Shiori's Stories

"The busy have no time for tears."

Well, maybe George. But being so busy make me want to cry. There has been little time to blog as my schedule is crazy. Here is little sample of what awaits me in the future

May 16th - store sale. Actually it will run all weekend but I will be there for the always bustling first day. I fully expect to have aching feet and ruined vocal chords by the afternoon.

May 17th and 18th - Nihon Vogue. We start our crochet project. I have been dreading this. I am not a bad hooker just relatively inexperienced. Actually, I taught a student to crochet left-handed the other day and found it was a lot of fun. I could feel all sort of new neural connections being made. Thankfully, we only have to make a child's sweater in crochet. I might have to cry if I made it to fit me as we are limited to using only fingering weight yarns in this project (anything heavier would make for a very stiff sweater). I must say I have found one interesting conundrum in crochet. What hook size to use? I remember reading somewhere that the recommendations on ball/skein labels were unreliable. I know that is true for knitting needles, too. But, what I recall is that it is even worse for crochet hooks. I have asked around and been given LOTS of conflicting advice. Some crafters say use smaller hooks, some say use larger ones. My experience is that larger hooks are better for garments. Crochet seems to have little drape and you have to larger hooks to get drape in crocheted fabric. I am going to love figuring this out.

May 19 and 20th - Spinning class with Judith in Port Gamble. I am looking forward to this class as we will be focusing on color in spinning. I have to admit to not caring much about color when it comes to spinning. I am all about technique. However, after spinning my share of unsatisfactory sock yarns, I have to admit that color is an important consideration.

May 24th and 25th - Natural Dye workshop at my house. Thankfully, the house is pretty clean as I hosted a spindle class that weekend. That was a lot of fun. I didn't learn anything I hadn't seen before but it was very fun to polish up my rusty spindle skills. It was exhausting having 12 people, however nice, at the house, though. Do hosts ever relax? The dye class is going to focus on indigo and cochineal, my favorite natural dyes. Some of the most ancient, too. I am all over this!

June 1st - Soap class. Stephanie has kindly agreed to teach all of us at Kirkland Knitters how to make our own soap. This is not the weak melt and pour variety, mind you. This is the dangerous, extremely exothermic lye and fat kind. You know, where you could burn or blind yourself just trying to get clean. Awesome! Also, she makes the best soap I have ever tried. She gave me some for teaching her how to spin (It is nice when people give their teachers gifts!). The lather is incredible and the scent is heavenly. If I can learn even a little from her, I will be pleased.

June 9th and 10th - I am hosting another spinning class, this time for wheels. Judith is coming to teach her "Comprehensive Spinning" class to the ESG. I am so grateful to her for consenting to teach as we are only a small guild. In anticipation, I have been walking around outback, on careful bear alert (we saw two the other day. If I ever see a cub I am going to run as fast as my daikonashi will carry me!), looking for lichens to dye with during our class. I am hoping to clear up the murky mystery of spinning to the crimp and her avowed hatred of the high whorl spindle, too.

June 11th - 15th - Weaving workshop, again with Judith. I am really looking forward to this one, too. I have yet to decide on a project, maybe I will just finish the Bog Jacket I started last time. I have been fantasizing about weaving up enough fabric for some curtains to hang in the great room. A linen noren in a sweet little color and weave would be beautiful. We shall see.

June 21st - Black Sheep Gathering. Shane and I are just going down for one day. He gets to eat at Toshi's Ramenya and I get to buy fiber. Good deal, no?

June 22nd and 23rd - Nihon Vogue. This will be the second to the last class. We are supposed to start our final project this weekend. Our final project is knitter's choice, anything goes. I have thought about this in anyway? Of course not!

In between all this, I have to put in 30 hours of work a week at Cultured Purls teaching classes and manning the counter, knit my homework, try to make it to the occasional knit night and spin in, clean the house, do the laundry, brush my teeth and go to the bathroom. I didn't mention the Cure concert, SIFF and all the other things I just cannot miss. I am starting to cry just thinking about it.

