Please be aware as you make your way around the world that you cannot judge physical or mental ability by the look of the person. Be kind, please.

I was riding the bus home from having lunch with a friend in the Mission and was sitting near the front, in the seats marked “for seniors and people with disabilities.” The bus started getting more and more crowded and maybe on another day I would have given my seat to one of the seniors, but I twisted my knee this morning and I really couldn’t think about standing.

Suddenly this woman got in my face and said “you know, you should REALLy give your seat to the older people on this bus” and then moved to storm away. I paused my iPod and (calmly) said “actually, I’m disabled, so I need to be sitting down right now.” I thought that would end it (it has in the past, even if people get snitty about it), but she turned around and spat on me.

Now, I think she was drunk, because she absolutely reeked, but still.

No one defended me. No one even said anything. Some people were staring at me.

I just really hate that this is probably going to happen again. Maybe not to this extent, but it will happen again, because it’s happened before. I hate that I feel guilty about not getting up when people ask me. I hate the looks people give me when I don’t move. I really hate the looks people give me when I sit in those seats, like I’m some lazy entitled bitch who just took the front seat because it was open.

I just want people to understand that just because someone is old does not mean that they are disabled or in pain. I know plenty of seniors who are in fantastic shape and even some who still do triathalons even though they’re in their 70’s. At the same time, just because someone is young does not mean that they are able-bodied. Not every disability is a visible one. Mine is hidden in my joints and muscles. On a good day, you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with me if I didn’t tell you. The truth is, I hurt every single day. Walking is exhausting and hurts me. Running is out of the question. Just standing is incredibly painful.

I don’t know how people can be educated about this, but right now all I want is to be understood.

I call this one Winter Wonderland (aka I put a bird on it). Black and white. Classy, right?

He passed through the gates and made his way across the open area that supported the fort from the civilian buildings. At this time of night the town was little more than a huddle of angular shapes illuminated by the occasional glimmer of a torch. Somewhere among the buildings, a dog barked. [my emphasis] There was a faint sound of a baby crying. He heard the approach of voices and stepped sideways onto the road’s shoulder. Three men ambled past, too deep in a disagreement about horse racing to notice him. When they had gone, the street was empty. Ruso stepped back onto the paved surface and tried not to imagine what might be happening to a girl who was wandering the streets at this time of night.

Casey got the book from the library and since it wasn’t due back yet and he enjoyed it I decided to read it (on his recommendation). I enjoyed it. Took a bit to get into it, but the story pulls you in. Entertaining, but not amazing.

The Story of a 10 Month Secret Knitting Project

As soon as I heard my best friend, Ailey, was getting married (so some time in January 2010), I started to think about the perfect present. I couldn’t just get something off the registry. I love giving gifts. The perfect gift is an incredible thing – a chance thing that combines something-I-need-but-didn’t-know-it with she-knows-who-I-am. I wanted to put love into this gift. The thing was, not only was this my best friend getting married, but the guy she was marrying, Adam, is perfect for her. I wanted to show how much I felt that. How much I blessed them and was excited for this new chapter of their relationship.

The thing I know how to make – because it was clear to me that the perfect gift was going to be something I made – is knitted stuff. So of course I turned to Ravelry. I hunted using various now-forgotten keywords for wedding gifts and came to realize that the general best knitted wedding present is a blanket. Who doesn’t love cuddling under a warm knitted blanket?

The Pattern

Thing was, most of the results for “wedding blanket” or somesuch were lacy, frilly, loveydovey patterns. And those just aren’t Ailey and Adam. I couldn’t see them using such a fussy thing. Plus, lace blankets have that toes-getting-stuck-in-the-weave problem. Ick. No.

So I started searching just for blankets and bingo – the Moderne Log Cabin Blanket by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne (Mason-Dixon Knitting). It was perfect. Easily personalized with color choice while being a solid modern pattern. It looks like this pattern is available for free download even if you’re not on Ravelry. The book Mason-Dixon Knitting is also available for purchase on Amazon. The pattern is given both for adult and baby size blankets. The adult-size blanket calls for 9 blocks using 4 colors of yarn.

The Yarn

The thing Ravelry excels at is showing all the different ways you can come at a pattern by linking everyone’s projects to the pattern. I spent about a month reviewing color choices, yarns, and borders (unfortunately one of the ones that influenced me the most doesn’t have photos on Flickr. Ravelry-only link). Early in March, I decided upon Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solids & Heathers (yes, that Vanna, as in White. She’s a crocheter). It’s soft, machine washable AND dryable, comes in a wide variety of colors, affordable (important when you’re buying enough to make a queen-size blanket). I mocked up a few options to share with a small, trusted circle. We decided on option 3.

