Badasses

[clevermanka]

This really must be shared: The Five Most Badass Presidents Of All Time. Thanks to shanmonster for the link.

On the knitting front, I've successfully completed another garment, but I'm not happy with the way I look in it. And when I'm really honest with myself and not trying to optimistic because I put so much work into it, I'm not entirely happy with the vest, either. Both garments make me look stocky and bulky. The vest makes my waist disappear and the new cardigan shrug makes me look like a linebacker. The patterns are completely dissimilar in silhouette and construction, which leads me to the sad conclusion that it's the yarn. The vest is a fluffy bouclé and the cardigan shrug is a medium-bulky yarn with little eyelash wisps, making it incredibly soft but ... big.

I'm going to let them both sit at the bottom of a drawer for a long while and if I still feel this way in a few months, I fear they're headed for the frog pond (frogging = ripping out stitches from a knitted project).

On the one hand, this really sucks big time. 1. I don't have the time or patience to knit all my sweaters with skinny yarn on tiny needles. 2. I have two beautiful items that I will not wear anytime soon (if ever). On the other hand, it does make alarm bells go off in my head when it comes to the knitted bellydance costume. The yarn I plan to use for that is not a skinny yarn. Do I want to feel heavy and bulky in a dance costume? No. So I might put that on the back burner for a while as well. It's good to realize that before I put in more time, effort, and yarn into a project I'm not going to like when it's done.

Happiness is new boots arriving when you're a little down. Hurray for new boots!

Comments

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Good lord, those were some serious badass presidents!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite lines: "Teddy rode horseback for 100 miles, from sunrise to sunset, at 51 years old, effectively rescinding anyone's right to complain about anything, ever again."

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Boo. I hate it when projects don't turn out right. Something else to keep in mind about the recycled silk yarn, from my experience with my scarf, is that it gets "fluffier" and makes itself into some long trailing strands as it wears and ages. Lovely for a scarf, I'm not sure about a garment. I imagine it would need to be a very firmly knit sort of item.

I've decided to keep the lovely boucle, but from your experience, I'm afraid it's going to be a head garment, or a (yawn) shawl or scarf.

but.. new boots! and those beige shoes I got from you? I wore them last night to go for dinner, and I do love them. I found my wallet, and so can get the $$ to you soon now.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info on the recycled silk. That's extra good to know. I think it would look pretty amazing on the right person as a cardigan or bedjacket style of garment, but I'm definitely going to nix it for the dance costume.

bestill says someone made a cardigan out of it that came out really beautiful. I think maybe something less structured might be best.

I'm so happy the new shoes worked for you! I've gone dancing in them, even. Very comfy.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

ooh, yah, less structured and looks good sort of tatty would be perfect.

[bestill.livejournal.com]

Here is the photo.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

OK, yeah that's pretty awesome. Was that one skein or two? I wouldn't make mine quite that large, either--it would fall off my shoulders! But yes, I think I'd look a lot better in something like this made out of the boucle. Is that your old studio?

[bestill.livejournal.com]

I don't remember how much yarn that took--it was a long time ago (the photo was taken in my very spacious old studio in the warehouse). It was 2 skeins for sure, maybe 3 . .. I don't remember at all. It was roomy for her, but she was wanting it that way. I remember it looking more flattering in person than it did in the quick snap shot I took. I liked the front collar and that she used a brooch for a closure.

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

this article is hilarious. THANK YOU. This comment can't possibly contain the breadth of entertainment I've gotten from it.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

There really was a lot to love in that article.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

You could always see if selling sweaters on eBay is better than undoing them. Then you could buy thinner yarn.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

There's no way I could get the money for the time and yarn I put into it. I'd have to charge well over $100. No way.

The idea of frogging really doesn't bother me. I despise doing it 'cos it's tedious. But the thought of doing it really isn't all that awful when I know I can make something more appropriate for me out of it.

[darkgaze2002.livejournal.com]

Wow.... Around here we calling taking out stitches "tink(ing)" which is knit backwards ^_^ truly, I'd say find a lovely shop off Mass sell the offending items, grab the money and buy some lovely worsted/fingering/lace? weight yarn from yarn barn, perhaps something of silk that you can dye to what ever you may want? I personally have an irrational fear of bulky yarns and knit almost only socks and nearly everything on 1s and 2s and occasionally brave a 3, so that is just awesome that you can do something on such a large scale!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

As I mentioned to kalimeg, there's no way I can get the money I've put into this by selling it as a garment. Frogging it doesn't bother me at all, really. It's just the process I despise.

I haven't tried socks yet (I don't really see the point--I wear either knee socks or peds, and nothing in between except for when I'm exercising) but bestill encourages me every now and then to give them a go.