Nihon Vogue, Madrona, and Work

Work has been up and down. The yarn is wonderful and the real knitters are a joy. Sadly, there are also the wacky customers (ask me about the one who wanted to take dozen of balls out to her car so her invalid mother could check them out before buying them - we said ok, but got no sale out of it anyway), the hours spent putting out inventory, and most shockingly, the shoplifiting. There are also the classes. For example, as many of you know that I have been teaching a kind of "Nihon Vogue" lite at Cultured Purls. This has been a lot of fun but a lot of work, too. In order to avoid losing the class to a non-competition clause I signed when I was hired, I do all of the prep work at home. This resulted in HOURS of re-edits of the notes I took. I have to do this so I do not violate any of Jean's copyrights. In the end, I created 15 pages of new charts and explanations. Well, the students at the last class I taught complained that they still did not have enough. I think they may have underestimated the rigor of the course. It is no small feat trying to teach in 6 weeks what I took 14 months to learn. There is no debate, if you take this class from me you must be able to take notes and study on your own. That is unheard of for a knitting class. However, this class is much more than the average knitting class. Well, after listening to their complaints, I have to admit I had a little "moment." I explained that could not provide them with anymore material unless they wanted to pay me to write a book. Short of that, they need to ask me to either slow down or to review the material. I am always happy to do that. For now, I cannot provide them with more notes. I was a little angry I'll admit. I felt really bad about this afterward. I do not like having to set limits but I am only getting $120 to teach 7 people nearly everything I know. In the future, I will have to endeavor to better explain how complex this class can be. I hate to think I am failing them but, that is how it is beginning to feel.

My other classes have gone much more smoothly. I have been teaching nearly all the classes at Cultured Purls. In the process, I have been allowed to revamp some of the old classes and create new ones. This season I will be teaching beginning knitting and crochet, beginning socks and pattern alteration, hand-dyeing, hairpin lace, shadow knitting (originally, a Japanese technique, I was delighted to learn), drop spinning, beaded knitting, intarsia, stranded knitting, lace and cables. All this while running the Nihon Vogue lite I mentioned above. It has all been very rewarding! You learn so much when you teach! The only hard part is creating new projects for each of the classes. Our clientele seem to be more interested in small, quickly finished projects than simply learning the techniques themselves. I so very love learning techniques just for the heck of it so I was a little thrown off when I realized this. Therefore, when I am not busy knitting for Nihon Vogue you will find me making up all manner of little items for class. Anyone want to volunteer and make some up for me?

This all gives me some hope (and some worries!) for the next Madrona Fiber Arts Festival. You see, I will be teaching there next year. Cool, eh? I don't know what I shall be teaching yet (something spinning or pattern alteration related) but I am already excited. In relation to this, Suzanne Pederson and I were talking recently about my fee and she told me an interesting bit of information. Apparently, knitting teachers are paid at a much higher rate than spinners and weavers. She said there seems to be a cultural difference between the groups that results in spinners and weavers asking for much less than knitters. Spinners and weavers take the lower fees as their way to give back to their communities. Knitters feel otherwise. I was shocked. At first, I thought it must be due to all the prep work knitting teachers have to do but, I have taught a lot of spinning classes and know that there is a lot of preparation to do there, too. I wonder what the deal is. Seems strange to me.

Nihon vogue went really well this last time. I am only a little behind in my homework and the work load is light this time so I am hopeful that I can catch up. We are, however, beginning our crochet project this time. This leaves me full of trepidation. I like crochet but as many of you know, I do not think that most crochet is appropriate for garments. For example, I do not know of any culture that made entire sweaters out of crochet. That seems to be unique to modern Westerners. I think it is an over-application of technique. Like making a knit bikini. Not everything should be rendered in knitting. The same goes for crochet. I do understand though, that as this course is designed to turn us into instructors so we should know all we can about crochet. I am just certain that I will not put much of this information to use. I am always the best student I can be (just call me brown-noser!) so, I will dutifully make whatever Jean asks me to. I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Silversmithing class is running again and I still reallying enjoying it. My bracelet and ring from the first class came out great. This time I am making a paisley shaped shawl pin covered in silver roundelles and a large howlite stone. Should be nice!

News tid-bit: Shane and I created a flow chart and whorl chart based on Judith MacKenzie's spinning process as a part of the first Orcas Island retreat we attended. Long ago, I posted them on the Eastside Spinner's Guild Yahoo page. No one has shown any interest. Judith, though, has asked for permission to include these charts in her next book, tentatively titled "The Intentional Spinner." We couldn't be more thrilled. Also, she gave Shane some wolf fiber to spin. That's right, WOLF! It is from an ambassabor wolf named Koani. I like just sticking my hand in the bag. Shane actually gets to spin it. Lucky son of a bitch!