#1: Beige, Dusty Blue, Toffee, Espresso #2: Beige, Dusty Blue, Toffee, Silver Blue #3: Beige, Dusty Blue, Espresso, Silver Blue

I ordered 2 skeins of each color mid-March and received the package at the end of the month. I figured I’d see how much I really needed of each before ordering more.

Tools Used

• Size 9 (5.5 mm) 36″ circular needles – for main knitting and border (I recommend Takumi by Clover)
• Crochet hook – for weaving in ends (I find size 7 (4.5 mm) is good to have on hand for most projects)
• Ball Winder – for winding yarn into center-pull balls
• Contrasting color yarn for invisible cast-on used in border – see videos linked below for details
• Calculator, measuring tape, scissors

Pattern Mods

By late April I figured out the math and decided on some major adjustments to the pattern.

4/23: Gauge and pattern adjustments. I’m getting 4 sts/in [stitches per inch] instead of 5.5 sts/in in the pattern so I multiplied the original CO [cast on] by the difference (.7272727272) and got a new original CO of 55. I hope this works out correctly. My row gauge is similar enough (10 sts/in instead of 11 sts/in) that I don’t think I need to make an adjustment.

Changing the original CO means I have to recalculate the number of sts to cast on or pick up for the next blocks, but it’s pretty straightforward. Perhaps later I’ll make an image of the changes since I think that’ll be easier to understand.

I could post all the changes I made, but it wouldn’t be particularly helpful to anyone picking up the pattern. Every knitter’s gauge is different depending on how loosely or tightly you knit, needles you use, yarn you use, etc.

Also decided on doing an applied i-cord border per these videos: Applied I-Cord Border Basics (uses the Moderne Baby Blanket too, so it’s really easy to apply this to this pattern), Applied I-Cord Turn (continuation), I-Cord Kitchener Join (finale). They are super detailed and helpful!

After doing gauge, throwing another knife at the board (because I’m crazy) and tried out Brooklyn Tweed’s Romney pattern just to break up the garter stitch a little and give the blanket (and me, the knitter) some interest. I don’t think I could add anything more complicated or it wouldn’t line up, but the gauge swatch I did for this pattern seemed to work well. In the photo, the point where the cast on end is coming out is where the color would actually change (the join).

The Knitting Process

Even before I finished the first block (Beige) I knew I’d probably need more yarn. Block 1 ended up taking one skein plus enough from the second skein to cover 9 rows (10 w/ bind-off). It definitely pays to use affordable yarn for this project.

I finished Block 1 (10% of the project, I figured at the time) in 11 days. I used the bind-off I used on the Daybreak Shawl and began Block 2 (Dusty Blue) in early May.

5/4: I love the Dusty Blue. Knitting the blue block is such a joy. I love how the entire blanket builds off the first cast on row. It’s making the construction and progress very satisfying and the pattern mod I’ve done is working out quite well. It repeats every 6 rows (odd numbered rows are RS, even = WS) and each repeat of 6 includes 3 garter ridges (well, 2 plus one flat). So the division works perfectly (66 garter ridges is 22 repeats of 6 row pattern; 33 garter ridges is 11 repeats of 6 row pattern). Yes, the ridges go horizontal and vertical depending on the block, but that would happen anyway!

Block 2 took me 9 days. Block 3 (Espresso) took a month and nearly two skeins. Block 4 (Silver Blue) started shaping up to be even bigger, but I ran out of yarn in that color and began a series of slimming-down modifications to make the blanket realistic to finish by the early October wedding. It says something that by mid-June I was already starting to panic.

Ordered 4 more skeins in each color in early July. A bit of a drastic decision, but I figured I would be able to return any unused yarn by the deadline (Lion Brand has a nice big window of 90 days).

7/3: Decided to rip back to 48 garter “ridges” (two ridges and a flat or 96 rows) because it’s divisible by 3 and 6. That leaves this block 5” too narrow, but I can make it up by adding 5” elsewhere to the width. Just want to keep the momentum going since I won’t get new yarn for another week (it’s shipping).

7/5: Finished ripping back to 48 and binding off Block 4! Picked up stitches for Block 5.

7/18: Finished Block 5 today! It took a skein and a half. Eeks. Getting to the big ones now. But my box of yarn arrived on Friday so I definitely have enough to finish the project.

I was a bit surprised how large the blanket was at 5 blocks. Perhaps I could have done with the baby blanket, I began to think.

8/1: Finished Block 6 (finished a skein around 21 garter rows). Decided to keep it at 33 and not add the 5” I lost in Block 4 because it’s going to be wide enough for two people as is. That and I need to finish this by October 1!!!

