numbers we had, and got them to text people whose numbers they had. Everyone was okay, though a few lost homes, art studios, or farms. We made plans to get my mother-in-law and 22-year-old son out to better places, one of the Interstates reopened and we could evacuate them.
That morning, a week after the storm, we first got enough cell signal to load apps and see that we had 4 online orders to fill. I was able to get to the store and confirm that it was undamaged, though without water or power, and I stopped at the downtown post office, which was open. So I posted online that we were able to fulfill online orders in case anyone wanted to throw some business our way. When I dropped off the family in Charlotte, I noticed that we had a few more orders--actually, no, a couple HUNDRED new orders. For us, a dozen online orders in a month is about all we expect.
Going viral (even in a small-ish fiber-world way) is weird. Filling all those orders while everything was still chaotic was weird (though our nerd-night stitch group chipped in to help). I cried more than once. I said goodbye to my kid and bought weeks worth of food and gas and immediately went into order-fulfillment mode. It was crazy. But generous people made up for our missing fall sales and more. People donated to the people we knew who had lost so much. People donated gift cards for locals to use for free yarn just as a pick-me-up. My customers get teary-eyed when we tell them it's covered.
We've been able to pivot and make more space for gathering, and host more stitch groups that have been displaced. It's brought us together even closer. People have told me we're like family, and that's what it feels like. We never wanted to be capitalists, we wanted to be friends. And it worked. It's been a weird month. I hope this is the last disaster of the year.
posted by rikschell at 5:05 PM on October 21, 2024 [68 favorites]
Because the retail part is just an excuse to get stitchers together, make friends, do creative stuff and make wonderful things. We salvaged what we could from the fridge and freezer, we used water sparingly from the many pitchers and pots and tub we'd filled (I'd never filled the tub before, and thank goodness I did--several people have said the same). We played board games when it was light and listened to what little information was available on the radio. And we texted people whose numbers we had, and got them to text people whose numbers they had. Everyone was okay, though a few lost homes, art studios, or farms. We made plans to get my mother-in-law and 22-year-old son out to better places, one of the Interstates reopened and we could evacuate them.
That morning, a week after the storm, we first got enough cell signal to load apps and see that we had 4 online orders to fill. I was able to get to the store and confirm that it was undamaged, though without water or power, and I stopped at the downtown post office, which was open. So I posted online that we were able to fulfill online orders in case anyone wanted to throw some business our way. When I dropped off the family in Charlotte, I noticed that we had a few more orders--actually, no, a couple HUNDRED new orders. For us, a dozen online orders in a month is about all we expect.
Going viral (even in a small-ish fiber-world way) is weird. Filling all those orders while everything was still chaotic was weird (though our nerd-night stitch group chipped in to help). I cried more than once. I said goodbye to my kid and bought weeks worth of food and gas and immediately went into order-fulfillment mode. It was crazy. But generous people made up for our missing fall sales and more. People donated to the people we knew who had lost so much. People donated gift cards for locals to use for free yarn just as a pick-me-up. My customers get teary-eyed when we tell them it's covered.
We've been able to pivot and make more space for gathering, and host more stitch groups that have been displaced. It's brought us together even closer. People have told me we're like family, and that's what it feels like. We never wanted to be capitalists, we wanted to be friends. And it worked. It's been a weird month. I hope this is the last disaster of the year.
posted by rikschell at 5:05 PM on October 21, 2024 [68 favorites]
this is crochet erasure
posted by Jacqueline at 5:42 PM on October 21, 2024 [10 favorites]
posted by Jacqueline at 5:42 PM on October 21, 2024 [10 favorites]
Thank you for the thread and links.
I do knit (and, on preview - thanks, Jacqueline - crochet), but at the moment I am cross-stitching a commercial kit (Etsy, anyway) with a picture of Richard III. I'm doing it rather obsessively to get through things. My father has Alzheimer's and was admitted to hospital as an emergency a bit over a week ago. The care there has not been good, nor has the lack of diagnosis or treatment. We were about to put a complaint in about various things, including lack of oversight on the ward and seeming lack of expertise in dealing with dementia. Then he fell last night and broke his hip. He had lung surgery ten years ago which resulted in post-operative delirium and him escaping from the hospital in the middle of the night, so the thought of another operation is not reassuring or likely to be great for his cognitive outcomes. He's gone from being able to send complex texts about Goya three weeks ago, and walk miles as long as accompanied by interesting conversation, to being unable to stand or walk, in intense pain and incredibly confused. I am angry with the hospital and with myself - I know the research and stats for older people in hospital, I knew they weren't treating him well and I was complicit in this happening. To put the lid on it, I caught COVID at the hospital (they have an outbreak) so can't even go to see him.