Finally, I put in an order for a huge lot of glass for lamp-working into beads. I really miss doing this and the new glass as got my mind buzzing with ideas. I think I will try to make some nice orifice or sleying hooks.

Thanks to everyone for the welcomes back to blogging. I really enjoy sharing my hopes, plans, joys, failures and news with you.

I'll not refer to the infrequency with which I am posting except to say I accept the accusation.

So, I am up rather late avoiding packing my overnight case. I should be preparing for a few days of willow basketry workshops. Unfortunately, I have had a hard time decompressing after work this week and have hit an impasse.

The shock of working once again, simply part-time, has overcome me. I do not remember it as such a messy undertaking. One spins dizzy from encounter to encounter while  juggling a rattling pile of paper, post-its and pens. I am forever making lists that are indecipherable under later inspection. I do remember the strange requests but don't recall them being so tiring.  Retail gives it all that extra dash of complete unpredictability! My mind buzzes for hours after returning home so I have little energy for any fun. Neither can I keep up with all the forums I moderate nor answer email.

Despite all that I cannot honestly say it is bad. I have always enjoyed being part of the troupe, having access to the back stage. Therefore, it ain't surprising I like being behind the counter in a yarn store. It is exciting getting a first look at all the yarn, books and supplies that come in. Even setting out all the inventory brings satisfaction. What I enjoy most,though are the moments when I am teaching or being asked to explain a pattern or demonstrate a technique. Of all things I am a dilettante and I love the mental stretch required to rethink or remember some fact. To further embed it all in the pleasure and possibility of fiber is sublime. The perks are nice, too.

I have just finished a silversmithing class and have signed up for another. It is really more like an open workshop where students design individual pieces and are guided through its construction rather than a structured class where you learn a series of techniques. What you learn is determined by your choices. What I wanted was to get very comfortable using a torch and less intimidated by soldering. Cutting, sawing, and cold connecting don't trouble me in the least but, toss btu's in the mix and I am lost. After six weeks of class, I must admit that I am better able to read the silver and have fewer soldering disasters. Since the teacher didn't bother us unless we asked, I had the freedom to experiment and learned a lot on my own that way. I love doing that! She did give me some great advice regarding how one breaks down the construction of a piece, however, and I came to rely on her opinion. Great class and I was eager to sign up again.

Speaking of silver, I made myself a chainmaille watch band recently and really like the end result. It was a kit from UrbanMaille (they have the funniest ads in Beadwork!). They are a great source and I plan to buy more from them in the future.

I don't want to talk much about Nihon Vogue. It has changed everything about the way I knit and has opened many creative doors. It is all a bit dazzling. I am about to start on our final assignment where anything goes but my pattern is still up in the air. I wish I had more time as I am sure I could swatch for a year before finding the perfect stitch pattern/yarn combination. I feel I am getting very close to perfecting the fit of my set in sleeve so I really want to highlight that in the garment. Also, I would also like to play around with doubling the number of darts I usually employ. Oh, and a shawl collar would be really nice. You can see I have a lot more planning to do.

The recent dye classes have been a real success. Hand dyeing forces you to get comfortable and even play with the hazy intersection between intention and accident. I love it but I have to admit I am a little worried by the lack of repeatability. Judging from the handpaints we get in the store, even the professionals have a hard time keeping dye lots uniform. If the hue is right then the value is off. The only solution, and the easiest one to implement I think, is to make large skeins and dye many ounces at once. That way, even if the skeins are all very different from one another, at least you have a lot of yardage to work with. Soon, ESG will host a natural dyeing workshop where we will focus on indigo and cochineal. I am so excited!

I am making plans to teach at Madrona next year. There is nothing certain but I have spoken with Suzanne and it looks like we may be able to work it out. The biggest obstacle will be deciding what kind of class to offer. I will have to spend a few days coming up with some ideas. I must admit that I do not have anything in the way of a specialty to teach. I am probably better off teaching beginning or introductory classes. Still, I would love to teach a wider audience and Madrona would be a great place to start.

