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October 10, 2006
Me talk pretty one day. Plus, brief, pretty uninteresting knitting content.
Here is what I learned last week in my Frenchie class~
Presque tout le monde aime Cote d'Azur, le chocolat (mais oui! C'est vrai!) le vin, le soleil, l'eau, la musique, et la Provence.
Did you know?? I would add to that list le tarte aux pommes, which, in fact, our intrepid instructress did later! Le tarte aux pommes! Eet ees like, em, zee apple pies! And as we say it in English, yea verily! And pardon my French, because its still a little shaky!
Here- for your reading pleasure - is what I am knitting, because I don't have a camera to show you, but I am knitting a lot!
Because the thing is, too, one can get quite a bit done on the train between Chicago and East Chicago. Which doesn't seem like it should be far, but it is! Since East Chicago is 45 minutes east, and south, and its the stop on the South Shore line closest to the little green house where Mr. Goddamn Sunshine lives. And on the way, as you knit, you can see much of the gritty south side as well as the industrial fabulousness that is northwest Indiana. You can sink into the big comfy seat and watch it go by, and wonder who it is that lives in the little houses by the train tracks, in the places you only pass through, but which may be the center of someone else's universe. Or you can think about what you would find if you could get out and ride your bike around the odd little paths that run along the railroad tracks, among the wild, overgrown plants, broken bottles, and crumbling graffiti painted overpasses. You keep pulling a loop through another loop, and as the yarn unwinds it transmogrifies into another thing and there is time, marked off in tick marks of stitches. Oh, listen to me.
You can't exist outside of it, no matter how hard you might try, and no matter how suspended from it you might feel, on the train. That's all.
Anyway, here is what I'm working on.
•One dark purple v-neck pullover with lavender ribbing, child-size, for which I have all of the pieces done except am having trouble with the neck edging instructions.
•One round-neck pullover from the same pattern, except a smaller size and in a sage green/light yellow-green color combination, which still has one sleeve, a tiny pocket, and a collar left to do.
•The ballet wrap cardigan, which has all the parts done and is blocked but needs seaming.
•The Noro cardigan (Agnes- aka The Sweater Only A Mother Could Love- remember? From a long-long time ago) which I started sewing the pieces together for and then realized I was doing it inside out. Weird, I know.
•Then I am starting this handsome devil for a handsome devil, and yes, I am aware that there is a Sweater Curse. And so I have to admit some trepidation, but the yarn has been ordered and I refuse to be intimidated. Although perhaps I shall look into and perform some kind of Sweater Curse Removal Ritual.
If anyone knows a good one, please advise.
Also, if any knitters are still reading, and have advice for seaming, I need all the help I can get.
Posted by at October 10, 2006 10:48 AM
Comments
What a nice story. Excellent style. I don't much care for yarn, but the telling of it is wonderful. It's true!
I hope that doesn't get taken for sarcasm. The above is a break from my normal meanness.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the general hostilities occurring internet elesewhere.
Posted by: juan jorges jesus at October 10, 2006 02:13 PM
Ah, mon amie, zis entry reminds me of zee time in le bon cafe on la Rue d'Emstaire, where we drank coffee with Jean-Paul in the days of la resistance, n'est pas? C'est la vie, c'est la guerre, c'est l'amour.
Le Curse du Sweater is easily avoided by simply knitting en francais. The curse is confused, and goes to France, where it will not be noticed at all. Bon chance!
Posted by: Anon at October 11, 2006 02:13 AM
O la la, Pippy. Il semblerait que tu n'es plus la lugubre somnambule que je connaissais avant. Tu es une fille avec des projets, avec un vélo étincelant, et avec les deux aiguilles les plus fines de ce côté du Mississippi! Tu tricotes, tu écris, tu bavardes courrament dans plusieurs langues. Bientôt M. Sedaris lui-même va te demander des conseils, et tu vas lui dire deux ou trois choses sur l'art de l'essai, suivi peut-être par une leçon de tricotage. J'en suis sûr! Il faudra quand même allonger la liste des choses que presque tout le monde aime, car presque tout le monde aime Pippy!
Posted by: Justin at October 11, 2006 10:19 AM
Lovely story. I love a train's eye view also! I know you will write a book someday starring vous meme et Marcel. Mais, qui est-ce Monsieur le Soleil a la maison verte?
Posted by: Elizabeth at October 11, 2006 11:58 AM
Mais la tarte -- elle est feminine.
Posted by: poulette at October 11, 2006 06:45 PM
http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/videos//bas-tech-more/mattress-stitch.mpg
That link takes you to a video for mattress stitch. Or just go to knittinghelp.com for lots of other instructions. Mattress stitch makes the neatest looking seams.
Posted by: Elizabeth at October 12, 2006 12:12 PM