Sorry, that is a rant. The upside is it has taken me back to cross-stitch. Here's the link to R III. She has some other good ones too. I rather like the dung beetles one. And the all-day breakfast. The ones of modern royals are rather revolting though.
posted by paduasoy at 5:59 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
I do knit (and, on preview - thanks, Jacqueline - crochet), but at the moment I am cross-stitching a commercial kit (Etsy, anyway) with a picture of Richard III. I'm doing it rather obsessively to get through things. My father has Alzheimer's and was admitted to hospital as an emergency a bit over a week ago. The care there has not been good, nor has the lack of diagnosis or treatment. We were about to put a complaint in about various things, including lack of oversight on the ward and seeming lack of expertise in dealing with dementia. Then he fell last night and broke his hip. He had lung surgery ten years ago which resulted in post-operative delirium and him escaping from the hospital in the middle of the night, so the thought of another operation is not reassuring or likely to be great for his cognitive outcomes. He's gone from being able to send complex texts about Goya three weeks ago, and walk miles as long as accompanied by interesting conversation, to being unable to stand or walk, in intense pain and incredibly confused. I am angry with the hospital and with myself - I know the research and stats for older people in hospital, I knew they weren't treating him well and I was complicit in this happening. To put the lid on it, I caught COVID at the hospital (they have an outbreak) so can't even go to see him.
Sorry, that is a rant. The upside is it has taken me back to cross-stitch. Here's the link to R III. She has some other good ones too. I rather like the dung beetles one. And the all-day breakfast. The ones of modern royals are rather revolting though.
posted by paduasoy at 5:59 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
To redress the crochet balance a bit - here's a top I made for one of my nieces recently. I think it looks rather Art Deco laid out like this. The pattern's on Ravelry, it's called Summer Bralette.
posted by paduasoy at 6:07 PM on October 21, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by paduasoy at 6:07 PM on October 21, 2024 [4 favorites]
okay then, how about Jo Hamilton's crochet art?
Also: How to Knit a Popular History of Media, by Kristen Haring.
I had coffee with a local mefite this morning, then rode all the way home on my ebike up the Lower Don Trail, Taylor Creek trail (I'd forgotten about the fords, but it must've been 20 years since I've been on that trail) and Warden Woods. It was such a perfect day!
And here is the Enormous Wellesley Estate Sale, which I think has a picture of everything ever made, all in one house
Oh, oh, oh — and this hits so many of my nerd centres at once: nevesnunes/z80-sans: OpenType font that disassembles Z80 instructions. Any pair of lower-case hex digits represented in this OTF font is disassembled as it it were Z80 opcodes! Your word processor/graphics program will likely display the font name as "ZADD B,C Sans" because it's disassembling the 0x80 in its own name ...
posted by scruss at 6:12 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
Also: How to Knit a Popular History of Media, by Kristen Haring.
I had coffee with a local mefite this morning, then rode all the way home on my ebike up the Lower Don Trail, Taylor Creek trail (I'd forgotten about the fords, but it must've been 20 years since I've been on that trail) and Warden Woods. It was such a perfect day!
And here is the Enormous Wellesley Estate Sale, which I think has a picture of everything ever made, all in one house
Oh, oh, oh — and this hits so many of my nerd centres at once: nevesnunes/z80-sans: OpenType font that disassembles Z80 instructions. Any pair of lower-case hex digits represented in this OTF font is disassembled as it it were Z80 opcodes! Your word processor/graphics program will likely display the font name as "ZADD B,C Sans" because it's disassembling the 0x80 in its own name ...
posted by scruss at 6:12 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
I expect that my current project, a game made from dioramas, will require some machine-woven textiles for rugs. I am saving those for later in the process, since I think a single tapestry of the minimum size will handle every rug in the game and then some. But there might be some lead time, so I should probably start some time in the next month or two.
posted by novalis_dt at 6:33 PM on October 21, 2024 [10 favorites]
posted by novalis_dt at 6:33 PM on October 21, 2024 [10 favorites]
I just knit a sock in a new pattern and at the end realised it was far too big. Fortunately having just broken my foot, it fits perfectly over my cast! This week my sewing machine is getting repaired and I will be hemming a stack of napkins.
If you like textiles, pick up Piecework magazine. It is the most delightful magazine and I want a print subscription badly because it’s sort of like National Geographic for textiles.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:44 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
If you like textiles, pick up Piecework magazine. It is the most delightful magazine and I want a print subscription badly because it’s sort of like National Geographic for textiles.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:44 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
hahah, that Higgs bozo (TERF-in-chief of New Brunswick) just got turfed from office. He previously had a 30-16 majority, but now his party's the one with 16 seats.
posted by scruss at 6:51 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
posted by scruss at 6:51 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
Novalis_dt I am floored by your project, that is absolutely incredible.
posted by lemonade at 7:08 PM on October 21, 2024 [3 favorites]
posted by lemonade at 7:08 PM on October 21, 2024 [3 favorites]
When I was 7 or 8 my mother took my brother and me along with her to the textile museum in Lyon. My brother was done with the museum in ten minutes, but he liked the silk paintings of fat ponies.
I sat in front of a 16th or 17th century loom, in dark wood, and followed the path of the thread, up un down, across and across again, and I felt my brain grow as I UNDERSTOOD mechanics and the beauty of the art of making.
That moment stayed forever.
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 7:34 PM on October 21, 2024 [16 favorites]
I sat in front of a 16th or 17th century loom, in dark wood, and followed the path of the thread, up un down, across and across again, and I felt my brain grow as I UNDERSTOOD mechanics and the beauty of the art of making.
