Strings & Yarn

I like to try and make the comments sections of my blog a place for discussion.  A place where people can talk about whatever was posted, not only interacting with the post, but with each others’ comments.

As much as this doesn’t always happen (I know a post of a finished knitting object doesn’t necessarily warrant deep discussion) there are a few posts that have been successful in this goal.  In particular, my post on Target Violins has had a response.  If you haven’t read it, go check it out.  I have particularly strong opinions about this (which I think I’ve made) but I’d be glad to hear what you think.

Hello knitters out there! I need some help making charts on the computer, and was wondering what you found was the best way. One of them is a color chart, and the other is a cableing chart. You can either e-mail me, or leave a comment. Thanks!

As I was finishing up my term, I kept having creative outbursts in the strangest way. I decided it was because I was so creatively squashed with all the mindless paper writing and research I was doing to jump through class hoops. I would wake up in the middle of the night with book ideas, knitting patterns, and writing themes I wanted to explore.

I was smart enough to write these things down as they came to me, and as I was finishing my last few days of research I allowed myself to check out a few books for my own research.

Last year, for NaNoWriMo I wrote a historical novel, without much historical accuracy. Now that I’ve become more proficient at research (even though it was for music, I kept thinking about my novel the whole time) I want to fine tune the historical details and start editing and adding to the 50,000 words I already have. Not to mention the other story ideas I have swimming around in my head, which I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about as they develop.

I allowed myself to check out three books from the library, which I haven’t touched since, but am beginning to feel the itch. Once the Christmas gifting is coming to an end, I will be sure to be digging into what I found. It feels so good to be considering this again as a viable use of my time.

I’ve been done with school now for almost a week and I’ve been enjoying the life without school, even with the crazyness of the holidays.  That last week was particularily intense (not because finals week usually is.  It actually is usually one of the easier weeks for me because all of the performance classes have already finished up and don’t have finals.) because I have been making some life decisions about school and what I want out of it.

As many of you know, the last term, or more has been difficult for me at times.  I have gone back and forth about whether or not grad school was really the best choice and if it was going to reap the return I expected.  Actually, not really reap returns I expect, but reap returns equal to the blood, sweat and tears (especially tears) I was putting into it.  I am still undecided about the benefits, but overall I know I need a break.  So that’s what I’m going to do, take a break from school.

The fact is I am interested in teaching violin, and the school is getting in the way of that dream more than it has been benefiting.  I have known this for a long time now, but have tried my hardest to tell myself that I would be done soon and I just needed to push through.
However, I’m not going to be done soon.  I spent last year working toward the pedagogy part of my degree, and for many reasons (many that I do not feel disclosing here, but if you really want to know you can get ahold of me) didn’t decide to continue in that program.  That left me getting a whole masters degree in one year, or spreading it out longer.  Since I couldn’t bear the thought of going on longer, I wanted to squish it all together into one intense year, but that hasn’t worked too well. My unhappiness with school has become impossible to ignore, and some things really help you see things clearly.  After reading that post, and bawling every time I looked at it, I realized there would be no pushing through, there had to be change.
The thought is that this is only a break, and I will go back and finish it, probably gradually piece by piece.  I feel really good about this decision, and am really looking forward to building my career as a musician and a teacher.

As everyone is getting ready for holiday traveling, I decided it may be helpful to put up a little travel guide.  See, I am a fairly high maintanence traveler.  Between the knitting, the instrument and the prosthetic leg I always want to be careful about my rights as a traveler as well as what is allowed.

If you are an amputee, I highly recommend checking out the TSA website on prosthetics.  I often take a print out of what to expect, just in case the tsa worker doesn’t know, or it’s their first day.  That way, even if they don’t know what’s going on, I do.

They do allow knitting items on the plane, so all the knitters can make good use of airport time.  For more information on what is allowed, and what isn’t see the article on
transporting knitting items.

I also often travel with my instrument.  I’m lucky because I can take my violin oon the plane and in the overhead bins, but not instrument is small.  If you do have to check your instrument, make sure to include handleing instructions on the inside of the case.  This way if they search it, the handler knows what to do.  TSA has also published an article on transporting musical instruments.

Hope this helps, and safe travels to you all.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’ve probably realized that the Claire Cardigan has been sitting in the sidebar for awhile, and hasn’t been finished, despite promises of a few weeks. Well, it’s still not done. Between school and more school, I haven’t been able to finish. If you are 34″ bust, the patterns done, but any other size is proving slightly difficult because of how I designed it. I know, I’ll get it done someday, just not right now.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have more goodies for you! I’m working on a few more patterns that will get posted. Specifically a Irish cabled mitten pattern out of handspun yarn. Yummy. I can’t wait to share it with you, but not having a camera makes it harder. I’m hoping to get some good pictures (maybe in snow?) when I’m in Colorado over the break.

I’ve been spinning a lot lately to. Mostly because it’s so meditative and claming, it has really soothed my raged soul. I’m going to be doing some serious reflecting about my degree this break, and the spinning allows my mind to really focus what is important to me. I’m sure you’ll be seeing more about this later, but I’m not ready to post about it yet.

So if you were counting on the Claire Cardi, I’m sorry. I need to let it rest for awhile so I don’t feel so nervous about it. Thanks for your patience and if you have any tips on changing sizing on 18 stitch pattern repeats, let me know.

Link: Real Men Knit - You Tube 

Go ahead.  Watch it and come back.

I got this from the Lionbrand newsletter. I still think it’s weird that we associate stupidity (when you watch the video it will make sense) with being “male”. I’m just glad that people are feeling more free to cross gender sterotypes and enjoy what they like.

We find gender sterotypes in music all the time. It’s a novelty to find a female tuba player and a male flautist. Maybe those lines will disappear some day too.