Knitting, Sci-fi and other stuff...

Crafting Balance      I'm a knitter.  Its what I was taught and what I enjoy.  I prefer the look of knitting and I find it easier.  I do, however, know the basics of crochet.  I just shared a project yesterday that had a crochet lace portion to it.  I have to admit, I really enjoyed that.  For now, since I'm new to fibre crafting I think I'll stick to knitting primarily.  I love that I can crochet, there are certain things where it really is superior.  Tea towel toppers are much easier to crochet.  Edgings work better in crochet.  I have a really great pot holder pattern that is single crochet.(I'll link it)  It gets crocheted "in the round" so the pot holder winds up double thick with a nifty diagonal pattern.  I think both crafts have their uses and I don't understand the crochet haters.  As I said, I prefer the look of knitting for garments and such, but crocheted lace is beautiful.  Eventually I hope to tackle some more crochet projects.  I found I li

Skill set      I've been knitting as an adult for about two years now.  I've come a long way since those first few projects.  I've learned many techniques, but I still have a long way to go.  I find that I work myself up too much before I try something new.  I always find the new technique easier than I think its going to be.  Knitting in the round made no sense to me.  Then I got the correct length needles.  I couldn't even spell Kitchener Stitch, now I've got it memorized.  I waited forever before I tried cables.  Cables rock!  I "don't" crochet.  I just finished a project that was a third crochet.  (More on that later)  The only thing I've tried and miserably failed at was double knitting.  When I say failed, I mean my finished project looks like crap.  I did, however, finish, and I now know what I'm doing.  So I guess that's not a failure.  So, to make things easier for all of us here's a list of the things I want to learn/master.

And now for something completely different...      I sit here, unfinished.  I'm not sure when I came into existence.  I just became.  I have a spine and a limb.  (Part of one at least)  She made most of me in one day.  Then I sat, with a hole, where my thumb should be.  She found more building material somewhere and started my limb.  Then that was it.  She waved a square black totem above me that flashed bright light.  Then I sat with the tools still in my limb.  I was moved a few times, farther and farther away.  Now I'm in the dark.  Alone.  Well, not completely alone.  There are two others near me, but they don't talk the way I do.  I cant understand them.  I do know I'm second.  I have a mate, but I don't know where he is.  I think I hear him sometimes, but he's far away.  He's in one of the places She goes to often.  There is another similar to me here.  He arrived last night.  He is from the same building material as me, but he's not my mate.  I

Crafting for the Seasons      I don't know if I've been knitting long enough to track my trends.  So far I seem to start winter projects in the winter, but not actually finish them til spring.  I do make dishcloths year round and the majority of them right before Christmas, as that's when the demand is.  This year, I have planned some projects actually taking the season into account.  I have the yarn to make Amiga.  (See link at bottom of page)  Amiga is a warm weather sweater.       I've picked up Berroco Pure Pima which is a DK weight pima cotton.  The pattern calls for US 8s, so the fabric will be light and airy.  I'm especially looking forward to this project, for a couple reasons.  One, I want something light I can keep with me at work.  The lab tends to be warm in the summer, especially around the larger analyzers (the Vistas).  So I usually wear light T-shirts.  Once I go on break though I get chilly, so I want to have a light weight something to wrap

My Knitting Hero(s)      First and foremost is Jared Flood.  His designs are magnificent and the pattern write ups are excellent.  I learned how to do jogless stripes thanks to Turn a Square.  He only has a few patterns that are free, so I've only made two Jared Flood items so far.  However, since the other designs are so great I'm more than willing to pay for them. Here's my Turn a Square.  Its a really great way to utilize a self striping yarn such as Noro.  I only used about half a skein each of the Noro Silk Garden and the Berroco Vintage.  I'm saving the left overs for another one.  Here's my Noro Striped Scarf.  Again, alternating the stripes is a terrific way to show off self striping yarns.  Both of these items are mine.  I love me some Noro, and its pricey.  Most people I know aren't willing to spend forty dollars in yarn alone and then pay for someone to make it too.      These two patterns are the tip of the iceberg for Brooklyn Tweed

Photography      Today I bring to you Direct Antiglobulin Testing (DAT).  This is a pretty simple immunohematology test performed in certain circumstances.  Some Blood Banks still include them with all crossmatches, but that's really an outdated practice.  So, players in this test are of course the red blood cell (RBC) and IgG Antibodies.  The DAT detects RBC's that are bound with IgG Antibodies.  One drop of the patients RBC's are placed into a glass test tube.  They are then washed 3 to 4 times with normal saline.  (Yes, quite literally washed, okay more like rinsed since there's no soap involved)  One drop of Anti-human globulin is added.  The tube is then centrifuged for 15 seconds and then "read".  (Using a mirror we re-suspend the cell button and visually observe the presence or absence of agglutination [clumping]).  If agglutination is observed the test is positive.  If negative a drop of Coombs Check cells are added.  The tube is centrifuged again fo

     Color is today's topic.  For me color is probably the most important thing.  Followed by fibre then price, wash ability/practicality and last of course project allocation.  Of course if I actually have a project picked and I'm getting yarn for it, the order is somewhat different.  Color is still first, then fibre and price.  I find, if I'm making a project that is a duplication of a knit item from a movie for example, I like to stay true to the original color.  Take my two Hermione projects, the hat and the poor cursed mittens that still aren't done.  I stuck to the original light gray.  For Bella's Mittens, I went with my all time favorite color, blue, and I have to admit, I'm not feeling the color.  That may have to do with the acrylicness of the yarn.  (Which actually makes them a good sell item.)  Since I am enjoying the knitting, I may get myself some nice dark gray alpaca and knit them again for me.      So back to color in general.  I like almost a

     We're in the last week of T4.  I am soooo far behind.  I still have not posted anything.  I have one challenge mostly done.  I need to weave in some ends, my least favorite task.  Its related to work and National Laboratory Professionals Week is next week, so I'm planning on posting it then.  Next week is also knit/crochet blog week apparently.  One of my team members mentioned it.  So one, I joined another group on Ravelry and two, I'll be blogging alot more next week, hopefully.  So other than my measly one challenge, what have I been doing with my time.  Working!  The summer craziness has already begun.  Between surgeries and vacations, someone is gone for the next few months, which means mandatory overtime.  I cant complain too much, since more $ = less bills and hopefully some will be left over for me to buy yarn with.      Okay so I haven't been just working.  I finally started Bella's Mittens by Marielle Henault.  Ya know those iconic long ones with th

     So much for keeping up with things.  March was a busy month.  So to rehash projects.  I did a mug cozy for Jonas Quinn.  I've been wanting to tackle a cozy and they are really great ways to practice various cables.  I did my first braided cable with this one. This little baby hangs out at work, reminding my co-workers of what a dork I am.  My second project was a "set" of balls for Jack to juggle with.  In real life two of the three are cat toys.  As in I stuffed them with catnip.  These were made from left overs of the very first Red Heart Super Saver my brother got me when I took up knitting again.  I'm not sure how I learned on this stuff and found a passion for it.  This pattern however is great.  I learned several new skills including provisional cast on.  I did mine with a crochet hook.  I decided to get a little creative and pay homage to one of my most favorite actors for my third project.  John Billingsley played Dr. Phlox on ST: ENT.  He also had a g