That moment stayed forever.
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 7:34 PM on October 21, 2024 [16 favorites]
How about listening to a logic piano while weaving those algebraic patterns?
posted by credulous at 7:34 PM on October 21, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by credulous at 7:34 PM on October 21, 2024 [1 favorite]
My wife is currently crocheting her third baby blanket for our upcoming third grandchild.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:36 PM on October 21, 2024 [6 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:36 PM on October 21, 2024 [6 favorites]
I'm updating my "be gay, find primes" cross-stitch pattern with the new largest known prime!
posted by yomimono at 8:56 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
posted by yomimono at 8:56 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
+1 for Blood in the Machine! It's absolutely wild that today we mockingly call people "luddites", but the historical Luddites were literal heroes of their time. From the book's description:
posted by lock robster at 10:30 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
The most urgent story in modern tech begins not in Silicon Valley but two hundred years ago in rural England, when workers known as the Luddites rose up rather than starve at the hands of factory owners who were using automated machines to erase their livelihoods.How it all plays out is fascinating and tragic and oh-so-relevant to our AI-obsessed times.
The Luddites organized guerrilla raids to smash those machines—on punishment of death—and won the support of Lord Byron, enraged the Prince Regent, and inspired the birth of science fiction. This all-but-forgotten class struggle brought nineteenth-century England to its knees.
posted by lock robster at 10:30 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]
Many years ago I made a post about the strange story of Gef the Mongoose. My interest in this odd and angry little cryptid has continued and last Xmas my youngest daughter gave me a Gef she had crocheted herself.
He's accompanied me on my various misadventures this year - here he is telling Alan Turning to not eat that bloody apple.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 10:48 PM on October 21, 2024 [4 favorites]
He's accompanied me on my various misadventures this year - here he is telling Alan Turning to not eat that bloody apple.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 10:48 PM on October 21, 2024 [4 favorites]
I'm fairly good with a sewing machine, but don't use it that much; mostly when something rips I'll just get out a needle and thread to repair it. We have a Singer Featherweight from the 1940s which is the greatest sewing machine ever. There's a shop in town that actually repairs sewing machines and they serviced it and it runs like new.
My grandma, however, knit constantly. When my brother and I were young, we were both gifted knit sweaters, both of which were slightly too small for us and were horribly itchy but we were obligated to wear them to one or two family events until we blessedly grew out of them. Grandma mostly made baby blankets as gifts; I have the one from when my daughter was a newborn. I also have a very large afghan she made in the early 80s, which I think I got as packing material in a box when I moved out of the house, and it is very ratty and has lots of pulled out loops, and it was the dog blanket for a while, but it is clean and washed and in a closet right now. Grandma passed away this spring.
Film student update: after all the acting last year, I decided that I really don't need to act any more because my schedule is so full of other stuff.
So, of course I acted in a short film last weekend (a homeless man 'robs' a bank to get thrown into jail to stay out of the cold) and will be acting again this Friday (a really real story about porn-bombing Hitler in WWII). If someone specifically asks me to help, it's hard to say no.
But my class project finally gets to film this Wednesday and Friday too. We found a star of our film, about a young adult slowly spiralling into panic attack after a bad day, who is the same guy who I acted with last Fall, wherein his character threw me up against some kitchen cabinets and threatened to stab me with a fork.
The independent film that wrapped filming last weekend is in editing mode now; they were waiting on me because I was syncing sound and doing file management (renaming by scene, camera, and take) of the 300+ takes, so my part is done unless they have questions or problems with files. Aside from camera B (not my camera) having something on the lens for an entire day of shooting, it's looking like we did a good job overall and I'm anxious to see a rough cut.
Tonight is an informational meeting on the 48 Hour Film Project event at school for this year -- in mid-November teams are randomly chosen, film prompts that must be included in the final product are handed out, and we've got 48 hours to write, produce, film, and edit a 7-minute short film. Last year I was aware of the Project but had never done it before; this year I'll know what I'm doing. Last year wasn't bad -- we got 2nd place in the 'local' ranking -- so hopefully I'll be on the #1 team this year.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:34 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
My grandma, however, knit constantly. When my brother and I were young, we were both gifted knit sweaters, both of which were slightly too small for us and were horribly itchy but we were obligated to wear them to one or two family events until we blessedly grew out of them. Grandma mostly made baby blankets as gifts; I have the one from when my daughter was a newborn. I also have a very large afghan she made in the early 80s, which I think I got as packing material in a box when I moved out of the house, and it is very ratty and has lots of pulled out loops, and it was the dog blanket for a while, but it is clean and washed and in a closet right now. Grandma passed away this spring.
Film student update: after all the acting last year, I decided that I really don't need to act any more because my schedule is so full of other stuff.
So, of course I acted in a short film last weekend (a homeless man 'robs' a bank to get thrown into jail to stay out of the cold) and will be acting again this Friday (a really real story about porn-bombing Hitler in WWII). If someone specifically asks me to help, it's hard to say no.
But my class project finally gets to film this Wednesday and Friday too. We found a star of our film, about a young adult slowly spiralling into panic attack after a bad day, who is the same guy who I acted with last Fall, wherein his character threw me up against some kitchen cabinets and threatened to stab me with a fork.