Everything else is on hold. Sewing, lace work, beading, lamp working and weaving have all had to sit idle while I try to find time. I may have to give up some of these pursuits but, I am not ready to admit that just yet. At night, in that slippery state before sleep, I often have grand ideas about combining all of these skills into one huge master project. It makes sense at the edge of sleep. In the morning, well...

Work, work, work!

Just a short post for now. I just wanted to share the news that I got that job at Cultured Purls in Issaquah that I was wishing for. I was hoping that they would allow me to teach a few classes and they said yes. I left the interview practically dancing! Shane topped it all by sweeping me into his arms for a big kiss. I am pleased. I start next week. Please don't come in to make fun of me!

Also, I am up to my neck in Nihon Vogue homework. I will have  to redo all the knitting I did on project 4 and knit up nearly all of project 5 by the start of March. I know, I know, bad time to also get a job. I am praying that some of my hidden Capricorn nature will rear up and embrace all this hard work. Shane says I love to make things hard but I am not always sure he is talking about knitting when he says that.

Spinning on Saturday and the dye class the Saturday after that. I hope you all won't freak out when you see how messy my house is. I am warning you now. I still live like a college student, like a dirty, lazy college dorm living student.

The vicissitudes of the weather is something Shane and I complain quite vehemently about. Despite growing up in cultivated deserts we love snow and when winter nears without a single flake, we are given to spouting tirades against Bush and big corporations. Who else could there be to blame?

Well, we were on a rampage yesterday. While North Bend had not received the merest dusting, Redmond, Bellevue, Woodinville, and Juanita saw inches. We were jealous, to say the least. We were on our way to some great fun but, we wanted snow! Laura was hosting one of Eastside Spinners spins and we complained all the way there. However, Laura was a wonderful host, all sorts of spinning fun was had and we soon forgot our complaints. Laura has a spacious living room with large windows. It was delightful to spin with friends and watch the snow fall.

I did my best to teach English long draw (AKA double drafting) but about half way into it, I realized I wasn't sure I could explain it at all. It happens so fast and so much of it depends on tactile information! I began to think that a demonstration would be far better than any verbal description I could muster. Anyway, I stuttered and struggled along the best I could and it seems like some of them managed to get an idea of the process. A couple of spinners kept insisting that they got it (or that they already knew it) but I could see they were continuing to allow fiber into the drafting zone after the initial draw. That is a no-no but you have to practice a lot before you catch yourself doing it. I had better luck explaining my approach to using a drum carder. The batts Laura made were very beautiful. Elizabeth had some trouble but I think it would have gone better (will go better) with a cleaner fleece. Otherwise, she did a great job and has made amazing progress as a spinner. Also, Rita brought her new Ladybug and I was smitten. Such a pretty wheel! All in all, I had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to attend any spin Laura hosted.

Well, the drive home was uneventful until we topped the falls at Snoqualmie. Clearly, as divine punishment for all our belly-aching, the gods saw fit to DUMP snow. The last 10 miles home took an hour. I tried driving up our driveway but it was too slippery that I had to let Shane take over. I don't have a problem with snow and ice on flat roads but on hills I am useless. So, we had to stop about halfway up the drive and switch seats. Of course, the moment Shane and I stepped out, the car began to slide down the drive on its own. Somehow, with both of us pushing, we managed to stop the car long enough for Shane to get in and drive the car up to the top. I chose to walk.

Here our some pics of our house. Over night, we got about 16 inches. We are going to be marooned here for a couple of days.

   

We had a visitor last night!

Late last night, while watching a terrible horror movie, I heard foot steps through our door. I don't know if it was the movie but it sounded like something big was outside. I was scared that someone was traipsing around our house at night. So I sent Shane to investigate. He didn't see anything but this morning we found proof!

A bear! A big one by the looks of it! If we hadn't had snow last night, Shane would still be thinking I am paranoid! These prints are less than 3 feet from our door. Poor thing must have been cold. 

   

Isn't he great?

Look at what Shane knit! Isn't it beautiful? It only took him a week! I am so proud!

The recipe is 4 skeins of Noro Silk Garden. Knit it in 1x1 rib switching skeins every 2 rows.

 

You aren't fat!