8/2: Finished picking up sts on Block 7 and the first 6 rows. Need to make this happen!

The Machine Attempt

Myrrhia is a lovely member of our knitting group The Yarn Wranglers and a wizard with knitting machines. I messaged her in August on Ravelry in a panic hoping I could make some serious progress on the blanket by machine. She graciously offered her help and we spent an afternoon trying various options. But basically we learned a valuable lesson: you can’t do garter stitch on a knitting machine. That’s overly simplified, of course. You can, but it’s a royal pain. I persevered with hand knitting.

Race to the Finish

The last few blocks turned into a blur. I was determined to finish the blanket in time to give it to Ailey and Adam AT their wedding.

8/21: Finished Block 7 with 42 repeats of 6 instead of 66. The blanket is long enough to cover me from my neck to my toes if I stretch it and Blocks 9 will make it longer. Cast on Block 8 and did the first row. Hands are so tired!

9/12: Finished Block 8 with only 33 repeats. On to block 9!

9/28: Finished Block 9 with only 33 repeats. The blanket is about the right length for a queen size bed, but only about half the width. Weird. It’s definitely big enough for two people to cuddle!

On to the border. It’s going well thanks to the videos linked above. Crunch time! The wedding is Saturday!!

10/8: It’s DONE! Decided that I didn’t need to deliver it half finished. Waiting until my friend gets back before I give it to her and her husband. The wedding was gorgeous. That weekend was about them and the event. I want them to have time to appreciate the blanket when they get it!

As I was working the border, I realized I had read the instructions weirdly and tried to do the border with needles two sizes SMALLER than the blanket. So I worked to complete the border with size 7 (4.5 mm) needles instead of the same size or, what was actually recommended, two sizes LARGER (which would be size 11s). I’d sneak in time each evening at the wedding (it was a weekend affair) for painful knitting with too-small needles. Perfectionist that I am, I realized after sitting with it for a while that it just wasn’t going to cut it.

The Redo and Gift-Giving

I ripped out the curly border on October 10th and used size 9 needles for a tight weave, but relaxed border. It took me seven days to complete it, but I’m so glad I did. Now it was perfect and I was ready to give it to Ailey and Adam at their house (much more cozy).

I gave them their present on the 19th of October in the bedroom so the blanket could be laid out on the bed, where it’s still being used, I hear. There was much bouncing and clapping and hugging.

10/19: The blanket has been delivered to its home! All those months of work totally paid off in the reactions tonight. I have the best friends.

I don’t know that I’ll be making another blanket – much less one of that size – for quite a while yet, but I am very very proud of the finished product and so glad I was able to give my dear friends something so warm and cuddly to celebrate their marriage!

One of the gems I found when searching for resources on drop spinning following the Ravelry Meet-up in May was this warning preceding instructions on how to use a drop spindle:

WARNING!!! Spinning reduces stress and promotes well being. It can also be habit forming and lead to obsessive behaviors such as, but not restricted to: caressing and hoarding all fibers; dying them with food colors and things from your garden or whatever you have laying about; spinning the fluffy bits of the weeds in your fields, the cotton wad in your vitamin bottles and even the lint from your dryer! Proceed with extreme caution!

With the transformation into a full-blown fiber monster in mind, I signed up for Knit One One‘s class “Beginning Spinning: On a drop spindle” taught by Brooke Sinnes of Sincere Sheep. Seriously, though, while it was a little expensive, it promised to be four hours of class spread over two Saturdays. Sounded like a good amount of time to learn, practice, and be able to ask more questions and correct technique.

Are you curious how yarn is made and want to create your own? You will learn the basics of drop spindling, and how to ply yarn. You will also learn how to finish your spun yarn and to identify the many characteristics of yarn. (A new vocabulary will emerge too!)

Fiber from Beginning Spinning Class

Armed with my 2.2oz Schacht Hi-Lo Spindle from Piedmont Yarn* and my Keep Calm and Carry Yarn project bag from Etsy, I headed to class today. Brooke had several different varieties of fiber for us to play with so things got off to a great start. [Pictured above from left to right: combed top Alpaca, spun Corriedale on my spindle, combed top Corriedale, combed top Blue-Faced Leicester/ Silk blend, combed top Merino blend, and some sort of carded and dyed wool.] She’s a great teacher for this small-group class. Kept things moving, but was very open to questions and checked on our progress to give us pointers regularly.