The independent film that wrapped filming last weekend is in editing mode now; they were waiting on me because I was syncing sound and doing file management (renaming by scene, camera, and take) of the 300+ takes, so my part is done unless they have questions or problems with files. Aside from camera B (not my camera) having something on the lens for an entire day of shooting, it's looking like we did a good job overall and I'm anxious to see a rough cut.
Tonight is an informational meeting on the 48 Hour Film Project event at school for this year -- in mid-November teams are randomly chosen, film prompts that must be included in the final product are handed out, and we've got 48 hours to write, produce, film, and edit a 7-minute short film. Last year I was aware of the Project but had never done it before; this year I'll know what I'm doing. Last year wasn't bad -- we got 2nd place in the 'local' ranking -- so hopefully I'll be on the #1 team this year.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:34 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
This Friday, I will be spending the night in the community house of the Oneida group. These are the folks who, in the mid 1800s, practiced something called complex marriage. This is where all members of the commune were married to everyone else, and were expected to have sex with everyone else as well.
Although the enterprise only lasted for 30 years, it did succeed in producing a very successful business, Oneida community flatware, whose manufacturing equipment is still in use.
I have been researching the community prior to my overnight visit and I’m frankly quite shocked by some of the attitudes expressed in a book about their endeavors. Of the many utopian groups formed, only the Shakers and Oneidas had any real success or durability.
The old Community House, designed and built by commune members, contains many of their artistic expressions, including enormous wall hangings made from braided fabric scraps. These have faded and are actually somewhat ugly, I’ve never seen anything like them.
Ultimately public outrage over Oneida attitudes caused the founder and leader, a Mr. Noyes, to flee to Niagara Falls after which the commune shifted focus to business only, continuing to produce stainless flatware well into the twentieth century.
I’ll roam around the halls and spaces where these rather kinky people did their thing, and touring tunnels, towers and a cemetery. Should be fun.
posted by kinnakeet at 7:11 AM on October 22, 2024 [6 favorites]
Although the enterprise only lasted for 30 years, it did succeed in producing a very successful business, Oneida community flatware, whose manufacturing equipment is still in use.
I have been researching the community prior to my overnight visit and I’m frankly quite shocked by some of the attitudes expressed in a book about their endeavors. Of the many utopian groups formed, only the Shakers and Oneidas had any real success or durability.
The old Community House, designed and built by commune members, contains many of their artistic expressions, including enormous wall hangings made from braided fabric scraps. These have faded and are actually somewhat ugly, I’ve never seen anything like them.
Ultimately public outrage over Oneida attitudes caused the founder and leader, a Mr. Noyes, to flee to Niagara Falls after which the commune shifted focus to business only, continuing to produce stainless flatware well into the twentieth century.
I’ll roam around the halls and spaces where these rather kinky people did their thing, and touring tunnels, towers and a cemetery. Should be fun.
posted by kinnakeet at 7:11 AM on October 22, 2024 [6 favorites]
My wife is currently crocheting her third baby blanket for our upcoming third grandchild.
That's a lot of blankets for one kid...
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:07 AM on October 22, 2024 [3 favorites]
That's a lot of blankets for one kid...
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:07 AM on October 22, 2024 [3 favorites]
I cross-stitch. I like really complicated designs that take me up to a year (or more) to complete. But I also do small, simple things if the mood strikes.
I generally have two or three projects going at one time.
I even cross-stitched a pumpkin one year for a contest at work.
posted by cooker girl at 8:08 AM on October 22, 2024 [6 favorites]
I generally have two or three projects going at one time.
I even cross-stitched a pumpkin one year for a contest at work.
posted by cooker girl at 8:08 AM on October 22, 2024 [6 favorites]
I can knit, but it is not pretty. I can crochet and it is pretty and functional. My pandemic project was a granny square blanket that was the same color scheme as my grandmother's tv watching blanket. It also took care of so many yarn scraps. I used to have one of those flower looms and I still wonder where it went.
My knitting is so bad that I finally got some of those other looms and have now made slippers and scarfs. I've got a black and red scarf going that is wool and pretty loose right now. I am hoping it tightens up after washing. But it has been "going" since last winter and I have no guarantee it will be done this year either.
We had a weaving unit in junior high art class and we would always finger weave, which was really knitting using your fingers as the loom. I get so captivated by the loom demos at the state fair. There is something magical about going from loose fiber to neat fabric.
posted by soelo at 8:38 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
My knitting is so bad that I finally got some of those other looms and have now made slippers and scarfs. I've got a black and red scarf going that is wool and pretty loose right now. I am hoping it tightens up after washing. But it has been "going" since last winter and I have no guarantee it will be done this year either.
We had a weaving unit in junior high art class and we would always finger weave, which was really knitting using your fingers as the loom. I get so captivated by the loom demos at the state fair. There is something magical about going from loose fiber to neat fabric.
posted by soelo at 8:38 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
illustrating a new Tarot deck based on cryptids doing fibercrafts,
I would like to see this.
the Oneida group. These are the folks who, in the mid 1800s, practiced something called complex marriage. This is where all members of the commune were married to everyone else, and were expected to have sex with everyone else as well.