I am grumpy today! Well, it started last night at Eastside Stitchers (sorry ladies! I hope I didn't spoil everyone's night!) and I am still grumpy. The house is a royal mess and I have more stash to put away and nowhere to put it. I am making progress on most of my projects but today I am not enjoying any of them.  What to do, what to do?

I guess I was grumpy last night as I am so TIRED of hearing from thinner women about their weight issues.  I work very hard at loving myself the way I am in these intolerant times. It is something that I have to work on very day and it requires lots of courage, honesty and persistence.  So much so, that hearing other women, who don't even approach me in scale, call themselves obese is irritating. What does that make me? When I say "You aren't fat." they argue with me. It is like hearing rich white men say they never got any help and are successful due purely to their own merits. Yeah, right! And we live in a meritocracy! Learn to love your bodies, ladies, and take a look around you. There is real suffering out there and you aren't helping! Size-ism is so pervasive that most folks don't even know they are doing it. I guess it is like racism. Unless you live it, you don't know it. I know you feel fat, but you aren't! I don't care what your doctor says. What do you think he would say to me? Would he even give me medical care? Go on, knit your tiny sweaters and contribute all you want to the general climate of fat hatred. I'll try to remember to thank you later.

When will people wake up?

Madrona Fiber Arts Festival

Sign ups for Madrona was Monday and whew! I can't believe I managed to get in any classes at all, let alone 3 of my top picks.  As many of you know, there was lots of trouble at the Madrona site. Many folks, myself included, couldn't sign up at first.  We got error message after error message.  Within 40 minutes, nearly every class appeared to be full. I was close to tears. A little while later, I got a message from Suzanne, one of the coordinators, saying that many of the classes listed as full were, in fact, not full and that I should try signing up again. It worked this time. I nearly did a jig! Here is my class list.

Thursday - Make it fit! with Pat Bruner.  I wanted to take this class most of all. In the description, it mentions specifically that we will go over the making and placement of bust darts. We are not going to be working on bust darts in Nihon Vogue, and with DDD cups, I need darts. This class should be a nice compliment to Nihon Vogue.  I am also curious about how she handles set in sleeves.

Friday - Worsted and Woolen with Paula Schull. I already know a bit about this subject but I am always anxious to learn more. My long draw is generally limited to English Long draws and I would like to learn the other styles. Also, I could use a refresher on hand cards and I hear her class on combing is great. 

Saturday - no class.  I plan on shopping at the market (there are 30 more vendors than last year!), meeting with friends and members of Eastside Spinners and hitting The Bead Factory.  There is a dinner with lecture by Judith MacKenzie that Shane and I will both be attending.

Sunday - Japanese Buttonholes with Jean Wong.  I asked Jean about her classes at Madrona and she said this class is the only one in which she will cover information not covered in Nihon Vogue.  How could I not go?

After all this, Shane and I are headed directly to Orcas Island to attend a week long spinning retreat taught by Judith. We attended last year and will probably go every year from now on. How could you not love spinning and dyeing for a whole week? Judith always bring more fiber than you can spin and runs all sorts of dye pots continuously. Then there is the shopping! Judith has all sorts of exotics fiber and dye to sell. Also, many of the members have a store or workshops of their own and therefore bring stuff, too.  My budget for February is going to be hurting!

Project updates -

Homework - I am nearly finished with the second sleeve of my set in sleeve crew neck.  After that, I will sew up the side seams, sew up the sleeves and do the ribbing on the the neck - easy!  The vest is nearly finished, I only need to do the ribbing at the neck and armholes.  Then, I only have to knit the front, back and sleeves up to the decreases for armholes of the v neck and I am finished with my homework.  Yay! Then, I will get to do some fun knitting. I have tons of stuff queued on Ravelry and I must admit that I am jealous of all the fun my friends are having. 

I have lace class and spinning this weekend and I am really looking forward to both. I miss all my other hobbies. Don't you just feel so sorry for me? I'm pathetic!

One down, seven to go!

Here it is!  My first Nihon Vogue project!  It is the top down raglan.  Now that I am finished with it, I must say I like it.  It is a little too big but that was to be expected.  I measured my armhole incorrectly and thus it was made with too much ease.  It fits like a charm everywhere else, though.  I think the pattern is the best part.  Those seed stitch columns are very nice.  What do you think of that underarm detail?  I am rather proud of that as it required a lot of decreasing on purl rows and that's not something most folks are willing to do.