We learned the difference between worsted and woolen yarns. As I remember, it has to do with how they’re spun and the type of yarn you end up with as a result. Worsted are more tightly spun (so denser and heavier) whereas woolens are more airy and don’t wear as well over time. Woolen yarns also give you a fuzzier result (like fair-isle) rather than a more defined edge to any colorwork.

I loved that we got to use colorful natural fibers for this class. Makes you unafraid of working on a “real” spinning project later. Brooke got us comfortable even with what we might perceive to be mistakes – with the rise of popularity in handspun yarns, you can just say you meant to make it thick and thin!

My first single ply yarn, freshly spun

For next Saturday, we’re to complete two balls of single ply so we can ply them together and make “real” yarn! There’ll be a steady chant of “spin, park, move the pinch, draft, slide” in my house this week!

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*The incredibly friendly woman at Piedmont Yarn not only explained the benefits of the spindle she recommended for me in useful detail, but also gave me a decent amount of cheap fiber to practice with. I heartily recommend a visit there for beginning spinners!

I have the process documented on Ravelry so I will soon be writing a longer post with more pictures.

Hints: For this project I have learned two (probably more, but for now just these) new skills. Intarsia (colowork) and invisible cast-on! If I wanted to make a sweater with hearts, skulls, and panda faces, I now could.

It’s not completely true that nothing else has been happening, but in terms of my knitting and social life, that’s pretty much true. Dance has been holding excitement lately so there are several things I’ve been meaning to post about that I will get around to after the giant knitting project has been completed and celebrated.

It reminds me of how I used to experience so many mixed emotions when I’d see women in full burqa in Brooklyn: alarm at the spectacle (no matter how many times I’d seen it), followed by a certain feminist irk, and finally discomfiture at our cultural kinship. And then it would all turn into one strong emotion — protective rage — when I’d see a group of teenagers laughing and pointing at them.

- Porochista Khakpour, “My Nine Years as a Middle-Eastern American” New York Times Op-Ed published Sept 11, 2010

For the something different I looked to Serious Eats since I’ve been marking recipes as favorites like crazy there. While I was very tempted to make the Spicy Hot Chocolate Pie, that will have to wait until my birthday. Casey and I decided we’d make that together to celebrate. But for the 4th I wanted something a little less ambitious, but just as tasty. Eureka! Chewy Ginger Cookies with Cardamom and Black Pepper. I made them as described other than the candied ginger, which I had to leave out since I just could not find at my local Safeway. I’d like to try it with that another time, though. Oh and I used regular sugar (not coarse) for rolling, but I couldn’t see or taste a marked difference there. Nex time I’d also amp up the amounts of black pepper and cardamom. They’re tasty ginger snaps, but it’s hard to tell there’s anything really different about them unless you know what to pay attention to.

Both batches of cookies were big hits at the annual celebration of colorful fog (aka fireworks and Fourth of July party in the Presidio). We actually saw the bottom half of some of the lower-hanging fireworks this year! It was a great party.

More Pictures from Baking

Key Ingredients: Easy-Pour Molasses, Ground Cardamom, Lemon Zester for Grinding Fresh Ginger

Dry Ingredients for Chewy Ginger Cookies

Fresh ground pepper, ground ginger, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa, salt, baking soda, flour.

First Batch of Chewy Ginger Cookies and Dough

They really just set in the oven. They stay chewy for so long because of the safflower oil!

Just a sample of the things that have happened in May and June:

• SF Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet (for Mother’s Day)
• First SF Ravelry Meet-up (a ton of fun and a very successful event)
• Attempting to start the snapdragon mitts and failing miserably (will try again later)
• Picked up and cast aside a new form of exercise
• Vassar 5-year Reunion trip to New York with Casey
• Finally using the yarn swift and ball winder (which I can’t get enough of now)

Some pictures to prove I’ve been busy! (more after the break)

Finished Yarn Wranglers Anemone Pin

Successful Ball Winding

I’ve been more active on Twitter than blog so thank goodness for the little Twitter feed on the sidebar. If you want more regular updates, feel free to follow me, @shawnaseth. You’ll note I cover similar topics there (knitting, dance, cooking), but that I also talk more about daily life and things that pertain to work. I’ve toyed with doing that on the blog as well, but haven’t decided anything for sure yet.

There’s some fun stuff coming up in my worlds of knitting and dance so I will try to pick up the pace on writing once again!

p.s. Casey and I made a delicious chickpea (garbanzo bean) dish the other day and I want to write it down to make sure we remember it and so others can try it and experiment with it. It’s super easy. Stir-fry canned chickpeas, diced garlic, a healthy dose of ground cumin, basil, and a little lemon. I’d consider adding next time: onions and a little cayenne pepper. Would love to have that with the ginger pork pitas we made in April.