Except Charles "Gitout!" Guiteau.
I do a lot of textiles, except weaving because looms are large and loud and not portable most of the time. I compulsively knit and crochet because those arts are portable and are basically Legos for clothes. I bring them to shows and work on them in the dark because I hate to sit still and get The Fidgets, but it's a challenge depending on how dark the theater is.
This year I've done two Halloween costumes, some pieces to work on or wear in theater shows (I made one project while IN the show), a scarf for a raffle that someone asked me to make another of since she didn't win it. I spent a lot of time using up my neon yarn stash this year, made a dress and matching sweater for it. Current projects are a Kamala doll, and I'm trying to recreate Oprah's DNC jacket since there's no way I could buy one. I don't really know how to make a blazer, so THAT will be a challenge when I get to that point.
Other life news: I went to MakerFaire last weekend and it was great fun, even has some textile work/crafts going on there. I learned how to make a pin out of fake hair and a felted bunny rabbit.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:13 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
I would like to see this.
the Oneida group. These are the folks who, in the mid 1800s, practiced something called complex marriage. This is where all members of the commune were married to everyone else, and were expected to have sex with everyone else as well.
Except Charles "Gitout!" Guiteau.
I do a lot of textiles, except weaving because looms are large and loud and not portable most of the time. I compulsively knit and crochet because those arts are portable and are basically Legos for clothes. I bring them to shows and work on them in the dark because I hate to sit still and get The Fidgets, but it's a challenge depending on how dark the theater is.
This year I've done two Halloween costumes, some pieces to work on or wear in theater shows (I made one project while IN the show), a scarf for a raffle that someone asked me to make another of since she didn't win it. I spent a lot of time using up my neon yarn stash this year, made a dress and matching sweater for it. Current projects are a Kamala doll, and I'm trying to recreate Oprah's DNC jacket since there's no way I could buy one. I don't really know how to make a blazer, so THAT will be a challenge when I get to that point.
Other life news: I went to MakerFaire last weekend and it was great fun, even has some textile work/crafts going on there. I learned how to make a pin out of fake hair and a felted bunny rabbit.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:13 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
I have managed to knit like crazy for many years without ever getting any good at it. I'm still terrible. I don't care. Now this is mostly because I insist on just picking up the yarn and the needles and knitting without a pattern or a plan and partly because I have adopted a Never Unknit! Keep Going! Damn the Torpedoes! attitude when knitting. Otherwise I get weird and depressed and unknit and reknit the same hat a million times, trying to make it perfect. In fact I'm in this loop right now, sigh.
When charging ahead I generally make somewhat peculiar hats that occasionally even fit humans. I have made one sweater, using an actual pattern, except changing it as I went along because hubris and it emphatically did not fit any humans, although it would have made a good holiday gift for a mountain troll. I have made a lot of scarves and then I go back and embroider wonky flowers around the many holes.
I can't watch TV or movies without something to do with my hands and knitting fits the bill nicely. At the moment I am too busy to watch anything or knit and if I have any free time at all I devote it to Minecraft or unchallenging novels. I'm working full time and taking care of my elderly ill relative with mental health issues and babysitting for my three year old grandchild a lot and living with her and my adult kids and occasionally I manage to walk the dog. Also we're trying again to buy a house to make all of this somewhat more bearable at least space wise or do something, anything to relieve the space pressure. I love my kids. I love my grandchild. I want my own kitchen, damnit, and a little space where I can go home from work and not hear another human voice for a little while, just a little while.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:40 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
When charging ahead I generally make somewhat peculiar hats that occasionally even fit humans. I have made one sweater, using an actual pattern, except changing it as I went along because hubris and it emphatically did not fit any humans, although it would have made a good holiday gift for a mountain troll. I have made a lot of scarves and then I go back and embroider wonky flowers around the many holes.
I can't watch TV or movies without something to do with my hands and knitting fits the bill nicely. At the moment I am too busy to watch anything or knit and if I have any free time at all I devote it to Minecraft or unchallenging novels. I'm working full time and taking care of my elderly ill relative with mental health issues and babysitting for my three year old grandchild a lot and living with her and my adult kids and occasionally I manage to walk the dog. Also we're trying again to buy a house to make all of this somewhat more bearable at least space wise or do something, anything to relieve the space pressure. I love my kids. I love my grandchild. I want my own kitchen, damnit, and a little space where I can go home from work and not hear another human voice for a little while, just a little while.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:40 AM on October 22, 2024 [5 favorites]
I'm pretty handy with a Speedy Stitcher - repairing outerwear, boat canvas, modifying camera bags, etc. I sew some web strap with a carabiner into my knapsacks as a secure place for keys. I can usually do a basic OK job with a sewing machine.
posted by Artful Codger at 12:02 PM on October 22, 2024 [3 favorites]
posted by Artful Codger at 12:02 PM on October 22, 2024 [3 favorites]
I have a 1960s Singer Canada machine that's missing the needle clamp. Can seem to find anywhere locally (Toronto) that I could find a replacement. I suspect this is one job that bodging a 3d-printed replacement would not be much use for.
posted by scruss at 1:06 PM on October 22, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 1:06 PM on October 22, 2024 [1 favorite]
illustrating a new Tarot deck based on cryptids doing fibercrafts,
I would like to see this.
Since you requested, if it's okay to self-link, you can see some here.
posted by rikschell at 1:18 PM on October 22, 2024 [7 favorites]
I would like to see this.
Since you requested, if it's okay to self-link, you can see some here.
posted by rikschell at 1:18 PM on October 22, 2024 [7 favorites]
I also need to have my hands busy at all times which is partly why I picked up crochet again. My current project is a temperature snake for my son's first year, crocheted a few rounds at time as he naps. I'm about 4 months in and it's already exciting watching the changing seasons - I live in a fairly temperate climate so I was worried there wouldn't be enough range in temperature to make an interesting snake but so far that's not the case.
posted by toebeans at 1:47 PM on October 22, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by toebeans at 1:47 PM on October 22, 2024 [4 favorites]
I love the cryptid deck! That's so creative and cute!
I also love the idea of a temperature snake. I've done scarves and a temperature cross stitch, but wouldn't mind new temperature options.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:16 AM on October 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
I also love the idea of a temperature snake. I've done scarves and a temperature cross stitch, but wouldn't mind new temperature options.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:16 AM on October 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
A snake is such a good idea! Those blankets look so intimidating. I've done embroidery maps of the US and Europe to document my trips. I also like those daily icon projects.
posted by soelo at 9:09 AM on October 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by soelo at 9:09 AM on October 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
Cross stitch is my jam, but I have not done much of it this year. I miss it and I need to start it back up. Maybe this weekend.
Low stakes office drama! The offfice switched food vendors recently and part of the process was the replacement of the coffee machines. So yesterday the new vendor swapped out the old Flavia machines (which made something for everyone - coffee, tea and hot chocolate) for fancy new industrial Nespresso machines (which only brew coffee and dispense hot water and use a Very Specific Pod that cannot be replicated).
The new vendor offers 8 different strengths of coffee but did not see fit to provide packets of hot chocolate or tea bags for the employees who don't drink coffee.
Punchline - there are two fancier machines that support hot chocolate making coffee-from-beans. Both of them are already broken.
People are NOT HAPPY. Some of them are taking it out on the office barista, who had no control over the replacements and has fielded a lot of complaints in the past 24 hours. She has already pulled tea packets from the coffee bar and distributed them to stations all over the building as a short term solution (because she is a lovely human being).
Friday morning is vaccines day - flu, covid and shingles. Yes I am insane, but I already know each of them individually is going to make me feel terrible, so I might as well get them all done at once. I'm also due for a tetanus shot, but that will have to wait a couple of weeks.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:36 AM on October 23, 2024 [3 favorites]
Low stakes office drama! The offfice switched food vendors recently and part of the process was the replacement of the coffee machines. So yesterday the new vendor swapped out the old Flavia machines (which made something for everyone - coffee, tea and hot chocolate) for fancy new industrial Nespresso machines (which only brew coffee and dispense hot water and use a Very Specific Pod that cannot be replicated).
The new vendor offers 8 different strengths of coffee but did not see fit to provide packets of hot chocolate or tea bags for the employees who don't drink coffee.
Punchline - there are two fancier machines that support hot chocolate making coffee-from-beans. Both of them are already broken.
People are NOT HAPPY. Some of them are taking it out on the office barista, who had no control over the replacements and has fielded a lot of complaints in the past 24 hours. She has already pulled tea packets from the coffee bar and distributed them to stations all over the building as a short term solution (because she is a lovely human being).
Friday morning is vaccines day - flu, covid and shingles. Yes I am insane, but I already know each of them individually is going to make me feel terrible, so I might as well get them all done at once. I'm also due for a tetanus shot, but that will have to wait a couple of weeks.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:36 AM on October 23, 2024 [3 favorites]
As late as fall is this year for us (we've had two 80 degree days this week already) I am still in hot tea drinking mode. We have 4-5 Keurigs in the break room but I have bad experiences using public ones for tea or chocolate because it all tastes like coffee and smells like coffee. Luckily, we have one labeled for hot water only now and I use that thing 3 times a day. I got a pumpkin chai latte on Monday from Caribou and it tasted like coffee until the last third where it was so sweet I had to throw it away. I am sticking to cinnamon tea with a vanilla shot if I order something hot in the morning.
posted by soelo at 9:59 AM on October 23, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by soelo at 9:59 AM on October 23, 2024 [1 favorite]
Friday morning is vaccines day - flu, covid and shingles
At first I thought "agh, are you nuts??" But then I remembered that I deliberately spaced out my flu and covid shots on separate consecutive Fridays, and as a consequence felt lousy for two weeks running. So...good plan!
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:11 PM on October 23, 2024 [1 favorite]
At first I thought "agh, are you nuts??" But then I remembered that I deliberately spaced out my flu and covid shots on separate consecutive Fridays, and as a consequence felt lousy for two weeks running. So...good plan!
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:11 PM on October 23, 2024 [1 favorite]
At first I thought "agh, are you nuts??"
Well, you are not wrong there. I am a bit odd. Like today, I wore red tights with black velvety bats as an early homage to Halloween. (Snag tights in case anyone is interested. Highly recommend. Last year they did an advent calendar and I ended up with tights for every holiday plus My Little Pony themed ones for every day wear and a pair of hot pink fishnets that will never see the light of day, unless I put them over the My Little Pony tights).
But I’ve also felt like utter trash after the flu and covid shots and I’ve heard that the shingles is terrible as well, so I might as well get it all out of the way at once. Spouse has been warned that I will be utterly useless this weekend. My plan is to sweat it out with tea, ibuprofen and questionable movies. I missed the window to pick up Practical Magic at $4.99, which I’m kind of irked over. I’ll have to settle for questionable teen romances from the 90’s to keep my mind off my discomfort. I might even move off the bed to the couch and throw The Matchmaker into the DVD player. (I LOVE that freaking film. The scene where the women get drunk and angry dance on a car to Space’s “The Female of the Species” brings me joy).
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:26 PM on October 23, 2024 [4 favorites]
Well, you are not wrong there. I am a bit odd. Like today, I wore red tights with black velvety bats as an early homage to Halloween. (Snag tights in case anyone is interested. Highly recommend. Last year they did an advent calendar and I ended up with tights for every holiday plus My Little Pony themed ones for every day wear and a pair of hot pink fishnets that will never see the light of day, unless I put them over the My Little Pony tights).
But I’ve also felt like utter trash after the flu and covid shots and I’ve heard that the shingles is terrible as well, so I might as well get it all out of the way at once. Spouse has been warned that I will be utterly useless this weekend. My plan is to sweat it out with tea, ibuprofen and questionable movies. I missed the window to pick up Practical Magic at $4.99, which I’m kind of irked over. I’ll have to settle for questionable teen romances from the 90’s to keep my mind off my discomfort. I might even move off the bed to the couch and throw The Matchmaker into the DVD player. (I LOVE that freaking film. The scene where the women get drunk and angry dance on a car to Space’s “The Female of the Species” brings me joy).
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:26 PM on October 23, 2024 [4 favorites]
I didn't react to the updated Covid booster like I usually do, and anecdotally, no one else I know has, either. Maybe you'll get lucky and only feel terrible from the shingles shot. Those things are terrible.
posted by cooker girl at 6:19 AM on October 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by cooker girl at 6:19 AM on October 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
I got flu and covid vax same time, and the flu was worse. Where "worse" is like 1 on a scale of 10=laid me out, and the covid was like 0.5. So I had a one slightly sore arm. Hope everyone else has similarly non-eventful symptoms. Get those vax shots.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:21 AM on October 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:21 AM on October 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
cooker girl, the London one, and the flowers!111 Wow.
rikschell, what a great card set!
toebeans, cool snake!
I wish all the people who make stuff here could have a place where we all encourage each other to make stuff. But, I tried it and people lost interest, or were busy, or life happened. I started a large painting a year ago and have not painted much since then. I just realized this may be a thing I have mentioned in many free threads. O_o One day I will have different news.
It's difficult not to be wildly anxious about election things (U.S.). But most days recently I feel slightly and cautiously optimistic. If some people think this is foolish, they are welcome to think so, and may be right, but maybe I am the one who's right!
Nobody is watching the Golden Bachelorette with me in Fanfare. There is some serious sweet elder males bonding stuff going on. Much crying and friendship. It's a feel-good thing, is what I'm saying. A fine place for a brain to wander once a week in these trying times. imo
posted by Glinn at 7:08 AM on October 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
rikschell, what a great card set!
toebeans, cool snake!
I wish all the people who make stuff here could have a place where we all encourage each other to make stuff. But, I tried it and people lost interest, or were busy, or life happened. I started a large painting a year ago and have not painted much since then. I just realized this may be a thing I have mentioned in many free threads. O_o One day I will have different news.
It's difficult not to be wildly anxious about election things (U.S.). But most days recently I feel slightly and cautiously optimistic. If some people think this is foolish, they are welcome to think so, and may be right, but maybe I am the one who's right!
Nobody is watching the Golden Bachelorette with me in Fanfare. There is some serious sweet elder males bonding stuff going on. Much crying and friendship. It's a feel-good thing, is what I'm saying. A fine place for a brain to wander once a week in these trying times. imo
posted by Glinn at 7:08 AM on October 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I was part of the Metacrafts discord back in the day but I just can’t keep up with that much online
posted by rikschell at 9:01 AM on October 24, 2024
posted by rikschell at 9:01 AM on October 24, 2024
I didn't react to the updated Covid booster like I usually do
That's interesting - this was the first covid shot (out of...so many; I've lost count) where I did feel crappy afterward, as bad as I feel after every flu shot (around a 5-ish, using seanmpuckett's scale). Before this I've had zero reaction to covid shots, to the point where I wondered if they'd given me a placebo instead of the vaccine.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:12 AM on October 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
That's interesting - this was the first covid shot (out of...so many; I've lost count) where I did feel crappy afterward, as bad as I feel after every flu shot (around a 5-ish, using seanmpuckett's scale). Before this I've had zero reaction to covid shots, to the point where I wondered if they'd given me a placebo instead of the vaccine.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:12 AM on October 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
I never heard of that group (or at least didn't spot it in 2021), but I would have been in favor of such. Though most of the time I am working on stuff that takes months, so weekly posting is unlikely.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:59 AM on October 24, 2024
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:59 AM on October 24, 2024
CVS Pharmacy for the win!
The sweet husband and I were on the phone for about an hour trying to find out if he was still covered on our insurance for no-copay flu and COVID-19 shots, now that he is 65. So many transfers, so much hand waving and checking with the supervisor.
He is, I am, and the pharmacist took care of us in a few minutes. We did have to drive to another CVS to get Moderna.
No weird effects, just tired.
No pulling out crochet projects this autumn, either. We are in the middle of another multiple-year house remodeling project (two bedrooms done so far, one on the way, plus hallway), so I am keeping the drywall dust out of the boxes.
Instead, I am picking up where I left off eight years ago on cataloging and storing thousands of DVDs.
I have a library! Well, at least until we need to move more boxes out of the living room to rip up the carpet. But there is a consolidated place for decades of books, and I'm loving it.
And the hallway shelves for DVDs have a new home.
Two shipments of aluminum DVD storage boxes later, and I've worked through the Comedy sections, part of the Action sections, and part of the Sci Fi-Fantasy sections.
Gearing up for X-Men, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics.
Blockbuster is still with us, at least in spirit!
posted by TrishaU at 12:33 AM on October 25, 2024
The sweet husband and I were on the phone for about an hour trying to find out if he was still covered on our insurance for no-copay flu and COVID-19 shots, now that he is 65. So many transfers, so much hand waving and checking with the supervisor.
He is, I am, and the pharmacist took care of us in a few minutes. We did have to drive to another CVS to get Moderna.
No weird effects, just tired.
No pulling out crochet projects this autumn, either. We are in the middle of another multiple-year house remodeling project (two bedrooms done so far, one on the way, plus hallway), so I am keeping the drywall dust out of the boxes.
Instead, I am picking up where I left off eight years ago on cataloging and storing thousands of DVDs.
I have a library! Well, at least until we need to move more boxes out of the living room to rip up the carpet. But there is a consolidated place for decades of books, and I'm loving it.
And the hallway shelves for DVDs have a new home.
Two shipments of aluminum DVD storage boxes later, and I've worked through the Comedy sections, part of the Action sections, and part of the Sci Fi-Fantasy sections.
Gearing up for X-Men, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics.
Blockbuster is still with us, at least in spirit!
posted by TrishaU at 12:33 AM on October 25, 2024
I may have to make a radioactive yellow scarf in 24 hours because I am seeing Puffs tomorrow and they want people to dress up, and I have nothing in just radioactive yellow except some fuzzy yarn.
WaPo: Poop statue appears on the National Mall to ‘honor’ Jan. 6 rioters
WaPo: Poop statue appears on the National Mall to ‘honor’ Jan. 6 rioters
Protest takes many forms in D.C. On Thursday, it arrived in the shape of a giant poop on a desk in direct view of the U.S. Capitol.posted by jenfullmoon at 8:57 AM on October 25, 2024
Welcome to America, version 2024, where number two officially enters the political discourse.
In addition to the soft-serve swirled poop replica, the desk in the middle of the National Mall near 3rd Street NW also held a rendering of an office phone and a nameplate with Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s name on it.
“This memorial honors the brave men and women who broke into the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 to loot, urinate and defecate throughout those hallowed halls in order to overturn an election,” a plaque reads on a pedestal below the desk. “President Trump celebrates these heroes of January 6th as ‘unbelievable patriots’ and ‘warriors.’ This monument stands as a testament to their daring sacrifice and lasting legacy.”
Many declined to share their views on the record because of the nation’s polarized views on poo and politics.
Behind them visitors lined up to take selfies — selfeces? — with the statue and the business of America marched on.
Vaccines administered. Initial observations:
1. The pharmacy tech was lovely and deeply apologetic that she had to administer shots in both arms.
2. Very good needles. (Years of monthly allergy shots have made me somewhat of an expert on needle quality).
3. Pharmacy tech had an excellent technique.
4. The shingles shot hurt. A LOT. Tdap is worse, but not by much.
5. Already feeling achy. Ibuprofen, water and a very good chocolate chip cookie at the ready.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 10:01 AM on October 25, 2024 [1 favorite]
1. The pharmacy tech was lovely and deeply apologetic that she had to administer shots in both arms.
2. Very good needles. (Years of monthly allergy shots have made me somewhat of an expert on needle quality).
3. Pharmacy tech had an excellent technique.
4. The shingles shot hurt. A LOT. Tdap is worse, but not by much.
5. Already feeling achy. Ibuprofen, water and a very good chocolate chip cookie at the ready.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 10:01 AM on October 25, 2024 [1 favorite]
Chocolate Chip Cookies, Good For What Ails Ya!
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:55 AM on October 25, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:55 AM on October 25, 2024 [1 favorite]
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posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 4:51 PM on October 21, 2024 [5 favorites]